Platyderus Eremoderus Jeanne, 1996

Gueorguiev, Borislav, Wrase, David W., Assmann, Thorsten, Muilwijk, Jan & Machard, Patrice, 2022, Taxonomic revision of the African and Southwest Asian species of Platyderus Stephens, subg. Eremoderus Jeanne (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Sphodrini), Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 69 (1), pp. 71-122 : 71

Subgenus Platyderus Eremoderus Jeanne, 1996

Type species.

Feronia languida Reiche & Saulcy, 1855

Diagnosis.

Within Platyderus , the members of Eremoderus are separated by the following set of distinctive characters: ventral sclerite of median lobe of aedeagus narrow and long (best seen at ventral view, Figs 10A-I , 11A-G ); seminal canal and receptaculum of comparable lengths (Figs 13A-F , 14A-C, E, F , 15A-F ); ventral margin of anterior side of mesofemur with four or more, rarely three (specimens of P. taghizadehi and P. weiratheri ) setiferous punctures ventrally (Fig. 5A-I ); proximal margin, i.e. the “apex” of urite IX symmetrical or nearly symmetrical (Fig. 7A-M ).

Description.

Microsculpture and micropunctation. Dorsal surface of head with regular isodiametric to slightly transverse sculpticells that are more or less reduced on posterior half of clypeus and disc (most species) or with complete microreticulation of isodiametric sculpticells (taxa of " Platyderus Eremoderus languidus " group), labrum with coarser such sculpticells than remainder of head. Elytral microreticulation distinct, usually more engraved and larger than on head and pronotum, represented by regular isodiametric sculpticells (some specimens of P. vanensis sp. nov. without micropunctation on elytral intervals 1-5). Dorsal surface of head and pronotum with scattered micropunctation hardly visible below magnification 90 ×, elytra with coarser, more distinct micropunctation, visible at magnification below 90 × (micropunctation absent on dorsal surface of head and elytra in most taxa of " Platyderus Eremoderus languidus " group, except for head of P. languidus ). Punctation. Basal foveae of pronotum and adjacent lateral areas moderately punctate, punctures at sides usually not reaching anterior half ( P. weiratheri , taxa of " Platyderus Eremoderus lassallei " and " Platyderus davatchii " groups), coarsely and densely punctate as punctures at sides usually reaching anterior half ( P. chatzakiae n.sp., taxa of " Platyderus Eremoderus iranicus - Platyderus Eremoderus vanensis " group), or scarcely punctate to impunctate ( P. afghanistanicus sp. nov., taxa of " Platyderus Eremoderus languidus " group). Prosternum laterally and proepisternum moderately (most species) to coarsely, densely and deeply punctate (taxa of " Platyderus Eremoderus iranicus - Platyderus Eremoderus vanensis " group) or finely, sparsely and shallowly punctate to impunctate (taxa of " Platyderus Eremoderus languidus " group). Prosternum medially and metasternum medially smooth. Mesepisternum, metasternum laterally and metepisternum indistinctly ( P. afghanistanicus , taxa of " Platyderus Eremoderus languidus " groups) or clearly punctate (taxa of resting species groups, as in P. vanensis sp. nov. more coarsely than in other species). Abdominal ventrite 1 punctate and/or wrinkled, sometimes impunctate, ventrites 2-3 wrinkled, punctate or impunctate at sides, smooth medially, ventrites 4-5 mostly impunctate and smooth, but sometimes finely wrinkled at sides, 6 usually impunctate and smooth in whole (ventrites 1-4 coarsely punctate at sides in eastern populations of P. vanensis sp. nov.). Chaetotaxy. Labrum with six equidistant setae, lateral two longer than medial four. Clypeus with two long anterolateral setae. Two supraorbital setae each side. Stipes with anterior and posterior setae, former about half the length of latter. Pair of long setae on apical margin of ligula. Penultimate labial palpomere with two long setae on internal margin and 2-4 rather short apical setae; terminal labial palpomere with some scattered, very short and fine hairs. Mentum with two short and fine paramedial setae (sometimes broken off). Submentum with two long medial setae and two very short and fine lateral setae (occurring in most species but often broken off) or without lateral setae ( P. klapperichi sp. nov.). Pronotum with one lateral seta at second quarter and one basal seta near posterior angles. Elytron with parascutellar seta at junction of angular base of stria 1, puncture small; interval 3 with three (rarely two) discal setiferous punctures (in P. vanensis sp. nov., punctures hardly discernible because of coarse and deep macropunctation of interval), first one adjoining stria 3 (rarely in midst of interval 3 - P. chatzakiae sp. nov., adjoining stria 2 - P. irakensis sp. nov. or absent - in most specimens of " Platyderus Eremoderus iranicus - Platyderus Eremoderus vanensis " group), second and third punctures adjoining stria 2, first puncture situated in anterior third, second puncture in medial third or third quarter, and third puncture (lacking in P. chatzakiae sp. nov.) in posterior third to fifth; apical portion of stria 7 with two setiferous punctures, as posterior one situated closer to lateral gutter than to suture; umbilicate series consists of 16-17 (rarely 15 or 18 on one elytron) uniform punctures, not forming compact groups, anterior three punctures on lateral gutter, remaining ones on stria 8. Posterior side of profemur with three (most species) or more ( P. brunneus , P. irakensis , P. jordanensis , P. languidus ) long setae, one to two in basal third, one to two in medial third (near ventral edge), and one in proximal fifth (near knee). Anterior side of mesofemur ventrally usually with four or more setae, rarely with three setae; mesocoxa surface vaguely (most species) or densely pubescent (taxa of " Platyderus Eremoderus languidus " group), with one posteromedial seta and one (most species) or one to four lateral setae (taxa of " Platyderus weiratheri " and " Platyderus Eremoderus languidus " groups); mesotrochanter with seta. Anterior side of metafemur ventrally mostly with one seta in basal third and one in medial third (additional setae existing in specimens of taxa from " Platyderus Eremoderus languidus " group). Abdominal ventrites 3-5 with ambulatory setae; last ventrite with two setae in male and female. Head. Eyes subconvex, long, each with length little exceeding length of scapus; tempora oblique, straight or convexly converging to neck. Labrum as long as or slightly shorter than