Dianous ponticus, Fagel, 1963

Turan, Yavuz, 2025, Reassessment of Dianous ponticus Fagel, 1963 (Staphylinidae: Steninae) and the genus Dianous in Turkey: Taxonomic, ecological, and distributional insights, Zootaxa 5696 (3), pp. 437-443 : 438-440

The redescription of Dianous ponticus based on both male and female specimens is provided here, including diagnostic characters and genital structures.

Material examined. TURKEY: KASTAMONU, 2 ♂♂ 1 ♀, Araç, Okçular village , near stream (fast-flowing stream), 771 m., 41.172679N, 33.192564E, 16.VI.2023, leg. Y. Turan ; 1 male 1 ♀, Araç, Okçular waterfall , 839 m., 41.172667N, 33.182962E, 16.VI.2023, leg. Y. Turan ; 1 ♂ 1 ♀, Pýnarbaþý, Ilýca waterfall , 449 m., 41.654079N, 33.141252E, 19.VI.2023,leg. Y.Turan ; 1 ♂, TURKEY: SINOP, Erfelek , waterfall , 455 m., 41.84827N, 34.775615E, 19.VI.2023, leg. Y. Turan.

Redescription:

Habitus of male as in Fig. 1A ; female in Fig. 1B .

Head, pronotum, elytra, and abdomen metallic blue; femur and tibia dark brown-black, apical of tibia light brown; I-VIII antennae segments dark brown, XI-XI segments light brown; maxilla palpus black-brown.

Head transverse, approximately 1.34 times as broad as long; lateral margins behind eyes narrow backward in dorsal view; punctation distinct and dense, diameters broader than interspaces, with reticulated microsculpture. Pubescence dense and forward-directed anteriorly. Eyes large, in dorsal view as long as or slightly longer than postocular region. The anterior margin of the labrum straight.

Pronotum approximately 1.07–1.10 times as wide as long, distinctly narrower than head. Punctures distinct; anteriorly and posteriorly with diameters larger than the interspaces, punctures in other areas diameters smaller than the interspaces; with reticulated microsculpture; without pubescence.

Elytra approximately 1.4 times longer than pronotum, 1.6 times as wide as the pronotum; slightly broader than length; punctation shallow, with diameters broader than the interspaces. Dense yellow pubescence, due to the concentration of posteriorly directed pubescence medially, create a spotted appearance. Hind wings fully developed. Protarsomeres I–IV distinctly dilated, without sexual dimorphism. Metatarsus I nearly as long as Metatarsus V.

Abdomen superficial punctate and diameters narrower than interspaces; with reticular microsculpture; pubescence dense, directed toward the posterior. posterior margin of tergite VII with palisade fringe; posterior margin of tergite VIII straight.

♂: Sternite VIII ( Fig. 1C ) approximately as long as broad, posterior border slightly concave; parameres of aedeagus longer than the median lobe; apex of median lobe slightly protruding like a finger ( Fig. 1D ).

Sternite IX: Posterior margin slightly serrated and slightly concave medially ( Fig. 1E ).

♀: Sternite IX: Posterior corner with one or two slight projections ( Fig. 1F ).

Distribution

The species Dianous ponticus was first described from Hamsiköy, Trabzon, in northeastern Turkey. Subsequent records of the species were reported from Giresun, Adana, and later from Armenia ( Fagel 1963; Korge 1964; Puthz 1979, 1981, 2016). In this study, D. ponticus was recorded from Kastamonu ( Western Black Sea ) and Sinop ( Central Black Sea).

The distribution of species belonging to the genus Dianous in Turkey is shown in the map below ( Fig. 2 ). Additionally, their distributional localities, elevation ranges and collection periods are summarized in the table below ( Table 2 ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Dianous ponticus A: Male habitus; B: Female habitus; C: Male sternite VIII; D: Aedeagus; E: Male sternite IX; F: Female sternite IX

FIGURE 2. Distribution of Dianous species in Turkey