Pygopleurus brullei brullei Bollino, Uliana & Sabatinelli, 2019

Bollino, Maurizio, Uliana, Marco & Sabatinelli, Guido, 2019, The Pygopleurus Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Glaphyridae) of mainland Greece: taxonomy, faunistics and ecological notes, Zootaxa 4674 (2), pp. 151-202 : 183-188

Pygopleurus brullei brullei Bollino, Uliana & Sabatinelli , new species

( Figs. 86–98 , 106–110 , 115–116 )

= Amphicoma (Pygopleurus) humeralis f. nigroapicalis Petrovitz, 1958: 49 [infrasubspecific, unavailable]. = Amphicoma (Pygopleurus) humeralis f. rufa Petrovitz, 1972: 22 [infrasubspecific, unavailable].

Material examined. 135 ♂♂, 92♀♀:

Holotype: ♂, Greece – Elis / Oros Foloi - 3 km W of Achladini / ~ 37°43’ N 21°45’ E / 3.V.2013 - m. 650 / Leg. Bollino ( MHNG).

Paratypes:

Achaia: Greece, Peloponneso, Ahaia - M. Aroania / Plateau de Xerocambos / 13.VI.2000 / m. 1300-1500 Leg. E. Migliaccio (1♂, MBLI; 1♂ EMCR) ; GR - Peloponneso (Achaia) / Kalavrita dint mt. 700-1000 / 38°01’N 22°06’E / 26-28/05/2013 Leg L. Saltini (3♀♀, LSCM) ; Grecia / Kalavrita / 11.V.1995 / leg. F. Izzillo (1♂, PLC) ; Kalavryta , Morea, [leg.] Holtz (1♀ MHNG) (1♀, MHNG) ; GR Peloponneso / (Ahaia) Kalavryta / Mega Spileon m 900 / 2. V. 2001 legit D. Sechi (3♂♂, 2♀♀, DSCC, CMU) ; Grecia Morea / Agridi / Feneos 1/ 9.6.96 / Leg. Pad. Mal. (1♀, MMCM) ; Greece – Achaia / Vouraikós Gorge / 3.V.1994 E. Colonnelli (1♂, CGS) ; Aetolia-Acarnania : Grecia Akarnaia / Angelókastron / 13.V. 69 F. & M. Cassola (1♂, 1♀, CGS) ; Arcadia : Greece Peloponneso / Arkadia, Chranoi 750 m / 37°12’N 22°11’E 16- / 22.V. 205 R. Poloni legit (1♂, RPCM) ; Greece, Arcadia / Chrisovitsi - Menalo / 12.5.2004 / Lg. Skoupy (1♀, CRL) ; Greece / Naplion / 16.V.1994 / Leg. Blajda (1♂, CRL) ; Central Macedonia: Greece - Central Macedonia / 8 km N Koustochori / ~ 40°33’N 22°05’E / 25.V.2012 - m 650 / Legit Kakiopoulos - coll. Bollino (2♂♂, 5♀♀, MBLI) ; Greece / leg. Rozner I. // 1981 V.4 / Ag. Dimitris (1♂, IRCB) ; Grecia, Maced. / centr., Seres, Kato / Poroia , 6.VI.2007 / leg. F. Angelini (1♀, CGS) ; Corinthia : Greece, Corinthia, Feneos / Lake (behind dam), edge of / forest, 850 m, 23.V.2012 / 37.9323, 22.2940 leg. C.Manci (1♀, CMCR) ; Grecia – Pelo- ponneso / M.Killini - Trikala m.1100 / 29.5- 7.6.1998 Leg. L. Saltini (3♂♂, 1♀, LSCM) ; Greece, Corinthia, near / Stymfalia Lake , 630 m / edge of forest, 23.V.2012 / 37.8449, 22.4607 leg. C.Manci (1♂, 1♀, CMCR) ; Grecia – Peloponneso / Mt. Killini – m. 1600-1700 / 7.VI.1998 Leg. Pad. - Mal. (2♂♂, MMCM; 2♀♀ CGS) ; Greece, Pelo- ponneso / Steno-Ano, Trikala / Killini Mts. 2-3.VI.2009 (1♂, CGS) ; Grecia – Peloponneso / Korinthos: