Pygopleurus pseudopsilotrichius ( Petrovitz, 1958 )

Bollino, Maurizio, Uliana, Marco & Sabatinelli, Guido, 2019, The Pygopleurus Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Glaphyridae) of mainland Greece: taxonomy, faunistics and ecological notes, Zootaxa 4674 (2), pp. 151-202 : 163-166

Pygopleurus pseudopsilotrichius ( Petrovitz, 1958) valid species ( Figs. 25–32 )

Amphicoma (Pygopleurus) pseudopsilotrichia Petrovitz, 1958: 50 .

= Amphicoma (Pygopleurus) pseudopsilotrichia f. viridis Petrovitz, 1958: 50 [infrasubspecific, unavailable].

= Amphicoma (Pygopleurus) pseudopsilotrichia f. albopilosa Petrovitz, 1958: 51 [infrasubspecific, unavailable].

Type series. Syntypes in MHNG .

Although Petrovitz (1958: 50) clearly states “ Туре und Kotypen in meiner Sammlung ” [type and cotypes in my collection], his collection (in MHNG) includes only 49 specimens all labelled as “cotype” (currently, syntypes). We do not know if the type was actually selected by Petrovitz and is currently elsewhere, or if it has never been selected at all. In any case, as the species is easily identifiable using the characters indicated here below, we do not deem it necessary to designate a lectotype.

Type locality. [ Greece], Peloponnes: Gythion .

Material examined. 199 ♂♂, 181 ♀♀, detailed in supplementary material.

Type specimens examined: 49 specimens (18 ♂♂, 31 ♀♀) labeled as cotypes in MHNG .

Verified distribution.

Greece.

Peloponnese. Arcadia: near Vourvoura; near Vitina (Menalo Mts); Kandila, 14 km N of Levidhion; 3 km S of Alepochori; Dirrahi; near Karitena; Prosilion; Stenò. Argolis: Pass between Tripoli and Argo. Lakonia: Polovitsa; 2 km SW of Polovitsa; 4 km S of Trapezonti; Agios Nikolaos (Taygetos); Arna (Taygetos); Gorani, Moni Golas; Gythion; Gythion, beach East; Mavrovouni (Gythion, Stomio Bay); Mystras; Chania; near Dafni; Paleopanagia (Taygetos); Loggastra; Karvelas; Kosiarion; Monemvasia;

Diagnosis. Characters of the anemoninus species-group described above, plus the following characters. Male with lateral setation of abdomen and setation of elytra black. Head and pronotum usually with dark and unsaturated hues of violet or green. Paramera similar to those of anemoninus and not diagnostic, everted endophallus similar to that of anemoninus but diagnostic ( Figs. 29–30 ). Female similar to that of P. anemoninus , reliably identifiable only by association with males.

Distribution ( Fig. 32 ). Restricted to Central and Southern Peloponnese (Lakonia, Arcadia and Argolis).

Eco-ethological notes ( Fig. 32 ). The adults of this species are active between the middle of April (12 th April, Laconia, Monemvasia, sea level) and the end of May (27 th May, Arcadia, Vytina, altitude not recorded, but close to 1000 m). The species, which is usually abundant, is found from sea level up to 1000 m, both elevations being documented in the mountain ranges of Parnon and Taygetos. Like its vicariant species P. anemoninus , the adults are mainly found feeding or mating on Papaver , Cistus incanus , and Asteracee (white or yellow Tubuliflorae and Liguliflorae like Crepis and Anthemis ).

Taxonomic remarks. Pygopleurus pseudopsilotrichius was described as a distinct species, but placed into synonymy with P. anemoninus by Baraud (1989). Comparing more than 720 specimens of both nominal taxa, we have ascertained that examined populations can be consistently distinguished by the characters mentioned in the diagnosis. In addition, populations distinguished on morphological basis are distributed on two parapatric ranges (fig. 32). In spite of the rather limited morphological differences encountered, the mentioned observations and the absence of intermediate populations support treating these as distinct species.

Figures

FIGURE 32. Pygopleurus anemoninus (Brullé, 1832) and P. pseudopsilotrichius (Petrovitz, 1958): geographical, altitudinal, and temporal distribution of records. Red curves showing the expected distribution if the species was uniformly present at all heights and all times (see Material and methods).

FIGURES 25–31. Pygopleurus pseudopsilotrichius (Petrovitz, 1958), habitus and genitalia. 25, male (Lakonia, Gorani); 26, male (Arcadia, Karitena); 27, female (Lakonia, Chanià); 28, female (Lakonia, Gorani); 29, left paramere in lateral and dorsal view (Laconia, Chanià); 30, everted endophallus in left lateral view (Laconia, Chanià); 31, left genital sclerites of female (Laconia, Dafni).