Aleochara (Triochara) trisulcata Weise, 1877

(Figs. 53–56, 65–78, 104)

Aleochara trisulcata Weise, 1877: 88 (original description; type locality: “Hagi” [Hagi-shi, Yamaguchi-ken, western end of Honshû]); Lewis, 1879: 6 (catalogue of Japanese Coleoptera); Schönfeldt, 1887: 66 (catalogue of Japanese Coleoptera); Sawada, 1972: 39 (chaetotaxy of labial palpus), 40 (comments on pores of labial pulpus); Shibata, 1985: 321 (short description in Japanese; Coleoptera of Japan), pl. 56 (habitus of specimen; misidentification of A. zerchei ?); Naomi, S.I., 1989: 280 (checklist of Japanese Staphylinidae).

Aleochara (Triochara) trisulcata Weise, 1877; Bernhauer, 1901b: 373 (establishement of subgenus); Fenyes, 1920: 414 (catalogue of world species of Aleocharinae); Scheerpeltz, 1925: 447 (catalogue of Palaearctic species of Aleocharinae); Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 795 (catalogue of world species of Aleocharinae); Adachi 1957: 34 (catalogue of Japanese species of Staphylinidae); Nakane, 1963: 100 (description in Japanese; Coleoptera of Japan), pl. 50 (habitus of specimen; misidentification of A. zerchei ?); Sawada, 1971: 312 (redescription); Sawada, 1972: table (character states, listed); Maus & Ashe, 1998c (online) (world checklist of subgenus); Cho & Ahn, 2001: 14, 31 (checklist of Korean Silphidae and Staphylinidae), 157(pl. 2) (habitus of specimen; misidentification of A. zerchei ?); de Rougemont, 2001: 85 (record from Hong Kong); Park & Ahn, 2004: 195 (key to littoral species of genus Aleochara in Korea), 196 (diagnosis; record from South Korea); Smetana, 2004: 358 (catalogue of Palaearctic species of Aleocharinae); Yamazaki, 2008: 152 (dipteran host record); Frank & Ahn, 2011: 20 (checklist of coastal Staphylinidae of world); Yamazaki, 2012: 32 (ecological research).

Triochara trisulcata (Weise, 1877); Assing, 1995: 230 (diagonostic key to species of genus), 230 (redescription; lectotype designation).

Aleochara (Triochara) trisultata Weise, 1877 [misspelling]; Kuwayama, 1967: 138 (record from Kunashiri-tô; insect catalogue of southern Kuril Islands; misidentification of A. (T.) zerchei or A. (T.) nubis ?).

Type specimens. Not examined.

