Chlaenius (Chlaeniellus) laeviplaga laeviplaga Chaudoir, 1876

Felix, Ron F. F. L., Farkač, Jan & Suleiman, Ahmed Saeed, 2012, Annotated checklist of the Carabidae (Coleoptera) of the Socotra Archipelago, Insect biodiversity of the Socotra Archipelago. (Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 52), pp. 75-106 : 81-82

Chlaenius (Chlaeniellus) laeviplaga laeviplaga Chaudoir, 1876

( Fig. 2 )

Material examined (33 spec.). YEMEN: SOCOTRA ISLAND: Wadi di-Negehen, 12°38′33.0″N, 54°03′18.5″E, 20.ii.2009, 9 spec., lgt. & det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( RFBE) ; Wadi Ayhaft , river, 12°36′49.1″N, 53°59′26.4″E, 22.ii.2009, 3 spec., lgt. & det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( RFBE) ; Ridah (Mômi), 12°32′40.3″N, 54°17′41.1″E, 24.ii.2009, 8 spec., lgt. & det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( RFBE) ; Wadi Mathif , 12°27′28.38″N, 54°18′22.32″E, 20.vi.2009, 1 spec., lgt. V. Hula, det. Kirschenhofer (as Chlaenius (Chlaeniellus) obscurus Klug, 1832 ) ( NMPC) ; Wadi di-Negehen, 12°36′55.58″N, 54°03′48.28″E, 25.x.2010, 4 spec., lgt. & det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( RFBE) ; Wadi Ayhaft , 12°38.5′N, 53°58.9′E, 200 m, 7.–8.xi.2010, 4 spec., lgt. P. Hlaváč, det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( NMPC) ; same data, 2 spec., lgt. Jiří Hájek, det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( NMPC) ; Rokeeb environment, 12°35.154′N, 54°09.358′E, 600 m, 6.–8.ii.2001, lgt. V. Neumann, 2 spec., det. E. Kirschenhofer ( DWCB) .

Diagnosis. Body length 11.0–13.0 mm. Head and pronotum metallic green. Basal half of pronotum and along median stria up to three quarters heavily and coarsely punctured. Lateral margins of pronotum sinuate, base oblique towards obtuse posterior angles. Elytra blackish green with dense yellow pubescence. Lateral margins narrowly and apex broadly yellow. Legs and antennomeres I–III yellow, rest of antennae yellowish brown.

One specimen was erroneously identified by E. Kirschenhofer as Chlaenius (Chlaeniellus) obscurus Klug, 1832 . This species does not have a broadly yellow apex of the elytra ( Figs. 2–3 ).

Comments on classification. MANDL (1980) described Chlaenius laeviplaga saudiarabicus , which differs from the nominate form in having the lateral margins of the pronotum straight to the posterior angles, instead of clearly sinuate and with the apical yellow spot reaching much more forward towards base of elytra, along the sides up to one third or more of the length of the elytra. The specimens from Socotra do not fit the description of this subspecies.

Collection circumstances. This species was rather abundant at Wadi Di-Negehen and Ridah (Mômi) in a pasture along the wadi, where many more specimens were seen but not collected.

The specimens from environments of Rokeeb were found, partly submerged, on algae in a watering hole.

Distribution. Known from East Africa, mainland Yemen and the United Arab Emirates. First record from Socotra Island.

Figures

Figs.1–5. 1 – Abacetus (Astigis) quadrisignatus Chaudoir,1876 (Socotra, Hadiboh env); 2 – Chlaenius (Chlaeniellus) laeviplaga laeviplaga Chaudoir, 1856 (Socotra, Wadi Mathif), elytra with extended yellow apex; 3 – Ch. (Chlaeniellus) obscurus Klug, 1832 (Yemen, Wadi Maytam), elytra narrowly yellow bordered; 4 – Ch. (Chlaeniostenus) canariensis seminitidus (Dejean, 1831) (Yemen, Beni Mansour env); elytra dull, with flat intervals, finely punctured; 5 – Ch. (Chlaeniostenus) cherensis Kirschenhofer, 1999 (Socotra,Wadi Ayhaft), elytra shiny, intervals convex, more coarsely punctured. Photos: 1, 4–5 Tim Faasen; 2–3 Ron F.F.L. Felix.