Meotica exilis ( GRAVENHORST , 1806), Gravenhorst, 1806

Assing, Volker & Vogel, Jürgen, 2019, The mother of synonyms: on the Meotica species of the Palaearctic Region (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae, Oxypodini), Linzer biologische Beiträge 51 (2), pp. 731-772 : 740-752

Meotica exilis ( GRAVENHORST, 1806)

( Figs 6-17 )

Aleochara exilis GRAVENHORST, 1806: 153 ; lectotype designation by MUONA (1991).

Homalota pusilla MULSANT & REY, 1852: 154 .

Meotica parilis MULSANT & REY, 1873: 175 ; lectotype designation and synonymy by MUONA (1979).

Meotica misera MULSANT & REY, 1873: 176 ; lectotype designation and synonymy by MUONA (1979).

Meotica immixta MULSANT & REY, 1875a: 77 ; synonymy by MUONA (1991).

Meotica interposita MULSANT & REY, 1875a: 77 ; synonymy by MUONA (1991).

Meotica exiliformis JOY, 1915: 277 ; synonymy by BENICK (1968); lectotype designation by MUONA (1991).

Meotica lubecensis BENICK, 1953: 63 ; synonymy with M. exilis by VOGEL (1991).

Meotica simillima BENICK, 1953: 73 ; nov.syn.

Meotica linkeiana SCHEERPELTZ , in litt.: see MUONA (1991).

Type material examined: M. simillima: Lectotype ♂, present designation: "♂ / Keerbergen (Zeept) sphagnum, 8-3-1950, G. Fagel / Meotica simillima ♂ G. Bck Typus / Coll. G. Benick / Meotica exilis det. J. Vogel / Lectotypus ♂ Meotica simillima Benick , desig. V. Assing 2018 / Meotica exilis (Gravenhorst) , det. V. Assing 2018 " (MHNG) . Paralectotype ♂ [median lobe of aedeagus missing]: same data as lectotype (MHNG).

