Bruchidius nalandus (Pic, 1927)

Delobel, Alex, 2012, Bruchinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from Socotra Island, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 52, pp. 373-380 : 374

Bruchidius nalandus (Pic, 1927)

Material examined (111 spec.). YEMEN: SOCOTRA ISLAND: Coastal road, shrubby area, ca. 5 km W of Hadibo, 13.vi.2009, 5 spec., L. Purchart leg. ( NMPC); Shrub 5 km E of Hadiboh, 13.vi.2009, 1 spec., V. Hula leg. ( NMPC); Elhe nursery, 12°32′39″N 54°04′43″E, 19.vi.2009, 3 spec., V.Hula leg. ( NMPC); Shibhon, 12°28′15″N E 53°58′31″E, 680 m, 13.vi.2009, 7 spec., L. Purchart leg. ( NMPC); Wadi between Firmihim and Shibhon, 23.vi.2009, 1 spec., L. Purchart leg. ( NMPC); Di Lishe beach, 20 m, 2.ii.2010, 3 spec., L. Purchart leg. ( NMPC); Zemhon area, 12°30′58″N E 54°06′39″E, 270–350 m, 3.–4.ii.2010, 15 spec., L. Purchart & J. Vybíral leg. ( NMPC); Firmihin, 12°28′27″N E 54°0′54″E, 400–500 m, at light, 6.–7.ii.2010, 3 spec., L. Purchart & J. Vybíral leg. (2 spec. in NMPC, 1 spec. in CBAD); Di Hamri, 12°37′59″N 54°15′40″E, 20 m, 27.ii.2010, 4 spec., L. Purchart leg. ( NMPC); Dgisfu Valley, 12°28.444′N 54°08.596′E, 2.vi.2010, 1 spec., V. Hula & J. Niedobová leg. ( CBAD); Deiqub cave env., 10.vi.2010, 6 spec., V. Hula & J. Niedobová leg. (5 spec in NMPC, 1 spec. in CBAD); Zemhon area, 12°20′58″N 54°06′39″E, 270–300 m, 16.–17.vi.2010, 9 spec., V.Hula leg.( NMPC); Wadi Ayhaft, 12°36.5′N 53°58.9′E, 200 m, 7.–8.xi.2010, 1 spec., J. Hájek leg. ( NMPC); same data, 1 spec., P.Hlaváč leg. ( NMPC); same data, 1 spec., J. Batelka leg. ( NMPC); same data, 4 spec., J. Bezděk leg. (3 spec. in JBCB, 1 spec. in CBAD); Aloove area, Hasan vill. env., 12°31.2′N 54°07.4′E, 221 m, 9.–10.xi.2010, 1 spec., J. Hájek leg. ( NMPC); Noged Plain (sand dunes), Sharet Halma vill. env., 12°21.9′N 54°05.03′E, 20 m, 10.–11.xi.2010, 19 spec., J. Bezděk leg. (16 spec. in JBCB, 3 spec. in CBAD); same data, 1 spec., L. Purchart leg. ( NMPC); same data, 2 spec., J. Hájek leg. ( NMPC); same data, 3 spec., P. Hlaváč leg. ( NMPC); same data, 1 spec., J. Batelka leg. ( NMPC); Dixam plateau, Firmihim ( Dracaena forest), 12°28.6′N 54°01.1′E, 490 m, 15.–16.xi.2010, 2 spec., J. Hájek leg. ( NMPC, CBAD); same data, 1 spec., J. Bezděk leg.( JBCB); Aloove area, Aloove vill. env., Jatropha unicostata shrubland with Boswellia elongata trees, 12°31.2′N 54°07.4′E, 221 m, 19.–20.vi.2012, 2 spec., J. Bezděk, J. Hájek, V. Hula, P. Kment, I. Malenovský, J. Niedobová & L. Purchart leg. ( NMPC); Deiqub cave, cave & Croton socotranus + Jatropha unicostata shrubland, 12°23.1′N 54°00.9′E, 115 m, 12.vi.2012, 11 spec., J. Bezděk, J. Hájek, V. Hula, P. Kment, I. Malenovský, J. Niedobová & L. Purchart leg. ( NMPC); Noged plain,Abataro, border of sand dunes and shrubland, 12.–13.vi.2012, 12°22.1′N 54°03.4′E, 20 m, 1 spec., J. Bezděk, J. Hájek, V. Hula, P. Kment, I. Malenovský, J. Niedobová & L. Purchart leg. ( NMPC); Sheq vill. env., 8.vi.2012, Croton socotranus + Jatropha unicostata shrubland, 12°39.7′N 54°03.8′E, 15 m, 2 spec., J. Bezděk, J. Hájek, V. Hula, P. Kment, I. Malenovský, J. Niedobová & L. Purchart leg. ( NMPC).

Distribution. Congo, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Republic of South Africa, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam. First record from Socotra Island.

Comments. Morphology is somewhat variable throughout the range of the species. In particular, specimens from the United Arab Emirates and Socotra are often notably larger than specimens from Southeast Asia. Such differences may be directly related to the nature or amount of larval food. The only unquestionable hosts of B. nalandus are seeds of two Tephrosia species ( Fabaceae : Millettieae ), T. candida (Roxb.) DC. and T. purpurea (L.) Pers. (see ARORA 1977). In Vietnam, it was also reared on seeds of Crotalaria pallida Aiton (Fabaceae) . There are several species of the genus Tephrosia growing in Socotra; at least on the locality Sheq B. nalandus was collected from the very common T. apollinea (Delile) Link (P. Kment, pers. comm.).