Ocypus (Pseudocypus) aenescens Eppelsheim, 1889

Smetana, Aleš, 2009, Contributions to the knowledge of the “ Staphylinus-complex ” (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylinini) of China. Part 21. The genus Ocypus Leach, 1819, subgenus Pseudocypus Mulsant & Rey, 1876. Section 4, Zootaxa 2286, pp. 1-30 : 7-10

Ocypus (Pseudocypus) aenescens Eppelsheim, 1889

( Figs. 15–21 )

aenescens Eppelsheim, 1889 , 174 ( Ocypus ; subg. Goerius ).

Bernhauer & Schubert, 1914, 384 ( Staphylinus ; subg. Ocypus ); Scheerpeltz, 1933, 1390 ( Staphylinus ); Smetana & Davies, 2000, 47 ( Ocypus ; subg. Goerius ); Herman, 2001, 3362 ( Ocypus ; subg. Goerius ); Smetana, 2004, 679 ( Ocypus ); Grebennikov, 2006: 167 ( Ocypus ; subg. Pseudocypus ).

Type material. Eppelsheim (1889: 174) described the species from several specimens of both sexes taken in Kan-ssu (= Gansu) (“Am 27 Januar 1885 in wenigen Exemplaren in Kan-ssu aufgefunden”). The original series, deposited in the collection of the Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, was studied by Grebennikov (2006: 167), who designated the lectotype and listed seven paralectotypes.

