Chlaenius (Chlaeniostenodes) cherensis Kirschenhofer, 1999

Felix, Ron F. F. L., Farkač, Jan & Suleiman, Ahmed Saeed, 2012, Annotated checklist of the Carabidae (Coleoptera) of the Socotra Archipelago, Insect biodiversity of the Socotra Archipelago. (Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 52), pp. 75-106 : 83-84

Chlaenius (Chlaeniostenodes) cherensis Kirschenhofer, 1999

( Fig. 5 )

Material examined (113 spec.). YEMEN: SOCOTRA ISLAND: Diksam plateau (light), 12°32′N, 53°59′E, 1020 m a.s.l., 22.–24.ii.1999, 1 spec., lgt. H. Pohl, det. E. Kirschenhofer (as Chlaenius canariensis seminitidus ) ( HLMD) ; Diksam plateau, Diksam lake, 12°31′23″N, 53°57′12″E, 1000 m a.s.l., 12.v.2004, 1 spec., A. Reiter lgt., det. J. Farkač ( JFCP) ; Dixam plateau, Wadi Zeeriq, 12°31′08″N, 53°59′09″E, 750 m a.s.l., 3.xii.2003, 2 spec., lgt. D. Král, det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( NMPC) ; Wadi Ireeh , Noged Plain, 12°23′11″N, 53°59′47″E, 95 m a.s.l., 6.–7.xii.2003, 48 spec., lgt. & det. J. Farkač ( JFCP, CULS, OHCP) ; same data, 4 spec., lgt. D. Král, det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( NMPC) ; Qalansiyah env., Khayrha mts., N slopes, 12°38′50″N, 53°27′45″E, 85–592 m a.s.l., 9.–10.xii.2003, 12 spec., lgt. & det. J. Farkač ( JFCP) ; Homhil protected area, 12°34′27″N, 54°18′32″E, 364 m a.s.l., 28.–29.xi.2003, 1 spec., lgt. & det. J. Farkač ( JFCP) ; Wadi Ayhaft , 12°36′38″N, 53°48′49″E, 190 m a.s.l., 24.–26.xi.2003, 3 spec., lgt. P. Kabátek, det. J. Farkač ( JFCP) ; Dixam plateau, Firmihin area, 12°47′40″N, 54°01′53″E, 428 m a.s.l., 3.xii.2003, 2 spec., lgt. P. Kabátek, det. J. Farkač ( JFCP, CULS) ; Wadi Esgego , Dixam plateau, 12°28′09″N, 54°00′36″E, 300 m a.s.l., 2.–3.xii.2003, 2 spec., lgt. P. Kabátek, det. J. Farkač ( JFCP, CULS) ; same data, 6 spec., J. Farkač lgt .; same data, 2 spec., lgt. D. Král, det. R.F.F.L. Felix ; Ayheft valley , 22.xi.2008, 10 spec., lgt. Saldaitiene & Saldaitis, det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( IRSB) ; Wadi Zerik , Diksam, 12°30′09.1″N, 53°59′24.2″E, 21.ii.2009, 1 spec., lgt. & det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( RFBE) ; Wadi Mathif , 12°27′28.38″N, 54°18′22.32″E, 20.vi.2009, 1 spec., lgt. V. Hula, det. Kirschenhofer (as C. canariensis seminitidus ) ( NMPC) ; Wadi Zerik , Diksam, 12°29′28.4″N, 53°59′25.5″E, 641m a.s.l., 6.xi.2010, 5 spec., lgt. & det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( RFBE) ; Deiqub cave , 10.vi.2010, 1 spec., lgt. V. Hula & J. Niedobová, det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( NMPC) ; Wadi Diforrha , north side, 19.x.2010, 1 spec., lgt. Saldaitis, det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( IRSB) ; Wadi Ayhaft , 12°36′37.1″N, 53°58′44.8″E, 26.x.2010, 2 spec., lgt. & det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( RFBE) .; Al Haghier Mts. , Wadi Madar, 12°33.2′N, 54°00.4′E, 1180–1230m, 12.–14.xi.2010, 1 spec., lgt. Jiří Hájek, det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( NMPC) ; Wadi Ayhaft , 12°38.5′N, 53°58.9′E, 200 m a.s.l., 7.–8.xi.2010, 2 spec., lgt. P. Hlaváč, det. R. F. F. L. Felix, ( NMPC) ; same data, 1 spec., lgt. J. Bezdĕk ; same data, 4 spec., lgt. Jiří Hájek, all det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( NMPC) .

Diagnosis. Body length 12.0–14.0 mm. Head and pronotum metallic green. Pronotum rather scarcely punctured, lateral margins sinuate, posterior angles shortly rounded. Elytra bluish black, rather densely, but coarsely punctured, with yellow pubescence. Legs and antennomeres I–III yellow, rest of antennae dark.

Comments on classification. KIRSCHENHOFER (1999) described this taxon as a subspecies of Chlaenius (Nectochlaenius) canariensis Dejean, 1831 . Subsequently, KIRSCHENHOFER (2008) synonymized Nectochlaenius Antoine, 1961 with Chlaeniostenodes Basilewsky 1950 and raised Ch. cherensis to the rank of a species, however without his motivation to do so. Specimens from Socotra exactly fit the description of KIRSCHENHOFER (1999). Elytral intervals are more convex than in Chlaenius (Chlaeniostenoides) canariensis seminitidus (Dejean, 1831) ( Figs. 4–5 ), known also from mainland Yemen. However, KIRSCHENHOFER (2008) also published C. c. seminitidus from Socotra. We have studied two specimens identified as C. c. seminitidus by Kirschenhofer, but they agree in all characteristics with C. cherensis . As we are not aware of any specimen of true C. c. seminitidus from Socotra, we exlude this taxon from the list of Socotran Carabidae .

Collection circumstances. Associated with streams and riverbeds. Frequently found under stones or running on riverbanks at night. Some specimens were collected in and near the entrance of a little cave in Wadi Zerik, between stones near the water.

Distribution. KIRSCHENHOFER (1999) described this taxon as a subspecies of C. canariensis Dejean, 1831 from Eritrea and Sudan. Mentioned from Socotra Island by WRANIK (2003).

Cyclosomini

Figures

Figs.1–5. 1 – Abacetus (Astigis) quadrisignatus Chaudoir,1876 (Socotra, Hadiboh env); 2 – Chlaenius (Chlaeniellus) laeviplaga laeviplaga Chaudoir, 1856 (Socotra, Wadi Mathif), elytra with extended yellow apex; 3 – Ch. (Chlaeniellus) obscurus Klug, 1832 (Yemen, Wadi Maytam), elytra narrowly yellow bordered; 4 – Ch. (Chlaeniostenus) canariensis seminitidus (Dejean, 1831) (Yemen, Beni Mansour env); elytra dull, with flat intervals, finely punctured; 5 – Ch. (Chlaeniostenus) cherensis Kirschenhofer, 1999 (Socotra,Wadi Ayhaft), elytra shiny, intervals convex, more coarsely punctured. Photos: 1, 4–5 Tim Faasen; 2–3 Ron F.F.L. Felix.