Alevonota (Alevonota) rufotestacea
Creators: name: Wunderle, Volker Assing Paul
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2008
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Staphylinidae
Alevonota
Alevonota rufotestacea

description: Alevonota (Alevonota) rufotestacea (KRAATZ, 1856) (Figs 1-19, Map 1)
Homalota rufotestacea KRAATZ, 1856: 245 f.
Homalota atricapilla MULSANT & REY, 1852: 21.
Aleuonota aurantiaca FAUVEL, 1895: 95; syn. n.
Type material examined:
H. rufotestacea: Lectotype , here designated: " Syntypus / coll. Kraatz / atricapilla Muls. German. / testacea Kr. / Lectotypus  Homalota rufotestacea Kraatz desig. V. Assing 2007 / Alevonota rufotestacea (Kraatz) det. V. Assing 2007 " (DEI). Paralectotype  [without head]: "Bonn / coll. Kraatz / Syntypus / Alevonota elegantula (Brisout) det. V. Assing 2007 " (DEI).
A. aurantiaca: Lectotype , here designated: "Fresney le Puceux / Coll. et Det. Fauvel, Ath. (Aleuonota) aurantiaca Fvl., R. I. Sc. N. B. 17.479 / Lectotypus  Aleuonota aurantiaca Fauvel desig. V. Assing 2007 / Alevonota rufotestacea (Kraatz) det. V. Assing 2007 " (IRSNB). Paralectotypes: 1 : " Croatie / =rufotestacea of my coll. / aurantiaca Fvl. / Coll. et Det. Fauvel, Ath. (Aleuonota) aurantiaca Fvl., R. I. Sc. N. B. 17.479" (IRSNB); 1 ex.: " Croatie / Coll. et Det. Fauvel, Ath. (Aleuonota) aurantiaca Fvl., R. I. Sc. N. B. 17.479" (IRSNB); 1 : "Guildford, Surrey, G. C. C. / rufotestacea / Coll. et Det. Fauvel, Ath. (Aleuonota) aurantiaca Fvl., R. I. Sc. N. B. 17.479" (IRSNB); 1 : "[locality illegible] / Coll. et Det. Fauvel, Ath. (Aleuonota) aurantiaca Fvl., R. I. Sc. N. B. 17.479" (IRSNB); 1 : "Limoges, 4 / Coll. et Det. Fauvel, Ath. (Aleuonota) aurantiaca Fvl., R. I. Sc. N. B. 17.479" (IRSNB); 1 ex.: "Ozieri, Sardaigne / Coll. et Det. Fauvel, Ath. (Aleuonota) aurantiaca Fvl., R. I. Sc. N. B. 17.479" (IRSNB); 1 ex.: " Corse / Coll. et Det. Fauvel, Ath. (Aleuonota) aurantiaca Fvl., R. I. Sc. N. B. 17.479" (IRSNB); 1 : "Miskoutine / Coll. et Det. Fauvel, Ath. (Aleuonota) aurantiaca Fvl., R. I. Sc. N. B. 17.479" (IRSNB); 1 : "Apennins d'Ombrie, feuilles mortes / Coll. et Det. Fauvel, Ath. (Aleuonota) aurantiaca Fvl., R. I. Sc. N. B. 17.479" (IRSNB).
Comments:
The original description of H. rufotestacea is based on an unspecified, but apparently low number ("aeusserst selten") of syntypes collected "im mittleren und südlichen Deutschland " (KRAATZ 1856). Two female syntypes were located in the Kraatz collection at the DEI; they are apparently not conspecific. One of them is in agreement with the present interpretation of A. rufotestacea, the other, a specimen without head, probably refers to A. elegantula. The former is here designated as the lectotype.
Evidently misinterpreting A. rufotestacea (KRAATZ), FAUVEL (1895) made the name Aleuonota aurantiaca available as a "nom. nov." for the interpretation [sic] of A. rufotestacea by "Rye, Sharp, Fowler (non Kr.)". Consequently, his referring the new name to descriptions provided by the three British authors represents an original description through indication. Since types are not specified, the specimens in the Fauvel collection identified by him as A. aurantiaca are here considered syntypes. All of them are conspecific with A. rufotestacea (KRAATZ). A male from northwestern France is here designated as the lectotype.
