Pseudomeira rustica (Boheman)

Pierotti, Helio, Bellò, Cesare & Alonso-Zarazaga, Miguel A., 2010, 2376, Zootaxa 2376, pp. 1-96 : 30

Pseudomeira rustica (Boheman)

Peritelus rusticus Boheman in Schoenherr, 1842: 148. Cuní y Martorell & Martorell y Peña, 1876: 236; Iglesias Iglesias, 1922: 6.

Peritelus (Peritelus) rusticus Boheman : Seidlitz, 1866: 290, 313, 320; Stierlin, 1883: 593, 596; Lona, 1937: 259.

Pseudomeira rustica (Boheman) : Pierotti & Bellò, 1998: 105; Alonso-Zarazaga, 2002: 24.

Diagnosis. Species of medium size (4.8–6.1 mm), characterised by robust body, eyes rather convex with upper margin evidently lower than frons in lateral view, elytra not or weakly rounded at sides and dorsal scales strongly imbricate, uniformly ochreous.

Distribution. Northern and Central France, southwards to mountains of Alpes Maritimes and Provence (type locality: “Gallia, Lotharingia ” = France, Lorraine). Spanish literature records: Barcelona: banks of rivers Besós and Llobregat (Cuní y Martorell & Martorell y Peña, 1876). Since this species has not been recorded from any locality south of Mont Ventoux, in the French department of Vaucluse, this old record is almost certainly based on a misidentification. Two other periteline species, P. prolixa and Euplister megalophthalmus , have been identified from the same locality and are candidates for corresponding to this record.

Biology. Adults were recorded from Cardamine (Brassicaceae) , Cytisus and Spartium (Fabaceae) ; under stones at Mont Ventoux.

Genus Meirella Pierotti & Bellò

Meirella Pierotti & Bellò, 1997: 159 ; Alonso-Zarazaga & Lyal, 1999: 172.

Meira: Fairmaire, 1859: 59 (partim); Solari, 1955: 40 (partim).

Peritelus (Meira) : Fairmaire sensu auctt . (partim).

Type species: Meira suturella Fairmaire, 1859 .

For description see Pierotti & Bellò (1997). A genus with a western-Mediterranean distribution with a northern influence ( Fig. 64). Includes three species.