Aplocnemus, Stephens, 1830

Liberti, Gianfranco, 2019, The Aplocnemus Stephens, 1830, of Greece (Coleoptera, Cleroidea, Dasytidae). A contribution to their knowledge, Natural History Sciences 6 (1), pp. 3-26 : 9-11

Determination key (males only) for the Greek species

This key includes 15 species of Aplocnemus (A.) plus one of A. ( Diplambe ). No A. (Ischnopalpus) is known from Greece.

The key uses, among others, male antennal characters: for this reason it is only applicable to males. Males can be recognized, from females, mostly for stronger antennae and, often, for elytral apical half parallel or only slightly widened; in the “ reitteri group” the elytral apex is shortly and slightly flattened compared to females (namely less regularly rounded off).

1 Elytral lateral border appearing double (at least in basal half) due to the presence of an elytral lateral carina close to the epipleuron (subgen. Diplambe ). TL = 4.5-5.0 mm. A common species all over the southern part of the Balkan peninsula .......................... abietum

- Elytral lateral border simple (subgen. Aplocnemus ) ................................................................ 2

2 Dorsal appearance variable: brown, greenish-grey, bluish or blackish; rather bright; moderately rough (Figs. 4-5). Pronotum and elytra roughness different; pronotum punctures from light to deep and strong, rather sparse, distance between punctures larger than their diameter, surface between punctures smooth and bright; elytral surface variably punctured or rugged. Antennae feebly serrate (nearly moniliate, Fig. 6), serrate (Fig. 7) or pectinate in males (Figs. 8-10) and serrate (from feebly to strongly) in females. Last palpi article securiform (hatchet shaped), truncated (apical side longer than, or equal to, inner side) .................. 3

- Dorsal appearance deep black, dull, very rough (Fig. 3), at most with green reflections. Both pronotum and elytra very rough; pronotum punctures deep and strong, very dense, distance between punctures smaller than their diameter, surface between punctures more or less alutaceous or dull; elytral surface rough, with punctures at times coalescing into each other. Antennae serrate (Figs. 11-14), only slightly more evidently in males than in females. Last palpi article sub-elliptical, truncated (apical side slightly shorter than inner side) .................................................... 13 (Couplets 13 to 16 include five species: angelinii , caelatus , cribrarius , henrici and reitteri . A. angelinii is well characterised by its approximately cylindrical shape and brighter appearance and A. caelatus shows green reflections. The other 3 are really similar to each other and are difficult to recognize on external chracters only. In all cases sexual differences are reduced: males differ only slightly from females for stronger antennae and elytral very apex feebly flattened).

3 ♂ antennal articles 4 and 5 more or less triangular, narrower than 6-10; antennae strongly serrate or pectinate, with at least articles 6 and/or 7 either concave, S-shaped or approximately straight at inner side (Figs. 7-10) ........................................................ 4

- ♂ antennal articles 4-10 similar to each other; antennae moderately or feebly serrate (to moniliate), article 6 and 7 convex at inner side (Fig. 6) ......................... 10

4 Pronotum transverse; feebly convex; approximately rectangular; lateral sides only feebly rounded: pronotum width in the middle slightly exceeding anterior and posterior sides; not (or very feebly) crenulated on lateral sides. Colour dark grey-green, elytral pubescence – at least in part – whitish gray. ♂ antennae pectinate: articles 6–7 longer than wide, concave on inner side (Fig. 10). TL = 5.5-6.0 mm. A rare species spread in southern France, in Italy and probably all over the Balkans (possible presence in Turkey) ........................................................... jejunus

- Pronotum more or less transverse, evidently convex, lateral sides more or less rounded (namely anterior and posterior sides shorter, max. width in the middle), lateral sides smooth or finely crenulated. Colour metallic blue, brown, dark greenish brown, bluish-black or blackish. Elytral pubescence blackish to pale brown, often with pale grey setae near lateral border. ♂ antennae serrate to pectinate with articles 6-7 either straight or S-shaped on inner side ............................ 5

5 Dorsal integuments blackish (often with greenish or bluish reflections) or metallic blue. Dorsal pubescence blackish. Legs black. First two visible sternites simple .................................................................... 6

- Dorsal integuments dark-brown to greenish-brown. Dorsal pubescence often with pale setae close to elytral border (except in basalis where dorsal setae are black). Legs usually yellow at least in part. At least first visible sternite with a pubescent round impression in the middle (except in basalis where first and second visible sternites are simple) ...................................... 8

6 Antennae serrate with internal border of articles 6-9 nearly straight. Antennae often with articles 1 to 4 more or less spotted yellow. Size smaller. TL = 4.0-5.0. Known from Croatia and Greece.................. serratus

