Aleochara (Xenochara) longipes LIKOVSKÝ, 1965, 1968

Assing, V., 2009, On the taxonomy and zoogeography of some Palaearctic Aleochara species of the subgenera Xenochara M & R and Rheochara M & R (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), Beiträge Zur Entomologie = Contributions to Entomology 59 (1), pp. 33-101 : 50-52

Aleochara (Xenochara) longipes LIKOVSKÝ, 1965 ( Figs 58-69, Map 2)

Aleochara (Polychara) longipes LIKOVSKÝ, 1965b: 49 ff.

Type material examined:

Holotype ♀: " Mongolia, Ostgobi aimak, Ulan chosu, 1200 m, 38 km SO v. Čojren, Exp. Dr. Z. Kaszab, 1963 / Nr. 65, 30.VI.63 / Holotypus / Holotypus Aleochara longipes m., Zb. Likovský det. 64 / Aleochara longipes Likovský , det. V. Assing 2009" ( HNHM).

Additional material examined:

Kazakhstan: B ♂ ♂, E Zailyiskyi Alatau, Belshabdar river , 1300 m, 27.VI.2002, leg. Putchkov (cAss) .

Kyrgyzstan: 1 ♀, Osch, Andi-Shan reservoir, 40°49'N, 73°10'E, 900 m, 18.-19.VII.2003, leg. L. Schmidt (cAss) .

Turkmenistan: 1 ♀, NE Nebit Dag, " Gr. Balachan, Dschebell" [= Uly Balkan Gershi, = Khrebet Bol'shiye Balkhany , = Balkhan Mts. ; 39°40'N, 54°30'E], 1898, leg. Hauser (cAss) .

Russia: A ♀, Wolgograd, Sarepta, leg. Seidlitz ( NHMW) .

Locality not identified: A ♂, "Turkest. occ., Jagn. Pachut [?]" ( NHMW).

Comment:

The species was described from a single female from Mongolia ( LIKOVSKÝ 1965b). The material reported as A. longipes from Mongolia by LIKOVSKÝ (1968) was misidentified and refers to a different species (see the following section).

Redescription:

The species resembles small specimens of A. cuniculorum with a well-delimited triangular reddish spot on the elytra, but is externally distinguished by a relatively large head, a relatively slender pronotum (approximately 1.3 times as wide as long and 1.4 times as wide as head), as well as by

the rather fine and sparse punctation of the abdomen (even anterior impressions of tergites III-V rather sparsely punctate).

♂: sternite VI posteriorly in the middle with cluster of dense long setae ( Fig. 58); posterior margin of sternite VII weakly concave in the middle, on either side of middle with conspicuous cluster of dense long setae ( Fig. 59); sternite VIII similar to that of A. cuniculorum and allied species ( Fig. 60); median lobe of aedeagus approximately 0.55 mm long, shaped as in Figs 61-64; paramere as in Fig. 65.

♀: tergite VIII similar to that of A. cuniculorum ( Fig. 66); sternite VIII weakly pointed posteriorly ( Fig. 67); spermatheca with relatively large and long proximal portion of the capsule ( Figs 68-69).

Comparative notes:

The shape of the median lobe and the internal structures are most similar to those of A. dalila from Mongolia. From this species, as well as from all other species of the A. cuniculorum group, Aleochara longipes is best distinguished by the male and female sexual characters, particularly the chaetotaxy of sternite VII, the morphology of the aedeagus, and the distinctive shape of the spermatheca.

Distribution:

The species is currently known only from Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and SW Russia ( Map 2). The specimens from Russia, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan represent new country records.