clypeus. Clypeus slightly concave in front, rarely straight ( P. afghanistanicus sp. nov.). Mentum and submentum separate by distinct labial suture; mentum wide, short, deeply emarginate, without paramedial pits, median tooth, prominent, rounded anteriorly and bordered at base, epilobes well-exceeding median tooth in front, with posterior border medially concave. Thorax. Disc of pronotum barely to moderately convex; median line well-impressed, long but not reaching anterior and posterior margin; base with one sublinear fovea each side, impressed on basal third, foveae well-impressed (most species) or shallowly impressed (taxa of " Platyderus Eremoderus languidus " group); anterior margin narrower than posterior margin, slightly concave each side, median projection covering pars stridens (stridulatory organs); anterior bead narrow, present laterally, impressed, present, lacking or indistinctly impressed in medial eighth to tenth; anterior angles well-projecting, rounded at tip; sides convex, straight or concave to base, lateral beads fine, complete to posterior angles; posterior margin concave in middle, slightly convex near angles; basal bead present laterally, present or reduced medially; posterior angles obtuse, projecting or not projecting laterally, rounded at tip. Prosternal process bordered, subovate, rounded at apex. Metepisternum narrowed behind, its internal margin as long as, or longer than, anterior margin. Elytra. Elytra coalesced along suture, widest at middle third or third quarter. Disc convex; humeri widely rounded. Basal bead arcuate medially, reaching or almost reaching scutellum, laterally forming obtuse angle with lateral margin and no denticle at humerus. Sides from basal margin towards middle third smoothly widened, from there to apex roundly narrowed. Parascutellar striole, if present, short, joining (rarely) or not joining (mostly) with stria 1; striae 1-6 usually reaching or almost reaching basal bead, 7 reaching or not reaching to it; base of stria 8 ending at third umbilicate puncture; striae 1, 7 and 8 apically separately joining lateral gutter; striae 1 and 2 mostly fused shortly before apex and reaching lateral gutter (if stria 2 not joining stria 1, it ends before lateral gutter); pairs of striae 3-4 and 5-6 fused before apex but neither joined stria reach lateral gutter (joined stria of pair 3-4 ending more apically than that of pair 5-6; in two specimens of P. felixi sp. nov., following aberration exists: striae 3 and 4 posteriorly, each of them fusing separately with stria 2 and joined stria reaching lateral gutter); parascutellar striola and striae 1-8 impunctate or finely punctate, shallow (taxa of " Platyderus Eremoderus languidus " group), finely to moderately punctate and impressed (most species), or coarsely punctate and impressed ( P. vanesis sp. nov.). Intervals subconvex (most species) to nearly flat (taxa of " Platyderus Eremoderus languidus " group). Metathoracic wings reduced, scales-like, or absent. Abdomen. Ventrites 2 and 3 coalesced, suture between them mostly present, rarely lacking. Legs. Moderately to considerably long and slender. Tarsomeres 1-5 convex and smooth (most species; Fig. 6D, E ) or partly flattened and slightly longitudinally grooved ( P. brunneus , P. irakensis ; Fig. 6A-C ) on dorsal side, with two rows of setae on ventral side; male protarsomeres 1-3 distinctly dilated, with biseriate adhesive vestiture ventrally; mesotarsomeres 1-3 and metatarsomeres 1-3 laterally grooved or ungrooved. Male genitalia. Urite IX suboval, with proximal margin not or slightly asymmetrical (Fig. 7A-M ). Median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view curved ventrally, with basal bulb protruding dorsally and having a well-developed, thick aileron and apex straight or turned up (Figs 8A-I , 9B-H ); same in ventral view straight, subcylindrical, with long shaft (part restricted between basal bulb and apical lamella) and apical lamella more or less symmetrical (Figs 10A-I , 11A-G ). Internal sac well-differentiated, containing two sclerites, a less sclerotized (reticulate), globular dorsal sclerite and a more sclerotized, elongate ventral sclerite (respectively, light grey colored and dark grey colored on Figs 8 - 11 ); in lateral view dorsal sclerite rounded (often a denser, saddle-shaped structure at proximal position is distinguished), and ventral sclerite is drop-shaped, both sclerites hardly distinctive to each other in lateral position than in ventral position; in ventral view dorsal sclerite is laterally rounded (forming one or two short curves from left side and one long curve from right side), and ventral sclerite is long and more or less narrow, with distal end straight or nearly straight (taxa of most species groups) or curved to left (" Platyderus Eremoderus lassallei " and " Platyderus davatchii " groups) and a position within internal sac parallel to longitudinal axis of median lobe (most species) or oblique to it (" Platyderus weiratheri " group). Right paramere short, thin, more or less concave ventrally (Fig. 12A-N ). Female genitalia (Figs 13A-F , 14A-C, E, F , 15A-F ). Basal gonocoxite large to very large (five to ten times larger than apical gonocoxite), unsetose. Apical gonocoxite small, short, with narrow, falcate apex (mostly pointed, rarely blunt or rounded), one (taxa of " Platyderus Eremoderus languidus " group, except for P. brunki sp. nov.) or two large dorsolateral ensiform setae (taxa of " Platyderus weiratheri ", " Platyderus Eremoderus iranicus - Platyderus Eremoderus vanensis ", " Platyderus Eremoderus lassallei ", " Platyderus davatchii " group plus P. brunki sp. nov.), one large dorsomedial ensiform seta, and two long and fine apical nematiform setae in sensory pit (nematiform setae not found only in P. jordanensis sp. nov. and P. languidus ). Bursa copulatrix small to moderately large, subconical or subquadrate, one-chambered in most species, two-chambered in P. irakensis sp. nov. Spermatheca relatively long, moderately differentiated, formed by seminal canal and receptaculum of similar length, seminal canal narrower, somewhat curved, receptaculum wide and straight; spermathecal gland very large, subelongate to round, with well-differentiated atrium; spermathecal canal short, connected in apical second fourth of spermatheca, either in basal third (taxa of " Platyderus Eremoderus languidus " group, except P. brunki sp. nov. and P. insignitus ) or medial third of receptaculum (two foregoing species plus taxa of remaining species groups).

