Quedius (Raphirus) hellenicus, Assing, 2017

Assing, Volker, 2017, On Quedius coloratus FAUVEL, 1875 and allied species, with an appendix on Quedius species collected in Greece with subterranean pitfall traps, and a new synonymy (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 49 (1), pp. 207-228 : 217-219

Quedius (Raphirus) hellenicus nov.sp. (Figs 5-7, 17, 24, 31-33, 43-45, 53, 58, Map 1 )

T y p e m a t e r i a l: Holotype 3: " GRECIA nom. Lakonía, O. Taigetos Prof. Elías, m 1940 2.VI.1999 - 14.VI.2000, Giachino & Vailati leg. / Holotypus 3 Quedius hellenicus sp. n. det. V. Assing 2017" (cAss). Paratypes: 333, 4♀♀: same data as holotype (cAss, MNB); 13, 4♀♀: "Greece (227), Peloponnes, Taygetos Mts, 2250 m, Profitis Ilias, ca. N 36°57'E, E 021°21', 16.V.2007, leg. Assmann" (cFel); 1♀: "GRECIA nom. Messinía, O. Taigetos Nord vers. W, Str. per colle per Neochori, canalino a m 1220, 5.VI.2002 - 28.V.2003, Giachino & Vailati" (cAss); 13: " GRECIA nom. Argolída, O. Parnon Kosmás m 1160, 29.V.2003 - 13.VI.2004, Giachino & Vailati leg." (cAss); 1♀: "GRECIA nom. Argolída, O. Parnon str. Kosmás Polidroso m 1170, 13.VI.2004, Giachino & Vailati leg." (cAss); 13: " GRECIA nomos Kardítsa, O. Tripitsa, Karvasarás, N 39°14'51.9'' E 21°40'27.3'', 13.VI.2008 - 12.VI.2010, m 1035, Giachino & Vailati" (cAss); 1♀: "GRECIA, nomos Kardítsa, O. Katsandoni, Karítsa, bivio per Vraggiana, m 1055, N 39°15'01.4'' E 21°41'51.4'', 12.VI.2008 - 11.VI.2010, Giachino & Vailati leg." (cAss); 13, 2♀♀: " GRECIA nom. Viotía O. Elikón, Kiriáki, Grotta K 2 m 1030, N 38°20'33.8'' E 22°47'31.4'', 9.VI.2014 - 5.IX.2015, Giachino & Vailati leg." (cAss); 13: "GRECIA, nomos Ahaïa, Oros Aroánia, vers. WNW, N 38°00'13.7'' E 22°10'37.7'', m 1860, 9.VI.2008 - 31.V.2010, Giachino & Vailati leg." (cAss); 13: " GRECIA, nomos Ahaïa, Oros Aroánia, vers. WNW, N 38°00'14.9'' E 22°10'38.9'', m 1850, 4.VI.2012 - 4.VI.2014, Giachino & Vailati leg." (cAss); 13: "GRECIA, nomos Kardítsa, Belokomíti, Kremasta valley, near Spilia Ghaki m 960, N 39°14'26.6'' E 21°42'37.1'', 1.VI.2011 - 13.VI.2014, Giachino & Vailati leg." (cAss); 1♀: " GRECIA, nomos Kardítsa, Belokomíti, O. Elatakos, sopra Zighoghianeika m 1115, N 39°14'27.5'' E 21°43'41.6'', 1.VI.2011 - 13.VI.2014, Giachino & Vailati leg." (cAss); 13: "GRECIA n. Evritanía m. 1030, Valle Agranotis, Tridendro, 13.VI.2005 - 11.VI.2006, Giachino & Vailati leg." (cAss); 233: " GRECIA nom. Evritanía, O. Kaliakoúda m 960, strada Méga Horio-Psianá, 6.VI.2003 - 9.VI.2004, Giachino & Vailati leg." (cAss); 1♀: "GRECIA nomos Evritanía, O. Katsandoni, Elatos (Karítsa), N 39°14'26.6'' E 21°42'27.1'', 12.VI.2008 - 11.VI.2010, m 1280, Giachino & Vailati" (cAss); 1♀: " GRECIA, nom. Fokída, O. Gióna, Karoutes, Elatos, N 38°32'07.2'' E 22°19'09.4'', 1220 m, 10.VI.2014 - 5.IX.2015, Giachino & Vailati leg." (cAss); 2♀♀: "GRECIA, nomos Arkadía, Dimitsána, Artozinos, N 37°38'52.8'' E 22°01'40.9'', m 1100, 7.VI.2007 - 7.VI.2008,.Giachino & Vailati leg." (cAss); 1♀: "GR, N-Peloponnes, Panakháiko-Gebirke, Nordflanke, Q. coccifera, 800 m, leg. U. Bense 7.X.2004 " (cAss); 13, 1♀: " GREECE N, Plication E., 1400 m, 26.06.1997, C. Bayer" (MNB); 13: "Graecia: Peloponnes, Mainalon-Gebirge bei Vytina, 1.IV.1970, 1000-1400 m, Heinz leg." (MNB); 13: "Graecia: Thessalien, Berg Pelion, 1000-1500 m, 28.III.1970, Heinz leg." (MNB); 13 [teneral]: "Kalávryta, Morea, Holtz / Quedius picipes / 3 / Quedius (Raph.) coloratus Fauv. , det. P. Štourač 1999" (NMP); 1♀: "Kalamata, Pelopon., Mařan et Stěp., 1935 Coll. Baroń" (NMP); 13: " GREECE: Attique, Mt. Pentelique, X.63, H. Coiffait" (MNHNP); 13: "East of Eptahóri, Pindos, 2.vii.1995 / Greece, P. Jørum leg." (ZMC); 1♀: "GR. Levkas, 600 m, südl. Exanthia, N-exp. Bachtal, Nr. 10. 27.IX.1993, Assing leg. (ZMC); 1♀: "GR. Levkas, 1050 m, Vouno-Gipfel, Streugesiebe, Nr. 12, 25.IX.1993 Assing leg." (cAss); 1♀: "GR. Levkas, 100 m, Felswand b. Apolpena, Streugesiebe, Nr. 15, 25.IX.1993 Assing leg." (ZMC); 1♀: "GR. Pelopónnisos, Erimanthos, Abies, oberh. Kalendzi, 1200 m, 37°57'02N, 21°46'34E, 1.IV.1997, V. Assing" (ZMC); 1♀: same data, but 27.III.1997 (cAss).

