PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY CENTRAL PARK WEST AT 79TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10024 Number 3607, 44 pp., 9 figures April 9, 2008 Review of Solenoxyphus Reuter, 1875 (Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae) FEDOR V. KONSTANTINOV1 ABSTRACT Key, descriptions, data on distribution and host plants are given for all 16 known species of SolenoxyphusReuter,1875,includingthreenewones:Solenoxyphusanabasius,n.sp.(Kazakhstan), S.salsolae,n.sp.(Mongolia),andS.kerzhneri,n.sp.(Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan).Thegenericname Solenoxyphus Reuter, 1875 is synonymized with Leucopterum Reuter, 1879. The following new synonymiesareestablished:L.candidatum(Reuter,1879)5L.longicolle(Reuter,1879),S.lepidus (Puton,1874)5S.minorWagner,1969,andS.alkaniO¨nder,19755S.markevichiPutshkov,1978. S.adspersus(Reuter,1904)isremovedfromsynonymyandconsideredavalidspecies. INTRODUCTION structure of the clypeus, length of labium, and length of third tarsal segment. Carapezza The name Solenoxyphus was published by (1997)correctlypointedoutthatthedegreeof Reuter in 1875 while genera Malthacosoma concavity in the prosternal xyphus, as well as and Leucopterum were described by the same the degree of development of the suture author four years later (Reuter, 1879). between the frons and clypeus is of limited According to Reuter’s descriptions, all these systematic relevance. Therefore he synony- genera, especially Malthacosoma and mizedMalthacosomawithSolenoxyphusbased Leucopterum, are closely related to each other on almost identical color pattern, vestiture, but differ in the structure of the prosternal pretarsal structure, and male genitalia. Thus xyphus, width, and length of the head, themodernconceptofSolenoxyphuscompris- 1PostdoctoralResearcher,ZoologicalInstitute,RussianAcademyofSciences;Assistantprofessor,St.PetersburgState University,DepartmentofEntomology ([email protected]). CopyrightEAmericanMuseumofNaturalHistory2008 ISSN0003-0082 2 AMERICAN MUSEUMNOVITATES NO. 3607 es eight species, excluding Solenoxyphus sau- but irregularly shaped colored areas. Unless ledai (Ribes, 1976), which was synonymized otherwise stated, all scale bars are 0.05 mm. with Psallopsis femoralis (Ribes et al., 2004). Specimen measurements are given for five Leucopterumisasmall host-specificphyline specimens of each sex taken from across the genus currently including seven species. The distributional range in all cases where suffi- distribution is principally Irano-Turanian; cient material was available. four species are found in Mongolia and one Bar code labels, which uniquely identify is recorded from northwest China. The genus each specimen, were attached to the speci- hasnotbeenrevisedanditsrelationshipswith mens, and are referred to as unique specimen other genera were not discussed since the identifiers (USIs). Generally each USI label original description (Reuter, 1879). Careful corresponds to a single specimen; however, investigationofallspeciesofLeucopterumand some USI labels correspond to two or three Solenoxyphus allows me to conclude that they specimens in cases in which several specimens are congeneric. All the distinctive features of are mounted on one pin. Because of the long Leucopterum indicated by Reuter, specifically period over which specimens were examined thecomparativelylonglabium,broadclypeus, forthisstudy,USIlabelswerenotattachedto prosternal xyphus with sharp margins, and someloanedspecimens.Asawayofaccessing additional information, such as color photo- shortened third tarsal segment, vary within graphs, specimens dissected, notes, collecting both genera and cannot be viewed as diag- method, and specimens photographed for nostic.SolenoxyphusandLeucopterumsharea specimens examined in the Planetary commoncolorpattern,similarpretarsalstruc- Biodiversity Inventories Project on Plant ture, and male genitalia. In both genera the Bugs and the present paper please refer to vesica has a thin and more or less straight the www.discoverlife.org website. During the apical process, a weakly sclerotized step- last century many toponyms in Russia and shaped projection behind the secondary gon- Middle