Aleochara solieri Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926

Moussallem, M., Ribeiro-Costa, C. S. & Caron, E., 2014, Review of Solier's Mecorhopalus species (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), Zootaxa 3852 (5), pp. 540-552 : 545-550

Aleochara solieri Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926

Mecorhopalus bipustulatus Solier 1849:348 (Description, type locality: “Carelmapú”).

Kraatz 1859:11 (Revision, as valid name). Caron et al. 2008:834 (Checklist, as junior synonym of A. solieri ).

Mecorhopalus elongatus Solier, 1849:348 (Description, type locality: “Copiapo). Chenu & Desmarest, 1857:18 ( Mecorhopalus elongatus as type species of the genus). Fairmaire & Germain, 1861:413 (Revision, as junior synonymy of A. bipustulata ). Kraatz, 1859:11 (Revision, as valid name). Caron et al., 2008:834 (Checklist, as junior synonym of A. mutare ). New subjective synonym.

Aleochara bipustulata: Fairmaire & Germain, 1861:413 (Revision, the first time cited as

Aleochara , as valid name and synonym of M. elongatus ). Fauvel, 1864:120 (Revision, as valid name). Fauvel, 1866:288 (Revision, as valid name). Bernhauer

& Scheerpeltz, 1926:794 (Catalogue, preoccupied name, suggested the name A. solieri ).

Aleochara elongata: Fauvel, 1864:121 (Revision, as valid name). Fauvel 1866:287 (Revision, as valid name). Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926:793 (Catalogue, as valid name). Blackwelder, 1944:167 (Preoccupied name, suggested the name A. mutare ). New subjective synonym.

Aleochara solieri Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926:794 (Catalogue, preoccupied name, objective synonym of A. bipustulata ). Caron et al. 2008:834 (Checklist, as valid name).

Aleochara mutare Blackwelder, 1944:167 (Catalogue, preoccupied name, objective synonym of A. elongata-). Caron et al. 2008:834 (Checklist, as valid name). New subjective synonym.

Type material. Mecorhopalus bipustulatus : female, one specimen, syntype, deposited in FMNH: (1) “ CHILE FAIRMAIRE/ IN COLL KRAATZ/ DON. MUS. GERM.” [Pink label, typed

in black ink]. (2) “ bipustulata / det. Bernhauer/ aus origen mater.” [Blue label, handwritten with India ink. “Aus origen mater” (from origin mater), indicates this is part of the Soliers original material]. (3) “ solieri Bh. & Sch. / det. Bernhauer” [White label, “det. Bernhauer” typed in black ink, other information handwritten with India ink]. (4) “Chicago NHMus/ M. Bernhauer/ Collection” [White label, typed in black ink]. (5) “ Aleochara mutare / BLACKW./ solieri BERNH. / det. Ch. MAUS 1999 ” [White label, printed in black ink. “ BLACKW./ solieri BERNH. ”is written in the same line with the slash (/) between “BLACKW.” and “ solieri ”]. Note 1. According to the ICZN (1999) article 72.4.1.1, “For a nominal species or subspecies established before 2000, any evidence, published or unpublished, may be taken into account to determine what specimens constitute the type series.” Therefore we assume Bernhauer’s note “aus origen mater” indicates that this specimen belongs to Solier’s original type series. Note 2. Solier did not mention the number of specimens in the type series, as a conservative approach (and following article 72.1.1 of the ICZN 1999) we suggest that this specimen should be considered a syntype. Note 3. The label (5) written by Christian Maus “ Aleochara mutare / BLACKW./ solieri BERNH. ” indicates a possible synonymy of these names.

Mecorhopalus elongatus : female, one specimen, syntype, deposited in IRSNB. (1) “Copiapo/ Chili ” [White label, handwritten with India ink]. (2) “Coll. et det. A. Fauvel/ Aleochara / elongata Sol. / R.I.Sc.N.B 17.479” [White label, “Coll. et det. A. Fauvel” and “R.I.Sc.N.B 17.479” printed in black ink, other information handwritten with India ink]. (3) “ Holotypus ” [Red label, handwritten with India ink]. (4) “ Aleochara / notula ER./ det. R. Pace 1985” [White label, “det. R. Pace 19” printed in grey ink, other information handwritten with India ink]. (5) “ Mecorhopalus / ( Aleochara )/ elongatus SOLIER, 1849 / PARALECTOTYPUS / Ch. Maus 1998 ” [Red Label, printed in black ink]. Note 1. According to the ICZN (1999) article 72.4.1.1, “For a nominal species or subspecies established before 2000, any evidence, published or unpublished, may be taken into account to determine what specimens constitute the type series.” We assume this specimen is the type of Mecorhopalus elongatus because this specimen is the only specimen that coincide with the type locality and was borrowed as a type from IRSNB – label (3), therefore we assume that this specimen belong to Solier’s original type series. Note 2. Solier did not mention the number of specimens in the type series. We received only this specimen marked as type, it is not clear whether this one is the only specimen Solier described or whether there is and where is deposited the lectotype, presumably designated by Maus in 1998. We follow article 72.1.1 of the ICZN (1999) and designate this specimen as a syntype.

