NORTH-WESTERN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 10 (2): 333-336 ©NwjZ, Oradea, Romania, 2014 Article No.: 141203 http://biozoojournals.ro/nwjz/index.html

The hydrophilid Pachysternum capense (Mulsant, 1844) (Coleoptera: ) became a world-wide adventive species: a summary of distribution with new records from Europe, Australia, and South America

Andor LŐKKÖS1,2,*, Milan BOUKAL3 and Martin FIKÁČEK4,5

1. Balaton Uplands National Park, H-8229, Kossuth u. 16., Csopak, Hungary. 2. Department of Zoology, Georgikon Faculty, University of Pannonia, H-8360, Deák F. u. 16. Keszthely, Hungary. 3, Kpt. Bartoše 409, 530 09 Pardubice, Czech Republic. 4. Department of Entomology, National Museum, Kunratice 1, CZ-14800 Praha 4, Czech Republic. 5. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 7, CZ-12844, Praha 2, Czech Republic *Corresponding author, A. Lőkkös, E-mail: [email protected]

Received: 6. August 2013 / Accepted: 17. February 2014 / Available online: 20. July 2014 / Printed: December 2014

Abstract. The occurrence of Pachysternum capense (Mulsant, 1844) (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae: ) outside its native range in sub-Saharan Africa and its first records from Brasil, western Australia, Madeira, Romania, and Hungary are summarized. Current distribution data indicate that the species is mainly introduced to coastal areas by shipping and that it underwent several independent introductions to Europe. Pachysternum capense is now well-established in Europe and spread from coastal areas to inlands, with the northernmost record nearly reaching the latitude of 47°N. Multiple records are also known from Canary Island and Western Australia. Based on these data, P. capense has recently became a world-wide adventive species.

Key words: Hydrophilidae, , Megasternini, alien species, introduction.

Introduction Mascarene Islands (Fairmaire 1893, Bameul 1986). Outside Africa, it was so far recorded from the In the last decades, a growing number of alien Canary Islands and southern Europe (Palm 1977, species of have been recorded outside their Fikáček & Boukal 2004, Hebauer 2006, Queney original distribution range. Few of them belong to 2009). water scavenger beetles (family Hydrophilidae), The aim of this paper is to summarize the data all representing the subfamily Sphaeridiinae (e.g., on the spreading of P. capense outside its native Fikáček 2009, Denux & Zagatti 2010). Referring to range in Africa, including new records from recent records, one of the species, the African Europe and first records from South America and Pachysternum capense (Mulsant, 1844) (Figure 1), is Australia. currently expanding in Europe, (Fikáček & Boukal 2004, Hebauer 2006, Queney 2009). Genus Pachys- ternum Motschulsky, 1863, belongs to tribe Material and methods

Megasternini of subfamily Sphaeridiinae, and cur- We summarize all known records of P.capense outside rently contains 24 species (Hansen 1999, Short & sub-Saharan Africa, including new distributional data Fikáček 2011, Fikáček et al. 2012, Short & Fikáček gathered during our studies. We provide the number of 2013). The genus is widely distributed throughout specimens, locality, date of collecting, and the respective the Afrotropical, Oriental, and eastern Palaearctic reference for the existing publications, while for the new regions. Pachysternum capense was originally de- records (marked by an asterisk in the list), complete label scribed from the Cape of Good Hope in the Re- data and depository of voucher specimens are given. For each country, the year of the first (in case of multiple re- public of South Africa (Mulstant 1844) and rede- cords) or the only record is mentioned. All records are scribed and diagnosed recently by Fikáček & Bou- mapped and current distribution of P. capense outside Af- kal (2004). Its native range includes the whole sub- rica is discussed. Newly examined specimens for this Saharan Africa as it is currently recorded from the study are deposited in the following collections: Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Kenya, ALFH – Andor Lőkkös collection, Fonyód, Hungary; Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, and Togo (Han- ANIC – Australian National Collection, Can- sen 1999, Fikáček & Boukal 2004, Fikáček unpubl. berra, Australia; HNHM – Hungarian National History Museum, Bu- data). It is also reported from the Comoros and the dapest, Hungary; 334 A. Lőkkös et al.

