Aleochara (Xenochara) niponensis Sharp, 1888

Yamamoto, Shûhei & Maruyama, Munetoshi, 2016, Revision of the subgenus Aleochara Gravenhorst of the parasitoid rove beetle genus Aleochara Gravenhorst of Japan (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), Zootaxa 4101 (1), pp. 1-68 : 52-55

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4101.1.1

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:53A25A6F-72AF-4B61-B8DA-E427FA2B634F

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6056048

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03DA87F7-FFE3-0D57-FF21-FD26FB15F88C

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Aleochara (Xenochara) niponensis Sharp, 1888
status

 

Aleochara (Xenochara) niponensis Sharp, 1888 View in CoL , sp. rev.

( Figs 8 View FIGURES 1 – 9 , 17 View FIGURES 10 – 18 , 26 View FIGURES 19 – 27 , 35 View FIGURES 28 – 36 , 43 View FIGURES 37 – 44 , 93–99 View FIGURES 93 – 99 , 117–118 View FIGURES 107 – 119 , 127 View FIGURES 127 – 128 )

Aleochara niponensis Sharp, 1888: 281 View in CoL [original description; type localities: Japan, Kiga (Hakone-machi, Kanagawa-ken, central Honshû)]; Fenyes, 1920: 404 (as subgenus Baryodma View in CoL ; catalogue of world species of Aleocharinae View in CoL ); Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 783 [as subgenus Aleochara View in CoL (s. str.); catalogue of world species of Aleocharinae View in CoL ]; Smetana, 2004b: 354 (as subgenus Baryodma View in CoL ; catalogue of Palearctic species of Aleocharinae View in CoL ); Shibata et al., 2013: 105 (as subgenus Baryodma View in CoL ; catalogue of Japanese species of Staphylinidae View in CoL ).

Aleochara clavigera ”: Park & Ahn, 2009: 521 (as subgenus Aleochara View in CoL ; A. niponensis View in CoL considered as synonym of A. clavigera , wrong arrangement based on misidentification; redescription as A. clavigera ; record from Korea); Luo & Zhao, 2012: 191 (as synonym of A. clavigera ; revision of Chinese species of subgenus Aleochara View in CoL ); Schülke & Smetana, 2015: 490 (as synonym of A. clavigera ; catalogue of Palearctic species of Aleocharinae View in CoL ).

Type material. Lectotype, here designated, female “ Aleochara nipon / -ensis / Kiga. Type. / Japan / Lewis [PC, HW] // Type [RRL] // Japan. / G. Lewis // Sharp Coll. / 1905-313 // Lectotype / Aleochara niponensis / Sharp, 1888 / des. Maruyama / 2011 ” (dissected in bad condition by PR, spermatheca crushed; abdominal segments IX-X and spermatheca mounted in Euparal by MM) (PL, 1.03 mm; PW, 1.46 mm; HTL, 0.78 mm) ( BMNH). Paralectotype, 1 female, “ Aleochara ni- / ponensis D.S. / Kiga. Japan / Lewis [HW] // Japan. / G. Lewis // Sharp Coll. / 1905-313” (body crushed to some body parts; abdominal segments VIII-X and spermatheca mounted in Euparal by MM) ( BMNH).

Non-type material. JAPAN: [HONSHÛ]: 1 female, Mt. Jinba-yama, Fujino-machi, Kanagawa-ken, 11– 18.viii.2005, T. Watanabe leg., from flight interception trap (cTW); 1 male, Mt. Jinba-yama, Fujino-machi, Kanagawa-ken, 18–27.viii.2005, T. Watanabe leg., from flight interception trap (cTW); 2 females, 4 unsexed, Mt. Komaga-take, Hakone-machi, Kanagawa-ken, 24.vii–1.viii.2008, T. Watanabe leg., from flight interception trap (cTW); 2 males, Mt. Komaga-take, Hakone-machi, Kanagawa-ken, 24.vii–1.viii.2008, T. Watanabe leg. (cTW); 1 male, Yoshida-guchi (Mt. Fuji-san), Fujiyoshida-shi, Yamanashi-ken, 25.vii–1.viii.2012, T. Watanabe leg., alt. 1100m, from flight interception trap (cTW); 1 female, Takizawa-rindô forestry road, Fujiyoshida-shi, Yamanashiken, 27.vi–4.vii.2012, T. Watanabe leg., alt. 1600m, from flight interception trap (cTW); 1 female, Aokigahara, Fujikawaguchiko-machi, Yamanashi-ken, 10–17.viii.2011, T. Watanabe leg., from fermented banana trap (cTW); 1 male, Aokigahara, Fujikawaguchiko-machi, Yamanashi-ken, 17.v–7.vi.2012, T. Watanabe leg., from fermented banana trap (cTW); 1 female, Subashiri (Mt. Fuji-san 1 gôme), Oyama-chô, Shizuoka-ken, 20–26.v.2011, T. Watanabe leg., alt. 1400m, from flight interception trap (cTW); 1 female, Ôbuchi, Fuji-shi, Shizuoka-ken, 6– 13.v.2010, T. Watanabe leg., alt. 950m, from flight interception trap (cTW); 3 males, Ôbuchi, Fuji-shi, Shizuokaken, 6–17.viii.2010, T. Watanabe leg., alt. 950m, from fermented banana trap (cTW); 1 female, Ôbuchi, Fuji-shi, Shizuoka-ken, 14–21.ix.2010, T. Watanabe leg., alt. 950m, from flight interception trap (cTW); 1 female, Nishiusuzuka, Fujinomiya-shi, Shizuoka-ken, 16–22.vii.2010, T. Watanabe leg., from flight interception trap (cTW); 1 male, Nishiusuzuka, Fujinomiya-shi, Shizuoka-ken, 14–21.ix.2010, T. Watanabe leg., from flight interception trap (cTW); [KYÛSHÛ]: 1 male, Mt. Shiouji-yama, Ônojô-shi, Fukuoka-ken, 8.v.2013, K. Kido leg., from flight interception trap (KUM); 1 female, 1 unsexed, Mt. Shiouji-yama, Ônojô-shi, Fukuoka-ken, 23.v.2013, K. Kido leg., from flight interception trap (KUM); 1 male, Mt. Shiouji-yama, Ônojô-shi, Fukuoka-ken, 12.vii.2013, K. Kido leg., from flight interception trap (KUM).

