Mordellistena peloponnesensis Batten 1980

Mordellistena (s. str.) peloponnesensis Batten, 1980 Figs 1, 2 Mordellistena peloponnesensis Batten, 1980: 42–44. Type locality: “ Skála, Pelopónnesos, Greece ”. Mordellistena (s. str.) peloponnesensis: Horák (2008, 2020). Type material examined. Paratypes. Greece • 3 males; Lakonia, Skala env. [same as holotype]; 9 Jul. 1978; R. Batten leg.; NBCL, RMNH. INS.1485999 [genitalia illustrated], RMNH. INS.1486000, RMNH. INS.1486001 • 4 males; Arkadhia, Tripolis env.; 5 Jul. 1977; R. Batten leg.; NBCL, RMNH. INS.1485986, RMNH. INS.1485987, RMNH. INS.1485988, RMNH. INS.1485989 • 1 male; Messinia, 2 km N. of Kardamili; 6 Jul. 1977; R. Batten leg.; NBCL, RMNH. INS.1485985 • 2 males; Messinia, Pilos env.; 8 Jul. 1978; R. Batten leg.; NBCL, RMNH. INS.1485996, RMNH. INS.1485997 • 1 male; Korinthia, Neméa env.; 10 Jul. 1978; R. Batten leg.; NBCL, RMNH. INS.1485990 • 1 male; same data as preceding; HNHM • 1 male; Ilia, 4 km E. of Pirgos; 6 Jul. 1977; R. Batten leg.; NBCL, RMNH. INS.1485991 • 1 female; Fthiotis, 20 km S. of Lamia; 4 Jul. 1977; R. Batten leg.; NBCL, RMNH. INS.1485992 • 1 female; Aitolia, 5 km W of Navpaktos; 8 Jul. 1977; R. Batten leg.; NBCL, RMNH. INS.1485993 • 1 male; Aitolia, 11 km S of Agrinion; 8 Jul. 1977; R. Batten leg.; NBCL, RMNH. INS.1485998 • 1 female; Arta, 12 km NW of Arta; 8 Jul. 1977; R. Batten leg.; NBCL, RMNH. INS.1485994 • 1 male; Lakonia, 10 km N Sparti; 7 Jul. 1978; R. Batten leg.; NBCL, RMNH. INS.1485995 • 1 male, 1 female; Attica; E. Reitter leg.; syntypes of Mordellistena gemellata Schilsky, 1898; MNB • 1 female; “ Parnass ”; syntype of Mordellistena gemellata Schilsky, 1898; D. Krüper leg.; MNB. Additional material examined. Cyprus • 2 males, 3 females; Choirokoitia; 34.795833 ° N, 33.337500 ° E; alt. 186 m; 15 Jul. 2009; M. Mantič leg.; forest steppe, on flowers; MMCZ • 2 males; Pegeia, Coral Bay; 34.858333 ° N, 32.364167 ° E; alt. 9 m; 21 May 2017; M. Mantič leg.; forest steppe by sea, on flowers; MMCZ • 1 male, 6 females; Foinikaria, Germasogeia Reservoir; 34.755278 ° N, 33.093333 ° E; alt. 68 m; 27 Apr. 2018; D. Selnekovič leg.; secondary grassland, on Daucus; DSBS, DSBS 15, DSBS 16 • 1 male, 1 female; Kouklia env.; 34.666474 ° N, 32.628931 ° E; alt. 34 m; 9 May 2022; D. Selnekovič leg.; xeric grasslands on slopes, on Ferula; DSBS, DSBS 609, DSBS 610 • 1 male; Potamiou env.; 34.818289 ° N, 32.797439 ° E; alt. 677 m; 10 May 2022; D. Selnekovič leg.; road verge, orchards, on Daucus and Tordylium; DSBS, DSBS 611 • 1 female; Pissouri; 34.653149 ° N, 32.715005 ° E; alt. 29 m; 12 May 2022; D. Selnekovič leg.; crop fields, slopes with xeric vegetation, on Ferula and Tordylium; DSBS • 3 males, 4 females; Avdimou env.; 34.675610 ° N, 32.758667 ° E; alt. 33 m; 13 May 2022; D. Selnekovič leg.; road verge, crop fields, on Daucus and Ferula; DSBS • 2 females; Kyrenia, Bellapais; 13 Jul 1939; H. Lindberg leg.; MZH, http://id.luomus.fi/GAC.38997. Greece • 6 specimens; Crete, Paralia Kouma; 35.352222 ° N, 24.298889 ° E; alt. 1 m; 16 Jul. 2012; M. Mantič leg.; sand beech, on flowers; MMCZ • 7 specimens; Crete, Paralia Preveli; 35.152778 ° N, 24.473333 ° E; alt. 7 m; 5 Jun. 2018; M. Mantič leg.; forest steppe, on flowers; MMCZ • 4 specimens; Crete, Lavris, 4 km W of Panormos; 35.417778 ° N, 24.648611 ° E; alt. 21 m; 1 Jun. 2018; M. Mantič