Stilia m. 700 c. / 30-5- 6.6.1998 Leg. Pad. Mal. (1♂, LSCM) ; Elis : Greece, Elis, 4 km N of / Koutsouroumpas , 730 m / edge of forest 25.V.2012 / 37.7592, 21.7675 leg. C.Manci (2♀♀, CMCR) ; Morea / Cumani / Brenske. (2♂♂, RBINS; 2♂♂, HNHM) ; Greece, Elis, near / Koutsouroumpas , 720 m / edge of forest 25.V.2012 / 37.7346, 21.7616 leg. C.Manci (7♂♂, 4♀♀, CMCR; 5♂♂, 2♀♀ CMU) ; Greece – Elis / Oros Foloi - 3 km W of Achladini / ~ 37°43’ N 21°45’ E / 3.V.2013 - m. 650 / Leg. Bollino (3♂♂, 8♀♀, MBLI) ; Greece, Elis, Oros Foloi , 3 km W of Ahladini, 17-18.V.2005, leg. Liberto (3♂♂, CAL) ; Greece – Elis / Oros Foloi - 5 km NW Koutsouroumpas / ~ 37°44’ N 21°45’ E / 25.V.2012 - m 770 / lg. C. Manci (4♂♂, 1♀, MBLI; 2♂♂ CGS) ; Epirus: Greece, Epirus, Ioannina, / Exochi (near), forest edge, / 800 m, 31.V.2012 / 40.0833, 20.7435 leg. C.Manci (1♂, CMCR) ; Grecia, Epiros, Ioannina, Mazia , 26.V.1977, leg. Gianasso) (1♂, CAL) ; Grece Ioannina / Vrosina / 29.IV.2000 / Berger leg. (1♀, CDK) ; Greece – Konitsa (Epirus) / 3- 4 km North Konitsa / ~ N 40° 03’ E 20° 44’ / 28-29.V.2010 – m 550-600 / Lg. Bollino (1♀, MBLI) ; Euboea : Limni Euböa / Griechenland (1♂, MHNG) ; Evritania: Veluchi (1♀, RBINS) ; Laconia: Gr. Peloponn. 11.6.2004 7 Taygetos mts. Tripi / Skoupy leg. 1600 m (2♀♀, CMU) ; Greece – Lakonia / Neo Itilo / ~ 36° 41’ N 22° 23’ E / 30.V.2009 - m. 250 / Lg. Lucbauer (1♂, MBLI) ; Greece Peloponnisos / (Lakonia) Oros Taygetos / 8 Km W of Tripi, loc. Kout- silies / 37°04’40”N 22°17’06”E m 1050 / 28.V.2004 A. Liberto legit (1♀, CAL) ; Peloponneso / Sparta / 17.5.85 Drioli (2♀♀, DCMT) ; Messenia : Grecia: Peloponneso Messinia / Dasochori , 2 km Sud, m 740 slm, / 37°21’16”N 21°58’47”E, / 27.IV.2016 / Leg. L. Saltini (2♂♂, 2♀♀) ; idem, leg. M. Malmusi (1♂; 3♀♀) (2♂♂, 2♀♀, LSCM; 1♂, 3♀♀, MMCM) ; GR. Greece 19.5.1999 / Artemisia 30km SW / Kalamata env / lgt. M Sarovec (1♂, CRL) ; GR. Pelop.Kalamata / Artemissia 9.VI.94 / G.Pagliacci Leg. (1♂, MMCM) ; Greece – Messenia / Kalamatas-Sparti / ~ N 37° 05’ E 22° 14’ / 8.V.2012 – m 850 / Leg. Agnoli (2♂♂, MBLI) ; Phthiotis : Greece, Phtiothis / Mt.Iti , 38.837, 22.202 / 3 Km SE Kastania 1200 m / 31.V.2016, Leg. M. Bollino (1♂, MBLI) ; Greece, Phtiothis, M. Iti, / 3 Km SE Kastania / 38.837, 22.202 1200m / 31.V.2016 Leg. M. Uliana (1♂, 1♀, CMU) ; Graecia / Rengini / V.1984 leg. Feller (1♂, MMCM; 1♀, MSNMI) ; Greece- Sterea Ellada / Fthiotida prov., Thermopyles / N38.79292-E 22.53294 - 70 m / 27.IV.2003 (hand net) / P. Cerretti, L Facchinelli / M. Tisato, L. Valerio S. Vanin leg. (1♀, GCCR) ; Thessaly: Greece, Thessaly, / distr. Evritania, / Panetoliko Mts., // Prousos env., Abies / forest, 9.VI.2015, leg./ P Brùha, J. Mertlik, T. / Németh & B. Zbuzek (1♀, HNHM) ; Greece, prov. / Thessalia, distr. / Lárissa, Mt. Ossa , // 8 km W Karitsa, / N 39°50.593’ / E 22°43.640’, 450 m, // 2013.IV.29. / virágon / leg.: Szalóki D. (1♀, DZCB) ; Greece, Thes- saly / Kalabaka distr., Meteora-Vlachava / 15.V.2016 Leg.Z.Lucbauer (2♂♂, 2♀♀, CMU) ; Gr centr., 1.