Graphipterus multiguttatus (Olivier, 1790) 335, stat. rest.

Renan, Ittai, Assmann, Thorsten & Freidberg, Amnon, 2018, Taxonomic revision of the Graphipterusserrator (Forskal) group (Coleoptera, Carabidae): an increase from five to 15 valid species, ZooKeys 753, pp. 23-82 : 42-47

Graphipterus multiguttatus (Olivier, 1790) 335, stat. rest. Figs 4a, 7c, 9h, 10b, 12, 19, 24a

Graphipterus kindermanni Chaudoir, 1871: 299, syn. n. Alexandrie (= Alecsandria)

Types.

Lectotype: ♂ (blue label, black handwritten): <Graphipterus/multiguttatus. Ol./Egypt. G. Olivieir> (Green circular label with black margin, black typewritten): <COLLECTION/OLIVIER/TYPE>. Deposited in NHMB, Olivier collection [examined]. Syntypes: NHMB (Olivier collection): Egypte Olivier, multiguttatus, (uc), TYPE (♂); (Olivier collection) Collection Olivier, TYPE (♂); (General collection) Egypte Olivier, multiguttatus, Egypt, Oliv., Bedel et (uc), p. 339, 1909, vid. (♀).

Diagnosis.

Small species with 16-20 white, mostly elongated spots on elytra, only posterior discal spots rounded; 4-6 marginal extensions, extension I oriented slightly posteriorly. Median lobe of aedeagus with ventrally short, unbent tip.

Comparisons.

Graphipterus multiguttatus resembles G. rotundatus from which it differs mainly by the following characters: G. multiguttatus : average body length of 13.2 mm; El/MTIL, 1.6; all elytral spots with similar size; MTAL/MTIL, 0.84; median lobe of aedeagus with ventrally short unbent tip. G. rotundatus : average body length of 17.4 mm; El/MTIL, 2.08; posterior elytral spots larger than all other spots; MTAL/MTIL, 1.28; median lobe of aedeagus with longer (than G. multiguttatus ) slightly bent tip. Graphipterus multiguttatus resembles also G. sharonae sp. n., from which it differs mainly by body length, elytral pattern, and shape of median lobe of aedeagus (see full comparisons under G. sharonae sp. n.).

Description.

BL male: 10.0-15.0 mm, average 13.0 ± 1.3 mm; BL female: 11.5-16.0 mm, average 14.0 ± 1.2 mm.

Head wide; HW/PW: 0.76; EYL: 1.0-1.6 mm; EYL/EL: 0.17. Frontal ridge slightly developed. In male, apical white frons stripes wider than exposed frons (Fig. 4a); stripes elongate, reaching the level of supraorbital setae (populations east of the Dead Sea-Rift Valley), or being shorter (populations west of the Dead Sea-Rift Valley). Mentum with 2-3 teeth.

Pronotum cordiform; PL/PW: 0.66; BPW/PW: 0.64; posteromedially concave and without white margin; white lateral margin as wide antonomer 1 long.

Elytra oval, humeri rounded; EL: 4.5-9.1 mm, average 7.7 mm; EW: 4.1-8.0 mm, average 6.4 mm; EL/EW: 1.2. Lateral cross section quite flat. Elytra with Dense black scales, disc not visible between them (cf. Fig. 6a). White lateral margin nearly as wide as half of antennomere I long and with 6, sometimes four extensions; extension I medium long, shorter than anterior spot, but longer than extension II and shorter than extension III, which is wider than lateral margin; extension II sometimes constricted, rarely absent or fused with lateral disc spot. White posterior margin as wide as lateral margin, gap at suture smaller than lateral margin. Disc usually with 16 sometimes 18 rounded to elongate spots; anterior spot slightly elongate, longer than extension I; lateral spots rounded, adjacent, or sometimes fused to extension II, six spots forming an arch pattern anteriorly and laterally to posterior rounded larger spots. Apical sinuation slightly developed to straight, apex not protuberant, broadly rounded, especially on the medial side (Fig. 7c). Suture conspicuous.

Legs long; MTIL: 3.7-5.5 mm, average 4.7 mm; El/MTIL: 1.6. Metatibial secondary spur brown at base, MTAL: 3-4.5 mm, average 3.7 mm; MTAL/MTIL: 0.8. Claws of hind legs black at base.

Median lobe of aedeagus with short, unbent tip (Fig. 9h).

Habitat.

In the western Negev (Israel), the species shows a significant habitat preference for stabilized interdunes and for the semi-stabilized slopes. In this region it is completely absent from the crest of shifting sand dunes. On the dunes it prefers the lower part of the north-facing slope, which is the part of the dune being most humid and most vegetated by annual plants (Fig. 12). Large populations inhabit the loamy and more humid region in the northern Negev. In spring, after an extremely dry winter, specimens might also be found on the margins of irrigated agriculture fields.

Co-occurring species.

Graphipterus multiguttatus lives in sympatry with G. serrator in Egypt and Israel.

Distribution.

Egypt, Israel, and Jordan (Fig. 19). The only Jordanian population of which we are aware lives between Aqaba to Ma’an, and inhabits a flat sand dune area without or only slightly developed crust. In the same habitat Anthia (Thermophilum) duodecimguttata (Bonelli, 1813) and Amara maindromi Bedel, 1907 occur.

Conservation.

The species does not seem to be endangered as it has a wide distribution range and it prefers habitats that are not strongly affected by human activities. However, in Israel, in the Dead Sea region and the Arava Valley, G. multiguttatus has been collected in the past, but no longer exists there. The latest records from these regions are Ein Gedi, 1976; Ein Husub, 1956 (leg. unknown, both specimens preserved in KCE); Sedom road, 1953; Ein-Radian, 1958 (leg. Ch. Lewinsohn, both specimens preserved in SMNHTAU). Habitats for G. multiguttatus on the Israeli side of the Arava valley may have disappeared. Anthia (Thermophilum) duodecimguttata (Bonelli, 1813), one of the co-occurring ground beetle species of the Jordanian population of G. multiguttatus , was last found in 2003 in Israel (coll. U. Shanas, V. Chikatunov, SMNHTAU; pers. obs.).

Comments.

Specimens from Jordan and the central Negev in Israel are usually larger than those from the western Negev. Specimens from the HaBesor National Park are smaller than those from the western Negev. The latter populations of G. multiguttatus which co-occur with G. serrator populations ( Renan et al. 2011) have individuals with intermediate body lengths.

Graphipterus kindermanni has to be ranked as a junior synonym of G. multiguttatus . We checked for comparison the types of Basilewsky in MRAC (but did not find the type in NHMB that Basilewsky noted he had checked there) and did not find any morphological differences, with the exception of white setae on the elytral base. Both Basilewsky (1977) and Lorenz (2005) contended that G. kindermanni is a synonym of G. luctuosus .

Biology.

Seasonality and daily activity time are in the same as in G. serrator (see there), but the species seems to spend more time under shrubs. Graphipterus multiguttatus prefers stabilized and semi-stabilized sand with high vegetation. The population densities in the sympatric areas of the distribution ranges are lower than those for G. serrator . The beetles dig burrows between the hard crust layer and the soft sand, sometimes close to the dwarf-shrubs. Frequently, the openings do not collapse or become covered by sand. The beetles sometimes close the openings with sand from inside. Diet, intraspecific behavior including copulation and the chirping sounds produced by the stridulatory structure, are same as in G. serrator .

Scraping record.

In comparison to the co-occurring G. serrator , the scraping spectrograms of G. multiguttatus show clear differences in pulse interval as well as in the sound pressure level (Fig. 10b).