Additional material examined: SWEDEN: 1♀, Ystadt env., Sövde , 2.I.1984, leg. Assing (cAss) . PORTUGAL: 1♂, 3♀♀, Algarve, Serra de Monchique, Portela Viuva env., 20-21.II.1999, leg. Meybohm (cAss) ; 1♂, 1♀, Serra de Monchique , N Foia, 850 m, 18.II.1999, leg. Meybohm (cAss) ; 2♂♂, 3♀♀, Serra de Montezinho, Montezinho , 41°56'N, 6°46'W, 1030 nm 21.III.2002, leg. Meybohm (cAss) ; 1♂, 1♀, Serra de Montezinho, Rio Sabor , 41°54'N, 6°48'W, 970 m, margin of meadow, sifted, 21.III.2002, leg. Meybohm (cAss) ; 2♂♂, 2♀♀, Serra do Geres, Portela de Leote , 41°46'N, 8°09'W, 860 m, 22.III.2002, leg. Meybohm (cAss) ; 1♂, Serra da Estrela, Manteigas , 1650 m, 16.IV.1960, leg. Besuchet (cVog) ; 1♂, Guarda, Manteigas env., Penhas Douradas , 1600 m, 17.IV.1960, leg. Besuchet ( MNHG) . SPAIN: 1 ♂, León, Molinaferrera, Sierra de Cabrera (cVog) . FRANCE:m a i n l a n d:1♂, 2♀♀, Bourget , V.1960, leg. Ochs ( MHNG) ; 1♂, N Nice, Launes river , IV.1951, leg. Ochs ( MHNG) ; 1♂, Fréjus env., Argens river , 26.V.1956, leg. Ochs ( MHNG) ; 1♀, Nice env., Vésubie river , 26.V.1941, leg. Ochs ( MHNG) ; 1♂, Vésubie , VI.1951, leg. Ochs (cVog) ; 1♂, 1♀, Hautes-Alpes, Aspres-sur-Buëch , 3.X.1966, leg. Comellini (cVog) ; 1 ex., Haute-Savoie , La Vernaz, 1100 m, 1985, leg. Besuchet ( MHNG) ; 1♂, N Nice, Loup river , X.1953, leg. Ochs (cVog) ; 1♂, Occitanie, Lozère, Villefort , 8.IV.1980, leg. Löbl (cVog) ; 2♂♂, 3♀♀, SW Bordeaux, Gazinet, 17.III.1935, leg. Tempère ( MHNG). C o r s i c a: 2♀♀, 2 exs., Sabara env., Castiglione , grotte, 21.X.1987 (cTro) ; 1♂, 1♀, Corse, Forêt de Valdo Niello , 3.VI.1987, leg. Tronquet (cTro) ; 1♂, St. - Andréa-di-Cotone , 42°19'N, 9°27'E, 450 m, 7.X.1984 (cTro) ; 1♂, Haute-Corse, SE Serra-di-Fiumorbo, W Piediquarcio, Monte Cuchero , 41°58'N, 9°19'E, 350 m (cTro) ; 1♂, Poggio-d’Oletta, 6.VII.1974, leg. Löbl ( MHNG) ; 1♀, Omessa , 8.VII.1974, leg. Löbl ( MHNG) ; 3♂♂, 5♀♀, Ostriconi beach, 15.VII.1976, leg. Löbl ( MHNG) ; 5♂♂, 4♀♀, Ostriconi beach, 19.VII.1978, leg. Löbl ( MHNG) . GERMANY: numerous specimens from numerous localities. POLAND: 1 ex., Pomorskie ( SMNG) . SWITZERLAND: 1 ex., Bern, Seeland, 1988, leg. Besuchet ( MHNG) ; 1 ex., Genf, Meyrin (Mategnin), 1984, leg. Besuchet ( MHNG) ; 1 ex., Glarus, Elm, 1300 m, leg. Besuchet ( MHNG) ; 1 ex., Neuenburg, Vaumarcus , 1984, leg. Besuchet (cMHNG) ; 1 ex., St.Gallen, Oberuzwil, 1987, leg. Besuchet ( MHNG) ; 1 ex., Ticino, Ligornetto-Genestrerio, 1987, leg. Besuchet ( MHNG) ; 1 ex., Ticino, Muzzano ( Lago di Muzzano ), 1987, leg. Besuchet ( MHNG) ; 1 ex., Thurgau, Riedt (Erlen), 1984, leg. Besuchet ( MHNG) ; 1♀, Vaud, Boussens , III.1951, leg. Ochs ( MHNG) ; 1♂, Vaud, Yverdon-les-Bains , 10.III.1994, leg. Kiener (cVog) ; 1♂, 1♀, Valais, Siders, Forêt de Finges , 17.IV.1987, leg. Besuchet (cVog) ; 1♀, Ticino, Bioggio , 9.VIII.1990, leg. Besuchet (cVog) . AUSTRIA: 1♀, Vorarlberg, Schlins , 5.IV.1990, leg. Brandstetter (cVog) ; 3 exs., Tirol, Innsbruck, Viller Moor , 25.IV.1959, leg. Pechlaner ( TLMF) ; 2 exs., Innsbruck, Schweinsbrücker Mühle , 10.IV.1955, leg. Pechlaner ( TLMF) ; 1 ex., Tirol, Karwendel, Hinterautal , 1075 m, 7.V.1992, leg. Kahlen ( TLMF) ; 1 ex., Tirol, Karwendel, Risstal , 950 m, 22.VII.1995, leg. Kahlen ( TLMF) ; 1♀, Niederösterreich, Erbreichsdorf , 16.X.1941, leg. Franz ( MHNG) ; 4 exs., Steiermark, Graz env., 17.II.1992, leg. Kreissl (cVog) ; 1♀, Burgenland, Zurndorf, leg. Franz ( MHNG) ; 4 exs., Burgenland, Weiden am See , 12.VI.1993, leg. Kahlen ( TLMF) . SLOVAKIA: 1♂, Banska Bystrica (cVog) . HUNGARY: 59 exs., Neusiedler See ( MHNG) ; 1♀, Bugac National Park , grassland, pitfall trap, 16.VI.1982, leg. Galle (cAss) ; 6 exs., Balatongyörök , 25.V.1995, leg. Sieber (cVog) . ITALY: Trentino - Alto Adige: 19 exs., Bolzano, Lago Caldaro , 14.III.1971, 23.VII.1973, 25.XI.1978, 8.XII.1980, 5.I.1986, all leg. Kahlen ( TLMF, MHNG) ; 1 ex., Bolzano, Gries-San Quirino , 17.V.1956, leg. Peez ( TLMF) ; 50 exs., Bressanone , 13.XI.1947, 18.IV.1953, 4.XI., 3.XII. & 16.XII.1954, 16.X. & 20.XI.1955, 17.III. & 20.IV.1956, 24.VI., 25.IX. & 19.XI.1957, 20.III., 29.X. & 1.XII.1958, 18.II. & 24.VII.1959, 21.IV.1962, all leg. Peez ( TLMF) ; 2♀♀, Bressanone, floodplain of Eisack river , 8.II.1976, leg. Kahlen ( TLMF, cVog) ; 3 Ex., Merano, Lago di