Trichotichnus (Bottchrus) birmanicus Bates, 1892

Schmidt, Joachim, 2017, Brachypterous ground beetles of the Trichotichnus subgenus Bottchrus Jedlička (Coleoptera, Carabidae) from the Himalaya, with description of fifteen new species, Zootaxa 4323 (3), pp. 301-358 : 350-353

Trichotichnus (Bottchrus) birmanicus Bates, 1892

( Fig 123 , 146–150 )

Trichotichnus Birmanicus Bates, 1892: 342 . Type locality: “Karin Cheba, alt. 900–1100 m ” ( Karen Hills , approximate coordinates 19°13'N 96°35'E), Myanmar.

Trichotichnus (Trichotichnus) Batesi Csiki, 1932: 1217 , unnecessary replacement name for Trichotichnus birmanicus Bates, 1892 .

Trichotichnus (Bellogenus) probsti Kirschenhofer, 1992: 39 , syn. n. Type locality: Tatopani, 1100–1400 m, Kali Gandaki Khola, Myagdi Distr. , Nepal.

Type material examined. Syntype of T. birmanicus : ♂, “Carin Cheba, 900–1100 m, L. Fea, V–XII.88 ”, “ Trichotichnus Birmanicus Bates ” (Bates’ handwriting) (MNHN).

Holotype of T. probsti : ♀, “W-Nepal, Dhawalagiri, Myagdi Distr., Kali – Gandaki – Khola, Tatopani , 1100– 1400 m, 14–17.VI.1986, leg. J. Probst ”, “ Holotypus, Trichotichnus (Bellogenus) probsti n. sp., det. Kirschenhofer, 91” ( NHMW).