E t y m o l o g y: The specific epithet is an adjective derived from Hellenes, the ancient name of the Greek.

D e s c r i p t i o n: Measurements (in mm) and ratios (range, arithmetic mean) (n = 49): TL: 7.5-11.5, 9.7; HL: 1.16-1.44, 1.31; HW: 1.32-1.72, 1.55; PL: 1.51-1.97, 1.78; PW: 1.69-2.11, 1.92; EL: 1.00-1.28, 1.17; HTiL: 1.28-1.67, 1.54; HTaL: 1.07-1.32, 1.21; ML: 1.16-1.28, 1.21; HW/HL: 1.13-1.24, 1.18; PW/HW: 1.17-1.32, 1.24; PL/PW: 0.88- 0.96, 0.93; EL/PL: 0.60-0.71, 0.66; HTiL/HTaL: 1.17-1.35, 1.27. Female of slightly larger average size than male.

External characters (Figs 5-7) as in Q. coloratus , except for on average shorter legs (see measurements HTiL and HTaL) and an on average less transverse head.

3: protarsomeres I-IV and shape of sternite VIII similar to those of Q. coloratus ; aedeagus (Figs 24, 31-33, 43-45, 53) smaller than in Q. coloratus (see measuments ML and Fig. 58 ; practically no overlap) and with distinctly shorter, less slender, and more curved apex of the ventral process; subapical tooth closer to base of apex; paramere shorter and less slender than in Q. coloratus , with usually between 30 and 40 peg-setae.

♀: protarsomeres I-IV weakly dilated, of similar shape as in male; posterior excision of tergite X (Fig. 17) much smaller and less deep than in Q. coloratus ; styli of segments IX and X shorter and less slender.

C o m p a r a t i v e n o t e s: For characters distinguishing this species from Q. coloratus see the description above. From the species treated below, this species differs not only by the shape of the aedeagus, but also by the absence of additional punctures near the posterior frontal puncture of the head.

C o m m e n t: In contrast to the material from all other localities, the male from Oros Pilion (Thessalía) has two additional punctures near one of the posterior frontal punctures. Unfortunately, the specimen had been dissected prior to the present study and the aedeagus is damaged, so that neither its original size nor its shape can be fully assessed. Other measurements and external characters are within the range of intraspecific variation of Q. hellenicus .

D i s t r i b u t i o n a n d n a t u r a l h i s t o r y: The currently known distribution ranges from North Greece (Ioannina) to the south of the Pelopónnisos ( Map 1 ). The records of Q. coloratus from Corfu, Thasos ( COIFFAIT 1976), and Albania ( GRIDELLI 1924) may refer to Q. hellenicus . Since there is no reference material in the museum in Vienna, the record of Q. coloratus from the Pelopónnisos by SCHEERPELTZ (1931) may be based on a misidentification.

The vast majority of specimens was collected with subterranean pitfall traps. For details on this method and the habitat see GIACHINO & VAILATI (2010). Some specimens were sifted from litter, all of them as singletons. The remainder was most likely found under (large) stones. These observations suggest a subterranean habitat, possibly the MSS stratum, which would also explain the low number of records of a rather large species in a relatively well-studied region. The altitudes range from 100 to 2250 m.

Figures

Map 1: Distributions of Quedius hellenicus (black diamonds), Q. sp. 2 (white stars), Q. carpathius (black stars), Q. spiculatus (white triangles), Q. hebes (white circles), and Q. coloratus (black circles) in the East Mediterranean.

Fig. 58: Length of median lobe of aedeagus in relation to body size, given as an approximation of the combined area of head and pronotum, in Quedius coloratus and allied species.