Additional material examined:
Tunisia: 1 ex., Le Kef, leg. Normand (ZMH); 1 ex., Le Kef (ZMH); 1 ex., " Tunis ", leg. Sahlberg (ZMH); 1 ex., " Tunesien ", leg. Reitter (DEI).
Algeria: 1 , Djurdjura, Col de Tizi-N'Kouilal, 1700-1800 m, 7.V.1988, leg. Besuchet, Löbl & Burckhardt (MHNG).
France: Languedoc-Roussillon: 1 ex., Gard, Monoblet, hazelnut litter, 22.X.1982, leg. Löbl (MHNG).
Spain: Mallorca: 9 exs., Son Carrió, swept from water surface of swimming pool, 28.II.2003, leg. Feldmann (cFel, cAss); 3 exs., same data, but IV.2000 (cFel, cAss); 1  [identification uncertain], Valdemossa, leg. Breit (NHMW); 1 ex., locality not specified, leg. Breit (NHMW).
Switzerland: Genève: 1 ex. [teneral], Vernier, 15.XI.1961, leg. Comellini (MHNG); 1 ex., Vandoeuvres, 16.V.1962, leg. Comellini (MHNG); 1 ex., Bois de la Grille, 26.IV.1962, leg. Comellini (MHNG); 1 ex., Versoix, 20.IV.1988, leg. Besuchet (MHNG); 1 ex., Chancy env., Racleret, flood plain forest, sifted, 22.V.2004, leg. Schülke (Sch). Ticino: 1 ex., Mte. Generoso [45°55'N, 09°01'E], 1700 m, moss, 9.VI.1962, leg. Besuchet (MHNG); 1 ex., Novaggio, "avec Formica rufa ", 10.IX.1965, leg. Besuchet (MHNG); 2 exs., Malcantone Bedigliora, M. dei Mondini, 600 m, pitfall, 28.VI.1993, leg. Monga (cZan). Valais: 1 ex., Eich / Visp, 1000 m, sifted, 12.IX.1984, leg. Besuchet (MHNG).
Italy: Trentino-Alto Adige: 1 ex., Vallarsa [ca. 45°49'N, 11°05'E], leg. v. Friedl (NMP); 1 ex., Terragnolo [ca. 45°53'N, 11°09'E], leg. Jureček (NMP); 1 ex., Folgaria [45°54'N, 11°10'E], leg. Jureček (NMP); 1 ex., Lago di Ledro [ca. 45°53'N, 10°44'E], leg. Strupi (NHMW). Piemonte: 1 ex., Terme di Valdieri [44°12'N, 7°16'E] Veneto: 1 ex., Bosco del Cansiglio [ca. 46°07'N, 12°28'E], 17.VII.1912 (DEI); 2 exs., Cansiglio, Val Seraie (BL), 5.VII.1956, leg. Bucciarelli (NHMW, cAss); 1 ex., Colli Euganei [ca. 45°19'N, 11°40'E] (NHMW). Friuli-Venezia Giulia: 1 ex., Fiume Veneto env., leg. Meyer (NHMW); 2 exs., Trieste, Opcina- Basovizza [45°39'N, 13°52'E], 21.-28.IV.1921, leg. Moczarski & Scheerpeltz (NHMW, cAss). Emilia- Romagna: 1 ex., Modena, Montegibbio [ca. 44°30'N, 10°47'E], 11.V.1893 (NHMW); 1 ex., Montegibbio, 1.V.1893, leg. Fiori (MNHUB); 1 ex., Modena, 5.V.1894, leg. Fiori (MNHUB); 1 ex., Santa Maria [ca. 43°55'N, 12°34'E], 10.IV.1897, leg. Fiori (MNHUB). Toscana: 1 ex., Alpi Apuane, leg. Paganetti (DEI).
