Hycleus cingulatus ( Faldermann, 1837 )

Serri, Sayeh, Bologna, Marco A. & Riccieri, Alessandra, 2020, Revision of the Hycleus sexmaculatus species group (Coleoptera: Meloidae Mylabrini), Zootaxa 4790 (1), pp. 1-42 : 13-16

Hycleus cingulatus ( Faldermann, 1837)

Figs 4, 16, 47–54

Mylabris cingulata Latreille , in litteris.

Mylabris cingulata Faldermann, 1837: 122 .

Mylabris succincta Faldermann, 1837: 365 .

Zonabris cingulata var. flavipennis Dokhtouroff, 1889: 157 .

Mylabris cingulata ab. flavis Mader, 1927b: 196 (Replacement name for flavipennis).

Hycleus amrishi Makhan, 2012:1 syn. n.

Hycleus colligatus sensu Auct. nec Hycleus colligatus (Redtenbacher, 1850)

Type material. The type of this species is lost. We examined in MRSN ( Baudi di Selve’s collection from the Dejan’s collection) specimens identified as succinctus, which were possibly sent by Faldermann .

Type locality: “Transcaucasia” ( Faldermann 1837).

Additional material examined. Azerbaijan. 1 ex. Lankaran ( MUSE) . Iran. 1♀ Iran, Alborz prov., Karadj , VIII.1947 ( HMIM) ; 1♀ Esfahan prov., Delijan , 2170 m, 13. VI.2004, leg. Serri & Frisch ( HMIM) ; 1 ♂ East Az- arbaijan provinc, Azarshahr , 1. VI.1976, leg. Damanabi ( HMIM) ; 1♂ Elburz, 30 km S di Ab Ali , 9.VII.1965, leg. Giordani Soika, Mavromoustakis ( MABC) ; 2 ♂ 1♀ Dasht-e Kavir, Kashan dint., 10.VIII.2000, leg. Crucitti, Vi- gnoli, Facheris ( MABC) ; 8 ♂ 8♀ Esfahan prov., Golpayegan , 15.VII.1974, leg. Hashemi & Zairi ( HMIM) ; 38 ♂ 48 ♀ ( HMIM) 1 ♂ 1 ♀ ( MABC) Esfahan prov., Kashan, Karkas , 2800m, 29.VII.1974, leg. Hashemi & Zairi ; 5 ♂ 1♀ Esfahan prov., 25 km E Khomein , 1860 m, 2.VII.1983, leg. Mirzayans & Brumand ( HMIM) ; 6 ♂ 2 ♀ Esfahan prov., Khomein- Delijan , 1780 m, 30.VII.1981, leg. Pazuki & Brumand ( HMIM) ; 1♀ Esfahan prov., Natanz, S Slope of Karkas , 21.VII.2003, leg. Rajaiee ( HMIM) ; 1♂ Fars prov., Firouzabad , 27. VI.1963, leg. Mirzayans ( HMIM) ; 3 ♂ Fars prov., Sepidan, Sibkhalaj- Shiraz , 29. VI.1963, leg. Mirzayans ( HMIM) ; 1♂ Fars prov., Mehkou , 9.VII.1971, leg. Safavi ( HMIM) ; 2 ♂ 1 ♀ Fars prov., Shiraz , 2.VIII.1949, leg. Mirzayans ( HMIM) ; 5 ♂ 10 ♀ ( HMIM) , 1 ♂ 1 ♀ ( MABC) ; Ghazvin prov., Ghazvin , 4.VIII.1950, leg. Mirzayans ; 1♂ 2♀ Ghom prov., Aliabad , 10. VI.1970, leg. Rajabi ( HMIM) ; 1♀ Mazandaran prov., Amol, Ramsar, Behshahr , VIII.2002, leg. Ghahari ( MABC) ; 1♀ Hamedan prov., Nahavand, Garmasiab , 1750 m, 7.VIII.1997, leg. Barari & Mofidi ( HMIM) ; 3 ♀ Hamedan prov., Asadabad , 11.VIII.1968, leg. Mirzayans & Mortazaviha ( HMIM) ; 1♀ Hamedan prov., Asadabad , 2100m, 17.VII.1978, leg. Hashemi & Zairi ( HMIM) ; 2 ♂ 1♀ Hamedan prov., Asadabad , 2200 m, 30.VII.1987, leg. Mirzayans & Hashemi ( HMIM) ; 1♂ Kavir Schutzgeb. , Siahkuh geb. ( MABC) ; 1♂ Kerman prov., Baft, Lalehzar , 4. VI.1971, leg. Naim & Hashemi ( HMIM) ; 1♂ Kerman prov., Sirjan , 15.VIII.1964, leg. Safavi ( HMIM) ; 1♂ Kerman prov., Rayen , 2400m, 17. VI.1988, leg Hashemi & Badii ( HMIM) ; 1♂ Kordestan prov., Sanandaj , 14.VII.1969, leg. Pazuki & Hashemi ( HMIM) ; 1 ♂ Kordestan prov., 10 km N Sarvabad , 2230 m, 31.VII.2015, leg. Montreuil ( HMIM) ; 2 ♂ Persien , Sabzvaran ( HNHM) ; 1 ♂ 1♀ Tehran prov., Abali , 18. IV.1946, leg. Mirzayans ( HMIM) ; 1 ♂ Tehran prov., Abahar , 8.VII.1947, leg. Salavatian ( HMIM) ; 1 ♀ Tehran prov., Eschtehard , 3.IX.2000, leg. Serri ( MABC) ; 1 ♀ Tehran prov., Golhak , 1400 m, b. Tehran, IX–X.1961, leg Klapperich ( HNHM) ; 1 ♂ Tehran prov., Vanak , 11.VII.1947, leg. Salavatian ( HMIM) ; 1 ♂ Tehran prov., Varamin , VII.1949, leg. Abaspour ( HMIM) ; 1 ♀ Tehran prov., Varamin , 2.VIII.1972, leg. Abai ( HMIM) ; 1 ♂ Tehran prov., Damavand, Marunak , 12.VIII.1948, leg. Vaezi ( HMIM) ; 2 ♂ Razavi Khorasan prov., Mashhad , 5. VI.1965, leg. Sharif ( HMIM) ; 1♀ Razavi Khorasan prov., Neishabur, N. Sabze- var, 1000m., 15. VI.1977, leg. Pazuki & Abai ( HMIM) ; 1♂ Semnan prov., 31.VII.1972, leg. Iranshahr ( HMIM) ; 1♀ ( HMIM) 1♂ ( HNHM) Semnan prov., Shahrud, Mayamay , 8.VII.1972, leg. Iranshahr ( HMIM) ; 1♂ Belutschistan, Sangun 1650 m, ostl. Kuhi Taftan , 4–8. VI.1954, leg. W. Richter ( HNHM) ; 2 ♂ 2 ♀ Strauss 91, Persien ( HNHM) ; 2 ♂ 3 ♀ Persien (143), Mahmudieh, Tehran, Stepp , 1250m, 21.VIII.1948, coll. P. Aellen ( HNHM) ; 1♀ Persien, Sudl. Dorf (131), Damavand , steppe, 11.VIII.1948, coll. P. Aellen ( HNHM) . Syria. 1 ex. Faliah env., Palmyra oasis , N 34°333.196 E 38°17.150 ( MZUF) . Turkey. 1 ♂ Malataya, Kale , 17.VIII.1982, leg. Pavesi ( MABC) .

