Oropodes raffrayi (Brendel, 1894) Brendel, 1894

Chandler, Donald S. & Caterino, Michael S., 2011, A taxonomic revision of the New World genus Oropodes Casey (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae), ZooKeys 147, pp. 425-477 : 455-456

16. Oropodes raffrayi (Brendel, 1894) NEW STATUS Fig. 17

Euplectus raffrayi Brendel, 1894: 196. Type locality: California. Holotype male, // Brend/ Horn Coll H9450/ E. raffrayi Brend/ TYPE #8291 Euplectus raffrayi B. Carl Farr Moxey 29.VI.1962 // (AMNH). Listed as synonym of Oropodes orbiceps by Raffray (1904: 565).

Specimens examined.

2: holotype male, “California” (AMNH); 1 male, “30”, Schmitt Coll. (FMNH).

Description.

(only males known). Length 2.04. Body light yellow-brown. Eyes with about 60 facets. Antennomeres V and VII slightly larger than those adjacent, V-VIII obconical, IX narrower than X. Abdomen with carinae of first ventrite extending from inner margin of metacoxal cavities to ventrite apex.

Males: Metasternum with broad median longitudinal impression through length. Legs (Fig. 17B): profemora with short, broadly truncate tubercle near base on mesal margin; protibiae slightly swollen in apical half; mesotibiae thickened, with large curving spur at mesal apex, metatibiae with shorter curved spur at mesal apex. Abdomen (Fig. 17C) with second ventrite impressed between paired teeth on apical margin, semicircular impression over most of ventrite disc, teeth 0.17 apart between centers; third ventrite 0.61 wide, impressed in medial third anterior to recurved lamina, impression with long setae, with lateral margins carinate, lamina 0.18 wide, arising near posterior margin of ventrite, apical margin broadly and shallowly emarginate, lamina strongly curved at base, with apical half horizontal; fourth-fifth ventrites flattened in medial fourth; sixth ventrite (Fig. 17D) with setose area slightly constricted in central portion, setae long compared with other species. Aedeagus (Fig. 17A) with left paramere barely longer, apex broadly rounded, right paramere obtusely angulate at lateroapical margin; internal sac with thick spine complexly toothed in apical portion, apical portion of internal sac with many small thick spines.

Females: unknown.

Collection notes.

Two males are known.

Geographical distribution.

The only distributional data available is the broad statement of “California” for the holotype, while the second specimen lacks any collection data.

Comparisons and diagnostic notes.

The species upon which the raffrayi-group is based. The males share a number of features with Oropodes nuclere and Oropodes rumseyensis , species of the Coast Range north of the San Francisco Bay area, such as the broad basal tubercle of the profemora, the long apical spurs of the meso- and metatibiae, and the large rod of the internal sac which has a number of apical teeth. The horizontal lamina of the third ventrite, and the more complexly toothed apex of the rod in the internal sac will separate Oropodes raffrayi from these two species. Both Oropodes raffrayi and Oropodes rumseyensis are the only two species that have distinct denticles of the internal sac in its apical portion.

The distribution of this species is still unknown, but the discussion above suggests that it may be a species of northern California.