Mordellistena (s. str.) purpurascens Costa, 1854

Selnekovic, David & Kodada, Jan, 2019, Taxonomic revision of Mordellistenahirtipes species complex with new distribution records (Insecta, Coleoptera, Mordellidae), ZooKeys 854, pp. 89-118 : 89

Mordellistena (s. str.) purpurascens Costa, 1854 Figs 3, 7 A–K

Mordellistena purpurascens Costa, 1854: 17 + Plate XXI (original description, figure); Gemminger and Harold 1870: 2113 (catalogue, as syn. of Mordellistena pumila (Gyllenhal, 1810)); Emery 1876: 95 (as syn. of Mordellistena micans (Germar, 1817)); Baudi di Selve 1877: 827 (as syn. of M. micans ); Heyden et al. 1883: 142 (catalogue, as syn. of M. micans ); Schilsky 1898: 77 (as syn. of M. micans ); Heyden et al. 1906: 456 (catalogue, as syn. of M. micans ); Csiki 1915: 37 (catalogue, as syn. of M. micans ); Ermisch 1977: 169 (misidentification); Batten 1977 (misidentification); Kaszab 1979: 72, 74 (misidentification); Franciscolo 1991: 172-173 (remarks); Odnosum 2003: 36-46 (misidentification); Odnosum 2005: 100-108 (misidentification); Horák 2008: 100 (misidentification); Odnosum 2010: 199 (misidentification); Ruzzier 2013: 110 (misidentification).

Mordellistena geronensis Ermisch, 1977: 169 syn. nov. (original description in the key); Kaszab 1979: 72-73 (figures, key); Franciscolo 1991: 171-172 (key, figures); Horák 2008: 98 (distribution).

Mordellistena istrica Ermisch, 1977: 169 syn. nov. (original description in the key); Kaszab 1979: 73 (key); Horák 2008: 98 (distribution).

Type locality.

Naples, Italy.

Type material examined.

M. purpurascens : LECTOTYPE, here designated, glued, genitalia in separate microvial, right metatarsus missing: 1 ♂, MZFN: " Mordellistena purpurascens n. Napoli [hand written by Costa] / LECTOTYPE Mordellistena purpurascens Costa, 1854 D. Selnekovič des. 2019" [red label]. M. geronensis : HOLOTYPE: 1 ♂, SNSD: "♂ / Genitalpräparat / [card with dissected genitalia, right antenna and right protarsus] / Spanien, Prov. Gerona, Tossa de mar, A. Kampf. VII–VIII 35 / Holotypus [red label] / Holotypus Mordellistena geronensis Ermisch / Staatl. Museum für Tierkunde Dresden"; PARATYPES: 1 ♀, SNSD: "Spanien, Prov. Gerona, Tossa de mar, A. Kampf, V–VI 35 / sp.? grupe micans , det. Ermisch 1940 / Paratypus / PARATYPUS Mordellistena (s. str.) geronensis Ermisch, 1977, Selnekovič labelled 2017 [red label] / Mordellistena (s. str.) purpurascens Costa, 1854, D. Selnekovič det. 2019"; 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, SNSD: "♂ [or] ♀ / Ardêche, 10. 7. 65, Banne, J. Balazuc / Paratypus / PARATYPUS Mordellistena (s. str.) geronensis Ermisch, 1977, Selnekovič labelled 2017 [red label] / Mordellistena (s. str.) purpurascens Costa, 1854, D. Selnekovič det. 2017"; 1 ♂, SNSD: "♂ / Ardêche, Sammzon, 8. 7. 65, Balazuc / Paratypus / PARATYPUS Mordellistena (s. str.) geronensis Ermisch, 1977, Selnekovič labelled 2017 [red label] / Mordellistena (s. str.) purpurascens Costa, 1854, D. Selnekovič det. 2017". M. istrica : HOLOTYPE: 1 ♂, SNSD: "♂ / [card with dissected genitalia] / Pola, Istr. F. Lang / [blank red circular label] / MORDELLISTENA istrian [illegible handwriting] det. Ermisch 1952 / Type [red label] / Holotypus Mordellistena istrica Ermisch / Mordellistena ( Mordellistena ) geronensis Ermisch det. P. Leblanc 2007 / Mordellistena (s. str.) purpurascens Costa, 1854 D. Selnekovič det. 2019"; PARATYPES: 1 ♀, SNSD: "Plomin, Warmehang 14. 6. 1965 / Istrien K. Wellschmeld / Paratypus / PARATYPUS Mordellistena (s. str.) istrica Ermisch, 1977, Selnekovič labelled 2017" [red label]; 1 ♂, SNSD: "♂ / Corsica / Paratypus / PARATYPUS Mordellistena (s. str.) istrica Ermisch, 1977, Selnekovič labelled 2017 [red label] / Mordellistena ( Mordellistena ) geronensis Ermisch det. P. Leblanc 2007 / Mordellistena (s. str.) purpurascens Costa, 1854 D. Selnekovič det. 2019"; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, SNSD: "12. 7. 14 Gallia m. Agay Rapp / Paratypus / PARATYPUS Mordellistena (s. str.) istrica Ermisch, 1977, Selnekovič labelled 2017" [red label].