Asian countries were renamed, some- opore, and the secondary gonopore is bor- times several times. The borders between dered by a remarkable series of teeth. The countries, provinces, and districts have also peculiar structure of the vesica is unique for changed through time. Thus the exact data PalaearcticPhyliniandisthereforeconsidered labels often became a source of long-standing diagnostic for the group. Based on the confusion. The original locality data is given foregoing features the genus Leucopterum in square brackets if it differs from currently Reuter, 1879 is synonymized with Solenoxy- existing toponyms (see specimens examined). phus Reuter, 1875. Unless otherwise stated, all examined spec- Examination of the extensive material imens including types of new species are housed in the collection of Zoological retained in the Zoological Institute, St. Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Petersburg. Abbreviations of institutions and makes it possible to provide a key to species, private collections for loaned material are aswellastoclarifytheirdistribution.Inorder given as follows: tosimplifydetermination,briefmorphological descriptions with notes on distribution and AC CollectionofProf.AttilioCarapezza, host plants are given for each species. Exact Palermo,Italy. identifications of females in some cases will AMNH American Museum of Natural require association with males. The key is History,New York, USA. designed for use with male specimens, al- BMNH MuseumofNaturalHistory,London, though it will work for females of most GreatBritain. JR CollectionofDr.JordiRibes,Barce- species. Species treatments are presented in lona, Spain. alphabetical order. The territories from which MNHN Muse´um National d’Histoire Natu- a species is recorded for the first time are relle,Paris, France. marked with asterisks. UASK InstituteofZoology,UkrainianAcad- The term dots is used in the descriptions to emyofSciences,Kiev,Ukraine. denotesmall,usuallyround,variouslycolored ZMMU ZoologicalMuseum,MoscowLomo- spots, while spots is reserved to indicate small nosovState University,Russia. 2008 KONSTANTINOV: REVIEWOFSOLENOXYPHUS 3 Solenoxyphus Reuter, 1875 STRUCTURE: Elongate or elongate-oval, small bugs (1.7–5.0 mm). Males more or less parallel-sided, females smaller and more Solenoxyphus Reuter, 1875: 93. Type species by mono- typy:MacrocoleuslepidusPuton,1874. stumpy. Head (fig. 51) wider than high, MalthacosomaReuter,1879:253–254(syn.byCarapezza, declivent, weakly projecting beyond eyes. 1997:166).Typespeciesbymonotypy:Malthacosoma Clypeus prominent, but usually not visible in punctipenneReuter,1879. dorsal view. Antennae thin; length of second Leucopterum Reuter, 1879: 259, n. syn. Type species by segment usually subequal to width of prono- subsequent designation (Kirkaldy, 1906: 126): Leucopterum fasciatum Reuter, 1879 (5Leucopterum tuminmalesandsubequaltowidthofheadin candidatumReuter,1879). females, sometimes segment much shorter. Labium of variable length, reaching from DIAGNOSIS: Distinguished by the shape of middle coxae to seventh abdominal segment, the vesica with apex abruptly narrowed just apically darkened. Pronotum transverse, usu- beyond secondary gonopore, forming weakly ally 2.0–2.3 3 as wide as long, with indistinct sclerotized step-shaped projection; apical pro- calli. Metathoracic scent-gland evaporatory cess thin and more or less straight, with area as in figs. 53, 54. Forewings usually well slightly curved apex; area adjacent to second- developed,onlyfemalesofS.anabasiusandS. ary gonopore remarkably dentate. Tarsal nanophyti with shortened forewings. apices and claws darkened. MALE GENITALIA: Genital segment and Solenoxyphus spp. are most similar in color parameres of typical structure. Right para- pattern, measurements, and vestiture to mere (figs. 24, 35, 42) small, spoon-shaped, Compsidolon Reuter, 1899, Compsonannus strongly flattened, with indistinct apical pro- Reuter, 1902, Taeniophorus Linnavuori, 1952, cess. Left paramere (figs. 25, 36, 43) strongly Camptotylidea Wagner, 1957, and Psallopsis excavated, with well-developed apical process Reuter,1901.Representativesofthelastgenus and sensory lobe. Vesica S-shaped, with