Nepaliodes Coiffait, 1977

HERMAN, LEE H., 2004, Revision of the Asian Tribe Megarthropsini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Tachyporinae), American Museum Novitates 3430, pp. 1-72 : 23-30

Nepaliodes Coiffait

Figures 74–90 , 183–187

Nepaliodes Coiffait, 1977: 272 . Type species: Nepaliodes variolosus Coiffait , fixed by original designation and monotypy.

— Smetana, 1983a: 150 (characters; illustrations;

habitus).— Smetana, 1992: 204 (characters; illustrations).— Herman, 2001a: 679 (catalog).

DIAGNOSIS: Nepaliodes is separated from other genera of the tribe by the apically tapered antennal scape (fig. 184), the angulate anterior and posterior angles of the pronotum (fig. 79), and the explanate, sparsely punctate lateral third or fourth of the elytra (fig. 183). The parameres (in ventral view) of Nepaliodes are curved to the right, and the right paramere is about twice as long as the left (figs. 74, 84) and is more strongly curved. Females have five lobes on the posterior margin of sternum VIII (figs. 82, 89), and tergum VIII has six slender lobes, the median pair of which is more slender than the others. The spermathecal capsule which tapers proximally from the apex is abruptly expanded before attaching to the spermathecal duct (figs. 83, 92).

DESCRIPTION: Length 3.7–5.0 mm; width 1.7–2.0 mm. Color evenly reddish brown to dark reddish brown.

Head (fig. 184) with dorsum coarsely and densely punctate. Clypeus sparsely punctate. Head with lateral margin strongly reflexed from antenna to anterior margin of clypeus (fig. 184); anterior margin of clypeus strongly reflexed (fig. 184). Epistomal suture (fig. 184) present laterally on reflexed portion of clypeus just anterior to antennal insertion, absent from median three­fifths; midcranial suture absent. Dorsum of head without midlongitudinal groove; surface with or without broad, shallow median depression. Postocular lateral margin of head with carina extending medially from eye (fig. 184); carina straight; vertical postocular carina absent. Gular sutures moderately widely separated. Submentum coarsely punctate. Antenna long and slender, reaching nearly to apical margin of elytra; scape tapered apically (fig. 184); dorsal surface of scape densely pubescent, ventral surface sparsely pubescent.

Pronotum (figs. 79, 183) with anterior angle angulate, narrowly rounded, and strongly produced beyond median portion of anterior margin; lateral margin broadly and unevenly rounded; basal angle angulate; median threefifths coarsely and densely punctate and strongly convex; lateral fifth strongly explanate and surface sparsely and feebly punctate.

Elytra (fig. 183) with median two­thirds or three­quarters convex and densely and coarsely punctate; lateral third to quarter concave, sparsely and feebly punctate, strongly explanate, and with lateral margin reflexed; lateral margin with row of short, spinelike setae from humeral angle to near middle of lateral margin; spinelike setae increasingly short posteriorly; posterior margin deeply emarginate laterally (figs. 91, 183); posterolateral angle strongly produced and acute (fig. 91). Mesosternum with midlongitudinal carina extending from basal margin to near base of mesosternal process; paramedial carina rudimentary. Metasternum with shallow depression adjacent to apex of mesosternal process; circum­mesocoxal ridge enlarged medially.

Procoxa without carina on median surface.

MALE: Sternite VII (figs. 77, 87) with wide emargination of posterior margin; surface with broad median depression and with median peg setae. Tergum VIII (figs. 78, 88) with three apical lobes; median lobe with shallow emargination.

Aedeagus (figs. 74, 75, 84, 86), in ventral view, with parameres closely appressed and curved to right; right paramere thicker, more strongly curved, and about twice as long as left; median lobe with deep longitudinal groove near middle of ventral base (fig. 80).

FEMALE: Sternum VIII (figs. 82, 89) with five apical lobes; median lobe broad and with two small, apical, fanlike clusters of setae, one on each side of midline; median lobe with midapical region more lightly pigment­ ed (and difficult to see) than lateroapical region. Tergum VIII (figs. 81, 90) with six slender apical lobes; median lobes more slen­ der and shorter than lateral and paramedial lobes; lateral lobe without secondary lobe on lateral edge.

Spermathecal (figs. 83, 92) capsule curved and gradually tapered from apex to spermathecal duct; capsule expanded just before juncture with spermathecal duct.

DISCUSSION: The detailed description of Nepaliodes published by Coiffait (1977: 272) was amplified by Smetana (1983a: 150; 1992: 204), who also presented numerous illustrations.

Females are identified by their collection in association with the males and by distribution. Characters have not been found that permit species identification of the females. Illustrations of segment VIII (figs. 81, 82, 89, 90) of the two species suggest that females can be separated by features of the terga and sterna, but those variations are found in specimens of both species.

Specimens of both species are usually coated with a fine­grained, mudlike sub­ stance that can be removed after soaking them in ammonia.

Nepaliodes includes two species, N. variolosus , from Nepal and India and N. solangelae from Thailand and China.