Lazio: 1 ex., Roma, Roviano, 28.V.1978, leg. Audisio (cZan). Puglia: 1 ex., Puglia, Monte Gargano, 25.V.1907, leg. Hilf (DEI). Calabria: 1 ex., Antonimina (RC), 800 m, mixed forest, 3.V.1003, leg. Angelini & Sabella (cWun). Sardegna: 2 exs., Seui, Mte. Arquieri, 7.V.1902, leg. Dodero (DEI); 1 ex., Mte. Aqueri (NHMW); 4 exs., Aritzo, Mte. Gennargentu, leg. Krüger (DEI, NHMW, cAss); 1 ex., Aritzo (NHMW); 1 ex., locality not specified (DEI); 1 ex., Dorgali, 7.III.1979, leg. Curti (MHNG).
Germany: Schleswig-Holstein: 1 ex., Eutin, Beutiner Holz, 12.V.1916 (DEI); 1 ex., same locality, 24.V.1917 (NHMW); 1 ex., same locality, 16.V.1918 (DEI); 1 ex., same locality, 16.VI.1909 (DEI); 1 ex., same locality, 13.V.1920 (DEI); 1 ex., same locality, 27.V.1908 (DEI). Nordrhein-Westfalen: 1 ex., Düren, Gürzenich- Schevenhütte, car-net, 16.V.1989, leg. Wunderle (cWun); 1 ex., Bielefeld, Teutoburger Wald, 30.VI.1987, leg. Renner (cRen); 1 ex. [teneral, nanistic], Höxter, mesobrometum, pitfall, VII.1989 (cAss); 1 ex., Höxter env., Beverungen, pitfall, V.1990 (cAss); 1 ex., Marsberg [51°27'N, 08°51'E], Dahlberg, mesobrometum, pitfall, 5.VII.1992, leg. Lückmann (cFel); 1 ex., same data, but 21.V.1994 (cFel); 1 ex., Marsberg, Kregenberg, mesobromentum, pitfall, 21.V.1994, leg. Lückmann (cFel); 1 ex., same data, but 14.V.1995 (cFel). Rheinland-Pfalz: 4 exs., Eifel, Fischbachtal, Neuerburg [49°59'N, 06°57'E], car-net, 1.VI.1990, leg. Wunderle (cWun); 1 ex., Nahetal, Heinzenberg, Kellenbachtal, car-net, 27.V.1986, leg. Wunderle (cWun); 1 ex., Nassau, leg. Buddeberg (NHMW). Bayern: 1 ex., Eschenlohe, 22.VI.1925, leg. Ihsssen (MNHUB).
Hessen: 1 ex., Dautphe-Buchenau, Katzenbachtal, car-net, 30.IV.1988, leg. Wunderle (cWun); 2 exs., same data, but 9.V.1987 (cWun); 1 ex., Oberlais (DEI). Niedersachsen: 1 ex., SE Göttingen, Westerberg [ca. 51°30'N, 9°59'E], 2.VI.1992, leg. Borcherding (cAss); 1 ex., Göttingen, Niedernjesa, 15.V.1973, leg. Renner (cRen); 1 ex., Northeim env., Weper, mesobrometum, pitfall, VI.1990, leg. Joger (cAss); 2 exs., 2 km SE Wolfenbüttel, Öselberg, 150 m, pitfall, V.1998, leg. Schmidt (cAss); 1 ex., same data, but IV.1998 (cAss); 1 ex., Alfeld / Leine, Wrisbergholzen, Ortsberg, mesobrometum, pitfall, V.1986, leg. Assing (cAss); 1 ex., same locality, 8.VI.1992, leg. Sprick (cAss); 1 ex., Alfeld / Leine, Siebenberge, Ostenberg, V.2000, leg. Sührig (cAss); 2 exs., S Hildesheim, Steinberg, mesobrometum, pitfall, V.1997, leg. Schmidt (cAss); 1 ex., same data, but VI.1997 (cAss). Sachsen-Anhalt: 1 ex., Bad Kösen, Himmelreich [ca. 51°06'N, 11°42'E], 20.V.1929, leg. Maertens (MNHUB); 1 ex., same locality, 30.IV.1950, leg. Dorn (MNHUB). Thüringen: 1 ex., Kyffhäuser, "Drei Linden", 9.V.1915, leg. Petry (MNHUB); 1 ex., Sachsenburg, 22.V.1915, leg. Petry (MNHUB); 1 ex., Rüdigsdorf, 26.V.1928, leg. Petry (MNHUB). Sachsen: 1 ex., Görlitz, Landeskrone, pitfall, 16.V.1978, leg. Vogel (cZan); 1 ex., Moritzburg (MNHUB).
