Pseudobironium languei ( Achard, 1920 )

Löbl, Ivan & Tang, Liang, 2013, A review of the genus Pseudobironium Pic (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scaphidiinae), Revue suisse de Zoologie 120 (4), pp. 665-734 : 705-707

Pseudobironium languei ( Achard, 1920) Fig. 58

Morphoscapha languei Achard, 1920: 133 .

Pseudobironium tonkineum Pic, 1923b: 195 , syn. nov.

Cyparium monticola Miwa & Mitono, 1943: 536 .

TYPE MATERIAL OF MORPHOSCAPHA LANGUEI : Syntypes; MNHN. Type locality: Vietnam, Tonkin, Laokai. Examined many year ago by the senior author, at present not available for study.

TYPE MATERIAL OF P. TONKINEUM : Lectotype ♀; MNHN, by present designation, labelled: Hoa Binh Tonkin / Type / Morphoscapha grossum probabl /envoye un a Achard / Pseudobironium tonkineum Pic [handwritten] / TYPE (red printed) / Pseudobironium languei (Achard) det. Löbl, 1970 / Lectotype Pseudobironium tonkineum Pic det. I. Löbl, 2013. Paralectotypes, 2 ♀: MNHN, fixed on the same pin and below the lectotype, by present designation (see below).

TYPE MATERIAL OF CYPARIUM MONTICOLA : Lectotype Ƌ: TARI. Type locality: Taiwan, Kuaru. Lectotype designation and synonymy: Löbl, 2011b: 203.

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL EXAMINED: THAILAND, Chumphon Prov., Pha To env. 9°48'N 98°47'E, 1.-21.III.1996, 1 ex. leg. K. Majer ( NHMB) . – Mae Hong Son, Huai Sua Tao , 11.-17.V.1992, 1 ex. leg. J. Strnad ( NHMW) . – LAOS, Bolikhamxai Prov., Rd. no. 8, Kharneut ( Na Hin ) 500m, 30-31.X.2003, 2 ex. leg. S. Kurbatov ( MHNG) . – Houa Phan Prov., 20°13'09- 19''N 103°59'54''- 104°00'03''E, 1480-1550m, Phou Pane Mt. , 9.-16.VI.2009, 2 ex., leg. D. Hauck ( NHMB, MHNG) . – Kham Mouan Prov., Ban Khoum Ngeun , env. 200m, 18°07'N 104°29'E, 19.-31.V.2001, 2 ex. leg. P. Pacholátko ( NHMB, MHNG) . – Same data but 24-29.IV.2001, 1 ex. leg. V. Kubán ( NHMB) . – Xieng Khouang Prov., 19°37-38'N 103°20'E Phonsavan (30km NE): Phou Sane Mt. , env. 1400-1500m, 10.-30.V.2009, 1 ex. leg. Z. Kraus ( NHMB) . – VIETNAM, Tonkin Hoa Binh, 3 ex. leg. de Cooman ( MNHN) . – Tonkin Hoa Binh, 27 ex. ( MNHN) . – Tonkin Hoa Binh, 1 ex. leg. H. Perrot ( MHNG) ; Hoa Binh, 4-7.VI.1986, 1 ex. J. Horák ( MHNG) . – Cuc Phuong , 24.-25.V.1986, 5 ex. leg. J. Rybníček ( NHMB, MHNG) . – Same data but VIII.1986, 6 ex. leg. J. Horák ( MHNG, NHMB) . – Cuc Phuong , 15.VI.1985, 1 ex. leg. A. Olexa ( MHNG) . – Cuc Phuong , 24.-25.V.1986, 3 ex. leg. A. Olexa ( MHNG, NHMB) . – Tam Dao , 900m, 13.- 24.V.1986, 1 ex. leg. A. Olexa ( NHMB) . – Ho Long , 29. 5.-1.6.1980, 1 ex. leg. J. Jelínek ( MHNG) .

DISTRIBUTION: West Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Taiwan (for records from Taiwan see Löbl, 2012b: 203).