differ from Solenoxyphus in the maculate abrupt steplike narrowing at apex. Secondary pattern of the membrane, small pulvilli, and gonopore with well-developed sculpture, re- structure of the vesica. Compsonannus differs markableseriesofteethlaterallyinallspecies, from Solenoxyphus in the maculate second except S. anabasius (figs. 40, 41), and dentate antennal segment, structure of the vesica, and area proximally; number of denticles varying characteristic mottling on the membrane, within a species. Apical process of vesica thin similar to that of Psallopsis. In contrast to and pointed, rarely blunt and covered with Solenoxyphus, the dorsal surface in Com- minute spinules. Vesica usually with more or psidolon is covered with spots in addition to lessdevelopedlongitudinalflange(figs. 22,23) dots,andthesecondarygonoporeislocatedfar running from base toward secondary gono- from the apex of vesica. The dotting of the pore. Tarsi thin, second and third tarsal dorsal surface in Solenoxyphus somewhat segments subequal in length (figs. 45–50). resembles that of the monotypic genus Claws slender, weakly curving apically Taeniophorus and some species of Camptoty- (figs. 26–29). Pulvillus relatively small, reach- lidea, e.g., C. alba (Reuter, 1879) and C. ing half the length of claw. albovittata(Reuter,1903).However,thesetaxa COLORATION: Background body color nat- differ from Solenoxyphus in the remarkably urallygreenish;yellowish,greenishorwhitish, long pulvilli, extending almost to the apex of rarely (S. asanovae) in part embrowned in dry the claw, the structure of the vesica, and specimens. Head and antennae entirely pale, associationwithvariousFabaceaehostplants. onlyinS.asanovaefirstantennalsegmentand DESCRIPTION:VESTITURE: Bodywithsimple ventral side of head darkened. Pronotum and silver setae (fig. 52), dorsal surface in some scutellum uniformly pale, rarely covered with species partly covered with pale brown setae. brown to pale brown dotting. Thorax pale, Setae straight or somewhat curved, usually rarelypartlyembrowned,browninthedarkest adpressed but sometimes semierect. Genae specimens of S. asanovae. Color pattern of under eyes and coxae laterally with contrast- forewings usually composed of more or less ingly long and erect silver setae. regular pale brown to brown dotting. In S. 4 AMERICAN MUSEUMNOVITATES NO. 3607 candidatus,thisdottingabsent,forewingswith – Hind femora pale or darkened; dots on hind transversepalebrownbandatapexofcorium. femora,ifpresent,similarinsizeandcolorto Membrane rarely whitish, milky hyaline, thoseonforewings.Incasesofdoubtdotting on basal partof cuneus well developed.. . 6 usually more or less embrowned, often with 4. Labium slightly surpassing middle coxae. In pale brown wedge-shaped lateral spot behind males,eyeslarge,vertex1.1–1.23aswideas apex of cuneus. Femora usually pale, rarely eye. Whole cuneus covered with minute and partly embrowned, often covered with dots. regularlydistributedpalebrowndots.Length Tibiae pale, with minutedark dotsat bases of more than3.8mm. .. .. . . S.alkani O¨nder spines. Tibial spines pale or slightly em- – Labium always surpassing hind coxae. In browned. males,eyessmaller,vertex1.4–1.63aswide HOST PLANTS: Species of the genus inhabit as eye. Length lessthan3.8 mm... .. .. . 5 5. Apical process of vesica long, thin and acute, deserts and semideserts. Nearly all representa- withsomewhatcurvedapex,distinctlylonger tives are specialized feeders of Chenopodi- than width of vesica basal to secondary aceae. Only S. alkani was collected from gonopore (figs. 13–15). Basal part of cuneus Cousinia sp. (Asteraceae). Artemisia sp. usually with reduceddotting (figs.62, 65).. (Asteraceae) was reported as host plant for S. . .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .S.lepidus (Puton) artemisiae, S. candidates, and S. lepidus, – Apical process of vesica comparatively robust although plants of the family Chenopodiaceae and shortened, straight, nearly as long as are known as hosts for all three species. It width of vesica basal to secondary gonopore seems likely, therefore, that specimens found (fig. 16). Whole cuneus covered with minute pale browndots(fig. 57).. .. .. .. .. .. .. onArtemisiawereaccidentallycollected. . .. .. . .. .. .. .. . S.artemisiae Putshkov 6. Forewingswiththindarkenedsetaeinaddition to silver ones. