Oulema melanopus
Creators: name: Bezděk, Jan
name: Baselga, Andrés
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Chrysomelidae
Oulema
Oulema melanopus

description: Oulema melanopus (Linnaeus, 1758)
(Figs 2, 7, 12, 17–18, 27)
Chrysomela melanopus Linnaeus, 1758: 376 (original description).
= Crioceris melanopoda O. F. Müller, 1776: 85 (original description).
= Crioceris hordei Geoffroy, 1785 in FOURCROY (1785): 95 (original description).
= Crioceris azurea Voet, 1806: 37 (unavailable name).
= Lema cyanella var. atrata Waltl, 1835: 81 (original description).
= Lema melanopa var. nigricans Westhoff, 1882 (original description).
= Lema melanopa var. waltli Heinze, 1927 (new substitute name for atrata Waltl, 1835).
Type localities. Chrysomela melanopus: ‘Europa’. Crioceris melanopoda: ‘ Denmark, Sjaelland / Føllenslev’ [neotype], not stated in original description. Crioceris hordei: ‘Paris, Montrouge’ [neotype], [‘Paris’, in original description]. Lema cyanella var. atrata: ‘Málaga, Ronda’ [neotype], [‘Andalusiens’, by the title of original description]. Lema melanopa var. nigricans: ‘Münster’ [in original description].
Type material. Chrysomela melanopus: The photographs of a lectotype (male, designated by BERTI 1989), labelled: ‘melanopus [w, h] // 105 [w, p]’ and 1 paralectotype (female), without any labels, both deposited at The Linnean Society, London, UK, are available at http://www.linnean.org/Library-and-Archives/online-collections.htm.
Crioceris melanopoda: NEOTYPE (designated here): ♂, ‘ Sjaelland / Føllenslev / 18-8-1990 / H. Hendriksen [w, h] // NEOTYPUS, / Crioceris melanopoda / O. F. Müller, 1776 / des. J. Bezděk & / A. Baselga, 2014 [r, p] // Oulema / melanopus / (Linnaeus, 1758) / J. Bezděk det. 2014 [w, p]’ (ZMUC).
Crioceris hordei: NEOTYPE (designated here): ♂, ‘ FRANCE, Paris, / Montrouge (14e distr.), / 28.v.2014, / J.-D. Chapelin-Viscardi leg. [w, p] // NEOTYPUS, / Crioceris hordei / Geoffroy, 1785 / des. J. Bezděk & / A. Baselga, 2014 [r, p] // Oulema / melanopus / (Linnaeus, 1758) / J. Bezděk det. 2014 [w, p]’ (MNHN).
Lema cyanella var. atrata: NEOTYPE (designated here): ♂, ‘ HISPANIA Málaga Ronda / 30/05/1983 Sierra Nieves / Cortijo Quejigales / 1250m, G. Bastazo leg. [w, p] // NEOTYPUS, / Lema cyanella var. atrata / Waltl, 1835 / des. J. Bezděk & / A. Baselga, 2014 [r, p] // Oulema / melanopus / (Linnaeus, 1758) / J. Bezděk det. 2014 [w, p]’ (MNCN).
Lema melanopa var. nigricans: Not examined. Not found in Westhoffʼs collection in Münster.
Additional material examined. EUROPE: ALBANIA: Starova, Koritza env., 1918, 1♀, Vuillaume leg. (MNHN). AUSTRIA: NIEDERÖSTERREICH: Pitten, 25.vii.1973, 1 ♂, P. Magrini leg. (MMCM). BELGIUM: Bruxelles, 14.ix.1890, 2♂♂ (MNHN). BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: Trebević Mt., v.1907, 1♂, Dr. Lokay leg.(NMPC). BULGARIA: Harmanli, 17.vii.1991, 1 ♂, V. Kubáň leg. (JBCB). CROATIA: Plitvice, 1.vi.1987, 1 ♂, Z. Malinka leg. (ZMCO). CZECH REPUBLIC: MORAVIA: Hranice-Drahotuše, 3.v.1997, 1 ♂, J. Bezděk leg. (JBCB). DENMARK: SJAELLAND: Lillerød øst, 2.v.1986, 3♂♂, H. Hendriksen leg. (ZMUC). FINLAND: ‘Finland’, 1♀ (MNHN). FRANCE: RHÔNE- ALPES: Haute-Savoie, Viry, 1 ♂, J. Hamon leg. (MNHN). GERMANY: BADEN- WÜRTTEMBERG: Leingarten, 11.x.1998, 1♂, D. Borisch leg. (NHRS). GREECE: CENTAL MACEDONIA: Litokhoro env. [= Litochoro], 28.–30.iv.1989, 1 ♂, J. Ježek leg. (NMPC). RHODOS: ‘Rhodus’, 1 ♀, Hedeburg leg. (NHRS). HUNGARY: SOMOGY: Siófok, 1 ♂, Lichtneckert leg. (HNHM). ITALY: SICILY: Ficuzza, 1 ♂, Holdhaus leg. (NHMW). TOSCANA: Gabbro, 5.vii.1990, 1 ♂, D. Sassi leg. (DSCM). MOLDOVA: Vall. du Berlad, 1 ♂ 2 ♀♀, A. L. Montandon leg. (MNHN). ROMANIA: București, 1 ♀, Montandon leg. (MNHN). RUSSIA: SAMARA: Tockoye, 1917, 2 ♀♀, Dr. Jureček leg. (NMPC). SERBIA: Kragujevac, 4.iv.1992, 1 ♀, M. Rozsíval leg. (JBCB). SLOVAKIA: Gemerský Jablonec, 4.vii.1994, 1 ♂, J. Bezděk leg. (JBCB). SLOVENIA: Litija env., Zgornji Hotič, 4.