Additional material. IRSBN: seven specimens. One specimen: (1)“ Santiago” [White label, handwritten with India ink]. (2) “ Perou ” [White label, handwritten with India ink]. (3) “ bipustulata / Sol.” [White label, handwritten with India ink]. (4) “Coll. R. I. Sc. N. B.” [White label, printed in black ink] Two Specimens: same labels as above, but all printed in black ink. One specimen: (1) “ Perou ” [White label, printed in black ink]. (2) “Santiago” [White label, printed in black ink]. (3) “ bipustulata / Sol.” [White label, printed in black ink]. (4) “Coll. R. I. Sc. N. B.” [White label, printed in black ink]. One specimen: (1) “Pirou” [White label, handwritten in India ink. Probably refer to “ Perou ”cited by Fauvel in 1864 and 1866 as one of the localities of A. bipustulata – “Se retrouve au Pérou ”(is found in Peru)]. (2) “Coll. et det. A. Fauvel/ Aleochara / elongata Sol. / R.I.Sc.N.B 17.479” [White label, “Coll. et det. A. Fauvel” and “R.I.Sc.N.B 17.479” printed in black ink, other information handwritten with India ink]. (3) “ Aleochara / notula ER./ det. R. Pace 1985” [White label, “det. R. Pace 19” printed in grey ink, other information handwritten with India ink]. One specimen: (1) “Santiago” [white label, handwritten with India ink]. (2) “r. elongata / Sol.” [white label, handwritten with India ink]. (3) “Coll. et det. A. Fauvel/ Aleochara / R.I.Sc.N.B 17.479” [White label, “Coll. et det. A. Fauvel” and “R.I.Sc.N.B 17.479” printed in black ink, other information handwritten with India ink]. (4) “ Aleochara / notula ER./ det. R. Pace 1985” [White label, “det. R. Pace 19” printed in grey ink, other information handwritten with India ink]. One specimen: (1) “Santiago” [white label, handwritten with India ink]. (2) “Coll. et det. A. Fauvel/ Aleochara / elongata Sol. / R.I.Sc.N.B 17.479” [White label, “Coll. et det. A. Fauvel” and “R.I.Sc.N.B 17.479” printed in black ink, other information handwritten with India ink]. (3) “ Aleochara / notula ER./ det. R. Pace 1985” [White label, “det. R. Pace 19” printed in grey ink, other information handwritten with India ink]. FMNH: twenty-six specimens. One specimen: “ Chili ” [White label in graph paper, typed in black ink]. (2) “ BRIT. MUS./ DON. ARROW ” [White label, typed in black ink]. (3) “ Aleochara / solieri Brnh / et Scheerp./ Bernhauer det.” [White label, “Bernhauer det.” typed in black ink, other information handwritten in India ink]. (4) “ Chili ” [Green circular label, handwritten with India ink]. (5) “Chicago NHMus/ M. Bernhauer/ Collection” [White label, typed in black ink]. (6) “ Aleochara mutare / BLACKW./ solieri BERNH. / det. Ch. MAUS 1999 ” [White label, printed in black ink.] One specimen: (1) “ Chile ” [White label, printed in black ink]. (2) “ Chili ” [White label, printed in black ink]. (3) “Sharp Coll./ 1905 – 313.” [White label, printed in black ink]. (4) “Brit. Mus./ don. Arrow” [White label, printed in black ink]. (5) “ Aleochara / solieri Bernh. / et Scheerp./ Bernhauer det.” [White label, printed in black ink]. (6) “Chicago NHMus/ M. Bernhauer/ Collection” [White label, printed in black ink]. (7) “ Aleochara mutare / BLACKW./ solieri BERNH. / det. Ch. MAUS 1999 ” [White label, printed in black ink.]. Four specimens: (1) “ CHILE: [Coquimbo?]:/ El Tangue, 7.IX.1947 / L.E. Peña leg./ FIELD MUS. NAT. HIST ” [White label, printed in black ink] (2) “ Aleochara mutare / BLACKW./ solieri BERNH. / det. Ch. MAUS 1999 ” [White label, printed in black ink]. Two specimens: (1) “ CHILE:/ Cobquecura/ XII:14:1953/ Leg. L. Pena” [White label, printed in black ink]. (2) “ FMNH ” [White label, typed in black ink]. (3) “ Aleochara mutare / BLACKW./ solieri BERNH. / det. Ch. MAUS 1999 ” [White label, printed in black ink.] One specimen: (1) “ CHILE: Maule: Chanco,/ 1.XII.1953 / L. E. Peña leg./ FIELD MUS. NAT. HIST.” [White label, printed in black ink]. (2) “ Aleochara / det. Newton 1995” [White label, “det. Newton 1995” printed in black ink, “ Aleochara ” handwritten with India ink]. (3) “ Aleochara mutare / BLACKW./ solieri BERNH. / det. Ch. MAUS 1999 ” [White label, printed in black ink] Five specimens: (1) “ CHILE: Maule: Chanco,/ 1.XII.1953 / L. E. Peña leg./ FIELD MUS. NAT. HIST.” [White label, printed in black ink]. (2) “ Aleochara mutare / BLACKW./ solieri BERNH. / det. Ch. MAUS 1999 ” [White label, printed in black ink]. One specimen: (1) “ CHILE: Coquimbo:/ Los Vilos, 15.III.1984 / L.E. Peña leg./ FIELD MUS. NAT. HIST.” [White label, printed in black ink]. (2) “ Aleochara / det. Newton 1995” [White label, “det. Newton 1993” printed in black ink, “ Aleochara ” handwritten with India ink]. (3) “ Aleochara mutare / BLACKW./ solieri BERNH. / det. Ch. MAUS 1999 ” [White label, printed in black ink]” Eleven specimens: (1) “ CHILE: Coquimbo:/ Los Vilos, 15.III.1984 / L.E. Peña leg./ FIELD MUS. NAT. HIST.” [White label, printed in black ink]. (2) “ Aleochara mutare / BLACKW./ solieri BERNH. / det. Ch. MAUS 1999 ” [White label, printed in black ink]”.