Non-type specimens. JAPAN: [Honshû]: 4 sex?, Benten-misaki (Sadoga-shima), Higashikowashimizu, Sado-shi, Niigata-ken (38.008N, 138.546E), 4 V 1998, Kinoshita-T. (cWat); 1 sex?, same data, but 5 V 1998, Tsuyuki-S. (cWat); 2 sex?, Ikarashi-hama, Ikarashi-2no-chô, Niigata-shi, Niigata-ken (37.871N, 138.927E), 29 V 1991, Hayashi-M. (sandy beach; cKaw); 1 3, Naga-hama, Nagai-2chôme 13, Yokosuka-shi, Kanagawa-Ken (35.191N, 139.615E), 7 IV 1975, Tao-M. (KUM); 1 sex?, Tsumeki-zaki, Shimoda-shi, Shizuoka-ken (34.659N, 138.987E), 21 IV 2003, Maruyama-M. (cMar); 2 sex?, Mukaiawagasaki, Uchinada-machi, Kahoku-gun, Ishikawaken (36.640N, 136.622E), 12 IV 1948, Takaba-S. (KUM); 2 sex?, Obama-shi, Fukui-ken (35.485N, 135.719E *), 6 VI 1980, Naomi-S.I. (KUM); 1 Ƥ, Maizuru, Kyôto-fu (35.514N, 135.387E *), 3 V 1980, Hayashi-Y. (cHayas); 1 sex?, river mouth of Onosato-gawa, Tarui, Sennan-shi, Ôsaka-fu (34.377N, 135.250E), 15 IV 2001, Kawakami-Y. (cKaw); 3 3, 24 sex?, Kugui, Higashi-ku, Okayama-shi, Okayama-ken (34.584N, 134.086E *), 31 III 2003, Fujitani-Y. (KUM); 2 Ƥ, 31 sex?, same data, but 9 V 2003 (under seaweed on beach); 18 sex?, same data, but 28 V 2003; 1 3, 11 sex?, Inazumi, Sugeura, Mihonoseki-chô, Matue-shi, Shimane-ken (35.564N, 133.166E *), 1-2 VI 2008, Hayama-T. (sandy beach; cHayam); 70 sex?, Konami-kaigan, Nonami, Shimane-chô, Matue-shi, Shimaneken (35.589N, 133.098E), 2-3 VI 2008, Hayama-T. (cHayam); 1 sex?, Koura-kaigan, Koura, Kashima-chô, Matueshi, Shimane-ken (35.520N, 132.975E), 16-18 VII 2009, Hayama-T. (FIT; cHayam); 47 sex?, Sotozono-kaigan, Sashiumi, Koryô-chô, Izumo-shi, Shimane-ken (35.333N, 132.664E), 8 III 2007, Hayama-T. (under seaweed; cHayam); 37 sex?, same data, but 12-13 IV 2009; 26 sex?, Kotoga-hama, Maji, Nima-chô, Ôda-shi, Shimane-ken (35.131N, 132.389E), 2 V 2009, Hayama-T. (YPT on supratidal zone; cHayam); 6 sex?, Kuromatsu-chô, Gôtsushi, Shimane-ken (35.057N, 132.310E), 2 V 2009, Hayama-T. (from seaweed; cHayam); 1 sex?, Iwami-kaigan, Kushiro-chô, Hamada-shi, Shimane-ken (34.955N, 132.127E), 16-17 VI 2008, Hayama-T. (YPT; cHayam); 1 sex?, Nagashima (Naga-shima), Kaminoseki-chô, Kumage-gun, Yamaguchi-ken (33.827N, 132.091E), 1 V 2008, Moriguchi-M. (KUM). [Shikoku]: 3 sex?, Ariake-hama, Muromoto-chô, Kanonji-shi, Kagawa-ken (34.139N, 133.642E), 9 IV 2011, Fujimoto-H. (sandy beach; KUM); 23 sex?, Iwagi (Akahone-jima), Kamijima-chô, Ochigun, Ehime-ken (34.234N, 133.159E *), 2 V 2009, Satô-Y. (EEEU); 5 sex?, same data, but 7 V 2010, Senda-Y.; 2 3, 2 Ƥ, 2 sex?, Ôura, Matsuzaka-shi, Ehime-ken (33.996N, 132.771E), 15 IV 2010, Kawakami-Y. (cKaw). [Kyûshû]: 9 sex?, Watari, Fukutsu-shi, Fukuoka-ken (33.786N, 130.454E), 21 IV 2012, Yamamoto-S., Maruyama- M., Kanao-T. (from seaweed on small sandy beach with Aleochara (Emplenota) segregata; KUM); 10 sex?, Watari, Fukutsu-shi, Fukuoka-ken (33.790N, 130.447E), 21 IV 2012, Yamamoto-S., Maruyama-M., Kanao-T. (from seaweed on huge sandy beach with A. (E.) segregata; KUM); 2 sex?, Mitoma, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken (33.703N, 130.417E), 3 VI 2001, Ogata-S. (KUM); 13 3, 23 sex?, Shimomaga-hama, Katsuma, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken (33.684N, 130.290E), 15 V 2011 (11:30), Yamamoto-S. (seaweed on sandy beach with A. (E.) segregata; cYam); 113 sex?, same data, but 21 III 2012; 2 sex?, Noko (Nokono-shima), Nishiku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken (33.608N, 130.299E), 20 III 2009, Yamamoto-S. (from a seaweed mass on sandy beach with A. (E.) segregata and A. (T.) zerchei; cYam); 1 sex?, Takero-kaigan, Kayaki-machi, Nagasaki-shi, Nagasaki-ken (32.638N, 129.799E), 29 III 1992, Kusui-Y. (cItô); 2 sex?, Kin (Tsu-shima), Kamitsushima-chô, Tsushima-shi, Nagasaki-ken (34.568N, 129.469E), 5 V 2009, Yamamoto-S. (from decaying seaweed on sandy beach with A. (E.) fucicola; cYam); 1 3, 3 Ƥ, 8 sex?, Higashimochida, Aira-chô, Aira-gun, Kagoshima-ken (31.724N, 130.640E *), 22 V 1984, Ôhara-M. (KUM). [Ryûkyû]: 1 3, 8 Ƥ, 5 sex?, Nakatane-chô (Tanega-shima), Kumage-gun, Kagoshima-ken (30.515N, 130.980E), 8-13 V 1996, Maruyama-M. (cMar); 1 Ƥ, Akaogi (Amami- Ôshima), Tatsugou-chô, Ôshima-gun, Kagoshima-ken (28.415N, 129.627E), 25 III 1978, Naomi-S.I. (KUM); 2 sex?, Kametsu (Tokuno-shima), Tokunoshima-chô, Ôshima-gun, Kagoshima-ken (27.716N, 129.018E *), 24 IV 1954, Kumata-T. (SCM); 2 sex?, China-chô (Okinoerabu-jima), Ôshima-gun, Kagoshima-ken (27.396N, 128.560E *), 24 III 1966, Itô-T. (cHayas).

