Anaulacaspis caucasica ( FAGEL, 1969 )

Assing, Volker, 2016, Revision of the Anaulacaspis species of the Palaearctic region (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), Beiträge Zur Entomologie = Contributions to Entomology 66 (2), pp. 201-255 : 225-226

Anaulacaspis caucasica ( FAGEL, 1969)

( Figs 31–34 , Map 2 )

Melagria caucasica FAGEL, 1969: 11 f.

Type material examined: Holotype ♂: “Caucase / nigra / nigra Hochh. / R.I.Sc.N.B. 17.479, Falagria, Coll. et det. A. Fauvel / G. Fagel det. 1969, Melagria caucasica n. sp. / Type / Anaulacaspis caucasica (Fagel) , det. V. Assing 2016” ( IRSNB) . Paratypes: 1 ♂: “ Caucasus, Araxesthal , Leder . Reitter / Falagria nigra Grav., Coll. Reitter / G. Fagel det. 1969, Melagria caucasica n. sp. / Paratype / Anaulacaspis caucasica ( Fagel) , det. V. Assing 2016” ( IRSNB); 1 ♀: “ Caucasus , Araxesthal , Leder Reitter / G. Fagel det. 1969, caucasica n. sp. / Paratype / Anaulacaspis caucasica ( Fagel) , det. V. Assing 2016” ( IRSNB) .

Comment: The original description is based on a male holotype from “Caucase”, two male and one female paratypes from “Caucasus, Araxesthal” and one female paratype from “Caspi-M. Gebiet, Resano” ( FAGEL 1969).

Additional material examined: Azerbaijan: 1 ♂, Xanlar [“Helenendorf ”], leg. Reitter (NHMW).

Iran: Azarbayjan-e Gharbi: 9 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀, road Khoy – Siyah Chesmeh , 9 km W Zar Abad, 38°47'N, 44°32'E, 1970 m, 30.VIII.2008, leg. Frisch & Serri ( MNB, cAss); 2 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, road Khoy – Siyah Chesmeh, 17 km W Zar Abad, 38°46'N, 44°29'E, 2640 m, 30.VIII.2008, leg. Frisch & Serri ( MNB, cAss); 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, road Maku – Bazargan, 7 km road to Avajiq, 39°21'N, 44°19'E 1520 m, 27.VIII.2008, leg. Frisch & Serri ( MNB, cAss); 10 ♂♂, 10 ♀♀ [partly slightly teneral], road Shot – Siyah Chesmeh , pass SW Shot, 39°09'N. 44°41'E , 1420 m, 28.VIII.2008, leg. Frisch & Serri ( MNB, cAss); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Shot – Siyah Chesmeh road, Qarah Kelisa , 39°06'N, 44°33'E, 1860 m, 28.VIII.2008, leg. Frisch & Serri ( MNB, cAss); 1 ♂, NW Piranshah, 7 km road to Hashkan , 36°48'N, 45°05'E, 1600 m, 2.IX.2008, leg. Frisch & Serri (cAss). Ardabil: 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, 15 km S Germi, Beldashi , 38°58'N, 48°00'E , 1270 m, 12.X.2011, leg. Frisch ( MNB, cAss) .

Redescription: External characters as in A. nigra , except as follows:

Elytra often extensively brown; legs reddish to reddishbrown; antennae reddish to dark-brown.

Eyes slightly longer than postocular region in dorsal view. Elytra approximately 1.1 times as long as pronotum. Abdomen narrower than elytra; posterior margin of tergite VIII convex, in the middle broadly truncate and with moderately long marginal setae ( Fig. 31 ).

♂: head without depression in postero-median portion and with variable, fine and sparse to distinct and moderately dense punctation; pronotum with more or less distinct impression along middle and more or less extensively impressed in postero-median portion, punctation very dense and somewhat asperate; sternite VIII ( Fig. 32 ) as in A. nigra ; median lobe of aedeagus ( Figs 33–34 ) approximately 0.28 mm long, ventral process in ventral view with a pair of conspicuous lateral projections in the middle, at base of ventral process with very weakly pronounced membranous median projection (lateral view).

♀: head with very fine and sparse punctation; pronotum with weakly pronounced impression along middle, punctation moderately dense and fine, not asperate.

Distribution and natural history: Confirmed records are known only from Azerbaijan and North Iran ( Map 2 ). The material from Iran was collected at altitudes of 1270–2640 m. Several specimens found in August are teneral.

Figures

Map 2: Distributions of Anaulacaspis nigra (black circles), A. pseudonigra (white circle), A. reticulata (white triangle), A. libanotica (black triangles), A. caucasica (white diamonds), A. truncata (black diamonds), and A. sinuata (stars) in the West Palaearctic and Middle Asia, based on revised records.

Figs 31–48: Anaulacaspsis caucasica (31–34), A. pseudonigra (35–41), A. reticulata (42–46), and A. libanotica (47–48): male tergite VIII (31, 35, 43); male sternite VIII (32, 36, 44); median lobe of aedeagus in lateral and in ventral view (33–34, 37–39, 45–48); apical portion of median lobe in ventral view (40); female sternite VIII (41); sutural portion of elytra (42). Scale bars: 0.1 mm.