Harpalus (Pseudoophonus) aenigma ( Tschitschérine, 1897 ), Tschitscherine, 1897

Kataev, Boris M. & Liang, Hongbin, 2015, Taxonomic review of Chinese species of ground beetles of the subgenus Pseudoophonus (genus Harpalus) (Coleoptera: Carabidae), Zootaxa 3920 (1), pp. 1-39 : 14-15

Harpalus (Pseudoophonus) aenigma ( Tschitschérine, 1897)

( Figs 28–31 )

Ophonus (Migadophonus) aenigma Tschitschérine, 1897: 47 . Type locality: Korea.

Harpalus (Pardileus) kinfushanicus Schauberger, 1933: 67 . Type locality: "Mts. Kinfushan [=Jinfo Shan] Sung-Kanho", Sichuan, China.

Harpalus (Pseudophonus) japonicus Jedlička, 1958: 224 (non A. Morawitz, 1862). Type locality: "Kiuriu", Japan.

Harpalus (Pseudophonus) ginfushanus Jedlička, 1958: 225 . Type locality: "Ginfu-Shan" [= Jinfo Shan], Sichuan, China.

Harpalus (Pseudoophonus) kuangcensis Mlynář, 1974: 116 . Type locality: "Kwangtsen (Kuang-ce)", Fujiang, China.

Type material. Holotype of Ophonus aenigma : ♀, labeled " Korea (Staud.–Rttr.)", and " aenigma m. Typ. Tschitscherin det." ( ZIN).

Holotype of H. kinfushanicus : ♀, labeled "Szechwan mer., Mts. Kinfushan, 2000 m, pr. fluss. Sung-Kanho", " Type ", " H. (Pardileus) kinfushanicus Schaub. , loc. class.", "coll. Dr. E. Schauberger", " Harpalus , Pardileus , kinfushanicus Schaub. ", and " Type " ( OÖLL).

Holotype of H. japonicus : ♀, labeled "Unzen, Kiuriu, Jap. T. Baum", " Typus ", " Pseudophonus japonicus sp. n., det. Ing. Jedlička", "Mus. Nat. Pragae. Inv. 20719", " H. (Pardileus) pseudophonoides Schaubg., Z. Mlynář det., 1973" ( NMP).

Holotype of H. ginfushanus : ♂, labeled "Ginfu-Shan, Szechuan, Em. Reitter", " Typus ", " Pseudophonus ginfushanus sp. n., det. Ing. Jedlička", "Mus. Nat. Pragae, Inv. 20720" ( NMP).

Paratype of H. kuangcensis : ♂, labeled "Kwangtseh-Fukien, J. Klapperich O., 3.10.1937 ", " pseudophonoides Schaub. , det. Ing. Jedlička", " Paratypus, Harpalus (Pseudoophonus) kuangcensis m., Z. Mlynář det., 1973" ( NMP).

Additional material examined. 55 specimens, including the following specimens from China [in addition to those listed by Kataev (1997)]. China. HUBEI: 1 ♂, Shennongjia, 1640 m, 24.VII.1980, Yu Peiyu leg. ( IOZ); 1 ♂, same data as preceding, but 20.VII.1980 ( IOZ). SICHUAN: 1 ♂, 70 km W Chengdu, Qingcheng Hou Shan Mts, 1500 m, 21–25.VI.2005, S. & V. Murzin leg. ( ZIN); 1 ♀, "Mou Pin, Thib. or., David" ( ZIN); 1 ♂, "Ginfu-Shan, Szechuan, Em. Reitter" ( IOZ); 1 ♂, Chongqing, Dabashan Mt. R., NE Heyu Vill., 31°55'17"N 109°04'37"E, 1790–2510 m, 16.V.2010, I. Belousov, I. Kabak & A. Korolev leg. (cIB&IK). SHAANXI/SICHUAN (border): 1 ♂, Daba Shan, pass 20 km SSE Zhenping 1700–1800 m, 31°44'N 109°35'E, (small creek vall./young dry mixed forest/field edge), 9–12.VII.2001, D.W. Wrase leg. (cWR). JIANGXI: 1 ♀, "Ku-ling [= Guling], 13.V.1935, O. Piel leg."( IOZ); 1 ♂, same as preceding, but 20.VIII.1935 " ( IOZ). GUANGXI: 1 ♂, unreadable, 29.VII.1985, Liao Subai leg. ( IOZ).

Diagnosis. This species is similar in external characters to H. rufipes , but differs from the latter in shiny, clearly iridescent elytra, with microsculpture on disc in baso-medial portion consisting of transverse meshes. Subapical sinuation of elytra somewhat deep (as in Fig. 7). Labial basal palpomere has somewhat straight longitudinal carina underneath. Internal sac of median lobe of aedeagus is with a medial spiny patch on the right side ( Figs 30–31 ), often also with an apical spiny patch on the left side, and rarely with additional medial spiny patch on the left side ( Figs 28–29 ). Body length 10.2–13.6 mm.

Distribution. China: the eastern and south-eastern parts. The species was previously known from Zhejiang, Sichuan and Fujian ( Kataev et al. 2003). It is recorded here from Hubei, Jiangxi and Guangxi for the first time.

The species also occurs in North and South Korea including Jejudo, and Japan (Honshu, Kyushu, and Ryukyu Islands) ( Kataev 1997; Paik & Moon 2005; Moon & Paik 2006).

Remarks. The geographic and individual variation of H. aenigma was considered by Kataev (1997) who synonymized with this species H. kinfushanicus , H. japonicus , H. ginfushanus , and H. kuangcensis . The species is rather rare in China, more common in Japan.

Harpalus aenigma is most similar morphologically to H. pseudophonoides Schauberger, 1930 from Japan, which is distinguished from the former species in the following characters: head relatively smaller; pronotum, on average, less strongly narrowed posteriad and less markedly rounded at sides, with basal angles lacking distinct denticles; subapical sinuation of elytra shallower (as in Fig. 8); elytral basal edge more strongly sinuate, meeting lateral margin of elytra usually at almost right angle; median lobe of aedeagus ( Figs 26–27 ) stouter, with relatively larger basal bulb; sides of terminal lamella converging more markedly to apex; and internal sac with only left longitudinal spiny patch ( Kataev 1997). All records of H. pseudophonoides from mainland China, for example from Hubei, Fujian, and Sichuan ( Hua 2002), should probably be referred to H. aenigma .

Figures

FIGURES 28 – 31. Harpalus aenigma, median lobe of aedeagus (28 – 29, Koya; 30 – 31, Unzen). 28, 30, dorsal view; 29, 31, view from the left side. Scale = 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 24 – 27. Harpalus, median lobe of aedeagus. 24, 25, H. rufipes (Xinjiang); 26 – 27, H. pseudoophonoides (Osaka). 24, 26, dorsal view; 25, 27, view from the left side. Scale = 1.0 mm.