Other specimens. [JAPAN]: 1 sex?, Japan /Mus. Germ. [HW]// trisulcata We. [HW]/det. Bernhauer// Chicago NHMus/M. Bernhauer/Collection. [FMNH]. [CHINA, Hong Kong]: 1 male, Tai Long Wan, Lantau Island (22.220N, 113.884E *), 30 III 1997, de Rougemont G. M. (BMNH); 1 sex?, Hong Kong /Waeken Coll/93-58 [HW]/ / China /Brit. Mus. [HW]// trisulcata /Wse. [HW]//Chicago NHMus/M. Bernhauer/Collection. [FMNH].

Redescription. Body (Fig. 53): medium to somewhat large, normally medium sized; extremely robust and heavily sclerotized; very narrowly subparallel sided; entire body shining, but punctured areas of forebody, especially elytra, mat. Colour (Figs. 53–56): gland colour black to blackish brown with sometimes lighter colour in elytra; legs, especially tarsal segments, brown to reddish brown; maxillary and labial palpi reddish brown to brownish brown; antennae dark brown and partly reddish brown. Head (Fig. 53): longitudinal deep furrows on each side of midline, connected by deep transverse sulci at base. Antennae (Fig. 65): thick and quite robust; clearly shorter than combined length of head and pronotum; segment I, nearly 2.2 times as long as broad; segment II prominently shorter than I; segment III prominently shorter than II; segment IV normally spherical in certain angle; segments V to X strongly transverse; segment XI, about 1.3 times as long as broad; relative length (width) of segments from basal to apical: 10(4.5): 6.5(3): 4.5(3): 2(3): 2(4): 2(4): 2(4): 2(4.5): 2(4.5): 2(4.5): 6(4.5). Thorax: pronotum (Figs. 53–54) slightly wider than long (PW/PL =1.19), a little broader than head (PW/HW =1.26); surface blackishly shining without hexagonal reticulations and shallow distinct punctures, but some deep-distinct punctures and prominent longitudinal three furrows along midline forming three-dimensional patterns; impunctured areas largely similar to half-moon shape (without exception, and never cut into completely separated pieces; yellow coloured: Fig. 54), surface of half-moon shining, and located at each side of midline; partly covered with short and thick brown-setae along furrows and deep punctures (white line: Fig. 54); furrows of each side of midline slightly extended toward anterior (blue line: Fig. 54). Inter coxal process of mesoventrite (Figs. 55–56) extremely sharp. Surface of mesoventrite (Figs. 55–56) rough. Inter coxal process of metaventrite (Fig. 55) triangular and pointed above. Legs (Fig. 70): hindtibia quite short, about 0.7 times as long as elytra (measured along midline); relative lengths of tarsomeres from basal to apical: 4: 3: 3: 3: 6 in foretarsus, 6: 4: 4: 4: 8 in midtarsus, 8: 5: 5: 5: 10 in hindtarsus. Abdomen: posterior margin of tergite VIII (Figs. 71–72), with a row of thick and short several sensory setae.

[Male]: posterior margin of tergite VIII (Fig. 71) nearly truncate, with around 8 macrosetae. Sternite VIII (Fig. 73) with about 4 macrosetae and around 5 thin macrosetae; posterior margin produced weakly and medially. Median lobe of aedeagus (Figs. 75–76) compactly elongated, moderately narrowed apically, elongated pyriform in ventral view (Fig. 76); a pair of circular subapico-ventral projections in lateral view (Fig. 75); apical lobe of median lobe extremely short-isosceles shape in ventral view (Fig. 76); flagellum shorter than the whole length of median lobe (Figs. 75–76).