Addition material examined. India. 1 ♀, Sikkim, Dzongri , 3000 m, 15.VIII.1977, B. Bhakta leg. ( NHMB) ; 1 ♂, 3 ♀, NE India, Meghalaya, 1 km E of Tura , 550 m, 25°30'N 90°14'E, 10–15.VI.2002, M. Tryzna, P. Benda leg. (cFCCH, cWR, ZIN) . Nepal. 1 ♂, Karnali Prov., Mugu Distr., Mugu Karnali, Mangri up to Taka , 2100–2300 m, 29°34.2'N 82°23.5'E, 28.VI.1999, M. Hartmann leg. ( NME) ; 1 ♀, Bheri Prov., Dailekh Distr., Dailekh, S Katia Khola , 800 m, 31.V.1995, A. Weigel leg. ( NME) ; 1 ♂, Dhaulagiri, Phedi to Phalegaon , 28°28'N 83°21'E, 1100– 1800 m, 9.V.2012, J. Schmidt leg. (cJS) ; 1 ♂, 3 ♀, Annapurna Mts., Ulleri südl. Ghorepani , ca 2000 m, 16.VI.1993, J. Schmidt leg. (cJS) ; 1 ♂, Annapurna Mts, Dana bis Tatopani , 1200–1400 m, 13.VI.1993, J. Schmidt leg. (cJS) ; 1 ♂, Kali Gandaki Vall., betw. Tatopani and Beni, ca 1000 m, 29.X.1992, J. Schmidt leg. (cJS) ; 1 ♂, Annapurna, South Himal, 1600 m, Ghara W Ghorepani , 29.V.2002, J. Schmidt leg. (cJS) ; 1 ♂, 3 ♀, Nepal 420, Kathmandu Distr., Kathmandu–Baneshwar , 1350 m, 18.IV.1885, Martens & W. Schawaller leg. ( SMNS) ; 2 ♀, Nepal 583, Kathmandu, Baneshwar, 1300 m, 21–25.VI.1998, W. Schawaller leg. ( SMNS) ; 1 ♀, Nepal 477, Kathmandu Distr., Kathmandu–Baneshwar , 1350 m, 2–3.VI.1995, Martens & W. Schawaller leg. ( SMNS) ; 1 ♀, Bagmati Distr., Kathmandu-Thamel, Wasserreservoir , HF 27°43'N 85°23'E, 1400 m, Grill leg. (cJS) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Kathmandu, NE Gorkhana Park , Bagmati, 27°43'22"N 85°22'59"E, 1400 m, 26.VI.1997, A. Weigel leg. ( NME) ; 1 ♂, Kathmandu, nördlicher Stadtrand , ca 1200 m, 17.IX.1992, J. Weipert leg. ( NME) ; 1 ♂, Kathmandu Vall. , 1300 m, 18.VI.1995, Ahrens & Pommeranz leg. (cJS) ; 1 ♀, Kathmandu Vall., Pharping, 1600 m, 12.VIII.2004, Anand Chaudari leg. (cJS); 1 ♂, same data as preceding, but 2.X.2004 (cJS) ; 2 ♀, same data, but 7.VIII.2004 (cJS) ; 1 ♀, Kathmandu Vall., Bhaktapur, 2004, Anand Chaudari leg. (cJS); 1 ♂, Kathmandu, Thamel, Hotel Norbhu Linka , LF 1300 m, 5.VI.1995, A. Weigel leg. ( NME) ; 1 ♀, Kathmandu , Bagmati River, 18.X.1987, Winkelmann – Klöck leg. [det. as T. (Bellogenus) probsti Kirsch. by E. Kirschenhofer in 1992] (cWR) ; 1 ♀, Boudha, Mahankal, 20.X.2004 (cJS); 1 ♀, S Khumbu-Himal , env. Jiri, Shivalaya, Kimti Khola, 1707 m, 1.V.1993, Kleeberg leg. (cJS) ; 1 ♂, E Nepal, Dhankuta, Arun Valley, SE Makalu, Navagaon – Num , 1900– 700 m, 16.VI.1980, C. Holzschuh leg. [det. as T. glabellus Andr. by E. Kirschenhofer] (cWR) , 1 ♂, E Nepal, Arun Valley, Ruhruma –Waleng Iswakhola , 1200 m, 14.VI.1992, J. & J. Probst leg. [det. as T. probsti m. by E. Kirschenhofer in 1992] ( NHMW) . Bhutan. 1 ♀, Wangdi Phodrang Pr., 40 km SSE Wangdi Phodrang, Puna Tsang Vall. , ca 790 m, 27°12'38"N 90°03'05"E, 25.XI.2005, M. Jäch leg. ( NHMW) . Burma. 1 ♀, Tenasserim, Malvedaung, 30 km S of Ye , 300 m, 15–25.XI.1934, R. Malaise leg. ( SMNHS) ; 1 ♂, env. Naymyo [= Pyin Oo Lwin ], 700–900 m, 12–13.II.1996, S. Kurbatov leg. ( ZIN) ; 3 ♀, Shan Prov., Namhsan , 1600 m, litter, 18.II.1996, S. Kurbatov leg. ( ZIN) . China. Yunnan: 1 ♂, Nujiang Lisu Aut. Pref., creek valley, 3 km SE Gongshan , 27°43'02"N 98°41'27"E, 1450–1500 m, litter/moss, sifted, [20], 5.VI.2007, D.W. Wrase leg. (cWR) ; 2 ♂, same data as preceding, but A. Pütz leg. (cPTZ; cWR) ; 1 ♀, Taveishan Mts. near Pingpien , 1500 m, 21.VI.1956, Hwang Ke leg. ( ZIN) ; 2 ♂, Lungling , 1600 m, 20.V.1955, O. Kryzhanovskij leg. ( ZIN) ; 1 ♂, 2 ♀, Baoshan Pref., Gaoligong Shan, 65 km NNE Tengchong , 1750 m, 25°35'20"N 98°40'21"E, secondary mixed forest, overgrown stone debris, litter / moss sifted, 27.VIII.2009, M. Schülke leg. [27B] (cWR) ; 5 ♂, 2 ♀, same data as preceding, but D.W. Wrase leg. [10] (cWR, ZIN); 1 m , 2 ♀, same data as preceding, but pasture, under decaying plant material [10C] (cWR) ; 1 ♀, Longling, Zhen-an, Bangbie, steamside, 24.81327°N 98.83271°E, 1550 m, 24.V.2005, H.B. Liang, D. Kavanaugh leg. (IOZ); 1 ♀, Baoshan, Longyang, Bawan , Nankang station , 24.82260°N 98.78201°E, 2060 m, 23.V.2005, H.B. Liang leg. (IOZ) ; 1 ♀, Gongshan Co., Gongshan Township, Dandang Preserve , 1675–1820 m, 27.74323°N 98.66168°E to 27.74183°N 98.65908°E, 29.VI.2000, Stop #00–16, D. Kavanaugh leg. (IOZ) ; 1 ♀, Gongshan Co., Gongshan , 1500 m, 27.74064°N 98.66557°E, 28.VI.2000, Stop #00– 14, D. Kavanaugh, H.B. Liang leg. (IOZ) ; 2 ♀, Gongshan Co., Maxidang , along road, 27°52'41"N 