Gymnomorphus mononychus ( Seidlitz, 1866 )

Pierotti, Helio, Bellò, Cesare & Alonso-Zarazaga, Miguel A., 2010, 2376, Zootaxa 2376, pp. 1-96 : 16-18

Gymnomorphus mononychus ( Seidlitz, 1866)

( Figs. 15a–b, 49a, 70)

Peritelus (Peritelus) mononychus Seidlitz, 1866: 290 , 347; Stierlin, 1883: 586, 596; Lona, 1937: 258.

Peritelus mononychus Seidlitz : Iglesias Iglesias, 1922: 6; Torres Sala, 1962: 360; Alonso-Zarazaga, 1983: 71.

Gymnomorphus mononychus (Seidlitz) : Pierotti & Bellò, 1994: 289; Gurrea Sanz & Sanz Benito, 2000: 183; Alonso- Zarazaga, 2002: 24.

Diagnosis. Species of small to median size (3.5–5.4 mm), distinguished from the former mainly by the characters depicted in the key; there is no significant difference between the two species in the shape of the aedeagus or in the endophallic structures.

Redescription. Body elongate. Dorsal vestiture composed of silvery or golden, intensely metallic shimmering scales, usually not imbricate, and of spatulate or tear-shaped setae, appressed on pronotum and elytral dorsum, hardly suberect on declivity. Frons a little narrower than in G. nigrans , antennae with more robust scape, not very incrassate from base to apex. Pronotum with dense, rather deep punctures. Elytra widest near the humeral calli. Aedeagus in dorsal view with a suboval outline before apex, markedly papillate apically ( Fig. 15a); endophallic structures as in Fig. 15b. Spermatheca as in Fig. 49a.

Distribution. Iberian endemite: eastern Spain, from Pyrenees to province of Alicante but clearly more frequent northwards; one specimen in HOF labelled (erroneously?) “Sierra de Gredos” (type locality: Mont Serrat, Catalonia). Spanish literature records: Barcelona: Montserrat (type locality: Pierotti & Bellò, 1994); carretera de Monistrol a Montserrat ( Alonso-Zarazaga, 1983); Monistrol ( Pierotti & Bellò, 1994); Garraf (erroneously as Gurrof: Pierotti & Bellò, 1994; Gurrea Sanz & Sanz Benito, 2000); Castellón: Altura, Almenara, Segorbe, Benicásim (Torres-Sala, 1962), Segorbe ( Pierotti & Bellò, 1994); Valencia: Estivella (Torres- Sala, 1962).

Material examined ( Fig. 70). Spain: Lérida: Alt Urgell, Llinars, m. 1350, 24.VI.1995, leg. Bellò (BEL) ( PIE); Sarroca, VI.33, leg. Museu (MBA); Gorges Organyá, VI.36, leg. Museu (MBA). Barcelona: Montserrat, 30. V.55, leg. González ( GON); carr. Monistrol a Montserrat, Km. 8, 24.VI.1981 leg. Alonso-Zarazaga ( ALZ); S. Quinto [Quintì] de Mediona, 21.10.34, leg. Museu (MBA); Begues, IV.35 leg. Museu (MBA); costas de Garraf, 18.10.59, leg. Ribes ( GON) ( MMI); Olérdola, 15.V.2000 leg. Pierotti (BEL) ( PIE). Tarragona: Valls, 17.VII.26, leg. Español (MBA); Montsiá, S. Carles de la Ràpita, VIII.34, leg. Museu (MBA); Margalef de Montsant, XI.34, leg. Museu (MBA); Mola de Colldejou, 31.III.57, leg. Español (MBA); do., 27.III.59 leg. Ribes ( GON); do., IV.62, leg. Altimira ( GON); Sra. de Caro , 6. VI.87, leg. Vázquez ( VEC); do., da 350 a 1420 m., 4. VI.98 leg. Pierotti (BEL) ( PIE); La Senia, 18.V.2002, leg. Bellò (BEL); do., leg. Pierotti ( PIE); Tortosa, Ports El Cargol, 6:I.89, leg. Vázquez ( VEC); Pla Motllats, Monreal, 26.III.62, leg. Español (MBA); Creixell de Mar , N 41º 09' 736" E 01º 25' 605", 3.IV.2004, leg. Pierotti ( PIE). Castellón: Peñíscola, s.ra de Irta, 4.XI.2000, leg. Bellò (BEL); do., leg. Pierotti ( PIE); Adzaneta, 11.IV.68, leg. Español (MBA); Mte. Serdaña, Pina, IV.66, leg. Español (MBA); Cabanes, 26. V.68, leg. Español (MBA); Benicásim, 18. V.11 ( MAG) ( MMO); Segorbe, leg. Moroder ( HOF); Segorbe, Castellnovo, m. 400, N39º52'198" W00º26'716", 4.VI.2005, leg. Bellò (BEL); do., leg. Pierotti ( PIE); Torreblanca, 20.IV.62, leg. Español (MBA); do., 23.IV.62, leg. González ( GON). Teruel: Torre de Arcas , VII.60, leg. Español ( GON) (MBA). Valencia: Barraiux, 16.IV.65, leg. Español (MBA). Alicante: sierra de Aitana, m. 1300–1500, 23. VI.97, leg. Borovec ( PIE). Ávila: Sierra de Gredos , 8.53 ( HOF) (a very suspect locality) .

Biology. This species is usually found on Buxus sempervirens L. ( Buxaceae ) but sometimes also on Genista scorpius (L.) DC. ( Fabaceae ) and under Teucrium polium L. subsp. aureum (Schreber) Arcang. (Lamiaceae) .

Notes. The specimens from Sierra de Caro have rather imbricate scales and the pronotum narrower at the base than at the apex.

Genus Pseudomeira Stierlin

Pseudomeira Stierlin, 1881: 160 ; Stierlin, 1883: 585; Solari, 1955: 39; Pierotti & Bellò, 1998: 90; Alonso-Zarazaga & Lyal, 1999: 172.

Peritelus (Pseudomeira) : Lona, 1937: 262.

Type species: Pseudomeira nicaeensis Stierlin, 1881 , by subsequent designation.

For description see Pierotti & Bellò (1998). A genus with a western-Mediterranean distribution ( Fig. 63). Currently includes 71 species but in need of a thorough revision which will most likely lead to its dismemberment.