Oropodes orbiceps Casey, 1894

Chandler, Donald S. & Caterino, Michael S., 2011, A taxonomic revision of the New World genus Oropodes Casey (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae), ZooKeys 147, pp. 425-477 : 438-440

5. Oropodes orbiceps Casey, 1894 Fig. 624Map 2

Oropodes orbiceps Casey, 1894: 453. Type locality: California: Los Angeles County. Holotype female: // S Cal/ Casey/ TYPE USNM 386111/ Oropodes orbiceps// (USNM). Raffray 1898: 246; 1904: 565; 1908: 81. Bowman 1934: 25. Grigarick & Schuster 1976: 99; 1980: pl. 29. Chandler 1997: 15. Not: Chandler 2003: 584.

Euplectus orbiceps : Fall 1901: 13.

Specimens examined.

25: CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles Co.: [county record], Holotype female (USNM); Pomona Mts., IV-30-1892, VI-4-1892, H.C. Fall Collection (1M, MCZC). Pasadena, A. Fenyes Collection (1M, 1F, UCDC). Santa Barbara Co.: LPNF [Los Padres National Forest], Sunset Valley, 34.7538°N, 119.9429°W, V-1-2004, M. Caterino, at light (5M, 7F, DSC, SBMN); UC Sedgwick Reserve, 34.7211°N, 120.0359°W, V-13-2005, M. Caterino, at light (1M, SBMN). Ventura Co.: Ojai, III-8-1892, H.C. Fall Collection (1M, 1F, MCZC); Ojai, III-8-1892, ex. Collection Rev. Jerome Schmitt (1890-1904)? St. Vincent Archabby (1M, 1F, FMNH). “Californie”, Museum Paris 1917 Coll. A. Raffray (3M, 1F, MNHN [undoubtedly sent to Raffray by Henry Fall]).

Description.

Length 1.76-1.92. Body orange-brown. Eyes in both sexes with about 60 facets. Antennomeres V and VII slightly larger than those adjacent, V-VIII obconical, IX smaller than X, antennae slender. Abdomen with carinae of first ventrite extending posteriorly from posteromedial angles of metacoxal cavities to apex.

Males: Metasternum with distinct median longitudinal sulcus. Legs (Fig. 6B): profemora with tubercle on mesal margin near base; protibiae with blunt angulation on mesal margin near middle; mesotibiae with straight apical spur on mesal margin; metatibiae with curved apical spur on mesal margin. Abdomen (Figs 6C, 24) with second ventrite gently concave in apical half to form semicircular glabrous impression in middle third, lacking teeth on posterior margin; third ventrite 0.47 wide, transverse recurved lamina 0.15 wide, lamina arising at ventrite apex, gradually curved at middle to about 25° angle from surface for anterior portion, transverse impression anterior to lamina densely setose, lacking well-defined margins; fourth-fifth ventrites flat in medial fourth, sixth ventrite (Fig. 6D) flat in medial fourth, anterior and posterior margins of setose area roughly parallel to middle where posterior margin is angulate. Aedeagus (Fig. 6A) 0.37 long; left paramere longer than right paramere, with apex sinuate, right paramere with apex subtrunctate; internal sac with two large spines, left spine forked near apex.

Females: Metasternum with faint median longitudinal sulcus. Fifth tergite with setose area convex, apex sharply emarginate, with two small separated apical teeth; fifth ventrite (Fig. 6F) with setose areas clearly separated by bar (Note: holotype female has the setose areas separated by a thin bar that is nearly interrupted apically. All other females have the bar distinct and complete). Genitalia (Fig. 6E) with large subrectangular median lobe widest near apex, with pair of elongate wide sclerites in basal portion that differ in size.

Collection notes.

Fall (1901) stated that he had collected this uncommon species in leaf litter at Pomona, Pasadena, and the Ojai Valley from March to June. All recently collected specimens were taken in May at light. The 'Sunset Valley’ locality (Santa Barbara Co.), where a long series was taken, is an open valley oak ( Quercus lobata ) woodland.

Geographical distribution.

(Map 2): Found in the central and western portions of the Transverse Ranges ranging from the Santa Ynez Mountains near Santa Barbara to the San Gabriel Mountains near Pomona.

Comparisons and diagnostic notes. Placed in the orbiceps-group, whose members are characterized by a basal tooth on the profemora, the second ventrite lacks apical tubercles, and the two species for which females are known have two teeth at the apex of the fifth tergite. This species shares with Oropodes tataviam the medially angulate protibiae, and placement of the lamina at the posterior margin of the third ventrite in the males. The other two species placed in this group, Oropodes serrano and Oropodes tipai have the lamina positioned at about the two-thirds point of the ventrite length. Oropodes orbiceps has the male mesotibiae bearing an apical spur, and the female fifth ventrite has the setose area divided by a flat bar, while for Oropodes tataviam the male mesotibiae have widely separated preapical and medial tubercles, and the setose area of the female fifth ventrite is separated by an angular protrusion.

Records of Oropodes orbiceps from central and northern California are incorrect or probably so. The female specimen from Mt. Diablo in Contra Costa County ( Grigarick and Schuster 1976) has not been located, but the identification is unlikely. Chandler (2003) also cites this species from Tehama County based on a female specimen, but examination of the female genitalia has revealed that it is a member of an undescribed species. A male specimen in the MNHN (Paris) is marked as “TYPE.” A note has been appended that it is not a type, since Casey’s description was based on the single specimen held in the USNM.