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. . 7 KEY TO SPECIES – Dorsumonlywith silversetae.. .. .. .. .. 10 7. Pronotum and scutellum covered with dots (in the palest specimens recognizable only at 1. Smaller. Body length 1.7–2.2mm. Females apex of scutellum). Hind femora usually brachypterous (fig. 76), with forewings just darkened. OnNanophyton erinaceum. .. . 8 surpassing sixth abdominal segment, mem- – Pronotum and scutellum without any color brane almost completely reduced, without pattern. Femora pale, with indistinct pale clearly delimited cuneus. Vesica without brown dotting.. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. . 9 series of teeth lateral to secondary gonopore 8. Labium slightly surpassing hind coxae. In (figs.40, 41).On Anabasis salsa... .. . .. . males, vesica with acute apical process .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .S.anabasius,n. sp. (fig. 2); second antennal segment 1.2–1.4 3 – Larger. Body length 2.8–5.0 mm. Females as long as width of head. Females subbra- macropterous, if subbrachipterous forewings chypterous, membrane extending slightly alwayssurpassingeighthabdominalsegment, beyond apexof cuneus.. . .. .. .. .. .. .. withclearlydelimitedmembraneandcuneus. . .. .. . .. .. .. . S.nanophyti (Vinokurov) Vesica with series of teeth lateral to second- – Labium reaching seventh abdominal segment. arygonopore (figs. 1–18).. .. .. .. .. . .. 2 In males, vesica with denticles at very apex 2. Forewings with transverse pale brown band at (figs.3–4); second antennal segment shorter apex of corium (figs. 66, 67). In the palest than or equal to width of head. Females specimenstransversebandalmostcompletely macropterous .. . S.asanovae (Vinokurov) absent, but apex of corium always with 9. Larger. Body length 4.8–5.0mm in males and contrastingly darkandlong setae.. .. . .. . 4.0–4.3 mm in females. Vesica with well .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .S.candidatus (Reuter) developed series of teeth running to base of – Forewings with pale brown dotting. Apex of apical process (figs. 6,7).. .. .. .. .. .. .. corium without contrasting dark setae or . .. .. . .. .. .. .. S.halocnemi (Putshkov) whole of forewings covered with darkened – Smaller. Body length 3.6–4.6mm in males and setae. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. 3 3.2–3.8mm in females. Vesica with series of 3. Hind femora pale, with dark brown dotting. teethnotextendingdistaltosecondarygono- Dotsonhindfemoracontrastingdarkerand pore(figs.32,33)...... S.pallens(Reuter) 2–3 3 larger than those on forewings. In 10. Membrane with reticulate pattern (fig. 64) or cases of doubt dots on basal part of cuneus with wholly embrowned cells and brown absentordiscolored. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. 4 edging along outer vein (fig. 63). Apical 2008 KONSTANTINOV: REVIEWOFSOLENOXYPHUS 5 process of vesica (figs.8, 9) comparatively Solenoxyphus adspersus (Reuter, 1904) robustandshortened,straight,nearlyaslong as width of vesica basal to secondary Figures 10, 11, 27, 55 gonopore... . .. .. S.fuscovenosus (Fieber) – Membrane milky hyaline or more or less MalthacosomaadspersumReuter,1904:11(syn.withM. embrowned apically. Cells transparent or punctipennisbyLinnavuori,1961:13). partly embrowned, but without brown edg- Solenoxyphus barbatus Wagner, 1951: 147 (syn. with ing.Apicalprocessofvesicadistinctlylonger MalthacosomapunctipennebyWagner,1958:8). than width of vesica proximal to secondary gonopore... . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. 11 DIAGNOSIS: Distinguished by the compar- 11. Area along inner claval margins, exocorium atively large and irregularly distributed dots (exceptveryapex)andbaseofcuneusdevoid on forewings, faint dotting on hind femora, ofanydots,orcoveredwithfewminuteand absence of dark setae on dorsum, dentation pale ones (fig.61). Labium reaching seventh and structure of the apical process of vesica. abdominal segment. Vesica as in fig.5, Close to S. loginovae, but differs in the with well-developed series of teeth extending embrowned tibial spines, shorter labium and proximally and distally to secondary gonopore. Base of apical process covered structure of vesica. Differs from S. punctipen- withminute denticles. