Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 36/1. (2016)
Zoology
Svetlana BACAL, Natalia MUNTEANU-MOLOTIEVSKIY of Sciences of Moldova. The taxonomy of the species is based on the works of Bei-Bienko (1965) [2], [8]. Results and discussions This is the second record of the species Platycis cosnardi (Chevrolat, 1839) in the Republic of Moldova. First mention of the species dates from 1933 by A. Ruscinsky [6], the author describes the coleopteran fauna of some localities from Basarabia (Bularda, Harjauca, Leordoaia and Palanca belonging to Calarasi district). The species was assigned to Cantharidae family as Dictyopterus cosnardi Chevrolat, 1829. Only one exemplar was found on 21.05.1928, from wood, near Leordoaia locality (47 20’ 44” North, 28 9’ 12” East). Two more synonyms are known for Platycis cosnardi (Chevrolat, 1839) (= Erotides cosnardi (Chevrolat, 1829) and Dictyopterus cosnardi I Chevrolat, 1839). The body size of collected specimen varies between 7-8 mm. Body color is black with brick-red elytra and black pronotum with brick-red sides. The head is short, but with elongated rostrum, that is not visible from above being hidden by pronotum. The filiform antennae are placed on the forehead between eyes and entirely black colored, consisting of eleven segments. The shape of pronotum is almost square, longitudinal carinae on pronotum not converging anteriorly, meeting front edge well separated, not enclosing a discoidal areola. The pits between the four main elytral costae arranged irregularly (Fig. 1 and 2). The species is widespread in central Europe (France, Belgium and Denmark), the Balkan Peninsula in southern Sweden and Poland [10]. The ecology of species is poorly known. The larvae develop in dead wood of deciduous species. Adults emerge from May to late June. According to specialized sources the species Platycis cosnardi has been found on dead wood in hornbeam and oak forests in Russia [1] and beech forests in the UK [12]. In Poland, the adults were collected on grass, flowers and also on rotten wood of beech, birch and oak [9]. Platycis cosnardi is regarded as a saproxylic species, in Sweden the species is treated as vulnerable [4]. Shirt (1987) was the first to assign a conservation status to Platycis cosnardi in Britain [11]. It was given endangered status as it was only known from three reliably identified British individuals from two localities. Conclusions Platycis cosnardi is incontestably a rare and difficult beetle to find with, only a single individual found by the current survey. By promoting a better awareness of the species, of its habitats, identification characters and its phenology, would provide valuable contribution for conservation of species. Acknowledgment The authors would like to express deepest appreciation to Dr. Oxana Munjiu for provided images taken with the ZEISS SteREO Discovery.V8 stereomicroscope. 96
