Research Article |
Corresponding author: Dávid Selnekovič ( david.selnekovic@uniba.sk ) Academic editor: Warren Steiner
© 2019 Dávid Selnekovič, Enrico Ruzzier.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Selnekovič D, Ruzzier E (2019) New distributional records for sixteen Mordellidae species from the Western Palearctic (Insecta, Coleoptera, Mordellidae). ZooKeys 894: 151-170. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.894.39584
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A list of 22 new distributional records is presented for 16 Mordellidae species from the Western Palearctic: Variimorda caprai (Franciscolo, 1951) (Montenegro); V. mendax Méquignon, 1946 (Montenegro); Mordellistena falsoparvula Ermisch, 1956 (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro); M. olympica Ermisch, 1965 (Cyprus, Montenegro); M. kraatzi Emery, 1876 (Morocco); M. longicornis Mulsant, 1856 (Morocco); M. dives Emery, 1876 (Kazakhstan); M. krujanensis Ermisch, 1963 (Montenegro); M. tarsata Mulsant, 1856 (Cyprus, North Macedonia); M. michalki Ermisch, 1956 (Kyrgyzstan); M. thuringiaca Ermisch, 1963 (Bulgaria, Montenegro, Slovakia, Spain); M. koelleri Ermisch, 1956 (Italy, Montenegro); Mordellistenula longipalpis Ermisch, 1965 (Montenegro); Mordellochroa milleri (Emery, 1876) (Italy); Dellamora palposa Normand, 1916 (Italy). Information about the distributional range is summarised for each species, and notes on habitat and host plants are also provided.
Bionomy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, distribution, faunistics, host plants, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Montenegro, Mordellistena, Mordellochroa, Morocco, North Macedonia, Slovakia, Spain
Mordellidae Latreille, 1802 is a rather diverse but poorly known and sporadically studied family of beetles. It comprises more than 2300 described species distributed nearly worldwide except for the polar and subpolar zones. Mordellid beetles inhabit various ecosystems including tropical rainforests, temperate deciduous forests, grasslands and ruderal ecosystems. The majority of species are pollinivorous in adult stages, feeding on a wide variety of plant species. Exceptions are the members of the genus Glipa Leconte, 1859, reported to feed on fern spores (
The majority of distribution records available on Palearctic Mordellidae are usually included in publications focused primarily on the taxonomy (e.g.,
Herein we provide new distributional and bionomical data obtained during the recent collecting activities of both authors (2010–2018) and by the re-examination of the material deposited in museums or private collections listed below. We also summarise the previously published distributional data and provide the lists of countries from which the species have been previously reported.
The present study is based on the material sampled by the authors or accessed from the museums and private collections listed below. Specimens were collected individually from flowers or by sweeping the vegetation. Larvae of Mordellistena species were reared from stems of herbaceous plants collected in April, cut to the smaller pieces (ca. 20 cm), transferred to the laboratory, and stored in plastic containers with air access. Adult specimens were killed in ethyl acetate. Dry specimens were relaxed in water with a small amount of acetic acid, then dissected and glued on cards. Dissected genitals were glued with the respective specimen using dimethyl hydantoin formaldehyde (DMHF) or stored in micro-vials containing glycerol and pinned under the specimen. Habitus images were taken by Cannon 5D mark IV attached to Zeiss Axio-Zoom V-16 stereomicroscope with diffuse LED lighting, stacked in Zerene Stacker 1.04 and subsequently edited in Adobe Photoshop CC.
Identifications were carried out using original species descriptions, identification keys (e.g.,
DSPC Dávid Selnekovič private collection, Bratislava, Slovakia
EEPC Eduard Ezer private collection, Zlín, Czech Republic
ERPC Enrico Ruzzier private collection, Mirano, Italy
SNSD Senckenberg Naturhistorische Sammlungen, Dresden, Germany
In the section “New records”, we provide the data on examined material concerning only those countries from which the species are reported for the first time. The “Distribution” section contains the list of countries from which the species have been previously reported, followed by the citation of its first appearance in the published sources. In the “Remarks” section, we provide information about habitat preferences, host plants and collecting circumstances (if available).