Diagnosis. This species is easily distinguished from other species of the bimaculata group: from A. suffusa ( Casey, 1906) and A. bilineata Gyllenhal, 1810 , by the paler spots in the postero-medial region of elytra, the former two species have unicolored elytra. In addition A. suffusa does not have a prominent external carina (present in A. solieri ) and spermatheca with up to 18 coils (while A. solieri has 5–6). A. bilineata has the base of the medial lobe of aedeagus less bulbous than that in A. solieri , and the spermatheca has the chamber more curved; A. densissima Bernhauer, 1906 , has the pronotum and elytra densely pubescent and spermatheca with 3 coils, by having a coarse pubescence and 5–6 coiled spermatheca; from A. bimaculata Gravenhorst, 1802 by the 8-coiled spermatheca; from A. verna Say, 1833 by the 10–11 coiled spermatheca; and from A. notula Erichson, 1839 by the medial lobe of aedeagus with the external carina more prominent and base of median lobe more rounded and globular, in addition the spermatheca with a smoothed curvature and the capsule more globular.

Redescription. BL: 4.6–6.4 mm. EW: 1.1–1.5 mm

Body subparallel, robust. Head dark brown; pronotum in most specimens dark brown, some specimens with a reddish lateral area (fig. 3a–d); elytra yellow dark to reddish getting darker on the lateral and anterior margins, some specimens with a pair of reddish spots; abdomen brown getting lighter near the posterior margin, legs, antennae and mouth parts brown to light brown. Dorsal surface glossy and covered with fine golden yellowish setae with setigerous pores impressed. Head circular, a slightly acuminated anteriorly, transverse [HL/HW = 1,1]; coarsely punctate with golden yellowish setae, pubescence semi-erect directed mediad, only those on the frons directed anterad and mediad; posterior margin of the head very rounded. Antennae with antennomere I robust, antennomere II smaller and narrower than the first, antennomere III slightly longer than II, antennomere IV transverse, antennomeres V–X gradually widening, antennomere XI twice longer than X in a semi triangular shape, antennomeres III–XI combined presenting a fusiform shape. Maxilla with palpus 4- articulated with a minute pseudopalpomere at the apex of the last palpomere. Pronotum moderately transverse [PL/PW = 1.2] with posterior margin arcuate, wider than the head; strong punctures forming two longitudinal, parallel, not grooved, rows in the midline; pubescence directed posterad and laterad. Mesoventrite glabrous, rounded posteriorly with medial and lateral strong carinae, not reaching the posterior portion of mesocoxae. Elytra longer than wide [EL/EW = 1.2], surface densely and deeply punctate; conspicuous setae directed laterad and posterad; posterior margin rounded in latero-posterior angles; hind wings well developed. Abdomen gradually narrowing posteriorly, almost subparallel, glossy, densely pubescent with setae directed posterad.