98°39'15"E, 1550 m, 19.IV.2002, H.B. Liang, W. Ba, G. Yang, X.Q. Li leg. (IOZ) ; 1 ♀, Gongshan, Bingzhongluo Vill., 28°01'14"N 98°37'12"E, 1700 m, 13.IV.2002, H.B. Liang, W. Ba leg. (IOZ); 1 ♂, Tengchong, Tengyue, Laifengshan, 25.01734°N 98.47719°E, 1920 m, 1.VI.2006, D. Kavanaugh leg. (IOZ); 1 ♀, Lushui Co., Pianma, Gangfang , Xuetang , 26.12218°N 98.57546°E, 1625 m, 16.V.2005, D. Kavanaugh, D.Z. Dong leg. (IOZ) ; 1 ♀, Fugong, Pihe, at junction of Nujiang River, 26.53177°N 98.89753°E, 1060 m, 20.IV.2004, D. Kavanaugh, C. Griswold leg. (IOZ) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Fugong Co., Shangpa, Guquan Village , roadside, 26.88897°N 98.86558°E, 1230 m, 21.IV.2004, H.B. Liang, X.Y. Li leg. (IOZ) ; 1 ♀, S Gejiu , 1860 m, 23°17'14"N 103°08'41"E (grassy slope with shrubs near road, litter / soil / moss sifted), 21.VIII.2014, M. Schülke leg. [17] (cWR) ; 2 ♀, S Yunnan (Xishuangbanna), 37 NW Jinghong, vic. Guo Men Shan , 22°14'48"N 100°36'22"E, 1000 m, 27.IV.2009, LF, leg. A. Weigel ( NME) ; 1 ♂, same data as preseding, but 22°17.48'N 100°38.85'E, 1080 m, 26.V.2008, LF, A. Weigel leg. ( NME) . Sichuan: 1 ♀, S Sichuan, N Lunan Shan, NE of Dechang, W slope of Mt '4282', 1600–2400 m, 27.IV.2001, I. Belousov & A. Korolev leg. ( ZIN) . Hainan: 1 ♀, Changjiang County, Bawangling, Dong-er , 19.09901°N 109.17540°E, 1015 m, 8.V.2007, N, H.- B. Liang leg. (IOZ) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same data as preceding, but 9.V.2007 (IOZ) ; 1 ♂, Qiongzhong, Limushan, Conserve station , light trap, 19.17561°N 109.74246°E, 634 m, 29.III.2007, H.L. Shi leg. (IOZ) ; 1 ♀, Baisha, Nakai Town , on vegetation or ground, 18.9741°N 109.2956°E, 790 m, 13.IV.2010, Lin Meiyng leg. (IOZ) . Vietnam. 2 ♂, 4 ♀, Lao Cai Prov., 250 km from Hanoi, Sa Pa env., Hoang Lien Son Nat. Park , 1250 m, 27.VI.–2.VII.1998, A. Napolov leg. ( MPU, ZIN) ; 1 ♂, same data as preceding, but 2– 15.VI.1998 ( ZIN) ; 1 ♀, Lao Cai Prov., 6 km W of SA PA, N slope of Phansipan Mt. Area, 2000–2100 m, near Tram don (base of Hoang Lien Nat. Park ), 22°21'N 103°46'E, V.2005, A.V. Abramov leg. ( Exp. of Russia-Vietnam Tropical Centre ) ( ZIN) ; 11 ♀, Lao Cai Prov., 6 km W of Sa Pa, northern slope of Phansipan Mt. area , May 2008, A.V. Abramov leg. ( ZIN) ; 1 ♂, Lao Cai Prov., Hoang Lien Son Mt. Range, env. Fansipan Mt., Tramton , 1950–2100 m, 15–20.VII.2007, D. Fedorenko leg. ( ZIN) ; 1 ♀, Lao Cai Prov., Sa Pa env., 22°19.52'N 103°50.35'E, ca 1650 m, 23–27.V.1999, Ahrens leg. (cJS) ; 1 ♂, Vinh Phu Prov., Tam Dao , 21°27.18'N 105°38.58'E, 1050–1200 m, 2– 6.VI.1999, Ahrens leg. (cJS) ; 1 ♂, Kon Tum Prov. , Central Highlands, 2–3 km W of Ngoc Linh Mt. , 15°05' N 107°57' E, 1700–1900 m, 25.III.–14.IV.2004, A.V. Abramov leg. ( ZIN) ; 1 ♀, same data as preceding, but 1700– 2000 m, 20.III.–8.IV.2006, A.V. Abramov leg. ( Exp. of Russia-Vietnam Tropical Centre ) ( ZIN) ; 2 ♂, 2 ♀, N Vietnam, Vinh Phuc Prov., vic. Tam Dao Town, Tam dao NP, 21°27'N 105°38'E, 700–1000 m, 2–5.V.2013, A. Skale leg. (cSKAL; cWR) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same data as preceding, but A. Weigel leg. ( NME) ; 1 ♂, N Vietnam, Cao Bang Prov. , vic . Vin Den, Nui Pia Oac Nat. Res., 22°33'53"N 105°52'53"E, 900–1300 m, 6–10.V.2013, A. Skale leg. (cWR) ; 1 ♀, N Vietnam, Cao Bang / vic. Tinh Tuc, Son Do / Nui Pia Oac Natural R./ 22°33'53"N 105°52'53"E / 09–15.V.2014, by light/ 900–1300 m, A. Weigel leg. ( NME) ; 2 ♂, 1 ♀, S Vietnam, Lam Dong Prov., Lac Duong Distr., 5 km NE of Long Lanh Vill., 1400 m, Bi Dup – Nui Ba Nature Reserve , 12°10'44"N 108°40'44"E, IV.2008, A.V. Abramov leg. ( ZIN) ; 1 ♀, same data as preceding, but V.2009, A.V. Abramov leg. ( ZIN) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, S Vietnam, Lam Dong Prov., Bi Doup-Nui Ba Reserve, env. Long Lanh , at light, 12°10'44"N 108°40'44"E, 1400–1600 m, 29– 3.III.2008, D. Fedorenko leg. ( ZIN) . Laos. 2 ♀, Huaphanh Prov., Ban Saluei env., 1500 m, 30 km S of Ham Neua , 103°59'33"E 20°13'39"N , Phou Phan Mt., 16–17.V.2004, Petr Kresl leg. (cBUL, cWR); 2 ♂ , 4 ♀, NE Laos, Pr. Hua Phan Ban Saleui, Phou Pan ( Mt. ). ca 20°12'N 104°01'E, 1300–1900 m, 11.IV.–15.V.2012, C. Holzschuh leg. ( NME, ZIN) ; 1 ♂, same data as preceding, but 1–31.V.2011, local collector leg. ( NME) . Thailand. 1 ♂, Soppong , 1–9.V.2000, P. Moravec leg. (cWR) ; 1 ♀, N Thailand, 100 km NE of Nan, Doi Phu Kha N.P., F. Pavel leg.

