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INTRODUCTION
The genus Alphasida Escalera, 1905 comprises
258 species and subspecies in the Palaearctic (Soldati
2008), most of these occur in Spain and Morocco where
endemism is very important. As with the related genus
Asida Latreille, 1802, Alphasida needs to be revised
(Soldati 2009). The Moroccan species have been
recently studied by Pérez-Vera & Avila (2012), the last
work being a very complete starting point for future
revisions of all phyletic groups in this country.
During a short field trip in arid eastern Morocco
on March 24th, 2012, we found 15 specimens of a very
peculiar Alphasida in a reduced salt flat at Outat
Oulad el Haj (Fig. 7). At first view, the specimens
appeared to represent a new species. But, after inves-
tigationing, this very particular species was found to
perfectly correspond to Alphasida (Glabrasida)
nitida (Bedel, 1918), described from the same locality,
wrote « Outtat-el-Hadj » by Bedel (1918). The species
was previously known only from the type specimen
(sex unknown). Additional specimens have also recent-
ly been collected at this locality in late January 2013.
One of us (FS) has been in the Muséum National
d’Histoire Naturelle (Paris) searching for the type
specimen of A. nitida. Unfortunately, in spite of an
entire day of investigationing with the help of the cura-
tor of the collections of Coleoptera, the holotype was
not found in the Bedel collection, nor in any other his-
torical collection, nor in the reserves of unclassified
material. In spite of this, the locality where the new
specimens have been taken, their very shiny cuticle,
moderate size, and peculiar pilosity led us to identify
them as A. nidita. As Bedel (1918) wrote: “c’est de
tous les Asida du Nord de l’Afrique l’espèce la plus
luisante».
For these reasons A. nitida needs to be redescrib-
ed and a neotype must be designated, according to
ICZN (1999) art. 75.3.
Asida nitida has been classified by Kocher (1958)
as Alphasida (Glabrasida)nitida. Kocher (1958)
indicates that the species, described from a unique
REDISCOVERY, REDESCRIPTION AND NEOTYPE
DESIGNATION OF AALLPPHHAASSIIDDAA(GGLLAABBRRAASSIIDDAA) NNIITTIIDDAA
(BEDEL, 1918) (COLEOPTERA: TENEBRIONIDAE)
AANNNNAALLEESS ZZOOOOLLOOGGIICCII ((WWaarrsszzaawwaa)),, 22001133,, 6633((22)):: 337711--337755
FABIEN SOLDATI1, * and ALEXANDRE FRANÇOIS2
1Office National des Forêts, Laboratoire National d’Entomologie Forestière, 2 rue
Charles Péguy, 11500 Quillan, France; e-mail: fabien.soldati@onf.fr
2Emirates Center for Wildlife Propagation, BP 47, 33250 Missour, Maroc;
e-mail: afrancois@ecwp-ma.org
*Corresponding author
Abstract.— The little known species Alphasida (Glabrasida) nitida Bedel, 1918,
described from eastern Morocco based on the unique type specimen, is rediscovered by
numerous specimens from the type locality. The peculiar ecology of this species is
indicated. Its systematic position in the subgenus Glabrasida Escalera, 1910 within the
genus Alphasida Escalera, 1905 is confirmed. A redescription of this species based on both
sexes is given and a neotype is designated.
±
Key words.— Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Asidini, Alphasida (Glabrasida) nitida,
rediscovery, redescription, neotype designation, ecology, eastern Morocco.
PL ISSN 0003-4541 © Fundacja Natura optima dux
doi: 10.3161/000345413X669621
specimen, had not been recorded since its description,
in spite of several trips to the type locality, and could
belongs to of another species: “peut-être s’agit-il d’une
espèce décrite depuis lors sous un autre nom”. Kocher
(1958) cited the species in small print in his catalogue,
without species numeration, like all doubtful species
for him. This is why Soldati (2008) listed this species in
its original spelling, under incertae sedis Asidini
species. Due to this, and the absence of the holotype in
the Paris’ Natural History Museum, this species was
not included in the recent monograph of Pérez-Vera
and Avila (2012). With the discovery of new specimens,
the nomenclatural status proposed by Kocher (1958)
seems to be correct. Hence, A. nitida is confirmed to
belong in the genus Alphasida not in Asida, and
belongs in the subgenus Glabrasida Escalera, 1910 as
definited by Soldati (2008).
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Specimens were cleaned before identification, to
study the cuticle, pilosity, and punctation of the prono-
tum and elytra. They were soaked for 24 hours in
a solution of 5% detergent and 95% water, and cleaned
with 2–3 different-sized supple paint-brushes, one of
them cut short.
The male genitalia (aedeagus) and female oviposi-
tor were extracted from the last abdominal segment,
cleaned with a solution of detergent and water (see
above), and glued on a small white card, ventral side
visible. Descriptive terms used for the ovipositor agree
with Flores & Pizarro-Araya (2012).