[Female]: posterior margin of tergite VIII (Fig. 72) gently rounded or almost truncate, with around 7 macrosetae. Sternite VIII (Fig. 74) with 4 large macrosetae and around 3 thinner macrosetae; posterior margin moderately pointed and no big differences in compared with male. Spermatheca (Fig. 78): spermathecal head large, nearly twice longer than spermathecal stem (sa); spermathecal neck clearly shorter than (sa); basal portion of spermathecal stem distorted, with some bents.

Measurements (male: n=10): BL, 3.12–3.91 (3.62±0.24); FBL, 1.68–1.98 (1.84±0.09); HL, 0.45–0.62 (0.52±0.05); HW, 0.54–0.69 (0.63±0.04); AL, 0.74–0.91 (0.81±0.06); PL, 0.58–0.74 (0.68±0.05); PW, 0.68–0.86 (0.79±0.05); EL, 0.57–0.68 (0.62±0.03); EW, 0.82–0.99 (0.91±0.05); HTL, 0.37–0.54 (0.47±0.05).

Measurements (female: n=10): BL, 2.84–4.01 (3.34±0.42); FBL, 1.29–1.81 (1.62±0.17); HL, 0.38–0.51 (0.46±0.04); HW, 0.46–0.61 (0.55±0.05); AL, 0.59–0.83 (0.72±0.07); PL, 0.42–0.64 (0.58±0.07); PW, 0.55–0.79 (0.70±0.08); EL, 0.47–0.66 (0.58±0.06); EW, 0.66–0.89 (0.80±0.08); HTL, 0.27–0.48 (0.41±0.05).

Confirmed distribution by authors. [JAPAN]: Honshû, Shikoku, Kyûshû, Ryûkyû, Sadoga-shima, Tsushima, Tanega-shima, Amami-Ôshima, Tokuno-shima, Okinoerabu-jima (See, Fig. 104 for Japanese distribution); [CHINA]: Hong Kong.

Other records in literature. [SOUTH KOREA]: Chungnam Province, Jeonnam Province, Jeju Province (Park & Ahn, 2004); [RUSSIA]: Far East (Ahn et al., 2000; no original citation; doubtful record).

Diagnosis. Aleochara trisulcata can be easily distinguished from the other Triochara species by a combination of the following character states: dorsal surface of head and pronotum shining; longitudinal subparallel furrows on head connected with a deep furrow at basal head (not shared character in A. nubis); impunctured areas on pronotum similar to half-moon shape (never cut into completely separated pieces) and located at each side of midline (details in Fig. 54); furrows on pronotum deep and prominent, never cut into pieces or wavy (Fig. 54); posterior margin of tergite VIII (Figs. 71–72) with a row of thick sensory setae (distinguishable character from A. zerchei and A. nubis). [Male]: a pair of subapico-ventral projections on median lobe of aedeagus circular in lateral view (Fig. 75). [Female]: spermathecal stem (bs) (Fig. 78) moderately curved with some bents which is making somewhat similar to M-shape.

Remarks. This species is quite similar to A. zerchei, so that reconsideration of the records in the literature from Japan and adjacent regions is needed. For example, Ahn et al. (2000) recorded A. trisulcata with a short redescription and illustrations of genitalia of both sexes, however, this turned out to be a misidentification of A. zerchei by Park and Ahn (2004). In the latter paper, the presence of short longitudinal carina on tergite segments IV to V is mentioned as an important character state of A. trisulcata, but we could not confirm this character. They may have misidentified the character states or misjudged them.

Old records in Hokkaidô and the southern Kuril Islands are possibly misidentification of Aleochara (Triochara) zerchei and A. (T.) nubis . We did not confirm any specimen of true A. trisulcata in such regions.

Yamazaki (2008) recorded Fucellia apicalis Kertész, 1908 ( Diptera, Anthomyiidae) as one of the host species of A. (T.) trisulcata and A. (E.) fucicola . Information on the parasitized months (April, May) is presented in Yamazaki (2012). Pupation takes place in the puparium of its host fly (Yamazaki, 2008, 2012).