Saprinus (Saprinus) chalcites (Illiger)

Penati, Fabio, 2009, An updated catalogue of the Histeridae (Coleoptera) of Sardinia, with faunistic, zoogeographical, ecological and conservation remarks *, Zootaxa 2318, pp. 197-280 : 239

48. Saprinus (Saprinus) chalcites (Illiger)

Literature data. “Sardinia” ( Bargagli 1871; Bertolini 1904; Porta 1926; Luigioni 1929; Barajon 1966; Vienna 1980; Audisio et al. 1995; Yélamos & Lackner 2004). Cagliari prov.: Assemini, rio Cixerri, 28.VIII.1989 and 9.IX.1989, on dead fish, CM, 2 ex (CCMe). Cagliari, Monte Claro, 5.VII.1980, on dog carcass, CM, 1 ex (CCMe); idem, Monte Urpinu, 8.VIII.1971, CM, 1 ex (CPV); idem, stagno di Molentargius, 2.IX.1976, on dead gull, CM, 1 ex (CCMe); idem, stagno Santa Gilla, 30.IX.1973, CM, 1 ex (CPV). Capoterra, foce del rio Santa Lucia, 6.VIII.1987, on ox carcass, CM, 13 ex (4 CCMe; 7 CGN; 2 CPC); idem, 15.V.1989, in cow dung, CM, 1 ex (CCMe). Domus de Maria, stagno Stangioni de su Sali, 29.IX.1978, among dry algae, CM, 1 ex (CCMe). Giorgino, 10.VI.1973, CM, 3 ex (2 MSNTO ex-coll. P. Vienna, 1 CPV). Sinnai, loc. San Basilio, 12.VI.1985, on cat carcass, CM, 2 ex (CCMe). Nuoro prov.: Bortigali, 13.V.1940, MBj, 1 ex (CFP). Nurri, loc. Padenti [= Padonti-Nurri], 14.VIII.1941, ES, 1 ex (CGMü). Oristano prov.: Oristano, Torre Grande, 31.V.1974, IB, 1 ex (CCMe). Sassari prov.: Oschiri, Lago Coghinas, presso [= near] Centrale Pedredu, 165 m, 28.V.1995, FA, 1 ex (CFA). Porto Torres, 7–9.IV.1952, on dead Chalcides ocellatus (Forskål) ( Squamata , Scincidae ) ( Strassen 1954). Sassari, loc. Platamona, 19.V.1974, IB, 1 ex (CPV); idem, 20.V.1974, PV, 1 ex (CPV); idem, stagno di Platamona, 19.V.1974, VR, 1 ex (CFP).

Unpublished records. “Sardinia”, sd, 1–4 ex (CFB as Saprinus chalcites Illig. ); idem, sd, 1–8 ex (CFB as Saprinus chalcites Illig. “varietates” and “var.”). Cagliari prov.: Cagliari, V.1873, RG, 1 ex (MSNG); idem, sd, RSe, 2 ex (CGMü). Fluminimaggiore, loc. Perda e Fogu, 150 m, 2.IV.1995, by sieving olive leaf litter, CM, 1 ♂ (CCMe). Giorgino, sd, UL, 1 ex ( CAD). Isola di Sant’Antioco, loc. Is Pruinis, beach, 2.VIII.1998, on cow dung, CM, 1 ♂ (CCMe). Quartu Sant’Elena, sd, 1 ex ( CAD). San Vito, IV.1872, RG, 5 ex (MSNG). Nuoro prov.: Orune, sd, 11 ex ( CAD ex-coll. L. Demarchi). Oristano prov.: Oristano, II.1900, 2 ex ( CAD). Sassari prov.: Golfo Aranci, IX.1928, AD, 1 ex ( CAD). Sassari, loc. Platamona, beach, 17.V.1974, MF, 1 ex (CMF).

Chorotype. 4.01 AIM (Afrotropical-Indian-Mediterranean).

Italian distribution. Piedmont, Venetia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Liguria, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, Latium, Campania, Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria, Sicily and Sardinia.

Ecology. Shows the same characteristics as its congeners. According to Yélamos (2002), in Spain it is more common along the coast and is only moderately present inland.

Notes. For the reasons mentioned under the previous species, specimens from the Baudi di Selve collection (CFB) were uncritically ascribed to the species S. chalcites in that it was impossible to examine the male genitalia and check for the possible presence among them of S. calatravensis or S. georgicus specimens. Moreover, in Penati and Vienna (2005, 2006a) the specimen from Nurri, loc. Padenti (CGMü) was wrongly attributed to S. calatravensis .