Aplocnemus (Aplocnemus) basalis (Küster, 1849)

Liberti, Gianfranco, 2019, The Aplocnemus Stephens, 1830, of Greece (Coleoptera, Cleroidea, Dasytidae). A contribution to their knowledge, Natural History Sciences 6 (1), pp. 3-26 : 13-14

Aplocnemus (Aplocnemus) basalis (Küster, 1849)

(Figs. 2, 9, 32-33)

Dasytes basalis Küster, 1849: 19 , loc. typ. Trogir ( Croatia); Pic, 1937: 32; Kaszab, 1955: 107; Majer, 1982: 430, 444, Figs. 4, 20; Peacock, 1987: 153; Mayor, 2007: 409; Liberti, 2009: 345.

= Haplocnemus basalis var. distinctipes Pic, 1908: 50 , loc. typ.

Kerkyra [synonymized by Majer, 1982: 430].

= Haplocnemus macedonicus Pic, 1922: 17 , loc. typ. Mount Athos

(Halkidiki) [syn. n.]; Pic, 1937: 37; Peacock, 1987: 155; Mayor,

2007: 411.

The types have been probably lost but the identifica- tion of this species, as proposed by Majer (1982), is here shared: it is common all over the Dalmatian coast and several topotypes are available.

A syntypus, ♂, of Aplocnemus basalis var. distinctipes Pic is at MNHNP in collection Pic, labelled: “Corfou” hw, “2 gardés Schilsky” hwA, “basalis , gardé par Schils 2” hwA, “basalis ou sp. près” hwA, “type” hwA, “basalis var. distinctipes Pic ” hwA, “var. distinctipes ” hwA, “ TYPE ” prr. (possibly added by Villiers) , “ Holotypus / Aplocnemus basalis / v. distinctipes Pic / vidit Liberti III.2007 ” prr. It shows no meaningful differences from the Trogir topo-typical population sample .

The typical series of Aplocnemus macedonicus Pic is made up by 12 syntypes, 11 (5 ♂♂ and 6 ♀♀) kept at MNHNP, 1 (♂) at MSNM (1 further ♂, MNHNP, has be- en set off the typical series because it bears a label “ H. pertusus ” handwritten by Pic: evidently the Author had doubts on it) .

The syntypes are labelled as follows:

1 ♂ ( MNHNP): “ Athos, (Macedonien), Schatzmayr” pr.; “801” hw; “voir basalis” hwA; “type” hwA; “ TYPE ” prr. probably added by Villiers ; “ Syntypus, Aplocnemus , macedonicus Pic , vidit Liberti III.2007 ” prr .

1 ♀ ( MNHNP): “ Athos, (Macedonien), Schatzmayr” pr.; “type” hwA; “macedonicus Pic ” hwA; “ TYPE ” prr. probably added by Villiers ; “ Syntypus, Aplocnemus , macedonicus Pic , vidit Liberti III.2007 ” prr .

All others ( MNHNP, MSNM) bear two labels: “ Athos, (Macedonien), Schatzmayr” pr.; “ Syntypus, Aplocnemus , macedonicus Pic , vidit Liberti III.2007 ” prr .

They show no meaningful differences from the Trogir topo-typical population.

Description - ♂. Antennae pectinate; articles 4 and 5 triangular, trasverse, inner side straight in 4, straight or feebly S-shaped in 5; 6-9 of increasing length; 7 and 8 clearly S-shaped on inner side (although in certain populations the inner side is nearly straight, as happens on Sveti Klement islet near Hvar). Integuments brown to dark brown, rather bright; antennae brown with basal articles variably paler (at least article 2 pale); femora brown, tro- chanters, tibiae and tarsi variably pale to brown (at least the first tarsal article yellowish); mouth parts and palpi brown. Pronotum convex, trasverse, max. width behind the middle, finely punctuate; punctures rather dense (a somewhat variable character), space between punctures wider than their diameter, bright, lateral sides granulose to finely crenulated. Elytra punctuation rather strong; space between punctures convex, bright; elytral apices separa- tely rounded; apical angle undefined. Abdomen first and second visible sternites simple; fifth visible sternite mo- derately emarginated on posterior side; last sternite median process long. Basal undivided part of tegmen short (less than ¼ of total length).

♀. As the male but antennae serrate and elytral apical half slightly widened.

Dimensions im mm. TL: ♂♂ 4.2–5.0; ♀♀ 4.0–5.0.

♂♂. TL = 4.56±0.37, PL = 0.96±0.10, EL = 3.14±0.24 ,