In the list below, we present 22 new country-level records of 16 Mordellidae species. The list is based on 201 examined specimens from thirty localities in the Western Palearctic. We also provide information about distribution and bionomy for each species.
Mordella (s. str.) caprai Franciscolo, 1951: 7–9 [type locality: Shkodër, Albania].
Variimorda caprai:
Variimorda (Galeimorda) caprai:
MONTENEGRO • 43 ♂♂, 13 ♀♀; Bar env., Volujica hill; 42°04'29.0"N, 19°06'11.8"E; 20 June 2011; D. Selnekovič leg.; slopes with dry grassland vegetation; on the flowers of Helichrysum; D. Selnekovič det.; DSPC • 15 ♂♂, 12 ♀♀; Bar env., Ribnjak Monastery; 42°07'56"N, 19°07'33"E, 22 June 2011; D. Selnekovič leg.; slopes with dry grassland vegetation; on the flowers of Helichrysum; D. Selnekovič det.; DSPC.
Albania (
Variimorda caprai was described based on three male specimens from Shkodër, Albania and since then no other record has been published. In 2011, the first author collected 83 specimens in the environment of Bar in Montenegro on the slopes with xerothermophilous grassland vegetation (Fig.
Mordella (Variimorda) mendax Méquignon, 1946: 63, 71–72 [type locality: Laigneville, France].
Mordella (Variimorda) mendax var. devillei Méquignon, 1946: 71–72 [type locality: Bordeaux, France].
Mordella (Variimorda) mendax var. chobauti Méquignon, 1946: 71–72 [type locality: La Bonde, France].
Variimorda (s. str.) mendax:
MONTENEGRO • 1 ♂; Bar; 42°06'36"N, 19°05'20"E; 19 June 2011; D. Selnekovič leg.; ruderal vegetation in urban environment; on the flowers of Daucus carota; D. Selnekovič det.; DSPC.
Albania (
Variimorda mendax inhabits various grassland and ruderal habitats. Adults are usually found feeding on the flowers of Daucus carota. Larvae and host plants remain unknown.
Dellamora palposa Normand, 1916: 285–286 [type locality: Téboursouk, Tunisia].
ITALY • 1 ♂; S. Angelo Muxaro, Sicilia; 23 Mar. 2017; L. Colacurcio leg.; E. Ruzzier det.; ERPC.
Cyprus (
Adults of D. palposa were reported to be found on the flowers of lotus (Nelumbo) (
Mordellistena (s. str.) dives Emery, 1876: 95 [type locality: Sarepta, Russia].
KAZAKHSTAN • 2 ♂♂; Aktjubinsk reg., Temir riv.; 27 May 1999; D. Selnekovič det.; DSPC.
Armenia (
Information about bionomy and host plants remain unknown.
Mordellistena (s. str.) falsoparvula Ermisch, 1956: 281 [type locality: Mecklenburg, Germany].
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA • 1 ♀; Bosnia; E. Bokor leg.; D. Selnekovič det.;
Austria (
This species inhabits xerothermophilous and mesophilous grasslands and ruderal vegetation where the adults feed on flowers of herbaceous plants, e.g., Chrysanthemum, Cirsium, Achillea (
Mordellistena (s. str.) koelleri Ermisch, 1956: 289 [type locality: Hale, Lettiner Höhen, Germany].
ITALY • 1 ♂; Magredi di Cordenons, Pordenone, Friuli-Venezia Giulia; 46°01'50"N, 12°43'33"E; 02 June 2018; E. Ruzzier leg.; E. Ruzzier det.; ERPC • 1 ♂; Treviso, Veneto; 45°50'04"N, 11°44'47"E; 17 June 2018; E. Ruzzier leg.; E. Ruzzier det.; ERPC. MONTENEGRO • 2 ♂♂; Prokletije Mountains, Grebaje valley; 42°31'53"N, 19°47'36"E; 2 Aug. 2016; D. Selnekovič leg.; D. Selnekovič det.; DSPC.
Austria (
Mordellistena koelleri inhabits various grassland habitats from lowlands to highlands reaching up to 1700 m a.s.l. (
Mordellistena (s. str.) kraatzi kraatzi Emery, 1876: 91–92 [type locality: Sarepta, Russia].
