Straneostichus vignai Sciaky, 1994

Chen, Jia-Heng, Shi, Hong-Liang & Liang, Hong-Bin, 2022, Taxonomic notes on the Chinese endemic genus Straneostichus Sciaky, 1994 (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Pterostichini), with descriptions of three new species, Zootaxa 5182 (3), pp. 247-264 : 260-261

Straneostichus vignai Sciaky, 1994

Chinese vernacular name: ḰÑḃ步ffl

( Figures 22–23 )

Straneostichus vignai vignai Sciaky, 1994: 192 (type locality: Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan);

Straneostichus vignai romani Sciaky, 1994: 193 (type locality: Xiaojin, Sichuan);

Straneostichus vignai violaceus Sciaky & Wrase, 1997: 1110 (type locality: Qingling, Shaanxi).

Type material. A male paratype of Straneostichus vignai Sciaky ( CRS) “ China, N-Sichuan, 30 km W Nanping, 13.–15. VI.1992, Jiuzhaigou, 3100 m. Jaroslav Turna leg.”, “ PARATYPUS Straneostichus n. g. vignai n. sp. Det. R. Sciaky 1993” [red label]. The holotype of Straneostichus vignai romani Sciaky , male ( CRS) “Cina- W Sichuan, Zhi- Long (Shou-Ji), 3–8.VIII.92. Sauer”; “ HOLOTYPUS, Straneostichus vignai romani n. ssp. Det. Sciaky ‘94” [red label]. The holotype of Straneostichus vignai violaceus Sciaky & Wrase , male ( CRS), “C China-Shaanxi, Qinling mts. 33º35’N 107º43’E NW of Houzhenzi, 2600 m VII.1996. leg. Haeckel”; “ HOLOTYPUS, Straneostichus vignai violaceus n. ssp., Sciaky & Wrase des. 1997” [red label].

Non-type material. 2 males ( CCCC), “ Sichuan, Maoxian, Jiudingshan, Qinglongping , 2017. V.2–3, alt = 2816 m, Yang Xiaodong lgt.” ; 3 males and 1 female ( CCCC), “ Sichuan, Baoxing, Qiaoqi, Borigou , 2017.IV.15, alt= 3000 m, Yang Xiaodong lgt.” ; 4 males and 3 females ( CCCC), “ Sichuan, Lixian, Miyaluo, Suoluogou , alt= 2800 m, 2017. IV.24, Yang Xiaodong lgt.” ; 1 female ( IZAS), “ Sichuan, Huanglong , 1990.VII.26, Xie Weiping lgt.” ; 1 female ( CRS), “ China, Sechuan, Jitiang , 3.7– 14.7.2001, lgt. E. Kucera ” ; 1 male ( CRS), “ China, N Sichuan, Jiuzhaigou, Songpan co. , 3000 m, 4.–7. 7. 94. Benes” ; 1 male and 2 females ( CRS), “ China, N. Sichuan, env. Nanping , 15.VII.1997. Murzin” ; 1 female ( CCJH), “ China, Shaanxi, Taibaishan, 7.2015. Local.” ; 2 females ( CRS), “ China, SW Shaanxi, Qinling mts., Houzhenzi , 2600 m, 7.7.1996, leg. Janata M. ” ; 1 female ( CRS), “ China, Shanxi prov., Zhouzhi Co., Houzhenzhi env., 3200 m, 10.– 25.7.1998, Benes leg.” ; 2 females ( CRS), “ China, Shaanxi prov., Qing Ling Shan mts., track Hou Zen Zi vill. to Taibaishan Mt. , 2500 m, 27–29. VI.1998, O Safranek et M. Tryzna lgt.” ; 3 males and 4 females ( IZAS), “ Gansu, Zhouqu, Shatan forestry station, 1998.VII.6, Zhang Xuezhong lgt.” ; 1 female ( CRS), “ China, Gansu prov., Tevo co., Tevo env., 2000 m, 27.6– 5.7. 1998, Benes lgt.” ; 1 male ( CRS), “ China, Gansu, Minshan Mountain Range , 60 km N.W. Wudu, 15. VI.2005 ” ; 2 females ( CRS), “ China, Gansu mer., Lintan, Zhi Mei Shan , 2900 m, for latifolie, 17-VII-2005, leg. Cavazzuti ” ; 2 males ( CCJH), “ Ningxia, Guyuan, Jingyuan County, Mt. Liupanshan , alt= 2050 m, IV-25-2021, Si-Kai Du leg. ” .

Remarks. Three subspecies were recognized under this species mainly based on minor differences in the male genitalia. In the present contribution, we provide several new geographical records for this species. For our examined specimens, those from Baoxing, Wolong, and Lixian belong to the subspecies S. vignai romani , while those from Huanglong and Zhouqu belong to the nominotypical subspecies. However, those from Maoxian and Liupanshan cannot be classified into any described subspecies because of their isolated distributions and small morphological differences. The two specimens from Maoxian, Jiudingshan are most similar to the nominotypical subspecies for the elytral shoulders not angulate, but different in the dorsal surface coppery but not purple and the apical lamella of aedeagus a little more enlarged and rounded. The specimens from Liupanshan are most similar to the subspecies S. vignai violaceus for the elytral shoulders weakly angulate and the median lobe of aedeagus with left margin distinctly sinuate, but different in the aedeagus slenderer and the apical lamella of aedeagus is less enlarged. Thus, we prefer not to describe them as new subspecies because the above-mentioned differences are much too subtle and some of these characters show intermediate status between described subspecies.

Distribution. This species is widely distributed from central-western Sichuan to southern Gansu, southern Shaanxi and Ningxia.

Figures

FIGURES 22‒26. Dorsal habitus of Straneostichus species (vignai-group). 22‒23. S. vignai Sciaky, 1994; 24. S. farkaci Sciaky, 1996; 25‒26. S. kirschenhoferi Sciaky, 1994; 22. Jingyuan, Ningxia; 23. Meixian, Shaanxi; 24. Shangri-La, Yunnan; 25. Weixi, Yunnan; 26. Muli, Sichuan. Scale: 5.0 mm.