Graphipterus rotundatus Klug, 1832: 7, stat. rest.

Renan, Ittai, Assmann, Thorsten & Freidberg, Amnon, 2018, Taxonomic revision of the Graphipterusserrator (Forskal) group (Coleoptera, Carabidae): an increase from five to 15 valid species, ZooKeys 753, pp. 23-82 : 50-52

Graphipterus rotundatus Klug, 1832: 7, stat. rest. Figs 7a, 9l, 18, 26a

Types.

Lectotype: ♀ (blue label, black handwritten): <rotundatus/Klug*/x.118-21./ Bir Hamam El Eherenberg> (White label, black handwritten): <Zwischen Bir-Lebuck/and Bir Hamam/(Libye)> (White label, black typewritten): <Type> (White label, black typewritten): <Hist. -Coll. (Coleoptera)/Nr. 1299/ Graphipterus rotundatus/ Klug*/Bir Hamam El Eherenberg/Zool. Mus. Berlin>. Deposited in ZMHB [examined]. Paralectotype: ♂ (Red label, black typewritten): <Type> (White label, black handwritten): <1299> (white label, black typewritten): <Hist.-Coll. (Coleoptera)/Nr. 1299/Graphipterus rotundatus/Klug*/Bir Hamam El Eherenberg/Zool. Mus. Berlin>. Deposited in ZMHB [examined].

Diagnosis.

Small species with large distribution range, high variation in size (15-19 mm) and variation in elytra pattern (4-6 extensions, 16-22 spots). posterior discal spots larger than other spots; six spots usually forming an arc pattern anterior and lateral to posterior spots; Median lobe of aedeagus with short, slightly bent tip.

Comparisons.

Graphipterus rotundatus resembles G. multiguttatus (see comparisons in G. multiguttatus ) and G. luctuosus (see comparisons in G. luctuosus ).

Description.

BL male: 15.0-19.0 mm, average 17.4 ± 1.5 mm; BL female: 15.4-17.1 mm, average 16.1 ± 1.3 mm.

Head slender; HW /PW: 0.72; EYL: 1.4-1.7 mm; EYL/EL: 0.16. Mentum with 2-3 teeth. Frontal ridge slightly developed. In male, apical white frons stripes wider than exposed frons (Fig. 4b).

Pronotum cordiform; PL/PW: 0.65; BPW/PW: 0.69; posteromedially concave and without white margin; white lateral margin as wide antonomer 1 long.

Elytra oval, humeri rounded; EL: 8.9-11.0 mm, average 9.7 mm; EW: 7.0-8.7 mm, average 7.8 mm; EL/EW: 1.25. Lateral cross section quite flat. Dense black scales, disc not visible between scales (Fig. 6a). White lateral margin nearly as wide as half antennomere I long and with six, sometimes fouor extensions; extension I triangular to slightly elongated; extension II absent or only weakly developed, rarely fused with lateral disc spot. White posterior margin becomes narrower towards the suture, gap at suture smaller than lateral margin. Disc usually with 18, sometimes 16 or 22 rounded to weakly elongate spots; anterior spot slightly elongated, wide as extension I, six spots usually forming an arc pattern anterior and lateral to posterior rounded, larger spots. Apical sinuation strongly developed, apex protruded, almost rectangular, only slightly rounded at most distant tip (Fig. 7a). Suture conspicuous.

Legs long; MTIL: 4.3-5.2 mm, average 4.7 mm; El/MTIL: 1.63. Metatibial secondary spur dark at base, MTAL: 5.4-6.9 mm, average 6 mm; MTAL/MTIL: 0.8. Claws of hind legs brown at base.

Median lobe of aedeagus with slightly bent tip (Fig. 9l).

Habitat.

Unknown.

Co-occurring species.

Graphippterus rotundatus lives in sympatry with G. luctuosus , G. peletieri , and G. valdanii in Algeria and Tunisia.

Distribution.

Algeria, Tunisia, and the coastal region of west Libya (Fig. 18).

Conservation.

The species does not seem to be endangered as it has a wide distribution range which is not strongly affected by human activities.

Comments.

On the label of the Graphipterus rotundatus type, “Libye” is written; however, as far as it is known, C.G. Ehrenberg never succeeded in reaching Libya (Baker, 1997). There is only a very small chance that any other entomologist had collected Graphipterus in Lybia earlier than 1830.

Biology.

The three larval stages develop during the summer inside ant nests. The first larval instar is nearly 4 mm long and creeps into nests of large ant species, digs there a chamber, preys on the ant’s brood and pupates within the nest. When the first larval instar tries to enter nests of small ants, it is attacked by the ants ( Paarmann 1985; Dinter et al. 2002). The larval instars have a mandibular suctorial tube to suck hemolymph from their prey (Brandmayr 1994a, 1994b). Four specimens from the species studied by Wilfried Paarmann, Pietro Brandmayr, and their co-workers were examined; the material belongs to G. rotundatus and not to G. serrator as noted in their publications.