Sunius simoni ( QUEDENFELDT 1881)

Assing, V. & A, North, 2008, A revision of the Sunius species of the Western Palaearctic region and Middle Asia (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 40 (1), pp. 5-135 : 82-83

4.45. Sunius simoni ( QUEDENFELDT 1881) ( Map 17 )

Lithocharis simoni QUEDENFELDT 1881: 291 .

Lithocharis nitida QUEDENFELDT 1881: 291 ; homonym; nov.syn.

Lithocharis polita QUEDENFELDT 1883: 151 ; homonymic replacement name; nov.syn.

Lithocharis nitens DUVIVIER 1883: 179 ; replacement name; nov.syn.

Hypomedon quedenfeldti EPPELSHEIM 1883: 210 ; synonymic replacement name; nov.syn.

Hypomedon simoni : COIFFAIT (1970, 1984).

T y p e m a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d L. simoni : Lectotype 3, here designated: "Algeciras Simon / Paratypus [sic] Lithocharis Simoni Quedenfeldt 1881 / Lectotypus 3 Lithocharis simoni Quedenfeldt , desig. V. Assing 2007 / Sunius simoni (Quedenfeldt) , det. V. Assing 2007" (HNHM). Paralectotypes: 3♀♀: same data as lectotype (HNHM, NHMW). For additional paralectotypes see section on S. ovaliceps .

L. nitida : see section on S. ovaliceps .

C o m m e n t s: The original description of Lithocharis nitida is based on syntypes from Tanger, Tetuan and Arsila in Morocco ( QUEDENFELDT 1881). ADORNO & ZANETTI (2003) give an outline of the confusing taxonomic history of this species, designate a lectotype from Tanger, and provide illustrations of its aedeagus. It is identical to that of the lectotype of S. simoni .

Lithocharis simoni was described from an unspecified number of syntypes from "Algeciras in Andalusia" ( QUEDENFELDT 1881). The name has had a confusing taxonomic history; for details see ADORNO & ZANETTI (2003). COIFFAIT (1961) interpreted the name Lithocharis simoni based on material from the Sierra de las Nieves. Several years later he studied "une série de syntypes " of L. simoni (without mentioning the depository), realised that they referred to a different species, presented illustrations of the aedeagus, and named the species from the Sierra de las Nieves Hypomedon confusum [sic] ( COIFFAIT 1970). ADORNO & ZANETTI (2003) were unable to locate the syntype series studied by Coiffait.

In the collections of the HNHM, six syntypes from the type locality and collected by Simon were located. Three of them – a male and two females – are conspecific with S. ovaliceps and the other three – a male and two females – are consistent with the interpretation of S. simoni by COIFFAIT (1970, 1984). Since Coiffait´s identification labels are attached to the former three specimens and the two males in the type series were dissected, it is likely that all the syntypes in the collections of the HNHM were studied by Coiffait and that it is the second male that Coiffait based his interpretation of S. simoni on. This male is here designated as the lectotype, not only because the key by COIFFAIT (1984) has formed the main basis for the identication of Mediterranean Sunius for more than two decades, but also because they are in better agreement with the original description ("capite thoraceque dense et fortius punctatis"... "Long. abdomine excepto 1 1/ 2 mm ").

A d d i t i o n a l m a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: Spain: A n d a l u c í a 2 exs., Cádiz, Bolonia [36°05'N, 05°47'W], III.1993, leg. Poot (cAss) ; 1 ex., same data, but IV.1990 (cWun) ; 1 ex., Cádiz, Tarifa , IV.1992, leg. Poot (cAss) ; 2 exs., same data, but III.1991 (cAss, cWun) ; 1 ex., same data, but IV.1990 (cWun) ; 3 exs., same data, but I.1997 (cWun) ; 1 ex., Cádiz, Tahivilla , 18.XII.1995, leg. Poot (cWun) ; 1♀, Málaga , Cortez de la Frontera, 36°37'N, 05°25'W, 700 m, oak forest, 19.II.2000, leg. Meybohm (cAss) ; 2 exs., " Andalusia ", leg. Reitter ( NHMW) ; 2 exs., "Hispania" ( HNHM) .

D i a g n o s i s: External morphology similar to that of S. brachypterus , but body slightly larger. Coloration of abdomen only slightly darker than that of forebody, reddish to brown (not blackish). Puncturation of head and pronotum conspicuously dense and coarse; interstices on head narrower than diameter of punctures (except for small median dorsal area).

3: sternite VII with weakly concave to truncate posterior margin, pubescence unmodified; sternite VIII with weakly elevated tubercle with somewhat denser pubescence, posterior excision very shallow; aedeagus of similar shape as in S. catalonicus , internal sac with short row of few short and rather weakly sclerotised spines; for illustrations see ADORNO & ZANETTI (2003).

D i s t r i b u t i o n a n d b i o n o m i c s: The species is endemic to the extreme south of Spain and northern Morocco ( Map 17 ). The material examined was collected in winter and early spring, from December through April.

Figures

Map 17: Distributions of species of the S. seminiger group in southern Spain and northern Morocco: Sunius simoni (QUEDENFELDT) (filled circles), S. confusus (COIFFAIT) (open circle), and S. cordobanus nov.sp. (square).