Quedius muscicola, Cameron, 1932

Smetana, Aleš, 2011, Contributions to the knowledge of the Quediina of China (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Staphylinini). Part 41. Genus Quedius Stephens, 1829. Subgenus Raphirus Stephens, 1829. Section 9, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 51 (1), pp. 145-156 : 154-156

Key to brachypterous species of the Quedius muscicola group of mainland China

To allow the determination of the brachypterous species of the muscicola -group described in this paper and in SMETANA (2008), a dichotomous key to these species is presented. In all the species included the wings are severely reduced and are present only as minute, nonfunctional stumps, each shorter than the elytron covering it. Also, all species, except Q. doan Smetana, 2008 , lack the whitish apical seam of palisade setae on abdominal tergite 7. Quedius doan has a very fine apical seam in this location. The presence of this seam has not been mentioned in the original description of Q. doan ( SMETANA 2008: 194) .

It should be emphasized here that the species involved are mostly very small in size (small specimens of some species are among the smallest members of the genus Quedius known at present) and very similar to each other. Their identification is difficult and requires some experience in study of the group and/or reliably identified specimens for comparison. Since the specimens of the group are highly brachypterous and therefore incapable of flight, and since they all occur in habitats high up in the mountains, a highly developed endemism is assumed. The provenience of the specimens to be determined is therefore helpful for their identification.

1. Legs entirely testaceous.................................................................................................2

– Medial faces of at least hind tibiae darkened.................................................................4

2. Size large, exceeding 6.0 mm. Outer segments 8–10 of antenna slightly longer than wide. Male unknown. Length 6. 3 mm. Yunnan: Diancang Shan. ............................................. ..................................................................................................... Q. pian Smetana, 2008

– Size smaller, 4.7- 5.5 mm, usually below 5.0 mm. Outer segments 8–10 of antenna as long as wide. .................................................................................................................. 3

3. Aedoeagus small, relatively robust, with apical portion of median lobe slightly asymmetrical ( Fig. 4 ). Apical portion of median lobe of quite characteristic shape in lateral view ( Fig. 5 ). Paramere moderately long, slightly fusiform ( Fig. 4 ), sensory peg setae on underside of paramere situated as in Fig. 6 . Length 4.8–5.5 mm. Yunnan: Gaoligong Shan west of Salween river. ........................................................... Q. nujiang sp. nov.

– Aedoeagus larger, narrow and elongate, with apical portion of median lobe symmetrical ( Fig. 11 ). Apical portion of median lobe of markedly different shape in lateral view ( Fig. 12 ). Paramere very long, parallel-sided in middle portion ( Fig. 11 ), sensory peg setae on underside of paramere more numerous, situated as in Fig. 13 . Length 4.7–5.0 mm. Yunnan: Gaoligong Shan west of Salween river. ................... Q. angustiarum sp. nov.

4. Scutellum impunctate. Aedoeagus as in Figs. 47–49 in SMETANA (2008). Length 4.0– 5.1 mm. Xinjiang: Tian Shan range. .............................. Q. microsauroides Smetana, 2008

– Scutellum with punctures. Aedoeagi different. Provenience different. ......................... 5

5. Abdominal tergite 2 (in front of first fully visible tergite) with no more than a few fine, scattered punctures. Pubescence of abdominal tergites pale, golden-yellowish with tendency to form denser basolateral patch on each side of tergite. Abdominal tergite 7 (fifth visible) with very fine whitish seam of palisade setae. Aedoeagus as in Figs. 39–42 in SMETANA (2008). Length 3.8- 4.5 mm. Yunnan: Gaoligong Shan west of Salween river. ......................................................................................... Q. doan Smetana, 2008

– Abdominal tergite 2 (in front of first fully visible tergite) entirely punctate and pubescent. Pubescence of abdominal tergites uniformly dark. Abdominal tergite 7 (fifth visible) without whitish seam of palisade setae. Aedoeagi different. Provenience different. .... 6

6. Male abdominal sternite 8 with four long setae on each side. Aedoeagus and paramere markedly long and narrow ( Figs. 4, 7 in SMETANA 2008). Length 4.0– 4.8 mm. Gansu: Dalijia Shan W of Linxia. ......................................................... Q. ruoh Smetana, 2008

– Male abdominal sternite 8 usually with three, rarely with four or five long setae on each side. Aedoeagi and parameres of different shapes. Provenience different. ................... 7

7. Middle and hind tibiae markedly blackened, hind ones almost entirely black. Aedoeagus rather robust ( Fig. 18 ), paramere large, widely fusiform, in ventral view entirely covering median lobe except for very apex ( Fig. 19 ). Length 4.0 mm. Sichuan: Qiongilai Shan. ............................................................................................................... Q. oros sp. nov.

