Ocypus (Pseudocypus) sarpedon, Published, 2007

Published, First, 2007, Contributions to the knowledge of the “ Staphylinus-complex ” (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylinini) of China. Part XX. The genus Ocypus Leach, 1819, subgenus Pseudocypus Mulsant & Rey, 1876. Section 1, Zootaxa 1421, pp. 1-72 : 13-14

Ocypus (Pseudocypus) sarpedon sp. nov.

( Figs. 16–23)

Type material. Holotype (male) and allotype (female): CHINA: Sichuan: “CHINA: Sichuan (Tianguan) pass btw. Tianguan–Luding 29°51.73'N 102°16.85E 3000 m 22.VII.2000 lgt. M. Janata ” ( ASC).

Paratypes: CHINA: Sichuan: same data as holotype, 13 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀ ( ASC); ( Wenchuan ), Jiuding Shan, W slope, valley 5km N Wenchuan, 31.28N / 103.41E, 3300 m, conif. forest moss undergr., 16.VII.1998, M. Janata, 4♂♂, 3 ♀♀ ( ASC, MSC) .

Diagnosis. A medium-sized species, sharing most of the character states with O. laelaps , but different by the entirely differently shaped aedoeagus, and by a few external characters, as given in the description.

Description. In all character states similar to O. laelaps , but different as follows: average size larger; head and pronotum without any purplish hue; head less distinctly wider than long (ratio below 1.20, that of O. laelaps above 1.25), punctation of head coarser, impunctate midline more distinctly developed; punctation of pronotum coarser, impunctate midline wider, more conspicuous, with a secondary linear elevation in middle.

Male. Sternite 8 with medioapical emargination wider and deeper. Sternite 9 of genital segment similar, but medioapical emargination markedly shallower, inconspicuous ( Fig. 16); tergite 10 not appreciably different from that of O. laelaps . Aedoeagus rather large, shaped as in Figs. 17–22; median lobe asymmetrical, narrowed into narrowly arcuate apex, apical portion, when paramere removed, with angulate carina ( Fig. 18); paramere large, elongate, situated asymmetrically on median lobe, with fine, long carina on face away from median lobe ( Fig. 17), right margin of apical portion slightly curled invard, paramere anteriorly narrowed into somewhat asymmetrical apical portion, with variably shaped apex ( Figs. 19–21) not reaching apex of median lobe; no sensory peg setae on underside of paramere, apical setae very fine to minute, situated as in Fig. 22.

Female. Tergite 10 of genital segment bearing numerous long setae, markedly narrowed into acute apex, apical portion strongly sclerotized, not differentiated ( Fig. 23).

Length 15.0–16.0 mm.

Bionomics. The specimens of the original series were taken from pitfall traps, but no information is available about the habitat the traps were set in.

Geographical distribution. Ocypus sarpedon is at present known only from the Erlang Shan in northern Sichuan. The species occurs together with O. laelaps in the pass between Tianguan–Luding in Erlang Shan, as documented by the fact that specimens of both species were taken from the same pitfall traps.

Recognition and comments. Ocypus sarpedon may be easily distinguished from O. laelaps , in addition to the entirely differently shaped aedoeagus and copiously setose tergite 10 of female genital segment, by the characters given in the description. The difference in the coarseness of the punctation on the head and pronotum is not conspicuous, but it is constant and easily observable. The presence of the fine secondary linear elevation in the middle of the impunctate midline on the pronotum in O. sarpedon is a reliable external distinguishing character of the species.

Etymology. The specific epithet is the name of Sarpedon, - onis, m, the son of Jupiter and Europa , the king of Lycia , in apposition.