Additional material examined.

Greece: 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, CSB: "Greece N, Corfu - Kavos, 39°24'16"N, 20°05'53"E, F. Repta leg., 28. VIII. 2011 / Mordellistena purpurascens Costa, 1854, D. Selnekovič det. 2019". Italy: 1 ♂, CSB: “IT–Sicilia, Madonia, Termini, Sciara, M San Calogero, ex. l, 2.-3. 6. 2011, M. Šárovec, 3. 8 / Mordellistena purpurascens Costa, 1854, D. Selnekovič det. 2019"; 1 ♂, SNSD: "♂ / Gavoi Sard. 750m 21.-26. 8. 55 J. Kless 78 / Mordellistena Lopezi Ermisch det. K. Ermisch / Mordellistena (s. str.) purpurascens Costa, 1854 D. Selnekovič det. 2019" [in collection as M. lopezi ]; 1 ♂, SNSD: "♂ / Genitalpräparat / ITALIA mer. Capaccio Hüdepohl VI. 64 / Mordellistena (s. str.) purpurascens Costa, 1854 D. Selnekovič det. 2019" [in collection as M. lopezi ]. Montenegro: 4 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀ CSB: "Montenegro SE, 42°06'N, 19°06'E, Bar–centrum, on Daucus sp., D. Selnekovič 19. VI. 2011 / Mordellistena purpurascens Costa, 1854, D. Selnekovič det. 2019"; 1 ♀ CSB: "Montenegro SE, BAR env., 42°07'56"N, 19°07'33"E, 22. VI. 2011 / Mordellistena (s. str.) purpurascens Costa, 1854, D. Selnekovič det. 2019"; 1 ♂ HNHM: "Dalmatia Horváth / Zelenika 906. VIII. / Mordellistena pseudohirtipes Erm. det. R. Batten 1979 / Mordellistena (s. str.) purpurascens , Costa, 1854 D. Selnekovič det. 2019". Morocco: 1 ♂, CSB: Morocco Moyen Atl, Khenifra 15km E M. Šárovec 11. VII. 2007 / Mordellistena purpurascens Costa, 1854 D. Selnekovič det. 2019"; 4 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, CSB: "Morocco Moyen Atl, Khenifra 10km I M. Šárovec 30. V. 2007 / Mordellistena purpurascens Costa, 1854 D. Selnekovič det. 2019". Spain: 1 ♂, SNSD: "♂ / Genitalpräparat / Son Españolet 1 –VI– 1958 R. López / Typus [red label] / Mordellistena Lopezi Ermisch det. K. Ermisch / Mordellistena (s. str.) purpurascens Costa, 1854 D. Selnekovič det. 2019" [in collection as M. lopezi ].

Differential diagnosis.

M. purpurascens closely resembles M. hirtipes and M. pseudohirtipes . The differences are described under these species.

Redescription.