COMMENTS: Pic (1923) described his P. tonkineum from “ Tonkin: Hoa Binh ”. In the MNHN that houses the Pic collection is a series of 33 conspecific specimens from Hoa Binh. Among them, 3 females on a single pin, and bearing handwritten Pic’s labels, are considered syntypes. The remaining specimens may be members of the original type series. However, in doubt, they are not considered to be syntypes. Löbl (2011b: 203-204) gave new records from Taiwan, mentioned diagnostic characters, and illustrated its antenna, maxillary palpus and aedeagus. The species may be distinguished from the similar P. sparsepunctatum (Pic) by its distinctive shape of the apex of the median lobe and the parameres, as seen in lateral view (Fig 58).

Pseudobironium lewisi Achard, 1923 Figs 59-62 Pseudobironium lewisi Achard, 1923: 118 .

LECTOTYPE: Ƌ, NHML, aedeagus mounted on celuloid plate, labelled: Syntype (round) / Nagasaki 13.II.-21.VI.81 / Japan. G. Lewis. 1910 - 320 / Pseudobironium (Morphoscapha) Lewisi n.sp. Type (handwritten by Achard) / Pseudobironium lewisi Achard R.J.W.Aldridge det 1975 SYNTYPE / Lectotype Pseudobironium lewisi Achard det. Löbl, 2013.

PARALECTOTYPES: NHML, 2 Ƌ, aedeagi examined, bearing round syntype and “ Pseudobironium lewisi Achard R.J.W.Aldridge det 1975 SYNTYPE ” labels and additional labels “Miyanoshita / Japan G. Lewis 1910 - 320” .

PARALECTOTYPES: sex not examined, 3 ex. NMPC, labelled Nagasaki 13.II.-21.IV.81 / Japan. G. Lewis. 1910 - 320 (printed) / Pseudobironium Lewisi Ach. n. sp. (hanswritten) .

PARALECTOTYPES; ♀, NHML, probably conspecific with the lectotype, with the round syntype and “ Pseudobironium lewisi Achard R.J.W.Aldridge det 1975 SYNTYPE ” labels- – 1 ex. with additional “Hakone 17.IV.-19.IV.80 / Japan G. Lewis 1910 - 320” ; 2 ex. “Miyanoshita / Japan G. Lewis 1910 - 320” .

PARALECTOTYPES: NHML, misidentified Scaphisoma castaneipenne Reitter, 1877 , all with the round syntype and " Pseudobironium lewisi Achard R.J.W.Aldridge det 1975 SYNTYPE " labels: 1 Ƌ and 1 ex. not dissected Nikko / Japan G. Lewis 1910 - 320 ; 1 ex. Miyanoshita / Japan G. Lewis 1910 - 320 ; 1 ex., Ashiwo 26.8.81 / Japan G. Lewis 1910 - 320 .

PARALECTOTYPE; Ƌ, NHML, misidentified Pseudobironium augur sp. nov., see under latter species.