Material studied: CHINA: Gansu: “Umg. Xiahe, 3000–3200 m, 24.VI.–26.VI.1993, or 28.VII.– 3.VIII.1993, Heinz leg.“ (8) ( ASC); “Berge b. Xiahe, 3600–3700 m, 29–31.VII.1993, Heinz leg.“ (1) ( ASC); “ XIAHE (=Labrang), env. 35°11.5’N 102°30.6’E, 2940 m, 19–22.VI.2005, J. Hájek, D. Král & J. Rûžička leg.“ (1) (MDC); “12.– 17.7.1990, Gansu prov., ca 4200 m, DOGCANGLHAMO env., J. Kaláb leg.“ (4) ( ASC, MSC); “Mts. 10 km S Xiahe, 3100–3200 m, 4.VIII.1994, A. Smetana [C29]“ (1) ( ASC); “South Gansu Venxian env., 18– 26.6.1995, Beneš“ (2) (MDC); “ 25 km N Hezeo, 3300–3500 m, 21–23.VII.2001, S. Murzin leg.“ (1) (YSC); “Pass 45 km SW Luqu, 3600 m, 13.VII. 1994, A. Smetana [C13]“ (1) ( ASC); “Str. V. WEN XIAN nach WUDU, Berg nord-östlich von WEN XIAN, 2250–2420 m, 30.V.–6.VI.2006, l. A. PUCHNER“ (4) ( ASC, NMW); Qinghai: “SE Qinghai, road Doromarkog–Nangqên, 30km N Nangqên, 3500 m, 24.8.[19]95, Rejsek“ (4) ( ASC); “SE Qinghai, 3500 m, road Toramarkog–Nangqên, 30 km N Nangqên, 24– 25.VI.1995, J Kaláb leg.“ (9) ( ASC, YSC); “S Qinghai, 10.7.1995, 32°40’N 96°36’E, 3500 m, 25 km S Doramarkog, left tribut. of Zi Qu riv., leg. J. Turna“ (2) ( ASC, NMW); “ 7 km NE of Ulan, 3020 m, 36°57.6’N 098°30.6’E, 7.VII.2005, J. Hájek, D. Král & J. Rûžička leg.“ (1) (MDC); “E Qinghai prov., ca 30 km W of CHUMDA 4200 m, 9–12 + 16.7.1992 “ (25) ( ASC, NMW); “E Qinghai prov., Yushu, 4200 m 14.7.1992 “ (2) ( NMW); “S Qinghai, 13/7.1995, 33.08[°] N 97.20 [°]E, 3400 m, XIVU S outskirts. left trib. Jinsha riv., Jaroslav Turna leg.“ (1) (MSC); “S Qinghai, 9.7.1995, 32°35’N 86°32’E, pass 55 km N NANQEN, alpine meadow, 3700 m, Jaroslav Turna leg.“ (6) ( NMW); “S Qinghai, ca 3300 m, 32.16[°] N 96.29 [°]E, 5–6/7.1995, 20 km N NANQEN, cultural steppe, Jaroslav Turna leg.“ (15) ( ASC, NMW); Sichuan: “N Sichuan prov., HONGYUAN, ca 4200 m, 21.7.– 3.8.1991, J. Kaláb leg.“ (3) ( NMW); “W SICHUAN, DAWU SW env., 3100 m, 30°59’[N] / 101°07’[E], 1.6.[19]92, L. & R. BUSINSKÝ“ (10) ( ASC, MDC); “Tagu, VII.1992 “ (5) ( ASC, NMW); “W SICHUAN, DEGE S env., 3100–4300 m, 31°39’[N] / 98°37’[E], 4–9.6.[19]92, L. & R. BUSINSKÝ lgt.“ (14) ( ASC, MDC); “N Sichuan, Zoigé, 1.6.1996, Beneš & Štĕpař lgt.“ (4) ( ASC, MDC); “Strasse zw. BAMEI u. XINBUQIAO TAGONG GRASSLANDS, Pass südlich v. BAMEI, 3800 m, 28.VII.– 7.VIII.2006, l. A. PUCHNER“ (3) ( ASC, NMW); “Tagu vill. 100 km NW of Kangding, 3500 m, 21– 25.8.1995, J. Schneider lgt.“ (2) (MDC); “Ganzi pref., Daxue Shan, 101.52[°] E 30.01 [°]N, ca 10 km W Kangding, 3500–3600 m, 25.V.1997, sifted, leg. A. Pütz“ (1) (APC); “Ganzi pref., Daxue Shan, 101.57[°] E 30.03 [°]N, N Kangding, 2600–2700 m. 22./ 24.V.1997, leg. A. Pütz, or Wrase“ (5) (APC, ASC, MSC); “W Sichuan, Kangding, 2800 m, 30°04’N 101°58’E, 21.VII.1998, A. Smetana [C88]“ (3) ( ASC); “Gongga Shan, Hailuogou, for. above Capm 2, 2800 m, 29°35[’]N 102°00[’]E, 5.VII.1998, A. Smetana [C75]“ (1) ( ASC); “(W Sichuan) (9) Daxue Shan E Tsheto-La Pass W Kangding, 3500 m, 30.01[°]N / 101.52[°]E, 25.V.1997 Wrase“ (4) (MSC); “Pass ca. 30 km w. Kangding, 3600–3700 m, 14.VI.1995, Heinz leg.“ (1) ( ASC); “W Sichuan, 15 km W Kangding, Rte. 138, 3250 m, 29°57[’]N 102°54[’]E, 19.VII. [19]98, A. Smetana [C86]“ (1) ( ASC); “(W Sichuan), KANGDING Co., MUGANG LING Mts., valley 6–12 km E of LIUBA, 3700–4000 m, 29°26–30’[N] 101°36–41’[E], 20–22.VI.2001, coll. L. & R. BUSINSKÝ J.“ (1) (YSC); “W Sichuan, 2500 m, road Yajiang–Litang, ca 15 km E Litang, 2– 3.7.1994, J. Kaláb leg.“ (1) ( NMW); “W Sichuan, KANGDING Co., GONGGA SHAN Mts.–N part SW of KANGDING, 3200–4600 m, 29°46–59’[N] 101°45–52’[E], 2– 9.VI.[20]01, coll. L. & R. BUSINSKÝ J.“ (1) (YSC); “NW Sichuan, DAINMA XIANG, 31.40[°]N / 99.43[°]E, 3500 m, 21.vii.2001, J. Kaláb leg., Grassland/border of field“ (1) (YSC); “Str. V. PINGWU n. NANPING Umg. BEIMA FENXIGYA, 1777 m, 29.V.–5.VI.2006, l. A. PUCHNER“ (1) ( NMW); “W Sichuan, 1997, road Luhuo–Sertar, 23.VII, 40 km N of Luhuo, 31°41’N, 100°44’E, 4000 m, thuya and Picea forest, M. Tr ýzna et O. Šafránek lgt.“ (1) (MDC); “NW Sichuan, 4000 m, MANIGANGGO, 18.VI.1995, J. Kaláb leg.“ (1) (YSC); “W Sichuan, 2800 m, road Luhuo–Sertar, 40 km SSE SERTAR (coniferous forest), 11.–12.VII.1995, J. Kaláb leg.“ (1) (YSC); “SW Sichuan, Sabde, 29°04’N 101°25’E, 3400 m, 26.6.2001, M. Janata leg.“ (2) ( ASC); “mts. W Bamei, 3750 m, 12.VIII. 2005, leg. S. Murzin“ (1) ( ASC); Xizang: “E Tibet, road Toba–Jomda, pass 50 km E Toba, 31°19’N, 98°05’E, 4200 m, alpine meadow, 17.VII.1997, Jaroslav Turna leg., or M. Trýzna et O. Šafránek lgt.“ (5) ( ASC. MDC); “Da hai tse, 4.9.[19] 34 / II. Doland Expedition Westchina / Tibet leg. E. Schäfer, 1934 / 36 / ex coll. Scheerpeltz / TYPUS Staphylinus Schäferi O. Scheerpeltz “ (1) ( NMW).