(cFCCH); 1 ♀, Chiang Mai Prov., San Pakia Vill., 19.19°N 98.50°E, 1400 m, 1–15.V.1998, V. Kubáň leg. (cKM) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same data as preceding, but M. Bednarik leg. (cKM) ; 2 ♂, same data, but 1–19.V.1998, I. Martino leg. (cKM, cWR) ; 1 ♀, NW Thailand, Mae Hong Son, Ban Huai Po , 1600 m, 9–16.V.1991, P. Pacholatko leg. (cBAS) . Malaysia. 1 ♂, 3 ♀, Malaysia W., Perak, 40 km SE of Ipoh, 900 m, Banjaran Titi Vangsa Binglet , 29.III.– 29.IV.2004, P. Čechovsky leg. (cBAS, cWR, ZIN) ; 1 ♂, Malaysia W, Cammeron Highlands, Ringlet env., 15.IV.2000, M. Snizek leg. (cWR) ; 3 ♀, Kelantan State, 60 km NE Tanah Rata, Tanah Kerajaan , 1000 m, at light, 12–30.IV.2007, P. Čechovsky leg. (cWR) ; 1 ♀, Malaysia W, 25 km NE of Ipoh , 2100 m, Banjaran Titi Wangsa mts., Korbu mt., 4–13.III.1998, P. Čechovsky leg. (cDOS) ; 2 ♀, Malaysia, Pahang, Fraser's hill, 17–28.VIII.2010, I. Kamskov leg. ( ISEN, ZIN) ; 1 ♀, Selangor Prov. , Kuala Selangor Nature Park, 15 m, 18–19.V.2009, A. Zamesov, E. Zamesova leg. ( ZIN) ; 2 ♀, Pahang Prov., Fraser's Hill., 0 3°42'54"N 101°43'57"E, 1500 m, 17.V.2009, A. Zamesov, E. Zamesova leg. ( ZIN) .

