Tachyusa nitella Fauvel, 1895

Pa ṡnik, Grzegorz, 2006, A revision of the World species of the genus Tachyusa Erichson, 1837 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), Zootaxa 1146, pp. 1-152 : 78-81

Tachyusa nitella Fauvel, 1895 ( Figs. 73–75)

Tachyusa concinna: Kraatz, 1856: 150 (nec Heer, 1839: 345) (misidentification).

Tachyusa nitella Fauvel, 1895: 98 .

Tachyusa jonica Scheerpeltz, 1958: 409 , syn. n.

Tachyusa (s. str.) nitella: Reitter, 1909: 73 ; Fenyes, 1920: 172; Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 585; Lohse, 1974: 69.

Type material. Tachyusa nitella Fauvel. Neotype: ♂: Austria, Styria, Sankt Johann, Th. Wanka ( MTD).

Tachyusa jonica Scheerpeltz. Lectotype (here designated): ♀: Insel Korfu , Ipsos, 16.IV.1932, Dr. H. Beier ( NMW). Paralectotypes: ♂ and ♀: same data as the lectotype ( NMW).

Additional material. Albania: Koplik , VI.1942, F. Capra, 1 ex ( MCSN) ; Tumor­ Buranj , Reitter, 1 ex ( MIZ) ; “ Valona " [Vlore], Linke, 3 exx ( MTD) . Austria: Eisenkappel, Karten , VII–VIII.1931, Scheerpeltz, 3 exx ( MHNG) ; Stockerau , Bernhauer, 1 ex ( NMW) . Azerbaijan or Armenia: Caucasus, Arax River valley , (“ Araxesthal ”), Reitter, 1 ex ( NMW) . Bosnia and Herzegovina: Gacko , 14.VII.1977, 1 ex ( MHNG) ; Mostar , 1 ex ( MTD) ; Zelenika , Paganetti, 1 ex ( FMNH) ; 1 ex ( MNHN); “ Bosnien ” (localities not specified), Apfelbeck, 2 exx ( FMNH) ; “ Central­Bosnien ” (localities not specified), Reitter, 3 exx ( HNHM) . Bulgaria: Cereps , 25.VI.1909, Rambousek, 1 ex ( NMPC) ; Kameno , Paganetti, 1 ex ( IRSNB) ; Melnik environs, 12–20.V.1981, Wendt, 4 exx ( ZMHB) ; Samokov , 1911, O. Leonhard, 1 ex ( NMW) ; Sofia, 4.VI.1908, Rambousek, 1 ex ( DEI) ; VI.1908, Rambousek, 1 ex ( NMPC) . Croatia: Gospic , Reitter, 1 ex ( DEI) ; 2 exx ( NMW); Istria, Muggia , 23.VI.1930, W. Liebmann, 10 exx ( DEI) ; Knin , Reitter, 1 ex ( HNHM) ; Krivosije , Paganetti, 1 ex ( FMNH) ; Krk Island , 8 km NW Kaska, 200 m, 4.VIII.1999, Schuh, 3 exx ( VAPC) ; Sinj , Klimesch, 1 ex ( NMPC) ; Spalato , Karaman, 1 ex ( NMPC) ; Zagreb, 27.VI.1917, V. Stiller, 1 ex ( HNHM) . Czech Republic: Toušeň , 29.V.1907, 1 ex ( NMPC) ; Vrané , 13.V.1906, Rambousek, 1 ex ( NMPC) . France: Ajaccio, 1 ex ( ETH) ; 1 ex ( FMNH); Belmont, Savoie , Poussielgue, 1 ex ( NMW) ; Bordeaux , 24.XI.1936, G. Tempere, 1 ex ( MHNG) ; Carcassonne , 1 ex ( FMNH) ; Lespignan near Beziers, Herault , 29.IV.1964, Puthz, 3 exx ( MHNG) ; Oloron , VII.1950, 1 ex ( MHNG) ; Roquehaute, Vias environs, 1.V.1964, Puthz, 2 exx ( MHNG) ; Saint Loup , 1 ex ( MNHN) ; Saint Sever, J. Muizon, 2 exx ( MNHN) ; Sainte Baume , 1 ex ( MNHN) ; Saussaz, Monferau Saves , IV.1919, 2 exx ( MNHN) ; Vaucluse, Les Cordiers , 15.IV.1968, P. M. Hammond, 1 ex ( BMNH) ; VI–VII.1969, 12 exx ( BMNH) ; Vaucluse, Les Bassacs , 20.IV.1968, P. M. Hammond, 2 exx ( BMNH) . Germany: Carniolia , Wippach, 3 exx ( MTD) ; Neudorf , 1 