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Taxonomic notes o n the genus Pseudoapterogyna Esca/era, 1914 (Coleoptera Scarabaeoidea Melolonthidae) in Sicily 3 61
setae near base, with big shallow punctures. Elytra Italy, in acknowledgement ofhis oustanding exper-
subparallel, slightly dilated at apical third, with tise on the Sicily channel islands.
micro-reticulated surface bearing some deep small
BIOLOGY AND DISTRIBUTION. Adults found
punctures; humeral callus visible. Anterior tibiae
under stones, active during Spring. Records from
tridentate, with a very weak hardly visible basai
other seasons (see Arnone et al., 1995) are likely
tooth. Posteri or tibiae without carina on dorsal side.
due to findings of dead speci1nens under stones,
Tarsi about twice longer than tibiae. First posterior
often found in good condition due to the dry envi-
tarsomere shorter than the 3 o tarsomere. Claws toothed
ronment. Endemie to Pantelleria Island.
at the base and with a spine well developed. Pygid-
iuin finely wrinkled, 1nicro-reticulated, with punc- COMPARATIVE NOTES. P. euphytus lamantiai n.
tures small. Metathoracic wings fully developed. ssp. differs from P. euphytus euphytus from Algeria
Aedeagus with parameres strong, narrowed distally, and Tunisia by the following characters: smaller
with slightly elongate apex. size, mal es with dorsum less convex, more parallel
VARIABILITY. Length 11.5-13 mm; the disc of body ( especially the elytra), punctation (in particu-
pronotum may be yellowish in colour, like the rest lar that ofpronotu1n) sparser and less deep, antenna!
of the body. The little carina of dorsal si de of pos- club longer, sculpturing of pygidium without big
terior tibiae may be absent or very reduced. F emales punctures, an d shape of parameres with stouter and
are flightless, have a more convex dorsum and ely- shorter apex.
tra more dilated backward, with dorsal punctation
REMARKS. Ali previous records from Pantelleria
sparse and shorter tarsi; posterior tarsi little longer
Island, such as Ragusa (1875: sub Rhizotrogus
than posterior tibiae.
Gerardi Buq.), Bertolini (1899: sub Rhizotrogus
ETIMOLOGY. Latin noun in the genitive case. Gerardi Buq.), Luigioni, 1929 (sub Rhizotrogus eu-
After Tommaso La Mantia, University ofPalermo, phytus Buquet), Liebmann (1962: sub Rhizotrogus
5mm
SYNTYPE
Rh1zotrogus •
&uphytus Buquot. 1840
SYNTYPE
~pl.rpgyn•
.uph}'l• (Buquot, 18-10)
MNHN
EC4184
5mm
3
2
Figures l, 2. Syntypes of Pseudoapterogyna euphytus (MHNHN).
Figure 3. Aedeagus ofthe P. euphytus from Costantine, Algeria, length 6.3 mm (MCSNG).