KEY TO SPECIES OF NEPALIODES

1. Sternite VII (fig. 77) with posterior margin deeply emarginate (males)............ 2

— Sternite VII with posterior margin truncate or slightly emarginate (females)......... 3

2(1). Sternite VII (fig. 77) with broad, deep emargination; sternite V with setae posteriorly directed; sternite VI with setae of median region directed slightly to middle (fig. 76).............. N. variolosus Coiffait

— Sternite VII (fig. 87) with broad, moderately deep emargination; sternites V and VI (fig. 85) with setae of median region medioposteriorly directed....................... N. solangelae , new species

3(1). Present in India and Nepal......................... N. variolosus Coiffait

— Present in Thailand and China.................. N. solangelae , new species

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES

Nepaliodes variolosus Coiffait

Figures 74–83 , 183–187

Nepaliodes variolosus Coiffait, 1977: 272 . Type locality: Weg v. Pokhara z. Goropani, Zentral­ Nepal. Holotype, male, deposited in Naturhistorisches Museum Wien; examined.

— Smetana, 1983a: 154 (characters; habitus; aedeagus; body parts; bionomics; India; Nepal).

DIAGNOSIS: The deeper emargination of sternite VII (fig. 77), the finer, less medially directed pubescence of sternites V and VI (fig. 76), and the less strongly tapered, more apically blunt right paramere (figs. 74, 75) will separate the males of N. variolosus from N. solangelae . The females of the two species can be separated by locality.

DESCRIPTION: Length 3.7–5.0 mm; width 1.2–1.8 mm. Color reddish brown to dark reddish brown; explanate margins of head, pronotum and elytra paler; head darker.

Wings fully developed.

Tergite VII with palisade fringe present.

MALE: Sternite V (fig. 76) with pubescence of median region fine and more or less posteriorly directed. Sternite VI (fig. 76) with pubescence of median region slightly direct­ ed to middle. Sternite VII (fig. 77) with broad, deep emargination of posterior margin; disc with dense cluster of peg setae along posterior margin and in shallow median depression of apical half. Sternum VIII (fig. 78) with deep median emargination; emargination broad apically and narrow basally; margins of emargination strongly sinuate and convergent to narrow base.

Aedeagus (figs. 74, 75) with right paramere about half as long as left; left paramere stout, strongly curved to left and tapered apically to moderately broad, rounded apex (in dorsal or ventral view).

FEMALE: Tergum VIII (fig. 81), sternum VIII (fig. 82), and spermatheca (fig. 83). Species distinguished from N. solangelae by association with male and distribution.

DISCUSSION: Two spellings of the name were used by Coiffait (1977: 244, 272, 273) in the original publication, namely Nepaliodes variolasa and N. variolosa . As first reviser Smetana (1983a: 154) selected and corrected the name to N. variolosus . Attached to the pin with the holotype, which was not examined by Smetana, is Coiffait’s determination label for the species; it reads ’’ Nepaliodes variolosa ’’.

The labels record some specimens from ‘‘Dobate Ridge NE Barahbise’’. According to Smetana (1988: 176), that locality should read ‘‘Pokhare NE Barahbise’’; it is east of Kathmandu ( Smetana, 1988: 172, site 25).

DISTRIBUTION: Nepaliodes variolosus is known from Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal in India and Bagmati Province in Nepal at elevations of 1700, 1900, and 2700 m, respectively. In Nepal the species was collected from accumulations of deep, wet leaf litter in depressions and small gullies in a deciduous forest with dense undergrowth ( Smetana, 1983a: 155) .

MATERIAL EXAMINED: Twenty­seven specimens: 13 males, 14 females. Nepal: holotype, locality cited above, September–October 1971, collected by H. Franz (1 male, NHMW); (Prov. Bagmati) , Dobate Ridge [Pokhare: see Discussion above] NE Barahbise, 2700 m, 2.V.81, Löbl and Smetana (1 male, 2 females, MHNG; 1 male, 1 female, AMNH) ; Prov. Bagmati, Dobate Ridge [Pokhare; see remarks under Discussion above] NE Barahbise, 2800 m, 2.V.81, Löbl and Smetana (1 female, MHNG) ; Lalitpur Distr. , 2 km S Godavari, 1700 m, 19­X­83, Smetana and Löbl (1 male, 2 females). Inde: Garhwal ( UP) , Mussoorie, No. 15, 1700 m, 19­X­79, I. Löbl (6 males, 2 females, MHNG) ; Kumaon ( UP) , Rangarh, No. 6B, 2000 m, 9.X.79, I. Löbl (4 males, 4 females, MHNG) ; Uttar Pr., Kumaon, Rangarh, No. 6B, 2250 m, 9.X.79, I. Löbl (1 female, MHNG) . India: W. Bengal, Darjeeling dist., Algarah­Labha , 1900 m, 11­X­78, Besuchet and Löbl (1 female, MHNG) .

Dissections of three males and two females were examined for features of the abdomen and for the male and female genitalia and genital segments.

No specimens were disarticulated.