Male: Tergite VIII pubescent with small setae, two macrosetae in the postero-lateral area; posterior margin shorter than the anterior, the border truncate with a very small serration (fig. 4a–b); lateral margin with posterior angles rounded. Sternite VIII pubescent with small and numerous microsetae, and some sparse macrosetae (fig. 4c); posterior margin convex, slightly acuminate with rounded apex; lateral margins oblique with rounded angles. Tergite IX divided with asymmetric ventral struts, lateral margin pubescent with 2 macrosetae positioned on the posterior area of the lateral margin (fig. 4d). Tergite X with the posterior margin slightly emarginate and with about ten stout small setae (fig. 4d); anterior and posterior margins about the same length; postero-medial area pubescent with about 18–20 stout setae positioned in the posterior margin. Aedeagus. Median lobe elongate with base bulbous to spherical (fig 4e–f.); apical lobe narrowed with rounded apex, sinuate in lateral view; sclerite Y large; sclerite Z large with attachment to apex. Parameres well developed, apical lobe with four small setae in the apex, three positioned near the anterior margin in the apex and one behind them in a posterior position (fig. 4g); velar sac convex in proximo-lateral margin; velar phragma oblique and convex, translucent; hinge zone positioned in the apical third, slightly concave in an almost transverse position; condylite slender and straight; medial phragma of a semi-triangular shape, narrowing near marginal phragma; latero-distal margin slightly concave, latero-proximal margin slightly convex; marginal phragma slender and long.

Female: Tergite VIII similar to that of male´s but posterior margin truncate and without the serration (fig. 4h–i); Sternite VIII similar to that of male´s but posterior margin more rounded and lacking the acuminate apex (fig. 4j). Tergite IX without ventral struts, with long setae on the latero-distal margin (fig. 4k). Tergite X slightly elongate with anterior and posterior margin truncate, pubescence apparent with setae getting longer and more robust near the posterior margin, at apical margin stout and smaller setae are similar to spine but with rounded apex (fig. 4k). Spermatheca L-shaped with a spherical capsule; chamber narrower than capsule, transition to the duct narrower (fig. 4l); duct short and coiled with 5–6 distinct coils, length about ⅓ length of the chamber.

Subgeneric assignment Coprochara Mulsant & Rey, 1874 . Confirmed by: two pronotal subparallel rows of punctures, with the interspace between glabrous or with fine punctuation; completely carinate mesoventrite; and spermatheca with coiled duct. For complete description of the subgenera see Klimaszewski (1984:15).

Remarks. A. solieri belongs to the bimaculata species group (sensu Klimaszewski 1984:17) by having: two subparallel, not grooved, rows of setigerous punctures on pronotum and spermatheca with fewer than 19 coils. In contrast to the sulcicollis species group (sensu Klimaszewski 1984:32), it is lacking the pronotal setigerous punctures placed in strongly marked subparallel grooves.

Remarks 2. Brief historic and important remarks: Solier described Mecorhopalus bipustulatus and M. elongatus in his paper in 1849, indicating the possibility of M. elongatus (= A. mutare ) being a variation of M. bipustulatus (= A. solieri ). Chenu & Desmarest (1857) fixed M. elongatus as type species of the genus by subsequent designation (ICZN 1999 art. 69.1). Fairmaire & Germain (1861) revised Solier’s Chilean Staphylinidae and, for the first time, synonymized M. elongatus (today A. mutare ) as junior subjective synonym of M. bipustulatus (today A. solieri ), acting as the first reviser (ICZN (1999) articles 24.2.1 and 24.2.2), then we cite in this present work A. solieri as the valid species name. The fact that M. elongatus (today A. mutare ) is considered a subjective junior synonym does not affect it as name-bearing type, as the ICZN (1999) states in article 67.1.2. By recommendation 67B of ICZN (1999) we shall consider as type species of the available name Mecorhopalus : “ M. elongatus Solier, 1849 , now regarded as a synonym of A. solieri Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926 ”.

Distribution. Material examined: Chile (Cobquecura; Copiapo; Coquimbo; Maule and Santiago) and Peru. Literature: Chile (Carelmap) ( Solier 1849; Fauvel 1866).

Biological notes. Unknown.