-2.6.’07 / KALAMBAKA env. / METEORA / J. SIMANDL lgt. (1♀, CRL) ; Grecia Karditsa / Mouzaki / 24.V.2005 / leg. F. Angelin (1♀, CGS) ; Greece – Thessalia / Karditsa, near Kastania / ~ 39°14’ N 21°47’ E / 17.V.2014 - m. 800 / Lg. Kakiopoulos (2♂♂, 1♀, MBLI) ; Greece – Thessalia / Karditsa, near Metropolis / ~ 39°20’ N 21°49’ E / 17.V.2014 - m. 200 / Lg. Kakiopoulos (1♂, MBLI) ; Greece – Thessalia / Karditsa, near Neraida / ~ 39°07’ N 21°48’ E / 24.V.2014 - m. 1200 / Lg. Kakiopoulos (1♂, 2♀♀, MBLI) ; Greece – Thessalia / Krio Vrisì 5-8.V.2008 / Lg. Malinka (1♂, MBLI) ; Greece, Thessaly, Larissa , / 4 km S of Spillia: edge of / forest: m 1150, 20.V.2012 / 39.7619, 22.6511 leg. C.Manci (2♂♂, CMCR) ; Grecia - Thessalia / M. Ossa m. 400-600 / 3- 4.6.1998 Leg. Pad.Mal. (1♂, MMCM) ; Greece / 25.5.1994 / Meteore / M. Sarovec (1♂, 1♀, CMU) ; Greece, Thessalia, Ossa, Spilia , 22-24.V.2006, m. 1000, Lg. Malinka (1♂, MBLI) ; Greece – Thessalia / Ossa – road Sykourio-Spilia / ~ 39°48’ N 22°38’ E / 1-8.V.2013 - m. 800 / Lg. P. Turek (4♂♂, 6♀♀, MBLI) ; Greece / Thessalia / Portaria (NE Volos) / 10.IV.2016 / Leg. M.Malavasi (3♂♂, 2♀♀, CMU) ; Greece – Trikala / 2 km SE of Skepari / ~ 39°47’ N 21°39’ E / 28.V.2012 - m. 740 / Lg. C. Manci (7♂♂, 4♀♀, MBLI, 1♀ CGS) ; Greece – Trikala (Thessaly) / 5 km South Vlachava / ~ N 39° 44’ E 21° 39’ / 8.VI.2011 – m 650-700 / Lg. Bollino (3♂♂, MBLI) ; Greece – Trikala (Thessaly) / Between Panagia and Korydal- los / 23.V.2010 – m 700-750 / Lg. Bollino (1♂, MBLI; 2♂♂, CFS) ; Greece – Trikala (Thessaly) / Between Panagia and Korydallos / 30-31.V.2010 – m 700-750 / Legit Bollino (1♂, MBLI) ; Greece, Thessaly, Trikala , / 3.5 km NE of Kalampaka, / 680 m, 21-22.V.2012 / 39.7316, 21.6482 leg. C.Manci (1♀, CMCR) ; Greece, Thessaly, Trikala , / 3.5 km NE of Kalampaka, / 650 m, 28-30.V.2012 / 39.7316, 21.6480 leg. C. Manci (2♀♀, CMCR) ; Greece – Trikala / 2 km SE of Skepari / ~ 39°47’ N 21°39’ E / 28.V.2012 - m. 740 / Lg. C. Manci (3♂♂, 1♀, CGS) ; Greece, Thessaly, Trikala, / Vlachava , edge of forest, / 830 m, 28.V.2012 / 39.7832, 21.6486 leg. C. Manci (20♂♂, 6♀♀, CMCR; 5♂♂, 3♀♀, CMU) ; West Macedonia: Gavros Gr . / Makedonia // 1981 V. 22 / Leg. Rozner (5♂♂, IRCB) ; Greece, unknown placement: Greece 19-27.V.1995 / Leptokaria env. / Ing Z. Svec leg. (1♂, MBLI)