Diagnosis. Aleochara niponensis sp. rev. resembles A. (Xenochara) asiatica Kraatz, 1859 from East Asia to the Oriental region, but can be easily distinguished from it by abdominal tergite VIII in both sexes, with only slightly (not deeply) emarginate posterior margins; the configuration of sclerites inside median lobe of male aedeagus, and by; the female spermatheca not complicatedly coiled basally. This species is easily discriminated from the Japanese species of the subgenus Aleochara by having completely carinated mesoventrite and by long antennomere XI, clearly longer than antennomeres IX and IX combined. See descriptions and illustrations of A. (X.) asiatica in Park & Ahn (2010).

Redescription. Measurements (in mm, n = 20): BL = 4.82 (3.23–6.16); HL = 0.58 (0.43–0.68); HW = 0.66 (0.54–0.77); PL = 0.82 (0.59–0.99); PW = 1.18 (0.89–1.36); EL = 0.73 (0.58–0.90); EW = 1.36 (1.00–1.64).

Body ( Figs 8 View FIGURES 1 – 9 , 17 View FIGURES 10 – 18 ): spindle-shaped, compact, relatively small to medium in size; dorsal surface weakly to moderately glossy and densely pubescent, with wavy micro-reticulation weakly covered with head, very finely punctured uniformly. Color ( Figs 8 View FIGURES 1 – 9 , 17 View FIGURES 10 – 18 ): usually uniformly brownish brown to blackish brown, but elytra variable in color pattern, reddish brown but infuscate basally and laterally; antennae with antennomeres I–II yellowish brown, antennomere III much darker, antennomeres IV–XI much darker than those of I–II but covered densely with minute whitish setae; mouth parts and legs pale yellowish brown to dark reddish brown; pubescence yellowish brown.

Head ( Fig. 26 View FIGURES 19 – 27 ): semicircular, as long as width (HW/HL = 1.14, n = 20), widest at posterior part of eyes; setae on vertex sparse, inconspicuous, directed anteriolaterally; punctation very small, inconspicuous, scattered coarsely, and uniformly including middle of vertex. Eyes: medium in length, occupying approximately half length of head, not protruding laterally but incorporated to head capsule.

Antennae ( Fig. 43 View FIGURES 37 – 44 ): relatively short, slightly shorter than head and pronotum combined; rather slender, setose, with antennomere IV only slightly transverse, antennomeres V to X moderately transverse, slightly broaden apically; antennomere XI elliptical, rather conical, long in whole length, clearly longer than antennomeres IX and X combined, with obtusely rounded apex; approximate relative length of antennomeres from basal to apex: 19 (including base): 10: 10: 5.5: 6: 6: 6: 6: 6: 6: 19.

Pronotum ( Fig. 8 View FIGURES 1 – 9 ): convex above dorsally, transverse (PW/PL = 1.44, n = 20), very strongly narrowing anterad, slightly longer than sutural length of elytra, widest basad, basal margin weakly rounded; pubescence dense, directed laterally and posterolaterally; punctation dense and uniform and very small and inconspicuous.

Mesoventrite ( Fig. 35 View FIGURES 28 – 36 ): inter coxal process rather narrowly elongate, with relatively pointed apex, completely reaching to inter coxal process of metaventrite; fully carinate along midline.

Metaventrite ( Fig. 35 View FIGURES 28 – 36 ): inter coxal process of metaventrite small, but obtusely pointed apically.

