Turkocharis, Jałoszyński, 2023

Jałoszyński, Paweł, 2023, Notes on the Western Palaearctic genus Leptocharis Reitter (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae), Zootaxa 5353 (5), pp. 430-440 : 434-437

2.2. Genus Turkocharis gen. n.

Type species: Leptocharis microphthalmus Meybohm, 2009 (here designated).

The original description of L. microphthalma includes the following line: “Mesosternalkiel wenig hoch, nicht zwischen die Mittelhüften ragend, am Ende rundlich ausgeĥhlt und sternf̂rmig mit langen Setae”, i.e., the mesoventral keel not very high, not projecting between the middle coxae, at the end roundly excavated and stellate with long setae”. While in Leptocharis algerica , L. cretica , and L. revelieri , the mesoventral process forms a continuous broad carina extending from the posterior margin of the prepectus to the posterior margins of mesocoxae, where it is fused with the metaventrite ( Fig. 12 ), in L. microphthalma only a short premesocoxal portion is developed, whereas the area between the mesocoxae is devoid of any convexity. In other words, in L. algerica , L. cretica , and L. revelieri the intermesocoxal process is present, whereas in L. microphthalma it is lacking, and the mesocoxae are contiguous. Moreover, because of the obliterated intermesocoxal portion of the mesoventral process, in L. microphthalma the anterior metaventral process is well developed as a subtriangular projection behind posterior margins of mesocoxal rests, while in the remaining species the anteromedian region of the metaventrite is fused with the mesoventral process (a fine variously visible transverse line marks the site of fusion). The presence vs. lack of the intermesocoxal process is a character used to define genera in Scydmaeninae, and this structural difference between L. microphthalma and the remaining species of Leptocharis justifies establishing a new genus, which differs also in several other features.

Diagnosis. Body conspicuously slender ( Fig. 4 ), with distinct constrictions between head and pronotum and between pronotum and elytra. Exposed region of head capsule ( Figs 14 , 17 ) distinctly elongate; occipital constriction only slightly narrower than vertex ( Figs 14–15 ); tempora much longer than eyes, lacking bristles, but bristles present on posteromesal regions of postgenae near posterior tentorial pits. Hypostomal sutures lacking; hypostomal ridges ( Fig. 15 ; hr) complete, posteriorly nearly reaching posterior tentorial pits; posterior tentorial pits ( Fig. 15 ; ptp) situated slightly in front of transverse impression demarcating ventrally ‘neck’ region; mandibles subtriangular and broad, each with one subapical mesal tooth ( Fig. 15 ). Antennae ( Figs 4 , 17 ) with indistinctly delimited trimerous clubs. Pronotum ( Figs 4 , 14 ) lacking lateral carinae or edges, oval elongate, broadest near middle, base lacking pits and impressions, prothorax on sides and in posterior regions of hypomera with thick bristles. Prosternum ( Figs 15 , 18 ) with basisternal region about as long as coxal area; prosternal process narrowly carinate, weakly elevated and not separating procoxae ( Figs 15 , 18 ); procoxal cavities narrowly closed posteriorly by adjacent but not fused postcoxal lobes of hypomeron and prosternum ( Fig. 18 ); notosternal sutures largely obliterated, only vestiges visible as short notches at anterior prosternal margin ( Fig. 15 ); hypomeral ridges ( Fig. 15 ; hyr) developed only on hypomeral postcoxal lobes along outer margins of procoxal rests, demarcating narrow inner hypomeral regions. Mesoventrite with subrectangular premesocoxal process ( Fig. 16 ; pmcp) extending from massive prepectus ( Fig. 16 ; prp) to anterior margins of mesocoxal rests, with visible in transparent mounts ( Fig. 19 ) transverse channel or perforation open laterally between lateral transverse setose impressions ( Fig. 16 ; si) functioning as procoxal rests. Mesocoxae not separated, mesoventrite between them concave. Anterior metaventral process ( Figs 16 , 19 ; amvp) short, subtriangular with rounded anterior tip. Metaventral intermetacoxal process ( Fig. 16 ; mtvp) narrow, not separating metacoxae, with deep median notch separating short subtriangular pointed projections. Lateral margins of metacoxae covered by broad posterolateral metaventral lobes ( Figs 16 , 19 ). Mesoscutellar shield composed of fused mesoscutellum and mesoscutum ( Fig. 20 ; sc2+scl2), subtriangular and strongly elongate, with broadened apex, only partly visible between elytral bases. Each elytron with two minute but distinct and asetose basal foveae ( Fig. 20 ; bef). Aedeagus ( Fig. 8 ) with symmetrical median lobe and poorly sclerotized endophallus, parameres present, their apices projecting far beyond apex of median lobe.

