Lithocharis distinguenda CAMERON , 1928

Assing, Volker, 2015, A revison of the Lithocharis species of the Palaearctic, Oriental and Australian regions (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae: Medonina), Linzer biologische Beiträge 47 (2), pp. 1133-1178 : 1153-1156

Lithocharis distinguenda CAMERON, 1928

( Figs 53-59 )

Lithocharis distinguenda CAMERON, 1928: 246 .

Type material: Lectotype ♂, present designation: " Singapore / Dung / L. distinguenda Cam , Type / M. Cameron. Bequest. B.M. 1955-147. / Type / Lectotypus ♂ Lithocharis distinguenda Cameron , desig. V. Assing 2015 / Lithocharis distinguenda Cameron , det. V. Assing 2015 " (BMNH) . Paralectotypes: 1♂: " Singapore / Carrion / Syntype / M. Cameron. Bequest. B.M. 1955-147." (BMNH) ; 1♀: "Rotting Fruit / Bukit Kutu, Selangor F.M.S., Dr. Cameron / Syntype / M. Cameron. Bequest. B.M. 1955-147." (BMNH) ; 1♀: "Rotting Fruit / Woodlands [locality not specified] / Syntype / M. Cameron. Bequest. B.M. 1955-147." (BMNH) ; 1♂, 1♀: "Sandakan, N.Borneo, Dr. Cameron / Syntype / M. Cameron. Bequest. B.M. 1955-147." (BMNH).

Comment: The original description is based on an unspecified number of syntypes from " Singapore. Federated Malay States: Selangor. North Borneo: Sandakan" ( CAMERON 1928). Six syntypes were located in the Cameron collection at the BMNH. The male labelled by Cameron as the type is designated as the lectotype.

Figs 60-66: Lithocharis sordidula HERMAN (64-65: lectotype): (60) habitus; (61) forebody; (62) male sternite VII; (63) male sternite VIII; (64-65) aedeagus in lateral and in ventral view; (66) apical portion of aedeagus in ventral view. Scale bars: 60-61: 1.0 mm; 62-66: 0.2 mm.

Additional material examined India: 1♂, Assam, Bhalukpong, 27°02'N, 92°35'E, 150 m, 26.V.-3.VI.2006, leg. Pacholátko (cAss) ; 1♂, 2♀♀, Assam, Umrongso env., 25°27'N, 92°43'E, 700 m, 3.-8.VI.2002, leg. Trýzna (cSch, cAss) ; 1♀, Meghalaya, 1 km E Tura, 25°30'N, 90°14'E, 500-600 m, 2.-5.V.2002, leg. Trýzna & Benda (cSch). China: 1♂, Guangxi, Bama, cow dung, I.1988 (BMNH). Thailand: 2♂♂, 2♀♀, Chumphon prov., Pha To env., 9°48'N, 98°47'E, 27.III.-14.IV.1996, leg. Majer ( NHMB, cAss) ; 1♂, Chumphon prov., Pha To env. 9°48'N, 98°47'E, 1.-21.III.1996, K. Majer leg. ( NHMB) ; 1♂, Chumphon, Pha To env., 9°48'N, 98°47'E, III-IV.1996, at light, leg. Prudek (cSch) ; 1♂, 1♀, Ranong prov., Ranong: Hot Springs , 9°56'N, 98°40'E, 23.-25.II.1996, leg. Majer " ( NHMB, cAss). Laos: 8 exs., 240 km N Vientiane, 10 km N Luang Prabang, Mekong river, XI.1992, leg. Somsy (cSch, cAss). Singapore: 1♂, "B.T.Ra." 4 m, I.1922, leg. Saunders (BMNH) ; 1 ex., "Scott land", 5.VIII.1922, leg. Saunders (BMNH). Indonesia: 6 exs., Sulawesi Tengah, near Morowali, Ranu River area, lowland rain forest, at light, I-IV.1980, leg. Brendell (BMNH, cAss).

Redescription: Body length 3.9-4.2 mm; length of forebody 2.2-2.4 mm. Habitus as in Fig. 53 . External characters ( Figs 53-54 ) as in L. vilis .

♂: sternite VII ( Fig. 55 ) moderately transverse, posterior margin with shallow median excision of broadly trapezoid shape, this excision with a comb of approximately 25 long palisade setae; sternite VIII ( Fig. 56 ) transverse, postero-median portion extensively without pubescence, posterior margin moderately deep, broadly V-shaped; aedeagus ( Figs 57-59 ) approximately 0.7 mm long, apically bifid in ventral view, at base of ventral process with a long string-shaped appendix best visible in lateral view; dorso-lateral apophyses with straight, short, and thin apices; internal structures distinctly sclerotized and of distinctive shapes.

Comparative notes: As can be inferred from the similar external and male sexual characters, L. distinguenda is closely related to L. vilis , from which it differs by the shape of the posterior excision of the male sternite VII, the less numerous and longer palisade setae at the posterior margin of the male sternite VII, by the shape and chaetotaxy of the male sternite VIII, as well as by the smaller aedeagus with a bifid apex, with smaller and differently shaped dorso-lateral apophyses, and with internal structures of distinctive shapes.

Distribution and natural history: Male-based records are known from Northeast India (Assam), Singapore, China (Guangxi), Thailand, Malaysia ( North Borneo), and Indonesia (Sulawesi Tengah). Some of the examined specimens were collected from dung, carrion, rotting fruit, and with light traps at altitudes of up to 700 m.

Figures

Figs 53-59: Lithocharis distinguenda CAMERON (59: lectotype): (53) habitus; (54) forebody; (55) male sternite VII; (56) male sternite VIII; (57-58) aedeagus in lateral and in ventral view; (59) apical portion of aedeagus in ventral view. Scale bars: 53-54: 1.0 mm; 55-59: 0.2 mm.