Specimens have been deposited in the following col-
lections: Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (Paris,
France) (MNHN), Centre de Conservation et d’Etude
des Collections (Lyon, France) (CCEC), Emirates Cen-
ter for Wildlife Propagation (Missour, Maroc) (ECWP),
and the private collection of F. Soldati (Limoux,
France) (CFS).
Photographs of habitus and anatomical parts were
taken using a Sony® DSC-W7 digital camera mounted
on a Wild® M5 stereomicroscope and multiple images
at different focal planes were assembled using Com-
bine ZP software (Hadley 2010).
Entomological vocabulary agrees with Gordh and
Headrick (2005).
TAXONOMY
AAllpphhaassiiddaa (GGllaabbrraassiiddaa)nniittiiddaa(Bedel, 1918)
(Figs 1–6)
RReeddeessccrriippttiioonn..Length: 11–14 mm; entirely black,
very shiny.
372 F. SOLDATI and A. FRANÇOIS
Head with coarse punctation, closer on the frons
and with a deep depression before the clypeus; anten-
nae slender in males, with a thin yellowish pilosity, and
middle antennomeres (4th to 8th) 2.5 to 3 times longer
than broad; antennae shorter in females, with middle
antennomeres 1.5 to 2.5 times longer than broad;
antennae and palpi slightly reddish.
Pronotum transverse in males, 1.6 times broader
than long, with subparallel sides, anterior angles very
prominent, anterior margin deeply and regularly
indented, lateral margins sharp and elevated, lower
than the disc and clearly enlarged basad; disc of the
pronotum with round and fine punctation (Fig. 5), on
the sides each puncture with a very thin, short and
recumbent seta; lateral margins with a very thin gold-
en yellow pilosity. Pronotum trapezoidal in females,
nearly 2 times broader than long (1.9 times exactly),
with parallel sides behind, and suddenly narrowed
sides forward, anterior margin weakly emarginate, lat-
eral margins narrow and sharp, hardly elevated, much
lower than disc. Minute punctures present between
larger punctures on pronotal disc in both sexes (Fig. 5).
Propleura weakly striated near procoxae, elsewhere
with not close and minute punctation; prosternal
process slightly prolonged, suddenly declivous, behind
procoxae.
Elytra very convex, without costae, with minute
punctation on disc and near suture, minute granula-
tions present elsewhere, each granule with short, thin
golden yellow seta; humeri rounded but indicated; epi-
pleura with little close and minute granulation. Legs
black, slim, shiny, with fine golden yellow pilosity; pro-
tibiae with lateral sides sharp, long outer spine present
at apex, especially in females.
Aedeagus shaped like the majority of Alphasida
ones, parameres barely shorter than phallobase, api-
cally weakly acuminate (Fig. 3), weakly curved in pro-
file. Ovipositor with coxites nearly subparallel, pro-
gressively acuminate to apex; top of paraprocts with
two rounded and prominent lobes (Fig. 4).
Sexual dimorphism present, females larger, more
convex, with pronotum broader and clearly trapezo-
idal, antennae shorter, outer protibial spine stronger.
DDeessiiggnnaattiioonn ooff tthhee nneeoottyyppee. Asida nitida Bedel,
1918, neotype Y, here designated: “Maroc Oriental,
Outat Oulad el Haj, 24.III.2012, F. Soldati / Asida niti-
da Bedel, neotype Y, F. Soldati & A. François des.
2013”, MNHN, Paris. Coordinates and altitude of the
neotype locality: N33,34776 / W3,66513, altitude 819 m
(a.s.l.).
AAddddiittiioonnaall mmaatteerriiaall. Same data, 6YY and 8XX,
A. François and F. Soldati; idem, 23.I.2013, 3YY and
3XX, A. François and M. Sbai. All these specimens in
the CCEC, ECWP and CFS collections.
EEccoollooggyy. Specimens have been found in a reduced
salt flat of about some hundreds of square meters,
REDISCOVERY, REDESCRIPTION AND NEOTYPE DESIGNATION OF ALPHASIDA (GLABRASIDA) NITIDA (BEDEL, 1918) 373
Figures 1–6. Alphasida (Glabrasida) nitida (Bedel, 1918). (1) Male neotype, (2) female habitus, (3) aedeagus, (4) ovipositor, (5) disc of the
pronotum, (6) adult in natura. Scale bar for aedeagus and ovipositor = 1 mm
3
4
12
5
6
under creeping branches of Perennial Glasswort,
Sarcocornia perennis (Mill.) A. J. Scott (Amarantha-
ceae). Alphasida nitida seems to be strictly halo-
philous, the specimens always being taken in the most
salty places where the clay is covered by a white pel-
licule (Fig. 7).
DDiiffffeerreennttiiaall ddiiaaggnnoossiiss. This species is morpho-
logically easy to separate from all other North African
Alphasida based on its moderate size, very shiny
cuticle, dense yellowish pilosity, and lack of elytral
costae.
