Coptocephala coptocephaloides (Lacordaire, 1848)

Clythra (Gynandrophthalma) coptocephaloides Lacordaire, 1848: 310 (original description). Coptocephala jaechi Warchałowski, 1991: 247 (original description).

Coptocephala furthi Medvedev, 1992: 55 (original description), syn. nov.

Material examined

Type material

ISRAEL: 1 ♂, holotype of Coptocephala jaechi, “ISRAEL 14.4. / Tiberias / leg. Jäch 1986 [w, p] // Coptocephala / jaechi mihi / det. A. Warchalowski [w, p] // HOLOTYPUS [r, p]” (BMNH); 1 ♂ 1 ♀, paratype of Coptocephala jaechi, “Tiberias [w, p] // Coptocephala / jaechi mihi / det. A. Warchalowski [w, p] // PARATYPUS [r, p]” (BMNH).

ISRAEL: 1 ♀, holotype of Coptocephala furthi, “ISRAEL [p] / Kadesh Barnea / 12.IV. [h] 19 [p] 74 [h] / D. Furth [w, p] // Coptocephala / unifasciata / Scop. [w, h] // [blank red label] // HOLOTYPUS [p] / Coptocephala / furthi m. [h] / L. Medvedev det. 199 [p] 1 [w, h]” (LMRM).

UNKNOWN COUNTRY: 1 ♀, syntype of Coptocephala coptocephaloides, “23220 [w, p] // Mesopotam. Helf. [w, h] // Gynandrophthalma / coptocephaloides / * / Lacord. [w, p] // LECTOTYPUS / Clythra / (Gynandrophthalma) / coptocephaloides / Lacordaire, 1848 / R. Regalin des. 1996 [r, p]” (ZMHB).

Other material

EGYPT: Sinai: 2 ♂♂, Wadi El Gedeirat, 13 Mar. 1937, A. Rabinovitsch leg. (USNM); 1 ♂, Wadi Um-Mitla, 21 Mar. 1937, A. Rabinovitsch leg. (USNM).

IRAQ: 1 ♂, Gaara, Fale, May 1978 (NMPC).

ISRAEL: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, NE of Arad, 7 Apr. 1981, Wewalka leg. (JBCB); 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, Southern Negev, Har Quetura, 4 km SE of Shiz-zafon, 14 Apr. 1994, Volkovitsh and Dolgovskaya leg. (USNM); 1 ♀, Central Negev, Makhtesh Ramon, 8–14 km NE of Mizpe Ramon, 18 Apr. 1994, Volkovitsh and Dolgovskaya leg. (USNM); 1 ♂, Southern Negev, Zafit, 25 km ESE of Dimona, 13 Apr. 1994, Volkovitsh and Dolgovskaya leg. (USNM); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Southern Negev, Zin, 14 km NW of En Hazeva, 11 Apr. 1994, Volkovitsh and Dolgovskaya leg. (USNM).

JORDAN: 1 ♀, Petra, 13–14 May 1995, P. Pucholt leg. (JBCB); 1 ♂, Tabaqat, 4 May 1995, P. Pucholt leg. (JBCB); 7 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, Jarash, 20 Apr. 2002, M. Snížek leg. (NMPC); 4 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀, SW of Jarash, Alhuna, 12 Apr. 2009, M. Snížek leg. (JBCB); 11 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀, Zai N. P., 30 km NW of Amman, 32°06,7′ N, 35°34,6′ E, 6 May 2006, F. Kantner and L. Kantner leg. (NMPC); 11 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀, 20 km NNW of Al Karak, 31°14,7′ N, 35°42,5′ E, 1000 m a.s.l., 27 Apr. 2006, F. Kantner and L. Kantner leg. (NMPC); 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀, Pella env., 30 km W of Ajlun, 32°26,7′ N, 35°36,8′ E, 29 Apr. 2006, F. Kantner and L. Kantner leg. (NMPC); 2 ♂♂, 30 km WNW of Ajlun, 32°27,4′ N, 35°42,4′ E, 30 Apr. 2006, F. Kantner and L. Kantner leg. (NMPC); 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, Pella env., 30 km W of Ajlun, 32°26′ N, 35°36′ E, 3 May 2006, F. Kantner and L. Kantner leg. (NMPC); 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, 3 km NNW of Rabba, 31°18,045′ N, 35°43,534′ E, 900 m a.s.l., 27 May 2007, F. Kantner and L. Kantner leg. (NMPC); 1 ♂, Wadi Ramm, 12 May 1995, K. Deneš leg. (NMPC).

SYRIA: 2 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, 17 km W of Dara, Wadi Al-Harir, 18–20 May 1995, J. Chaloupek leg. (JBCB); 2 ♀♀, R’Sai, 1 May 1994, M. Modrý leg. (JBCB); 1 ♀, Syria, La Brulerie leg. (USNM); 5 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, Wadi Al Harir, 18–20 May 1995, P. Svoboda leg. (NMPC); 3 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, Wadi Al Harir, 18 May 1995, V. Němec leg. (NMPC); 1 ♀, Damascus env., 10 km N of Duma, 29 Mar. 1994, S. Bečvář leg. (NMPC).

Type localities

Clythra coptocephaloides

UNKNOWN COUNTRY: “ Mesopotamie ”.

Coptocephala jaechi ISRAEL: Tveriya (Tiberias).

Coptocephala furthi

ISRAEL: Hadesh Barma [Kadesh Barnea].

Distribution

Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Sinai, Syria (Medvedev 1962; Lopatin et al. 2003; Regalin and Medvedev 2010b; present study).

Comments

Medvedev (1992) described Coptocephala furthi based on one female with strong pronotal punctures. Lopatin (2002) synonymised Coptocephala furthi with Coptocephala jaechi. Regalin & Medvedev (2010a) synonymised Coptocephala jaechi with Coptocephala coptocephaloides and restored Coptocephala furthi as a valid species. I examined the primary type material of all three taxa, supplemented by numerous additional specimens. The pronotal punctation is very variable, usually feeble, but in some populations (primarily in females) the punctures are strong. I am convinced that all three taxa are conspecific, and I propose Coptocephala furthi as a new synonym of Coptocephala coptocephaloides.