Records from literature. The taxonomy of this species is very confused, and we prefer to consider only confirmed or congruent records from the literature. Iran. Iran (also as Perse) ( Marseul 1870, 1872; Baudi di Selve 1878a, b also as colligatus and succinctus; Sumakov 1915, 1930; Mader 1927a; Kuzin 1954; Özbek & Szaloki 1998; Bologna 2008); Fars ( Serri 2015 as colligatus ); Fars, Ghazvin, Hormozgan, Kerman, Kordestan, Sistan & Baluchestan ( Mirzayans 1970; Modarres Awal 1997, 2012; Ghahari & Campos-Soldini 2019 as colligata ); Semnan, Damghan, Ahvanu ( Makhan 2012 as amrishi ); Esfahan ( Ghahari & Campos-Soldini 2019 as colligatus ); Markazi ( Faraji et al. 2012; Moslemi et al. 2015 as colligatus ); S Iran ( Özbek & Szaloki 1998). Syria. Syria ( Özbek & Szaloki 1998). Transcaucasia. Transcaucasia ( Faldermann 1837, type locality, 1839; Sumakov 1930; Kuzin 1954; Kaszab 1983; Özbek & Szaloki 1998; Bologna 2008; Ghahari & Campos-Soldini 2019). Saudi Arabia. Arabia ( Sumakov 1930; Bologna & Turco 2007; Ghahari & Campos-Soldini 2019). Oriente ( Baudi di Selve 1878a). Probably M. husseini sensu Marseul 1870 and 1872 cited from northern Egypt and southern Iran refers to cingulatus .

Turkmenistan. Turkmenia (Dokhtouroff 1890; Kaszab 1983; Ghahari & Campos-Soldini 2019). “Turkestan”. “Turkestan” (Dokhtouroff 1890; Kaszab 1983; Bologna 2008; Ghahari & Campos-Soldini 2019). Turkey. Turkey ( Koçak & Kemal 2009); Ankara, Delice ( Özbek & Szaloki 1998).

