Contributo alla conoscenza delle Batrisinae paleartiche (Coleoptera, Pselaphidae) Le ghiandole antennali nei maschi di Batrisus Aubè e Batrisodes Reitter: variazioni morfologiche, istologia e valore tassonomico

Abstract

CONTRIBUTION TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF PALEARCTIC Batrisinae (Coleoptera, Pselaphidae). ANTENNAL MALE GLANDS OF Batrisus AUBÈ AND Batrisodes REITTER: MORPHOLOGY, HISTOLOGY AND TAXONOMICAL IMPLICATIONS

Structural modifications of the apical antennal segments of males are studied and described for 10 Palearctic Batrisinae. Morphological and histological aspects are discussed, avalaible data on similar modifications in other Batrisinae are compiled and analyzed, and some generai considerations are given to their function and their taxonomical use.

A large number of Palearctic Batrisini possess glandular organs in the apical antennal segments, similar to those described in the Afrotropical subtribe Ambicocerina (LELEUP, 1970a; 1970b; 1973a). Similar structures (and probably some more complex ones) bave been previously observed in North American Batrisodes (PARK, 1947; 1951; 1953a; 1953b; 1956).

Examination of Batrisodes delaportei, B. hubenthali, B. adnexus, B. venustus, B. ruprechti, B. oculatus, B. elysius, B. insularis, B. buqueti and Batrisus formicarius, shows that, in the 11th segment of each species, there is a thin-lined reservoir and a thin duct, leading to the ventral face of the segment and ending externally in a characteristic spine-like process. This organ is well developed in the myrmecophilous Batrisus formicarius and Batrisodes delaportei, while relatively reduced in humicophilous· species, B. venustus, B. oculatus and B. elysius.

Le complesse strutture ghiandolari delle antenne dei maschi vengono studiate in nove specie paleartiche di Batrisodes, e in Batrisus formicarius Aubè; vengono studiate anche le antenne dei maschi di due Amaurops s.I. L'ultrastruttura delle relative cellule ghiandolari viene esaminata in Batrisodes oculatus Aubè. Si traccia un quadro complessivo delle particolarità esoscheletriche degli Pselafidi, con particolare attenzione alle modificazioni antennali maschili, segnalate già da PARK in Batrisodes neartici e descritte da LELEUP nelle Ambicocerina africane. Alcune considerazioni vengono fatte a proposito della funzione delle ghiandole antennali e del loro impiego in tassonomia.