Ocypus (Pseudocypus) zetes, 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 : 10-12

Ocypus (Pseudocypus) zetes sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–8)

Type material. Holotype (male): CHINA: Sichuan: “CHINA C-Sichuan Jiajin Shan 3400 m 30°22.45'N

102°16.644'E 15.VI.2002 M. Janata leg.” ( ASC). Allotype (female): CHINA: Sichuan: “CHINA C-Sichuan Jintang, Jiajin Shan 30°22.461'N 102°16.644E 4200 m 6.VII.2001 M. Janata ” ( ASC) .

Paratypes: CHINA: Sichuan: same data as holotype, 25 ♂♂, 16 ♀♀ ( ASC) , same data as allotype, 17 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀ ( ASC, MSC); “SECHUAN JITIANG” 3.7.– 14.7.2001 lgt. E. Kučera, 2 ♂♂, ♀ ( MSC); “W SECHUAN” Jintiang (Liang-ch-ke) 6.– 14.6.2002, Lgt. E. Kučera, ♂ ( MSC); SECHUAN Jitiang, 3.7.– 14.7.2001, lgt. F. Kučera, 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ ( BFC); Jitiang, 9.VII.2001, 6 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀ ( ASC, YSC); Jiajin Shan, Jintang, 18 km E, 3550–3650 m, primary coniferous forest, 11–24.VI.2004, leg. R. Fabbri, 4 ♂♂ ( ASC, MSC); C-Sichuan (Rilong), Qionglai Shan (Siguniang Shan) 31°02.58'N 102°16.85'E 3800–4300 m, 13.7.2000, lgt. M. Janata, ♂, 2 ♀♀ ( ASC); C-Sichuan, Qionglai mts., road Qiaojin-Wolong, pass 20 km E Dave, 22.VII.1998, alpine meadows, Jaroslav Turna leg., 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ ( ASC, NMW); Qionglai Mts. , 20 km W Qiao Qi, 55 km N Baoxing, 3300–3500 m, 21.–22.VI.2003, leg. S. Murzin, 62 ♂♂, 47 ♀♀ ( ASC, MSC); same, 3000 m, 8.– 10.VII.2003, leg. S. Murzin, ♂, 3 ♀♀ ( MSC); same, 3600–4000 m, 23.VI. 203, leg. S. Murzin, 4 ♂ m, ♀ ( MSC); Rilong env., 3500 m, 10.–16.VII.2000, leg. S. Murzin, 16 ♂♂, 15 ♀♀ ( ASC, MSC); Zhilong, VII. 1992, 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ ( NMW); Maoxian env., 1500–3000 m, 27.–31.VII.2000, leg. S. Murzin, 6 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ ( ASC, MSC); W Sichuan, Aba Tibet. Aut. Pref., Weizhou Co., Quionglai Shan, Wolong Tal 69 km WSW Duijangyan, 3900 m, 30°54'N 102°55'E, 15.VII.1999, leg. M. Schülke, ♀ ( MSC) ; same data, but alpine meadow, D. W. Wrase, ♂, ♀ ( MSC); Sabde , 3400 m, 30°22'N 102°16'E, 6.7.2001 M. Janata leg., 6 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀ ( ASC, MSC); “W Szechuan, China Sankiangkou leg. Friedrich ”/”Balang 7.–8. 1934 Wassuland”, ♂, 3 ♀♀ ( ASC, NMW) .

An additional 5 specimens in bad shape, from localities listed above, were not designated as paratypes.

Diagnosis. Medium-sized species with pronotal hypomeron lacking microsetae, with uniformly rufobrunneous legs, with visible abdominal tergites 4 and 5 each bearing a spot of not dense golden-yellow tomentose pubescence in middle, and with simple, small aedoeagus ( Fig. 3).

