Sphaerotachys tetraspilis variabilis ( 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 : 99-100

Sphaerotachys tetraspilis variabilis ( Chaudoir, 1876)

Material examined (2 spec.). YEMEN: SOCOTRA ISLAND: Nogged plain (sand dunes), Sharet Halma village, 12°21.9′N, 54°05.3′E, 10.–11.xi.2010, 2 spec., lgt. J. Bezděk. det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( NMPC).

Diagnosis. Body length 2.5–3.2 mm. Elytra with four pale spots, sometimes united in longitudinal band extending from third to eighth interval, but not reaching apex. Antennae yellowish, with basal antennomeres paler. Legs yellow. Elytra with three impunctured striae, stria VIII complete. Head with distinct transverse stria separating clypeus from frons, surface without microsculpture, frontal furrows superficial and parallel. Basal impressions on pronotum without small deep punctures.

Comments on classification. Sphaerotachys tetraspilus variabilis is the former Elaphropus (Tachyura) tetraspilus variabilis , or Tachyura (T.) tetraspila variabilis . BRUNEAU DE MIRÉ (1952) treated T. variabilis as a species closely related to T. tetraspilus (Solsky, 1874) from Turkestan, but the latter can be distinguished by smaller eyes, wider base of pronotum, and lateral margins of pronotum not sinuate before posterior angles. Later, BRUNEAU DE MIRÉ (1990) doubted the validity of Elaphropus (Tachyura) variabilis because it is difficult to separate it from E. (T.) tetraspilus . The paratype of T. variabilis deposited in MRAC, was studied.

Distribution. Distributed in semidesert areas of tropical and intertropical Africa and Asia, eastwards to India and Pakistan.According to SCHATZMAYR (1936) not found in Egypt, although it occurs in Syria. First record from Socotra Island.

Tachys torretassoi Schatzmayr & Koch, 1934 Material examined (37 spec.). YEMEN: SOCOTRA ISLAND: Gubbah di Net, 12°28′52.9″N, 53°23′07.4″E, 2 m a.s.l.,

28.x.2010, 36 spec., lgt. & det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( RFBE) ; Adhoh di Melhoh , 12°34′19.9″N, 54°02′49.0″E, 31.x.2010, 1 spec., lgt. & det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( RFBE). Some of these specimens were re-identified by Jacques Coulon .

Diagnosis. Body length 2.3–3.0 mm. Yellow, head, pronotum and elytra with large transverse dark spot in middle, scutellum and apex reddish. Eyes large and rather convex. Lateral margins of pronotum slightly sinuate towards base, posterior margin straight, posterior angles right and pointed. Elytra parallel-sided.

Collection circumstances. All specimens were collected at light

Distribution. Egypt and United Arab Emirates. First record from Socotra Island.