Protaetia (Potosia) jelineki (PETROVITZ, 1981)

Polat, Alper, Yildirim, Erol & Uliana, Marco, 2017, A contribution to the knowledge of the Glaphyridae and Cetoniinae (Scarabaeidae) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) fauna of Turkey, Linzer biologische Beiträge 49 (2), pp. 1505-1522 : 1515-1516

Protaetia (Potosia) jelineki (PETROVITZ, 1981)

= Protaetia (Potosia) fausti (KRAATZ, 1891) sensu auctorum nec KRAATZ, 1891

M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: Erzurum: Aşkale, Küçük Geçit, 1665 m, 18.VI.2012, ♀, Köprüköy, Güzelhisar, 1948 m, 16.VII.2011, 2♀♀, Eyüpler, 1745 m, 26.VI.2011, ♀, 233, Palandöken, Tuzcu, 2000 m, 24.VII.2010, ♀, Pasinler, 10.VI.1983, 3, Narman, Serinsu, N 40°20', E 41°58', 1947 m, 27.VII.2013, 3, Yakutiye, 05.VI.1978, ♀, 12.VI.1979, 3, 9.VII.1997, ♀, 13.VII.1979, 3♀♀, 433, Atatürk University Field, 1850 m, 12.VI.2010, 8♀♀, 533, 1850 m, 16.VI.2013, 32♀♀, 3133, N 39°54', E 41°13', 1842 m, 5.VII.2011, 10♀♀, 1333, N 39°54', E 41°14', 1872 m, 6.VII.2010, 4♀♀, 833, 1850 m, 12.VII.2010, 3, 1874 m, 12.VII.2013, ♀, 533, N 39°54', E 41°14', 1872 m, 15.VII.2011, 7♀♀, N 39°54', E 41°13', 1842 m, 15.VII.2012, 2♀♀, 3, 1850 m, 23.VII.2007, ♀, 3, N 39°54', E 41°14', 1872 m, 23.VII.2012, 3, 1850 m, 29.VII.2011, 3, Dumlu, N 40°05', E 41°22', 1804 m, 18.VI.2009, ♀, 3, 2400 m, 07.VII.2007, ♀, Gökçeyamaç, 20.VI.1970, ♀.

N o t e s: This poorly known taxon was treated in two recent papers that proposed different conclusions about both its taxonomy and nomenclature. In both cases, the only available type specimen of the taxon P. fausti KRAATZ, 1891 (considered either holotype or syntype) was directly examined. It was assumed conspecific (and therefore synonym) to P. splendidula by GHREJYAN & KALASHIAN (2017), who followed in this sense the opinion by MIKŠIĆ (1987) and hence applied the first available name, Protaetia jelineki (PETROVITZ, 1981) , to the populations of Erzurum. The same specimen was considered by TAUZIN (2017), as representative of a distinct, valid species, therefore preserving the name P. fausti, and treating P. jelineki as its junior synonym. In additions, the two papers expressed different opinions about populations from Armenia: they were described as Protaetia hajastanica by GHREJYAN & KALASHIAN (2017), while specimens from the same localities were mentioned among examined specimens of P. fausti by TAUZIN (a detailed list of the examined material, however, is not present).

Based on the long series of specimens available to us, we decided to follow the opinion of GHREJYAN & KALASHIAN (2017) about the identity of the type specimen of P. fausti. This specimen, a female, has pronotal punctures stronger than the average P. splendidula , as correctly pounted out by TAUZIN (2017), however its elytral sculpture evidently does not fit the condition of the females from Erzurum: the latter have ordinarily a much denser sculpture, and even the specimens with less dense punctures appear to depart significantly from the P. fausti holotype. Conversely, we could study small females of P. splendidula from Buglan Pass (Muş), mixed with specimens having ordinary habitus, that have dorsal sculpture more developed than usual and seems to fit perfectly the appearance of the P. fausti holotype. Figures 1 -5 propose a pictorial comparison of the mentioned taxa and specimens.

The problem is anyway open, as a robust definition of the diagnostic characters distinguishing P. fausti / jelineki from P. splendidula is lacking and differences between extreme specimens of the two taxa (those departing from the mean condition of their population and converging towards a similar phenotype) are subtle. An exaustive sampling and a consequent perusal of the variability of these taxa across their range would be helpful for a better understanding of the matter.

Protaetia (Potosia) splendidula splendidula (FALDERMANN, 1835) M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: Ağrı: Doğubeyazıt, Bahçe, 1600 m, 20.VIII.2013, 2♀♀, İshak

Paşa Sarayı , 1936 m, 10.VIII.2013, ♀ ; Batman: Çamlıtepe Mahallesi , 08.VII.2016, ♀ ; Bitlis: 02. VI.1972, 3, 03. VI.1972, 9♀♀, 3, 08. VI.1972, 3, 03.VIII.1972, ♀, 3 ; Elazığ, Harput, Miyadin, Şimal Mezra , 15.VIII.1973, ♀ ; Erzurum: Karayazı, Alemdağ , 2022 m, 16.VII.2011, 3, Köprüköy, Duatepe, 17.VII.2009, 3 ; Hakkari: Yüksekova , 01.VII.1992, 3 ; Muş: Buğlan Pass , 1300 m, 15. VI.2002, ♀, 3, 1600 m, 16. VI.2010, 10♀♀, 1433, 1600 m, 26. VI.2002, 3, 1650 m, 02. VI.2008, 233, 1650 m, 04. VI.2008, 2 ♀♀ ; Tunceli: Pertek , 12. VI.2012, ♀ .

Figures

Figs 1,4. Protaetia splendidula, female from Erzurum; Fig. 2. Cetonia fausti, female, holotype or syntype, by courtesy of Lutz Behne, SDEI, Müncheberg; Figs 3, 5. Protaetia jelineki, female from Buglan Pass (Muş).