" Platyderus weiratheri " species group

Diagnosis. Representatives of this group share one trait, the ventral sclerite of internal sac obliquely situated with respect to the main axis of the median lobe in the ventral view and distinctly bent in middle in lateral view (Fig. 10A, B ). Species from the other groups of Eremoderus have a ventral sclerite parallel to the main axis of the median lobe in ventral view and straight in the lateral view (Fig. 10C-I ). This trait divides the subgenus into two groups that may separate, one including the taxa of the " Platyderus weiratheri " group, and another - taxa of the remaining species groups.

Notes. The group includes P. weiratheri from Southwest Turkey and P. chatzakiae sp. nov. from Kalymnos Island (Greece, Dodecanese; see Fig. 16 ). The first species inhabits high altitudes in the western Toros Range, whereas the second one is a dweller of Mediterranean scrub habitat at lower altitudes.

Figures

Figure 5. Mesofemora, anterior side (A-D: left mesofemur, E-I: right mesofemur; white arrows and dots indicate position of setiferous punctures). A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) weiratheri Maran, 1940, female specimen, Boz dag koey env., Izmir District, Turkey; B. P. (E.) felixi, sp. nov., topotype female paratype; C. P. (E.) iranicus, sp. nov., topotype female paratype; D. P. (E.) lassallei, sp. nov., female paratype, Iran, Mazandaran Province, E Qolqol; E. P. (E.) klapperichi, sp. nov., holotype; F. P. (E.) taghizadehi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, Tochal, Tehran Province, Iran; G. P. (E.) afghanistanicus, sp. nov., holotype; H. P. (E.) brunneus ferrantei Reitter, 1909, lectotype; I. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), female specimen, Netanya 1.3.97, Central District, Israel. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 6. Metatarsus, dorsal view. A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) brunneus brunneus Karsch, 1881, left metatarsus, female specimen, Aziziyah, Jafara District, Libya; B. P. (E.) brunneus ferrantei Reitter, 1909, left metatarsus, female specimen, Holot Haluza, Southern District, Israel; C. P. (E.) irakensis, sp. nov., left metatarsus (black arrows indicate longitudinal grooves on metatarsomeres 2, 3 and 4), holotype; D. P. (E.) jordanensis, sp. nov., right metatarsus, holotype; E. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), right metatarsus, male specimen, Na ẖal Prat, Judea and Samaria Area, Israel. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 7. Urite, ventral view. A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) chatzakiae, sp. nov., holotype; B. P. (E.) weiratheri Maran, 1940, E: topotype male specimen; C. P. (E.) felixi, sp. nov., holotype; D. P. (E.) vrabeci, sp. nov., holotype; E. P. (E.) lassallei, sp. nov., holotype; F. P. (E.) ledouxi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, 10 km S Hasan Keif, Mazandaran Province, Iran; G. P. (E.) taghizadehi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, Tochal, Tehran Province, Iran; H. P. (E.) afghanistanicus, sp. nov., holotype; I. P. (E.) brunneus brunneus Karsch, 1881, male specimen, 50 km W of Ben Gardane, Medenine Governorate, Tunisia; J. P. (E.) brunneus ferrantei Reitter, 1909, male specimen, Holot Haluza, Southern District, Israel; K. P. (E.) jordanensis, sp. nov., holotype; L. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), lectotype; M. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), male specimen, Na ẖal Prat, Judea and Samaria Area, Israel; N. P. (Platyderus) sp., male specimen, Boz Daglar Mtn., Turkey; O. P. (P.) reticulatus (Chaudoir), male specimen, Tashehzeh, Nowshahr County, Mazandaran Province, Iran. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 8. Median lobe of aedeagus, left lateral view. A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) chatzakiae, sp. nov., holotype; B. P. (E.) weiratheri Maran, 1940, lectotype; C. P. (E.) felixi, sp. nov., holotype; D. P. (E.) iranicus, sp. nov., holotype; E. P. (E.) vanensis, sp. nov., holotype; F. P. (E.) vrabeci, sp. nov., holotype; G. P. (E.) lassallei, sp. nov., holotype; H. P. (E.) ledouxi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, 10 km S Hasan Keif, Mazandaran Province, Iran; I. P. (E.) taghizadehi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, Tochal, Tehran Province, Iran; J. P. (Platyderus) sp., male specimen, vicinity of Izmir City, Turkey. