Platyderus (Eremoderus) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855)

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

19. Platyderus (Eremoderus) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855)

Figs 4D, E , 5I , 6E , 7L, M , 9G, H , 11F, G , 12M, N , 15F , 19

Feronia (Argutor) languida Reiche & Saulcy, 1855: 610 (type locality: “Jordanis”, based on lectotype designation).

Sphodrus parumstriatus = Sphodrus parumstriatus Fairmaire, 1872: 47 (type locality: “inconnue… probably qu’il appartient à la faune méditerranéenne”). Synonymy established by Bedel (1906: 91).

Note on type locality.

The specimens were collected from: "Des bords du Jourdain et de la mer Morte" ( Reiche and Saulcy 1855: 610).

References.

Platyderus languidus : Chaudoir 1866: 108-109; Piochard de la Brûlerie 1876: 428, 430; Bedel 1902: 211; Sahlberg 1903: 3-4; Bedel 1906: 91; Csiki 1931: 769; Jedlička 1963: 20, 22; Israelso 1990: 165; Jeanne 1996: 398; Lorenz 1998: 375; Hovorka and Sciaky 2003: 521; Lorenz 2005: 396; Hovorka 2017: 756.

Type material.

Feronia languida Reiche & Saulcy, 1855. Consists of four syntypes, 2♂♂, 2♀♀ in MHNG, all conspecific. All the specimens quite dirty and damaged. Three of them were preserved in pinned condition, whereas a male below designated as paralectotype, together with the extracted genitalia (without the urite preserved), was glued on a card; originally this specimen was pinned. The last specimen has been labelled as holotype by the late Claude Jeanne, but such a treatment was incorrect because at least four type specimens exist belonging to one species, all of them bearing the well-known yellow handwritten labels of Louis Jérome Reiche (1799-1890); all specimens have the status of syntypes.

We chose for lectotype designation a male specimen with the label “Jordanis” in order to retain the type locality “Jordanis” that is in accordance with the locality that was given in the description ( Reiche and Saulcy 1855). Although rather damaged, we took a picture of its habitus and examined its genitalia (Fig. 4D ). Afterwards, the lectotype specimen was glued onto a white card, and its genitalia were embedded in Euparal on a second smaller white card pinned below the specimen.

The four specimens are labelled, as follows: lectotype ♂, 'Jordanis [h, y] // Coll. Reiche [p, w] // PARATYPE Feronia / Platyderus languida R. & S / C. JEANNE des. 1990 [p, h, r] // Platyderus / Platyderus Eremoderus languidus R. & S. / JEANNE det. 1990 [p, w]'; paralectotype ♂, ' Platyderus / Platyderus Eremoderus languidus . Reiche / Soc. Ent. 1855. 610 / Syria [h, y] // Coll. Reiche [p, w] // HOLOTYPE Feronia / Platyderus languida R. & S. / C. JEANNE des. 1990 [p, h, r] // Platyderus / Platyderus Eremoderus languidus R. & S. / JEANNE det. 1990 [p, w]'; paralectotype ♀, 'Nazareth [h, y] // Coll. Reiche [p, w] // PARATYPE Feronia / Platyderus languida R. & S / C. JEANNE des. 1990 [p, h, r] // Platyderus / Platyderus Eremoderus languidus R. & S. JEANNE det. 1990 [p, w]'; paralectotype ♀, ‘Palæstina [h, y] // Coll. Reiche [p, w] // // PARATYPE Feronia / Platyderus languida R. & S / C. JEANNE des. 1990 [p, h, r] // Platyderus / Platyderus Eremoderus languidus R. & S. JEANNE det. 1990 [p, w]'.

Besides, all the four specimens have two supplementary labels subsequently added (Fig. 4D ), one printed in MHNG, ' Platyderus / langidus [sic] Reiche / ‘Syrie’ [pencil crossed off] / Label MHNG 2010 [p, w]', and, one lectotype [or paralectotype] label added by the first revising authors in the context of this work.

A further fifth syntype exists in MNHN, but in view of its too damaged body and imprecise location, it was not subject of lectotype designation (see "Imprecise locality").

Other material examined.

