Quedius (Raphirus) viator, Salnitska & Solodovnikov, 2022

Salnitska, Maria & Solodovnikov, Alexey, 2022, New species and records of Quedius rove beetles (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Staphylininae) from Middle Asia, European Journal of Taxonomy 823, pp. 141-157 : 151-154

Quedius (Raphirus) viator sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E8908FE4-FD2B-42CC-B9AA-E679AA9B6213

Figs 2–3

Diagnosis

Among other species of Raphirus Stephens, 1829, Q. viator sp. nov. is most closely related to Quedius coloratus Fauvel, 1875 and all allied species, from which it can easily be distinguished by the structure of the aedeagus, namely by the wider apical portion of the median lobe with a sharper apex, rows of peg setae converging with each other in the middle portion (not parallel-sided), and the apex of the paramere almost reaching the apex of the median lobe ( Fig. 3B–D ) (for more details see section ‘Comparison’).

Etymology

The name is the Latin noun ‘ viator ’ (= ‘traveller’) that refers to the fact that the newly described species, presumably closely related to a group of Mediterranean species, appears far away, in Middle Asia ( Fig. 2 ).

Type material

Holotype KYRGYZSTAN • ♂ (segments 5–11 of left antennae lost, base of the median lobe of the aedeagus damaged); “ Kyrgyzskiy ridge , S Tokmak nr Kegety Pass, left tributary of Tuyuk River, 3000 m, 42°24′43″ N, 75°00′52″ E, 13.V.1986, I.A. Belousov leg./ Kyrgyzskiy ridge S Tokmak near Kegety Pass left tributary of Tuyuk River 3000 m 13.V.1986, I.A. Belousov leg. [in Russian]”; ZIN.

Description

MEASUREMENTS AND RATIOS. HL: 1.25; HW: 1.39; PL: 1.5; PW: 1.68; EL: 2.02; EW: 1.93; FB: 4.75; TL: 8.84; HL/HW: 0.90; PL/PW: 0.88; EL/EW: 1.05; PL/EL: 0.73; PW/EW: 0.87.

COLOURATION. Body mainly dark brown ( Fig. 3A ) with paler appendages; head piceous-black, abdomen dark brown, pronotum and elytra brownish with paler lateral margins; antennae and legs uniformly light brown.

HEAD. Slightly transverse (HL/HW: 0.90), surface with microsculpture of transverse waves on disk and isodiametric between eyes. Eyes moderately large and convex, 1.87 times as long as temples. Anterior frontal puncture situated at inner margin of eye; fine posterior frontal puncture situated closer to posterior margin of eye than to nuchal ridge, one basal puncture situated close to nuchal ridge; each temple with one temporal puncture; temples additionally with some shallow setiferous punctures bearing short yellowish setae. Antennae moderately long, first segment slightly shorter than second and third segments together; third distinctly longer than second, fourth to tenth longer than wide, gradually increasing in width towards apex of antenna, last segment distinctly longer than preceding segments.

PRONOTUM. Transverse, distinctly wider than long (PL/PW: 0.88), widely rounded basally, widest at about middle, posterior lateral portions vaguely explanate. Disk of pronotum with two dorsal rows of punctures, each with three punctures, third (basalmost) puncture situated far behind the level of large lateral puncture; sublateral area with two punctures at right side and without punctures at left side; basal margin with row of 2–3 setae on each side; microsculpture of transverse waves as on head.

SCUTELLUM. Impunctate, with faint transverse microsculpture.

ELYTRA. Parallel-sided vaguely widening posteriad, barely longer than wide (EL/EW: 1.05), longer and wider than pronotum (PL/EL: 0.73; PW/EW: 0.87); punctation fine and moderately dense; surface glabrous with shallow indistinct microsculpture; pubescence yellowish to brownish, sparse.

WINGS. Fully developed.

ABDOMEN. Densely punctate, punctation becoming sparser toward apex; posterior margin of tergite VII with whitish palisade fringe.

