Ocypus (Pseudocypus) semenowi Reitter, 1887

Published, First, 2007, Contributions to the knowledge of the “ Staphylinus-complex ” (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylinini) of China. Part XX. The genus Ocypus Leach, 1819, subgenus Pseudocypus Mulsant & Rey, 1876. Section 1, Zootaxa 1421, pp. 1-72 : 39-41

Ocypus (Pseudocypus) semenowi Reitter, 1887

(Figs. 159–164)

Ocypus semenowi Reitter, 1887 , 213.

Ocypus semenovi ; Coiffait, 1974, 461.

Ocypus (Pseudocypus) semenowi ; Smetana & Davies, 2000, 45.

Type material. Reitter (1887: 213) described the species from several specimens found “vom 5 bis 11 Juni 1884, zwischen dem Flusse Bytchu und dem Blauen Flusse, im Thale des Bytchu und in den Schluchten Diaotchu und Bö-tchu, der Wasserscheide zwischen den oberen Theilen des Gelben und Blauen Flusses, überall in einer Höhe von 13 bis 14,000 F.”

I was able to study 2 specimens of the original series. One male from the Reitter collection, deposited at the Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, and one female from the Eppelsheim collection, deposited at the Naturhistorisches Museum , Wien .

The male in the Reitter collection is labelled as follows: “(Ostturkestan) [next line illegible] Type” (all handwritten)/” Ocypus semenowi mihi” (hanwritten)/”coll. Reitter”/” Holotypus 1887 Ocypus Semenowi Reitter ”/” Lectotypus ♂ Ocypus semenovi Reitter V. Gusarov des. 1996" (handwritten, red paper)/” Ocypus semenovi Rtt. ♂ V. Gusarov det. 1996". Gusarov’s lectotype designation is invalid, since it was never published. I therefore designate this specimen, bearing the labels listed above, as the lectotype of Ocypus semenowi ; the label “ Lectotype Ocypus semenowi Reitter, 1887 , A. Smetana des. 2006" has been attached to the specimen. The specimen is in good condition, only the sclerites of the genital segment and the aedoeagus are missing.

The female in the Eppelsheim collection is labelled as follows: “ ♀ ”/” 11.juni 1887 Schitaschir Ostturkestan”/” Ocypus semenowi m.”/”Semenowi Reitt. Hor.Soc.Ent.Ross. T.XXII. P.”/”coll. Eppelsh. Steind. d.”/ ”semenovi det. J. Müller’. The label “ Paralectotype Ocypus semenowi Reitter, 1887 , A. Smetana des. 2006" has been attached to the specimen .

