Quedius (Raphirus) angustiarum, Smetana, 2011

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 : 149-150

Quedius (Raphirus) angustiarum sp. nov.

( Figs. 8–14 )

Type locality. People’s Republic of China, Yunnan, Nujiang Lisu Pref., Gaoligong Shan , ‘Cloud Pass’ 21 km NW Liuku, 25°58′21″N 98°41′01″E, 3150 m a.s.l.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: J (MSC, to be deposited in Naturhistorisches Museum in Berlin), ‘ CHINA (Yunnan) Nujiang Lisu Pref., Gaoligong Shan , “Cloud Pass” 3150 m, 21km NW Liuku (shrubs, Vaccinium , bamboo, litter sifted) 25°58′21″N / 98°41′01″E 2.IX.2009 D.W. Wrase [22A]’. ALLOTYPE: ♀ (ASC), same data as holotype. PARA- TYPES: 1 J, 2 ♀♀ (ASC, MSC), same data as holotype; 1 J 2♀♀ (ASC, MSC), same data as holotype but ‘shrubs & bamboo, litter sifted, leg. M. Schülke [ CH 09-22].’

Description. In all characters quite similar to Q. nujiang sp. nov., but different by a few subtle external characters, and by the entirely differently shaped aedoeagus. Average size smaller, body shape slenderer. Antenna slenderer and slightly shorter. Metallic bronze lustre on head and pronotum markedly more pronounced. Microsculpture on head and pronotum somewhat less dense and coarser. Punctation of elytra similar, but finer and denser, transverse interspaces between punctures slightly smaller than diameters of punctures, surface between punctures without microscopic irregularities, elytra therefore appearing shinier. Punctation of abdominal tergites similar, but denser.

Male. First four segments of front tarsus similar to those of Q. nujiang sp. nov., but slightly less dilated. Sternite 8 with two long setae on each side, medioapical emargination similar to that of Q. nujiang sp. nov., but deeper ( Fig. 8 ). Genital segment with tergite 10 wider, with more numerous long setae on apical portion ( Fig. 9 ); sternite 9 with basal portion narrower and longer, apical portion narrowly arcuate at apex, with a pair of apical and subapical long setae, otherwise only sparingly setose ( Fig. 10 ). Aedoeagus ( Figs. 11–13 ) narrow, elongate, median lobe subparallel-sided in middle portion, anteriorly slightly dilated and then narrowed into rather long apical portion with narrowly arcuate apex, on face adjacent to paramere, when paramere removed, with minute median carina situated far below apex of median lobe, forming a minute hook in lateral view ( Fig. 12 ). Apical portion of median lobe in lateral view quite different from that of Q. nujiang sp. nov. ( Fig. 12 ). Paramere very long, parallel-sided in middle portion, with narrowly arcuate apex not reaching apex of median lobe; four very fine setae at apical margin, median setae somewhat longer than lateral ones, two similar setae at each lateral margin below apex; sensory peg setae on underside of paramere numerous, forming two fairly regular, rather long rows ( Fig. 13 ).

Female. First four segments of front tarsus simple, not dilated. Tergite 10 of genital segment of different shape than that of Q. nujiang sp. nov., and with different setation ( Fig. 14 ).

Length 4.7–5.0 mm.

Etymology. The specific epithet is the genitive form of the Latin noun angustiae,- arum, (mountain pass), as noun in apposition. It refers to the occurrence of this species in ‘Cloud Pass’ of the Gaoligong Shan.

Bionomics. The specimens of the type series were taken by sifting litter under shrubs, Vaccinium and bamboo growths at an elevation 3150 m. Quedius angustiarum sp. nov. occurs in the same area of the Gaoligong Shan as Q. nujiang sp. nov., but in a different habitat at higher elevation.

Geographical distribution. Quedius angustiarum sp. nov. is at present known only from the type locality in Gaoligong Shan, west of Salween river, in westernmost Yunnan.

Recognition and comments. Quedius angustiarum sp. nov. may only be confused with Q. nujiang sp. nov., but it may be distinguished by the characters outlined above, particularly by the entirely different shape of the aedoeagus.

The aedoeagus of Quedius angustiarum sp. nov. is similar to that of Q. microsauroides Smetana, 2008 from Tian Shan range in Xinjiang, but the latter differs by several external characters (e.g., impunctate scutellum, markedly smaller eyes, short antennae, etc.).

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.