Aplocnemus (Aplocnemus) basalis (Küster, 1849)

Liberti, Gianfranco, 2019, The Aplocnemus Stephens, 1830, of Greece (Coleoptera, Cleroidea, Dasytidae). A contribution to their knowledge, Natural History Sciences 6 (1), pp. 3-26 : 13-14

Aplocnemus (Aplocnemus) basalis (Küster, 1849)

(Figs. 2, 9, 32-33)

Dasytes basalis Küster, 1849: 19 , loc. typ. Trogir ( Croatia); Pic, 1937: 32; Kaszab, 1955: 107; Majer, 1982: 430, 444, Figs. 4, 20; Peacock, 1987: 153; Mayor, 2007: 409; Liberti, 2009: 345.

= Haplocnemus basalis var. distinctipes Pic, 1908: 50 , loc. typ.

Kerkyra [synonymized by Majer, 1982: 430].

= Haplocnemus macedonicus Pic, 1922: 17 , loc. typ. Mount Athos (Halkidiki) [syn. n.]; Pic, 1937: 37; Peacock, 1987: 155; Mayor, 2007: 411.

The types have been probably lost but the identification of this species, as proposed by Majer (1982), is here shared: it is common all over the Dalmatian coast and several topotypes are available.

A syntypus, ♂, of Aplocnemus basalis var. distinctipes Pic is at MNHNP in collection Pic, labelled: “Corfou” hw, “2 gardés Schilsky” hwA, “basalis , gardé par Schils 2” hwA, “basalis ou sp. près” hwA, “type” hwA, “basalis var. distinctipes Pic ” hwA, “var. distinctipes ” hwA, “TYPE” prr. (possibly added by Villiers) , “ Holotypus / Aplocnemus basalis / v. distinctipes Pic / vidit Liberti III.2007 ” prr. It shows no meaningful differences from the Trogir topo-typical population sample .

The typical series of Aplocnemus macedonicus Pic is made up by 12 syntypes, 11 (5 ♂♂ and 6 ♀♀) kept at MNHNP, 1 (♂) at MSNM (1 further ♂, MNHNP, has been set off the typical series because it bears a label “ H. pertusus ” handwritten by Pic: evidently the Author had doubts on it) .

The syntypes are labelled as follows:

1 ♂ ( MNHNP): “ Athos, (Macedonien), Schatzmayr” pr.; “801” hw; “voir basalis” hwA; “type” hwA; “ TYPE ” prr. probably added by Villiers ; “ Syntypus, Aplocnemus , macedonicus Pic , vidit Liberti III.2007 ” prr .

1 ♀ ( MNHNP): “ Athos, (Macedonien), Schatzmayr” pr.; “type” hwA; “macedonicus Pic ” hwA; “ TYPE ” prr. probably added by Villiers ; “ Syntypus, Aplocnemus , macedonicus Pic , vidit Liberti III.2007 ” prr .

All others ( MNHNP, MSNM) bear two labels: “ Athos, (Macedonien), Schatzmayr” pr.; “ Syntypus, Aplocnemus , macedonicus Pic , vidit Liberti III.2007 ” prr .

They show no meaningful differences from the Trogir topo-typical population.

Description - ♂. Antennae pectinate; articles 4 and 5 triangular, trasverse, inner side straight in 4, straight or feebly S-shaped in 5; 6-9 of increasing length; 7 and 8 clearly S-shaped on inner side (although in certain populations the inner side is nearly straight, as happens on Sveti Klement islet near Hvar). Integuments brown to dark brown, rather bright; antennae brown with basal articles variably paler (at least article 2 pale); femora brown, trochanters, tibiae and tarsi variably pale to brown (at least the first tarsal article yellowish); mouth parts and palpi brown. Pronotum convex, trasverse, max. width behind the middle, finely punctuate; punctures rather dense (a somewhat variable character), space between punctures wider than their diameter, bright, lateral sides granulose to finely crenulated. Elytra punctuation rather strong; space between punctures convex, bright; elytral apices separately rounded; apical angle undefined. Abdomen first and second visible sternites simple; fifth visible sternite moderately emarginated on posterior side; last sternite median process long. Basal undivided part of tegmen short (less than ¼ of total length).

