Syleter paradoxus ( Putzeys, 1868 )

Balkenohl, Michael, 2021, Revisiting the Oriental genus Syleter Andrewes, 1941 (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Clivinini), Revue suisse de Zoologie 128 (2), pp. 357-374 : 360-362

Syleter paradoxus ( Putzeys, 1868)

Figs 1 , 4 , 7 , 14 , 21

Ardistomis paradoxa Putzeys, 1868: 21 .

Clivina trapezicollis Bates, 1889: 263 .

Psilus paradoxus . – Andrewes, 1926: 381. – Andrewes, 1927: 266. – Andrewes, 1929: 387, fig. 58. – Andrewes, 1930: 288.

Syleter paradoxus . – Lorenz, 1998: 138. – Balkenohl, 2001: 30, fig. 39. – Aston, 2016: 215. – Lorenz, 2005: 148. – Balkenohl, 2017: 260.

Type material examined: Holotype of Syleter trapezicollis ( Bates, 1889) : MNHN; with labels and data: white, handwritten in black ink “ Conchin China ” / white, handwritten in black ink “ Clivina trapezicollis Bates ” / red, printed “ TYPE ”.

Additional material: HONG KONG. MBCB; 1 ♀, H.K. Wu Kau Tang , moss/stream, leg. P. Aston, 7.II.13. – LAOS. NHMW; 1 ♀, N-Laos: Prov. Lg. Nam Tha Luang Nam Tha , at light 19.6. 1996, 550 m leg. Schillhammer. – PBCP; 1 spec., Laos c. Kammouan prov. Nam Theun env., alt. 500 m Route No 8 , N 17°50.7’ E 105°03.2’, 2.-4.5.1998, E. Jendek, O. Sauša lgt. – CHINA. Specimens from Yunnan were investigated in 2001 by the author. – THAILAND. MBCB; 1 ♀, Thailand, Changwat , Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, 250 m, 15.1.1989, leg. Trautner & Geigenmüller. – MFNB; 1 ♀, NO-Thailand, Khon Kaen, lux, 23.11.1989, leg. S. Saowakontha. – TACA; 1 ♀, Thailand, Bangkok, light trap, IX.8.52, W.E. Griffith. – NHMW; 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, S-Thailand, Tale Noi, 7°47’N 100°13’E, Licht, 1.- 2.5.1993, leg. Malicky. – MBCB; 1 ♀, 3 specimens, S Thailand, Sai Buri , Pattani dist., 23.- 28.4.1993, J. Strnad leg. – ADCW; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same data. – PBCP; 10 specimens, same data but 25.IV.1993. – ADCW; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 2 specimens, same data but J. Horák leg. – CAMBODIA. RBINS; 1 ♂, Coll. I.R.Sc.N.B., Cambodia, Banteay Meanchey prov., Ang Trapeang Thmor, Malaise trap, 15.vi.2006, leg. loc ranger. – RBINS; 2 ♀♀, Coll. I.R.Sc.N.B., Cambodia Banteay M prov., Ang Trapeang Thmor W.S. Light Trap, Office Int. Crane F., 18.VI.2005, leg Var & Hagebaert. – NHMB; 1 spec., Indo Chine, Coll. Dussault, Battambang , 1913. – PBCP; 1 spec., Cambodia mer., Takfu , 5.V.84, leg. Frühbauer. – VIETNAM (SOUTH). BMNH; 1 ♀, Saigon, H.E.Andrewes Coll. B.M. 1945-97, figured specimen, Psilus paradoxus Putz. compared with type H.E.A. – MNHN; 1 spec., Saigon, 12.1926, Muséum Paris J. Duchaine 1928. – MNHN; 4 specimens [one of them without pronotum], same data but Coll. A. Bonhoure, 1909. – NHMW; 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀, 31 specimens, S-Vietnam, Nam Cat Tien Nat. Park , 1.- 15.5.1994, Pacholatko & Dembicky. – MNHN; 2 specimens, Vinh-Long, Nov 77, Vinh long Draubert , Muséum Paris ex Coll. R. Oberthür 1952. – MBCB; 1 spec., Vinh-Long, Lumiere Coch, I 48. – PBCP; 1 spec., Long Thanh. – NHMW; 3 specimens, S-Vietnam, 40 km NW An Khe Buon Luoi , 620 -750 m, 14°10’N 108°30’E 28.3, 12.4.1995, Pacholatko & Dembicky. – MNHN; 2 specimens, Conchin China, Psilus trapezicollis [one of them found with empty abdomen]. – BMNH; 1 ♀, 3 specimens, Conchinchine, Bien Hoa , 12-1902, Cap. Fouquet, Psilus trapezicollis Bates , Museum Paris ex Coll. M. Maindron Coll. G. Babault 1930, one of them with additional label = Psilus paradoxus Putz. det. Kult. – BMNH; 1 ♀, Conchinchine, Long Xuyen, Dorr. , Ex. Coll. E. Fleutiaux, Psilus trapezicollis Bates compared with type H.E.A., H.E. Andrewes Coll. B.M. 1945- 97. – MALAYSIA. – BMNH; 1 ♂, Malaya, Kuan , at light, 28.XII.1926, G.H. Corbett., Gesch. 8.1938 von Andrewes, ex. coll. Brit. Mus., 3017, paradoxus Putz., F. van Emden Bequest. B.M. 1960129, Psilus paradoxus Putz. H.E.Andrewes det.; – NHMG; 1 ♂, Malaisie, Selangor, Sungei Buloh , Kuala Lumpur, 27-VII-72, T. Jaccoud; – BMNH; 1 ♀, Penang, Bowring 63.47*, Psilus paradoxus Putz. (over), compared with type H.E.A. – PBCP; 1 spec., Malaysia, Benom Mts., 15 kmE of Kampong Dong , 750 m, 3°53’N, 102°01’E, 1.iv.1998, Hauck lgt. – SINGAPORE. BMNH; 1 ♂, Singapore, Parit Satu , at light, 28 -29.xi.1960, C.H. Fernando, Brit. Mus. 1961-206.

