Anthaxia (Anthaxia) holoptera Obenberger 1914
Creators: name: Baiocchi, Daniele
name: Magnani, Gianluca
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2018
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Buprestidae
Anthaxia
Anthaxia holoptera

description: Anthaxia (Anthaxia) holoptera Obenberger, 1914
(Figs. 26, 27, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 89, 98, 99, 104, 109, 112, 120, 125, 130, 135, 137)
Anthaxia holoptera Obenberger, 1914: 115. Type locality: “Transkaspien (Samarsakli)” [Samarsakli = misprint, correct spelling on label = Saramsakli (Fig. 27)].
Anthaxia holoptera: Obenberger, 1926: 649 (hoploptera [sic!] incorrect subsequent spelling) (catalogue); 1930: 490 (catalogue); Schaefer, 1936: 330 (hoploptera [sic!] incorrect subsequent spelling), 347 (faunistic catalogue); Iablokoff- Khnzorian, 1961: 71, 207; Kalashian, 1985: 719 (faunistics); Bílý, 1991: 87 (taxonomy).
Anthaxia (Anthaxia) holoptera: Bílý, 1980: 400, 402 (Figs. 7, 9), 405, 407 (taxonomy); 1997: 24, 77, 159 (wrong type deposition) (catalogue); Bílý, 2006: 371 (catalogue); Bellamy, 2008: 1401 (catalogue); Ghahari et al., 2015: 84 (faunistic catalogue); Kubáň et al., 2016: 498 (catalogue).
Anthaxia (Cyclanthaxia) holoptera: Richter, 1945: 70 (faunistics; taxonomy); 1949: 6, 59, 141 (monograph); Volkovitsh & Alexeev, 1994: 433, 440 (faunistics).
Unavailable name: Anthaxia hoploptera Daniel nomen nudum: Obenberger, 1917: 84 (monograph).
Unavailable name: Anthaxia danieli Obenberger nomen nudum: Obenberger, 1917: 18 (monograph); 1930: 490 (catalogue); Bellamy, 2008: 1402 (catalogue).
Type specimens studied. Anthaxia (A.) holoptera: holotype by monotypy (♂, NHMW: Fig. 26; original labelling: Fig. 27).
Additional material studied. Armenia: Armenia, Kizyldash [locality not found in maps], Kafan [=Kapan] region, 13.vi.1955, A. Zagulyaev leg. (1♂ ZIN); Ijevan, Kirants, A[rmenian] S.S.R., 14‒5‒51 [Khnzorian leg] [original label in Russian; actual position: Armenia, Tavush prov., 6‒8 km W Acharkut vill., vic. Kirants monastery] (1ex. IZAA); Goris, Shurnukhi, A[rmenian] S.S.R., 13‒6‒50 [Khnzorian leg] [original label in Russian; actual position: Armenia, Syunik prov., env. Shurnukh] (1ex. IZAA); Kafan, Chakaten, A[rmenian] S.S.R., 25‒6‒52 [Khnzorian leg] [original label in Russian; actual position: Armenia, Syunik prov., env. Chakaten] (1ex. IZAA). Azerbaijan: AZERBAIJAN, Yardimli rayon, 38°52’N/48°6’E 1890m., Talish Mountains, 3km NW of Üzyübaşi Mt., 12.VI.2012, leg. Andrzej Lasón (1♂1f ALCB; 4♂♂ DBCR); same data, 14.VI.2012 (2♂♂ ALCB; 1♀ DBCR); same data, 6.VI.2013 (2exx. MKCN); AZERBAIJAN, Yardimli rayon, 38°52’N/48°6’E 1890m., Talish Mts., Üzyübaşi Mt., 3km NW of top, 10‒14.VI.2012, leg. Roman Królik (1♀ DBCR; 1♂ SBCP; 1ex. MKCN); AZARBAIJAN; Yardimli rayonu, 38°52,N/48°8,E 1890 m, Talysh Mountains, 3km NW of Uzubayasi Mt., 12.VI.2012 leg. Roman Królik (1ex. MKCN); AZERBAIJAN, Yardimli rayonu, 2 km NW of Uzubashi Mt., 38°52’N/48°06’E,12.06.2012 a=1900m, J. Ługowoj leg. (1♂1♀ DBCR); same data, 14.06.2012 (1♂ DBCR); AZARBAIJAN, Yardimli rayonu, 2 km NW Uzubashi Mt., 38°52’36’’N/48°06’23’’E, 6.06.2013 a=1900m, J. Ługowoj leg. (4♂♂ DBCR). Iran: IRAN (Golestān) 1380m, Āzād Šar‒Shāhrūd Rd, SW of Til Abad, 36°51’51.2’’N 55°24’21.5’’E, 25.IV.2008 D.Baiocchi leg., ex larva Acer sp. (2♂♂5♀♀ DBCR); IRAN (N. Khorāsān) 1060m, E of Dasht junction, 37°19’48.7”N 56°02’42.9”E, 21.V.2010 D. Baiocchi leg., ex larva Acer sp. (1♀ DBCR); IRAN (N. Khorāsān) 1060m, E of Dasht junction, 37°19’48.7”N 56°02’42.9”E, 21.V.2013 D.Baiocchi leg., ex larva Acer sp. (2♂♂2♀♀ DBCR); IRAN (Golestān) 1380m, Āzād Šar‒Shāhrūd Rd, SW of Til Abad, 36°51’51.2’’N 55°24’21.5’’E, 10‒22.V.2013 Baiocchi leg. (1♀ DBCR); IRAN (Golestān) 1380m, Āzād Šar‒Shāhrūd Rd, SW of Til Abad, 36°51’51.2’’N 55°24’21.5’’E, 19‒23.V.2010 Baiocchi leg. (11♂♂16♀♀ DBCR); IRAN (Golestān) 1380m, road Āzād Šar‒Shāhrūd, SW of Til Abad, 36°51’51.2’’N 55°24’21.5’’E, 19‒23.V.2010 Baiocchi leg. (1ex. MKCN); IRÁN 36°51´51.2´´N; 55°24´21.5´´E Golestán, Sāh-Kūh range road Āzād Šar Shāhrūd near Til Abad, 1380m, 19.‒23.V.2010 D.Gianasso lgt. (1♂ MOCO); Iran (Golestan), Sáh-Kúh range, road Azád Šar-Shahrud, near Til Abad, 1380 m, 19.‒23.V.2010, D. Gianasso leg. (1♀ SBCP); Iran, Gole[stān] Lovae [=Loveh], 750‒1400, 2.v.1970 (1♂ SBCP); IRAN (Mazandaran) 1097m, Rd 230—S of Daslam, 36°25’42’’N 51°31’32’’E, 22‒23.V.2017 Baiocchi leg. (3♂♂2♀♀ DBCR); same data, Magnani leg. (1♂) GMCC). Turkmenistan: Turkm. [Turkmenistan], Kara-Kala [=Garrygala], g. Siunt, 7.v.1957, G. Medvedev (1♀ SBCP); [Turkmenistan] ushchel’e [gorge] Iol-Dere, Kara-Kala [=Garrygala] env. [actually, approx. 15 km NE], Western Kopetdag Mts., 30.v.1977, M. Volkovitsh leg. (on Rosa sp.) (1♂ ZIN); [Turkmenistan] Upper Aidere river, Aidere gorge, 13 km SW of Nokhur, Western Kopetdag Mts., 24‒25.v.1985, M. Volkovitsh leg. (1♂ ZIN).