–5.vii.1999, 1 ♂, Z. Malinka leg. (ZMCO). SPAIN: ANDALUSIA: Nigüelas, 19.iv.1995, 1 ♂, P. Průdek leg. (JBCB). SWEDEN: Uppsala, 10.iv.1954, 1 ♂, O. Lundblad leg. (NHRS). SWITZERLAND: autostrada Bern, Parc Lindenerin, 23.viii.1996, 1 ♀, P. Montemurro leg. (MMCM). UNITED KINGDOM: ENGLAND: Cumbria, Silecroft, 16.viii.1980, 1 ♂, R. W. J. Read leg. (BMNH). NORTH AFRICA: MOROCCO: Pilote vill., near Khemisset, 19.v.1997, 1 ♂, P. Průdek leg. (JBCB). ASIA: GEORGIA: Sukhumi, 10.viii.1976, 1 ♀, J. Pradáč leg. (NMPC). RUSSIA: FAR EAST: Primorski kray, Lazovski zapovednik, Lazo, 1375 m, 2.vi.–3.vii.2001, 1 ♂, M. Quest leg. (BMNH). SYRIA: Slinfah env., 700–1000 m, 29.v.–3.vi.2007, 1 ♀, L. Saltini leg. (DSCM). TURKEY: ‘Anatolie’, 1888, 1 ♀, C. Delagrange leg. (NMPC). NORTH AMERICA (established): UNITED STATES: MICHIGAN: Galien, 25.vi.1963, 1 ♂ (NHRS).
Differential diagnosis. See diagnosis under O. duftschmidi.
Comments. Crioceris melanopoda is missing in many publications on Oulema. If present, it is mentioned without any comments under O. melanopus (e.g. BERTI 1989), or considered an unjustified emendation of O. melanopus (PETITPIERRE & ALONSO- ZARAZAGA 2000), or its synonym (RILEY et al. 2003, SCHMITT 2010). We cannot agree with BERTIʼs (1989) and PETITPIERRE & ALONSO- ZARAZAGAʼs (2000) opinions. In all previously described species MÜLLER (1776) strictly gave a reference to the description, but in Crioceris melanopoda such reference is missing. In accordance with WELTER- SCHULTES (2013) we consider Crioceris melanopoda a validly described species. The type locality of Crioceris melanopoda is not specified in the original description. BERTI (1989) mentioned ‘Hartouk’ as its type locality but her interpretation is evidently false, as she mistakenly used page number instead of serial number to find the locality name in index. In order to prevent the nomenclatorial instability in O. melanopus species group, a neotype conspecific with O. melanopus originated from Denmark where Müller lived and frequently collected is designated for Crioceris melanopoda.
Crioceris hordei is listed in synonymy with O. melanopus in OLIVIER (1791, 1808), LACORDAIRE (1845), KITTEL (1883) or PETITPIERRE & ALONSO- ZARAZAGA (2000). Because neither Geoffroy’s or Fourcroy’s collection exists, its true identity is unknown. In order to prevent the nomenclatorial instability in O. melanopus species group, a neotype conspecific with O. melanopus is designated for Crioceris hordei.
Crioceris azurea is an unavailable name. VOET (1806) did not consistently apply the principle of binominal nomenclature, thus his work does not meet the criteria of availability (cf. WHITE 1981, LÖBL & SMETANA 2011). The citation of ‘ azurea ’ Voet in synonymy with O. melanopus by GEMMINGER & HAROLD (1874: 3257) and KITTEL (1883) does not validate the name azurea (Art. 11.6 of ICZN).
Although ‘ var. atrata ’ was described as a variety of Lema cyanella (species with completely metallic blue dorsum), there is no doubt that, due to its red pronotum, it belongs to the Oulema melanopus group. Waltlʼs collection is deposited in NHMW but the relevant type specimens were not found either there or in ZMHB where some Waltlʼs types are also deposited (Schillhammer 2013, pers. comm.; Willers 2013, pers. comm.). To prevent the instability of the O. melanopus group nomenclature, a neotype, conspecific with Oulema melanopus, is designated for Lema cyanella var. atrata. Due to the primary homonymy with Lema atrata Fabricius, 1801 (South America), a new substitute name Lema melanopa var. waltli was proposed by HEINZE (1927).
