''CONTRIBUTION TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE MOROCCAN FAUNA OF STERNOCOELIS LEWIS, 1888 and ERETMOTUS LACORDAIRE, 1854 (COLEOPTERA: HISTERIDAE)

Tomás Lackner &Tomàs Yélamos

ABSTRACT

Contribution to the knowledge of the Moroccan fauna of Sternocoelis Lewis, 1888 and Eretmotus Lacordaire, 1854 (Coleoptera: Histeridae).

After several years of field research on Moroccan myrmecophilous Histeridae new data are given for the genera Sternocoelis Lewis, 1888 and Eretmotus Lacordaire, 1854. Sternocoelis berberus, a remarkable new species from the Moroccan High Atlas, is described and figured. Sternocoelis atlantis Théry, 1921 is recognized as a junior synonym of Sternocoelis hispanus Rosenhauer, 1856. Sternocoelis bedeli Lewis, 1884, Sternocoelis setulosus Reitter, 1872 and Eretmotus eurysternus Yélamos, 1992 are recorded for the first time from Morocco.

Key words: Coleoptera, Histeridae, Sternocoelis, Eretmotus, new species, synonymy, new data.

RecepciÛn: AceptaciÛn:

T. Lackner. Zoolgisch Museum Amsterdam, Plantage Middenlaan 64, 1018 DH Amsterdam (The Netherlands). e-mail: saprinus@yahoo.com

T. Yélamos. Museu de Zoologia, Passeig Picasso s/n, 08003 Barcelona (Spain). e-mail: yelamos@entomopraxis.com

RESUMEN

Después de varios aÒos de trabajo de campo sobre los Histeridae mirmecÛfilos de Marruecos, se aportan nuevos datos sobre los géneros Sternocoelis Lewis, 1888 y Eretmotus Lacordaire, 1854. Se describe y figura Sternocoelis berberus, una nueva y muy interesante especie del Alto Atlas. Sternocoelis atlantis Théry, 1921 es pasada a sinonimia de Sternocoelis hispanus Rosenhauer, 1856. Sternocoelis bedeli Lewis, 1884, Sternocoelis setulosus Reitter, 1872 y Eretmotus eurysternus Yélamos, 1992 son citadas por primera vez de este pa_.

INTRODUCTION

Moroccan fauna of Sternocoelis Lewis, 1888 and Eretmotus Lacordaire, 1854 was largely studied by Lewis, Walker, Théry, Escalera and Peyerimhoff (all the bibliographical references could be found in Yélamos, 1992 and 1995). The present study is mainly based on new material, collected between 1995 and 2001. Yélamos in his revision of the genera Sternocoelis Rosenhauer, 1888 (Yélamos, 1995) and Eretmotus Lacordaire, 1854 (Yélamos, 1992) mainly studied the type material. He recognized in his revision 10 species of the genus Sternocoelis Lewis, 1888 and 3 species of the genus Eretmotus Lacordaire, 1854 from the Moroccan territory.

In the present study many new data on several species are given, as well as the description of a new species.

SYSTEMATIC PART

Genus Sternocoelis Lewis, 1888

Sternocoelis otini Peyerimhoff, 1949

New records: 2 ex., Ifrane env, 2.5.1995, T. Lackner leg.; 7 ex., Boulemane, 7.9.2000, nests of Cataglyphis mauritanica, A. Tinaut leg.

It is only known from the Ifrane area in the Moroccan Middle Atlas (Ifrane, Azrou and Boulemane).

Sternocoelis fusculus Schmidt, 1888

New records: 8 ex., Morocco North, Rif mountains, Bab Berred, 1.300 m, 2-3.6.1998, T. Lackner and I. Smatana leg.; 7 ex., Morocco central, Middle Atlas, Ifrane env., 1.800 m, 2.5.1995, P. Prudek and T. Lackner leg.; 10 ex., same locality but 12.5.2000, T. Lackner leg.; 2 ex., Middle Atlas, Ifrane, Tizi-n-Tretten, 13.5.2000; 3 ex., Middle Atlas, Aguelmame Azizga, T. Lackner leg., 10.5.1997.

Until now it was only known from the North of Morocco: Tangiers and Larache and one record from Beni Mellal, Middle Atlas. Now it extends its previously known distribution to the Rif mountains and other areas from the Middle Atlas mountains.

