Ochthephilum fracticorne (PAYKULL 1800)

Assing, V., 2009, On the Western Palaearctic and Middle Asian species of Ochthephilum STEPHENS, with notes on Cryptobium koltzei EPPELSHEIM (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae: Cryptobiina), Linzer biologische Beiträge 41 (1), pp. 397-426 : 414-419

Ochthephilum fracticorne (PAYKULL 1800) (Figs 36-39, 52-53, Maps 6-7 )

Ochthephilum hokkaidense ITO 2008: 30 ff.; probably synonymous.

M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d Sweden: 13, Bodsjö , 18.VI.1944, leg. Bergvall (cZan) ; 1♀, Lappland, Gaeddvik ( NHMW). Spain: 13, Castilla-León, León , Puerto de Panderruedas , 1350 m, 8.VIII.1992, leg. Tronquet (cTro). France [see also paralectotype of O. brevipenne ]: 1♀, Pyrénées- Atlantiques , Forêt d'Iraty , Tourbière de Olzalure , 1160 m, Sphagnum , 24.VI.2007, leg. Tronquet (cTro) ; 233, Pyrénées-Orientales, Mosset, Pic Roussillou , 1200 m, Sphagnum , 25.V.1998, leg. Tronquet (cTro, cAss) ; 13, Pyrénées-Orientales, Molitg-les-Bains , 1100 m, 12.V.1997, leg. Tronquet (cTro) ; 3♀♀, Pyrénées-Orientales, Col de Jau , 1550 m, bog, 18.V.2001, leg. Tronquet (cTro) ; 1♀, Languedoc-Roussillon, Aude, Forêt de Montnaie-Gravas, 1800 m, Sphagnum , 4.VI.1998, leg. Tonquet (cTro) ; 13, Languedoc-Roussillon, Gard , 10 km SSE Vauvert, 17.IV.1990, leg. Scheuern (cWun) ; 1♀, Basse-Normandie, Bois de Pirou , VIII.1985, leg. Tronquet (cTro) ; 13, Île-de-France, Fontainebleau [48°24'N, 2°42'E], 12.IV.1969, leg. Tronquet (cTro) ; 13, Île-de-France, Trappes, Etang de St. Quentin , 7.III.1970, leg. Tronquet (cTro) ; 13, Centre, Dhuizon , VI.1971, leg. Tronquet (cTro) ; 1♀, Bourgogne, Côte-d'Or, Champeau [47°16'N, 4°08'E], Le Moulin Morin, 31.V.1981, leg. Tronquet (cTro) ; 2♀♀, Franche-Comté, Doubs, Frasne, 5.VII.1972, leg. Tronquet (cTro). Germany: N o r d r h e i n - W e s t f a l e n: 1033, 7♀♀, SW Gronau, Zwillbrocker Venn , Molinia , 8.III.1996, leg. Assing & Wunderle (cAss, cWun) ; 1 ex., same locality, 20.XI.1996, leg. Feldmann (cFel) ; 2 exs., same locality, III.1996, leg. Feldmann (cFel) ; 2 exs., same locality, III.1995, leg. Feldmann (cFel) ; 933, 19♀♀, Kreis Steinfurt, N Hopsten, Wiechholz , 6.III.1999, leg. Assing (cAss) ; 1 ex., Mönchengladbach, Grossheide, Alnus litter, III.1989, leg. Wunderle (cWun) ; 1 ex., same data, but 10.VI.1986 (cWun) ; 13, Mönchengladbach-Gerkerath, Alnus and Betula litter, 19.III.1995, leg. Wunderle (cWun) ; 13, Kaldenkirchen , 29.X.1977 (cWun) ; 2 exs., Brühl, Ville , 17.IX.1988, leg. Wunderle (cWun) ; 1 ex., Elmpt, Elmpter Bruch , 20.XI.1991, leg. Wunderle (cWun) ; 3 exs., Bonn, Niederkassel, Mondorf , bank of Rhine river , flood debris, 21.XII.1993, leg. Siede (cWun). N i e d e r s a c h s e n: 127 exs., NW Hannover, Helstorfer Heide, heathland, pitfall traps, 1981-1990 (cAss) ; 1 ex., same data, but pine forest, 1987 (cAss) ; 78 exs., same locality, heathland, soil extractions, 1981/83 (cAss) ; 3 exs., NW Hannover, Hagenburg, bog, in Sphagnum , 15.IV.1990, leg. Sprick (cAss) ; 5 exs., N Celle, Scheuen , heathland, soil extractions, 1984 (cAss) ; 1 ex., Celle env., Eschede, bog, in Sphagnum , 18.V.1989, leg. Assing (cAss) ; 1 ex., Lüneburger Heide, Niederhaverbeck , heathland, pitfall, 1985 (cAss) ; 1 ex., same locality, soil extractions, 1983 (cAss) ; 38 exs., same data, but grassland, 1986 (cAss) ; 85 exs., same locality, soil extractions, 1986 (cAss) ; 34 exs., Lüneburger Heide, Schneverdingen, Pietzmoor , heathland with old heather, pitfall, 1992-1996, leg. Melber (cAss) ; 8 exs., Lüneburger Heide, Schneverdingen, Bockheber , heathland, pitfall, 1993- 1994, leg. Melber (cAss) ; 6 exs., Lüneburger Heide, Schneverdingen, Tütsberg , grass island in sandy military training ground, pitfall, 1995-2001, leg. Melber (cAss) ; 6 exs., NE Gifhorn, Heiliger Hain , grassland, pitfall, 1986 (cAss) ; 4 exs., same data, but heathland, 1984-1987 (cAss) ; 36 exs., same locality, soil extractions, 1986 (cAss) ; 13 exs., N Gifhorn, Bokeler Heide , heathland, pitfall, 1985-1986 (cAss) ; 20 exs., N Gifhorn, Rössenbergheide , heathland, pitfall, 1986-1987 (cAss) ; 1 ex., ca. 30 km N Bremen, Garlstedter Heide , heathland, pitfall, 1985 (cAss) ; 1♀, Borkum, Grüne Stee , V.1938, leg. Struve ( NHMW) ; 13, same data, but VII.1938 ( NHMW) ; 4 exs., Meppen env., Hümmling , heathland, pitfall, 1986 (cAss) ; 1 ex., Wolfsburg env., Fallersleben, Typha vegetation, 1982, leg. Assing (cAss) ; 1 ex., Wendland, Maujahn , 28.VIII.1989, leg. Melber (cAss) ; 3 exs., Landkreis Osnabrück, Börstel, Hahlener Moor , 29.XII.1999, leg. Feldmann (cFel) ; 3 exs., Lüchow- Dannenberg, Pevestorf, 8.IX.1986, leg. Wunderle (cWun). H e s s e n: 1 ex. Marburg , Rauschenberg , 17.IV.1985, leg. Wunderle (cWun) ; 3 exs., Marburg, Bracht , flood debris, 28.IV.1984, leg. Wunderle (cWun) ; 13, locality illegible, 28.VIII.1902 ( NHMW). S a c h s e n - A n h a l t: 13, Schkopau, Lauch-Stichgraben, 30.V.1996, leg. Sprick (cAss). T h ü r i n g e n 1♀, locality illegible ( NHMW). B a y e r n: 13, München , 24.X.1887 ( NHMW) ; 2 exs., München 5.V.1886 ( NHMW). Italy: T r e n t i n o - A l t o A d i g e: 13, Val di Non ( BZ), Lauregno : torbiera, 1750 m, 30.VII.1994, leg. Zanetti (cZan) ; 13, 1♀, Bleggio Sup. ( TN), Passo Durone , 29.V.1977, leg. Zanetti (cZan) ; 1♀, Brez ( TN), Palu Tremole , 23.VIII.1996, leg. Zanetti (cZan) ; 1♀, bank of Adige river, leg. Breit ( NHMW). L o m b a r d i a:233, 2♀♀ [1♀ macropterous], Ostiglia, Palude del Busatello ( MN), at base of Salix , 12.III.1981, leg. Zanetti (cZan) ; 13, Soave ( MN), Carex , 24.IV.1994, leg. Zanetti (cZan) ; 1♀, Soave ( MN), palude d. Mincio , 31.III.1996, leg. Zanetti (cZan). V e n e t o: 13, Bovolone ( VR), 24.IV.1978, leg. Sette (cZan) ; 3 exs., Isola della Scala , Pellegrina (VR) , 4.IV.1980, leg. Zanetti (cZan) ; 6 exs., same data, but 3.II.1980 (cZan, cAss) ; 233, Pellegrina , 10.XI.1976, leg. Modena (cZan) ; 13, 1♀, Pellegrina, swamp, base of Salix , 26.II.1999, leg. Zanetti (cZan) ; 13, Cerea ( VR), Palude Brusa , 21.III.2004, leg. Zanetti (cZan) ; 1♀, same data, but 17.I.1988 (cZan) ; 233, Belluno, Antole, 4.IV.1994, leg. Zanetti (cZan). F r i u l i - V e n e z i a G i u l i a: 3 exs., Val Cellina , Claut [46°16'N, 12°31'], 600 m, 19.IV.1977, leg. Visentini (cZan) ; 13, 2♀♀, Udine, Majano, Biotopo Torbiera di Casasola , Torbiera , 160 m, Carex , 13.IV.2001, leg. Zanetti & Tagliapietra (cZan). Austria: V o r a r l b e r g: 13, Silbertal , Gafluna , 1400 m, 10.V.1997, leg. Zanetti (cZan) ; 4 exs., Bodensee, NSG Rohrspitz, flood debris, 13.V.1999, leg. Wunderle (cWun). S a l z b u r g: 2 exs., Bad Hofgastein , VII.1926 ( NHMW) ; 1♀, Salzburg ( NHMW). O b e r ö s t e r r e i c h: 1 ex., Oberlaussa , leg. Franz ( NHMW) ; 13, 1♀, Sarleinsbach , 11.IV.1914 ( NHMW, cAss) ; 1♀, Schoberstein , leg. Petz ( NHMW) ; 13, Linz, 3.V.1916, leg. Kloiber ( NHMW). N i e d e r ö s t e r r e i c h / W i e n: 5 exs. [partly teneral], Arbesbach , 1.-13.VII.1951, leg. Schubert ( NHMW) ; 3 exs., Wechselgebirge , 1889-1889, leg .