Monticolo , “Burgstaller Aue”, 23.XI.1990, leg. Kahlen ( TLMF) ; 3 exs., Merano, “Falschauer Aue”, 2.III.1991, leg. Kahlen ( TLMF). Lombardia: 1♀, Monte Pagano, leg. Paganetti ( MHNG). Piemonte: 1♂, B. Conchette, Cerano (NO), 100 m, mixed forest, 24.II.2005, leg. Chersi (cAss). Toscana: 1♂, Lucca , Lago Massaciuccoli , III.1971, leg. Rosa (cVog) ; 1♂, 3♀♀, Pisa, San Rossore , 25.V.2008, leg. Magrini (cAss) ; 5♂♂, Alpi Apuane, 300 m, 10.III.1989, leg. Poggi (cAss). P u g l i a: 1♂, 3♀♀, Foresta Umbra, Falascone , beech forest, 10.VII.1991, leg. Angelini (cAss) ; 1♀, Monte Gargano , 2.V.1907, leg. Hill (cVog) ; 2♀♀, Monte Gargano (cVog). C a m p a n i a: 1♀, Valle della Lucania ( MHNG) . CROATIA: 1♂, 1♀, Istria, Učka, Monte Maggiore, leg. Winkler ( MHNG) ; 1♀, 7 km E Senj, 1 km S Vratnik , forest litter, 5.VIII.1999, leg. Schuh (cAss) ; 1♀, Opatija , 19.VIII.1977 (cVog). BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: 1♀, Jablanica , leg. Winkler ( MHNG) ; 1♀ Kraljeva-Sutesca-Zadoici, car-net, 5.V.1990, leg. Wunderle (cWun). GREECE: 1♂, Ipiros, Thesprotia, road Morfio-Margariti, Pirgi env., Kalodiki swamp, swept from vegetation, 7.VI.1999, leg. Brachat (cAss) ; 4♂♂, Makedhonía, Pieria Ori, above Skotina , 40°12'N, 22°10-11'E, 900-1000 m, 9.IV.1998, leg. Assing & Wunderle (cAss, cWun) ; 3♂♂, 1♀, same data, but 650 m, leg. Wunderle (cWun, cAss) ; 5♂♂, 1♀, Thessalía, NE Ossa Oros, Stomio , 40°00'N, 22°43'E, floodplain forest, 3.IV.1998, leg. Assing (cAss) . TURKEY: 1♂, Denizli, ca. 60 km E Muğla , S Kale, 37°26''N, 28°53'E, 1280 m, N-slope, stony limestone pasture, under stones and sifted, 11.IV.2006, leg. Wunderle (cAss) ; 1♀, Göynük near Kemer , 14.V.2009, leg. Sieber (cVog) ; 1♂, Artvin, 5 km E Hopa , 10.VI.1986, leg. Besuchet et Löbl (cVog) . UKRAINE: 1♂, Odessa obl., Berezovka env., Berezovskiy forest , saline soil, 1.V.2017, leg. Gontarenko (cGon) . RUSSIA: 2♂♂, West Caucasus, 4 km NNW Krasnaya Polyana, Atchishkho Mt., 43°42'N, 40°11'E, 1000 m, chestnut forest with beech and maple, leaf litter and bark sifted, 18.VII.2011, leg. Assing (cAss). GEORGIA: 1♀, Imereti , NW Rikoti pass, 42°03'N, 43°29'E, 950 m, 14.V.2016, leg. Brachat & Meybohm (cAss) ; 1♂, Imereti, Baghdati , 42°01'N, 42°49'E, 290 m, 18.V.2018, leg. Brachat & Meybohm (cAss) ; 1♀, Samtskhe-Javakheti, N Abastumani , 41°46'N, 42°50'E, 1370 m, 15.V.2016, leg. Brachat & Meybohm (cAss) ; 1♀, Racha , 10 km W Lentekhi, 42°48'N, 42°38'E, 1100 m, 20.V.2016, leg. Brachat & Meybohm (cAss) ; 1♀, Racha, S Lailashi , 42°36'N, 42°51'E, 520 m, 21.V.2016, leg. Brachat & Meybohm (cAss) ; 1♂, 1♀, Adjara, Danisparauli , 41°38'N, 42°30'E, 1790 m, 21.VI.2017, leg. Brachat & Meybohm (cAss) ; 2♀♀, Adjara, Shavsheti Range, SE Batumi , Machakhela National Park , 41°31'N, 41°49'E, 170 m, forest margin with ash, walnut, hazelnut, chestnut, and rhododendron, litter sifted, 17.VII.2019, leg. Assing (cAss) ; 1♀, Adjara, Shavsheti Range, SE Batumi , Machakhela National Park , 41°29'N, 41°52'E, 700 m, stream valley with alder and rhododendron, litter sifted, 17.VII.2019, leg. Assing (cAss) ; 1♀, Adjara, Meskheti Range, NE Batumi , Mtirala National Park , 41°50'N, 41°52'E, 300 m, deciduous forest with predominant alder, chestnut, and rhododendron, soil washing, 18.VII.2019, leg. Assing (cAss) ; 1♂, 3♀♀, Guria, NE Bakhmaro , 41°54'N, 42°23'E, 1080 m, pasture with alder and streams, 15.V.2019, leg. Brachat & Meybohm (cAss) ; 1♀, Guria, Kvaghba-Zoti , 41°54'N, 42°26'E, 680 m, stream valley with water fall and with deciduous forest, litter sifted and soil-washing, 16.V.2019, leg. Brachat & Meybohm (cAss) ; 1♀, Guria, Kvaghba-Zoti , 41°55'N, 42°24'E, 530 m, flood plain forest (alder), litter sifted, 16.V.2019, leg. Brachat & Meybohm (cAss) ; 1♀, Imereti, Meskheti Range, S Sairme, 41°52'N, 42°48'E, 1670 m, stream valley with predominant alder, ash, and Tussilago and fern undergrowth, soil washing, 23.VII.2019, leg. Assing (cAss) ; 1♀, Racha, Likheti , 42°06'N, 43°14'E, 800 m, 27.V.2018, leg. Brachat & Meybohm (cAss) ; 1♂, Svaneti, NW Lentekhi , 42°48'N, 42°41'E, 1240 m, 2.VII.2017, leg. Brachat & Meybohm (cAss) . ARMENIA: 1♀, S Spitak , 40°46'N, 44°16'E, 2000 m, deforested stream valley, bank of small stream, roots and moss sifted, 7.VII.2017, leg. Assing (cAss) .