leg.; forest steppe, on flowers; MMCZ • 1 female; Crete, Panormos env.; 35.416667 ° N, 24.689444 ° E; alt. 27 m; 30 May 2018; M. Mantič leg.; forest steppe, on flowers; MMCZ • 1 female; Crete, Orino Gorge, 1.8 km NW of Koutsoras; 35.045278 ° N, 25.932778 ° E; alt. 97 m; 19 May 2023; M. Mantič leg.; stram valley, on flowers; MMCZ • 4 specimens; Crete, Ierapetra; 35.014167 ° N, 25.768333 ° E; alt. 20 m; 16 May 2023; M. Mantič leg.; olive groves, on flowers; MMCZ • 1 male; Crete, Chochlakies; 35.146389 ° N, 26.246389 ° E; alt. 106 m; 10 Jun. 2023; M. Mantič leg.; olive groves, on flowers; MMCZ • 1 male; Crete, Kournas, Kourna lake; 30 Jun. 2002; A. Přidal leg.; NMPC • 1 male; Crete, Knossos; 1934; Mařan and Štěpánek leg.; NMPC • 2 specimens; Rhodes, Kalythiés env.; 36.326339 ° N, 28.187810 ° E; alt. 43 m; 26 May 2023; D. Selnekovič leg.; olive orchard, on Ammi majus and Helichrysum sp.; DSBS, DSBS 715 B, DSBS 716 • 4 males, 1 female; Rhodes, Afantou env.; 36.311961 ° N, 28.189384 ° E; alt. 9 m; 26–30 May 2023; D. Selnekovič leg.; ruderal community, on Daucus sp.; DSBS • 3 males, 3 females; Rhodes, Kolympia; 36.259536 ° N, 28.131744 ° E; alt. 49 m; 28 May 2023; D. Selnekovič leg.; olive orchard, on Daucus and Ammi majus; DSBS, DSBS 623 to DSBS 626 • 11 specimens; Rhodes, Kolympia; 36.252222 ° N, 28.168056 ° E; alt. 15 m; 21 May 2011; M. Mantič leg.; forest steppe, on Apiaceae; MMCZ • 2 females; Rhodes, Kalythiés env.; 36.3202469 ° N, 28.1867823 ° E; alt. 14 m; 1 Jun. 2023; D. Selnekovič leg.; ruderal grassland with olive trees and shrubs, on Daucus sp.; DSBS. Italy • 4 males, 1 female; Campania, Naples, Camaldoli, 40.852285 ° N, 14.202138 ° E; alt. 142 m; 3 Jul. 2023; D. Selnekovič leg.; ruderal habitat, on Daucus carota; DSBS, DSBS 558, DSBS 598, DSBS 599 • 5 males; Sardinia, Sassari; 40.712163 ° N, 8.549854 ° E; alt. 207 m; 27 Jun. 2021; D. Selnekovič leg.; urban area, ruderal community along olive orchard and parking lot, on Daucus carota; DSBS, DSBS 700 to DSBS 704 • 3 males; Puglia, Foggia, Vieste; 41.902976 ° N, 16.086091 ° E; alt. 60 m; 3 Jun. 2021; E. Ruzzier leg.; road verge, on Daucus carota; ERPC • 1 male; Sicilia, Caltagirone; NMPC. Turkey • 1 male, 1 female; Mugla, Bodrum, Aspat; 24 May 2008; N. Gulpercin leg.; LEMT • 1 female; Mugla, Bodrum, Aspat; 7 Jun. 2008; S. Tezcan leg.; LEMT. Differential diagnosis. Mordellistena peloponnesensis is characterised by antennomeres 1–4 being narrower than the following ones and by the presence of two short lateral ctenidia on the posterior tibia that are perpendicular to the dorsal edge of the tibia. This combination of characters is unique to the M. gemellata species group as defined by Ermisch (1956). Within this group, M. peloponnesensis (Fig. 1) is further distinguished by its black integument, including mouth parts and appendages, pale brownish to yellowish pubescence on the dorsal surface of the body, short antennal segments 5–10 (1.2–1.5 × longer than wide), relatively large body size (TL 3.26–4.87 mm), long and narrow elytra (2.2–2.5 × longer than wide), male tibia expanded at the base with a group of extended setae, and the characteristic shape of parameres (Fig. 1 B, C). The species most closely resembling M. peloponnesensis in terms of size, body shape, elytral length and width, and pubescence color are M. algeriensis Ermisch, 