Description. Black, moderately dull, apex of abdomen indistinctly paler in some specimens; maxillary and labial palpi testaceobrunneous; antennae rufobrunneous with outer segments becoming gradually slightly paler, to piceous with bases of first three segments paler, becoming gradually paler toward apex, or antennae entirely piceous-black; legs rufobrunneous; pubescence of dorsal side of body black, brownish-piceous on abdominal tergites, visible abdominal tergites 4 and 5 each with spot of not dense golden-yellowish tomentose pubescence in middle, spots rarely missing. Head of rounded quadrangular shape, with rounded posterior angles, wider than long (ratio 1.23), eyes small and rather flat, tempora considerably longer than eyes from above (ratio 1.95), dorsal surface of head moderately finely and densely punctate and pubescent, interspaces between punctures on disc slightly larger than diameters of punctures, punctation gradually becoming slightly denser and coarser toward posterior and lateral margins; no impunctate midline or only traces of it present; interspaces between punctures with relatively coarse submeshed microsculpture. Gular sutures moderately separated; postgenae very sparsely punctate, interspaces between punctures near gular sutures much larger than diameters of punctures. Dorsal side of neck with punctation similar to that on head. Antenna moderately long, segment 3 longer than segment 2 (ratio 1.25), segments 4 to7 longer than wide, becoming gradually shorter, outer segments about as long as wide to vaguely wider than long, last segment shorter than two preceding segments combined. Pronotum as long as wide to vaguely longer than wide (ratios below 1.1, with range 1.00–1.085), almost parallelsided, narrow marginal groove disappearing downwards at about anterior third of pronotal length; disc with entire impunctate midline; punctation on disc about same as that on disc of head, pubescence and microsculpture on interspaces between punctures similar to that on head. Pronotal hypomeron lacking microsetae. Scutellum finely punctate and setose on entire surface, surface with very fine, rudimentary submeshed microsculpture. Elytra short, slightly to moderately depressed at base, vaguely dilated posteriad, at suture considerably (ratio 0. 58), at sides distinctly (ratio 0.75) shorter than pronotum at midline; punctation fine and dense, difficult to observe among dense granulose microsculpture. Wings each reduced to minute, nonfunctional stump. Abdomen with fifth visible tergite lacking pale apical seam of palisade setae; tergite 2 (in front of first visible tergite) entirely, densely and finely punctate and pubescent; all tergites evenly, finely and densely punctate, punctation gradually becoming slightly sparse toward apex of abdomen; interspaces with very fine, dense microsculpture of irregular, short striae.

Male. Sternite 8 with moderately wide and deep, obtusely triangular medioapical emargination. Genital segment with sternite 9 with long basal portion, apical portion with distinct, obtusely triangular medioapical emargination ( Fig. 1). Tergite 10 evenly narrowed toward broadly arcuate apex, with rather fine setae at and near apical margin, otherwise with sparse, short setae ( Fig. 2). Aedoeagus small, shaped as in Figs. 3–7; median lobe elongate, with asymmetrical apical portion with narrowly arcuate apex, apical portion, when paramere removed, with fine bisinuate carina ( Fig. 5); paramere situated on median lobe slightly asymmetrically, shaped as in Figs. 3, 6, 7, with carina on face away from median lobe ( Fig. 3), right margin of apical portion curled invard ( Figs. 6, 7), apex not quite or about reaching apex of median lobe ( Figs. 3, 4); sensory peg setae on underside of paramere not numerous, situated as in Fig. 7, missing at curled right margin; apical setae fine, situated as in Fig. 7.

Female. Tergite 10 of genital segment sparsely setose, except at apex, markedly, evenly narrowed toward subacute apex ( Fig. 8).

Length 13.0–16.0 mm.

Bionomics. Most specimens of the original series were taken from pitfall traps, but very little is known about the habitat requirements of this species. Specimens were taken at very diverse elevations, ranging from 1500 m to 4300 m. The species seems to prefer forest habitats, but at two locations in Wolong area specimens were taken in alpine meadows.

Geographical distribution. Ocypus zetes is at present known from several localities in central and northcentral Sichuan, from Sabde and Jiajin Shan in the south to Qionglai Shan in the north.

Recognition and comments. Specimens of O. zetes with well developed tomentose spots on visible abdominal tergites 4 and 5 are easy to identify because they are the only ones that combine the character states of asetose hypomeron, red legs, and tomentose spots present. Specimens without tomentose spots (pubescence of abdomen lost due to the extended exposure to the fluids in pitfall traps; or, rarely, genuinely missing) resemble those of O. laelaps , a species with a very similar aedoeagus, but they can be distinguished by using the characters given in the description of O. laelaps . Other species that may be habitually similar to O. zetes ( O. scaevola and O. sarpedon ) differ by the quite differently shaped aedoeagi.

A few specimens in the original series have the legs darker, rather dark brownish. It is assumed that this is the result of “post mortem” treatment (e.g., prolonged exposure to the fluids in pitfall traps) of these specimens.

Etymology. The specific epithet is the name of Zetes, - is, m, the son of Boreas , one of the Argonauts, in apposition.