Sternocoelis alluaudi Théry, 1921

New records: 13 ex., Morocco central, Middle Atlas, Ifrane env., 1.800 m, 2.5.1995, T. Lackner leg.; 10 ex., same locality, but 18-19.5.1999, P. Prudek and I. Smatana leg. and other 20 ex. collected the 12.5.2000, T. Lackner leg.; 4 ex., Ifrane env., Tizi-n-Tretten, 13.5.2000, T. Lackner leg.; 2 ex., Ifrane, 17-21.6.1998, T. Lackner leg.; 2 ex., Morocco North, Taza National Park, Gouffre du Friouato env, 13.6.1998, T. Lackner leg.; 1 ex., same locality, but Djebel Tazzeka, 14-16.6.1998, T. Lackner leg.

Until now it is only known from the Middle Atlas, the Rif mountains and environs of Sal_.

Sternocoelis acutangulus Lewis, 1887

New records: 10 ex., Morocco North, Taza National Park, Gouffre du Friouato env., 14-16.6.1998, T. Lackner & I. Smatana leg.; 3 ex., same locality, but Djebel Tazzeka, 14-16.6.1998, T. Lackner leg.; 4 ex., Morocco central, Middle Atlas mountains, Ifrane env., 1.800 m, 1-3.5.1995, T. Lackner & P. Prudek leg.; 7 ex., same locality, but 12.5.2000, T. Lackner leg.; 2 ex., Morocco central, Middle Atlas, Aguelamame Azigza, 1.600 m, 30 km East from Khenifra, 15-17.5.2000, T. Lackner leg.; 6 ex., Morocco North, Rif mountains, Bab Berred, 1.300 m, 2-3.6.1998, T. Lackner & I. Smatana leg.; 9 ex., Morocco North, Ksar-es-Seghir env., road Tanger-Sebta, 17-18.3.1999, T. Lackner leg.

The specimens from the Middle Atlas are somewhat different from those from the North of the country in the respect of inner prosternal striae (the specimens from northern Morocco have the inner prosternal striae more distinctly marked and more elevated).

In Morocco it was known until now only from the North of the country: Rif mountains and environs of Tangiers. The present records from the Middle Atlas mountains extend its distribution more southwards and eastwards than previously thought.

Sternocoelis bedeli Lewis, 1884

New records: 1 ex., Morocco North-east, Beni Snassen mountains, Taforhalt, 1.200 m, 15.12.1997, T. Lackner leg.; 1 ex., same locality, but 25.3.1998, T. Lackner leg.

So far known only from Algeria. It is a new species for Morocco.

Sternocoelis setulosus Reitter, 1872

New records: 7 ex., Morocco North-east, Beni Snassen mountains, Taforhalt, 1.200 m, 15.12.1997, T. Lackner leg; 3 ex., same locality, but 24-25.3.1998, T. Lackner leg.

So far known only from Algeria and Tunisia. It is a new species for Morocco.

Sternocoelis hispanus Rosenhauer, 1856

Sternocoelis atlantis Théry, 1921, n. syn.

After the study of the type material and comparing it with a large series of Sternocoelis sp. c. f. atlantis Théry, 1921, collected in the Middle Atlas we came to the conclusion that S. atlantis should be considered as new synonymy of S. hispanus. This species shows a broad range of variety in several morphological characteristics: structure of the inner prosternal striae (they can be obsolete, or distinct); prosternal lobe and keel can have a shallow excavation, or lacking this excavation at all and the space between the prosternal lobe and the keel can be flat; meso and metatibiae can be variably expanded. The specimens from southern Spain and northern Morocco (Rif mountains) are somewhat different from those from the Middle Atlas.

New records: 44 ex., Morocco North, Rif Mts., Bab Besen, 1.600 m, 4-7.6.1998; T. Lackner & I. Smatana leg.; 7 ex., Morocco central, Middle Atlas, Ifrane env., 1.800 m, 22.4.1995, T. Lackner leg.; 1 ex., same data, but 17-21.6.1998; 1 ex., same data but 10.5.1999; 2 ex., same locality, but 9.5.1997, 1.500 m, P. Koniar. leg.; 10 ex., same locality, but 11.5.1997, T. Lackner & P. Koniar leg.; 60 ex., same locality, but 12-13.5.2000, T. Lackner leg.; 5 ex., Morocco central, Middle Atlas, Aguelmame Azigza, 1.600 m, 12.5.1997, T. Lackner leg.; 1 ex., Morocco central, Middle Atlas, Khenifra region, Djebel Irhoud, 1.800 m, 17-18.5.2000, T. Lackner leg.