Additional material studied. CHINA: Gansu: Umg. Xiahe , 3000–3200 m, 28.VII.–3.VIII.1993, W. Heinz leg. [1] ( ASC) ; Mts. 25 km E Xiahe, 3000 m, 5.VIII.1994, A. Smetana [C30] [1] ( ASC) ; Xiahe — 4000 m, 20 km of centr. Xiahe , leg. A. Wrzecionko [8] ( ASC, MSC) ; btw. Linxia and Xiahe, E of road Ponggartang , 3500 m, VII.1995, dr. M. Häckel leg. [1] ( ASC) ; Labrang , valley E of Ponggartang, 36°12–13'N 102°54–55'E, 3000–3700 m, coniferous forest, alpine meadows, 10.–14.VII.1999, B. Březina [2] ( ASC) ; same data but 35.13N 102.56E, 10.VII.1995, K. & B. Březina [1] ( ASC) ; same data but, 3000 m, 10.–14.VIII.1999, leg. M. Janata [2] ( MSC) ; Xiahe ( Labrang ), 3300–3700 m, 1.–15.VI. 1998, leg. V. Major [1] ( MSC) ; Tewo Co., Tewo env., 2000 m, 27.VI.–5.VII.1998, V. Beneš lgt. [4] ( ASC, MSC) ; 25 km N Hezeo , 3300–3500 m, 21.– 23.VII.2001, S. Murzin leg.[4] ( ASC, YSC) . Qinghai: Umg. von Huashixia, 4200–4300 m, 3.VII.1993, W. Heinz leg. [2] ( ASC) ; Pass cca 10 km W Wenquan, 4100–4200 m, 2.–4.VII.1993, W. Heinz leg. [5] ( ASC) ; Pass cca 10 km südl. Heka , 1.–5.VII.1993 [1] ( ASC) ; cca 30 km N of Chumda , 4200 m, 9.–16.VII.1992 [2] ( NMW) . Shaanxi: Qing Ling Shan mts., track Hou Zen Zi vill. to Taibai Shan , 3500 m, alpine meadows, 2.– 4.VII. 1998, Z. Jindra, O. Šafránek & M. Trýzna lgt. [1] ( ASC) ; Qinling Mts., Houzhenzi , 2600 m, 7.VII.1996, M. Janata, [1] ( ASC) . Sichuan: (Zoige), Langmusi ( Dogcanglhamo ), 34.03.48N 102.38.08E, 4100 m, alpine meadows, scree, 16.–18.VII.1999, B. Březina [2] ( ASC) ; Langmusi , 10.–12.VI.1996, Beneš & Štĕpař [1] ( MDC) ; Dogcanglhamo env., cca 4200 m, 12.–17.VII.1990 [1] ( MSC) ; road Sertar–Dancang , 20 km SSE Dancang, 4000 m, 15.–16.VII.1995, Rejsek leg. [1] ( ASC) ; pass 20 km S Quagca 32.30N 98.25E, 4100 m, alpine meadow, 17.–18.VIII.1995, J. Turna leg. [4] ( ASC, NMW) ; Zhangla env., 4200–4700 m, 9.– 11.VII.1991, J. Kaláb leg. [4] ( NMW) ; Pass zw. Zhangla u. Huanglong , 3200–340 0m or 3800–4100 m, 27.– 28.VI. 1996, W. Heinz leg. [6] ( ASC) ; Huanglong, Jincheigo , 3900–4000 m, 14.VII.1992, A. Casale leg. [1] ( MDC) ; Juizhaigou , 11.6.– 16.6. 2001, lgt. E Kučera [1] ( MSC) ; env. Jiuzhaigou , 3600 m, 19.VI.2002, A. Gorodinski leg. [14] ( ASC, YSC) ; E pass btw. Zhangla–Jiuzhaigou , 3500 m, 8.–11.VII.2001, S. Murzin leg. [18] ( ASC, MSC) ; W pass btw. Zhangla–Jiuzhaigou , 3900 m, 9.–11.VII.2001 [2] ( MSC, YSC) ; 40 km W Zhangla , 3600–3700 m, 12.–14.VII.2001, S. Murzin leg. [4] ( ASC, YSC) ; 55 km NW Zhangla , 4000 m, 14.– 15.VII.2001, S. Murzin leg. [4] ( ASC, MSC) ; pass 25 km NNE Zhangla , 3500 m, 33.04N / 103.44E, 3.– 5.VIII.2001, coniferous forest, J. Kaláb leg. [1] ( YSC) ; Hongyuan , 4200 m, 1.–3.VIII.1991, Z. Málek lgt. [1] ( NMW); (Hongyuan) valley NE of Sanggarmai , 32.16N 102.38E, 4500 m, alpine meadows/scree, 12.VII.1998, B. Březina [6] ( ASC) ; pass btw. Songpan & Nanping, E side, 3450–3500 m, 21.VI.2002, S. Murzin & I. Shokhin [3] ( ASC, MSC) ; Gonggoli pass btw. Songpan and Jiuzaigou, W side, 3800–4200 m, 2.– 3.VII.2003, S Murzin [2] ( ASC, MSC) .

Diagnosis. A small to medium-sized species with short antenna (see description) and pale coloration of appendages (see description), with only a few fine microsetae on pronotal hypomeron, or with pronotal hypomeron asetose, with rather coarse meshed microsculpture on head and pronotum, apex of abdomen dark reddish-brown, and with underside of paramere lacking black sensory peg setae.