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Figure 9. Median lobe of aedeagus, left lateral view (black arrows on D, F-H indicate convexity of ventral margin of apex of median lobe). A. Platyderus (Platyderus) sp., male specimen, Boz Daglar Mtn., Turkey; B. P. (Eremoderus) afghanistanicus, sp. nov., holotype; C. P. (E.) brunneus brunneus Karsch, 1881, male specimen, 50 km W of Ben Gardane, Medenine Governorate, Tunisia; D. P. (E.) brunneus ferrantei Reitter, 1909, male specimen, Holot Haluza, Southern District, Israel; E. P. (E.) insignitus insignitus Bedel, 1902, male specimen, SW Tiznit, Sous-Massa Region, Morocco; F. P. (E.) jordanensis, sp. nov., holotype; G. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), lectotype; H. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), male specimen, Na ẖal Prat, Judea and Samaria Area, Israel. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Figure 10. Median lobe of aedeagus, ventral view. A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) chatzakiae, sp. nov., holotype; B. P. (E.) weiratheri Maran, 1940, lectotype; C. P. (E.) felixi, sp. nov., holotype; D. P. (E.) iranicus, sp. nov., holotype; E. P. (E.) vanensis, sp. nov., holotype; F. P. (E.) vrabeci, sp. nov., holotype; G. P. (E.) lassallei, sp. nov., holotype; H. P. (E.) ledouxi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, 10 km S Hasan Keif, Mazandaran Province, Iran; I. P. (E.) taghizadehi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, Tochal, Tehran Province, Iran; J. P. (Platyderus) sp., male specimen, vicinity of Izmir City, Turkey; K. P. (P.) sp., male specimen, Boz Daglar Mtn., Turkey. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Figure 11. Median lobe of aedeagus, ventral view. A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) afghanistanicus, sp. nov., holotype; B. P. (E.) brunneus brunneus Karsch, 1881, male specimen, 50 km W of Ben Gardane, Medenine Governorate, Tunisia; C. P. (E.) brunneus ferrantei Reitter, 1909, male specimen, Holot Haluza, Southern District, Israel; D. P. (E.) insignitus insignitus Bedel, 1902, male specimen, SW Tiznit, Sous-Massa Region, Morocco; E. P. (E.) jordanensis, sp. nov., holotype; F. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), lectotype; G. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), male specimen, Na ẖal Prat, Judea and Samaria Area, Israel. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Figure 12. Right paramere, external face. A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) chatzakiae, sp. nov., holotype; B. P. (E.) weiratheri Maran, 1940, lectotype; C. P. (E.) felixi, sp. nov., holotype; D. P. (E.) iranicus, sp. nov., holotype; E. P. (E.) vrabeci, sp. nov., holotype; F. P. (E.) lassallei, sp. nov., holotype; G. P. (E.) ledouxi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, 10 km S Hasan Keif, Mazandaran Province, Iran; H. P. (E.) taghizadehi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, Tochal, Tehran Province, Iran; I. P. (E.) afghanistanicus, sp. nov., holotype; J. P. (E.) brunneus brunneus Karsch, 1881, male specimen, 50 km W of Ben Gardane, Medenine Governorate, Tunisia; K. P. (E.) brunneus ferrantei Reitter, 1909, male specimen, Holot Haluza, Southern District, Israel; L. P. (E.) jordanensis, sp. nov., holotype; M. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), lectotype; N. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), male paralectotype, " Syria ". Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 13. Spermathecal complex and gonocoxites, ventral view. A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) weiratheri Maran, 1940, topotype female specimen; B. P. (E.) felixi, sp. nov., topotype female paratype; C. P. (E.) iranicus, sp. nov., topotype female paratype; D. P. (E.) vanensis, sp. nov., topotype female paratype; E. P. (E.) vanensis, sp. nov., female paratype, col de Buglan 1500 m, border area of Bingoel and Mus provinces, Turkey; F. P. (E.) vrabeci, sp. nov., topotype female paratype. Scale bars: 0.5 mm. Abbreviations: ag - apical gonocoxite; at - atrium; bc - bursa copulatrix; bg - basal gonocoxite; co - common oviduct; rc - receptaculum; sg - spermathecal gland; smc - seminal canal; spc - spermathecal canal.