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL EXAMINED (only males). JAPAN, Honshu, Gunma Pref., below Usui Pass , 750m and 900m, 20. and 25.VII.1980, 5 ex. leg. I. Löbl ( MHNG) . – Gumna Pref., below Usui Bypass , 700m, 20.VII.1980, 2 ex. leg. I. Löbl ( MHNG) . – Gunma Pref., 3 km N Tsumagoi , 1100m, 18.VII.1980, 1 ex. leg. I. Löbl ( MHNG) . – Honshu, Tochigi Pref., Nikko Nat. Park, Ryuzu , 1400m, 16.7.1980, 1 ex. leg I. Löbl ( MHNG) . – Honshu, Tochigi Pref., Chuzenji , 1 ex. leg. G. Lewis ( NHML) . – Honshu , Gifu Pref., 8km SE Osaka, 750m, 1.VIII.1980, 2 ex. leg. I. Löbl ( MHNG) . – Honshu , Gifu Pref., 9 km E Gero, 450-500m, 31.7.1980, 3 ex. leg. I. Löbl ( MHNG) . – Honshu, Nara Pref., Nara Park , 27.-31.VII.1980, 3 ex. leg. C. Besuchet ( MHNG) . – Honshu, Hiogo Pref. , "Higo", 1 ex. leg. G. Lewis ( NHML) . – Honshu , " Kioto " 1 ex. ( NMPC) . – Shikoku, Ehime Pref., Mt. Ishizuchi , 1000m, 14.VIII.1980, 1 ex. leg. I. Löbl ( MHNG) . – Shikoku, Ishizuchi Nat. Park, Omogo valley , 700m, 18-25.VIII.1980, 1 ex. leg. S. & J. Peck ( MHNG) . – Shikoku, Ishizuchi Nat. Park, Tsuchigoya , 1400m, 11-18.VIII.1980, 1 ex. leg. S. & J. Peck ( MHNG) . – Shikoku, Tokushima Prof., Mt. Tsurugi , 25-26.VII.1954, 1 ex. leg. M. Chûjô ( MHNG) . – Kyushu, Kumamoto Pref., Izumi vill., 6.VII.1991, 2 ex. leg. T. Uéno ( MHNG) . – Kyushu, Kumamoto Pref., Hitoyoshi , 15.-17.V.1881, 1 ex. leg. G. Lewis ( NHML) .

ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSTIC CHARACTERS: Length 2.40-2.95 mm, width 1.65- 2.05 mm. Maxillary palpi with palpomere IV tapering, about 3 times as long as wide. Length ratio of antennomeres as II 12: III 10: IV 16: V 16: VI 14: VII 16: VIII 15: IX 15: X 16: XI 18; antennomere XI about 2.5 times as long as wide (17:7). Pronotum almost as coarsely punctate as elytra. Inferior part of prohypomera with punctation more dense and consisting of punctures distinctly larger than on superior area. Posterior half of mesosternite densely, finely punctate, lacking median ridge. Metaventrite not microsculptured. Submesocoxal area about as long as half of shortest interval to metacoxa. Metacoxal process distinctly punctate, lacking stria or tubercle, with weakly convave margin. Mesotibial ventral spur straight. Abdominal sternite 1 with punctulate microsculpture that may be evanescent on laterobasal area.

Male: Protarsus shorter and protibia, with segments 1 to 3 almost as wide as apex of protibia, bearing moderately long tenent setae. Aedeagus (Figs 59-62) 0.92-1.12 mm long. Internal sac without flagellum, with mesal guide-sclerites, bilobed plate joined to pair of short subcylindrical sclerites. Membranes with inconspicuous strigulate structures, in apical part with long hair-like structures.

DISTRIBUTION: Japan: Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu.

COMMENTS: The description of the species was based on specimens collected by G. Lewis, coming from Nagasaki, Hakone, Miyanoshita, Ashiwo, and Nikko, the number of specimens examined was not mentioned by Achard (1923). The sole specimen from Nagasaki of the series housed in the NHML was deemed to be holotype ( Löbl, 1969). In fact, it is a lectotype, designated in that paper (ICZN, Art. 74.6). FIGS 58-62

(58) Pseudobironium languei (Achard) , aedeagus in lateral view. (59-62) Pseudobironium lewisi Achard , aedeagus in dorsal (59) and lateral (60) views, tip of median lobe in lateral view (61), internal sac (62) in dorsal view; scale bars for aedeagus = 0.2 mm, for internal sac = 0.1 mm.

Subsequently, R.J.W. Aldridge removed the holotype label and added under all original specimens syntype labels.

The species was several times redescribed and reported from various Japanese localities, e.g. by Miwa & Mitono (1943), Nakane (1955, 1963), Löbl (1969). The records of P. lewisi may be based on misidentification, as the presence of a second species of Pseudobironium in Japan was overlooked and some diagnostic characters were not mentioned. The previous illustrations of the aedeagus ( Löbl, 1969: 326) lack detail, therefore new illustrations are given here (Figs 59-62).