Cucujus tulliae sp. n. – an endemic Mediterranean saproxylic beetle from genus Cucujus Fabricius, 1775 (Coleoptera, Cucujidae), and keys for identification of adults and larvae native to Europe

Abstract

Cucujus tulliae sp. n. is described as a new member of genus Cucujus Fabricius, 1775 (Coleoptera, Cucujidae), which enumerates at present eleven species distributed in Eurasia and northern America. This saproxylic beetle is the first Cucujus species known only from Mediterranean and it is probably endemic to Calabria (Italy). The species was found especially in old–growth mountain forests of high conservation value (i.e. national parks) dominated by Calabrian pine (Pinus laricio calabrica). We hypothesize that Cucujus tulliae sp. n. probably evolved from isolated populations of Cucujus haematodes Erichson, 1845. The species is thus relictual and of high conservation value, corresponding at least to endangered (EN) category with respect to recent IUCN criterion. Cucujus tulliae sp. n. is here compared with two species native to Europe – Cucujus haematodes and Cucujus cinnaberinus (Scopoli, 1763) and with the Caucasian Cucujus haematodes caucasicus Motschulsky, 1845, which is confirmed as a valid subspecies. The male genitalia of this Caucasian form have been examined and illustrated for the first time. A comprehensive key to adults and larvae of European species is provided.

The first record of the rare and threatened saproxylic Coleoptera, Cucujus cinnaberinus (Scopoli, 1763), Rhysodes sulcatus (Fabricius, 1787) and Omoglymmius germari (Ganglbauer, 1891) in Kopački rit Nature Park

“…Maximum width of the pronotum at the front border, ventral side of the same part black, with a median yellow stripe that is prolonged to the prosternal apophysis. antennae without club (Guéorguiev et al, 2008;bonacci et al, 2012).…”

Beetles “in red”: are the endangered flat bark beetles Cucujus cinnaberinus and C. haematodes chemically protected? (Coleoptera: Cucujidae)

“…Only two native species were known from Europe, C. cinnaberinus (Scopoli, 1763), and C. haematodes Erichson, 1845, but lately a third species, C. tulliae Bonacci et al 2012, from Calabria has been described. C. cinnaberinus is a saproxylic beetle endemic to Europe, living in several countries including Spain, Eastern France, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Russia and Sweden.…”

“…Another form, C. h. caucasicus Motschulsky, 1845, is known from Armenia, Georgia, and Russia, although the status of this subspecies was considered more dubious (Horák & Chobot 2009), because Mamaev et al (1977), in a larval key, considered the pre-imaginal characters to be those of a separate species. In this respect, Bonacci et al (2012) have re-evaluated the status of this taxon and have finally considered C. h. caucasicus to be a distinct subspecies.…”

“…The beetles were kept alive in the lab and stored in controlled conditions in a thermostatic chamber with natural substrate (dead wood and bark), at constant temperature (15°C), 12:12 L: D light rhythm, and constant adequate humidity values of the decaying wood and bark layer. The larvae were fed with small pieces of chopped veal and Tenebrio molitor until pupation, in accordance with Bonacci et al (2012). After chemical analysis in the laboratory, some of the emerged beetles were released into the sample sites.…”

“…Zdeněk et al (2012) reported on the opportunistic omnivore behaviour of C. cinnaberinus. Other preliminary studies showed the cannibalistic and predator habits of C. cinnaberinus larvae under artificial conditions (Palm 1941;Mazzei et al 2011;Bonacci et al 2012). Cucujus haematodes is known to be a scavenger, feeding on pupae and larvae of other insects (Mamaev et al 1977) and on other subcortical beetles (Burakowski et al 1986).…”