Description. Body length 12–22 mm. Body black, elytra yellowish brown with black pattern. Head subquadrate; antennomere III ca. 1/4 time longer than IV, V–VII transverse and progressively widened, antennomeres VIII–X progressively narrowed, male XI ( Fig. 47 ) elongated apically, with an angulated step before elongated portion, small setae on apex and on angulated point before apex; in female ( Fig. 48 ) last antennomere short and spindle-shaped. Pronotum ( Fig. 16 ) longer than wide, distinctly strangulate on fore third, deeply depressed on fore sides, with fine sparse punctures; mesosternun as in Fig. 53 . Each elytron with two black spots on anterior third, one wide middle fascia, and one narrow black fascia on apical portion ( Fig. 54 ). Last male ventrite narrowly concave and depressed, posterior margin with a deep middle emargination; aedeagus ( Figs 51–52 ) with slightly narrowed endophallic hook, distal aedeagal hook distinctly curved, far from proximal one and almost at apex, gonoforceps ( Figs 49–50 ) progressively narrow and straight in both ventral and lateral views.

Taxonomic remarks. This species represents a taxonomic rebus. The name Mylabris cingulata Latreille is a nomen in litteris which seems to be mentioned only in Dejean (1836). Faldermann (1837) considered this name and described formally cingulata and M. succincta , which is a synonym of M. cingulata , and consequently became the Author. Checking Faldermann’s description in detail, we attributed to H. cingulatus a species which is uncommon outside Iran, and which has been a source of confusion for all blister beetle specialists.

Baudi di Selve (1878a, 1878b) mentioned both M. cingulata Latreille and M. cingulata Faldermann , indicating that both correspond to the Marseul (1870) description of this species. However, the specimens of M. cingulata in Marseul’s collection (MNHN) correspond to Mylabris parumpicta ( Heyden, 1883) rather than to the Faldermann’s description. Probably this is why Borchmann (1917) erroneously considered M. parumpicta as synonym of M. cingulata Faldermann , while parumpicta belongs to the nominate subgenus of Mylabris ( Pan & Bologna, 2014; Serri & Bologna, 2018). Baudi di Selve (1878a, 1878b) also mentioned another species as “ colligata ?”, the same as M. succincta Faldermann , which is synonym of M. cingulata . In the Baudi di Selve’s collection (MRSN), which includes the Dejan’ collection, is housed one specimen of this species from Iran, possibly sent by Faldermann (see above). According to the description of colligata , the pronotum is extremely strangulate and the last antenomere internally with a projected part. Baudi di Selve (1878a, 1878b) also mentioned that because of the shape of antennae he considered it a distinct species. This distinct species with the specific features of antennae and pronotum has usually been named “ colligatus ” in the literature and collections by some specialists such as Sumakov, Borchmann, Kaszab. After the examination of syntypes of both colligatus and javeti (MNHN, NHMW), we concluded that they are synonyms (see below under H. colligatus ). In conclusion, the specimens identified as Mylabris colligata in most literature probably must be referred to H. cingulatus , while records of Mylabris javeti , correpond to H. colligatus .

We did not examine types of varieties of cingulatus described by Dokhtouroff (1889), so their specific attribution remains doubtful.

Kaszab identification of this species was erroneous; it seems that he ignored the strangulate shape of pronotum and the shape of male antennomere XI, which is very characteristic in this group of species and in his colligata , javeti and schauffelei identification. In particular, two Kaszab’s paratypes of varieties, one identified as Mylabris schauffelei ab. postmediojuncta Kaszab and the other as M. javeti ab. heratensis Kaszab, actually refer to H. cingulatus with the typical last male antennomere and strangulate and soft punctuated pronotum.

We noted small differences in the shape of aedeagal hooks ( Fig. 52 ) in different populations of this species but we believe that the diagnostic shape of last antennomere and pronotum are synapomorphic characteristics.

According to the photos and description published by Makhan (2012), we propose the following taxonomic act: Hycleus amrishi Makhan, 2012 = Hycleus cingulatus ( Faldermann, 1837) new synonymy.

Distribution. The distribution of this species is difficult to define with certainty, because it was largely confused in the literature and several citations have been erroneously referred to it. Bologna (2008), considered H. cingulatus endemic to Iran, but we also studied scattered records from Azerbaijan, Syria and Turkey. Records from Saudi Arabia ( Sumakov, 1930) need confirmation as well as the old citation from the late “Turkestan”. In Iran, this species is distributed at higher elevations unlike to its two sympathric species H. colligatus and H. schauffelei .

Figures

FIGURES 47–54. Hycleus cingulatus (Faldermann): 47. male antenna; 48. female antenna; 48. tegmen, ventral view; 50. tegmen, lateral view; 51. aedeagus, lateral view; 52. variations of aedeagus; 53. mesosternum; 54. elytral pattern. Scale bar: 1 mm.

FIGURES 13–24. Head and pronotum of: 13. Hycleus apicipennis; 14. H. balteatus; 15 H. bipunctatus; 16. H. cingulatus; 17. H. colligatus; 18. H. hayki; 19. H. lindbergi; 20. H. pirata; 21. H. schauffelei; 22. H. sexmaculatus; 23. H. tenuepictus; 24. H. trianguliferus.