Poland: 1 ex., Legnica ["Liegnitz"] (DEI).
Czech Republic: 1 ex., Moravia, Brno-Hády, 1.V.1966, leg. Nohel (NHMW); 1 ex., Bohemia, locality not specified (NHMW).
Slovakia: 1 ex., NE Nitria, Jelenec, mixed deciduous forest, leaf litter sifted, 30.V.1983, leg. Dieckmann (cAss).
Austria: Oberösterreich: 1 ex., Steyr (NHMW). Niederösterreich / Wien: 1 ex., Schönbühel, VI.1918, leg. Käufel (NHMW); 2 exs., Perchtoldsdorf, Heide, leg. Scheerpeltz (NHMW); 2 exs., SW Wien, Dornbach (NHMW); 1 ex. [with worker of Lasius fuliginosus attached to the pin], Wien env., Mariabrunn, 9.V.1967, leg. Holzschuh (NHMW); 1 ex., Wechselgebirge (NHMW); 1 ex., Wechselgebirge, 1888, leg. Ganglbauer (NHMW); 1 ex., S Wiener Neustadt, Bucklige Welt, leg. Mader (NHMW); 1 ex., Kranichberg [47°38'N; 15°58'E], leg. Ganglbauer (NHMW); 2 exs., locality not specified, leg. Haberfelner (NHMW). Steiermark: 1 ex., Turnau (NHMW); 1 ex., Graz env. (NHMW); 3 exs., Rottenmanner Tauern (NHMW). Kärnten: 1 ex., Karnische Alpen, Doberbachtal [ca. 46°35'N, 13°15'E], leg. Strupi (NHMW); 1 ex., "Carinthia" (NHMW). Locality not specified: 1 ex., " Oestreich [sic]" (DEI).
Slovenia: 2 ex., "Wochein", leg. Moczarski (NHMW); 1 ex., Postojna, Trakova dolina, 23.VIII.1958, leg. Mandl (NHMW).
Croatia: 1 ex., N Rovinj, Canal di Leme, 21.-28.IV.1921, leg. Moczarski & Scheerpeltz (NHMW); 1 ex., Plitvica (DEI); 1 ex., Plitvica, leg. Strupi (cZan); 1 ex., Otočac (ZMH); 1 ex., Mljet island, leg. Moczarski (NHMW); 1 ex., Split road to Malaćka, 4.5 NW Kaštela, 300 m, 5.VI.2006, leg. Schuh (cAss); 1 ex., locality not specified (NHMW).
Romania: 3 exs., Baile Herculane, leg. Breit, Ganglbauer, Hilf (DEI, NHMW); 1 ex., Cocos Monastry near Niculitel [approx. 45°09'N, 28°27'E], leg. Breit (NHMW); 1 ex., Mehadia, leg. v. Bodemeyer (NHMW).
Bosnia-Herzegovina: 1 ex., Kraljevska Sutjesca [44°07'N, 18°12'E], 300-600 m, car-net, 15.V.1990, leg. Wunderle (cWun); 1 ex., Bjelasnica planina, leg. Leonhard (DEI); 1 ex., Bjelasnica planina, peak region (DEI); 1 ex., locality illegible, 1000 m, 26.VI.1891, leg. Leonhard (DEI).
Yugoslavia: 1 ex., E-Serbia, Rtanj planina, leg. Breit (NHMW); 1 ex., Tara planina, S Perućac, 500 m, 22.V.1984, leg. Besuchet (MHNG).
Montenegro: 1 ex., Col Crkvine, 1000 m, 22.V.1984, leg. Besuchet (MHNG).
