Platystethus dilutipennis Cameron , 1914

Lü, Liang & Zhou, Hong-Zhang, 2015, Review of the Genus Platystethus Mannerheim (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Oxytelinae) in China, Zootaxa 3915 (2), pp. 151-205 : 172-175

5. Platystethus dilutipennis Cameron, 1914

( Figs. 12 & 13)

Cameron, 1914: 527 (Type locality: S. India: Nilgiri Hills, 3500 feet); Cameron, 1930: 266 (characters; India); Zheng, 1998: 253 ( China); Herman, 2001 a: 1480; Smetana, 2004: 518 (subgenus Craetopycrus ); Yan, Li & Zheng, 2012: 342, 343 ( China).

Material examined. 183 specimens, 73 ♂♂, 110 ♀♀. CHINA: Hubei, Shenlongjia: 1 ♂, Hongshitougou, 1870m, pitfall trap, 1998. VII. 28 –VIII. 10, H.-Z. Zhou leg. (IZ-CAS); 1 ♀, Guanmenshan [=Mt. Guanmen, 31.43 ºN 110.37 ºE], 1500 m, pitfall trap, 1998. VII. 23–30, H.-S. Zhou leg. (IZ-CAS). Sichuan: 1 ♂, Baoxingxian [=Baoxing Co.], Pujigou, 2200 m, coniferous and broad leaf forest, pitfall trap, 2003. VIII. 11–14, X.-D. Yu leg. (IZ-CAS); 1 ♀, Wolong [31.03 ºN 103.18 ºE], Wulidun, 2395 m, artificial larch forest, pitfall trap, 2004. VIII. 6–9, X.-D. Yu leg. ( IZ- CAS); 1 ♀, same data as previous except: 2585m, edge of regenerating forest, 2004. VII. 21–24 (IZ-CAS); 1 ♀, same data as previous except: 2004. VIII. 5–8 (IZ-CAS); 1 ♀, Wolong, Wuyipeng, 2545 m, birch forest, pitfall trap, 2004. VII. 29 –VIII. 14, X.-D. Yu leg. (IZ-CAS); 1 ♀, same data as previous except: 2630 m, Rhododendron forest, 2004. VIII. 14–29 (IZ-CAS); 1 ♀, Wolong, Wuyipeng, Yuancaodi, 2400 m, regenerating forest, 2004. VII. 1–16, X.- D. Yu leg. (IZ-CAS); Erlangshan [=Mt. Erlang], 1 ♀, 2600 m, coniferous and broad leaf forest, pitfall trap, 2001. VII. 6–7, X.-D. Yu & H.-Z. Zhou legg. (IZ-CAS). Yunnan, Jingdongxian, Ailaoshan [=Mt. Ailao]: 1 ♀, Ailaoshan station, 24 º 32.678 'N 101 º01.675'E, 2486 m, cow dung, 2010. IX. 17, Y.-L. Zhou leg. (IZ-CAS); 2 ♀♀, South of the Ailaoshan station, 24 º 32.951 'N 101 º01.656'E, 2500 m, flight interception trap, 2010. IX. 15–16, Y.-L. Zhou leg. (IZ-CAS); 1 ♂, same data as previous except: 2010. IX. 17 (IZ-CAS); 1 ♂, same data as previous except: 2010. IX. 21 (IZ-CAS); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, South of the Ailaoshan station, 24 º 32.359 'N 101 º01.668'E, 2485–2520 m, forest litter, sifting, 2010. IX. 17, Y.-L. Zhou leg. (IZ-CAS); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same data as previous except: 2440–2485 m, pitfall trap, 2010. IX. 17, Y.-L. Zhou & L. Lü legg. (IZ-CAS); 4 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, same data as previous except: 2010. IX. 18, L. Lü & X. Zhang legg. (IZ-CAS); 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, same data as previous except: 2010. IX. 20 (IZ-CAS); 13 ♂♂, 17 ♀♀, South of the Ailaoshan station, 24 º 32.36 'N 101 º01.67'E, 2450–2465m, pitfall trap, 2010. IX. 18, L. Lü & X. Zhang legg. (IZ-CAS); 15 ♂♂, 18 ♀♀, same data as previous except: 2482–2520m (IZ-CAS); 8 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀, same data as previous except: 2475–2480 m (IZ-CAS); 1 ♂, same data as previous except: 2010. IX. 20 (IZ-CAS); 2 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, South of the Ailaoshan station, 24 º 32.682 'N 101 º01.668'E, 2513 m, flight interception trap, 2010. IX. 19, Y.-L. Zhou & X. Zhang legg. (IZ-CAS); 1 ♀, same data as previous except: 2010. IX. 21 (IZ-CAS); 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, North of the Ailaoshan station, 24 º 32.806 'N 101 º01.665'E, 2485m, tea plantation, pitfall trap, 2010. IX. 20, L. Lü & X. Zhang legg. (IZ-CAS); 2 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀, East of the Ailaoshan station, 24 º 32.94 'N 101 º02.27'E, 2465 m, pitfall trap, 2010. IX. 22, L. Lü & X. Zhang legg. (IZ-CAS); 4 ♂♂, 9 ♀♀, same data as previous except: 2470 m (IZ-CAS); 4 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, same data as previous except: 2580 m (IZ-CAS); 4 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, same data as previous except: 2490 m ( IZ- CAS); 6 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀, Xujiaba reservoir, 24 º 32.411 'N 101 º01.012'E, 2440m, flight interception trap, 2010. IX. 22, Y.-L. Zhou leg. (IZ-CAS). Yunnan, Menglaxian: 2 ♀♀, Yaoqu, 21 º 43.850 'N 101 º 30.953 'E, 1150m, pitfall trap, 2010. X. 3, X. Zhang & L. Lü legg. (IZ-CAS). Zhejiang: 1 ♀, Kaihuaxian [=Kaihua Co.], Gutianshan [=Mt. Gutian] Nature Reserve [29.24 ºN 118.11 ºE], 446–715m, coniferous and broad leaf forest, pitfall trap, 2010. V. 1–4, C.-L. Liu leg. (IZ-CAS); 1 ♀, Qingyuanxian [=Qingyuan Co.], Baishanzu Nature Reserve [27.75 ºN 119.21 ºE], 1300m, 1994. VII. 16, H. Wu leg. (IZ-CAS).

