Ocypus Leach, 1819

SMETANA, ALEŠ & DAVIES, ANTHONY, 2000, Reclassification of the North Temperate Taxa Associated with Staphylinus Sensu Lato, Including Comments on Relevant Subtribes of Staphylinini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), American Museum Novitates 3287, pp. 1-1 : 1-

Ocypus Leach, 1819 (stat. nov.)

TYPE SPECIES: Staphylinus cyaneus Paykull, 1789 (= Staphylinus ophthalmicus Scopoli, 1763 ).

COMMENTS: All members of this genus share the following character states: mandibular dorsolateral ridge not distinctly removed from lateral margin, especially in dorsal view; prostheca long, lanceolate, with short setae along medial margin, becoming progressively longer to moderate near apex; postmandibular ridge very short to absent; last segment of labial palpus in general variably fusiform, or more or less parallel­sided and truncate apically ( figs. 131, 132 ); superior and inferior lines of hypomeron run very closely parallel for some distance anteriorly, either never distinctly merging or gradually merging along prosternal margin, superior line moderately and rather gradually deflect­ ed ventrad, with its anterior portion situated only slightly to moderately below basal portion in lateral view ( figs. 113, 114 ); prothoracic epimeron absent ( fig. 113 ); deflected portion of pronotal disc visible in ventral view from along coxal insertion (a little farther posteriad in Pseudocypus ); anterior medial portion of prosternum sloping very gradually anteriad; mesocoxal acetabulum deeply impressed, vertical to convexly carinate behind intercoxal process.

Subgenus Ocypus Leach, 1819 .

Goerius Westwood, 1827 (syn. nov.) (type species: Staphylinus olens O. Müller, 1764 ).

Xanthocypus J. Müller, 1925 (syn. nov.) (type species: Ocypus weisei Harold, 1877 ).

COMMENTS: Members of this subgenus share the following character states: mandibular prostheca with long ciliae ( fig. 13 ); palpifer with one long subapical and two shorter apical setae (as in fig. 149 ); apical segment of labial palpus with many setae ( fig. 132 ), at least as large as that of maxillary palpus, which is asetose, fusiform; mentum without arcuate ridge basally; submentum not distinctly beaded; eye rarely more than half length of tempus, genal seta removed from margin of eye by at least four diameters of its puncture, usually more; lateral end of nuchal ridge distinctly removed from nuchal constriction, directed distinctly posteriad of transverse postgenal ridge.

The type species of Goerius and Xanthocypus fit well within the subgenus Ocypus , as it is characterized herein, particularly as far as the characters on the mouthparts are concerned. Some species, such as O. weisei , O. quadrimaculatus , O. auroguttatus , and O. wasmanni , may appear conspicuous due to the presence of striking patches of bright tomentose pubescence, but in all other respects they are typical members of the subgenus Ocypus .

Subgenus Matidus Motschulsky, 1860 (stat. nov.) (type species: Matidus forficularius Motschulsky, 1860 ).

COMMENTS: Members of this subgenus share the following character states: mandibular prostheca with ciliae very short; palpifer with one long subapical and one or two shorter apical setae ( fig. 149 ); apical segment of both maxillary and labial palpus with many setae ( figs. 150, 151 ), apical segment of maxillary palpus not distinctly fusiform, with apex broadened, almost as wide as width at middle of segment, that of labial palpus distinctly fusiform; mentum without arcuate ridge basally; submentum not distinctly beaded; eye rarely more than half length of tempus; genal seta removed from margin of eye by at least four times diameter of its puncture; lateral end of nuchal ridge distinctly removed from nuchal constriction, directed distinctly posteriad of transverse postgenal ridge.

Subgenus Pseudocypus Mulsant and Rey, 1876 (stat. nov.) (type species: Staphylinus mus Brulle´, 1832).

Protocypus J. Müller, 1923 (syn. nov.) (type species: Ocypus fulvotomentosus Eppelsheim, 1889 ).

Atlantogoerius Coiffait, 1956 (type species: Ocypus sylvaticus Wollaston, 1865 ).

Fortunocypus Coiffait, 1964 (type species: Ocypus fortunatarum Wollaston, 1871 ).

Nudabemus Coiffait, 1982 (syn. nov.) (type species: Nudabemus caerulescens Coiffait, 1982 ).

