Quedius (Microsaurus) ochripennis Menetries , 1832

Salnitska, Maria & Solodovnikov, Alexey, 2018, Revision of the Quedius fauna of Middle Asia (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Staphylininae), Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 65 (2), pp. 117-159 : 122

Quedius (Microsaurus) ochripennis Menetries, 1832 Fig. 2F

Herman 2001, 3227 (summary of literature); Kascheev 2001, 102 (records); Assing and Schülke 2012, 466, 467 (diagnosis, distribution and bionomics, aedeagus illustration).

Material examined.

Kasakhstan: 1 ♂, Karatau Mts, Byzhi River, Rynagus stream, 24.VII.2010, V.A. Kastcheev leg.; 1 ♂, Karatau Mts, near stream, 11.VII.2010, 42°53' 41.42N, 70°42' 56.6E, 600 m a.s.l., V.A. Kastcheev leg.; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Aksu-Dzhabagly, Taldy-Bulak River, 10-20.IV.1979, B.V. Iskakov leg.; 2 ♂, same locality and collector, but, 04.V.1986; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Aksu-Dzhabagly, Ulken-Kaindy, near water in moss, 18.VII.1986, B.V. Iskakov leg.; 1 ♂, S Kazakhstan, Boralday, 12-15.VI.1983, B.V. Iskakov leg.; 1 ♂, Zalatayskiy Alatau Mts, Krasnogorka [Sulutor], near stream, under tree, 75°13' 50.4N, 43°23' 45.7E, 28.VII.2010, V.A. Kastcheev leg.; Uzbekistan: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Aruk-Tau Mt. Ridge, 25 km W Kyzyl-Kala, 04.IV.1966, O.L. Kryzhanovsky leg. (ZIN); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Tashkent, near railway station, plant debris, 24.V.1986, S.A. Kurbatov leg. (cKur); 1 ♂, Samarkand, Agalyk, 18.X.1935, Y.D. Kirschenblat leg.; 4 ♂, 4 ♀, Aman Kutan, 12. VI– 06.VII.1932, V.V. Gussakovsky leg. (ZIN); 1 ♂, Yakkabag, Convulvulus sp. and thorny bushes, 02.XII.1941, K.V. Arnoldi leg. (cRyv); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Yakkabag, hills S of the town, ravine in forest, cave, 30.XI.1941, K.V. Arnoldi leg. (cRyv); 1 ♂, Ishkent, Kashkadarya River, 24.X.1947, K.V. Arnoldi leg. (ZMMU); Kyrgyzstan: 1 ♂, Kyrgyz-Alatoo Mts, 09.VII.2010, 42°48' 49.2E, 72°28' 38.6N, V.A. Kastcheev leg.; 1 ♂, 2 ♀, S Fergakskiy Mt. Ridge, Ak-Terek, 31. VIII– 20.IX.1937, A.N. Kirichenko leg. (ZIN); 1 ♂, Kara-Alma, Ferganskiy Mt. Ridge, 26.VI.1945, K.V. Arnoldi leg. (ZMMU); Turkmenistan: 2 ♂, 3 ♀, Kopetdag Mts, 22.VI.1953, Ployvanova leg.; 5 ♂, 4 ♀, E Kopetdag Mts, Sunt Mt., in Ulmus sp. leaves rolled by aphids, 22-24.VI.1953, O.L. Kryzhanovsky leg.; same locality, but 1 ♂, Ulmus sp., Odyncova leg. (ZIN); 1 ♀, N Kopetdag Mts, Firjusa-Cleft, near Ashchabad, 07.V.1989, D.W. Wrase leg. (cSch); 3 ♂, 3 ♀, W Kopetdag Mts, N Karakala, 28.IX.1989, A.V. Puchkov (cSch); Tajikistan: 3 ♂, 2 ♀, 20 km S Danghara, 08.V.1962, Guryeva leg.; 1 ♂, Vakhsh Mt. Ridge, 10 km N Kangurt, 08.V.1970, G.S. Medvedev leg. (ZIN); 1 ♂, Pamir-Alai, Hisaar Mts, Adshuk-Cleft, near Warsob, 1200 m a.s.l., 01-03.VII.1990, M. Schülke & D.W. Wrase leg. (cSch); 1 ♂, 2 ♀, Gazimalyk Mt. Ridge, 15 km W Ganjin, 2000 m a.s.l, 17.V.1970, G.S. Medvedev leg. (ZIN); 2 ♂, Mountains near Kuljab, 1500-2000 m a.s.l., 20.VI.1963, A.V. Bogachev leg. (ZMMU).

Comments on taxonomy, distribution and bionomics.

The diagnostic characters including illustrations of the aedeagus and the most recent summary of the bionomic and distribution data of this widespread and rather common Western Palaearctic species can be found in Assing and Schülke (2012). From similar Middle Asian species Q. capitalis and Q. fusicornis , Q. ochripennis is distinguished by the larger body and shape of the aedeagus. From the larger Q. solskyi it can be safely distinguished by the characters of aedeagus.

Quedius ochripennis is widely distributed in Europe and in the Mediterranean region. It is also known from Simla Hills in Himalaya, India (Smetana, 1988) and from Middle Asia where, based on earlier records (Table 1) and material examined here, it occurs in southwestern Turkmenistan, entire territory of Tajikistan, and southern Uzbekistan.

Quedius ochripennis inhabits various ground based debris, often associated with decaying wood, also in nests of mammals, ants and wasps ( Assing and Schülke 2012). Based on the material examined here, in Middle Asia Q. ochripennis prefers humid plant debris usually near water bodies, also it was found in caves and in tree foliage in an aphid nest. In the mountains it was recorded at elevations up to 2000 m.