Extended diagnosis: Head ( Fig. 1 ) anterior eyes conspicuously elongated, with distinctly impressed punctured transverse clypeal furrow in form of an acute letter V, with a circular pore on the frons at the bottom of the V; clypeus smooth, with scattered micropunctures, clypeal wing and supraantennal plate smooth, frons with distinct isodiametric reticulation parallel to frontal carinae, reticulation often more indistinct at middle of frons; neck constriction developed as row of punctures, with or without gap at middle; labrum seven-setose; mandible conspicuously elongated, with apex hooked. Pronotum with reflexed lateral margin complete, straight but diverging in anterior half; lateral channel of pronotum of same width over entire length, flange convex, three times as wide as basal constriction; disk somewhat dull, distinctly isodiametrically to transversally reticulated, with more or less circular paramedian and paralateral group of punctures restricted to basal half; with posterior angle obtuse but distinct. Elytron with intervals one to seven smooth, interval eight with longitudinal reticulation, with distinct tubercle at basal declivity of third interval; striae wide, finely granulated, with punctures indistinct, umbilical setigerous punctures of equal distance, lateral margin at apex about 20% widened. Male genitalia ( Fig. 14 ) with aedeagus regularly curved at middle, elongated to apex, at apex with conspicuous and widened securiform lamella, parameres asetose. Female genitalia ( Fig. 21 ) with coxostylus regularly curved at apex, with moderately sized cone-like seta preapically, ventro-medially with thirteen nematiform setae, seven of them elongated, laterotergite with four long and one moderately long nematiform setae. Measurements. Body length 3.51-4.32 mm (x = 3.96 mm *), width 1.21-1.39 mm (x = 1.29 mm *), ratio length/width of pronotum 1.0-1.03 (x = 1.0*), ratio length/width of elytra 1.61-1.74 (x = 1.66*); (*n = 10).