Specimens excluded from the type series:

Arcadia: Ag. Petros, / Mt.Parnon Greece // 1981.V.14 / Leg. Rozner I. (2♂♂, 2♀♀, IRCB); Laconia : GR. Pelop., 4.vi.2000 / plateau 25 km S of / Tripoli 37°18’N 22° / 24’ E Svec leg. (1♂, 1♀, MBLI) ; Greece / Prov. Lakonia // Vamvakou / 30.V.2004 / Leg. I. & Gy. Rozner (1♂, IRCB) ;

Diagnosis. Characters of the P. viridisuturatus species group described above, plus the following characters. Elytra bicolored (with rare exceptions) (cf. P. brullei taygetanus new subspecies), brown and shining black, occasionally with dark olive-green shine. The dark metallic sutural stripe is narrow, the combined width of the two stripes being narrower than the scutellum. Paramera not diagnostic of species, shape of everted endophallus ( Fig. 91 ) diagnostic for P. brullei sensu lato, but not diagnostic between P. brullei brullei new species and P. brullei taygetanus new subspecies.

Description of the male holotype ( Fig. 86 ). Body size: 12.40 mm from the margin of the clypeus to the apex of the elytra; 15.30 mm including the apex of the abdomen. Width across the humeri: 4.80 mm

Color of integuments: head, pronotum and scutellum metallic green with golden shining. Elytra bicolored, with the base light brown and the apex black with iron shining; the black area occupies roughly the apical forth, its inner edge draws a sinuate line with an apical concavity in the middle of the elytra, and expanding with a thin black area along the suture zone up to the middle of the elytra; elytral suture and lateral margin black. Propygidium black; pygidium orange. Antennal articles 1 and 2 black, with metallic reflection, article 3 and 4 orangish brown with dark base, the rest of the antenna orangish brown. Legs metallic, with green shining.

Setation. Head: frons and clypeus with erect, soft, yellowish hairs; black hairs on the canthus. Antennal first article with dense black hairs, second article with few black hairs. Pronotum and scutellum covered by yellow hairs, with black setae, longer and stouter than the yellow hairs, at anterior angles of pronotum. Elytra with adpressed black hairs; long erect stout black setae along the lateral, apical and inner apical third of the edge; sparse long erect ivory yellow hairs, those in preapical area shorter than the discal ones. Abdomen with hairs of axillary sclerites black, those along the edges of sternites 1–4 ivory yellow, those along the edge of sternites 5-6 black; pre-pygidium covered by mixed light yellow and black adpressed hairs, pygidium covered by light yellowish adpressed hairs.

