Ropalopus ungaricus (Herbst, 1784)

López, Marcos A. & Baena, Manuel, 2022, A new subspecies of Ropalopus (Ropalopus) ungaricus (Herbst, 1784) from southern Spain, Ropalopus (Ropalopus) ungaricus occidentalis ssp. nov. (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), Zootaxa 5154 (5), pp. 557-576 : 570-571

Keys for the separation of the subspecies of Ropalopus ungaricus .

The complex Ropalopus ungaricus may be divided into two group characterized by the punctures of pronotum. The first group integrated by the subspecies R. (R.) ungaricus , R. (R.) insubricus and R. (R.) gallicus , is defined by a pronotum with a discal area smooth in the males and almost smooth in his whole surface in the females. In the second group formed by the subspecies R. (R.) boreki , R. (R.) ossae , R. (R.) siculus and R. (R.) occidentalis ssp. nov., the pronotum in both sexes is densely punctate or rugose, often with small median unpunctured and lustrous area near base. Karpiński et al. (2020) have used these features in his key for the separation of the subspecies of Ropalopus ungaricus . The followings artificial keys modify the published by Karpiński et al. (2020) to include the new subspecies and allow an easy separation of all known subspecies.

1. Ventral surface covered with a dense and yellowish pubescence................................................. 2

-. Ventral surface covered with sparse black hairs.............................................................. 3

2. Pronotum with a smooth discal rhomboid area in the males and almost smooth in his whole surface in the females. Located in southeastern France...................................................................... R. (R.) u. gallicus

-. Pronotum in both sexes densely punctate or rugose, often with small median unpunctured area near base. Endemic to Sicily ......................................................................................... R. (R.) u. siculus

3. Elytral shiny and sculpture clearly of two types. In the metallic basal half part there are deeper and larger isolated points ( Fig. 23 ) while in the matt distal half the points are much smaller and denser; pronotum unevenly tapered towards anterior and posterior margins, wide and raised at base then cordate; antennae in males as long as elytra; lateral lobes of tegmen long and slender, parallel sided with external margin concave and relatively long hairs on top. Restricted to Southern Greece (Peloponnese Peninsula)........................................................................... R. (R.) u. boreki

-. Elytra with similar shiny in the basal and distal parts. Elytral sculpture more uniform on whole surface, changing gradually in depth and density of points towards end, the sculpture is mainly made by indistinct points with creased and convex surface between them ( Figs. 6 , 7 ), greenish brown; pronotum evenly tapered towards anterior and posterior margin.............. 4

4. Pronotum with a smooth discal rhomboid area in the males and almost smooth in his whole surface in the females ( Figs. 24, 25 , 26 )................................................................................................. 5

-. Pronotum in both sexes densely punctate or rugose, often with small median unpunctured area near base ( Figs. 13 , 14, 15, 16 , 17 , 27, 28 )........................................................................................... 6

5. Pronotum clearly tapered towards the margins ( Fig. 24 ); in males the lateral areas densely punctuated and almost merged at the anterior and posterior margins, the central part is occupied by a smooth area without punctuation or at most a barely perceptible; basal half of the elytra slightly and irregularly wrinkled; antennae in males relatively shorter, as long as or at most slightly longer than elytra. Populations living in montane and submontane regions not lower than 600 m a.s.l. Widely distributed in central Europe from eastern France (except south-eastern), central Italy, Montenegro to eastern Romania and to the north southwestern Poland........................................................................ R. (R.) u. ungaricus

-. Pronotum irregularly tapered towards margins ( Fig. 25 ); in males the lateral punctuate areas with deeper and narrow punctuation, never merged at the anterior and posterior margins; basal half of elytra without wrinkles and regularly punctured; antennae in males clearly longer than elytra. Populations living at low altitudes, not higher than 600 m a.s.l. This subspecies occurring in Europe from Italy (northern part) to westernmost Turkey and towards the east reaches southern part European Russia............................................................................................. R. (R.) u. insubricus

6. Pronotum usually completely, uniformly and densely punctuated, sometimes with a smooth glabrous area near the base in both sexes ( Fig. 27, 28 ); antennae in males clearly longer than elytra by almost two last joints; prosternal process relatively narrow and rounded at the apex ( Fig. 29 ); lateral lobes of tegmen short and robust, adjoining at ends, with external margin convex; margin of phallobase roof clearly concave at middle, and relatively short hairs on apex ( Fig. 30 ). Located in central Greece (Thessaly Region).................................................................. R. (R.) u. ossae ( Fig. 31 )

-. Punctuation of the pronotum uneven, the lateral areas are densely dotted, the central part is occupied by a smooth area that extends along its entire length and in which there are larger, deeper and sparse points; the central area of the disk is occupied by a smooth and flat surface (Figs 13,14,15,16,17); antennae in males reaching elytra apex, or surpassing it only by the last antennomere; prosternal process relatively broad and rounded at apex ( Fig. 4 ); lateral lobes of tegmen short and robust, almost parallel at ends, with external margin slightly convex; margin of phallobase roof almost straight, without hairs on top ( Fig. 9 ). Endemic to southeastern Spain................................................... R. (R.) u. occidentalis ssp. nov.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Prosternal process.

FIGURE 6. Elytral sculpture of the basal half of the elytra of the holotypus.

FIGURE 7. Elytral sculpture fom medium to apex of holotypus.

FIGURE 9. Lateral lobes and phallobase roof.

FIGURE 13. Pronotum of the allotype.

FIGURE 17. Variability on punctuation of pronotum in females.

FIGURE 23. Elytral sculpture on basal half of R. (R.) ungaricus boreki (Photo: Karpiński et al. 2020).

FIGURE 26. Female pronotum of R. (R.) ungaricus ungaricus (Photo: Karpiński et al. 2020).

FIGURE 29. Prosternal process of R. (R.) ungaricus ossae (Photo: Karpiński et al. 2020).

FIGURE 30. Lateral lobes of R. (R.) ungaricus ossae (Photo: Karpiński et al. 2020).

FIGURE 31. Habitus of female of R. (R.) ungaricus ossae (Photo: Lech Karpiński).

FIGURES 24–25. Male pronotum of R. (R.) ungaricus ungaricus and R. (R.) ungaricus insubricus (Photo: Karpiński et al. 2020).

FIGURES 14-16. Variability on sides and lustrous area of pronotum in males.

FIGURES 27–28. Male and female pronotum of R. (R.) ungaricus ossae (Photo: Lech Karpiński).