Description. Body ( Fig. 4 ) elongate, slender, strongly convex, distinctly setose.

Head capsule ( Figs 14–15 , 17 ) elongate oval; occipital constriction only slightly narrower than vertex; vertex not bulging posterodorsally, with transverse posterior margin sharply demarcated from occiput; frons confluent with vertex, anteriorly steeply declining towards transverse clypeus; frontoclypeal groove lacking; tempora longer than eyes; only posteromesal regions of postgenae with thick bristles. Antennal fossae separated by distance subequal to two diameters of scapus. Labrum strongly transverse with rounded anterior margin; mandibles symmetrical, subtriangular, each with small preapical mesal tooth and setose prostheca, lacking mola; maxillae generalized, maxillary palpus with minute and slightly elongate palpomere 1, pipe-shaped and strongly elongate palpomere 2, enlarged palpomere 3 with short pedunculate proximal region and broadly fusiform distal portion strongly narrowing both proximally and distally; palpomere 4 subconical, slender, not broadened at apex. Labium with subtrapezoidal mentum weakly narrowing anteriorly and with strongly convex anterior margin; prelabium with pair of lateral premental sclerites and weakly developed, not projecting ligula bearing pair of anterior setae; labial palps separated by distance subequal to diameter of palpomere 1, labial palpomere 1 annulate, palpomere 2 strongly elongate and subcylindrical; palpomere 3 subuliform, slender.

Antennae ( Fig. 4 ) slender, composed of 11 antennomeres, scape and pedicel indistinctly broader but much longer than proximal flagellomeres, club trimerous, poorly demarcated.

Pronotum ( Figs 14 ) in dorsal view elongate oval with poorly marked obtuse-angled anterior and posterior corners, broadest near middle, lacking lateral and sublateral carinae and any antebasal pits, impressions and grooves.

Prosternum ( Figs 15 , 18 ) with basisternal portion about as long as coxal rests, notosternal sutures largely obliterated, marked only as short notches at anteroventral margin of prothorax; prosternal process developed as weakly elevated narrow carina not separating procoxae; procoxal cavities closed by postcoxal lobes of prosternum and hypomera, which touch each other, but are not fused. Hypomera with short hypomeral ridges ( Fig. 15 ; hyr) developed along outer margins of procoxal rests and each demarcating narrow inner region of hypomeron. Lateral and posterolateral regions of hypomera with sparse thick bristles.

Mesoscutellar shield ( Fig. 20 ) partly exposed between elytral bases, composed of fused mesoscutum and mesoscutellum ( Fig. 20 ; sc2+scl2), elongate subtriangular with broadened apex.

Elytra ( Fig. 20 ) oval, in the only included species lacking humeral calli and basal impression, each with pair of minute but clearly visible asetose basal foveae ( Fig. 20 ; bef).

Mesoventrite ( Figs 16 , 19 ) with mesoventral process restricted to premesocoxal region and forming there flat subrectangular premesocoxal mesoventral process ( Fig. 16 ; pcmp) extending from posterior margin of massive prepectus ( Fig. 16 ; prp) to anterior margin of mesocoxal rests, median region of premesocoxal process perforated by transverse channel below its surface; process flanked by lateral transverse setose impressions ( Fig. 16 ; si) functioning as procoxal rests; intermesocoxal region lacking carina, concave.

Hind wings in the only included species absent, but metanotum (in Fig. 20 visible through transparent elytra behind scutellar shield) conspicuously long, apparently not reduced, except for possibly shortened postnotum (not clearly visible).

Metaventrite ( Figs 16 , 19 ) subquadrate, broadest near posterior third; anterior metaventral process ( Fig. 16 ; amvp) present, small, subtriangular with rounded apex, in transparent slide specimens ( Fig. 19 ) transverse region just in front of anterior metaventral process reinforced by massive internal sclerotization forming bridge between mesocoxal insertions. Posterior metaventral margin deeply bisinuate, with large posterolateral lobes covering lateral regions of metacoxae, so that ventrally exposed portion of each metacoxa appears as broadly separated from lateral metaventral margin. Metaventral intermetacoxal process ( Fig. 16 ; mtvp) not separating metacoxae, short and broadly subtriangular, with deep median notch separating lateral halves each forming short pointed spine. Metanepisterna and metepimera narrow, episterna partly exposed in intact beetles. Metendosternite Y-shaped with stem about as long as broad and with broadly diverging anteriorly lateral furcal arms ( Fig. 19 ; lfa).

