Medon gratus CAMERON 1931

Assing, V., 2011, The Sunius species of the Palaearctic region (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 43 (1), pp. 151-193 : 185-186

Medon gratus CAMERON 1931 ( Figs 62-65 )

Medon gratus CAMERON 1931: 143 .

Sunius gratus: SMETANA (2004) .

Medon reuteri FELDMANN 2007: 853 ff.; nov.syn.

T y p e m a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d M. gratus : Lectotype, present designation: "Chakrata Dist., Chulli Khud 6500 / Dr. Cameron. 20.V.22. / M.Cameron Bequest B.M. 1955-147. / Syntype / Syntype Medon gratus Cameron 1931 , det. R.G. Booth 2010 / Lectotypus Medon gratus Cameron , desig. V. Assing 2010 / Medon gratus Cameron , det. V. Assing 2010 " (BMNH). Paralectotypes: 1: "Deoban 9331, Chakrata U.P. / Dr. Cameron. 3.5.21. / M.Cameron Bequest B.M. 1955-147. / Syntype / Syntype Medon gratus Cameron 1931 , det. R.G. Booth 2010 / Paralectotypus Medon gratus Cameron , desig. V. Assing 2010 / Medon gratus Cameron , det. V. Assing 2010 " (BMNH); 1: "Type / Bindal Gadh. Khonain. / Dr. Cameron. 5.V.21. / Medon propinquus Bris / Medon gratus Cam. Type / M.Cameron Bequest B.M. 1955-147. / Syntype / Paralectotypus Medon gratus Cameron , desig. V. Assing 2010 / Medon gratus Cameron , det. V. Assing 2010 " (BMNH); 1: "Chakrata Dist. Manjgaon 6500 / Dr. Cameron. 18.V.22. / M.Cameron Bequest B.M. 1955-147. / Syntype / Syntype Medon gratus Cameron 1931 , det. R.G. Booth 2010 / Paralectotypus Medon gratus Cameron , desig. V. Assing 2010 / Medon gratus Cameron , det. V. Assing 2010 " (BMNH).

C o m m e n t: The original description of Medon gratus is based on an unspecified number of syntypes from "Chakrata district: Konain; Majgaon; Chulli Khud; Deoban, alt. 6500 to 9000 feet " ( CAMERON 1931). Four syntypes (three males and one female) from four localities were examined; one of the males is designated as the lectotype. The species is listed as Sunius in the recent Palaearctic catalogue ( SMETANA 2004), probably because CAMERON (1931) states that it is "near the European M. propinquus Bris. ".

Medon reuteri was described from a single male from "E-Afghanistan, Kunar, Chapa Dara, ca. 2000 m, 23.VII.2007 " ( FELDMANN 2007). The holotype was not examined, but, based on the photographs of the male primary and secondary sexual characters provided with the original description, there is no doubt that it is conspecific with the lectotype of M. gratus .

This species belongs to the Medon apicalis group (see ASSING 2004a, 2006 b, 2007) and is most closely related to M. maronitus (SAULCY 1865) from the Eastern Mediterranean (including most of the Middle East) and M. bucharicus (BERNHAUER 1902) from Middle Asia. It is best distinguished from these species by the shape of the aedeagus. The male sexual characters of M. maronitus and M. bucharicus are illustrated by ASSING (2004a, 2006b).

For a description and photographs of the external characters of M. gratus (as M. reuteri ) see FELDMANN (2007). The male primary and secondary sexual characters of the type material of M. gratus are illustrated in Figs 62-65.

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 species is currently known from Uttarranchal (northern India) and Eastern Afghanistan, suggesting that it is widespread in the western Himalaya and adjacent mountain ranges. Specimens have been collected at altitudes of approximately 2000-2800 m in May and July.

Figures

Figs 62-68: Medon gratus CAMERON (62-65) and M. punctatus (COIFFAIT) (66-68): (62) male sternite VII; (63) male sternite VIII; (64-65) aedeagus in lateral and in ventral view; (66) habitus; (67) forebody; (68) median dorsal portion of head. Scale bars: 66: 1.0 mm; 67: 0.5 mm; 62-65, 68: 0.2 mm.