MOROCCO • 2 ex.; 30 km NE Fez, Tissa env., Qued Leben riv.; 34°15'02"N, 4°45'54"W; 9 May 2015; E. Ezer leg.; D. Selnekovič det.; EEPC
Albania (
This species has a wide distributional range in Europe, North Africa and the western parts of Asia. It inhabits xerothermophilous grassland habitats where adults feed on flowers of various herbaceous plants (e.g., Daucus carota, Tithymalus). The larvae described by
Mordellistena (s. str.) krujanensis Ermisch, 1963b: 14, 17 [type locality: Kruja, Albania].
MONTENEGRO • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Bar city; 42°06'N, 19°06'E; 19 June 2011; D. Selnekovič leg.; on flowers of Daucus carota in ruderal vegetation; D. Selnekovič det.; DSPC.
Ermisch (
The first author observed the adults on flowers of Daucus carota in ruderal vegetation along a roadside in Montenegro. The record represents a first report after the original description. The immature stages and host plants remain unknown.
Mordellistena (s. str.) longicornis Mulsant, 1856: 373–374 [type locality: France].
MOROCCO • 1 ♂; Col du Zad, Moyen Atlas Mts; 2100 m a.s.l.; 20 May 2015; E. Ruzzier det.; ERPC.
Armenia (
Adults have been reported feeding on flowers of Thapsia villosa in Spain (
Mordellistena (s. str.) michalki Ermisch, 1956: 288 [type locality: Pernitz, Steirmark, Germany].
KYRGYZSTAN • 1 ♂; N Kirgizsky mountain range, Kara-Balta river; 1800 m a.s.l.; 28 June 1997; D. Selnekovič det.; DSPC.
Austria (
This species inhabits steppes and xeric grasslands where adults feed on flowers of Apiaceae and Euphorbiaceae (e.g., Seseli, Tithymalus). The larvae and host plants remain unknown. Specimens examined for the present study were compared with the type series deposited in SNSD.
Mordellistena (s. str.) olympica Ermisch, 1965: 265, 268–269 [type locality: Morea, Olymp env., Greece].
CYPRUS • 6 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Skoulli village env.; 34°58'17"N, 32°27'02"E; 24 Apr. 2018; D. Selnekovič leg.; in ruderal vegetation along the road; D. Selnekovič det.; DSPC • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Skoulli village env.; 34°58'05"N, 32°26'46"E; 24 Apr. 2018; D. Selnekovič leg.; ruderal vegetation along the field margin, on the flowers of Daucus carota; D. Selnekovič det.; DSPC. MONTENEGRO • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Bar city, Stari Bar; 42°05'31"N, 19°07'58"E, 19 June 2011; D. Selnekovič leg.; D. Selnekovič det.; DSPC • 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Bar city, Volujica hill; 42°04'16"N, 19°06'10"E; 20 June 2011; dry grasslands along the sea coast; D. Selnekovič det.; DSPC • 26 ♂♂, 17 ♀♀; Virpazar env.; 42°14'40"N, 19°05'36"E; 30 m a.s.l.; 21 June 2011; D. Selnekovič leg.; D. Selnekovič det.; DSPC.
Bulgaria (
The first author collected adults in Mediterranean xeric grasslands and ruderal vegetation along roadsides and field margins in Bulgaria, Montenegro (Fig.
Mediterranean xeric grasslands with flowering Helichrysum on Volujica hill in Montenegro, 42°04'29.0"N, 19°06'11.8"E. Variimorda caprai (Franciscolo, 1951), Mordellistena olympica Ermisch, 1965 and Mordellistenula longipalpis Ermisch, 1965 recorded from this locality are new to Montenegro.
Mordellistena (s. str.) thuringiaca Ermisch, 1963b: 23–24 [type locality: Kyffhäusers bei Frankenhausen, Germany].
BULGARIA • 1 ♂; Kresna, Struma banka; 24 May–4 June 1976; K. Majer leg.; D. Selnekovič det.;
Austria (
It is an infrequently found species inhabiting various grassland habitats. The first author observed adults on xerothermophilous (Fig.