ex ( NMW) . Greece: Athos, A. Schatzmayr, 1 ex ( MNHN) ; 1 ex ( MSNM); 2 exx ( NMW); 1 ex ( NMPC); Corfu, Ipsos , 16.IV.1932, M. Seier, 1 ex ( NMW) ; Corfu, Mesongi , 16.V.1972, M. Cerruti, 4 exx ( MNHN) ; Corfu, Val de Ropa , 1 ex ( NMW) ; Corfu , Potamos, 1 ex ( NMW) ; Corfu , Paganetti, 1 ex ( CAS) ; 1903, Paganetti, 4 exx ( FMNH) ; 1905, O. Leonhard, 1 ex ( FMNH) ; 1 ex ( NMW); 1903, Paganetti, 6 exx ( NMPC) ; Epirus, Nomos Ioannina, Kloster Velas S Kalpaki , 350 m, Macchie , 5.V.1994, Schawaller, 1 ex ( SMNS) ; Insel Lesbos, Ostufer Kaloni­Golf, Akhladheri, D. Grimm , 20.V.1995, 1 ex ( SMNS) ; Kassandra, Polichronon , 26.III.1989, 7 exx ( VAPC) ; Kassandra, Sirin , 23.III.1989, 3 exx ( VAPC) ; Lefkas, Vasiliki , 7.VI.1977, Puthz, 1 ex ( MHNG) ; Pakas environs, Olivenkain , 29.III.1996, 9 exx ( VAPC) ; Saloniki , Schatzmayr, 1 ex ( MHNG) ; Vardarabene , 1 ex ( NMPC) ; Zakynthos, 6 km S. Argasi , 27.V.1977, 1 ex ( MHNG) . Hungary: Kalocsa , Speiser, 2 exx ( HNHM) ; Révfülöp , 1926, Csiki, 1 ex ( HNHM) ; Tolna m., 1910, Kaufman, 1 ex ( FMNH) ; “ Hungary ” (localities not specified), Reitter, 2 exx ( CAS) . Iran: Jarahudeh , 1850 m, VIII.1972, 2 exx ( MNHN) . Italy: Canale , Paganetti, 1 ex ( MTD) ; Canzion, Fiume Isonzo , 21.IV.1973, Zanetti, 1 ex ( AZPC) ; Castelnuovo , Apfelbeck, 2 exx ( MTD) ; Khstenland, Zaule , 22.VIII.1909, Springer, 1 ex ( MSNM) ; Liserta­Duino , 12.IV.1931, 1 ex ( MSNM) ; Mount Baldo , 1896, Breit, 1 ex ( NMW) ; Mount Conero , 1899, 1 ex ( FMNH) ; Noghera , 8.V.1921, Schatzmayer, 1 ex ( MSNM) ; Terranova , Sardegna, 3 exx ( BMNH) ; Vittoria , 1 ex ( MNHN) . Macedonia: Athos , Daphni, A. Schatzmayr, 1 ex ( FMNH) ; Bitolj Kenali , VII.1936, 1 ex ( MTD) ; Jalonicki , Vardarebene, 1 ex ( FMNH) ; Kurbinovo , 20.VII.1977, 1 ex ( MHNG) ; Ohrid , 20–30.V.1975, Sama, 1 ex ( AZPC) . Marocco: Plage de Foum , Assaka, 1947, Panouse, 1 ex ( MNHN) . Russia: Krasnodar Terr., Goryachiy Klyuch , 10.VI.1989, Arndt, 1 ex ( ZMHB) ; Caucasus, Mount Sober near Ubinskaja , ca. 600 m, 5–7.VI.1989, Arndt, 1 ex ( ZMHB) ; “ Sarepta " [Volgograd], V. Bodemeyer, 2 exx ( FMNH) . Slovenia: “Castelnuovo” [Podgrad], 1 ex ( MHNG) ; 5 exx ( NMW); Rodik , 15.V.1910, Springer, 1 ex ( MSNM) ; Savina , Paganetti, 3 exx ( FMNH) . Spain: Astorga , Paganetti, 1 ex ( ZMHB) ; Katalonien, San Privat de Bas , 700 m, 14.VII.1977, 18 exx ( MHNG) . Switzerland: Samaden , Gers, 3 exx ( IRSNB) . Turkey: Antalya, Manavgat­Side Coast , 9–21.III.1997, H. Winkelmann, 2 exx ( MSPC) ; Avsallar near Incekum , 22 km W Alanya, 9–23.V.1995, Puthz, 8 exx ( MSPC) ; Eregle­Karadeniz , 7.V.1954, Coiffait, 3 exx ( MNHN) ; Eregli environs, Amatchtar, Zonguldag , 10.V.2001, I. Smatana, 3 exx ( VAPC) ; Isiklar , 26.V.1909, Rambousek, 1 ex ( NMPC) ; Mugla, SE Dalaman , 10 m, flood­plain wood, meadows, 28.III.2002, 28.III.2002, V. Assing, 4 exx ( VAPC) ; Murvica, Zara , VII.1910, Schatzmayer, 3 exx ( MSNM) .