Description (the most distinctive characters only). Habitus as in Fig. 123 . Length 5.9–7.4 mm. Body black piceous, slightly iridescent on dorsum; legs yellowish brown, femora not infuscate.

Head: Eyes large, markedly convex, wide oval in lateral view. Tempora moderately short, convex, somewhat abruptly sloped to neck. Genae wide, with short setae. Mentum and submentum fused laterally and separated by suture medially. Ligular sclerite narrow, narrowed to apex. Left mandible slightly truncate at tip in front view. Microsculpture strongly obliterate, meshes hardly visible. Antennae slightly surpassing pronotal basal edge, with antennomeres 4–8 elongate.

Pronotum: Moderately wide, with sides slightly sinuate in basal third, in some specimens almost straight. Apical margin very shallowly emarginate, apical angles not prominent, widely rounded. Basal margin straight in middle portion, scarcely oblique laterally. Basal angles very slightly obtuse, sharp at tip, without denticle. Lateral gutter slightly widened in apical half. Pronotal disc moderately convex, markedly depressed and flattened laterobasally. Basal foveae usually distinct, shallow, elongate, in most specimens touching basal margin. Punctation in most specimens restricted to the latero-basal areas, variable from very sparse to moderately dense. Microsculpture obliterate on disc, more distinct along margins, consisting of very fine transverse meshes.

Elytra: In lateral and caudal view slightly convex, in dorsal view elongate oval. Elytral preapical sinuation comparatively deep. Humerus with a more or less distinct denticle visible from behind. Striae markedly impressed along entire length. Intervals slightly convex, narrowed apically. Parascutellar striole comparatively long, with large pore at base. Interval 3 with one pore behind middle (in the holotype of T. probsti , two discal pores on left elytron). Microsculpture obliterate, consisting of very fine, indistinct thin lines on disc.

Hindwings: Fully developed or reduced to scales.

Ventral surface: Metepisternum ( Fig. 146 ) narrow, markedly longer than wide. Abdominal sternites covered by very short and fine setae medially. Last visible (VII) abdominal sternite with two pairs of marginal setae, in male subtruncate, in female angularly rounded.

Legs: Protibia sulcate in basal third ventrally. Profemur with two to five setae on anterio-ventral margin. Tarsomere 5 with two pairs of ventro-lateral setae.

Female genitalia: Laterotergite (hemisternite) with two apical setae. Basal palpomere with one apical seta. Apical stylomere moderately curved, with one peg-like seta in both ventral and dorsal margins.

Male genitalia: Median lobe of aedeagus ( Fig. 147–150 ) with apical orifice shifted to the left, arcuate in lateral view, with ventral margin slightly convex in apical portion. Terminal lamella short, markedly narrowed apicad in dorsal view ( Fig. 149 ). Apical capitulum in lateral view ( Fig. 147 ) oblique, with a tiny, poorly developed dorsal flange, in caudal view ( Fig. 150 ) somewhat triangular, narrowly rounded at tip. Internal sac without spines in internal sac.