- Antennae strongly serrate to pectinate with internal border of articles 6-9 clearly S-shaped. Antennae entirely black. Size larger (TL = 4.7-7.0 mm) .......... 7

7 Dorsal colour metallic blue. Antennae longer: article 3 triangular elongate, articles 6-9 approximately balanced. TL = 5.0-7.0 mm. Central Europe, peninsular Italy, Balkans; (possible presence in Turkey) ............... ....................................................................... integer

- Dorsal colour blackish with greenish reflections. Antennae shorter: article 3 triangular balanced, articles 6-9 transverse. TL = 4.7-6.3 mm. Known of Kerkyra island in Greece, southern Italy and Sicily .................. .................................................................... corcyricus

8 Elytral pubescence entirely black. Dorsal surface dark brown. First two visible sternites simple. Size smaller. TL = 4.2-5.0 mm. Croatia, Montenegro, Greece, Turkey............................................................. basalis

- Elytral pubescence at least in part (close to elytral border) paler, withish gray. Dorsal surface either brown or dark greenish. At least first sternite with a pubescent round impression in the middle. Size larger (TL = 4.8-5.9 mm) .................................................... 9

9 Dorsal punctuation rather light, colour greenish. First two visible sternites with a round, pubescent impression in the middle. TL = 4.8-5.9 mm. Greece, Turkey............................................................. rufipes

- Dorsal punctuation strong, colour brown. First visible sternite only with a round, pubescent impression in the middle. TL = 4.8-5.5 mm. Greece, Turkey, Cyprus...... ....................................................................... pertusus

10 Entirely black, legs and antennae included. Body shape elongate, approx. cylindrical with head only slightly narrower than pronotum (in its max. width). Size larger. TL = 6.8-7.5 mm. Southern Italy, Albania, Kerkyra island in Greece............................. angelinii

- At least tibiae yellowish or reddish. Body shape sub-oval with head clearly narrower than pronotum (in its max. width). Size smaller (TL <5 mm) ................. 11

11 Pronotum very convex, not bordered on lateral sides. Elytra punctuation rather light and superficial, mainly in apical half. TL = 3.7-4.1 mm.A rare, relictual species of France, Italy and Greece...................... quercicola

- Pronotum moderately convex and clearly bordered on lateral sides, at times such border paler than dorsal integuments (yellowish to brown). Elytra punctuation strong with deep and sparse points, this character evident on the whole elytral surface ....................... 12

12 Pronotum and elytra clearly crenulated on the whole lateral sides. Colour brown, pronotum lateral borders yellowish. 1 st and 2 nd sternites fitted with a pubescent, round impression. TL = 4.3-4.9 mm. Known from Sicily and Greece..................................... marginatus

- Pronotum weakly crenulated and elytra nearly smooth on lateral sides. Colour dark greenish brown. 1 st and 2 nd sternites simple, without round impression. TL = 4.5-4.7 mm. All over Europe .................... nigricornis

13 Body shape elongate, approx. cylindrical; head only slightly narrower than pronotum. Dorsal integuments moderately bright. TL = 6.8-7.5 mm. Southern Italy, Albania, Kerkyra island in Greece............... angelinii

- Body shape oval, head clearly narrower than pronotum. Dorsal integuments dull .......................................... 14

14 Colour black with green reflections, rather dull.Antennae longer, antennal articles 6-9 similar to each other, triangular, rather large and wide; articles 4-5 also triangular but smaller, shorter and narrower (Fig. 11). Median process of last sternite ♂ very short (Fig. 38). TL = 5.5-6.8 mm. Greece............................ caelatus

- Colour deep black, dull. Antennae shorter, antennal articles triangular, more or less gradually widened from 4 to 9. Median process of last sternite ♂ from very short to moderately developed ........................ 15

15 Pronotum lateral sides nearly smooth or slightly irregular, at most granulose. Median process of ♂ last sternite rudimentary to very short. TL = 4.7-6.4 mm. East Bulgaria, north-east Greece, Turkey....... reitteri

- Pronotum finely but clearly crenulated on lateral sides. Median process of ♂ last sternite rudimentary to moderately developed ............................................. 16

16 Size smaller: TL = 4.3-4.9 mm. Antennal article 3 narrower than 4 (Fig. 12). Median process of last sternite ♂ embryonic or very short. Greece... cribrarius

- Size larger: TL = 5.6-6.0 mm. Antennal article 3 nearly as wide as 4 (Fig. 14). Median process of last sternite ♂ moderately developed (Fig. 41). Bulgaria, northern Greece.............................................. henrici