Redescription. Body. Length 2.7–3.4 mm, convex, parallel­sided, glossy; body colour pitchy brown to black; two basal tergites paler, brownish red to brown, legs and antennae brownish red.

Head quadrate; convex, eyes relatively small, moderately protruding from lateral contours of head, length of each seen from above slightly shorter than postocular region; surface of head without microsculpture; puncturation fine and moderately dense. Antennae short, clearly increasing in width apically, antennomeres 2 and 3 subequal in length, antennomeres 4–8 longer than wide, antennomeres 9–10 quadrate, antennomere 11 nearly conical.

Pronotum trapezoid in outline, lateral sides gradually narrowed in straight line to obtuse hind angles; before base with small and shallow transverse impression; surface without microsculpture; puncturation fine, dense and asperate; pubescence at midline directed posteriorly in apical half and anteriorly in basal half.

Elytra subquadrate, at suture as long as pronotal length at midline; surface lacking microsculpture; puncturation fine, dense and asperate.

Abdomen parallel­sided, bases of tergites 3–5 each with deep transverse impression, impressions with 7–8 longitudinal ridges, tergal puncturation fine and relatively sparse, punctures small and weakly visible, surface without microsculpture.

Male. Aedeagus as in Figs. 73–74.

Female. Spermatheca as in Fig. 75.

Taxonomic notes. In his “Naturgeschichte der Insecten Deutschlands” Kraatz (1856) provided redescription as he thought of T. concinna Heer, 1839 . Fauvel (1895) stated that: “ Tachyusa concinna Kr. (non Heer) = nitella Fauv. (nom. nov.)”. In such case, the specimens misidentified by Kraatz (1856) as T. concinna should represent the type series. Unfortunately, the specimens of T. concinna upon which Kraatz provided the description of the species were not found in the collection of Kraatz housed in the Deutsches Entomologisches Institut in Eberswalde, so that it seems safe to assume that the types were lost. Therefore, in the interest of stability of nomenclature and according to ICZN (1999: Article 75) a neotype is designated.

The examination of the types of Tachyusa jonica Scheerpeltz , particularly the genitalia, revealed that it is conspecific with T. nitella and consequently a junior synonym of the latter.

Remarks. See under T. impressa .

Distribution. Tachyusa nitella is widely distributed in the western Palaearctic Region, from Spain in the west to the Caucasus in the east.