Zyras (Zyras) preangeranus CAMERON, 1939

Assing, Volker, 2017, On Zyras sensu strictu in the East Palaearctic and Oriental regions, with a focus on the faunas of the Himalaya, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Sulawesi (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae: Lomechusini), Beiträge Zur Entomologie = Contributions to Entomology 67 (1), pp. 117-192 : 146-147

Zyras (Zyras) preangeranus CAMERON, 1939

( Figs 276–277 , Map 10 )

Zyras (Zyras) preangeranus CAMERON, 1939b: 17 f.

Zyras (Zyras) louwerensi CAMERON, 1939b: 19 f.; syn. n.

Zyras (Zyras) chinkiangensis BERNHAUER, 1939: 148 f.; syn. n.

Zyras (Zyras) setosipennis SCHEERPELTZ, 1965: 356 ff.; syn. n.

Zyras (Zyras) alboantennatus PACE, 1986a: 460 ; syn. n.

Zyras (Zyras) sichuanorum PACE, 2012a: 85 f.; syn. n.

Type material examined: Z. louwerensi : Holotype ♀: “ G. Pandan , Res Madiden , E. Java / Z. louwerensi Cam. Type / Holotype / M. Cameron. Bequest. B.M. 1955-147 / Zyras preangeranus Cameron , det. V. Assing 2017” ( BMNH).

Additional material examined: Thailand: 1 ♀ [teneral], Doi Angkhang , 24.X.2010, leg. Rougemont (cRou) . Laos: 12 exs., Phongsaly province, Phongsaly env., 1300–1500 m, V.2004 (cMar, cAss) . Malaysia: 35 exs., Selangor, Ulu Gombak Field Studies Centre , 250 m, flight interception trap, III.2004, leg. Maruyama et al. (cMar, cAss); 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Pahang, 30 km NE Raub, Laba Lembik , 3°56'N, 101°38'E, 300 m, IV–V.2002, leg. Jendek & Šauša (cMar) ; 4 exs., Sabah, Danum valley , B.R. L., flight interception trap, 14–16.II.2007, leg. Rougemont (cRou, cAss) . Indonesia: 14 exs., Jawa Barat, Bogor, Kebun Raya Bogor , 250 m, flight interception trap, 20.I.–7.II.2004, leg. Maruyama (cMar, cAss) ; 1 ♀, Borneo, Kalimantan Tengah, Busang-Rekut confluence, 0°03'S, 113°59'E, flight interception trap, VIII.2001, leg. Brendell & Mendel ( BMNH) .

Comment: The original description of Z. louwerensi is based on a unique type specimen from “E. Java: G. Pandan, Res. Madiden” ( CAMERON 1939b) deposited in the Cameron collection at the BMNH. The type material of Z. chinkiangensis , Z. preangeranus , Z. setosipennis , Z. alboantennatus , and Z. sichuanorum had been examined earlier ( ASSING 2016a). Additional material examined from various regions in the southern East Palaearctic and the Oriental regions (ASSING 2015, 2016a; material listed above) has shown that this species is highly variable in coloration and other external characters. Moreover, the median lobe of the aedeagus of the type material of Z. chinkiangensis , Z. preangeranus , Z. alboantennatus , and Z. sichuanorum is practically identical (see figures in ASSING 2016a); the unique holotypes of Z. setosipennis and Z. louwerensi are females. These observations suggest that all these names refer to the same widespread and variable species. According to the covers of the respective issues, the descriptions of both Z. chinkiangensis and Z. preangeranus were published in May, 1939. An exact date is indicated in neither case, so that 31 May, 1939 must be assumed as the publication date for both descriptions. Zyras preangeranus is designated as the senior name, as the corresponding type material is in better condition, rendering Z. chinkiangensis , Z. louwerensi , Z. setosipennis , Z. alboantennatus , and Z. sichuanorum its junior synonyms.

Interestingly, while in nearly all the specimens seen from Peninsular Malaysia, Laos, and Borneo the antennae have the apical four antennomeres pale-yellow, those from Java are more variable in this respect: the antennae have two (twelve specimens), three (two specimens), or four (one specimen) yellowish apical antennomeres. Also, while the legs are usually uniformly yellow, two of the Malaysian specimens and some from Borneo have the apices of the meso- and metafemora slightly infuscate. The material from Java is of slightly smaller average size and generally darker coloration, often with the middle of the pronotum brownish, the postero-lateral portions of the elytra more or less distinctly and more or less extensively infuscate, and the anterior abdominal tergites extensively brown, whereas in the material from Peninsular Malaysia the elytra are uniformly reddish and in that from Laos they are reddish with the extremes of the postero-lateral portions slightly darker. Finally, segment VIII of the abdomen is yellow in specimens from Java and Borneo, while it tends to be reddish in material seen from other regions. The aedeagus of a male from Java is illustrated in Figs 276–277 .

The vast distribution of Z. preangeranus includes South and East China (Sichuan, Yunnan, Jiangsu), Myanmar, Thailand (new record), Laos (new record), Malaysia (new record), Vietnam, and Indonesia (Java, Borneo) (new record) ( Map 10 ).

Figures

Map 10: Revised distributions of Zyras preangeranus (black circles), Z. brevilobatus (white star), Z. parvicollis (white star), Z. ambulans (white circle), Z. densissimus (black star), Z. titan (black star), Z. densihirtus (black star), and Z. nigrihirtus (black star) in the southern East Palaearctic and Oriental regions.

Figs 260–277: Zyras morulus (260–265), Z. variolatus (266–270), Z. montanus (271–275), and Z. preangeranus from Java (276–277): forebody (260); antenna (261); abdomen (262); median lobe of aedeagus in lateral and in ventral view (263–264, 266–267, 271–272, 276–277); paramere (265, 268, 273); male tergite VIII (269, 274); male sternite VIII (270, 275). Scale bars: 260–262: 1.0 mm; 263–277: 0.5 mm.