Description. Piceous with piceous-black head and pronotum, dull, posterior margin of pronotum often paler, dark redish-brown; apical margins of abdominal tergites, apical half of visible tergite 5 and entire visible tergite 6 paler, dark reddish-brown; maxillary and labial palpi rufotestaceous, antennae rufobrunneous, with middle segments often vaguely darkened, legs testaceorufous to rufobrunneous; pubescence of dorsal side of body, including abdominal tergites, uniformly dark brunneous to brunneopiceous. Head of rounded quadrangular shape, with rounded posterior angles, wider than long (ratio 1.24), eyes small and rather flat, tempora considerably longer than eyes from above (ratio 1.93), dorsal surface of head finely and densely punctate and pubescent, interspaces between punctures on disc about as large as diameters of punctures, punctation gradually becoming denser toward posterior and lateral margins, but slightly sparser toward anterior margin of head; narrow impunctate midline present on posterior half of head; interspaces between punctures with relatively coarse meshed microsculpture. Gular sutures separated in middle section, gula slightly dilated both anteriad and posteriad; postgenae densely and coarsely punctate near gular sutures, with interspaces between punctures smaller than diameters of punctures. Dorsal side of neck with punctation similar to that on head. Antenna short, segment 3 about as long as segment 2, segment 4 about as long as wide, following segments wider than long, becoming gradually shorter, last segment shorter than two preceding segments combined. Pronotum as long as wide to vaguely longer than wide (ratio 1.1), almost parallelsided, narrow marginal groove disappearing downwards at about anterior third of pronotal length; disc with entire, narrow impunctate midline dilated in front of posterior margin; punctation on disc about same as that on head, but becoming denser toward both posterior and lateral margins, pubescence and microsculpture on interspaces between punctures similar to that on head. Pronotal hypomeron with only a few microsetae, or rarely asetose. Scutellum finely punctate and setose, surface with very fine, rudimentary microsculpture. Elytra quite short, distinctly depressed at base, slightly dilated posteriad, at suture considerably (ratio 0. 66), at sides distinctly (ratio 0.81) shorter than pronotum at midline; punctation fine and dense, interspaces between punctures with granulose microsculpture. Wings each reduced to minute, nonfunctional stump. Abdomen with fifth visible tergite lacking pale apical seam of palisade setae; tergite 2 (in front of first visible tergite) entirely, densely and finely punctate and pubescent; all tergites evenly, finely and densely, slightly asperately punctate, puctation gradually becoming slightly sparser toward apex of abdomen; interspaces with fine, dense microsculpture of irregular, short striae.

Male. Sternite 8 with moderately wide, rather shallow, obtuse medioapical emargination. Genital segment with sternite 9 wide, with narrow, tapered basal portion, markedly emarginate apically (Fig. 159). Tergite 10 wide, evenly narrowed toward arcuate to obtusely rounded apex (Fig. 160). Aedoeagus small, shaped as in Figs. 161–163; median lobe with apical portion asymmetrical, with variably arcuate apex distinctly exceeding apex of paramere; paramere situated on median lobe asymmetrically, apex narrowly arcuate, right margin of apical portion of underside of paramere curled invards and continuing obliquely posteriad as fine carina toward left margin of paramere; underside of paramere lacking sensory peg setae; apical setae situated at apex and at left margin, as in Fig. 163.

Female. Tergite 10 of genital segment wide, markedly narrowed toward slightly differentiated, acute apical portion, apical portion with long setae, rest of tergite bearing sparse, short setae; apical portion strongly sclerotized (Fig. 164).

Length 11.0–14.0 mm.

Bionomics. Ocypus semenowi is a fairly common, widely distributed species. It prefers habitats at high mountain elevations, such as upper parts of coniferous forests, subalpine shrubby vegetation up to alpine meadows. Specimens were collected at elevations from about 3000 m to 4500 m. Most specimens studied were taken from pitfall traps.

Geographical distribution. Ocypus semenowi is at present known from the provinces of Gansu, Qinghai, Shaanxi and northern Sichuan.

Recognition and comments. Ocypus semenowi may be relatively easily recognized by the combination of the folllowing characters: small to medium size; appendages, particularly antennae and legs, pale colored; short antenna; head and pronotum with rather coarse meshed microsculpture, therefore appearing dull; apex of abdomen dark reddish-brown; underside of paramere without black sensory peg setae.

In a few specimens the legs are somewhat darkened, particularly the hind pair. It is not clear, whether or not this may be caused by the prolonged exposure to the fluids in pitfall traps.