♀. As the male but antennae serrate and elytral apical half slightly widened.

Dimensions im mm. TL: ♂♂ 4.2–5.0; ♀♀ 4.0–5.0.

♂♂. TL = 4.56±0.37, PL = 0.96±0.10, EL = 3.14±0.24, PW = 1.38±0.13, EW = 1.66±0.06.

♀♀. TL = 4.68±0.47, PL = 0.96±0.06, EL = 3.32±0.31, PW = 1.46±0.13, EW = 1.72±0.15.

Distribution and comments - This species lives in the southern part of the Balkans and is common in Dalmatia, where it has been collected, in spring, beating several kind of blossoming trees and shrubs (as, for example, Paliurus sp. ). It is probably present in the whole of Turkey as well, although apparently rare.

Materials studied

Croatia (localities listed from north to south)

Simuni, on Pag Is. (Liberti, 2004, CLi); Sukosan, near Zadar (Liberti, 2004, CLi); Dugopolje (Liberti, 2004, CLi); Donji Seget, near Trogir (Liberti, 2002, CLi)( T); Vinisce near Trogir (Liberti, 2004, CLi)( T); Split (Karaman, approx. 1900, CCo)*; Liuka, on Solta Is. (Liberti, 2002, CLi); Bol, on Brac Is. (Liberti, 2004, CLi); Drvenik, near Makarska (Liberti, 2004, CLi); Sveti Klement Is. near Hvar (Liberti, 2002, CLi); Vis town, on Vis Is. (Liberti, 2002, CLi); Slano (Herrmann, 1998, CPl); Ston (Poot, 1988, CCo)*; Mljet Is. (Gobanz,?, MSNM); Pomena, on Mljet Is. (Boness, 1985, SMNS).

Montenegro

Bar (Liberti, 2008, CLi); Budva (Liberti, 2008, CLi); Kolasin (Constantin, 1998, CCo)*; Rastane (Liberti, 2008, CLi).

Greece

Halkidiki prov.: Sarti (Constantin, 1987, CCo)*.

Agios Oros prov.: Athos (Schatzmayr,?, MSNM).

Serres prov.: Therma (Bense, 1990, SMNS).

Kavala prov.: Nea Iraklitsa (Bense, 1990, SMNS).

Preveza prov.: Parga (Danielsson, 1997, ZMLU).

Ioannina prov.: Papigko on Timfi Mts. (Liberti, 2005, CLi).

Larissa prov.: Ossa (Ziegler, 2006, CZi).

Ahaïa prov.: Kalavrita (Angelini, 1998, CAn; Malkin, 1977, Co*); Kalogria (Angelini, 1999, CAn); Kato Vlassia (Malkin, 1977, CCo)*; Limanaki (Ziegler, 2010, CZi); Vouraikos Gorge (Ponel, 1996, CPn).

Korinthia prov.: Kaliani (Angelini, 1996, 1998, CAn); Kiato (Angelini, 1998, CAn); Oros Killini (Saltini, 1998, CSl); Perahora (Ziegler, 2010, CZi).

Ilia prov.: Olimbia (Frisch, 1987, ZMB).

Lakonia prov.: Taigetos (Pesarini, 1986, CLi).

Lesvos prov.: Olimpos, Lesvos Is. (Biström, 2005, MZF; Silfverberg, 2005, MZF).

Dodekanissa prov.: Kamiros, Rodos (Schmalfuss, 1992, SMNS).

Turkey

Bolu prov.: Aband near Bolü (Klapperich, 1965, CCo)*.

Zonguldak prov.: Ahmetusta Gecidi (Angelini, 2009, CAn)(F); Bartin (Angelini, 2009, CAn) (F); Karli (Angelini, 2009, CAn)(F).

Cankiri prov.: Ilgazdagi Gecidi (Angelini, 2009, CAn) (F).

Ordu prov.: Persambe (Angelini, 2009, CAn)(F).

Tokat prov.: Resadiye (Angelini, 2009, CAn, CLi).

Gümüshane prov.: Gümüshane (Angelini, 2009, CAn) (F).

Isparta prov.: Isparta (Coiffait, 1954, CCo)*.