Quedius (Raphirus) sp. aff Q. coloratus Fauvel, 1875

Salnitska, Maria & Solodovnikov, Alexey, 2018, Revision of the Quedius fauna of Middle Asia (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Staphylininae), Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 65 (2), pp. 117-159 : 135

Quedius (Raphirus) sp. aff Q. coloratus Fauvel, 1875 Fig. 18

Quedius coloratus : Herman 2001, 3129 (summary of literature); Assing 2017, 207 (characters, distribution records, bionomics).

Material examined.

Kyrgyzstan: 1 ♂, N Tien-Shan, Kyrgyz Alatoo Mts, S Tokmak, near Kegety Pass, left tributary of Tuyuk River, 3000 m a.s.l., 42°24 ’43” N, 75°00 ’52” E, 13.V.1986, I.A. Belousov leg. (cRyv).

Comments on taxonomy, distribution and bionomics.

Externally and by the structure of the aedeagus, a single male specimen from Kyrgyzstan (Fig. 18) examined here seems to be a new species from the coloratus -group, recently revised by Assing (2017). Quedius coloratus and allied species forming that group are regional Mediterranean endemics with allopatric distributions, altogether extending from Greece, through Turkey to Jordan. Our specimen differs from all known species of the coloratus -group in the structure of aedeagus (sharp apex of median lobe, subapical tooth located much further away form the apex, peg setae of the paramere less distinctly arranged in longitudinal rows and situated more medially (Fig. 18B, C).

This specimen from the high elevations of Kyrgyz Alatoo, far from the Mediterranean region, is a noteworthy finding for the coloratus -group. More material is needed for a clearer understanding of its identity and formal description.