1966 (Algeria, Italy, and Tunisia), M. gemellata Schilsky, 1898 (Portugal, Spain), and M. pyrenaea Ermisch, 1966 (France, Spain). These species can be differentiated from M. peloponnesensis by distinct paramere shapes [see Selnekovič and Kodada (2022) for M. algeriensis; Ermisch (1966) for M. pyrenaea; and Ermisch (1963 a) for M. gemellata]. Of these, M. algeriensis, recently reported from Sardinia (Selnekovič and Kodada 2022), is the only species with a range that partially overlaps with M. peloponnesensis. It differs from M. peloponnesensis not only in paramere shape but also in size: M. algeriensis has an EL / RPrL ratio of 5.89–6.42 and an EL / LPrL ratio of 5.21–5.54, while M. peloponnesensis has corresponding ratios of 6.84–8.61 and 5.65–7.38. Additionally, M. algeriensis can be distinguished by its subquadrate antennal segments 5–10 (~ 1.0 × longer than wide), whereas in M. peloponnesensis, these segments are 1.2–1.5 × longer than wide. Mordellistena aureotomentosa Ermisch, 1966, described from Morocco, differs from M. peloponnesensis by its conspicuously light-yellowish and dense pubescence on the pronotum and elytra, and smaller, differently shaped parameres (Ermisch 1966). Mordellistena maroccana Ermisch, 1966, found in Morocco and Tunisia, differs from M. peloponnesensis in the distinctly shorter and broader elytra: the elytral length / width ratio in M. maroccana is 2.0, while in M. peloponnesensis it is 2.2–2.5. Redescription. Measurements (in mm; ♂♂ N = 13, ♀♀ N = 10): TL: ♂♂ 3.26–4.52 (3.91 ± 0.45), ♀♀ 3.98–4.87 (4.41 ± 0.32); HL: ♂♂ 0.61–0.80 (0.72 ± 0.07), ♀♀ 0.72–0.85 (0.79 ± 0.05); HW: ♂♂ 0.65–0.84 (0.76 ± 0.07), ♀♀ 0.72–0.94 (0.84 ± 0.07); PL: ♂♂ 0.75–1.06 (0.91 ± 0.12), ♀♀ 0.88–1.19 (1.04 ± 0.10); PW: ♂♂ 0.73–1.06 (0.91 ± 0.12), ♀♀ 0.86–1.17 (1.05 ± 0.09); EL: ♂♂ 1.91–2.68 (2.28 ± 0.27), ♀♀ 2.35–2.82 (2.58 ± 0.17); EW: ♂♂ 0.77–1.14 (0.95 ± 0.12), ♀♀ 0.97–1.25 (1.12 ± 0.09); RPrL: 0.25–0.32 (0.30–0.02); LPrL: 0.31–0.41 (0.36 ± 0.03). Body elongate (Fig. 1 A), wedge-shaped, widest behind anterior third of elytra in males, around elytral mid-length in females. Dorsum moderately convex, venter strongly so. Entire body surface uniformly black, except for reddish-brown anteclypeus and tips of mandibles. Vestiture consisting of decumbent lanceolate setae; yellowish to brownish with purple sheen on dorsal surfaces, darkened towards elytral apices; yellowish on ventral surfaces, darkened along posterior margins of ventrites 3–5. Head approximately as long as wide, HW / HL ratio: ♂♂ 1.02–1.12 (1.07 ± 0.03), ♀♀ 0.95–1.11 (1.07 ± 0.04), moderately convex dorsally, with highest point behind middle of eye length (lateral aspect); occipital carina rounded; integument weakly microreticulate, with small round setiferous punctures. Eyes broadly oval, approx. 1.4 × longer than wide; posteriorly reaching to occipital margin; finely faceted; interfacetal setae longer than facet diameter. Anterior clypeal edge weakly convex. Labrum transverse, densely setose, anterior margin weakly convex. Antenna weakly serrate (Fig. 1 A); antennomeres 1–4 shorter and narrower than following antennomeres; scape weakly conical, little longer than wide; pedicel cylindrical, approx. 1.5 × longer than wide; antennomere 3 smallest, conical, as long as wide; antennomere 4 conical, approx. 1.7 × as long as 3