Redescription. Body shiny and black; mandibles, maxillary palpi (articles 1–3), legs reddish brown; maxillary palpi (apical article) yellow; elytra yellowish pale, transparent, with base and apex infuscate. Length [average]: ♂, 4.4 mm; ♀, 4.5 mm.

Male. Head ( Figs. 12 A; 13 A) broadest at eyes and temples. Disc flat, less pubescent, with punctures and micro-striae fine but dense in middle. Clypeus with surface delicate and not punctate, protruding beyond anterior border of supra-antennal ridges, anterior margin with tiny tooth in center, beside which furnished with a pair of sharp and long spines connected by semicircular elevation at base. Epistomal suture invisible. Supra-antennal ridges elevated. Vertex sloped anteriorly, without mid-longitudinal suture, paralateral sutures obliquely running from middle of head to each 1 / 3 of occipital suture. Eyes convex, equal with temples in length, with coarse facets; orbital sulcus remarkable. Temple dilated laterally. Neck constricted, and demarcated by occipital suture, surface delicate in dorsal center but coriaceous in lateral areas. Occipital suture integral and slightly curved. Mandible ( Fig. 13 A) long and stout (short in some male individuals, Fig. 13 C), sharp, and incurved; bearing 3 teeth on inner edge: front one large, other two tiny.

Pronotum ( Figs. 12 A; 13 A) narrower than head, widest at anterior 1 / 4, with mid-longitudinal sulcus and micro-striae absent, with large punctures sparse but clustered; anterior margin broadly emarginate, anterior lateral angles less prominent, nearly no posterior angles; lateral and posterior margins integrated and evenly rounded, without crenulation, near lateral margin with shallow punctate depression. Scutellum with crest-shaped impression. Elytra with posterior margin obliquely truncate, elytral suture dehiscent or partly overlapping.

Abdominal sternite VII ( Figs. 12 C; 13 E) with posterior margin emarginate in middle, where modified by semicircular membrane. Sternite VIII ( Figs. 12 D; 13 F) posterior margin broadly rounded and with two small processes near middle, behind which situated with two short spinules; subbasal ridges continuous in middle.

Aedeagus ( Figs. 12 G–I; 13 I –K) with median lobe a little inflated at base; apical orifice large, closed at apex by two overlapping petal-like pieces, ventrally fissured to apical 1 / 3 of ventral surface, edges of ventral fissure protruding into a pair of long spines, slightly outcurved; internal sac membranous, not rolling. Paramere arm-like; basal arm with furrow; apical arm slightly explanate, furnished with two setae at apex, with one short process at near apex of ventral edge, where with short seta.

Female. Head ( Figs. 12 B; 13 B) smaller than male, not wider than pronotum; clypeus with spines reduced into teeth, depressed and emarginate between teeth. Eyes longer than temples. Mandibles ( Fig. 13 D) smaller. Pronotum widest at apical 1 / 3. Abdominal sternite VII without modification, sternite VIII ( Figs. 12 E; 13 G) gradually narrowed with posterior margin broadly rounded.

Spermatheca ( Figs. 12 F; 13 H) with basal part inflated, and V-shaped constricted near base; apical part slender and curved.

Distribution. China (Hubei, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang); India.