Fustigeropsis peringueyi ( Raffray, 1887 )

Hlavác, Peter, 2007, Revision of the subtribe Clavigerodina and an annotated catalogue of South African Clavigeritae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), African Invertebrates 48 (2), pp. 65-92 : 70-71

Fustigeropsis peringueyi ( Raffray, 1887)

Figs 3 , 12 , 34

Commatocerus peringueyi: Raffray 1887: 19 .

Fustigeropsis peringueyi (Raffray) : Raffray 1897: 116; Jeannel 1964: 212, figs 314, 315.

Fustigeropsis simplex Raffray, 1905: 455 . Syn. n.

Description: Body elongate, light reddish brown, sparsely pubescent, slightly shiny; length ơ 1.90–1.98 mm, ^1.99–2.17 mm; maximum width of elytra ơ 0.65–0.70 mm, ^0.70–0.72 mm; head clearly longer than wide, about 1.75–1.82 as long as wide, and slightly longer than pronotum; eyes prominent; pronotum about as long as wide; antennae long, terminal segment in male more than 7.3 times as long as antennomere III, in female less than 7.2 times as long as antennomere III. Sharp spines of mesotibiae in male located close to apex.

Notes: F. peringueyi was based on one female from ‘Du Cap de Bonne-Espérance’, French for the Cape of Good Hope, located close to Cape Town. Later Raffray (1897) stated another locality, Potchefstroom, North West. This last location was also cited as the type locality by Jeannel (1964). This situation has generated some confusion. I have not seen any specimens of Fustigeropsis from the former Cape Province, all specimens were collected only in Free State, North West and Gauteng, so I assume that the original statement about the type locality was incorrect, and that the second locality given by Raffray (1897) is true. F. simplex , differing from F. peringueyi by shorter antennae and the presence of a short median carina on the composite tergum that creates three basal lobes, was described by Raffray from Bothaville, Free State. Both species were each described based on a single female as stated by Raffray (sic!— holotype of F. simplex is a male), and the abdomen of F. peringueyi was badly damaged ( Raffray 1887: 19). This may explain why Raffray overlooked the fact that the females of both species have the same abdominal structure. This character is in fact present only in females, with another sexual difference being that the males always have longer antennae. Based on these facts, I am of the opinion that F. simplex is conspecific with F. peringuyei .

Type material: ^[holotype of peringueyi ] SOUTH AFRICA: North West: ‘Potchefstroom [26º42'S: 27º06'E], Peringuey / Transvaal / [red label] TYPE / [blue label] MUSEUM PARIS, 1917, COLL. A. RAFFRAY / F. peringueyi [p] A. Raffray det. / Fustigeropis peringueyi / Fustigeropis peringueyi R., Det. Celis 1974. / Fustigeropsis peringuyei (Raffray) = F. simplex Raffray, P. Hlavác v det. 2006’; ơ [holotype of simplex ] SOUTH AFRICA: Free State: ‘[h] Bothaville [27º23'S: 26º37'E], Dr. Brauns / [red label] [p] TYPE / [h] Afrique austr. / [blue label] [p] MUSEUM PARIS, 1917, COLL. A. RAFFRAY / [h] F. simplex [p] A. Raffray det. / [h] Fustigeropsis simplex / [red label] [p] LECTOTYPE, Fustigeropsis (Raffray) , P. Hlavác v det., 2006 / Fustigeropsis peringuyei (Raffray) = F. simplex Raffray, P. Hlavác v det. 2006 / [red ink] HOLOTYPE Fustigeropsis simplex (Raffray) , P. Hlavác v des. 2006’ (both MNHN).

Other material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: Gauteng: ơ ‘host ant / Johannesburg, Transvaal Dr. Brauns / Péringueyi Raffr / Fustigeropsis Peringueyi Raffr / Fustigeropsis Peringueyi RAFFRAY [red ink] / Fustigeropsis peringuyei (Raffray) = F. simplex Raffray, P. Hlavác v det. 2006’ (TMSA); 1^‘Irene [25º53'S: 28º13'E], 19.vii.1931, G. v. Son. / Fustigeropsis peringuyei (Raffray) = F. simplex Raffray, P. Hlavác v det. 2006’ (TMSA); Free State: 1^‘Bothaville [27º23'S: 26º37'E], Orange Fr. St., Dr. Brauns 20.i.[18]99 / Fustigeropsis péringueyi R; 1^det. Raffray. / [red label] Fustigeropsis simplex Type Raffray / Fustigeropsis peringuyei (Raffray) = F. simplex Raffray, P. Hlavác v det. 2006’ (TMSA); 1ơ ‘Bothaville, Orange Fr.St., Dr. Brauns [h] 20.I.[18]99 / Fustigeropsis péringueyi R; 1ơ det.Raffray / host ant: Monomorium albopilosum Emery, B. Taylor det. 2006 / Fustigeropsis peringuyei (Raffray) = F. simplex Raffray, P. Hlavác v det. 2006’ (CPH); 1^‘Bothaville, Orange Fr.St., Dr.Brauns, 21.iv.[18]99 / Fustigeropsis peringuyei (Raffray) = F. simplex Raffray, P. Hlavác v det. 2006’ (TMSA). UNKNOWN COUNTRY: 2ơ ‘164/06’ (TMSA).

Figures

Figs 1–8. Habitus of South African Clavigerodina: (1) Commatocerodes raffrayi, (2) Dejaegeria joannae, (3) Fustigeropsis peringueyi, (4) Novoclaviger gibbiventris, (5) N. joncooteri, (6) Pararticerus latus, (7) Villofustiger gibbiceps, (8) Zuluclavodes briantaylori.

Figs 9–12. Aedeagi of some South African Clavigerodina: (9, 10) Commatocerodes raffrayi, lateral and dorsal aspects; (11) Dejaegeria joannae, lateral aspect; (12) Fustigeropsis peringueyi, lateral aspect.

Fig. 34. Distribution of the subtribe Clavigerodina: – Commatocerodes raffrayi; • – Fustigeropsis peringueyi; – Villofustiger gibbiceps.