COMMENTS: Members of this subgenus share the following character states: mandibular prostheca with long ciliae ( fig. 13 ); palpifer with one long subapical and one shorter apical seta ( fig. 128 ); apical segment of labial palpus with many setae ( fig. 131 ), that of maxillary palpus asetose, both distinctly fusiform; mentum almost always with fine, broadly arcuate ridge extending for variable distance from posterior margin between basolateral angles; submentum with anterior margin beaded (usually finely) throughout; eye usually longer than tempus, less frequently variably shorter; genal seta removed from margin of eye by no more than three times diameter of its puncture; lateral end of nuchal ridge only moderately removed from nuchal constriction, directed to level of transverse postgenal ridge; superior and inferior lines of hypomeron merging along prosternal margin.

The type species of Nudabemus conforms, with a few exceptions, to the subgenus Pseudocypus , particularly in the configuration of the mandibular teeth, palpifer (one short apical seta), submentum (weakly beaded), and prosternum; the mesocoxal acetabulum is deeply impressed and convexly carinate behind the intercoxal projection, and the metasternum is short and oblique. The species is somewhat unusual for Pseudocypus (but similar to O. aethiops , or to the east Palearctic species previously assigned to Protocypus ); the apical segment of the labial palpus is relatively broad and slightly obliquely truncate apically (but as in O. fulvipennis or O. mus ); the superior line of the pronotal hypomeron is rather abruptly deflected ventrad, at a point relatively close to the anterior pronotal angle, yet it merges with the inferior line before the prosternal margin (as in O. mus ); the hind tibia has only one spine on its dorsolateral face; the punctation on the head and pronotum is coarse and the elytra are short (as in the east Palearctic species previously assigned to Protocypus ).

Ocypus quadrimaculatus , assigned by Coiffait (1982: 31) to Nudabemus , is quite different from the type species of Nudabemus and belongs to the subgenus Ocypus s. str. (see above).

Nudabemus may represent a separate lineage of east Palearctic species, occurring in the Himalayas and particularly in the mountains of mainland China and it may deserve a subgeneric status; however, until the taxonomy of this fauna is better known, we pre­ fer to unite Nudabemus with Pseudocypus , as characterized herein.

The type species of Protocypus is a typical representative of mainly east Palearctic groups of species of Pseudocypus that in general resemble members of the subgenus Matidus (or even Ocypus ). However, in all other character states, particularly those of the mouthparts, they fit well within the subgenus Pseudocypus , as characterized herein.

Subgenus Aulacocypus J. Müller, 1925 (type species: Ocypus gloriosus Sharp, 1874 ).

COMMENTS: Members of this subgenus share the following character states: ( 1) mandibles each with one simple tooth on medial margin; ( 2) each lateral portion of posterior basal line on first three visible abdominal tergites obtusely extended posteriad, with base of tergite between extensions depressed, depression delimited laterally by short oblique carina situated at middle of each lateral extension of posterior basal line.

Further character states include: maxillary palpus with apical segment short, as broad at apex as at base; apical segment of labial palpus short, truncate apically, either more or less parallel­sided, or variably dilated apicad, with apex up to almost three times its width at base.

J. Müller (1925: 40) erected Aulacocypus as a subgenus of Staphylinus to accommodate two species (see the checklist) that share the distinctive character state of the posterior basal line of the first three visible abdominal tergites (see the key and above). This character state, combined with the simple tooth on medial margin of each mandible, justifies the retention of a separate subgenus within Ocypus for these two species, and tentatively for another species from China (see comment under O. kansuensis below).

REMARKS ON SOME SPECIES OF OCYPUS

1. Ocypus almorensis (Cameron, 1932). Cameron (1932: 204) described the species (in Staphylinus) from specimens from ‘‘West Almora: Kali Valley, alt. 9000 feet’’ and ‘‘Punjab: Triun, alt. 9300 feet.’’ We were able to study one of the male syntypes in the Natural History Museum, London, England, labelled as follows: ‘‘Triun, 9,300 ft Dharm­ sala. Punjab. H. G. C./M. Cameron. Bequest. B.M. 1955 ­147./Staphylinus (Ocypus) almorensis.’’ The specimen is in very good shape. It was dissected, and the aedeagus and the genital segment were glued to the plate with the beetle. It is hereby designated as the lectotype of Staphylinus almorensis; the label ‘‘LECTOTYPE Staphylinus almorensis Cameron A. Smetana des. 1999’’ was attached to it. The specimen cannot be distinguished from those of Ocypus helleni J. Müller that occur in northern Pakistan and in Kashmir. The name O. almorensis becomes a junior synonym of O. helleni (syn. nov.). The corresponding determination label was attached to the specimen.