Variability was observed in the extension of the two groups of punctures laterally on the pronotum. Interval eight of the elytron is narrower and flattened at apex in many specimens. The reticulation on interval eight is usually of moderate distinctness but in some specimens it extends more or less to intervals seven and six. The reticulation on the head is restricted to the frons but is in some specimens developed at the frontal furrows, in others it extends more or less to the middle. The V-like sulcus at the middle of the frons is more or less distinctly developed by punctures. The neck constriction is more or less distinctly developed, in some specimens nearly closed and in others with a distinct gap in the middle. The scattered micropunctures on the clypeus are different in number.

Distribution: Hong Kong, South of China, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam (South), Malaysia, Singapore. According to label information, specimens were found from sea level up to an altitude of 750 m. Aston (2016) reports a specimen collected in Hong Kong in moss in a shallow stream.

Type locality: Bangkok.

Remarks: The holotype was found to lack the abdomen. The holotype of S. paradoxus collected in Bangkok was not studied. The redescriptive extended diagnosis is based on the comparison of the original description ( Putzeys, 1868), the detailed redescription including figuring of the habitus by Andrewes (1929), the two specimens Andrewes compared with the type including the specimen figured by Andrewes, and additional material collected at and near by the type locality. Moreover, 49 additional specimens were available.

In Lorenz (1998, 2005), Clivina lignicola Bouchard, 1903 is synonymized with S. paradoxus . This synonymization is not followed because the description clearly refers to another species group, most obvious by the large preapical protuberance of the mesotibia. According to current knowledge, S. paradoxus was not found in Sumatra as indicated in the description of Clivina lignicola . Although the MNHN is given as type depository ( Bouchard, 1903), the type could not be located there.

Figures

Figs 1-3. Head, dorsal view. (1) Syleter paradoxus (Putzeys, 1868).(2) Parasyleter doriae (Putzeys, 1873) comb.nov.(3) Clypeuspinus validus (Andrewes, 1936) comb. nov.

Figs 4-6. Right mesotibia. (4) Syleter paradoxus (Putzeys, 1868) showing the small preapical protuberance and its seta inserted apically (arrow). (5) Parasyleter doriae (Putzeys, 1873) comb. nov. with no tubercles at all. (6) Clypeuspinus validus (Andrewes, 1936) comb. nov. showing the long protuberance and its seta inserted laterally (arrow).

Figs 7-13. Syleter spp., habitus. (7) S. paradoxus (Putzeys, 1868), specimen from Bangkok, female. (8) S. acutipalpis (Putzeys, 1877), lectotype. (9) S. fulvaster (Andrewes, 1927), paratype, male. (10) S. papua Darlington, 1962, paratype, female. (11) S. sinepunctatus sinepunctatus sp. nov., holotype. (12) S. sinepunctatus kluangensis ssp. nov., holotype. (13) S. gradus sp. nov. holotype.

Figs 14-20. Male genitalia, ventral view (above) and lateral view (below) of aedeagus with parameres in between. (14) Syleter paradoxus (Putzeys, 1868), specimen from Tale Noi, Thailand. (15) S. acutipalpis (Putzeys, 1877), lectotype. (16) S. fulvaster (Andrewes, 1927), paratype. (17) S. papua Darlington, 1962, paratype.(18) S. sinepunctatus sinepunctatus sp. nov., holotype. (19) S. sinepunctatus kluangensis ssp. nov., holotype. (20) S. gradus sp. nov. holotype.

Figs 21-27. Female coxostyli with laterotergite. (21) Syleter paradoxus (Putzeys, 1868), specimen from Tale Noi, Thailand, with latero- and mediotergite. (22) S. acutipalpis (Putzeys, 1877), specimen from Lilong, China. (23) S. fulvaster (Andrewes, 1927), holotype. (24) S. papua Darlington, 1962, paratype. (25) S. sinepunctatus sinepunctatus sp. nov., paratype. (26) S. sinepunctatus kluangensis sp. nov., paratype. (27) S. gradus sp. nov. paratype.