Heteromeiropsis valentiana Pierotti & Bellò

Pierotti, Helio, Bellò, Cesare & Alonso-Zarazaga, Miguel A., 2010, 2376, Zootaxa 2376, pp. 1-96 : 34-35

Heteromeiropsis valentiana Pierotti & Bellò

( Figs. 1 -Bb, 41b, 43a–c, 53c, 76)

Heteromeiropsis valentiana Pierotti & Bellò, 2004: 596 ; Velázquez, 2007: 168.

Diagnosis. Species of small to medium size (3.9–5.0 mm), characterised by elytra not very elongate, a little rounded apically even in male, and reclinate dorsal elytral setae. Aedeagus as in Fig. 41b, apical, median and gonoporal endophallic structures as in Figs. 43a–b; spermatheca as in Fig. 53c.

Distribution. Iberian endemite: eastern Spain (Valencia). Spanish literature records: Valencia: sierra de les Agulles (type loc.), Tabernes ( Pierotti & Bellò, 2004).

Material examined ( Fig. 76). Holotype male, labelled: 1) Valencia, s.ra des Agulles, m. 390, camí de la Font del Barber, 2.11.2000, Pierotti; 2) lettiera di P. lentiscus L.; 3) Heteromeiropsis valentiana sp. nov. Pierotti & Bellò; 4) holotypus ( MGI). Other specimens: Spain: Valencia: s.ra de les Agulles, m. 390, camí de la Font del Barber, 2.XI.00, leg. Bellò (BEL); do., leg. Pierotti ( PIE); Tabernes, 27. V.34, leg. Moroder ( TOS).

Biology. Collected under Pistacia lenticus L. (Terebinthaceae).

Genus Euplister gen. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:B43E2720-5910-4B02-B119-6FDF9DA3CB7D

Peritelus subg. Peritelus Germar sensu auctt ., partim.

Peritelus Germar : Pierotti & Bellò, 1998: 104 (partim); Alonso-Zarazaga & Lyal, 1999: 172 (partim).

Type species: Peritelus susanae Seidlitz, 1866 .

An Ibero-Maghrebian genus ( Fig. 66) comprising the 10 Iberian species dealt with here as well as E. magnicollis (Desbrochers, 1896) comb. n. and E. coniceps (Desbrochers, 1897) comb. n. (both transferred from Peritelus ) from Algeria.

Diagnosis. Species of small to medium size (3.2–6.1 mm), easy to differentiate from those of Peritelus and Pseudoperitelus apart from the characters mentioned in the key also by the peculiar arrangement of the endophallic structures ( Fig. 9a) and by the structure of the hemisternites ( Fig. 10c) and spiculum ventrale ( Fig. 11c).

Description. Body outline robust, often subglobose. Dorsal vestiture consisting of usually oblong scales, with metallic shimmer, not or hardly imbricate, and of setae appressed to reclinate on elytral declivity, often grouped here on desquamulate areoles. Setae usually filiform on outer margin of metatibiae, but then also particularly robust and condensed to form a swelling on outer apex ( Fig. 3b). Rostrum ( Fig. 1b) uniformly narrowing from genae to base of pterygia, in dorsal view with a strong apical keel occupying entire apical margin of pterygia; epistome convex, not notched; pterygia not or hardly prominent; frontal sulcus obsolete. Antennae with desmomere 7 as broad as 1. Pronotum wider at base than at apex. Elytra oblong to subglobose. Abdomen wider than long ( Fig. 5c). Legs usually robust, tibiae always distinctly widened at apex ( Fig. 2c). Aedeagus with characteristic endophallic structures (see figures for each species). Plate of female sternite 8 clearly transverse, flabelliform ( Fig. 11c). Hemisternites very small and rather weakly sclerotised ( Fig. 10c.). Spermatheca with cornu and collum elongate and ramus placed backward (see figures for each species).

Sexual dimorphism. Apart from the usual difference in the abdominal depression, males are often larger than females, with more robust legs and funicles and shorter and more clearly subglobose elytra (or these at least more clearly narrowing apicad).

Etymology. An anagram of Peritelus . Gender masculine.

Distribution. Ibero-Maghrebian ( Fig. 66), comprising the 10 Iberian species dealt with here as well as E. magnicollis (Desbrochers, 1896) comb. n. and E. coniceps (Desbrochers, 1897) comb. n. (both transferred from Peritelus ) from Algeria.

Biology. Found on or under species of Quercus (Fagaceae) , Ranunculus (Ranunculaceae) , Genista , Erinacea , Bituminaria , Ononis , Trifolium , Anthyllis , Coronilla (Fabaceae) , Pistacia (Anacardiaceae) , Buxus (Buxaceae) , Daphne (Thymelaeaceae) , Phlomis , Thymus (Lamiaceae) and Cirsium (Asteraceae) .