Imprecise locality: single specimen of uncertain sex, with missing left antennae, fore tarsi, middle and hind legs ' Platyderus languida Reiche [h, w] // cotype de Reiche cite par Chaudoir [h, w] // Ex Musæo Mniszech [p, w] // L. Bedel Vidit 1902. [p, w]', (MNHN; ex-collection Chaudoir, box Nº 218 " Platyderus Oxycrepis Stolonis Loxandrus ").

Israel: Northern District: 1♂ , ' ISRAEL: Hammat / Gader / 8.v.1997 / V. CHIKATUNOV’ (SMNH-TAU) . Central District: 1♀ , ' Beit-Berl / 13.2.68 // COLLECTED BY KUTY YEFENOF’ (SMNH-TAU); 1♀ , ' Israel Netanya / 30.11.96 / R. Hoffman’ (SMNH-TAU); 1♂ , ' Israel Netanya / 14.12.96 / R. Hoffman’ (SMNH-TAU); 1♀ , ' Israel Netanya / 21.12.96 / R. Hoffman’ (SMNH-TAU); 1♂ , ' ISRAEL: / Netanya 22.xii.1996 / V. Chikatunov’ (SMNH-TAU); 1♀ , ' Israel Netanya / 30.12.96 / R. Hoffman’ (NMNHS); 2♀♀ , ' Israel Netanya / 18.1.97 / R. Hoffman’ (SMNH-TAU); 1♀ , ' Israel Netanya / 1.3.97 / R. Hoffman’ (SMNH-TAU) . Jerusalem District: 1♀ , ' Jerosalim // Tapinopterus insidiosus Frm. ' (MFNB); 1♂ , ' Jerusalem / Syria // ex coll. A. Jedlička / National Museum / Prague , Czech Republic // Platyderus Eremoderus languidus / Reiche / det. Ing. Jedlička’ (NMPC); 1♀ , ' Jerosalim 30.XII.25' (MIZ); 1♂ , 'PALESTINE. / F.S. Bodenheimer. // Press by / Imp. Inst. Ent. / B.M. 1944-97. // Jerusalem / scopus / 26.XII.33' (NHMUK). Judea and Samaria Area : 1♀ , 'PALESTINE / Jerusalem - / Jericho Road / Bytinski-Salz / km 18. / 14.ii.1940 ' (SMNH-TAU); 1♂ , ' Jerusalem Jericho / Road km 18 / Palestine 17.ii.1940 / leg. Bytinski-Salz’ (SMNH-TAU); 1♀ , ' PALESTINE / Kv. Schiller / 25.ii. 19 / leg. Bytinski-Salz // Platyderus / Platyderus Eremoderus languidus R. / det. Ing. Jedlička’ (SMNH-TAU); 2♂♂, 1♀ , ' ISRAEL: South-facing / slope of Na ẖal Perat [= Naẖal Prat] / 28.ii.2007 / L. FRIEDMAN’ (SMNH-TAU); 1♂ , ' ISRAEL / Eshkolot / 18.iii.2007 / I. SCHTIRBERG’ (SMNH-TAU) . Southern District: 1♂, 1♀ , ' W-Israel / Nizzanim / S of Ashdod // 5.XII.2008 / leg. Th. Assmann’ (cASL); 1♀ , ' Ashkelon / 7.4.2017 / I. Renan // FS’ (cWR); 1♂ , ' Ashdod / 11.4.2017 / I. Renan // GM’ (SMNH-TAU) .

TME: 30 specimens. TGE: 4♂♂, 2♀♀.

Diagnosis.

A species of medium size for Platyderus (Eremoderus) , with light reddish-brown integument, meso- and metatarsomeres dorsally convex and smooth (Fig. 6E ), and pronotum from widest point to apex slightly to moderately constricted (PW/PA: 1.31-1.41), with sides to base straight (rarely slightly concave). Posterior angles of pronotum subrounded, with tips not protruding laterally (most cases) or very slightly protruding (few cases - as in P. jordanensis sp. nov.). Median lobe of aedeagus (lateral view) with proximal part, including basal bulb, rather long and slender, forming an angle with distal part of lobe smaller compared to other members of the " Platyderus Eremoderus languidus " group (Fig. 9G, H ).

Redescription.

