Acanthoglossa punica FAUVEL 1901

Assing, V., 2009, On the identity of some Acanthoglossa and Hypomedon species, primarily from the Mediterranean region (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 41 (2), pp. 1161-1173 : 1168-1170

Acanthoglossa punica FAUVEL 1901 ( Figs 14-15 , Map 2)

Acanthoglossa (Cephisus) punica FAUVEL 1901: 250 .

Acanthoglossa deserticola JARRIGE 1958: 89 f.; nov.syn.

M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: Chad: 1♀, Ouadi Archeï ["Archié", 16°42'N, 21°18'E], 1500 m, 30.V.1958 (MNHNP).

C o m m e n t: Acanthoglossa punica was described based on a single male from " Kairouan, inondations, 10 (Dr Normand)" ( FAUVEL 1901). The holotype was looked for, but found neither in the Fauvel collection at the IRSNB nor in the collections of the MNHNP (GÉRARD e-mail 29 June, 2009; TAGHAVIAN e-mail 29 June, 2009), suggesting that it is probably lost. All that was found is an Acanthoglossa punica label (without specimen) in the Jarrige collection at the MNHNP.

The original description of A. deserticola is based on a single male holotype from "st. 32 bis, Jardin du Beylik à Djanet" ( JARRIGE 1958). The specimen was looked for, but not found in the collections of the MNHNP (TAGHAVIAN pers. comm.). The above female is the only specimen of A. deserticola deposited in the Jarrige collection.

In the original description of A. deserticola, JARRIGE (1958) provides distinguishing characters separating the species from A. longipennis , but remarkably there is no reference whatsoever to A. punica , which leads to the conclusion that he may not have been aware of this species. An examination of the specimen listed above and identified by

Jarrige as A. deserticola revealed that it perfectly matches the original description of A. punica , suggesting that both names refer to the same species and that, consequently, A. deserticola is a junior synonym of A. punica .

Based on the detailed illustrations of the aedeagus provided by JARRIGE (1958: fig. 1), there is little doubt that A. punica is congeneric with A. orientis , A. longipennis , and A. hirta . The general morphology of the aedeagus, particularly the shape of the ventral process and the internal structures are highly similar. Externally, the species is similar to the type species of Acanthoglossa , A. hirta (see above).

D i a g n o s i s: Body length 3.6 mm. Habitus as in Fig. 14 . Coloration: whole body reddish, with the elytra, legs, and antennae paler reddish-yellow.

Head ( Fig. 15 ) 1.14 times as wide as long, weakly dilated posteriad; lateral margins behind eyes almost straight, posterior angles marked; posterior margin distinctly concave in the middle; punctation coarse, areolate, and very dense, slightly less dense in median dorsal area; interstices narrow, much narrower than diameter of punctures, without microsculpture; pubescence moderately long and erect to suberect; eyes strongly convex, slightly less than half as long as postocular region in dorsal view; labrum not dentate, with small V-shaped excision in the middle.

Pronotum approximately 1.2 times as wide as long, widest across anterior angles, and 0.95 times as wide as head; punctation similar to that of head, extremely dense; interstices reduced to narrow ridges; pubescence similar to that of head.

Elytra approximately as long, and 1.2 times as wide as pronotum. Metatarsomere I as long as the combined length of II and III. Abdomen approximately 0.9 times as wide as elytra, widest at segment VI; segment VI approximately twice as long as segment V; tergite VII with narrow palisade fringe.

3: according to JARRIGE 1958, posterior margin of sternite VIII deeply excised; aedeagus as illustrated by JARRIGE (1958: figure 1).

D i s t r i b u t i o n: This species was previously known only from southeastern Algeria and northwestern Tunisia. The above specimen from Chad represents a new country record. The currently known distribution is illustrated in Map 2.

Figures

Figs 14-21: Acanthoglossa punica FAUVEL from Chad (14-15), A. crassa COIFFAIT, holotype (16- 17), and Hypomedon niloticus (KOCH) (18-21): (14, 16, 18) habitus; (15, 17, 19) forebody; (20) male sternite VIII; (21) aedeagus in lateral view. Scale bars: 14, 16, 18: 1.0 mm; 15, 17, 19: 0.5 mm; 20-21: 0.1 mm.