Diagnosis. Medium-sized species with greenish metallic lustre on head and pronotum, with voluminous pronotum bearing punctation markedly finer and denser than that of disc of head, with abdominal tergite 2 finely and densely punctate and pubescent on entire surface, with fifth visible abdominal tergite lacking pale apical seam of palisade setae, and with characteristic aedoeagus ( Figs. 17–20 ).

Description. Black, head and pronotum with greenish metallic lustre, moderately shiny; elytra black, more or less dull, with slight, dark metallic lustre; abdomen black; pubescence on head, pronotum and elytra brownish piceous, pubescence of abdomen piceous, with intermixed pale hairs; maxillary and labial palpi testaceous to testaceobrunneous, antennae dark brunneous to piceous; legs piceous to piceous black, with paler front tarsi. Head of rounded quadrangular shape, with entirely obtuse posterior angles, wider than long (ratio 1.28), eyes moderately large, moderately convex, tempora about as long as eyes from above; dorsal surface of head finely, moderately densely punctate, with intermixed, very fine punctures, interspaces between punctures on disc about as large as to slightly larger than diameters of punctures, punctation gradually becoming slightly denser toward posterior and lateral margins; traces of impunctate midline present; interspaces between punctures without microsculpture. Dorsal side of neck with punctation finer and denser than that on disc of head. Antenna short, segments 2 and 3 subequal in length, segments 4 to 7 longer than wide, becoming gradually shorter, segments 8 to 10 about as long as wide, last segment short, considerably shorter that two preceding segments combined. Female antenna slightly shorter, with middle segments shorter and outer segments often slightly wider than long. Pronotum voluminous, about as wide as long, subparallelsided, rather convex, narrow marginal groove disappearing downwards at about anterior third of pronotal length; impunctate midline complete but very narrow to narrow, punctation on disc very fine and dense, becoming even denser toward posterior and lateral margins, markedly finer and denser than that on disc of head; interspaces between punctures without microsculpture; area behind anterior angles of pronotum in both sexes densely punctate on ground with fine microsculpture. Pronotal hypomeron without microsetae. Scutellum densely punctate and setose, with black tomentose pubescence on apical half. Elytra short, vaguely dilated posteriad, at suture markedly (ratio 0.69), at sides appreciably, shorter than pronotum at midline (ratio 0.83); punctation very fine and very dense, granulose, elytra therefore appearing rather dull. Wings each reduced to a stump slightly shorter than elytron. Abdomen with fifth visible tergite without pale apical seam of palisade setae ( Fig. 65 ); tergite 2 (in front of first visible tergite) finely and densely punctate and pubescent on entire surface ( Fig. 62 ); all tergites evenly, very densely and very finely punctate, punctation becoming gradually somewhat sparser toward apex of abdomen; interspaces with very fine, dense submeshed microsculpture.