Habitus. Specimens of moderate to large size for Platyderus species (BL: 6.40-9.10 mm; BW: 2.20-3.15 mm), with elongate and moderate convex body (Fig. 4D, E ). Measurements and ratios. See Table 3 . Color and lustre. Body and appendages uniformly yellow brown to reddish-brown, usually head darker than the rest of the body. Integument slightly to moderately shiny, head and pronotum as shiny as elytra. Microsculpture and punctation. Pronotum with evident microreticulation, sculpticells regular isodiametric. Elytra (including intervals, basal margin and lateral gutter) with distinct isodiametric sculpticells. Ventral surface with more or less well-impressed isodiametric or slight transverse sculpticells or with sculpticells less apparent or scarcely-visible. Head smooth, including area of frontal furrows, sometimes clypeus with fine and shallow longitudinal wrinkles, disc micropunctate. Pronotum surface largely smooth, only apical part medially in front of anterior transverse impression and basal area medially behind posterior transverse impression longitudinally wrinkled; basal foveae and adjacent lateral areas mostly smooth, rarely shallowly punctate. Elytral intervals with very superficial and scattered punctures, or without such ones. Abdominal ventrites 1-3 finely wrinkled. Head. About one-third or more as wide as pronotum (PW/HW= 1.27-1.38). Eyes long, slightly to moderately convex. Labrum subrectangular, shorter than clypeus, with anterior margin concave medially. Frontoclypeal suture distinct in middle, reduced to disappeared at sides. Frontal furrows small, punctiform. Paraorbital sulci fine, backward surpassing posterior margin of eye, almost reaching level of posterior supraorbital pore. Thorax. Pronotum one tenth to one fifth wider than long (PW/PL= 1.11-1.22), with widest point at second quarter. Anterior transverse impression absent, posterior transverse impression barely distinct. Sides sinuate, convex medially and anteriorly, straight to slightly concave posteriorly; anterior bead present laterally, lack or present in medial tenth; basal bead present laterally, reduced to absent in medial third to medial half. Metepisternum slightly longer than wide, MA/MI= 0.87-0.95. Elytra. Elongate, about one-and-a-half times or little more as long as elytra (EL/EW= 1.52-1.62), two-and-a-half-times as long as pronotum (EL/PL= 2.42-2.60), and a third to a half as wide as pronotum (EW/PW= 1.29-1.48), with widest point at medial third or third quarter. Parascutellar striole short, less impressed than other striae, not joining stria 1; striae 1-8 and striole superficially punctate; base of stria 1 ending in parascutellar pore, striae 2-6 reaching or not reaching basal bead, 7 ending before basal bead. Interval 3 with three discal setiferous punctures, as location of first varies (adjacent to stria 3, in midst of interval 3, or adjacent to stria 2). Umbilicate setiferous series mostly with 16 punctures on each elytron. Legs. Posterior side of profemur with one or two setae in basal third and one or two in medial third. Mesofemur mostly with 5 setiferous punctures on anterior side ventrally (Fig. 5I ). Anterior side of metafemur ventrally with a few long setae, one in basal third and one to three in apical half. Male genitalia. Urite IX subovate to subtriangular, with proximal margin nearly symmetrical and subacuminate at apex (Fig. 7L, M ). Median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view slender, with long and narrow basal bulb, long and broader shaft, and short, almost straight apex, as angle between front and rear halves relatively small (Fig. 9G, H ); median lobe in ventral view straight, 3.5-3.7 times longer than wide; apical lamella (dorsal view) short, nearly symmetrical, rounded at tip, with right side straight to convex and left side barely concave. Internal sac in lateral view (Fig. 9G, H ) with ventral sclerite broadened and rounded distally; same in ventral view (Fig. 11F, G ), with dorsal sclerite large, reticulate, with lateral protuberances distinct, and ventral sclerite narrow and nearly straight. Right paramere as on Fig. 12M, N . Female genitalia (Fig. 15F ). Apical gonocoxite semi-pointed apex and one dorsolateral ensiform seta. Spermathecal canal connected in basal third of receptaculum.

Comparisons.