Figure 14. Spermathecal complex and gonocoxites, ventral view. A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) lassallei, sp. nov., female paratype, Iran, Mazandaran Province, E Qolqol; B. P. (E.) ledouxi Morvan, 1974, female specimen, 10 km SW Rudbarak, Mazandaran Province, Iran; C. P. (E.) taghizadehi Morvan, 1974, female specimen, Alburz Dizin, Tehran Province, Iran; D. P. (Platyderus) umbratus (Menetries), female specimen, Iran, Kohgiluyeh va Boyer-Ahmad Province, Sisakht; E. P. (E.) arabicus, sp. nov., holotype; F. P. (E.) brunki, sp. nov., holotype. Scale bars: 0.5 mm. For abbreviations see captions on Fig. 13.

Figure 15. Spermathecal complex and gonocoxites, ventral view. A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) brunneus brunneus Karsch, 1881, female specimen, Bukamash, Nuqat al Khams District, Libya; B. P. (E.) brunneus ferrantei Reitter, 1909, female specimen, Holot Haluza, Southern District, Israel; C. P. (E.) insignitus insignitus Bedel, 1902, female specimen, Plage Aglou, Sous-Massa Region, Morocco; D. P. (E.) irakensis, sp. nov., holotype; E. P. (E.) jordanensis, sp. nov., female paratype, N Wadi Musa, Ma'an Governorate, Jordan; F. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), female specimens, Israel, Netanya 22. xii. 1996, Central District, Israel. Scale bars: 0.5 mm. For abbreviations see captions on Fig. 13.

Figure 16. Distribution of species from subgenus Platyderus Eremoderus in the western Aegean Sea Region and Turkey: Platyderus chatzakiae sp. nov. (red circle), P. weiratheri (blue circles), P. vanensis sp. nov. (brown circles), and P. vrabeci sp. nov. (yellow circle).