Ganglbauer ( NHMW) ; 1♀, Kirchberg am Wechsel , 1885, leg. Ganglbauer ( NHMW) ; 3♀♀, Moosbrunn , Jesuitenbach, leg. Beier & Franz ( NHMW) ; 1♀, Unterberg ( NHMW) ; 1♀, Ebreichsdorf, leg. Franz & Beier ( NHMW) ; 233, W Heidenreichstein, Brand, leg. Franz ( NHMW, cAss) ; 13, Kranichberg am Wechsel , 1895, leg. Schuster ( NHMW) ; 233, Kirchberg am Wechsel , 1895, leg. Schuster ( NHMW) ; 13, Rodaun near Wien (cAss); 13, 2♀♀, Wien env. ( NHMW).S t e i e r m a r k:13, Tamischbachturm , [47°36'N, 14°41'E], 1893 ( NHMW) ; 1♀, Seitz im Liesingtal , leg. Franz ( NHMW) ; 4♀♀, Admont, leg. Franz ( NHMW) ; 13, Kaiserau near Admont, leg. Franz (cAss); 1♀, Niedere Tauern , Donnersbachtal, leg. Franz ( NHMW) ; 1♀, Niedere Tauern, Kl. Sölk, leg. Franz ( NHMW). K ä r n t e n: 13, 1♀, Gurktaler Alpen, St. Lorenzen , 1500 m, 25.VII.1991, leg. Assing (cAss) ; 13, same locality, 23.VII.1996, leg. Assing (cAss) ; 13, Gurktaler Alpen, Hochrindl, 1600 m, pasture, under stone, 26.VII.1991, leg. Assing (cAss). B u r g e n l a n d: 13, 1♀, Neusiedler See ( NHMW). Czech Republic: 1♀, Hradec Králové ( NHMW) ; 233, Brandýs n. L., leg. Skalitzky ( NHMW) ; 333, Dobřichowice, leg. Rodt ( NHMW, cAss) ; 13, Prostějov, leg. Zoufal ( NHMW) ; 1♀, Moravia, Dvorce [" Hof "], leg. Scheerpeltz ( NHMW) ; 233, Dvorce, leg. Scheerpeltz ( NHMW, cAss) ; 13, 3♀♀, Úsov ["Mähr- Auss. "/" Aussee "], leg. Wingelmüller ( NHMW) ; 1♀, Klimkovice ["Königsberg"], VII.1903, leg. Wagner ( NHMW). Slovakia: 13, 1♀, Trenčín , leg. Kocsi ( NHMW) ; 233, Nitra, leg. Zoufal ( NHMW, cAss). Hungaria: 13, Pest, 1907 ( NHMW). Russian Federation: 1♀, St. Petersburg env., Gatshina distr., Poselok , mixed forest, 31.VIII.2002, leg. Koval (cTro) ; 13, Tambovskaya oblast, Rasskasovo , 52.40°N, 41.49°E, swamp, 5.VI.1987, leg. Pütz (cAss) ; 6 exs., N Vladivostok , Tales, "Seitengraben des Perwaja Rjetschka", 1918-1920, leg. Frieb ( NHMW, cAss) ; 1 ex., Vladivostok, leg. Graeser ( NHMW) ; 3 exs., E-Sajan mts., " Quellgebiet des Irkut ", 1891, leg. Leder ( NHMW, cAss) ; 13, "Solovetsk", leg. Levander ( NHMW). Canada: 6 exs., Nova Scotia, Hants Co., Upper Rawdon , highbush blueberry field, 26.VIII.2008, leg. Renkema ( NSMNH, cAss) ; 13, New Brunswick, Albert, Mary´s Point , flotsam in coastal dunes, 23.VIII.2003, leg. Majka ( NSMNH). Locality not specified, not identified, or ambiguous: 13, 3 exs., "Brandis, Travnik" ( NHMW) ; 13, "Fetropol", leg. Kolenati ( NHMW). Probably mislabelled: 13, "Val de Ropa, Corfu, Woerz" ( NHMW) .