LUMZ – Museum of Zoology, Lund University, letta, Colle Tondo, 1500 m, 15.vi.2001, 1 spec. (He- Lund, Sweden; bauer 2006). Toscana: Montignoso, Lago di Porta, MBPC – Milan Boukal collection, Pardubice, Czech Casina Mattioli, 17.xi.2002, 14 spec. (Hebauer Republic; 2006). Veneto: Monte Grappa, Malga Oro, 1296 m, MCZ – Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Boston, USA. 2.viii.2008, 3 spec. (Rocchi & Toledo 2011). Emilia- Romagna: Ferriere, Lago Moo, 1100 m, 14.viii.2008, 2 spec. (Rocchi & Toledo 2011). Results *Romania (2009). Bihor county: Pietroasa (Va- saskőfalva), Valea Aleului, 3.viii.2009, A. Lőkkös Outside of its native range, P. capense has been re- lgt., 5 spec. (ALFH, HNHM). corded in the following continents/countries (Fig. 2): Indian Ocean Islands: Comoros (prior 1893). Grande Comore: without *Australia (since 1969). Western Australia: Ko- precise locality (Fairmaire 1893). jonup, ca. 33°30'S, 117°5'24''E, 31.iii.1969, CSIRO Mascarene Islands (without date of record). lgt., 1 spec. (ANIC); Rottnest Island, 10 m a.s.l. ca. Mauritius: without precise locality data (Bameul 32°0'23''S, 115°30'56''E, ix.1981, Darlington lgt., 2 1986). spec. (MCZ). South America: Atlantic Islands: *Brazil (1997). Goias: 14 km N of Araçu, 11.ii.1997, Canary Islands (since 1972). La Palma: Breña Alta, G. Hangay lgt., 1 spec. (ANIC); same locality, 300 m, 23.iv.1972, 2 spec. (Palm 1977); Los Tilos, 13.ii.1997, G. Hangay lgt., 1 spec. (ANIC). 400 m, 17.iv.1972, 2 spec. (Palm 1977); Las Canca- jos, near Santa Cruz, 26.xii.1972, 1 spec. (Palm Bionomical notes 1977). Tenerife: Bajamar, 200 m, 30-31.i.1977, 4 Most species of Pachysternum are common inhabi- spec. (Palm 1977); Las Arenas, 300 m, 1.ii.1977, 3 tants of mammal excrements and are therefore fre- spec. (Palm 1977). Gran Canaria: Barranco quently represented in collections (Fikáček et al. Cernícalos, 12.iv.1989, 2 spec. (García 1991). 2012). Similarly, P.capense is also living in decaying *Madeira (1978). Ponta dos Reis Magos, organic material and plant debris. In Greece it was 22.iv.1978, T. Palm lgt., 1 spec. (LUMZ); Garajau, found in a dry stream bed by the coast with large surroundings of Ponta dos Reis Magos, 25.iv.1978, amounts of decaying algae and rotting plant tis- T. Palm lgt., 1 spec. (LUMZ); Caniçal 1-2 km east sues (Fikáček & Boukal 2004). In 2008, it was along the coast, 30.iv.1978, T. Palm lgt., 2 spec. found in Hungary inside a compost heap together (LUMZ). with the other alien beetles, such as Dactylosternum abdominale (Fabricius, 1792) (Hydrophilidae) and Europe: Stelidota germinata Say, 1825 (Nitidulidae) (Lőkkös, France (since 2005). Pyrénées-Atlantiques: Léon unpubl. data). Likewise, in Canary Islands it was env., 19.x.2005, 1 spec. (Queney 2009); Nay env., found in decaying plant tissues (Garcia 1991), in 27.x.2006, 1 spec. (Queney 2009). Midi-Pyrénées: cow and donkey dung, and in a compost heap Toulouse Region, without precise locality, date (Palm 1977). Recently, we also collected the same and number of specimens (Bameul, in litt., see species in cow dung in Romania. Queney 2009). Greece (1997). Macedonia: Katherini, Paralia env., 40°15'55''N, 22°35'43''E, 1-10.viii.1997, 1 spec. Discussion (Fikáček & Boukal 2004); Skotina env., 40°0'55''N, 22°33'11''E, 21.viii.-6.ix.1997, 2 spec. (Fikáček & The summary of known African (Democratic Re- Boukal 2004). public of the Congo, Guinea, Kenya, Rwanda, *Hungary (since 2006). Csongrád county: South Africa, Tanzania, and Togo) records of P. Derekegyház env., 46°34.5'N, 20°22.1'E, 30.iv.2006, capense (Hansen 1999, Fikáček & Boukal 2004, F. Pavel lgt., 1 female (MBPC). Baranya county: Fikáček unpubl. data) indicates that it is widely Gyűrűfű, 12.x.2008, A. Lőkkös lgt., 1 spec. distributed in the whole sub-Saharan Africa and (HNHM). its range may be similar to that of Cercyon dieganus Italy (since 2001). Abruzzo: Maiella, La Maiel- and C. putricola (see Fikáček 2006 for details). No

Pachysternum capense introduced worldwide 335

records are known from Madagascar, indicating that P. capense has likely never spread outside con- tinental Africa prior to anthropogenic introduc- tions. This would also suggest that the occurrence of the beetle in Comoros Islands and Mauritius is not native (as supposed by previous authors, e.g., Hansen 1999) but also through introductions. Even though the summary of known records provided above may underestimate current distri- bution of P. capense as it is easily-overlooked, still it allows us to understand the basic facts of this beetle's introductions. It is evident that P. capense is mainly spread from Africa by shipping, as many records come from maritime areas and/or small Figure 1. Habitus of Pachysternum capense islands. The 1896 record from Comoros could also (Mulsant, 1844).

Figure 2. Distribution of Pachysternum capense (Mulsant, 1844). Symbols: green area = native dis- tribution range; red circles = records outside native range with year of the record indicated.