Male. Sternite 8 with wide, moderately deep, obtusely triangular medioapical emargination. Genital segment with tergite 10 densely setose on apical half, with subangulate apex ( Fig. 15 ). sternite 9 with narrow basal portion, apical portion arcuate apically, densely and finely setose, except asetose on basal third ( Fig.16 ). Aedoeagus ( Figs. 17–20 ) with median lobe in ventral view asymmetrical, right lateral portion evenly arcuate, apical portion shaped as in Fig. 17 , with short longitudinal carina on face adjacent to paramere ( Fig. 18 ). Paramere situated on median lobe asymmetricaly, shaped as in Figs. 17, 19 , with subacute apex not reaching apex of median lobe, with fine longitudinal carina on face away from median lobe; underside of paramere lacking sensory peg setae, but with fine sensory setae situated as in Fig. 20 .

Female. Tergite 10 of genital segment large, evenly narrowed toward narrowly arcuate apex ( Fig. 21 ).

Body length 12.0–15.0 mm.

Geographical distribution. Ocypus aenescens is at present known from the provinces of Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, and from Tibet.

Bionomics. Except for the altitude data (2700–4300 m, mostly about 3000 m), the information about the habitat requirements of this species are scarce. Some specimens studied were taken in subalpine or alpine meadows, or in “cultural steppe” (3300 m). It is therefore possible to assume that O. aenescens occurs at high mountain elevations in open habitats, such as grasslands, meadows and even in disturbed habitats, such as cultural steppe (fields).

Recognition and comments. Ocypus aenescens may be easily recognized, even without seeing the characteristically shaped aedoeagus, by the combination of the external characters given in the diagnosis. It may only be confused with O. inexspectatus , the only other species that has the second abdominal tergite entirely punctate and pubescent. The two species may be easily distinguished by the differently shaped aedoeagi ( Figs. 17 , 24 ), as well as by several external characters discussed in the description of O. inexspectatus . In addition, O. inexspectatus was not yet found on the territory of the Peoples Republic of China, although its occurrence in the eastern parts of Jilin or Heilongjiang is quite possible.

Figures

FIGURES 15 – 21. Details of Ocypus aenescens. 15 — tergite 10 of male genital segment (1.4 mm); 16 — sternite 9 of male genital segment (1.9 mm); 17 — aedoeagus, ventral view (1.85 mm); 18 — aedoeagus, lateral view (1.9 mm); 19 — underside of paramere (1.2 mm); 20 — apical portion of underside of paramere; 21 — tergite 10 of female genital segment (1.45 mm).

FIGURES 62 – 67. Abdominal tergite 2 of O. aenescens (62), O. graeseri (63), O. nigroaeneus (64). Apical portion of fifth visible abdominal tergite of O. aenescens (65), O. graeseri (66), O. nigroaeneus (67).

FIGURES 22 – 28. Details of Ocypus inexspectatus. 22 — sternite 9 of male genital segment (1.3 mm); 23 — tergite 10 of male genital segment (1.3 mm); 24 — aedoeagus, ventral view (2.0 mm); 25 — aedoeagus, lateral view (1.05 mm); 26 — underside of paramere (1.3 mm); 27 — apical portion of underside of paramere; 28 — tergite 10 of female genital segment (1.5 mm).