C o m m e n t: Ochthephilum fracticorne is reliably distinguished from similar congeners only based on the shape of the internal structures of the aedeagus (Figs 38-39); the ventral process (Figs 36-37) is similar to that of various other species. In mature adults, the coloration of the forebody is always blackish.

The original description of O. hokkaidense ITO 2006 is based on several syntypes from various localities in Hokkaido, Japan. Based on the details indicated in the description and on the illustrations of the habitus and the male sexual characters, the type material of this name is conspecific with O. fracticorne . However, since the types were not examined, a formal synonymisation is here refrained from.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Ochthephilum fracticorne has had a long history of misinterpretation. Confirmed and reliable records are known only from Scandinavia, Great Britain, Central Europe, northern Spain, France, northern Italy, Hungary, Russia eastwards to the Russian Far East, Canada, and probably also northern Japan (see comment above), but are absent from southern Europe (central southern Iberian peninsula, central and southern Italy, Balkans), North Africa, Turkey, and the Caucasus region ( Maps 6-7 ). Consequently, its presence in Turkey is most unlikely and there is little doubt that older records from this country (see SMETANA 2004) are based on misidentifications. The same applies to the recent records by ANLAŞ & ÇEVIK (2008); a specimen identified by one of the authors as O. fracticorne was examined and refers to Homaeotarsus chaudoirii HOCHHUTH 1851 . Similarly, all previous records from Middle Asia (see comments on the distribution of O. brevispinosum ) and the Eastern Palaearctic region are doubtful and require confirmation. The distribution pattern in the Palaearctic region and the presence in North America suggest that O. fracticorne is a Holarctic species.

m o n t h

B i o n o m i c s: Ochthephilum fracticorne is a hygrophilous species and found in – usually cold – forested and open biotopes such as bogs (often in Sphagnum), swamps, grassland (moist pastures, meadows, etc.), moist heathlands, and in the moist leaf litter of forests, often near ditches, ponds, and other wet places. Adult beetles are present throughout the year, but active especially in spring (maximum in April) and in summer, with a maximum in August ( Fig. 52 ). Remarkably, males are distinctly more active on the ground than females for most of the year. In field studies conducted in northern Germany throughout the year (soil extractions regularly taken at two-week intervals and pitfall traps exposed from January through December), the sex ratio (males: females) in pitfall traps was 3.71 (n = 259), whereas in soil extractions it was 0.87 (n = 202) ( Fig. 53 ). Males are more active than females in April and during the period from July through October, whereas females are more active in May-June and November. Females with eggs in the ovaries were observed in November, first half of December, and from February through June (soil extractions), and in May-June (pitfall traps), suggesting that oviposition generally takes place in spring, possibly also in late autumn. (Since the soil samples were heat-extracted, it is not quite certain if the eggs in the ovaries of the females from the soil samples developed before or during the extraction procedure.) Larvae were observed in the soil samples from February through August and in the pitfall traps from June through August, with an overall maximum from the second half of May to the middle of July. Teneral adults were found from July through the first half of September. These data suggest that females are mainly active during the oviposition period, whereas the epigeic activity of the males is mainly stimulated by their search for females.

Like many other staphylinids, O. fracticorne is wing-dimorphic. However, specimens with fully developed hind wings are much rarer than the brachypterous morph. Of a total of 350 specimens (219 males, 131 females), whose hind wings were examined, only five specimens are fully winged. Remarkably, these five macropterous specimens are all females, suggesting that the wing dimorphism may be sex-related. In brachypterous beetles, the hind wings are – at most – only slightly longer than the elytra.

month

Figures

Map 6: Distribution of Ochthephilum fracticorne (PAYKULL) in the Palaearctic region, based on revised records.

Map 7: Distribution of Ochthephilum fracticorne (PAYKULL) in Europe, based on revised records.

Fig. 52: Ochthephilum fracticorne: seasonal activity of males (black bars) and females (grey bars) based on full-year pitfall trap studies in heathlands and grasslands in northern Germany.

Fig. 53: Ochthephilum fracticorne: pooled seasonal density (specimens per m 2) of males (black bars) and females (grey bars) based on full-year soil extractions in heathlands and grasslands in northern Germany.