Additional data from literature. Armenia: Sevkar, Indzebanskij region (Kalashian, 1985: 719); Surnukh, Gorisskij region (Kalashian, 1985: 719); Cakaten, Kafanskij region (Kalashian, 1985: 719); Ijuvady, Megrijskij region (Kalashian, 1985: 719). Turkmenistan: Kopet Dag mts. [erroneously as Tadjikistan = misprint] (Bílý, 1991: 87).
Morphology and variability. In A. holoptera, the size of males ranges from 5.2 x 2.2 mm to 7.1 x 3.0 mm, while females measure from 5.2 x 2.2 mm to 8.3 x 3.4 mm.
In contrast with the invariable dark tone of the elytra, the pronotum is highly variable, and shows a background colour going from golden-reddish (Fig. 72) to purple (Fig. 76), or bright green (Fig. 74), occasionally with a blue lustre (Fig. 75). Besides, in the populations from Azerbaijan (Figs. 74, 75), the basal macula of the elytra seems to be stronger, especially in the sutural part. In populations from Iran and Turkmenistan instead, this colouration is very faint and only residual (Figs. 70, 72, 76, 77).
In addition to its different chromatic aspect, A. holoptera seems to be the species that differs the most within this group, morphologically, and presents slightly different body proportions. Because of the proportionally longer pronotum, its length to width ratio reaches to 2.40 times longer that wide, while the other species of the group show altogether an average length to width ratio of about 2.25 times longer than wide. The vertex of the head is also slightly wider in A. holoptera (on average 0.32 of the width of head) than in the other species (on average 0.28 of the width of head). The hind legs are quite peculiar, being clearly sturdier than in the other species. In fact, the metafemura of males appear stronger because of their more developed posterior edges, visibly pronounced and widely expanded at the tibial joint (Fig. 89), more than in the other species. In addition, the inner edge of all tibiae (Figs. 71, 135) is the most coarsely and strongly serrated in its group.
The aedeagus of this species is also very peculiar and characteristic, with extremely tapered parameres (Fig. 104). In fact, in this species the tegmen usually has a wider basal 1/2 if compared with the anterior 1/2. The apex of the median lobe shows lateral borders slightly more incurved than in the other species (Fig. 112).
Bionomy and distribution. Anthaxia holoptera has a typical sub-Caspian distribution, being present in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkmenistan.
The species was originally described from the western foothills of the Kopet Dag, in the area across the border between Iran and Turkmenistan. The type locality, Saramsakli, which in the original description was misprinted as Samarsakli (Obenberger, 1914: 115), is a toponym not found on current maps. In some papers on different families of Coleoptera, this locality has been located in Iran, in the eastern Elburs, while in others it is generally indicated in "Transcaspia".
Further known collecting localities in Turkmenistan are Aydere (Volkovitsh, pers. comm.) and Kara Kala (SBCP) where this species was personally found by Medvedev. In Iran, the species is locally present in the Golestan Forest and along the Elburs Range, reaching to Azerbaijan and Armenia. Kalashian (1985: 719) gives a few Armenian localities where he collected it, and writes that the species was included in the Armenian fauna by Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1961). In some catalogues the species was given as present in Azerbaijan, but we have not found any published records. However, recently, a group of collegues from Poland have collected some specimens in the province of Yardimli. The citation for “S. Tadjikistan” (Bílý, 1991: 87) is a misprint, and refers to the Kopet Dag, the mountain range between Southern Turkmenistan and Northwestern Iran.
With regard to the biology of this species, we have reared it from an unidentified species of Acer from the Iranian province of Golestan. Records on Rosaceae (Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1961: 71) certainly refer to the adult behaviour, as we have usually found adults on flowers of Dog Rose.
description: Published as part of Baiocchi, Daniele & Magnani, Gianluca, 2018, A revision of the Anthaxia (Anthaxia) midas Kiesenwetter, 1857 species-group (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Anthaxiini), pp. 201-254 in Zootaxa 4370 (3) on pages 239-241, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4370.3.1, http://zenodo.org/record/1145577