Ocypus (Pseudocypus) menander, Published, 2007

Published, First, 2007, Contributions to the knowledge of the “ Staphylinus-complex ” (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylinini) of China. Part XX. The genus Ocypus Leach, 1819, subgenus Pseudocypus Mulsant & Rey, 1876. Section 1, Zootaxa 1421, pp. 1-72 : 33-34

Ocypus (Pseudocypus) menander sp. nov.

( Figs. 122–126)

Type material. Holotype (male) and allotype (female): CHINA: Shaanxi: “CHINA: Shaanxi 15 km S Shou- Man vill. Daba Shan, 1800 m 32°08'N 108°37'E 25.5.– 14.6.2000 " . Holotype in NMW, allotype in ASC.

Paratypes: CHINA: Shaanxi: same data as holotype, 6 ♂♂, ♀ ( ASC, NMW); (Daba Shan) 1800 m, 15 km S Shou-Man vill. 32°08'N 108°37'E 25.V.–14.VI.2000, Siniaev & Plutenko ” 19 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀ ( ASC, MSC) ; Zhouzhi, Houzhenzi , 1200 m, 18.– 25.7.1998, Dr. Vlad. Beneš leg., ♂ ( MDC) ; Daba Shan mts. , 1800–2100 m, 15 km S Shou-Man vill. 32°08’N 108°37’E, 25.V.–14.VI.2000, A. Plutenko, 5 ♂♂, 1 ♀ ( ASC, MSC) .

Diagnosis. Ocypus menander shares most of the character states with O. dolon , but differs from it by the differently shaped aedoeagus and by a few additional characters, as given in the description.

Description. Average size smaller, body shape narrower. Legs paler, brunneous to rufobrunneous in most specimens (but see Comments). Eyes relatively larger, tempora less markedly longer than eyes from above (ratio 1.78). Male antenna longer, segments 4–7 more distinctly longer than wide, segments 8–10 slightly longer than wide. Punctation of head and pronotum less dense and more superficial, head and pronotum therefore appearing somewhat shinier. Pronotal hypomeron asetose.

Male. Sternite 8 with moderately wide, obtusely triangular medioapical emargination, slightly narrower and deeper than that of O. dolon . Genital segment with sternite 9 with moderately long, tapered basal portion, apex of sternite slightly emarginate medially ( Fig. 122). Tergite 10 markedly, evenly narrowed toward rather wide, subarcuate apex. Aedoeagus shaped as in Figs. 123–126; median lobe narow, elongate, with asymmetrical anterior portion, narrowed into acute apex with fine, short longitudinal carina on face adjacent to paramere (paramere removed) ( Fig. 124); paramere shaped as in Figs. 125, 126, situated on median lobe markedly asymmetrically, with narrow, asymmetrical apical portion with subacute apex not quite reaching apex of median lobe, with carina on face away from median lobe ( Fig. 123), and with right lateral margin markedly curled inwards ( Fig. 126); sensory peg setae on underside of paramere not numerous, situated below apex of paramere ( Fig. 126); apical setae fine, situated as in Fig. 126.

Female. Genital segment with tergite 10 not appreciably different from that of O. dolon .

Length 15.0–18.0 mm.

Bionomics. The specimens of the original series were taken from pitfall traps, but nothing is known about the habitat the traps were set in.

Geographical distribution. Ocypus menander is at present known only from the type locality in Daba Shan in Shaanxi.

Recognition and comments. Ocypus menander is sympatric with O. dolon and both species obviously occur together in the same habitat at the collection site “ 15 km S Shou-Man vill.“ in Daba Shan. Specimens of O. menander may be separated fairly easily from those of O. dolon , in addition to the ddifferently shaped aedoeagus and the pronotal hypomeron lacking microsetae, by the characters given in the description.

Etymology. The specific epithet is the name of Menander, - is, m, the celebrated Greek comic poet, in apposition.