Up to now it was only known from the region of the Rif mountains in Morocco. This species has been observed to be the most frequent Moroccan representative of the genus. Numerous specimens have been found in the Rif mountains as well as in the Middle Atlas mountains, reaching as far South as Djebel Irhoud, near Ajdir, East of Khenifra.

Sternocoelis arachnoides Fairmaire, 1877

New records: 1 ex., Morocco North, Ksar-es-Seghir, road Tangiers-Sebta, 18.3.1999, T. Lackner leg.; 5 ex., Morocco North, Tangiers, 3.2.2001, T. Lackner leg. Rare in Morocco.

It is only known from the North of Morocco.

Sternocoelis espadaleri Yélamos, 1995

New record: 7 ex., Morocco central, Middle Atlas, Djebel Irhoud, 1.800 m, near Ajdir, East of Khenifra, 17-18.5.2000, T. Lackner leg.

This species was erroneously reported from the Anti Atlas instead of the Middle Atlas (Yélamos, 1995). The proper locality should be: Morocco central, Middle Atlas: Djebel Irhoud, 1.800 m, near Ajdir, East of Khenifra. It was also recorded from Aghbala, East from El-Ksiba.

Sternocoelis berberus sp. n.

Figure 1. Male habitus of Sternocoelis berberus sp. n.

Description

Colour reddish brown, shiny, weakly convex, oval; dorsal surface with sparse and long yellow setae, ventrally these setae are shorter.

Frons wide, with dense and long setae; frontal stria cariniform, evanescent on epistoma; labrum slightly depressed; mandibles large, convex and finely punctulate; eyes distinct; antennae pubescent; antennal scape very enlarged, with an internal hook very characteristic; antennal club very enlarged, cylindrical.

Pronotum smooth, only with setigerous foveae and long yellow setae; sides well separated from the disc, explanate; marginal stria complete; anterior angles truncate, not elevated; posterior angles not produced. Elytra weakly convex, with setigerous foveae and very long setae, lacking punctuation; first dorsal stria complete, well impressed; second stria fine and longer than the half length of the elytra; third stria very fine, only reaching the middle; outer subhumeral and marginal striae well impressed, complete, joined on the apical 2/3; an epipleural stria well impressed, only interrupted on the base.

Propygidium and pygidium very long, convex, with very long yellow setae.

Prosternal keel depressed, finely punctulate, setose, with inner striae cariniform, separated on the base and parallel in the remaining surface, suddenly approximate apically, not joined; outer prosternal striae cariniform, diverging apically; prosternal lobe at lower level than the keel, rugose and setose. Mesosternum smooth, without lateral foveae; meso-metasternal excavation deep. Metasternum only with sparse puncticules, sparsely setose, with 3 oblique striae, the inner reaching the middle, sides with more setae.

First abdominal sternite smooth, with long and fine setae, with lateral striae very oblique, complete.

Legs relatively short, strong, densely setose and very expanded.

Eighth abdominal segment of male, spiculum gastrale and aedeagus with the common morphology of the genus. Eighth abdominal segment of male wide and slightly sclerotized. Spiculum gastrale very fine and short, Y-shaped. Basal piece of the aedeagus short and wide; parameres wide, relatively short, distally separated.

Length: 1,4 - 1,6 mm. Width: 1,2 - 1,3 mm (males smaller than females)

Type series

Holotype, male labelled "MAROCCO centr. Haut Atlas, 25.4.95, Tizi-n-Tichka env., T. Lackner leg., 2.100 m". In T. Lackner collection.

Paratypes, 1 male and 1 female labelled as the holotype, in T. Lackner Coll. and T. Yélamos Coll. 47 specimens labelled "MAROC central, HAUT ATLAS, 2800 m, OukaÅEeden region, 19-20.V.2000, T. Lackner leg. 40 specimens in T. Lackner Coll., 6 specimens in T. Yélamos Coll. and another in J. de Ferrer Coll. 3 specimens labelled "MAROC, Grand Atlas central, Plateau d'OukaÅEeden, 2650 m, 3.V.83, dans nid d'Aphaenogaster testaceopilosa", 2 specimens in Y. Gomy Coll. and another in P. Ponel Coll.

Etymology

The name of this new species "berberus" is adopted from the origin of the people inhabiting the High Atlas mountains, the Berber people.