Measurements: TL: ♂♂ 3.10-4.42 mm (3.75 ± 0.35 mm, n = 19), ♀♀ 3.31-4.42 mm (3.82 ± 0.36 mm, n = 14); HL: ♂♂ 0.77-0.97 mm (0.85 ± 0.06 mm, n = 19), ♀♀ 0.78-0.96 mm (0.86 ± 0.06 mm, n = 14); HW: ♂♂ 0.91-1.17 mm (1.01 ± 0.07 mm, n = 19), ♀♀ 0.84-1.12 mm (0.98 ± 0.09 mm, n = 14); PL: ♂♂ 1.06-1.44 mm (1.23 ± 0.10 mm, n = 19), ♀♀ 1.04-1.44 mm (1.25 ± 0.11 mm, n = 14); PW: 1.10-1.56 mm (1.30 ± 0.13 mm, n = 19), ♀♀ 1.13-1.58 mm (1.35 ± 0.14 mm, n = 13); EL: ♂♂ 2.44-3.35 mm (2.81 ± 0.27 mm, n = 19), ♀♀ 2.50-3.38 mm (2.88 ± 0.27 mm, n = 14); EW: ♂♂ 1.15-1.59 mm (1.35 ± 0.13 mm, n = 19), ♀♀ 1.19-1.66 mm (1.43 ± 0.15 mm, n = 14); ATiL: ♂♂ 0.71-0.93 mm (0.81 ± 0.07 mm, n = 19), ♀♀ 0.65-0.91 mm (0.75 ± 0.08 mm, n = 14); ATrL: ♂♂ 0.64-0.84 mm (0.72 ± 0.07 mm, n = 15), ♀♀ 0.62-0.80 mm (0.69 ± 0.06 mm, n = 13); ITiL: ♂♂ 0.91-1.23 mm (1.03 ± 0.10 mm, n = 19), ♀♀ 0.86-1.23 mm (1.01 ± 0.12 mm, n = 14); ITrL: ♂♂ 1.12-1.64 mm (1.27 ± 0.15 mm, n = 9), ♀♀ 1.02-1.34 mm (1.16 ± 0.10 mm, n = 14); PTiL: 0.78-1.08 mm (0.88 ± 0.08 mm, n = 19), ♀♀ 0.75-1.05 mm (0.88 ± 0.08 mm, n = 14); PTrL: 1.64-2.18 mm (1.87 ± 0.19 mm, n = 9), ♀♀ 1.48-2.16 mm (1.77 ± 0.21 mm, n = 11); PygL: ♂♂ 1.50-2.12 mm (1.86 ± 0.18 mm, n = 19), ♀♀ 1.35-1.98 mm (1.67 ± 0.20 mm, n = 14); TVtL: ♂♂ 0.58-0.87 mm (0.77 ± 0.10 mm, n = 18), ♀♀ 0.60-0.92 mm (0.77 ± 0.08 mm, n = 14); RPrL: 0.52-0.64 mm (0.56 ± 0.03 mm, n = 19); LPrL: 0.41-0.51 mm (0.45 ± 0.03 mm, n = 19); St8L: ♂♂ 0.65-0.80 mm (0.70 ± 0.07 mm, n = 3); St8W: ♂♂ 0.49-0.52 mm (0.50 ± 0.01 mm, n = 3).

Habitus illustrated in Fig. 3. Body strongly elongate, slender, widest behind anterior 1/4 of elytra. Integument black, anterior margin of clypeus and mandibles somewhat paler. Pubescence on head and thorax yellowish; on elytra yellowish in anterior half, gradually darkened apically; on venter yellowish, darkened along posterior margins of ventrites 3 and 4 and completely dark grey on terminal ventrite and pygidium.

Head convex dorsally, wider than long, widest about middle, HW/HL ratio: ♂♂ 1.11-1.23 (1.19 ± 0.03, n = 19), ♀♀ 1.06-1.19 (1.14 ± 0.03, n = 14). Dorsal surface weakly microreticulated, with small, round punctures, each bearing short seta. Ventral surface with weak transverse microreticulation and sparsely arranged, round punctures, each bearing short seta. Occipital margin rounded in dorsal aspect, straight if seen from behind. Eyes oval, completely reaching occiput, not expanded onto ventral surface, finely faceted, with short interfacetal setae. Anterior margin of clypeus straight. Labrum transverse, LabW/LabL: ♂♂ 2.04-2.27 (2.15 ± 0.10, n = 5), ♀♀ 1.88-2.38 (2.21 ± 0.20, n = 5), anterior margin straight or very shallowly emarginate mesally; surface covered with small, round punctures, each bearing seta. Antennae slightly serrate, expanded from antennomere V (Fig. 7A, B); antennomeres I and II short, subequal in length and width; antennomere III equal in length and slightly slenderer than previous two; antennomere IV slightly longer and wider than previous one; antennomeres V–X wider than previous four, in males ~1.60 ×, in females ~1.30 × as long as wide; antennomere XI elongate oval, ~2.20 × as long as wide. Galea gradually expanded apically, covered with apically expanded sensilla. Maxillary palpi (Fig. 7 C–D) black; palpomere I very short; palpomere II in males expanded with long setae on ventral side, in females slenderer, without long setae; palpomere III short, ~1.80 × as long as wide, in males with long setae on ventral side; terminal palpomere securiform, in males wider than in females, inner angle situated around middle in males, in terminal 1/3 in females; TPalL/TPalW ratio: ♂♂ 1.72-2.16 (1.96 ± 0.10, n = 17), ♀♀ 2.08-2.34 (2.21 ± 0.09, n = 14).