P. languidus and P. jordanenis sp. nov. differ in characters noted in “Diagnosis” under the latter species.

P. languidus distinguishes from both P. brunneus and P. irakensis sp. nov. by meso- and metatarsomeres dorsally neither flattened nor grooved (vs. meso- and metatarsomeres dorsally more or less flattened and grooved), see Fig. 6E . Additionally, it is distinct from P. brunneus in the pronotum less cordate, with sides less concave and less constricted toward base. The species differs from P. irakensis sp. nov. by the less long elytra compared to the length of the elytra and pronotum (EL/EW: 1.52-1.62 and EL/PL: 2.42-2.60, vs. EL/EW: 1.62-1.63 and EL/PL: 2.65-2.72).

Habitat.

The records from the Coastal Lowlands of Israel refer to dune habitats close to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Platyderus languidus co-occurs there together with Carabus impressus Klug, 1832, Masoreus aegyptiacus Dejean, 1828, Graphipterus sharonae Renan & Assmann, 2018, and some eurytopic ground beetle species (see habitat characterization in Assmann et al. 2008, 2015a; Renan et al. 2018). Photographs of this type of habitat are given in Assmann et al. (2008, fig. 17, p. 17, 2015a, fig. 8b, p. 63) and Renan et al. (2018, fig. 15, p. 63). The other habitats in Nahal Prat (= Wadi Kelt) must differ from these ones as there are no typical dune habitats.

Distribution.

Platyderus languidus was cited for Morocco, Libya, Egypt (incl. Sinai), Syria and Israel ( Jedlička 1963: 22; Hovorka 2017: 756). Machard (2017: 102, 2019: 199) included it in the list of the Moroccan Carabidae noting that its “Présence au Maroc non confirmée”. The review of published and new material showed that the species does not live in Africa. All examined material of Platyderus (Eremoderus) from Tunisia, Libya and Egypt should be referred to P. brunneus (see above). The species records of P. languidus for Morocco are also based on former misinterpretations and should concern P. insignitus . Certainly occurs only in Israel (Fig. 19 ). May live also in the southernmost area of Syria.

Notes.

Léon Fairmaire described his Sphodrus parumstriatus without indication of an exact locality. This author mentioned only that it comes from " La localité qu’il habite est inconnue, mais il est plus que probable qu’il appartient à la faune méditerranénne ". Later on, Bedel (1906: 91) established the synonymy of S. parumstriatus with Feronia languida and stated: " Le type, dont la provenance restait ignorée, provient manifestement des récoltes de F. de Saulcy en Palestine. J’ai pu l’examiner grâce à l’extrème amabilité de M. J. Magnin, son possesseur actuel ". In 2016, one of us (BG) looked for the type material of S. parumstriatus in MNHN, a depository where the ex-collection of L. Fairmaire is housed now, but nothing has been found. Subsequently, in a correspondence with BG (pers. comm.), Dr. Th. Deuve said: " Nous n’avons pas la collection Magnin et j’ignore où elle se trouve. Certains spécimens ont pu être dispersés et pourraient être dans la collection du Muséum, mais je ne connais pas le type de Sphodrus parumstriatus Fairmaire. De toute façon, les types de Fairmaire sont toujours très difficile à trouver. En général, nous n’en retrouvons que 50 %".

It is worth noting that the distance between the closest known localities of P. brunneus ferrantei and P. languidus in south Israel, respectively Holot Haluza (being the northeasternmost locality of the former species) and Ashkelon (being the southwesternmost one of the latter species), is about 65 km in a straight line. By supposition, the two species occur in different types of habitats.

Figures

Figure 4. Dorsal habitus. A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) insignitus insignitus Bedel, 1902, male specimen, SW Tiznit, Sous-Massa Region, Morocco; B. P. (E.) irakensis, sp. nov., holotype; C. P. (E.) jordanensis, sp. nov., holotype; D. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), lectotype and its labels; E. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), male specimen, " Jerusalem Syria ", Jerusalem District, Israel. Scale bars: 1 mm.

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 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 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 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 19. Distribution of species from subgenus Platyderus Eremoderus in the Levant and the Arabian Peninsula: Platyderus arabicus sp. nov. (yellow question marks), P. brunki sp. nov. (blue circle), P. irakensis sp. nov. (green circles), P. jordanensis sp. nov. (brown circles), and P. languidus (red circles).