Pronomaea procerula ASSING

Assing, Volker, 2007, A revision of the species of Pronomaea E of the Western Palaearctic region, including Middle Asia (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae: Pronomaeini), Beiträge Zur Entomologie = Contributions to Entomology 57 (2), pp. 367-396 : 392-394

Pronomaea procerula ASSING , in press ( Map 5 )

Additional material examined: Iran: 2 exs., Kordestan, N Sanandajd, 35°28 'N, 47°01 'E, 22.VI.1975, leg. Senglet ( MHNG, cAss) .

Diagnosis:

Highly distinctive species; for a detailed description see ASSING (in press).

Body slender. Antennae and legs conspicuously long and slender, preapical antennomeres not transverse. Pronotum of distinctive shape, almost cordiform: maximal width in anterior half, strongly tapering posteriad; width of posterior margin 0.75-0.80 times maximal pronotal width; lateral margins smoothly sinuate in posterior half. Elytra only with moderately dense puncturation. For illustrations of the habitus, the forebody, and the antenna see figures 23-25 in ASSING (in press).

♂: aedeagus 0.45-0.47 mm long); shape of median lobe somewhat resembling that of P. flavirostris , but more slender, ventral process more strongly bent (in relation to base), and internal sac with remarkably long flagellum; for illustrations see figures 27-30 in ASSING (in press).

♀: spermatheca of similar shape as that of P. anatolicaanatolica and P. khnzoriani ; for an illustration see figure 34 in ASSING (in press).

Comparative notes:

The species is readily distinguished from all other representatives of the genus distributed in the Western Palaearctic region and Middle Asia by the distinctly longer and more slender antennae and legs, the conspicuous shape of the pronotum (cordiform shape, sinuate lateral margins), the sparser puncturation of the pronotum and the elytra, as well as by the morphology of the aedeagus, especially the remarkably long flagellum.

Distribution and bionomics:

The known distribution is confined to western Iran ( Map 5 ); for additional localities see ASSING (in press). It is here reported from Afghanistan for the first time. The species has been collected on river banks at altitudes of 1940 and 2040 m ((ASSING in press) in June and July.

Key to the Pronomaea species of the Western Palaearctic region, including Middle Asia

1. Antennae and legs conspicuously long and slender; antennomere X not transverse. Pronotum cordiform, distinctly narrowed posteriad; width at posterior margin 0.75-0.80 times maximal pronotal width; lateral margins smoothly sinuate in posterior half (dorsal view), posterior angles pronounced. Elytral puncturation less dense. ♂: median lobe of aedeagus shaped as in figures 23-25 in ASSING (in press), with very long flagellum. ♀: spermatheca minute and with very short duct (figure 34 in ASSING (in press)). Iran ( Map 5 ). .............. ........................................................................................................ P. procerula ASSING

- Antennae and legs shorter; antennomere X transverse, usually approximatey 1.5 times as wide as long. Pronotum weakly tapering posteriad; width at posterior margin usually approximately 0.90-0.95 times maximal pronotal width; lateral margin not or only indistinctly sinuate in posterior half; posterior angles obtuse. Elytral puncturation denser. ♂: aedeagus of different shape and with shorter flagellum. ............................................................... B

2. Eyes less prominent and smaller, shorter than postocular region in dorsal view ( Fig. 35 ). Coloration of body on average paler, head and pronotum rufous to brown. ♂: aedeagus without projection at base of ventral process (lateral view). .......................................... C

- Eyes more prominent and larger, at least as long as postocular region in dorsal view. Coloration of body on average darker; head and pronotum usually dark brown to blackish. ... D

3. ♂: median lobe of aedeagus at base of ventral process (i. e. near crista apicalis) not bulging; apex of ventral process obliquely truncate; flagellum shorter, darker, and stouter ( Figs 36-39 ). Widespread from Caucasus region to Cyprus, Lebanon, and Iran ( Map 3 ). ........ ....................................................................................................... P. araxicola REITTER

- ♂: median lobe of aedeagus at base of ventral process (i. e. near crista apicalis) somewhat bulging; apex of ventral process rounded; flagellum longer and more slender ( Figs 41-42 ). Israel. ( Map 3 ). ..................................................................................... P. spalacisspalacis sp. n.

4. ♂: median lobe of aedeagus at base of ventral process (near crista apicalis) without projection or transverse carina (best seen in lateral view). ♀: spermatheca shaped as in Fig. 47 , minute and with extremely short duct. Eastern Mediterranean, Caucasus region, Middle Asia. ............................................................................................................................. E

- ♂: median lobe of aedeagus at base of ventral process (near crista apicalis) with more or less pronounced projection or carinae. ♀: spermatheca less minute; duct distinctly longer than capsule. ................................................................................................................ G

5. ♂: median lobe of aedeagus shaped as in Fig. 51 , ventral process almost straight in lateral view. Tajikistan, Afghanistan ( Map 5 ). ....................................... P. flavirostris SEMENOV

- ♂: ventral process of aedeagus strongly sinuate in lateral view. Distribution different. ..... ..................................................................................................................................... F

6. ♂: apical internal structure of aedeagus very slender and evenly bent ( Figs 48-50 ). Caucasus region to northern Turkey, Armenia, Iran, and Turkmenistan ( Map 4 ). ........................... .................................................................................................. P. khnzoriani SEMENOV

- ♂: apical internal structure of aedeagus of different shape ( Figs 44-51 ). SE-Bulgaria, SW- and S-Anatolia ( Map 4 ). ................................................................... P. anatolica FAGEL