Ventrally, mouthparts and prosternum densely covered by black hairs; mesosternum to pygidium covered with yellowish hairs. Foretibiae with a row of black hairs on the dorsal surface. Fore and mid femora with long, black hairs; hind femora with long, yellowish hairs; spines brown with lighter apex; apical spurs dark brown with lighter apex.

Morphology: clypeus subquadrangular, slightly narrower basally, anterior angles rounded, without medial carina, but with a small notch in the center. Integument of the clypeus and of the rest of the head covered by fine and dense piliferous punctuation; microreticulation clearly visible through the punctuation on the whole head. Pronotum sub-ovoid, larger (3.80 mm) than long (3.05mm), with anterior angles visible, rounded and obtuse; posterior angles rounded but readily visible; pronotal surface covered by vermiculated wrinkles. Scutellum triangular; about as long as wide, with a sculpturing similar to that of the pronotum. Elytra slightly dehiscent, more rounded at the external side than along the suture, apex regularly rounded; surface without depressions; piliferous punctuation fine, well visible near the humeral callus, fading toward the apex. Claws of prothoracic legs long and moderately curved, protarsi short (combs of tarsomeres 1 to 5 respectively 15, 11, 9, 6, 5 toothed). Claws of mesothoracic and metathoracic legs similar to that of prothoracic legs, but a bit larger and slightly slender. Mesotarsi 1.5 time longer (4.3 mm) than mesotibiae (2.9 mm).

Relevant variability of males.

Color of head, pronotum and scutellum varies from plain green to intense orange red, exceptionally dark magenta with cyan reflections. Hairs along sides of the abdomen mostly bicolored (as in the holotype) but dark hairs on sternites 5-6 can be progressively replaced by light ones (from the proximal to the distal end of abdomen), until complete disappearance. Such variability in the color of abdominal hairs is only observed amongst the population from Peloponnese, with specimens having completely white or ivory hairs accounting for about 10% of the total. Populations from elsewhere show a stable pattern, without significant variation.

Colored/darkened area of elytra from plain, shining black to unsaturated dark blue or green, often the colored hue hardly perceivable. The extension of this area is very variable: ranging from absent (rare condition, about 5% of specimens) to broadly extended; if present along the suture never as large as half the scutellum (reaching the base of the elytra in front of the scutellum). Also in the case of the elytral pattern, relevant variations occur mostly in Peloponnese.

See also the Discussion under P. brullei taygetanus new subspecies.

Description of females. Body size: 11.70–13.20 mm from the margin of the clypeus to the apex of the elytra; 12.90–14.75 mm including the apex of the abdomen. Width across the humeri: 4.80–5.30 mm.

Color: forebody green with golden shining. Androchrome, with elytra bicolored, with the base light brown and the apex black with iron (blue velvet in 1 specimen) shining. The extension of dark area is variable, 80% of the females having the dark area occupying about 1/4 of the elytra and expanding with a thin black area along the suture, while remnant 20% of females have the dark area occupying more than 1/3 of the elytra, always expanding along the suture. Abdomen completely black, covered with black hairs.

Morphology: similar to the male but for the following characters: clypeus with a longitudinal carina, elytra flattened after the apical callus; prosternum, mesosternum to pigidium and all femora covered with long, soft yellowish hairs; mesotarsi not longer than mesotibiae.

Genital sclerites: fig. 92.

Etymology. The new species is named after Gaspard Auguste Brullé (1809–1873) who was the first to study and to describe Greek Pygopleurus .

Distribution ( Figs. 115–116 ). The species is distributed across the whole latitude of mainland Greece, from Central Macedonia, close to the Bulgarian border, to southern Peloponnese. Sympatric (or parapatric in the very close distance) and synchronic occurence with P. viridisuturatus was documented in Thessalia, Central Greece and northern Peloponnese. In the Peloponnese the distribution is scattered, except on the northern mountain ranges, and is replaced by the subspecies taygetanus on the eastern slopes of the Taygetos range (see also remarks under “Distribution” of subspecies taygetanus). The status of the populations of the Parnon mountain range requires further investigation (see “Taxonomic remarks” here below).