Nepaliodes solangelae , new species

Figures 84–90

HOLOTYPE: Male. ‘‘ THAILAND: Chiang Mai Do’i Suthep , 1550 m 4.XI.1985, Burckhardt­Löbl’ ’. Holotype deposited in the Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle, Genève, Switzerland ( MHNG) .

PARATYPES: Six males. Thailand: Chiang Mai ,

Doi Inthanon , 1650 m, 7.XI.1985, Burckhardt­ Löbl (2 males, MHNG) ; Chiang Mai distr. , Doi Suthep­Pui NP, 1080 m, 17.2.1995, leg P. Schwendinger, evergr. hill forest (1 male, MSC) ; ‘‘ Doi Phu Nan Province , 500 m, Kha Nat Park, 1700 m, Schwendinger, 6.10.91’’ (1 male, MHNG) [according to information provided by I. Löbl, this label should read: ‘‘N. Thailand, Nan Province, Doi Phu Kha National Park , 1700 m, 6.10.91, P. Schwendiger’ ’]; Taksin Maharat N.P., 1000 m, 9.2.1993, Schwendinger (1 male, MHNG) . China: Guangxi: Dawangling , 1190 m, 6.VIII.1999, J.R. Fellowes, 15 m closed canopy, broadleaf forest floor litter (1 male, GRC) .

DIAGNOSIS: The males of this species are separated from those of N. variolosus by the shallower emargination of the posterior margin of sternite VII (fig. 87), the more strongly tapered, more apically acute right paramere (in ventral view; fig. 84), and the slightly coarser, more medially directed median setae of sternites V and VI (fig. 85). The females are identified by association with the male and by locality.

DESCRIPTION: Length 4.0– 4.7 mm; width 1.8–2.0 mm. Color reddish brown to dark reddish brown; explanate margins of head, pronotum, and elytra paler; head darker.

Wings fully developed.

Tergite VII with palisade fringe present.

MALE: Sternite V (fig. 85) with setae of median region slightly coarse and medioposteriorly directed. Sternite VI (fig. 85) with pubescence of median region slightly coarse and strongly medioposteriorly directed; posterior margin with small median lobe. Sternite VII (fig. 87) with broad, moderately deep emargination of posterior margin; disc with dense cluster of peg setae in broad, shallow, median depression of apical half and along posterior margin. Sternum VIII (fig. 88) with deep median emargination; emargination broad apically and narrow basally; margin of emargination strongly sinuate to narrow base.

Aedeagus (figs. 84, 86) with left paramere (in ventral view) moderately curved and about half as long as right; right paramere stout, strongly curved and tapered apically to acute apex.

FEMALE: Tergum VIII (fig. 89), sternum VIII (fig. 90), and spermatheca (fig. 92). Spe­ cies distinguished from N. variolosus by association with male and distribution.

ETYMOLOGY: This species is named for Solangel Casabona who has worked with me as a preparator for 25 years.

DISCUSSION: Females were not selected as paratypes because they can only be identified by distribution and by their collection in association with males. I have been unable to find characters of the females that distinguish the species.

DISTRIBUTION: This species is known from northern Thailand where it was collected at elevations of 1000–1780 m , and Guangxi Province, China, where it was collected at 1190 m .

MATERIAL EXAMINED: Seven males and 9 females: holotype male, 6 male paratypes, and 9 females. The localities from which the females were collected are the following. Thailand: Chiang Mai, Doi Inthanon, 1650 m, 7.XI.1985, Burckhardt­Löbl (6 females, MHNG); Chiang Mai, Doi Inthanon, 1780 m, 17.XII.86, P. Schwendinger (1 female, MHNG); Chiang Mai, Doi Suthep, 1400 m, 5.XI.1985, Burckhardt­Löbl (1 female, MHNG); Prov. Chiang Mai, Doi Suthep, 1320 m, 27.XII.1986, P. Schwendinger (1 female, MHNG) .

Dissections of five males and three females were examined for features of the abdomen and characters of the male and female genitalia and genital segments.

No specimens were disarticulated.

Figures

Figs. 74–80. Nepaliodes variolosus. 74. Aedeagus, ventral. 75. Aedeagus, lateral. 76. Sternites V and VI, male. 77. Sternite VII, male. 78. Sternum VIII, male (long apical setae missing). 79. Pronotum (setae omitted). 80. Aedeagus, anterior end, cross section.

Figs. 81–83. Nepaliodes variolosus. 81. Tergum VIII, female. 82. Sternum VIII, female. 83. Spermatheca.

Figs. 84–88. Nepaliodes solangelae. 84. Aedeagus, ventral. 85. Sternites V and VI, male. 86. Aedaegus, lateral. 87. Sternite VII, male. 88. Sternum VIII, male.

Figs. 89–92. Nepaliodes solangelae. 89. Sternum VIII, apical portion, female. 90. Tergum VIII, female. 91. Elytron, apical margin, left (setae omitted). 92. Spermatheca.

Figs. 183–187. Nepaliodes variolosus. 183. Head, pronotum, and elytra. 184. Head. 185. Head, dorsal setae in deep punctures. 186. Pronotal seta in deep puncture. 187. Elytral seta in deep puncture.