Bulgaria: 1 ex., Ali Botusch, near Goleshovo, 41°24'N, 23°35'E, 1015 m, beech forest, 15.VI.1997, leg. Behne (DEI).
Greece: mainland: 1 ex., Ipiros, 11 km S Konitsa, 400-450 m, 30.IV.1973, leg. Löbl (MHNG); 1 ex., Thessalia, Larissa, Oros Ossa, above Stomio, 39°51'N, 22°24'E, 500 m, mixed deciduous forest, 5.IV.2001, leg. Zerche & Behne (DEI); 1 ex., Thessalia, Larissa, Oros Ossa, above Stomio, 39°51'N, 22°43'E, 700 m, oak and fir forest, 5.IV.2001, leg. Zerche & Behne (cAss). Zakinthos: 1 ex., Katastarion, 23.IV.1971, leg. Hauser (cB). Corfu: 1 ex., Val di Ropa, 1905, leg. Leonhard (DEI); 1 ex., Mathias, leg. Winkler (NHMW); 1 ex., locality not specified, leg. Winkler (NHMW); 1 ex., locality illegible (DEI).
Turkey: Istanbul: 2 exs., Istanbut-Sile, Taşdelen forest, 28.V.1967, leg. Besuchet (MHNG, cAss).
Zonguldak: 1 ex., 17 km N Safranbolu, 1000 m, 16.V.1976, leg. Besuchet & Löbl (MHNG). Sinop: 1 ex., Çangal Dağı, 7.–15.VI.1960, leg. Schubert (NHMW); 2 exs., Çangal Dağı, 16.-26.V.1957, leg. Schubert (NHMW, cAss). Antalya: 1 ex., Antalya env., Termessos, 36°59'N, 30°28'E, 700-850 m, 21.IV.2001, leg. Brachat & Meybohm (cAss); 1 ex., valley SE Termessos, 36°57'N, 30°29'E, 300 m, 22.IV.2001, leg. Brachat & Meybohm (cAss). Isparta: 1 ex., Eğridir-Çandır, 950 m, 6.V.1975, leg. Besuchet & Löbl (MHNG).
Konya: 1 ex., Beyşehir env., Yeşildağ, swept from vegetation, 14.V.2000, leg. Brachat & Meybohm (cAss).
Mersin: 1 ex., Anamur env., 10 m, swept from vegetation, 16.V.2000, leg. Brachat & Meybohm (cAss).
Kahramanmaraş: 1 , ca. 35 km SW Kahramanmaraş, Doluca, 37°22'N, 36°40'E, 1280 m, 27.IV.2004, leg. Brachat & Meybohm (cAss). Antakya: 2 exs., NW Teknepinar, Kızıldağ, 36°11'N, 35°59'E, 28.IV.2002, leg. Brachat & Meybohm (cAss); 1 ex., 22 km S Antakya, S Şenköy, 36°01'N, 36°07'E, 940 m, oak, beech, and laurel shrubs, sifted, 2.IV.2004, leg. Schülke (cSch).
Israel: 1 ex., Galilee, Mt. Meron, 900 m, 21.IV.1982, leg. Besuchet & Löbl (MHNG); 1 ex., coast, Mt. Carmel, 500 m, 17.IV.1982, leg. Besuchet & Löbl (MHNG).
Locality not specified or illegible: 7 exs. (DEI, NHMW); 3 exs., "Sondlig" [?] (MNHUB); 1 ex., "Carvini" [?] (MNHUB).
Redescription:
3.1-4.2 mm (abdomen fully extended); RL: 1.2-1.7 mm. Coloration variabel; usual coloration: head dark brown to blackish; pronotum reddish to reddish brown; elytra yellowish to reddish yellow; abdomen reddish, with most of tergite VI, the anterior half of tergite VII, and sometimes also the middle of tergites III-V infuscate; legs yellowish; antennae rufous.
