A contribution to the knowledge of genus Dasytidius Schilsky, 1896 in the eastern Mediterranean region

Abstract

The present study is limited to the species which live in the eastern Mediterranean region (Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan, Egypt and Libya). Genus Dasytidius is here very poorly known, and, within this region, large areas completely lack records and field research. 29 taxa (species and subspecies) have been, however, described from the mentioned countries, and it has been possible to assemble and study reasonable amounts of materials (over 1500 specimens) covering 25 taxa and including many types. Two new species have been described: D. daucifloris n. sp. from Aegean Turkey and D. majeri n. sp. from southern-central Turkey. Four new synonymies are proposed: D. indutus dalmatinus Majer, 1989 = D. indutus indutus Kiesenwetter, 1859; D. impar Majer, 1996 = D. indutus subsp. funebris Majer, 1989; D. insularis Majer, 1996 = D. prosperus Majer, 1989 and D. malkini Majer, 1996 = D. similis Schilsky, 1896. Two taxa have been moved from species to subspecies status: D. indutus subsp. funebris Majer, 1989 n. stat. and D. infinitus subsp. subnudus Majer, 1991 n. stat. One species has been resurrected: D. obscuripes (Pic, 1896), previously considered a junior synonym of D. nigripes (Pic, 1894). Four Dasytidius species remained unknown: they have been only shortly taken into account and not included in the determination key; the three Cypriot species, being endemic to the Island and recently fully discussed (Liberti 2021), have not been included as well in the key. The remaining 22 taxa have been thoroughly considered, and their anatomies have been described, compared and figured.