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digitiform glands each of which is divided into 23–45 slender and branched digit-like appendices; vagina internally
with 7–8 longitudinal pleats; penial flagellum as long as penis and epiphallus together; internal surface of proximal
cavity of the distal penis with transversal pleats subdivided in 1–2 longitudinal and raised pleats, a very small true
penial papilla and a small papilla on the internal wall.

Remarks. Erctella insolida was described by Monterosato (1892) as a variety of Helix (Helicogena) aspersa,
with the locus typicus: “Favignana ?” and Monte San Giuliano (Trapani province). The Sicilian naturalist himself
later (1894) modified the position of the taxon and slightly re-defined its distribution area, reporting it as a variety
of H. (Erctella) mazzullii from Monte San Giuliano or Erice (Favignana being definitely ruled out). Afterward he
changed his mind again and considered insolida a valid species [H. (Erctella) insolida] distinct from other related
species, particularly from H. aspersa (= Cornu aspersum) (Ryolo & Palazzi 2009).

Populations described by De Gregorio (1895) under the name vitincola (from San Vito Lo Capo, Trapani prov-
ince) and those reported under insolida (from Monte Cofano) show minimal morphological differences and only a
slight genetic divergence.

Acknowledgements

Authors strongly disagree with Italian Government decisions concerning University governance and academic
career management. Because of the cuts to public research made by the Italian Government and the Minister for
University, this work has been done thanks to personal funds supplied directly by some of the Authors. We are
grateful to many friends and colleagues who helped us in the development of this work: L. Barraco (Trapani), P.
Crovato (Napoli), M. and G. Falkner (Hörlkofen, Germany), M. Leonardi and M. Pavesi (Civic Museum of Natural
History, Milan), P. Li Vigni, N. Oliva, S. Bommarito and P. Iacopelli (Museum of Terrasini, Palermo); A. Marinelli
and B. Oliva (http://www.naturamediterraneo.com/forum); G. Pocaterra and R. Pocaterra (San Pietro in Casale,
Bologna), E. Quaggiotto (Vicenza), R. Poggi and G. Doria (Civic Musem of Natural History “G. Doria”, Genova);
W. Renda (Amantea, Cosenza). We are grateful to A. Minelli and to several anonymous referees for their helpful
comments which significantly improved the accuracy of this paper.

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