Mordellistena (s. str.) tarsata Mulsant, 1856: 381 [type locality: Lyon env., France].
CYPRUS • 2 ♂♂; Skoulli village env.; 34°58'17"N, 32°27'02"E; 24 Apr. 2018; D. Selnekovič leg.; in ruderal vegetation along the road; D. Selnekovič det.; DSPC. NORTH MACEDONIA • 1 ♀; Nichpur village env.; 41°43'15"N, 20°40'06"E; 930 m a.s.l.; 19 Aug. 2018; D. Selnekovič leg.; river valley; on the flowers of Daucus carota; D. Selnekovič det.; DSPC.
Albania (
Mordellistena tarsata has a wide distributional range across the Palearctic realm. It inhabits dry grasslands and ruderal vegetation (Fig.
Mordellistena (s. str.) fallaciosa Ermisch, 1969c: 110–111 [type locality: “Grado bei Triest”, Italy].
Mordellistenochroa fallaciosa:
ITALY • 1 ♂; Cesenatico (dry canal), Forlì-Cesena Emilia-Romagna; 9 June 2012; L. Colacurcio leg., E. Ruzzier det.; ERPC.
Hungary (
Up to present, M. fallaciosa is known only from several localities in Italy, Hungary and Switzerland (
Mordellistenula longipalpis Ermisch, 1965: 256–259 [type locality: Belgrader wald, Turkey].
MONTENEGRO • 8 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; Bar city env., Volujica hill; 42°04'16"N, 19°6'10"E; 20 June 2011; D. Selnekovič leg.; dry grassland along the seashore, on the flowers of Helichrysum; D. Selnekovič det.; DSPC.
Armenia (
This species is known from the Balkans and western Asia. It inhabits dry grasslands where adults feed on flowers of herbaceous plants. The first author observed adults on Mediterranean xeric grassland along the seashore on flowers of Helichrysum in Montenegro (Fig.
Mordellistena (Mordellochroa) milleri Emery, 1876: 80, 83 [type locality: Mehadia, Romania].
Mordellistena (Tolida) milleri:
Tolida milleri:
Mordellochroa milleri: Ermisch (1950: 78–79).
ITALY • 1 ♀; Lago I Piani, Rincine, Londa, Firenze, Toscana; 43°52'55"N, 11°35'47"E; C. Massarone leg.; E. Ruzzier det.; ERPC • 1 ♀; Emilia-Romagna, Castel D’Aiano, Spe Mountain, Bologna; 5 July 2014; L. Colacurcio leg.; E. Ruzzier det.; ERPC • 1 ♀; Emilia-Romagna, M. S. Pietro – S. Martino, Bologna; 25–29 May 2016; L. Colacurcio leg.; E. Ruzzier det.; ERPC • 2 ♀♀; Emilia-Romagna, M. S. Pietro – S. Martino, Bologna; 1–10 July 2016; L. Colacurcio leg.; E. Ruzzier det.; ERPC • 1 ♀; Emilia-Romagna, M. S. Pietro – S. Martino, Bologna; 11–20 July 2016; L. Colacurcio leg.; E. Ruzzier det.; ERPC • 1 ♀; Emilia-Romagna, M. S. Pietro – S. Martino, Bologna; 18 May 2017; L. Colacurcio leg.; E. Ruzzier det.; ERPC.
Austria (
Mordellochroa milleri usually occurs in beech, oak or floodplain forests, and on its margins, but it was also reported from coniferous forest with spruces and pines in Bialowieza National Park, Poland (
The Palearctic fauna of Mordellidae consists of approximately 700 described species (
Furthermore, huge gaps exist in our knowledge of the bionomy of these beetles. Information about habitat preferences and host plants is scarce. Most of the larval descriptions and host plant records were provided by V. K. Odnosum (e.g.,
Each published record represents a small step to better understanding the distribution and bionomy of mordellid beetles, and their role in the ecosystems. Such information is becoming still more critical, especially in the current age of global environmental changes and loss of natural habitats.
We are grateful to Olaf Jäger (SNSD), Ottó Merkl (