DISCUSSION
Several reasons can explain why Alphasida niti-
da has not been found since its original description, in
spite of appreciable darkling beetle sampling in Moroc-
co. This species seems to be strictly endemic to a small
salty area of about some hundreds of square meters. It
may be a case of micro-endemism, which is not rare in
the Mediterranean Asidini. Some species are still only
known from the type locality, in spite of sampling in
adjacent areas. Among Mediterranean apterous Tene-
brionidae, Asidini seems to have the strongest endem-
ism rates (Löbl et al. 2008).
The ecology of this species is probably the main rea-
son why it seems to be so localized, strictly halophilous
Alphasida being not numerous. Moreover, salty places
are quite rare in arid eastern Morocco. Beyond the one
at Outat Oulad el Haj, the nearest wide salt flats are the
Chott Tigri and Mengoub, near Bouârfa, about 200 km
and 170 km (respectively) southeast or the Sebkha bou
Areq at Nador, approximately 220 km northeast. Sever-
al smaller salt flats can also be found along the eastern
side of the Middle Atlas, from 40 to 80 km to the south-
west of Outat Oulad el Haj.
Such distances are relatively important for the dis-
tribution of a single highly specialized flightless Asi-
dini. According to the distribution maps of Pérez-Vera
& Avila (2012), all the known species of Asidini from
Morocco have very limited distributions or are still
known only from the type locality.
Moreover, A. nitida is very cryptic in its locality
where there are neither stones nor other abalable
shelters. As indicated above, the collected specimens
where found under branches of Perennial Glasswort,
but there were numerous plants and only a few isolat-
ed specimens at the base of a small portion of these
plants. Intense sampling effort was necessary to find
these specimens.
On the other hand, adults are likely to emerge only
in the winter months, a time when few entomologists
are in the field. All specimens have been taken in Jan-
uary or March. Some of the specimens collected in
January were teneral. Cryptic nature of adults, their
very limited distribution and their emergence time con-
tribute to the rarity of this species in collections.
Lastly, sampling in eastern Morocco has been limit-
ed in comparison to many other parts of the country,
such as the Atlantic and Mediterranean sides, Atlas
ranges, and the Sahara.
374 F. SOLDATI and A. FRANÇOIS
Figure 7. Alphasida (Glabrasida) nitida (Bedel, 1918). Biotope: Outat Oulad el Haj salt flat.
REDISCOVERY, REDESCRIPTION AND NEOTYPE DESIGNATION OF ALPHASIDA (GLABRASIDA) NITIDA (BEDEL, 1918) 375
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We express all our gratitude to Antoine Mantilleri,
curator of the collections of Coleoptera of the Muséum
National d’Histoire Naturelle (Paris, France) for his
help in searching historical specimens and always for
his great dedication to visitors.
We are grateful to H. H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed
Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman
of the International Fund for Houbara Conservation
(IFHC) and H. E. Mohammed Al Bowardi Deputy Chair-
man of IFHC for their support. Thanks are also due to
Mathieu Chambouleyron for plant identifications and
habitats informations and to Mohammed Sbai for his
help during a field session. Lastly, we would like to
thanks Dr Aaron D. Smith, from the American Museum
of Natural History (New York, USA), for his minute
review of our manuscript.
REFERENCES
Bedel, E. M. L. 1918. Diagnoses de Coléoptères nouveaux du
Maroc oriental. Bulletin de la Société entomologique de
France, [1917], 22(20): 362–364.
Flores, G. E. and J. Pizarro-Araya. 2012. Systematic revision
on the South American genus Praocis Eschscholtz, 1829
(Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Part 1: Introduction and sub-
genus Praocis s. str. Zootaxa, 3336: 1–35.
Gordh, G. and D. H. Headrick. 2005. A dictionary of Entomolo-
gy. CABI Publishing, Oxon (UK), Cambridge (USA), ix +
1032 pp.
Hadley, A. 2010. Combine ZP sofware, new version. http: //
www.hadleyweb.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/CZP/News.htm.
International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. 1999.
International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Fourth
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London, 306 pp.
Kocher, L. 1958. Catalogue commenté des Coléoptères du
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Scientifique Chérifien, Rabat, Série Zoologie, n°12, 185 pp.
Löbl, I., Ando, K., Bouchard, P., Egorov, L. V., Iwan, D., Lillig,
M., Masumoto, K., Merkl, O., Nabozhenko, M., Novak, V.,
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ra, Volume 5: Tenebrionoidea. Apollo Books, Stenstrup,
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sa, www.sea-entomologia.org, Zaragoza, 203 pp.+ 136 pls.
Soldati, F. 2008. Family Tenebrionidae, Tribe Asidini: 30–34
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Received: February 13, 2013
Accepted: April 25, 2013