Comment: The original description of M. simillima is based on three syntypes from "Keerbergen (Zeept, Belgien)" ( BENICK 1953). Both examined syntypes had been dissected prior to the present study. The median lobe of the aedeagus of one of them is missing. The male with an aedeagus attached to the pin is designated as the lectotype. The specimen is conspecific with M. exilis .

Diagnosis: ♂: sternite VIII ( Fig. 6 ) strongly transverse, posterior margin truncate or very weakly convex; median lobe of aedeagus approximately 0.25 mm long and shaped as in Figs 7-11 ; apical lobe of paramere blackish.

♀: posterior margin of sternite VIII strongly convex ( Fig. 12 ); spermatheca of distinctive shape ( Figs 13-17 ).

Confirmed distribution: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, British Isles, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Austria, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Italy, Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Greece, Turkey, Ukraine, Russia (South European territory), Georgia, Armenia; North America (adventive).

Figures

Figs 6-17: Meotica exilis: (6) male sternite VIII; (7-11) median lobe of aedeagus in lateral and in ventral view of males from Germany (7), Portugal (8), Russia (9), and Georgia (10-11); (12) female sternite VIII; (13-17) spermatheca of females from Germany (13-14), Armenia (15), Hungary (16), and Italy (17). Scale bars: 0.1 mm.