Stenolophus (Stenolophus) proximus DEJEAN, 1829

Stenolophus proximus ab. narentinus APFELBECK, 1904: 203 (unavailable).

Stenolophus narentinus J. MÜLLER, 1916: 82. Syn. nov.

Stenolophus narentinus DROVENIK & PEKS, 1999: KATAEV, 2003b: 186.

Other synonyms are omitted.

Type material: Syntype of Stenolophus narentinus J. MÜLLER: ♂ (TMB) labelled "Kelecssényi, Metkovich", "Coll. Apfelbeck", "Para-typus, 1904, Stenolophus proximus ab. narentinus Apfelbeck [Kaszab's handwriting]".

APFELBECK (1904: 203) described S. proximus ab. narentinus from several specimens collected at lower Narenta near Gabela (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Metkovich (Croatia) which are characterized by deeper and more widely punctured basal pronotal foveae. Since the name narentinus was originally proposed as an aberration, it was unavailable. MÜLLER (1916: 82) was probably the first to use this name with attributation to APFELBECK as a valid species endemic to the Balkan Peninsula; in addition to the specimens mentioned by APFELBECK (l. c.), he also cited those from Croatia (Dalmatia: Boccagnazzo and Kistanje) and Greece ("Vardarebene bei Saloniki"). Hence, after that the name narentinus became an available and should be attributed to MÜLLER (1916) (art. 45.5.1, ICZN 1999). An earlier attribution of the authorship of this taxon (KATAEV 2003b: 186, 2003c: 23) to DROVENIK & PEKS (1999: 110) is incorrect. According to MÜLLER (1916: 82), the main character distinguishing S. narentinus from S. proximus is a partly infuscate second antennomere. However, this and other distinctive features listed by APFELBECK (l. c.) and MÜLLER (l. c.) for S. narentinus are rather variable within S. proximus, in particular the second antennomere is infuscate in most specimens of the latter species. Examination of the male syntype of S. narentinus from Metkovich, including both external characters and aedeagus, and comparisons with material of S. proximus from various localities revealed that these two names should be treated as synonyms.