Dasytes

Abstract: The study of over 10,000 specimens of Dasytidae from about 35 collections has led to the conclusion that 8 genera and 32 species and subspecies of this family, all actually observed by the author, occur in Sardinia. This number is believed to be rather close to completion. A further 30 species, reported in the past as occurring on the island, are discussed and have been removed from the list. Identification keys based on external characters only are proposed for genera and species. However, for difficult groups and where confusion may arise, drawings of aedeagi are supplied. An annoted cataloguefollows with, for each species, synonymies, bibliography, a list of sampling localities with last year of collection, notes, and chorotype. A zoogeographical analysis shows that the Sardinian Dasytidae conform to a Central Mediterranean type, with rather strong North African influences and with a high presence of strict endemics (11 species), higher than in Corsica (7 species). Danacea (Allodanacaea) is no doubt the most interesting group with 7 taxa, none of which are spread all over Sardinia and 2 of which—D. (A.) gorditana Liberti and D. (A.) nympha Liberti—only occur in a tiny area in the Nurra region. Two species, Dasytes doderoi Pic and Aplocnemus (Diplambe) januaventi Liberti, both strict Sardinian endemics, are very rare and poorly known: the first is only known on two female specimens, both collected in the Gennargentu area many years ago; the second seems in a “safer” situation because several specimens have been collected recently. Trap samples (mainly Malaise) from the Marganai and Montimannu region-owned forests (SW Sardinia, respectively Carbonia-Iglesias and Medio Campidano provinces), are also discussed.

Abstract: Four new species of malachite beetles (Coleoptera, Dasytidae) are described from Late Eocene Baltic amber, namely two species of the genus Aplocnemus Stephens, 1830 and a species of the genus Aploceble Majer, 1998, both from the tribe Aplocnemini Majer, 1987 of the subfamily Rhadalinae Leconte, 1862, and a species of the genus Dasytes Paykull, 1799 from the tribe Dasytini Leech, 1817 and subfamily Dasytinae Laporte de Castelnau, 1840. The new species Aplocnemus (Aplocnemus) hoffeinsorum sp. nov. is characterized by flabellate antennae and yellowish-brown legs. The new species resembles the Central Pyrenean endemic species A. (A.) temperei Constantin, 2007 in a suite of characters, but can easily be distinguished by its flabellate antennae, larger body size, coarse puncturation of the surface and elytra slightly widened posteriorly. Aplocnemus (Ischnopalpus) baltiensis sp. nov. differs in the triangular serrate middle antennomeres, wide triangular last palpomere, and surface with strong, dense puncturation, covered with long black erect hairs. Aploceble (Aploceble) lateantennata sp. nov. has dark-brown legs, which allow comparison with A. (A.) fuscipes Majer, 2008, which has light-brown legs, but the new species differs in the wide triangular middle antennomeres, which from the 4th to the 10th are wider than long, as well as in the coarse sparse puncturation of the dorsal surface. Characters to distinguish the new species from its congeners are given in the key to Aploceble species. The new species Dasytes (Mesodasytes) ochraceus sp. nov. can easily be recognized from its congeners by the yellow-brown coloration of the body with narrow black stripes on the apical antennomeres, the inner margins of the femora and the apices of the tarsomeres. In outward appearance it is similar to Dasytes (Mesodasytes) croceipes Kiesenwetter, 1866 which has the legs partly yellow-orange, but differs in the elongate 3rd antennomere, the distinct carina above the epipleura, and the lateral margins of the pronotum depressed posteriorly.

Abstract: Ten Dasytidae species have been found to be present in the Egadi islands, one of which—Danacea hierena n. sp.—is endemic of the whole Archipelago and is here described. Excluding the new species, no other endemic has been found and the Egadi Dasytidae fauna appears to be rather similar to the Sicilian one. Dasytes croceipes Kiesenwetter, 1866 is reported new for Sicily.

Abstract: Dasytes lewisi Pic is transferred from the Melyridae (Cleroidea) to a new genus in the Pyrochroidae (Cucujoidea), forming the new combination Tydessa lewisi (Pic).