Pronotum moderately convex, slightly wider than long, PW/PL ratio: ♂♂ 0.97-1.10 (1.05 ± 0.03, n = 19), ♀♀ 1.00-1.15 (1.07 ± 0.04, n = 13). Surface weakly microreticulated with small, rasp-like punctures, distance between punctures 1.50 –2.00× as long as puncture diameter, each puncture bearing flat seta. Anterior margin rounded, slightly produced mesally, anterior angles broadly rounded; lateral carinae rounded in dorsal aspect, shallowly but distinctly emarginate in lateral aspect; posterior margin forming short mesal lobe, emarginated laterally before posterior angles; posterior angles rectangular, pointed in lateral aspect. Posterior marginal bead interrupted before posterior angles. Prosternum in front of procoxae narrow, laterally expanded. Scutellar shield small, triangular, with small punctures bearing short setae. Mesoventral process ca. half as wide as mesofemora. Metaventrite large, posterior margin produced mesally between metacoxae; longitudinal discrimen rather indistinct. Metanepisternum trapezoidal, slightly narrowed posteriorly, dorsal margin emarginate, ventral margin straight.

Elytra long, narrow, widest at end of anterior 1/4, EL/EW ratio: ♂♂ 1.97-2.23 (2.08 ± 0.07, n = 19), ♀♀ 1.83-2.15 (2.02 ± 0.07, n = 14). Dorsal surface covered with weak transverse microreticulation and rasp-like punctures, distance between punctures ~1,50 × as long as puncture diameter; each puncture bearing flat seta. Lateral margins regularly rounded, apices separately rounded.

Protibiae straight, basal part in males slightly expanded and bearing distinct fringe of long setae; PTiL/PTrL ratio: ♂♂ 0.98-1.24 (1.13 ± 0.06, n = 15), ♀♀ 0.98-1.17 (1.10 ± 0.05, n = 13). Protarsomere I in females as long as two following tarsomeres combined, in males slightly longer; protarsomere IV simple, parallel-sided, very shallowly emarginated at apex. Claws on protarsi rather long, slender, with three denticles, on meso- and metatarsi with four denticles. Mesotibiae slightly bent medially; mesotarsus longer than tibia, MsTiL/MsTrL ratio: ♂♂ 0.75-0.90 (0.84 ± 0.04, n = 9), ♀♀ 0.82-0.95 (0.88 ± 0.04, n = 14). Metacoxae large, anterior margin straight, posterior margin broadly rounded. Metatibiae bearing short subapical ridge and 3-4 lateral ridges parallel to apical tibial margin, reaching 1/3 of tibial width. Metatibial spurs black, inner one ~1.30 × as long as outer one. Metatarsomere I bearing in males 5, in females 3-4 short lateral ridges; metatarsomere II bearing 2-3 ridges; metatarsomeres III and IV without ridges. Metatarsus ~2.00 × as long as metatibia, MtTrL/MtTiL ratio: ♂♂ 2.00-2.33 (2.13 ± 0.10, n = 10), ♀♀ 1.90-2.18 (2.01 ± 0.07, n = 11).

Pygidium long, slender, PygL/TVtL ratio: ♂♂ 1.88-3.32 (2.43 ± 0.35, n = 18), ♀♀ 1.88-2.64 (2.18 ± 0.17, n = 14). Apical margin of terminal abdominal ventrite arcuate.