2. Ocypus auricomus (Lindberg, 1953: 4), described in Staphylinus, is preoccupied by Staphylinus auricomus Brulle´, 1842: pl. 5, fig. 6 , now a synonym of Glenus chrysis (Gravenhorst, 1806), and by Staphylinus auricomus Cameron, 1929: 65. The name Ocypus mateui (Coiffait, 1954: 170), listed at present as a junior synonym of O. auricomus, becomes the valid name of this species (stat. nov.).

3. Ocypus bimaculatus (Cameron, 1932: 207), described in Staphylinus, is preoccupied by several names in Staphylinus, the oldest one being Staphylinus bimaculatus Schrank, 1798: 644, now a synonym of Lordithon trinotatus (Erichson, 1839 b: 409). The replacement name Ocypus cameroni, nom. nov., is hereby proposed for Ocypus bimaculatus (Cameron, 1932).

4. Ocypus fulvotomentosus Eppelsheim, 1889: 172. The collection at the Naturhistorisches Museum in Wien, Austria, contains one male specimen under this name. It is labelled as follows: ‘‘Kan­ssa 1885 G. Patanin/ c. Eppelsh. Steind. d./fulvotomentosus det. Bernhauer/fulvotomentosus det. J. Müller/ TYPUS.’’ The specimen is in good condition; however, the entire left middle leg, out­ er three segments on left hind tarsus, and the entire right middle tarsus are missing. It was dissected and the aedeagus was glued to a plate attached to the pin, with the beetle. The specimen is hereby designated as the lectotype of O. fulvotomentosus; the label ‘‘LEC­ TOTYPE Ocypus fulvotomentosus Eppelsheim A. Smetana des. 1997 ’’ was attached to it.

5. Ocypus hauseri (Bernhauer, 1933: 32). The collection at the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, contains one male specimen (holotype) under this name. It is labelled as follows: ‘‘Kalgan Jnn­shan 980–2100 m /285/Hauseri Brh. Typus unic./ Hauseri Bernh.Typus unic./Chicago NHMus M. Bernhauer Collection.’’ The specimen is in very good condition. It was dissected, compared to the lectotype of O. fulvotomentosus (see above), and was found to be conspecific with it. The name O. hauseri becomes a junior synonym of O. fulvotomentosus (syn. nov.); the holotype was labelled accordingly.

6. Ocypus himalayicus (Cameron, 1935: 288) (Staphylinus). Cameron (loc. cit.) described the species from a single female from Karakorum range. The holotype, deposited at the Natural History Museum, London, England, is labelled as follows: ‘‘Type [round disc with red margin]/Sind valley 2000 –2800 m 2–5.V.1929/Nederlandsche Karakorum­ Expeditie J. A. Sillem leg./M. Cameron. Bequest. B.M. 1955­147./Staphylinus himalayicus Cam. TYPE.’’ The specimen is in fair shape (last segment of left front tarsus and claws of middle right tarsus are missing, and most of the pubescence of the head and pronotum is missing as well). The specimen cannot be distinguished from those of Ocypus (Pseudocypus) helleni J. Müller that occurs in northern Pakistan and in Kashmir. The name O. himalayicus becomes a junior synonym of O. helleni (syn. nov.). The corresponding determination label was attached to the specimen.

7. Ocypus italicus (Aragona, 1830: 10). By coincidence, Erichson (1840: 406) later redescribed this species as new, using the same name as Aragona. Subsequent authors considered Erichson’s description as a subsequent citation of Aragona’s species. However, based on Erichson’s treatment of his Ocypus italicus, including his comments un­ der ‘‘Obs.,’’ there is little doubt that Erichson considered it a new species. Therefore, the name Ocypus italicus Erichson, 1840 becomes a junior synonym of Ocypus italicus (Aragona, 1830) (syn. nov.).