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. nis in the color pattern of forewings. . .. .. .. .. . .. .. .S.loginovae (Putshkov) DESCRIPTION: VESTITURE: Composed of – Wholeforewingsexceptmembranemoreorless slightly curved to nearly straight silver simple regularly covered with dots, rarely dotting setae, adpressed on forewings and often becomes obsolete at base of wing. Labium semierect on head and at sides of pronotum. surpassinghindcoxae,rarelyreachingfourth abdominal segment. Vesica without minute COLORATION: Body(fig. 55)whitishyellow to greenish. Head, antennae, pronotum, ex- denticles at baseof apical process. .. .. 12 12. Apical process of vesica shorter, pointed, posed part of mesoscutum and scutellum without anyteeth.. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. 13 uniformly pale, without any color pattern. – Apical process of vesica long and not pointed, Scutellum sometimes with indistinct pale apically covered with minute teeth (figs. 37– midline. Whole forewings except membrane 39). On Salsola passerina.. S.salsolae,n. sp. covered with rather large and notably irregu- 13. Tibial spines embrowned. Whole cuneus cov- larly distributed pale brown dots. Dotting ered withdots. . .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. 14 becomes obsolete at extreme base and some- – Tibialspinespale.Extremebaseofcuneuswith times also at sides of wing. Dots on corium reduceddotting. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. 15 nearly equal in diameter to width of second 14. Clavus corium and cuneus densely and regu- larly covered with extremely minute dots antennal segment at base. Cuneus with some- (fig. 73). These dots 3–4 3 smaller in what smaller and usually more regularly diameter than width of second antennal distributed dots. Membrane transparent, typ- segmentat base. .. S. punctipennis(Reuter) ically with indistinct pale brown area running – Forewings with large and irregularly distribut- along vein of larger cell and pale brown area ed dots (fig. 55). Largest dots on forewings behind apex of cuneus. Veins whitish or equalindiametertowidthofsecondantennal yellowish. Ventral surface pale. All femora segmentat base. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. typically with pale brown mottling on whole . .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. S.adspersus (Reuter) ventral surfaces except extreme bases. Dorsal 15. Vesicawithremarkablyprominentlongitudinal flange forming gutterlike depression, with surfaces of femora with identical mottling poorly developed series of teeth not extend- apically. Dots on femora of the same size or ingproximaltosecondarygonopore(figs. 22, smaller and paler than those on forewings. 23,31).Scutellumusuallywithbrowndotting Colorpatternon femoramore orless reduced apically. On Suaeda sp.Spain. .. . .. .. .. inmanyspecimens,sometimeslost.Tibiapale, . .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . S.major Wagner with brown tibial spines. Minute brown dots – Longitudinal flange remarkably narrow and at bases of tibial spines usually noticeable, weakly sclerotized. Series of teeth extending rarely absent. proximally to secondary gonopore (figs. 20, 21,30).Scutellumuniformlypale.OnSalsola MALE GENITALIA: Vesica as in figs. 10–11, gemmascens.Kazakhstan andKyrgyzstan.. comparatively thin. Apical process long, thin . .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. S.kerzhneri,n. sp. and acute, with somewhat curved apex, dis- 6 AMERICAN MUSEUMNOVITATES NO. 3607 Figs. 1–7. Vesica, ventral view: 1, Solenoxyphus candidatus (Kazakhstan: Karasay st.); 2, S. nanophyti (Tuva, paratype); 3–4, S. asanovae (Kazakhstan: Koksengir, paratype); 5, S. loginovae (Turkmenistan: Repetek, paratype); 6–7, S. halocnemi: 6, Kyrgyzstan, on Anabasis truncata, 7, Turkmenistan, Mollakara, paratype,onHalocnemum strobilaceum. 2008 KONSTANTINOV: REVIEWOFSOLENOXYPHUS 7 Figs. 8–18. Vesica, ventral view: 8–9, Solenoxyphus fuscovenosus: 8, Kazakhstan: Saykhin, on Halocnemum strobilaceum; 9, Ukraine: Kerch. 