Valenzuela corsicus (Kolbe, 1882)

Lienhard, Charles & Mifsud, David, 2015, Psocids from Malta (Insecta: Psocodea: ‘ Psocoptera’), with new synonymy for Peripsocus stagnivagus based on the discovery of its first Palaearctic male, Zootaxa 3936 (2), pp. 251-260 : 254

Valenzuela corsicus (Kolbe, 1882)

Material examined. Malta, Delimara, Peter’s Pool, 3 km SE Zejtun, 12. vii.1997, 1 ♀, DB; Baħrija Valley, 6 km W of Rabat, 16. vii.1997, 1 ♂, DB; Salina bay, 4. vi.1999, 2 ♂ and 1 ♀, BM; Fomm ir-Riħ bay, 14. vi.1999, 1 ♀, BM; Salina bay, 2. v.2001, 2 ♂ and 2 ♀, BM; Buskett, 3. v.2001, 1 ♂, BM; Marsaxlokk beach, 4. v.2001, 3 ♂ and 9 ♀, BM; Verdala Palace, 12–24. vi.2014, 22 ♂ and 25 ♀, Malaise trap, DM; same data but 25.vi.–10. vii.2014, 25 ♂ and 28 ♀; 11.vii.–1.viii.2014, 38 ♂ and 33 ♀; 1–15. viii.2014, 4 ♂ and 2 ♀; 15–30. viii.2014, 6 ♂ and 2 ♀; and 1–30.ix.2014, 38 ♂ and 12 ♀.

Notes. A new record for the Maltese Islands. It is a West Palaearctic species, common in the Mediterranean Region, which was known for a long time under the junior synonym V. rhenanus (listed under this name by Lienhard & Smithers 2002). However, for several years V. corsicus has been considered as its valid name (Lienhard 2002). This foliicle species lives on different kinds of trees and shrubs, occasionally also on herbaceous plants ( Lienhard 1998).