Hypomedon galilaeus (BORDONI, 1980)

Assing, Volker, 2016, On some Acanthoglossa and Hypomedon species II. Two new species, a new synonymy, and additional records (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 48 (1), pp. 317-325 : 319-322

Hypomedon galilaeus (BORDONI, 1980)

( Figs 1-13 , Map 1 )

Material examined: Lebanon: see ASSING (2008). Israel: see ASSING (2008) and ASSING & FELDMANN (2012). Saudi Arabia: see ASSING et al. (2013). Pakistan: 1♂, Chhanga Manga, Lahore , 26.VI.1974, leg. Baroni Urbani ( NHMB) . Taiwan: 1♂, Taitung Hsien, road no. 20, km 174, Li-Tao (Lidau), 1000 m, compost, 8.IV.2007, leg. Vít (cAss) ; 2♀♀, Taitung Hsien, road no. 20, Li-Tao (Lidau), 1000 m, base of rock, soil-washing, 8.IV.2007, leg. Vít (cAss) ; 1♀, Taitung Hsien, road no. 20, km 202, behind Chulai, forest litter, 9.IV.2007, leg. Vít (cAss).

Comment: Hypomedon galilaeus had been reported from Lebanon, Israel, and Saudi Arabia ( ASSING 2008, ASSING & FELDMANN 2012, ASSING et al. 2013). The above records from Pakistan and Taiwan considerably expand the known distribution of this species ( Map 1 ).

The specimens from Taiwan are distinguished from those seen from other regions by distinctly shorter elytra and hind wings of reduced length (approximately as long as elytra). In material from Taiwan, the elytra are 0.78-0.85 times as long as the pronotum ( Fig. 2 ), whereas in (macropterous) populations from other regions the elytra are 1.05- 1.10 times as long as the pronotum ( Fig. 1 ). However, the aedeagi ( Figs 3-10 ) and the shape of the male sternite VIII ( Figs 11-13 ), as well as other external characters are practically identical, suggesting that the specimens from Taiwan represent a brachypterous morph of H. galilaeus rather than a distinct species.

Based on external characters, H. galilaeus is practically indistinguishable from H. debilicornis . The question whether or not both names refer to different species or just parthenogenetic ( H. debilicornis ) and bisexual ( H. galilaeus ) populations of the same species requires clarification based on molecular evidence.

Figures

Map 1: Distribution of Hypomedon galilaeus based on examined records.

Figs 1-13: Hypomedon galilaeus from Saudi Arabia (1, 3-5, 11), Israel (6), Pakistan (7-8, 12), and Taiwan (2, 9-10, 13): (1-2) forebody; (3-10) aedeagus in lateral and in ventral view; (11-13) male sternite VIII. Scale bars: 1-2: 1.0 mm; 3-13: 0.1 mm.