Diagnosis

The present new species belongs to the group with the sides of pronotum clearly separated from the disc by a complete oblique impression, and prosternal lobe at lower level of keel. In this group it seems to be related to St. laevidorsis (Fairmaire, 1976) from Algeria and Tunisia, but clearly distinguished from this species by: size, colour, puncturation, setae, antennal scape, prosternal keel, metasternal striae, elytral surface... On the other hand, excepting the pronotal sides explanate, in the remaining characteristics it ressembles very much to St. marseulii (Brisout de Barneville, 1866) from Spain (also the antennal scape with a "hook"). Maybe they are closely related. Without any doubt, the new species is one of the most easily distinguishable species from Morocco.

Comments

Up to now this species is only known from the High Atlas region (Morocco), Tizi-n-Tichka (Taddert) at 2.100 m, and OukaÅEeden, 2.800 m, in nests of an uknown species of ants, on clay soils.

According to our records this is the first Sternocoelis known from the High Atlas. The Sternocoelis have many species in northern Morocco (also in the Middle Atlas) and Algeria, but up to now in the High Atlas only had records of Eretmotus (E. alluaudi).

Genus Eretmotus Lacordaire, 1854

Eretmotus tangerianus Marseul, 1862.

New records: 3 ex., Morocco North, Taza National Park, env. Djebel Tazzeka, 1.800 m, 14-16.6.1998, T. Lackner & I. Smatana leg.; 2 ex., Morocco central, Middle Atlas, Ifrane env, 1.800 m, 30.4.1995, T. Lackner leg.; 1 ex., same locality, but 17-21.6.1998, T. Lackner leg.; 8 ex., same locality, but 12.5.2000, T. Lackner leg.; 7 ex., Morocco central, Middle Atlas, reg. Khenifra, Djebel Irhoud, 1.800 m, near Ajdir, Cedar Forest, 17-18.5.2000, T. Lackner leg.; 1 ex., Morocco central, Middle Atlas, Aguelmame Azigza, 1.600 m, 15.5.2000, T. Lackner leg.; 3 ex., Morocco North, Rif Mts., Bab Berred, 1.300 m, 2-3.6.1998, T. Lackner & I. Smatana leg.; 1 ex., Tanger, 3.2.2001, T. Lackner leg.; 1 ex., Morocco North, Ksar-es-Seghir, 4.2.2001, T. Lackner leg.

This species was previously known only from the North of Morocco. Distributed much more southwards and eastwards (Middle Atlas) than previously thought. Not rare.

Eretmotus alluaudi Théry, 1925

New records: 55 ex., Morocco central, High Atlas, OukaÅEeden env., 2.800 m, 19-20.5. 2000, T. Lackner leg.; 1 ex., High Atlas, Tizi-n-Melloul, Djebel Siroua, 2.506 m, 20.4.2001, C. Hernando leg.

It is only known from the High Atlas, living in nests of Aphaenogaster, sometimes together with Sternocoelis berberus.

Eretmotus eurysternus Yélamos, 1992

New record: 1 ex., Morocco North-east, Beni Snassen Mts., Taforhalt env., 1.200 m, 12.6.1998, T. Lackner leg.

So far known only from Algeria. New to Morocco. Very rare.

RESULTS

After the study of the newly recorded material Sternocoelis berberus is described as new for the science. It is also clear that Sternocoelis atlantis Théry, 1921 is a synonymy of Sternocoelis hispanus Rosenhauer, 1856.

Three species: Sternocoelis bedeli Lewis, 1884, Sternocoelis setulosus Reitter, 1872 and Eretmotus eurysternus Yélamos, 1992 are recorded for the first time from Morocco.

The following species (before recorded from Morocco) were not found during our field studies: Sternocoelis vaucheri Lewis, 1896, Sternocoelis slaoui Théry,1921 and Eretmotus peyerimhoffi Théry, 1917. We consider them extremely rare. For more detailed distribution of the species see Yélamos, 1992 and 1995.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to thank all our colleagues that have helped us with the collecting of the material as well as with the preparing of the manuscript, specially to Mr. Joan de Ferrer (Algeciras), Mr. Carles Hernando (Barcelona), Mr. Jesus Romero Samper and Dr. Alberto Tinaut (Granada).

REFERENCES

YLAMOS, T. 1992. RevisiÛn del género Eretmotus Lacordaire, 1854 (Coleoptera, Histeridae). Eos, 68 (1): 7-27.

YLAMOS, T. 1995. Revision of the genus Sternocoelis Lewis, 1888 (Coleptera: Histeridae). Revue Suisse de Zoologie, 102 (1): 113-174.

PIES DE FIGURAS

Figure 1. Male habitus of Sternocoelis berberus sp. n.