10–11. S. adspersus: 10, Turkmenistan: Repetek (Hohlbeck); 11, Uzbekistan: Derbent. 12, S. punctipennis, Azerbaijan: Turut steppe. 13–15, S. lepidus: 13, Kazakhstan: Muyunkum sands; 14, Mongolia: Gobi Altai Aimak; 15, Spain: Alfe´s. 16, S. artemisiae, Uzbekistan,holotype.17–18,S.alkani: 17,Armenia, holotype of S.markevichi; 18,Turkey, paratype. tinctlylonger than width of vesica proximal to ing third or fourth abdominal segment. Hind secondary gonopore. Longitudinal flange dis- femora not swollen in both sexes, remarkably tinct but narrow. Series of teeth not extending longandthininmales.Femalesmacropterous. proximalordistaltosecondarygonopore. Inmales,body3.4–3.83aslongaswidthof STRUCTUREANDMEASUREMENTS: Labiumal- pronotum. Pronotum 1.9–2.1 3 as wide as ways surpassing hind coxae and usually reach- long, 1.4–1.5 3 as wide as head. Vertex 1.3– 8 AMERICAN MUSEUMNOVITATES NO. 3607 Figs.19–31. 19–21,24–25,30,Solenoxyphuskerzhneri,Kyrgyzstan,paratype:19,apexoftheca;20–21, vesica in ventral view; 24, right paramere; 25, left paramere; 30, vesica in side view. 22, 23, 31: S. major, vesica: 22, 31, Spain, Bujalaroz, collectedfrom Suaeda sp.: 22,in ventral view;31, in side view;23,Spain: Alfe´s,in ventral view.26–29, claws: 26, S.kerzhneri; 27,S.adspersus;28, S.salsolae;29, S.anabasius. 1.43aswideaseye.Secondantennalsegment In females body 3.1–3.3 3 as long as width 0.8–0.93aslongasbasalwidthofpronotum, of pronotum. Pronotum 2.1–2.2 3 as wide as 1.2–1.3 3 as long as width of head. Body long, 1.2–1.4 3 as wide as head. Vertex 1.5– length: 3.6–4.2 mm. 1.73aswideaseye.Secondantennalsegment 2008 KONSTANTINOV: REVIEWOFSOLENOXYPHUS 9 Figs. 32–39. 32–33, Solenoxyphus pallens, vesica in ventral view: 32, Kazakhstan: Zhana-Arka, on Anabasis salsa; 33, Mongolia: Hovd Aimak, on Anabasis aphylla. 34–39, S. salsolae, Mongolia, paratype, samelocalitylabelasinholotype:34,apexoftheca;35,rightparamere;36,leftparamere;37–39,vesica:37, apex,38,ventral view,39,side view. 0.7–0.83aslongasbasalwidthofpronotum, pattern of forewings. In contrast to S. 0.9–1.0 3 as long as width of head. Body punctipennis, S. adspersus has distinctly larger length: 3.1–3.7 mm. and irregularly distributed dots on forewings. NOTE: S. adspersus was synonymized with The color pattern appears nearly invariate S. punctipennis by Linnavuori (1961). Both across the range of S. adspersus, which make species have similar vesical structure, general this species easily distinguishable from S. appearance, but noticeably differ in the color punctipennis. Although I have not studied the 10 AMERICAN MUSEUMNOVITATES NO. 3607 Figs.40–44. MalegenitaliainS.anabasius:40,vesicainventralview;41,vesicainlateralview;42,right paramere;43, leftparamere;44,theca. lectotype of S. adspersus, the collection of the DISTRIBUTION: The distribution of S. ad- Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg, contains spersus in the Mediterranean region needs three specimens from Ashgabat collected by further clarification. S. punctipennis was re- Ahnger and determined by Reuter. One of corded from Egypt (as S. barbatus Wagner, these, the data for which are listed below 1951), Tunisia (Carapezza, 1997), Iraq under Specimens Examined, was labelled as (Linnavuori, 1993), Israel (Linnavuori, 1961), Malthacosoma adspersum. Two other speci- and Afganistan (Hoberlandt, 1961). The first mens have determination labels ‘‘Malthaco- locality should be referred to S. adspersus, as somapunctipenneReut.’’Thismaterial,aswell S. barbatus is considered here its junior asthetypeofS.punctipennis,wasfoundtobe synonym. Examined specimens from Tunisia in a full accordance with the original descrip- collectedbyCarapezzaundoubtedlybelongto tions and species concepts accepted in this S. adspersus too. Linnavuori (1961) has seen paper. only the lectotype of S. adspersus while Judging by the original description, S. synonymizingthespecieswithS.punctipennis. barbatus seems to be a junior synonym of S. The type of S. punctipennis was not examined adspersus, but this needs further clarification, by him. Therefore, it seems likely that records as I was unable to see the types. of S. punctipennis from Iraq and Israel also