8. Ocypus kansuensis (Bernhauer, 1933: 33) (Staphylinus). Bernhauer (loc. cit.) described the species as a member of the sub­ genus Xanthocypus of Staphylinus. We were able to study the male holotype deposited in the Bernhauer collection at the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois. It is labelled as follows: ‘‘Kansou mer. Hoei­ Siee./286./Mittel­China don. Dr. G. Hauser/ kansuensis Brnh. typ. unic./ Chicago NHMus M. Bernhauer Collection/kansuensis Brnh. typus un. Xanthocypus.’’ The specimen is in fair condition. Only three basal segments of the left antenna are present, the pronotum is longitudinally cracked on the left side, and the mesosternum and metasternum are damaged, again on the left side. The specimen was obviously exposed to dorsoventral pressure. It was dissected, and the aedeagus and genital segment were glued to the plate with the beetle. By the form of the mandibles, the shape and setation of the last segment of the labial palpus, the thoracic structures, the characteristic configuration of the posterior basal line of the first three visible abdominal tergites, as well as by the form of the aedeagus, the species fits the subgenus Aulacocypus of Ocypus.

9. Ocypus kobensis Cameron, 1930: 207. The collection at the Natural History Museum, London, England, contains one male specimen (holotype) under this name. It is labelled as follows: ‘‘Type [round label with red margin]/X/JAPAN Kobe Harada 7.XI ’19 [last line illegible]/538/Ocypus kobensis TYPE Cam./M. Cameron. Bequest. B.M. 1955 ­147.’’ The specimen was dissected (apex of the abdomen was damaged before the dissection), and the aedeagus and the genital segment (damaged) were glued to the plate with the beetle. The specimen was compared to the lectotype of Ocypus lewisius (see below) and was found to be conspecific. The name Ocypus kobensis is therefore a junior synonym of Ocypus lewisius (syn. nov.); the holotype was labelled accordingly.

10. Ocypus lewisius Sharp, 1874: 33. The collection at the Natural History Museum, London, England, contains four conspecific specimens of the original series under this name, as follows: spec. 1 (male): ‘‘Type [round label with red margin]/Beach Kobe Oct. 69 [on underside of plate with beetle]/ Sharp Coll. 1905­313./Ocypus lewisius. type D.S.’’ Spec. 2 (male, dissected, genital segment and aedeagus on plate with beetle): ‘‘Ocypus lewisius Yokohama. Japan. Lewis [on plate with beetle]/Japan G. Lewis./Sharp Coll. 1905­313.’’ Spec. 3 (female): ‘‘Ocypus lewisius Yokohama. 27.3.880. Lewis [on plate with beetle]/Japan. G. Lewis./Sharp Coll. 1905­313.’’ Spec. 4 (male): ‘‘Japan. G. Lewis. 1910­320./Iokii Tanaka/lewisius Shp det. J. Müller.’’ The second male specimen (dissected) is hereby designated as the lectotype of Ocypus lewisius; the label ‘‘Lectotype Ocypus lewisius Sharp A. Smetana des. 1999 ’’ was attached to it.

11. Ocypus nero (Faldermann, 1835: 118) was recently used by Pilon (1991: 105) as a valid name to replace the misidentified Staphylinus similis Fabricius, 1792: 521. Fabricius (loc. cit.) did not describe Staphylinus similis as a new species; he attributed it to Paykull. The species Paykull (1789: 10) described as Staphylinus similis is today in Tasgius (Rayacheila), so another name was needed for the species known for a long time as Staphylinus similis Fabricius. Pilon (loc. cit.) chose Staphylinus nero as a name, without giving any reasons. However, the name Staphylinus nitens Schrank, 1781: 231, used for the species already by Fauvel (1874: 411), is older, and therefore Ocypus nitens (Schrank) becomes the valid name for this species (stat. nov.).

12. Ocypus orientalis (Bernhauer and Schubert, 1914: 389), established as a replacement name for Staphylinus tomentosus Baudi, 1869: 384 (nec Gravenhorst, 1802: 161), is preoccupied by Staphylinus orientalis Motschulsky, 1858: 67, now a synonym of Creophilus maxillosus. The replacement name Ocypus orientis, nom. nov., is hereby proposed for Ocypus orientalis (Bernhauer and Schubert, 1914).

13. Ocypus pullus Hochhuth, 1849: 121 and Ocypus simulator Eppelsheim, 1878: 420. These two species were declared as being possibly identical by Eppelsheim (1887: 432) and by J. Müller (1926 d: 14); however, Müller (loc. cit.) suggested this co­identification only tentatively, and he pointed out some differences between them. Both species belong to a difficult group, and their status can only be determined by the study of Hochhuth’s original material, particularly of the characters on the aedeagus. They very likely are not identical and are therefore both listed in the checklist as separate species. The aedeagus of the holotype of O. simulator (‘‘Turcia Merkl’’) was illustrated by Smetana (1965b: 40); the second specimen of the original series of O. simulator comes from ‘‘Acarnanien.’’ Ocypus pullus was described from specimens ‘‘Aus verschiedenen Gegenden Kaukasiens.’’