Comparison. Among the Himalayan members of Bottchrus characterized by a comparatively small body length, T. (B.) birmanicus is recognizable by the following combination of distinctive characters: body less convex, left mandible slightly truncate at tip, eyes larger and more convex, tempora shorter, pronotum markedly depressed and flattened latero-basally, metepisterna ( Fig. 146 ) noticeably longer and narrower, hindwings fully developed or reduced, elytra with deeper preapical sinuation and with narrower and more convex intervals apically, and median lobe of aedeagus ( Figs 147–150 ) as described above. In some characters (left mandible slightly truncate at tip, pronotum depressed latero-basally, rather long metepisterna, and protibia sulcate on dorsal side), T. (B.) birmanicus reminds T. (B.) formosus from Sikkim, but the latter species is much larger (about 9.5 mm) and has median lobe of aedeagus with longer terminal lamella and much larger apical capitulum. In external morphology and male genitalia, T. (B.) birmanicus is very similar to T. (B.) horni Schauberger, 1935 from Borneo, but the latter species differs in slightly larger body (6.8–8.0 mm), pronotum almost impunctate basally, and terminal lamella of the median lobe longer, with apical capitulum more transverse and dorsally slightly more projected.

Remarks. The description of Trichotichnus (B.) probsti is based on a single female collected near Tatopani in the Kali Gandaki Valley of Central Nepal. It was considered most related to T. (B.) holzschuhi but distinguishing from this taxon by slightly larger, less convex and more elongate body, and by longer elytra with deeper striae and more convex intervals. Re-examination of the holotype revealed that this taxon is conspecific with T. (B.) birmanicus .

Distribution and geographical variation. Trichotichnus (B.) birmanicus is widely distributed across the Oriental region. Andrewes (1930b) reported this species from North India (Mussoorie in Uttarakhand, and Lebong in Darjeeling, West Bengal), Myanmar (Karen Hills), and Laos. Schauberger (1935) described its distribution as “Himalaya, nördl. Vorderindien, Hinterindien”. Ito (1991) reported T. (B.) birmanicus from Thailand and also illustrated its male and female genitalia. Based on the examined material, this species also occurs in Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, China (Yunnan, Sichuan, Hainan), Vietnam, Laos, and West Malaysia. In the Himalayan region, the species occurs at altitudes of 550–3000 m.

The record of T. (B.) birmanicus from Hong Kong ( Hua 2002, Aston 2016) most likely refers to another species, Harpaliscus birmanicus Bates, 1892 , because it is based on Schauberger (1934: 101) who considered Harpaliscus as a subgenus of Trichotichnus and cited the latter species as Trichotichnus (Harpaliscus) birmanicus .

It should be noted that most populations from Nepal, Myanmar and Yunnan are dimorphic, with hindwings either fully developed or reduced to small scales, while the populations from more southern areas seem to be fully winged. Trichotichnus (B.) birmanicus is probably a geographical vicariant of T. (B.) horni Schauberger, 1935 described from Borneo, which is also a fully winged species.

The status of the specimens examined from West Malaysia (unfortunately, most of them are females) needs further study, because they are, on average, slightly larger (6.7–7.5 mm) and robuster than specimens of T. (B.) birmanicus from other localities and may be treated in this respect as transition to T. (B.) horni . However, their pronotum is very finely and sparsely punctate in basal foveae and latero-basally, as in other specimens of T. (B.) birmanicus , and thus different of T. (B.) horni .

Figures

FIGURES 120 – 123. Himalayan species of Trichotichnus subgenus Bottchrus, photographs of habitus. 120, T. sikkimensis sp. n., holotype; 121, T. martensi sp. n., holotype; 122, T. hingstoni Andrewes, 1930, male from Kechu Pheri Lake; 123, T. birmanicus Bates, 1892, male from the Kali Gandaki, Tatopani.

FIGURES 146 – 150. Trichotichnus (Bottchrus) birmanicus Bates, 1892 (Ruhruma – Waleng Iswakhola, Nepal). 146, left metepisternum; 147 – 148, median lobe of aedeagus; 149, apical portion of median lobe; 150, apical capitulum. 146, ventral view, 147, lateral view; 148, 149, dorsal view; 150, caudal view. Scale bars = 0.25 mm (A: Figs 146 – 149; B: Fig. 150).