Peyritschiella oxyteli (Cépède & F.Picard) Santam. comb. nov.

MB#840614

Fig. 68A–E

Basionym: Rheophila oxyteli Cépède & F.Picard, Compte Rendu, Association Française pour l’Avancement des Sciences (part 2): 783 (Cépède & Picard 1907) [MB#432033]. –

Type: DENMARK – Nordøstsjaelland (NEZ) • Indelukket ved Frederiksborg Slot; 55°56.191′ N, 12°17.861′ E; UC30; on Anotylus rugosus (Fabricius, 1775) (Col. Staphylinidae Oxytelinae); 12 Apr. 2016; JP 2; JP det.; neotype: ZMUC C-F-122472, here designated.

Diagnostic features

Thallus asymmetrical, of regular shape in comparison to Peyritschiella protea, yellowish-brown, with parallel margins when in good condition or growing in suitable locations. Lower and middle tiers of cells with three cells of similar size and shape. Typically, one brownish perithecium for each thallus on the upper tier, borne from one of the cells adnate to the median axial cell. Appendages entirely tinged with pale brown, distinctively darker than surrounding cells.

Distribution and hosts

Usually on Oxytelus, Anotylus and Styloxys Gozis, 1886 (Col. Staphylinidae Oxytelini), records on other rove beetles require confirmation. According to the list of hosts, P. oxyteli should be found from Europe, America, China (?) and Algeria (see below). Records on Bledius should be maintained in the “true” Peyritschiella protea .

The following is a complete list of the published records, but not necessarily pure P. oxyteli, arranged by genus hosts. The specimens should be verified one-by-one to see if they are true P. protea or P. oxyteli . On Oxytelus: United Kingdom (Thaxter 1900), France (Cépède & Picard 1907), USA (Thaxter 1908), Poland (Siemaszko & Siemaszko 1932), the Netherlands (Middelhoek 1943), Hungary (Bánhegyi 1944), Belgium (Collart 1945), Romania (Bánhegyi 1949), Germany (Scheloske 1969), Lithuania (Markovskaja 2000), Sweden (Huggert 2010). On Anotylus: Denmark (Rostrup 1935), Russia, Finland (Huldén 1983), Czech Republic, Austria, France, Germany, Romania, Sweden, United Kingdom, Ireland (Huldén 1985), Poland (Majewski 1994b), Lithuania (Markovskaja 2000), Latvia (De Kesel & Krastina De Kesel 2006), Belgium (De Kesel & Gerstmans 2011), the Netherlands (Haelewaters et al. 2012), USA (Haelewaters et al. 2015b), Armenia, Bulgaria (Rossi et al. 2019a). On Styloxys: France (Balazuc 1974f), Italy (Rossi 1975), Spain (Santamaria 1992b). On Acrognathus Erichson, 1839: Sweden (Huggert 2010). On Planeustomus Jacquelin du Val, 1857: Algeria (Maire 1920), Sweden (Huggert 2010). On Manda Blackwelder, 1952: Poland (Majewski 1994b). On Philonthus: Poland (Majewski 1994b), China? (Lee et al. 2006), Belgium (De Kesel & Gerstmans 2011). On Phloeopora ?: Denmark (Høier 2009). On Platydracus Thomson, 1858: Panama (Haelewaters et al. 2017). De Kesel et al. (2020) reported P. protea on an undetermined staphylinid.

Collections examined from Denmark

On Anotylus rugifrons (Hochhuth, 1849) (Col. Staphylinidae Oxytelinae) DENMARK – Østjylland (EJ) • Kjellerup; 56°17.644′ N, 9°25.850′ E; NH23; 18 Nov. 2017; JP 819; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123313 .