Head approximately as wide as long (HW/HL: usually 0.93-1.02; exceptionally up to 1.08); microsculpture pronounced and composed of isodiametric meshes; puncturation variable, very fine and barely noticeable to moderately coarse and distinct (Fig. 1). Eyes of moderate size (Fig. 2) and usually weakly projecting from lateral contours of head, slightly shorter than postocular region in dorsal view; EyL/PoL: 0.50-0.68. Postgenal carina fine and short, visible only posteriorly in lateral view. Antenna distinctly incrassate apically; antennomere III distinctly shorter than II, coniform, approximately 1.5 times as long as wide; IV-X of gradually increasing width and strongly transverse, approximately 3 times as wide as long (Fig. 1).
Pronotum usually weakly transverse (PW/PL: 1.00-1.10); microsculpture similar to that of head (Fig. 1); puncturation similar to - and as variable as - that of head; along midline with or without very fine furrow; pubescence in midline directed caucad, occasionally cephalad in anterior 1/6-1/4.
Elytra usually approximately as long as pronotum (Fig. 1), more rarely somewhat shorter (EL/PL: 0.78-1.04); puncturation very fine; microsculpture present, but much shallower than that of head and pronotum. Hind wings apparently fully developed.
Abdomen subparallel; tergite IV without anterior impression; puncturation extremely fine and very sparse; microsculpture present everywhere, but shallow, composed of transverse meshes on anterior tergites and of isodiametric meshes on tergite VII; posterior margin of tergite VII with palisade fringe; posterior margin of tergite VIII distinctly convex in both sexes; tergites VII and VIII without apparent sexual dimorphism.
: tergite VIII and sternite VIII as in Figs 3-4; median lobe of aedeagus rather small, ML: 0.30-0.35 mm; ventral process weakly curved in lateral view and not conspicuously acute apically (Figs 10-18).
: spermatheca as in Figs 5-9.
Intraspecific variation:
Coloration and virtually all morphological characters, especially size, puncturation, and the shape of the pronotum are subject to considerable intraspecific variation. Specimens seen from Turkey and Israel are on average smaller and more slender (especially the pronotum), and their aedeagus
is on average slightly smaller, but of similar shape. For illustrations of the variation of the primary sexual characters see Figs 5-18.
Distribution and bionomics:
Based on the revised material, the A. rufotestacea is widespread in the south of the Western Palaearctic region, its distribution including North Africa (Algeria, Tunisia), the Baleares, France, England, Central Europe, Italy, southeastern Europe, and the eastern Mediterranean (Turkey, Israel) (Map 1). Since the species was previously confounded with A. elegantula, all literature records require confirmation. This also applies to records from Scandinavia (Denmark, Sweden, Norway) (see e. g. LUNDBERG 1995; SÖRENSSON 1981). There is little doubt that records from Hungary (e. g. ÁDÁM 1996) refer to this species. The recent record from Lesbos (ASSING 2005) refers to A. libanotica.
The species has been collected in a wide range of forested (mixed forests) and unforested habitats, especially grassland, from near sea-level to 1800 m, with pitfall traps, car-nets, sweep-nets, and by sifting leaf litter; it has also been found in moss and in nests of ants (Lasius fuliginosus, Formica " rufa "). In northern Germany (Nordrhein-Westfalen, Niedersachsen), it is almost exclusively confined to unforested xerothermous biotopes (calcareous grasslands). The true reproduction habitat is unknown and probably cryptic, as can be inferred from the fact that, with very few exceptions, only single specimens have been collected during the dispersal period.
The vast majority of specimens were recorded during the period from April through June, in the Mediterranean on average slightly earlier (April-May) than in Central Europe (May-June). Almost all the records of flying specimens or of specimens evidently preparing for flight (car-net, sweep-net) are in this period. However, on one occasion, flying specimens were also observed in February (Mallorca; 9 specimens). Teneral adults have been collected in July and November (Fig. 19).
description: Published as part of Wunderle, Volker Assing Paul, 2008, On the Alevonota species of the Western Palaearctic region (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae: Athetini), pp. 145-189 in Beiträge Zur Entomologie = Contributions to Entomology 58 (5) on pages 148-155, DOI: 10.21248/contrib.entomol.58.1.145-189, http://zenodo.org/record/4793904