336 A. Lőkkös et al.

indicate that its introduction to some tropical is- References lands around Africa has happened earlier than to Bameul, F. (1986): Les des Iles Mascareignes the other areas. However, the spreading of the (Coleoptera). Revue Suisse de Zoologie 93(4): 875-910. beetle outside tropical Africa such as to western Denux, O., Zagatti, P. (2010): Coleoptera families other than Cerambycidae, Curculionidae sensu lato, Chrysomelidae sensu Australia, Canary Island, and Madeira was only lato and Coccinelidae. Chapter 8.5. BioRisk 4: 315-406. started in the second half of the 20th century. The Fairmaire, L. (1893): Coléoptères des Iles Comores. Annales de la first report from Europe was from Greece in 1997. Société Entomologique de Belgique 37: 521-555. Fikáček, M. (2009): The occurrence of introduced species of the The known records of distribution in Europe genus Cercyon (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae) in the Neotropical clearly indicate several geographically independ- region. Revista de la Sociedad Entomológica Argentina 68(3-4): ent introductions to Balkan and Apennine Penin- 351-357. Fikáček, M., Boukal, M. (2004): Pachysternum capense, a new genus sulas (and potentially also independently to Adri- and species for Europe, and updated key to genera and atic and Tyrhenian coasts of the latter), and to the subgenera of European Sphaeridiinae (Coleoptera: Atlantic coast of southwest France. From these re- Hydrophilidae). Klapalekiana 40: 1–12. Fikáček, M., Jia, F.L., Prokin, A. (2012): Review of the Asian species gions, the species seem to spread further inland to of the genus Pachysternum (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae: currently reach southern Hungary, southern foot- Sphaeridiinae). Zootaxa 3219: 1-53. hills of the Alps Mts. in Italy, and the central Pyre- Garcia, R. (1991): Nuevos datos para el catálogo de los coleópteros de Canarias. Vieraea 20: 203-211. nean foothills of France. It is recorded from the Hansen, M. (1999): World catalogue of . Volume 2. Iberian Peninsula as it was likely not able to over- Hydrophiloidea (s.str.) (Coleoptera). Apollo Books, Stenstrup. come the barrier of Pyrenean Mts. from France. Hebauer, F. (2006): Pachysternum capense (Mulsant, 1844). pp. 140- 142. In: Rocchi, S., Bordoni, A., Bramanti, A. (eds.), Ricerche The most surprising is the occurrence of the beetle sulla Coleotterofauna delle zone umide della Toscana. VII. Lago in central Brazil, which is not preceded by any re- di Porta (Lucca-Massa Carrara) (Coleoptera). Frustula cords from coastal areas as the entry points. There- Entomologica, Pisa, n.s. XXVIII-XXIX (XLI-XLII)(2005-2006) [Universitá di Pisa, Instituto di Entomologia Agraria]. fore, further study from this country is necessary Mulsant, M. E. (1844): Description de quelques Palpicornes inedits. to understand the dispersion of P. capense to South Annales de la Société d’Agriculture de Lyon 7: 372-382. America. Palm, T. (1977): Zur Kenntnis der Käferfauna der Kanarischen Inseln 21-22. 21. Die Gattung Cercyon Leach (Coleoptera: The repeated records of P. capense suggest that Hydrophilidae). 22. Die Gattung Pachysternum Motschulsky the species was well-established at least in Europe. (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae). Entomologica Scandinavica 8: 191- The evaluation of its establishment in Australia 195. Queney, P. (2009): Localités récentes et nouvelles pour des and Canary Islands (from where multiple records Coléoptères aquatiques et un Hydrophilidae terrestre de la also exist) is more difficult as the species may be faune de France peu connus ou de distribution incertaine well-established there or the records may repre- (Coleoptera Sphaeriusidae, Dytiscidae, Haliplidae, Helophoridae, Hydrochidae, Hydrophilidae, Spercheidae, sent specimens from several independent intro- Hydraenidae, Dryopidae, Heteroceridae, Limnichidae). ductions. It also remains unknown why P. capense L’Entomologiste 65(1): 27- 33. started to spread outside tropical Africa only in Rocchi, S., Toledo, M. (2011): Reperti inediti di coleotteri acquatici in Italia (Coleoptera: Sphaeriusidae, Dytiscidae, the second half of 20th century and not earlier. Hydrophiloidea, Hydraenidae, Dryopoidea, Chrysomelidae, Curculionidae). Natura Bresciana, Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale "Giacomo Doria". Brescia 37: 27-38. Short, A.E.Z., Fikáček, M. (2011): World catalogue of the Hydrophiloidea (Coleoptera): additions and corrections II Acknowledgements. We are indebted to C. Fägerström (2006–2010). Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 51: 83- (LUMZ) for providing information about the specimens 122. deposited in the Museum of Zoology, Lund University. Short, A.E.Z., Fikáček, M. (2013): Molecular phylogeny, evolution The study was supported by the Ministry of Culture of and classification of the Hydrophilidae (Coleoptera). Systematic Entomology 38: 723-752. the Czech Republic (DKRVO 2013/12 and DKRVO

2014/13, National Museum, 00023272) to M. Fikáček.