On Anotylus rugosus (Fabricius, 1775) (Col. Staphylinidae Oxytelinae) DENMARK – Østjylland (EJ) • Grejsdal syd for Hornstrup; 55°44.791′ N, 9°33.051′ E; NG37; 8 Mar. 2014; JP 751; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123245 • Havnen i Randers; 56°27.687′ N, 10°3.546′ E; NH65; 19 May 2013; JP 373; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122856 • Kjellerup; 56°17.282′ N, 9°26.197′ E; NH23; 22 Nov. 2013; JP 111; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122588 • ibid.; 56°17.589′ N, 9°26.117′ E; NH23; 21 Oct. 2017; JP 582; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123068 • Klostermølle; 56°2.432′ N, 9°41.629′ E; NH41; 17 Oct. 2014; JP 196; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122675 • ibid.; 18 Jan. 2015; JP 452; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122937 • Lindholm Hoved i Mossø; 56°2.772′ N, 9°42.809′ E; NH41; 18 Jan. 2015; JP & H. Liljehult 513; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122996 • Ørnsø ved Silkeborg; 56°9.446′ N, 9°31.488′ E; NH32; 20 May 2013; JP 381; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122864 • Serup Skov; 56°14.504′ N, 9°28.051′ E; NH23; 26 Mar. 2017; JP 242; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122722 • Tange å vest for Kjellerup; 56°17.959′ N, 9°23.462′ E; NH23; 17 Feb. 2018; JP 987; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123494 • Vest for Ørnsø ved Silkeborg; 56°9.126′ N, 9°30.588′ E; NH32; 10 Nov. 2018; JP 1229; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123756 • Viemose ved Ringkloster; 56°0.632′ N, 9°57.400′ E; NH50; 12 Mar. 2017; JP 534; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123018 . – Fyn (F) • Gyldenstens inddaemmede Strand; 55°34.447′ N, 10°7.211′ E; NG75; 2 Apr. 2014; JP 688; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123176 • Rishave; 55°33.475′ N, 10°24.013′ E; NG85; 19 Apr. 2018; JP 1067; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123584 . – Lolland, Falster, Møn (LFM) • Hobyskov; 54°44.069′ N, 11°15.296′ E; PF46; 7 Jan. 2018; JP 955; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123461 • Naesby Strand; 54°44.625′ N, 11°4.539′ E; PF36; 23 Feb. 2014; JP 554; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123040 • Nyord; 55°2.885′ N, 12°12.380′ E; UB20; 27 Apr. 2013; JP 842; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123337 • Stensø ved Nakskov; 54°49.465′ N, 11°7.254′ E; PF37; 25 Feb. 2017; JP 237; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122717 • Vest for Bandholm; 54°50.303′ N, 11°28.050′ E; PF57; 3 Jan. 2019; JP 1332; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123871 . – Nordøstsjaelland (NEZ) • Eriksholm Skov; 55°41.771′ N, 11°47.912′ E; PG77; 4 Nov. 2017; JP 728; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123221 • Faergelunden; 55°50.540′ N, 12°1.735′ E; UB19; 16 Nov. 2013; JP 597; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123086 • Indelukket ved Frederiksborg Slot; 55°56.191′ N, 12°17.861′ E; UC30; 12 Apr. 2016; JP 2; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122472 • ibid.; 19 Mar. 2017; JP 671; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123160 • Ledøje; 55°42.601′ N, 12°17.977′ E; UB37; 18 Apr. 2018; JP 1046; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123562 • Nord for Risø; 55°42.184′ N, 12°6.692′ E; UB17; 14 Dec. 2013; R. Aagaard Jensen 622; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123110 • Syd for Løjesø i Rude Skov; 55°49.866′ N, 12°28.551′ E; UB49; 12 Apr. 2018; JP 1033; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123545 • Syd for Veddelev; 55°40.346′ N, 12°4.915′ E; UB17; 14 Dec. 2013; R. Aagaard Jensen 336; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122815 • Tisvilde Hegn; 56°2.171′ N, 12°3.429′ E; UC11; 27 Jan. 2018; JP 974; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123481 • Tokkekøb Hegn; 55°52.334′ N, 12°22.229′ E; UB39; 6 May 2013; JP 331; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122809 • Ud for Kongelundsfortet; 55°33.724′ N, 12°33.731′ E; UB46; 15 Apr. 2018; JP 1050; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123566 . – Nordvestjylland (NWJ) • Nord for Landting ved Vinderup; 56°30.049′ N, 8°45.384′ E; MH86; 19 Jan. 2015; JP 555; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123041 • Syd for Stårup; 56°34.792′ N, 9°5.958′ E; NH07; 6 Feb. 2015; JP 221; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122702 • Vest for Vinderup; 56°28.727′ N, 8°44.810′ E; MH85; 19 Jan. 2015; JP 764; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123258 . – Nordvestsjaelland (NWZ) • Bjerge Sydstrand; 55°33.493′ N, 11°9.730′ E; PG35; 1 May 2013; JP 301; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122780 • Bognaes Skov på Tuse Naes; 55°44.966′ N, 11°45.817′ E; PG78; 10 Dec. 2013; JP 890; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123388 • Flasken nord for Reersø; 55°31.965′ N, 11°9.831′ E; PG35; 26 Jan. 2014; JP 604; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123093 • Nordbredden af Skarresø; 55°39.425′ N, 11°22.998′ E; PG47; 1 May 2013; JP 848; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123343 • ibid.; 55°39.469′ N, 11°23.147′ E; PG47; 21 Apr. 2018; JP 1057; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123574 • Nordøstbredden af Tissø; 55°35.612′ N, 11°18.461′ E; PG46; 1 May 2013; JP 760; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123254 • Nordbredden af Tissø ved Halleby Å’s udløb; 55°35.602′ N, 11°18.532′ E; PG46; 18 Feb. 2017; JP 386; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122869 • Vesterlyng; 55°44.195′ N, 11°17.276′ E; PG47; 9 Feb. 2014; JP 634; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123123 . – Sydjylland (SJ) • Braenøre Mose; 55°23.906′ N, 9°25.714′ E; NG23; 5 Aug. 2018; JP 1164; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123689 • Mørksø Sydøst for Kliplev; 54°52.481′ N, 9°26.561′ E; NF28; 1 Nov. 2013; JP 356; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122838 • Store Søgård Sø; 54°56.251′ N, 9°27.063′ E; NF28; 23 Apr. 2000; H. Liljehult 327; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122805 . – Sydsjaelland (SZ) • Denderup Sø i Denderup Vaenge; 55°15.075′ N, 11°57.366′ E; PG82; 5 May 2016; JP 494; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122978 • Enemaerket ved Naesbyholm; 55°22.429′ N, 11°36.776′ E; PG63; 17 Nov. 2019; JP 1559; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-124320 • Gammel Kalvehave; 54°59.745′ N, 12°8.232′ E; UA19; 24 Mar. 2018; JP 1010; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123517 • ibid.; 27 Apr. 2018; JP 1084; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123602 • ibid.; 25 Apr. 2019; JP 1450; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-124000 • Holmegårds Mose; 55°17.685′ N, 11°47.928′ E; PG73; 31 Mar. 2019; JP 1409; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123955 • Krobaek i Sjolte Skov; 55°10.772′ N, 12°0.863′ E; UB11; 17 Feb. 2019; JP 1377; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123918 • Praestø; 55°6.913′ N, 12°2.035′ E; UB11; 25 Apr. 2019; JP 1434; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123981 • Tryggevaelde Å ved Varpelev; 55°21.055′ N, 12°15.877′ E; UB23; 6 Jan. 2018; JP 970; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123477 . – Vestjylland (WJ) • Velling; 56°3.078′ N, 8°18.596′ E; MH51; 16 Dec. 2018; JP 1259; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123787 .