– Medial faces of middle and hind tibiae, or only of hind ones, more or less darkened, never markedly blackened. Aedoeagi different, provenience different. ................................. 8

8. Disc of head and pronotum without appreciable microsculpture. Middle and hind tarsi almost entirely black.Aedoeagus as in Figs. 31–34 in SMETANA (2000). Length 3.5–4.5 mm. Sichuan: Zheduo Shan, pass Zheduo Shankou west of Kanding. .................................... .................................................................................................... Q. bann Smetana, 2008

– Entire surface of head and pronotum with distinct microsculpture. Middle and hind tarsi not almost entirely black. Aedoeagi of different shapes. Provenience different............9

9. Medial faces of only hind tibiae darkened. Coloration of pronotum and elytra sexually dimorphic: dark brown in male, piceous-black in female (to be confirmed on larger material). Median lobe of aedoeagus in ventral view entirely covered by paramere except for very apex ( Fig. 23 ). Length 4.8–5.0 mm. Yunnan: Yulongxue Shan. .............................. .............................................................................................................. Q. chion sp. nov.

– Medial faces of middle and hind tibiae darkened. Coloration of pronotum and elytra not sexually dimorphic, concolorous in both sexes. Median lobe of aedoeagus in ventral view not entirely covered by paramere ( Figs. 11 , 19 in SMETANA 2008). Provenience different........................................................................................................................10

10. First four segments of male front tarsus markedly dilated, segment 2 as wide as apex of tibia. Apex of apical portion of median lobe of aedoeagus slightly knob-like dilated ( Figs. 19, 20 in SMETANA 2008). Size larger: 5.6–5.8 mm. Yunnan: Diancang Shan. ...... ......................................................................................................... Q. li Smetana, 2008

– First four segments of male front tarsus slightly dilated, segment 2 narrower than apex of tibia (ratio 0.75). Apex of apical portion of median lobe of aedoeagus, simple, acute ( Figs. 11 , 24 in SMETANA 2008). Size smaller: 3.8–5.00 mm. ..................................... 11

11. Paramere of aedoeagus long and narrow, with sensory peg setae more numerous, 8 or 9 in each row (Fig. 27 in SMETANA, 2008), apical portion of median lobe, when paramere removed, long ( Fig. 25 in SMETANA, 2008). Length 3.8- 5.00 mm. Yunnan: Xue Shan. ........................................................................................................ Q. erl Smetana, 2008

– Paramere of aedoeagus shorter and less narrow, with sensory peg setae less numerous, 5 or 6 in each row ( Fig. 14 in SMETANA 2008), apical portion of median lobe, when paramere removed, short ( Fig. 12 in SMETANA 2008). Length 3.8–4.2 mm. Shaanxi: Qinling Shan. ................................................................................................ Q. io Smetana, 2008

Figures

Figs. 1–13. 1–7. Quedius nujiang sp. nov. 1– apical portion of male sternite 8; 2 – tergite 10 of male genital segment; 3 – sternite 9 of male genital segment; 4 – aedeagus, ventral view; 5 – apical portion of median lobe, lateral view; 6 – apical portion of underside of paramere with sensory peg setae; 7 – tergite 10 of female genital segment. 8–13. Quedius angustiarum sp. nov. 8 – apical portion of male sternite 8; 9 – tergite 10 of male genital segment; 10 – sternite 9 of male genital segment; 11 – aedeagus, ventral view; 12 – apical portion of median lobe, lateral view; 13 – apical portion of underside of paramere with sensory peg setae.

Figs 14- 25. 14. Quedius angustiarum sp. nov., tergite 10 of female genital segment. 15–19 – Quedius oros sp. nov. 15 – apical portion of male sternite 8; 16 – tergite 10 of male genital segment; 17– sternite 9 of male genital segment; 18 – aedoeagus, ventral view; 19 – apical portion of underside of paramere with sensory peg setae. 20–25 – Quedius chion sp. nov. 20 – apical portion of male sternite 8; 21 – tergite 10 of male genital segment; 22 – sternite 9 of male genital segment; 23 – aedoeagus, ventral view; 24 – apical portion of underside of paramere with sensory peg setae; 25 – tergite 10 of female genital segment.