Dodomeira sabellai Bellò

Baviera, Cosimo, 2017, A taxonomic monograph of the genus Dodomeira Bellò & Baviera, a new genus of Peritelini from Sicily (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae), Zootaxa 4334 (1), pp. 1-138 : 104-107

Dodomeira sabellai Bellò & Baviera sp. n.

( Figures 37, 37a, 37b, 37c, 37d, 37e, 37f, 37 ’, 37’a, 37’b, 37’c, 36’d, 37’e, 37’f, 44f, 49bis, 54bis, 59bis, 96, 135)

Type locality. Sicily, Trapani, Castellammare del Golfo , monte Sparagio ( Fig. 176 ).

Diagnosis. A medium-sized Dodomeira (2.90–3.80 mm) belonging to the pfisteri group with slender body (length/width ratio: 1.68–1.75) and cylindrical elytra shape. Within the species group, it is recognisable by more (females) or less (males) elongate and parallel elytra, elytral declivity with clavate and flattened-recumbent setae (10°–25°), protibia with two-three acute spines on inner edge. Sizes: pronotum (length: 0.65–0.85 mm, width: 0.70–0.90 mm, ratio 0.93–0.94), elytra (length: 1.80–2.45 mm, width: 1.07–1.40 mm, ratio 1.68–1.75).

Type series. Holotype male with the following labels: [transparent label] genitalia in DHMF // [white, printed] ♂ // [white, printed] “ Sicilia, TP[Trapani], Castellam [m]are del Golfo, 16.III. [20]’08” // [white, printed]" M.te Sparagio, m 445, N 38°03.260’ E 012°47.907’ // [white, printed]" legg. Bellò & Chemello , Baviera & Rando” // [green, printed] “Collezione Cesare Bellò” // [red, printed] “ Dodomeira sabellai sp. n., Holotype, det. Bellò 2016 ” ( CBE) .

Paratypes. 2 females: “ Sicilia, Castellam [m]are, m.te Sparagio , m 485, 18. IV. [20] ’06, leg. Bellò ” ( CBE) ; 2 females: “ Sicilia, Castellam [m]are, m.te Sparagio , m 485, 18. IV. [20] ’06, leg. Bellò ” ( HPI) ; 2 males and 22 females: “ Sicilia, TP[Trapani], Castellam [m]are del Golfo , 16. III. [20]’08, M.[on]. te Sparagio, m 445, N 38°03.260’ E 012°47.907’, legg. Bellò & Chemello , Baviera & Rando ” ( CBA, CBE, ECO, GOS, MBAC, MZUF) ; 2 females: “ Sic. [ilia], TP[Trapani], Castellam [m]are del Golfo , m.[onte] Sparagio , vaglio bosco, m 445, 10/ 13.III. [20]’09, legg. Bellò & Baviera ” ( CBE). Types are 31 (3 males and 28 females) .

Other material. 1 female: “ Sicilia, Baida, TP [ Trapani ], 5.XII.1996, leg. Silluzio ” ( HPI) ; 1 female and 1 male: “ Sicilia (TP) dint. Erice , 6 XII 1996 leg. Silluzio ” ( HPI, CBE) ; 2 females and one male: " Trapani, M. [on]te S.[an] Giuliano , 24-I-1913, A. Dodero ( MSNG) .

Other material are 6 (2 males and 4 females) of which two (males) have been studied genitalia. Other material considered provisionally as belonging to this species differs for less elongate elytra not parallel to the sides and for enlarged, raised setae.

Holotype. Male. Total length: 2.90 mm .. Slender body with elytra almost elongate, cylindrical, and parallel. Dorsal vestiture with brownish but not imbricate scales with metallic sheen.

Rostrum covered by brownish scales, transverse (length/width ratio 0.82), conical to the sides but with divergent sides towards the apex. Pterygia protruding from the rostrum. Epistome absent. Mesorostrum slightly concave, anteriorly with twelve short, thin, curved, semi-erect setae. Vertex wide and convex (vertex width / mesorostrum width: ratio 1.90) with several, almost short, widened-clavate, raised setae. Interocular space with visible fovea.

Lateral, almost large, convex eyes protruding from outline of head. Antenna robust and short with recumbent, golden-silvery, widened setae. Antenna with ratio 0.73 (scape length: 0.55 mm, funicle length: 0.75 mm). Scape clubbed, very short, slightly more robust than funicle, curved at the basal third and progressively thickening towards apex. Funicle segments including club, relative lengths as follows: 9.3.3.3.3.3.3.12; all segments with widened setae silvery; segments 4–7 pearl-shaped. Club at least twice wider than funicle, short, compact but fusiform with suture between first and second segment visible.