Male genitalia: sternite VIII rather short, with long setae in apical part, apical protuberance rather short, slightly bilobed at apex (Fig. 7E); St8L/St8W ratio: ♂♂ 1.26-1.32 (1.28 ± 0.02, n = 4). Sternite IX long, slender, arrow-shaped, with medial longitudinal keel apically. Parameres (Fig. 7 G–J) rather long, EL/LPrL ratio: 4.42-5.84 (4.98 ± 0.35, n = 19), EL/RPrL ratio: 5.57-6.94 (6.19 ± 0.41 n = 19); LPrL/RPrL ratio: 1.16-1.30 (1.24 ± 0.03, n = 19). Left paramere with very long basal part, LPrL/BLPr ratio: 1.50-1.91 (1.76 ± 0.09, n = 19); dorsal branch strongly expanded apically, obliquely truncate at apex; ventral branch slender, slightly bent medially. Right paramere rather long with long branches; ventral branch longer than dorsal one, pointed at apex; dorsal branch rather narrow, slightly expanded apically, rounded at apex. Median lobe (Fig. 7K) long, slender, apical part narrow or slightly expanded. Phallobase with short tubular process (approximately 1/6 of total length) and long, slender furca.

Female genitalia: sternite VIII (Fig. 7F) with slightly bilobed apical protuberance, long setae situated at apex and alongside lateral margins; spiculum ventrale short, broadly clavate; St8L/St8W ratio: 1.62 (n = 1).

Sexual dimorphism.

Females are more robust, with protibiae not expanded and without fringe of long setae in basal part. Maxillary palpomere II not expanded in females and without long setae on ventral side. Terminal maxillary palpomere is wider in males, with its inner angle situated approximately in the middle (Fig. 7C), in females it is generally slenderer, with its inner angle situated in terminal 1/3 (Fig. 7D). Antennae are shorter in females; antennomeres V–X ~1.60 × as long as wide in males, ~1.30 × in females.

Distribution.

Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Morocco, Spain. Mordellistena purpurascens is reported here for the first time from Greece and Montenegro. Odnosum (2003, 2005, 2010) reported M. purpurascens from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Ukraine. However, based on the figures of parameres provided in all the three mentioned studies, it is obvious that he referred to a different species (see Discussion).

Biology.

Adults were collected by the first author in Montenegro, in urban environment of Bar on the flowers of Daucus sp. ( Apiaceae ).

Remarks.

Mordellistena purpurascens was described by Costa (1854) and referred to be found in several localities in former "Regno di Napoli" (southern parts of present Italy). Series of M. purpurascens in Costa’s collection in MZFN contains only two specimens. One of them with the original label " Mordellistena purpurascens n. Napoli" is designed here as a lectotype. The other specimen labelled "S. Severina" without identification label belongs to a different species from the gemellata-group (sensu Ermisch 1956). Genitalia of the lectotype were examined for the first time for the purposes of the present study (Fig. 7G).

Ermisch (1977) briefly described two new species M. geronensis and M. istrica as a part of an identification key. He differentiated these species from each other based on the shape of the apical part of the median lobe (expanded in M. istrica , not expanded in M. geronensis ). Shape of the apical part of median lobe depends on the observation method (dry/wet, card mounted/slide mounted). After examining the series of slide mounted median lobes of both taxa, we did not find any differences in the shape. Examination of the male genitalia from type specimens of M. purpurascens (Fig. 7G), M. geronensis (Fig. 7H) and M. istrica (Fig. 7I) revealed that these taxa are conspecific. We thus propose M. istrica and M. geronensis as the junior synonyms of M. purpurascens .

Type series of M. istrica includes a female paratype (Pola, Croatia), which we were not able to assign to M. purpurascens or M. pseudohirtipes . Type series of M. geronensis includes a male paratype (Bois de Paiolive, Ardêche, France), which in fact belongs to M. pseudohirtipes , and three paratypes (Tossa de mar, Spain; Costa Brava, Spain), which belong to M. hirtipes . In Ermisch’s collection, there is a series of specimens named Mordellistena lopezi . Such species has not been described. Specimen labelled as “Typus”, in fact, belongs to M. purpurascens , the rest of the specimens belongs to M. pseudohirtipes .