Brachinus (s. str.) plagiatus Reiche, 1868

Pavlou, Christoforos, Bolanakis, Giannis, Kardaki, Ljubitsa & Trichas, Apostolos, 2025, Forty years of ground-beetle sampling in Crete. A major contribution to the Carabidae (Coleoptera, Adephaga) fauna of Crete (Greece), Contributions to Entomology 75 (2), pp. 269-288 : 269-288

5. Brachinus (s. str.) plagiatus Reiche, 1868

Figs 2 D , 5 A

Habitat and general distribution.

Brachinus plagiatus is a Turano-Mediterranean species ( Hrdlička 2017). The species is associated with saline fields and marshes ( Nyilas 1994), but also freshwater lakes and ponds ( Austin et al. 2008).

Material examined.

Heraklion: • Almyros estuary , salt-marsh, 35.338506°N, 25.061404°E, 2 m elev., 3.V.2012 – 3.VI.2013, pitfall traps, 1 spm, leg. Aspradaki E. ( NHMC) ; • same data, but in phrygana .

Comments.

Brachinus plagiatus was recorded for the first time from Greece (Corfu, Attiki, Aetoloakarnania and Zakynthos) by von Oertzen (1886) as B. bombarda . Peloponnese (Tayget, Nauplio) was later on added in the Greek distribution of the species ( Apfelbeck 1904). To our knowledge, this is the first record of this species in Crete. The species was found in a saline environment in the marsh formed by the delta of Almyros estuary. The species’ distribution in Crete requires further investigation. Whether this is a recent dispersal or an old relictual presence, is unclear.

Figures

Figure 2. A. Calosoma inquisitor; B. Calosoma maderae; C. Carabus graecus trojanus; D. Brachinus plagiatus; E. Brachinus psophia; F. Clivia ypsilon; G. Sirdenus grayii; H. Scarites eurytus; I. Scarites buparius. Scale bars: 5.5 mm (A); 7.75 mm (B); 5 mm (C); 3 mm (D); 2.5 mm (E); 1.75 mm (F); 1.1 mm (G); 6.4 mm (H); 6.8 mm (I).

Figure 5. Aedeagii. Α. Brachinus plagiatus; B. Brachinus psophia; C. Sirdenus grayii; D. Anaulacus ruficornis; E. Cymindis andrae; F. Ophonus puncticeps; G. Dicheirotrichus obsoletus; H. Parophonus hirsutulus; I. Pterostichus anthracinus; J. Calathus cinctus. Scale bars: 0.53 mm (A); 0.41 mm (B); 0.28 mm (C); 0.72 mm (D); 0.49 mm (E); 0.61 mm (F); 0.47 mm (G); 0.56 mm (H); 1.17 mm (I); 0.63 mm (J).