Male

First four protarsomeres markedly dilated, each densely covered with modified brown setae; second protarsomere as wide as, or slightly narrower than apex of tibia. Sternite VIII with a long seta on each side; apical margin with distinct triangular medio-apical emargination ( Fig. 3E ). Sternite IX moderately elongate ( Fig. 3G ), asymmetrical, basal portion narrow and glabrous, apical portion wider with obtuse almost square apex and finely setose. Tergite X triangular ( Fig. 3F ), narrowing apicad, with four strong setae at apical margin and with very few smaller setae at apical portion.

Aedeagus ( Figs 3B–D ): median lobe (in parameral or anteparameral view) symmetrical, with distinct constriction medially, gradually narrowing anteriad, with obtusely pointed apex; (in lateral view) with obtusely pointed and gradually narrowed apex, minute tooth located far basad from apex ( Fig. 3D ). Paramere (in parameral view) wider than median lobe, symmetrical, gradually narrowing apicad to moderately sharp apex ( Fig. 3B ); (underside) apical portion with 13–17 peg setae ( Fig. 3C ) arranged in two longitudinal irregular rows converging with each other closer to parameral midline; (in lateral view) almost reaching apex of median lobe ( Fig. 3D ). Internal sac without large sclerotized structures.

Female

Unknown.

Distribution and bionomics

Quedius viator sp. nov. is known only from the holotype, which was collected in the Kyrgyz-Alatoo Mountains at an elevation of 3000 m ( Fig. 2 ), most likely under stones (I.A. Belousov, pers. com.). Assuming the phylogenetic affiliation of Q. viator sp. nov. with Q. coloratus and allied species is correct, the geographic disjunction between our new species, and Q. coloratus and allied confined to the Mediterranean is noteworthy.

Comparison

As a large species of Raphirus with moderately large eyes and characteristic structure of the aedeagus, Q. viator sp. nov. appears similar to Q. coloratus and allied species (sensu Assing 2017) and to some extent to Q. boluensis Korge, 1971 . The obtusely pointed and slightly curved apex of the median lobe and lanceolate paramere with two irregular longitudinal groups of peg setae situated closer to the parameral midline enforce such a resemblance. We assume that Q. viator sp. nov. is phylogenetically closer to Q. coloratus and allied species rather than to Q. boluensis . An affiliation of Q. viator sp. nov. to Q. coloratus and allied species is additionally supported by the colouration of the body and ecological preference. According to Assing (2017), Q. coloratus and allied species are subterranean, rare in collections and mainly collected by carabidologists from under stones. The single known specimen of Q. viator sp. nov. was also collected in this. Within the complex of species affiliated with Q. coloratus in Assing (2017), Q. viator sp. nov. is most similar to Q. coloratus based on the head chaetotaxy without additional punctures near the posterior frontal puncture and the structure of the aedeagus (for distinguishing characters see section ‘Diagnosis’).

According to the identification key for species of Raphirus from China ( Smetana 2017), Q. viator sp. nov. falls within the Q. kalganensis group and in fact its habitus is very similar to that of Q. wanyan Smetana, 1996 from that group. This group consists of two species currently known only from female specimens. One of them is described from Hebei Province, another from Qinghai Province of China. To prove the monophyly of the Q. kalganensis group and its affinity to Q. viator sp. nov. despite remote distributions, better knowledge of the Asian Quedius fauna, or at least males of Q. kalganensis group are needed.

Figures

Fig. 2. Distribution map showing the type localities of Quedius gissaricus sp. nov. (red circle) and Q. viator sp. nov. (violet circle).

Fig. 3. Quedius viator sp. nov., holotype (ZIN). A. Habitus. B–D. Aedeagus. B. From parameral side. C. Apical portion of paramere (underside). D. Lateral view. E. Sternite VIII. F. Tegite X. G. Sternite IX. Scale bars: A = 1 mm; B–G = 0.5 mm..