7. Pronotum larger in relation to head, usually at least 1.3 times as wide as head; pronotal pubescence shorter and usually more or less depressed. Antennae usually uniformly blackish, with the basal antennomeres at most only slightly paler than apical antennomeres. ♂: median lobe of aedeagus shaped as in Figs 1-7 . ♀: spermatheca with longer duct ( Fig. 8 ). Distribution Atlanto-Mediterranean, from NW-Africa and the Iberian Peninsula to Belarus ( Map 1 ). ....................................................................................... P. rostrata ERICHSON

- Pronotum smaller in relation to head, usually at most 1.3 times as wide as head; pronotal pubescence longer and usually suberect. Basal antennomeres often of paler coloration than apical antennomeres. ♂: median lobe of aedeagus of different shape. ♀: spermatheca with shorter duct. ................................................................................................................ H

8. ♂: median lobe of aedeagus at base of ventral process with fine carina very close to crista apicalis ( Figs 26-28 ). Crete ( Map 2 ). ................................................. P. wunderlei sp. n .

- ♂: median lobe of aedeagus at base of ventral process with more prominent projection in different position. Distribution different. .....................................................................I

9. ♂: median lobe of aedeagus at base of ventral process with less pronounced and distinctly angular projection ( Figs 30-34 ). Species from Sardinia and Sicily . .............................. 10

- ♂: median lobe of aedeagus at base of ventral process with more massive and usually not distinctly angular projection. Distribution different. .................................................. 11

10. ♂: median lobe of aedeagus smaller, approximately 0.38 mm long; flagellum shorter; angular projection at base of ventral process more prominent ( Figs 32-34 ). Sardinia ( Map 1 ). ..... ............................................................................................................... P. sardoa sp. n .

- ♂: median lobe of aedeagus larger, approximately 0.42 mm long; flagellum longer; angular projection at base of ventral process less prominent ( Figs 29-31 ). Sicily ( Map 1 ). ............ ................................................................................................................. P. sicula sp. n .

11. Antenna usually of uniformly blackish coloration, basal antennomeres at most only slightly paler than apical antennomeres. ♂: projection at base of ventral process of aedeagus rounded to nearly angular; apex of ventral process more slender in lateral view ( Figs 18-24 ). Corsica ( Map 2 ). ............................................................................................ P. corsicana sp. n.

- Basal antennomeres usually somewhat paler than remainder of antenna, yellowish brown to brown. ♂: projection at base of ventral process more or less truncate apically; apex of ventral process less slender ( Figs 9-15 ). Widespread Ponto-Mediterranean species, distributed from the Balkans to western France ( Map 2 ). ........................................... P. picea HEER

Catalogue of the Pronomaea species of the Palaearctic region

Figures

Map 1: Distributions of Pronomaea rostrata ERICHSON (filled circles: examined records; open circles: selected plausible literature records by FAGEL (1969) and FAUVEL (1902)), P. sardoasardoa sp. n. (open squares), and P. sicula sp. n. (filled squares).

Map 2: Distributions of Pronomaea picea HEERHEER (filled circles), P. corsicana sp. n. (open circles), and P. wunderleiwunderlei sp. n. (squares), based on examined records. The records of doubtful identity from Malta are omitted.

Map 3: Distributions of Pronomaea araxicola REITTERREITTER (filled circles) and P. spalacis sp. n. (open circles), based on examined and literature records. The unconfirmed record of P. araxicola from Bolu (Turkey) is omitted.

Map 4: Distributions of Pronomaea anatolica FAGEL (filled circles) and P. khnzoriani SEMENOV (open circles), based on examined and literature records.

Map 5: Distributions of Pronomaea flavirostris SEMENOV (filled circles) and P. procerula ASSING (open circles), based on examined and literature records.

Figs 35-43: Pronomaea araxicola REITTER (35-40) and P. spalacis sp. n. (41-43): forebody of paratype of P. orientalisorientalis (35); median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view (36-39, 41-42) of male from "Araxesthal" (36), holotype of P. libanotica (37), holotype of P. orientalis (38), male from Antakya (39), and paratypes of P. spalacisspalacis (41-42); spermatheca (40, 43). Scale bars: 35: 0.5 mm; 36-43: 0.1 mm.

Figs 44-51: Pronomaea anatolica FAGEL (44-47), P. khnzoriani SEMENOV (48-50), and P. flavirostris SEMENOV (51): median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view (44-46, 48-51) of holotype (44) and of males from Muğla (45-46), Iran (48-49), Amasya (50), and Tajikistan (51); spermatheca (47). Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figs 1-8: Pronomaea rostrata ERICHSON: median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view (1-6) of males from Germany (1), southern Spain (2), Ukraine (3), Poland (4), Corsica (5), and Tunisia (6); apical part of median lobe of aedeagus in ventral view (7); spermatheca (8). Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figs 26-34: Pronomaea wunderlei sp. n. (26-28), P. sicula sp. n. (29-31), and P. sardoa sp. n. (32-34): median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view (26-27, 29-30, 32-33) of holotypes (26, 29, 32) and paratypes (27, 30, 33); apical part of median lobe of aedeagus in ventral view (28, 31, 34). Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figs 18-25: Pronomaea corsicana sp. n.: median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view (18-23) of males from various Corsican localities; median lobe of aedeagus in ventral view (24); spermatheca (25). Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figs 9-16: Pronomaea picea HEER: median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view (9-13) of males from France (9-10), Italy (11), Hungary (12), and Greece (13); apical part of median lobe of aedeagus in ventral view (14-15); spermatheca (16). Scale bars: 0.1 mm.