14. Ocypus rossii (Jarrige, 1954: 164) (Staphylinus cupreus Rossi, 1790: 248; nec Staphylinus cupreus Fourcroy, 1785: 173). Coiffait (1974: 495, 513) recognized three subspecies of this species (under the name of P. cupreus): P. cupreus cupreus from western and southwestern Europe, P. cupreus sericeicollis from the east Mediterranean region, and P. cupreus fulvicupreus from the island of Cyprus. The three subspecies were based on differences in the shape of the apical portion of the paramere of the aedeagus. In fact, the apical portion of the paramere, as well as that of the median lobe, shows distinct variability that is not geographically delimited. The differences given in the key by Coiffait (1974: 495) cannot be confirmed (based on substantial material from the entire geographical range of the species). Therefore, the two subspecies are placed in synonymy with the nominal species. Jarrige (loc. cit.) proposed the name O. rossii as a replacement name (see above). However, three older synonyms are available: Goerius confinis Stephens, 1832: 211, Ocypus angustatus Stephens, 1832: 212, and Staphylinus sericeicollis Ménétriés, 1832: 143. Based on the concept discussed above, the latter name by Ménétriés was chosen. The name Ocypus sericeicollis (Ménétriés) is therefore the valid name of this species (stat. nov.).

Figures

Figs. 129–135. 129. Protogoerius brullei, last segment of maxillary palpus. 130. Ocypus picipennis picipennis, hind tibia with spines (arrow) on dorsolateral face. 131. Ocypus mus, last segment of labial palpus. 132. Ocypus weisei, last segment of labial palpus. 133. Ocypus olens, last segment of labial palpus. 134. Platydracus stercorarius, last segment of maxillary palpus. 135. Platydracus stercorarius, last segment of labial palpus.

Figs. 111–116. 111. Dinothenarus pubescens, pronotum showing both marginal lines of pronotal hypomeron, and two lateral macrosetae, lateral view. 112. Staphylinus erythropterus, pronotum showing both marginal lines of pronotal hypomeron, and two lateral macrosetae, lateral view. 113. Ocypus ophthalmicus ophthalmicus, pronotum showing both marginal lines of pronotal hypomeron, and two lateral macrosetae, ventrolateral view. 114. Ocypus nitens semialatus, pronotum showing both marginal lines of pronotal hypomeron, and two lateral macrosetae, lateral view. 115. Physetops sp., dorsal face of neck, with dorsal portion of nuchal ridge missing. 116. Ontholestes cingulatus, dorsal face of neck, with nuchal ridge.

Figs. 11–16. 11. Platydracus stercorarius, right mandibular prostheca, ventral view. 12. Abemus chloropterus, left mandibular prostheca, ventral view. 13. Ocypus picipennis, left mandibular prostheca, ventral view. 14. Tasgius ater, left mandibular prostheca, ventral view. 15. Staphylinus dimidiaticornis, left mandibular prostheca, ventral view. 16. Tasgius melanarius, left mandibular prostheca, ventral view.

Figs. 146–151. 146. Protogoerius brullei, underside of head, showing gula. 147. Protogoerius brullei, left mandible, dorsal view. 148. Protogoerius brullei, maxillary (left) and labial palpus (right). 149. Ocypus tenebricosus, maxilla, showing setae on palpifer. 150. Ocypus tenebricosus, maxillary palpus. 151. Ocypus tenebricosus, labial palpus.

Figs. 123–128. 123. Abemus chloropterus, labium and mentum. 124. Abemus chloropterus, left mandible, dorsal view. 125. Miobdelus sp., posterolateral portion of head, showing pitlike depressions. 126. Miobdelus sp., first three visible abdominal tergites, showing bisinuate posterior basal line. 127. Ocypus picipennis picipennis, left mandible, ventral view. 128. Ocypus picipennis picipennis, right mandible, ventral view.

Figs. 4–10. 4. Tasgius melanarius, left mandible, ventral view. 5. Tasgius ater, left mandible, ventral view. 6, 7. Platydracus stercorarius: left and right mandibles (both in ventral view). 8. Staphylinus erythropterus, both mandibles, ventral view. 9. Naddia sp., right mandible, dorsal view. 10. Ocypus ophthalmicus, both mandibles, ventral view.