WESTHOFF (1882) described Lema melanopa var. nigricans and attributed it to Suffrian. After checking all Suffrianʼs publications this taxon was not found, and in accordance with all subsequent catalogues Westhoff has to be treated as its author. The type material was not found either in Westhoffʼs collection in Münster (Terlutter 2014, pers. comm.) or in MLUH (Schneider 2014, pers. comm.). A neotype is not designated due to lack of available specimens with black elytra originated from Münster or its vicinity.
Distribution. Europe: Albania (BERTI 1989, present paper), Andorra (SCHMITT 2010), Austria (SCHMITT & RÖNN 2011, present paper), Belarus (NESTEROVA 2006), Belgium (SCHMITT & RÖNN 2011, present paper), Bosnia and Herzegovina (present paper), Bulgaria (present paper), Croatia (present paper), Czech Republic (BENEDIKT 2011, present paper), Denmark (HANSEN 1994, present paper), Estonia (BUKEJS 2012), Finland (SILFVERBERG 2010, present paper), France (BERTI 1989, present paper), France (Corsica) (BERTI 1989), Germany (SCHMITT & RÖNN 2011, present paper), Greece (present paper), Greece (Rhodos) (present paper), Hungary (POZSGAI & SÁRINGER 2004, present paper), Ireland (COX 2007), Italy (SCHMITT & RÖNN 2011, present paper), Italy (Sicily) (present paper), Latvia (BUKEJS 2013), Liechtenstein (BRANDSTETTER & KAPP 1996), Lithuania (BUKEJS & FERENCA 2010), Luxembourg (SCHMITT 2010), Malta (CAMERON & CARUANA GATTO 1907), Macedonia (SCHMITT 2010), Moldova (present paper), Netherlands (WINKELMAN & BEENEN 2010), Norway (SILFVERBERG 2010), Poland (CHROBOK & BOROWIEC 1993), Portugal (SCHMITT 2010), Romania (BERTI 1989, present paper), Russia (European part) (BIENKOWSKI 2011, present paper), Serbia (present paper), Slovakia (present paper), Slovenia (present paper), Spain (BERTI 1989, present paper), Sweden (SILFVERBERG 2010, present paper), Switzerland (SCHMITT & RÖNN 2011, present paper), United Kingdom (COX 2007, present paper), Ukraine (SERGEEV 2011). North Africa: Morocco (BERTI 1989, present paper). Asia: Armenia (SCHMITT 2010), Azerbaijan (SCHMITT 2010), Georgia (present paper), Iran (BERTI 1989), Iraq (SCHMITT 2010), Israel (SCHMITT 2010), Kazakhstan (BIENKOWSKI 2011), Kyrgyzstan (BIENKOWSKI 2011), Lebanon (BERTI 1989), Russia (Far East) (MIKHAILOV & CHASHCHINA 2009, present paper), Russia (Siberia) (SCHMITT 2010), Syria (BERTI 1989, present paper), Turkey (ÖZDIKMEN & ÖZBEK 2014, present paper). North America (introduced, established): Canada (LESAGE et al. 2007), United States (WHITE 1993, present paper).
MIKHAILOV & CHASHCHINA (2009) newly recorded O. melanopus from the Far East of Russia but the examination of flagellum was not explicitely noted. Correct identification of the specimens based on the shape of the flagellum was confirmed by Yuri Mikhailov (2014, pers. comm.). We did not examine any specimens from Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Luxembourg, Malta, Macedonia, Portugal, Iraq, Israel, Siberia, and Tajikistan – countries listed for O. melanopus by SCHMITT (2010). However, because O. melanopus is confirmed in adjacent countries we consider the occurrence there highly probable. On the other hand, the occurrence in the Canary Islands, Madeira Archipelago, Libya, Cyprus (SCHMITT 2010), Algeria (e.g. ROZNER & ROZNER 2013), Tunisia (e.g. MAICAN 2007) and India (Kashmir) (HUSSAIN & AHMAD 2006) should be confirmed and may refer to O. duftschmidi. Especially from the Canary Islands and North African countries (except Morocco) we examined large series of specimens of O. duftschmidi but no specimen of O. melanopus. The occurrence of O. melanopus in Afghanistan as listed by SCHMITT (2010) was very probably based on the specimens published by LOPATIN (1967) – the voucher specimens deposited in MMBC proved to be O. duftschmidi. The distribution in some eastern Palaearctic countries is unclear. SCHMITT (2010) listed O. melanopus also from China, Mongolia and Japan, but we donʼt know any published paper where the genitalia of the specimens from these countries were examined. The occurrence in Japan is doubtful, the old data on O. melanopus refer to Oulema oryzae (Kuwayama, 1931) (see KIMOTO & TAKIZAWA 1994). From Mongolia it was recorded by LOPATIN (1977) and commented by MEDVEDEV (1982) but the correct identity is unknown, as it might refer either to O. melanopus or O. duftschmidi. The same can be said for the records from China.
description: Published as part of Bezděk, Jan & Baselga, Andrés, 2015, Revision of western Palaearctic species of the Oulema melanopus group, with description of two new species from Europe (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Criocerinae), pp. 273-304 in Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 55 (1) on pages 286-288, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5303691