Other material examined

Lectotype of Peyritschiella protea

GERMANY • “ Peyritschiella protea, slide from FH, #2590, barcode 00313501, lectotype, on legs of Bledius tricornis (Herbst, 1784), from Thuringia (Germany), ex British Museum coll.”; FH[00313501] [the slide consists of ten thalli in poor condition (Fig. 68G)] [lectotype designated by Haelewaters et al. 2015b: 469]

Remarks

Peyritschiella protea was described by Thaxter (1900: 427 [MB#181317]) on Bledius, Oxytelus and Acrognathus from Europe. In his second monograph, Thaxter (1908: 260) wrote about P. protea: “The specimens from Bledius bicornis Germ. are regarded as the type forms, and both figures have been drawn from this material”. In his description Thaxter mentioned the variability of this species but preferred not to split it. Nearly at the same time, Cépède & Picard (1907) described Rheophila oxyteli on Oxytelus rugosus from France with a too brief description and lacking any illustration. Shortly after, the same authors (Cépède & Picard 1908) synonymized their taxon with P. protea with almost no explanation. Later, Thaxter (1931) included Rheophila oxyteli among the synonyms of P. protea in agreement with the opinion of Cépède & Picard.

Nevertheless, although the synonymy at the genus level is beyond doubt, this is not true at the species level. After studying the abundant material on Oxytelus and Anotylus collected from Denmark, we have observed enough differences of these thalli with those that should be considered as the “true” P. protea (e.g., on Bledius from Spain, Fig. 68F; Santamaria 1989), and after examination of all the available material we detected enough characters to separate two species. To support this argument we decided to borrow the type material of P. protea from FH.

With the name Peyritschiella oxyteli comb. nov. we restore an old taxon preserving the specific epithet published by Cépède & Picard (1907) and a neotype is here designated because the entire Picard collection is thought to be lost (see Catalogue organization under the Material and methods section).

Peyritschiella protea and P. oxyteli comb. nov. can be easily distinguished by several characteristics. Representative thalli of P. oxyteli comb. nov. consist of a lower tier of cells including only three main, large, subequal cells; the middle tier consists of a large central, nearly rectangular cell, flanked by two cells, which later may divide to give rise to antheridia; the upper tier is variably broadened, although the central cell continues to be as large as those below which form the main axis of the thallus. The lower and middle tiers, less so the upper tier, show almost parallel margins. The upper tier supports one large, ovoid, brown perithecium, flanked with short brownish appendages at both sides. The brown colour of perithecium and appendages contrasts with the remainder paler yellowish thallus. Moreover, perithecium and appendages are asymmetrically arranged on the upper tier. When over-mature, a second perithecium may appear laterally from the second tier of cells. Older and damaged thalli may develop additional perithecia and should be discarded to properly distinguish the species.

Thalli of P. protea show an irregular shape, with divergent margins, and a very variable number of cells for each tier. The lower tier consists of more than three cells. Also, the perithecia are very variable in position and number, without an evident pattern; the appendages which are abundant in the upper tier, but also present in the middle tier, are always pale, even paler than the receptacle itself.

Records without accompanying figures are difficult to assign to one or the other of these two species. Majewski (1994b: pl. 96, fig. 1) included a drawing of a thallus from Manda that may represent an undescribed species; the medium and small sized thalli represented by Majewski (1994b: pl. 96 figs 4–8) are typical P. oxyteli comb. nov. De Kesel et al. (2020: fig. 67a–c) illustrated typical thalli of P. oxyteli comb. nov., as P. protea, on Anotylus rugosus from Belgium.