Ocypus (Pseudocypus) ballio, Published, 2007

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 : 44

Ocypus (Pseudocypus) ballio sp. nov.

(Figs. 176–181)

Type material. Holotype (male) and allotype (female): CHINA: Sichuan: “China m., Sichuan m., 1999 pass Xiahe–Hongxi Ta Yan Pint, 17.–25.5. Dr. Vlad. Beneš lgt., 3000 m ” . Holotype in MDC, allotype in ASC.

Paratypes: CHINA: Sichuan: same data as holotype, 7 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀ ( ASC, MDC); (Daliang Shan) Meigu. Hongxi, 20.–22.VII.1996, K. Kitawaki leg., 3♂♂, 2♀♀ ( ASC, YSC) .

Diagnosis. A medium-sized species, sharing most character states with O. semenowi , but differing from it by differently shaped aedoeagus, and by some external characters, as given in the description.

Description. Average size larger. Abdomen entirely black, i.e. not becoming paler at apex; pubescence of dorsal side of entire body black Head larger, more distinctly wider than long (ratio 1.21) eyes relatively smaller, tempora more distinctly longer than eyes from above (ratio 2.11); punctation of head sparser, microsculpture on interspaces between punctures similar, but slightly finer, submeshed. Antenna more robust and markedly longer, segment 3 longer than segment 2 (ratio 1.36), following segments longer than wide, gradually becoming shorter and wider, segments 9 and 10 slightly longer than wide to almost as long as wide. Gular sutures subcontiguous, postgenae sparsely punctate. Pronotum slightly longer than wide (ratio 1.11); punctation of pronotum sparser. Punctation of elytra finer, difficult to observe among dense, granulose microsculpture. Punctation of adominal tergites finer, microsculpture slightly coarser and denser.

Male. Sternite 8 with moderately wide and depp, obtusely triangular medioapical emargination. Genital segment with sternite 9 with moderately long, narrow basal portion, markedly emarginate apically (Fig. 176). Tergite 10 short and wide, evenly, arcuately narrowed toward obtusely rounded apex, lacking markedly longer setae at apical margin (Fig. 177). Aedoeagus large, shaped as in Figs. 178–181; median lobe elongate, apical portion asymmetrical, with narrowly arcuate apex with bisinuate formation on face adjacent to paramere on left side below apex; paramere large, situated on median lobe slightly asymmetrically; apical portion of paramere markedly asymmetrical, right margin curled inwards, obtuse apex of paramere distinctly not reaching apex of median lobe; underside of paramere with numerous sensory peg setae, forming two lateral groups connected along apical margin of paramere; apical setae fine, 4 situated at apex of paramere and 2 at left margin below apex (Fig. 181).

Female. Tergite 10 of genital segment wide, markedly narrowed toward subacute apex, with moderately long setae at apical margin, otherwise with only a few additional short setae.

Length 16.0–18.0 mm (see Comments).

Bionomics. No details are known about the collection circumstances of the specimens of the original series.

Geographical distribution. Ocypus ballio is at present known only from the type locality in southern Sichuan .

Recognition and comments. Ocypus ballio may be easily distinguished from O. semenowi , in addition to the entirely differently shaped aedoeagus (see Figs. 161, 178), by the characters given in the diagnosis. It differs from the two habitually similar species, O. glabrio and O. teuthras , in addition to the differently shaped aedoeagus, by the markedly longer antennae and, in addition, from O. glabrio by the black pubescence of the body, and by the entirely black abdomen.

The specimens of the original series were originally mounted with the abdomen quite extended. The body length given above is corrected accordingly to represent the actual size of the species.

Etymology. The specific epithet is the name of Ballio, - onis m, the name of a worthless pimp in Pseudolus of Plautus , in apposition.