Legs ( Figs 4 , 15–16 ) moderately long and slender; unmodified in males, with short and robust pentamerous tarsi.

Abdominal sternites ( Figs 16 , 21 ) unmodified, III–VI subequal in lengths, VII and VIII distinctly longer and indistinctly separated.

Aedeagus ( Figs 8 , 21 ) moderately large in relation to abdomen, elongate but not slender, with ventrally situated diaphragm, symmetrical median lobe and endophallus, endophallic structures weakly sclerotized, indistinct, parameres massive, with modified setose apices.

Distribution and composition. Turkocharis is represented by T. microphthalma ( Meybohm, 2009) (= Leptocharis microphthalmus Meybohm, 2009: 740 ) known to occur in Turkey.

Etymology. The name Turkocharis is derived from the country where this genus occurs and the Latinized Greek noun kháris (same as in Leptocharis ); the meaning is “Turkish beauty”. Gender feminine.

Remarks. Turkocharis is a candidate for a sister group of Leptocharis ; it might have evolved from the same common ancestor by reduction of the mesoventral intermesocoxal process (which seems to belong to the groundplan of Stenichnini and Scydmaeninae) and retaining the bristles on the head and thorax (presumably ancestral feature in Stenichnini), which have been lost in Leptocharis . These genera are similar in morphological structures, but they differ in several characters compiled in Table 1 . Mesocoxae not separated by the mesoventral process, or by the mesoventral and anterior metaventral processes together (either fused or separated) is a rare feature among Stenichnini, and in Eurasia Turkocharis is the only genus showing this character. Interestingly, all remaining genera that have contiguous mesocoxae are restricted to the Southern Hemisphere, with one exception—the Nearctic genus Neladius Casey, 1897 . Neladius not only shares with Turkocharis a similar structure of the mesoventrite, but also includes one small-bodied, slender and wingless species with reduced humeral calli, oval pronotum lacking antebasal pits, a similar ventral structure of the head, trimerous antennal club, short and posteromedially notched metaventral intercoxal process, posterolateral lobes of the metaventrite laterally covering outer regions of metacoxae, a similar structure of the abdomen (with indistinct suture between sternites VII and VIII), and even with apically broadened parameres exceeding apex of the median lobe. However, in Neladius the notosternal sutures are complete and distinct, and the aedeagus has a darkly sclerotized, complex and strongly asymmetrical endophallus. It is possible that Turkocharis , Leptocharis and Neladius are closely related.

Figures

FIGURES 9–13. Morphological structures of Leptocharis cretica (Pic). Head and prothorax in ventral view (9); head in ventral view (10);prothorax inventral view(11); pterothoraxinventralview (12–13).Abbreviations:bst, basisternalregionof prosternum; gp, gular plate; gs, gular suture; hr, hypostomal ridge; hy, hypomeron; mn, mentum; msvp, mesoventral intermesocoxal process; mtvp, metaventral intermetacoxal process; nss, notosternal suture; pmcp, premesocoxal proces; prp, prepectus; ptp, posterior tentorial pit; si, setose impression; smn, submentum.

FIGURES 1–8. Dorsal habitus of male (1–4) and aedeagus in ventral view (5–8). Leptocharis algerica Besuchet, holotype (1, 5); L. cretica (Pic) (2, 6); L. revelieri (Reitter) (3, 7); and Turkocharis microphthalma (Meybohm) comb. n. (4, 8).

FIGURES 14–16. Morphological structures of Turkocharis microphthalma (Meybohm) comb. n. Head and prothorax in dorsal (14) and ventral (15) views; pterothorax and abdomen in ventral view (16). Abbreviations: amvp, anterior metaventral process; hr, hypostomal ridge; hyr, hypomeral ridge; mtvp, metaventral intermetacoxal process; pmcp, premesocoxal process; prp, prepectus; ptp, posterior tentorial pit; si, setose impression; III–VIII, abdominal sternites.

FIGURES 17–21. Morphological structures of Turkocharis microphthalma (Meybohm) comb. n. Head in lateral view (17); prothorax in ventral view (18); pterothorax in ventral view (19); anterior portion of elytra and dorsal pterothorax in dorsal view (20); and abdomen in ventral view (21). Abbreviations: aed, aedeagus; amvp, anterior metaventral process; bef, basal elytral fovea; lfa, lateral furcal arm; pmcp, premesocoxal process; sc2+scl2, mesoscutum + mesoscutellum; III–VIII, abdominal sternites.