Tentyria (Tentyria) rugosa cassolai Ardoin, 1973

Leo, Piero, 2009, Observations on some Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera) from Sardinia, with description of three new Asida *, Zootaxa 2318, pp. 400-420 : 416-417

Tentyria (Tentyria) rugosa cassolai Ardoin, 1973 spec. comb. nov.

Tentyria ramburi cassolai Ardoin, 1973: 266 , 304

Tentyria ramburi cassolai Ardoin : Gardini 1995: 5; Aliquò et al. 2006

Tentyria (Tentyria) ramburi cassolai Ardoin : Löbl et al. 2008: 208

Material examined (277 specimens). Sardinia. Cagliari prov.: Assemini , alluvioni del [= alluvial detritus of] Flumini Mannu ( CPL) ; Decimomannu, Rio Sesi ( CCM) ; Guasila ( MSNG) ; Monastir, Monte Olladri ( CAL; CMA); Nuraminis ( CCM; CDS; CPL); id., San Lussorio ( CCM) ; id., Villagreca ( CPL) . Medio Campidano prov. : Furtei ( CCM) ; Gonnosfanadiga, Monte Linas, Genna Eidadi , 1000 m ( CCM) ; id., id., Punta Cammedda 1100-1200 m ( CDS; CPL); Pabillonis, is Arenas ( CCM, CPL) ; Samassi ( CPL) ; San Gavino Monreale ( CPL) ; Sanluri ( CCM; CPL); Serrenti ( CPL) ; id., Corte Caddeus ( CCM) ; id., Perda Longa ( CCM, CPL) ; id., Sa Conca Manna ( CCM) ; Villamar ( MSNG) .

Remarks. Subspecies closely related to the previous one but well separable by the weaker sculpture and the more opaque surface of the elytra; in some specimens the elytra show weak longitudinal striae and a sparse and superficial transverse rugosity; the male copulatory organ is identical to that of the nominal subspecies. Populations from Monte Linas (Genna Eidadi and Punta Cammedda) show some features that are transitional towards T. rugosa rugosa : elytra shinier and, on average, slightly more rugose compared to lowland populations in the rest of the distributional area of the subspecies.

Distribution and ecology. This subspecies, endemic to southern Sardinia, is relatively widespread in the neighbouring subregions (cf. Mori 1975) Campidano and Trexenta ( Fig. 19). Only two localities were known in the literature: Medio Campidano prov.: Samassi ( Ardoin 1973, type locality of Tentyria ramburi cassolai ) and Sanluri Stato ( Aliquò et al. 2006).

Tentyria rugosa cassolai is usually found in dry meadows and on the edges of crop fields; on Monte Linas it reaches 1,200m. Observable all year round, although it is more easily found in autumn and winter, when it hibernates under stones or amongst clods of earth on the sides of ploughed fields.