Eco-ethological notes ( Fig. 115 ). The adults of this species are active between the beginning of April (10 th April, Thessalia, Portaria, no altitude recorded) and the middle of June (13 th June, Ahaia, Mt. Aroania, 1300–1500 m). The species is mostly found at intermediate altitude (mainly 600-900 m), but the documented range is comprised from 70 m (Fthiotida, Termopyles) to 1700 m (Northern Peoloponnese, Mt. Kyllini). Specimens are usually seen on flowers of yellow Ranunculus , Cistus incanus and Asteraceae (i.e. yellow Tubuliflorae like Crepis ), but have been collected also in Papaver .

Taxonomic remarks. Out of seven specimens available from the Parnon range (from three localities), six are characterised by the blackish elytral pattern either poorly developed or absent. Their habitus is compatible between extremes of variation ascertained for P. brullei brullei new species in other localities of Peloponnese; however, we deem possible that populations of Parnon range are parapatrically segregated from others and evolved into a separate taxon, similar to populations from Taygetos. The scarce material available does not allow reliable taxonomical conclusions. These specimens are excluded from the type series. See also remarks under Pygopleurus brullei taygetanus new subspecies.

Figures

FIGURE 115. Pygopleurus brullei brullei Bollino, Uliana & Sabatinelli, new species and P. brullei taygetanus Bollino, Uliana & Sabatinelli, new species: geographical, altitudinal, and temporal distribution of records. Red curves showing the expected distribution if the species was uniformly present at all heights and all times (see Material and methods).

FIGURE 116. Pygopleurus brullei brullei Bollino, Uliana & Sabatinelli, new species and P. brullei taygetanus Bollino, Uliana & Sabatinelli, new subspecies: detail of distribution on the Taygetos range, in satellite view and in 3D perspective view. Few records of P. b. taygetanus omitted as unsuitable for mapping at this scale due to mismatch between locality and height. Source of satellite image: Google, on data SIO, NOAA, U.S. Navy, NGA, and GEBCO (accessed April 3, 2019). Source of 3D rendering: http://ge-map-overlays.appspot.com/world-maps/maps-for-free-relief.

FIGURES 86–92. Pygopleurus brullei brullei Bollino, Uliana & Sabatinelli, new species, habitus (see also Figs. 93–98) and genitalia (see also Figs. 106–110). 86, male, holotype, typical form (Elis, Achladini); 87, male, black abdominal hair reduced (Phthiotis, Kastania); 88, female, typical form (Elis, Achladini); 89, female, abdominal hair completely white (Kalambaka); 90, left paramere in lateral and dorsal view (Elis, Koutsouroumpas); 91, everted endophallus in left lateral view (Elis, Koutsouroumpas); 92, left genital sclerites of female (Elis, Achladini).

FIGURES 93–98. Pygopleurus brullei brullei Bollino, Uliana & Sabatinelli, new species, habitus (see also Figs. 86–89). 93, male, elytra completely missing dark area and abdominal hair completely white (Messenia, Kalamata); 94, male, elytra with dark blue area and abdominal hair completely white (Corinthia, Mt. Killini); 95, male (Achaia, Kalavryta); 96, male (Messenia, Dasochori); 97, male (Messenia, Dasochori); 98, female (Thessaly, Vlachava).

FIGURES 106–114. Variability of paramera of Pygopleurus brullei brullei Bollino, Uliana & Sabatinelli, new species (106– 110) and P. brullei taygetanus Bollino, Uliana & Sabatinelli, new subspecies (111–114): left paramere in lateral and dorsal view. 106, Central Macedonia, Koustochori; 107, Thessaly, road Sykourio-Spilia; 108, Trikala, Skepari; 109, Trikala, Skepari; 110, Elis, Koutsouroumpas; 111, Laconia, Moni Golas; 112, Laconia, Moni Golas; 113, Laconia, Pende Alonia pass; 114, Laconia, Moni Golas.