Elytra ( Fig. 8 View FIGURES 1 – 9 ): together, transverse (EW/EL = 1.85, n = 20), medium in size, same size as pronotum, widest near apex; fine and short pubescence scattered densely, diverging posteriorly on each elytron; dorsal surface weakly rough and gently impressed; posterolateral corners of each elytron weakly sinuate.

Legs ( Fig. 8 View FIGURES 1 – 9 ): simple, short, rather slender; fore and midtibia, densely covered with thin spines.

Abdomen ( Fig. 8 View FIGURES 1 – 9 ): rather strongly narrowed posteriorly; first three visible tergites deeply impressed transversely at base; dorsal and ventral surface moderately covered with thin and long setae including abdominal tergite II.

Male: tergite VIII ( Fig. 45 View FIGURES 45 – 51 ): narrowly elongate, convex posteriorly; posterior margin smooth, not serrate at all, insignificantly broadly emarginate medially; dorsal surface covered with relatively long setae densely, with approximately 8 macrosetae. Sternite VIII ( Fig. 95 View FIGURES 93 – 99 ): narrowly elongate, convex posteriorly; posterior margin rounded, with a row of thin and long minute sensory setae densely (see Yamamoto & Maruyama, 2012: 10), without a complex-cluster of very minute setae just behind the row of minute setae; ventral surface covered with long setae densely, with approximately 12 macrosetae. Median lobe of aedeagus ( Figs 97–98 View FIGURES 93 – 99 ): [lateral view ( Fig. 97 View FIGURES 93 – 99 )]: narrowly elongate, moderately narrowing apically; apical lobe pointed, gently hook-shaped paramerally at apex; inside median lobe with a projecting short flagellum, as long as 2/3 of median lobe; [parameral view ( Fig. 98 View FIGURES 93 – 99 )]: narrowly elongate, rather tear-drop shaped; apical lobe moderately narrowing apically; inside median lobe with a pair of curved and pointed peculiar sclerites, located near apex; a series of complex sclerites, not reaching basal 1/3 of median lobe.

Female: tergite VIII ( Fig. 94 View FIGURES 93 – 99 ): posterior margin as in male; dorsal surface covered with setae densely, with approximately 9 macrosetae. Sternite VIII ( Fig. 96 View FIGURES 93 – 99 ): posterior margin broadly, weakly rounded; ventral surface covered with long setae densely, with approximately 7 macrosetae; no complex-cluster of minute setae situated near posterior margin. Spermatheca ( Fig. 99 View FIGURES 93 – 99 ): deformed C-shaped, with folded basal part of spermathecal stem; apical invagination of spermatheca very small, inconspicuous; spermathecal head and neck forming large elliptical shape together; attachment of spermathecal duct inconspicuous; basal part of spermathecal stem, deformed basally; each part of spermatheca uniformly and weakly sclerotized; inner wall of spermathecal head and neck coarsely striate, that of basal part only partially striate.

Distribution. Japan (Honshû, Kyûshû).

Bionomics. Flight interception traps (FIT) may be an effective tool for collecting the species. There is no information on the lifestyle of A. niponensis .

Host records. No host record is available.

Remarks for type material. Park & Ahn (2009) synonymized this species with A. clavigera , based on examination of the type material of both species. However, the present re-examination of the type specimens of A. niponensis revealed that they are quite different species, even belonging to different subgenus. A male specimen was not found in BMNH. This species was described from Kiga, Nagasaki, and Nikko. A type material of A. niponensis was indicated as the ‘holotype’ in Park & Ahn (2009). Because four specimens were referred to in the original description, we designate the lectotype here ( Figs 117–118 View FIGURES 107 – 119 ).

Comments. We consider A. niponensis as a distinct species, as stated above. Furthermore, we transfer A. niponensis to the subgenus Xenochara here, based on the following morphological characteristics: overall body shape (i.e., rather small, convex, spindle-shaped body); relatively slender antennae with quite long antennomere XI, longer than antennomeres IX and X combined; completely carinate mesoventrite; elongate male abdominal tergite and sternite VIII, and; median lobe of the aedeagus with a projecting flagellum inside.

The synonymic treatment of A. niponensis was erroneous. Thus, this species is endemic only to Japan. Aleochara niponensis is widespread across mainland Japan ( Fig. 127 View FIGURES 127 – 128 ), but is not commonly found.

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Coleoptera

Family

Staphylinidae

Genus

Aleochara

Loc

Aleochara (Xenochara) niponensis Sharp, 1888

Yamamoto, Shûhei & Maruyama, Munetoshi 2016
2016
Loc

Aleochara clavigera ”:

Schulke 2015: 490
Luo 2012: 191
Park 2009: 521
2009
Loc

Aleochara niponensis

Shibata 2013: 105
Smetana 2004: 354
Bernhauer 1926: 783
Sharp 1888: 281
1888
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