Pronotum clothed with brownish scales, quite sub square (length: 0.65 mm, width: 0.70 mm, ratio: 0.93), slightly sub-conical, slightly sinuate, with maximum width at basal third, as wide at base as its anterior margin, with short, clavate, golden flattened setae. Punctation usually covered by scales. Scutellum inconspicuous.

Elytra (length: 1.80 mm, width: 1.07 mm, ratio: 1.68) vaulted dorsally, cylindrical, parallel, covered by brownish scales, with flat suture, wider at the middle. Elytral declivity with clavate-spatulate, flattened-recumbent setae (10°–25°). Punctation of striae, shallow, catenulate and impressed. Interstriae flat, with clavate-spatulate, short, golden, flattened-recumbent setae. Humeri short and rounded.

Legs short and robust clothed by brownish scales and with short, widened golden setae. Femora clubbed. Protibia with three acute spines on inner edge, with mucro on inner apical angle. Protibia quite sinuous on inner edge, metatibia and mesotibia straight in side view.

Tarsal segment 1 short, conical; segment 2 short and transverse; segment 3 shallowly bilobed; all segments robust with thin golden setae. Onychium curved, robust and short.

Male genitalia. See Figures: dorsal shape aedeagus ( Fig. 49 bis), internal sac ( Fig. 54 bis), sternite IX ( Fig. 59 bis), apex of penis ( Fig. 37f ). Genitalia were examined in twelve specimens.

Paratypes variability. In addition to the characters of sexual dimorphism, males and females paratypes differs in size: length (males: 2.90–3.00 mm, females 3.40–3.80 mm) and elytra length/width ratio (males 1.68, females 1.72–1.75).

Distribution. See Fig. 141. Italian endemic. Known from the type locality and the surrounding limestone mountains.

Etymology. This species named after Sabella (Giorgio), eminent specialist of Coleoptera Staphylinidae Pselaphini , in appreciation of his collaboration.

Ecology and Phenology. Collected D. sabellai by Berlese and Winkler extractors from soil obtained sifting the leaf litter of scrubland with Olea aeuropea, on calcareous soil, in a slope garrigue in spring, at 400–500 meters. Collections in the summer months gave negative results suggesting that the D. sabellai are absent during this time.

Main soil type. Chromic-Luvisol (European Soil Data Centre; Panagos et al. 2012).

Reproduction. Amphigonic.

Chorological relationships. Sympatric with Dolichomeira sp. and Typhloreicheia belloi Magrini e Baviera, 2011 .

Figures

FIGURE 176. “ Trapani, Castellammare del Golfo, Monte Sparagio, 485 m type locality of D. sabellai Bellò & Baviera sp. n. — Photo by C. Baviera.

FIGURES 37 – 37 f. Dodomeira sabellai Bellò & Baviera, sp. n. holotype ♂ from “ Castellammare del Golfo, Monte Sparagio, Trapani ”: 37 — habitus dorsal view (scale bar: 1 mm); 37 a—habitus, lateral view; 37 b—pronotum and rostrum, lateral view; 37 c— pronotum, dorsal view; 37 d—elytral vestiture; 37 e—funicle and club; 37 f—apex penis.

FIGURES 45 – 59 bis. Dorsal shape aedeagus of: 45 — D. exigua (Stierlin, 1861) ♂ topotype; 46 — D. himerensis (Bellò & Baviera, 2011) ♂ holotype; 47 — D. trinacriae (Bellò & Baviera, 2011) ♂ paratype; 48 — D. genistae Bellò & Baviera sp. n. ♂ holotype; 49 — D. margheritae Bello & Baviera sp. n. ♂ holotype; 49 bis— D. sabellai Bellò & Baviera sp. n. ♂ holotype. Dorsal shape internal sac of: 50 — D. exigua (Stierlin, 1861) ♂ topotype; 51 — D. himerensis (Bello & Baviera, 2011) ♂ holotype; 52 — D. trinacriae (Bellò & Baviera, 2011) ♂ paratype; 53 — D. genistae Bellò & Baviera sp. n. ♂ holotype; 54 — D. margheritae Bellò & Baviera sp. n. ♂ holotype; 54 bis— D. sabellai Bellò & Baviera sp. n. ♂ holotype. Dorsal shape Sternite IX of: 55 — D. exigua (Stierlin, 1861) ♂ topotype; 56 — D. himerensis (Bellò & Baviera, 2011) ♂ holotype; 57 — D. trinacriae (Bellò & Baviera, 2011) ♂ paratype; 58 — D. genistae Bello & Baviera sp. n. ♂ holotype; 59 — D. margheritae Bellò & Baviera sp. n. ♂ holotype; 59 bis— D. sabellai Bellò & Baviera sp. n. ♂ holotype.