Oxypoda (Thliboptera) fissa, Assing, 2006

Assing, V., 2006, On some species of Oxypoda MANNERHEIM from Turkey and adjacent regions (Insecta: Coleoptera: Staphylinidae Aleocharinae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 38 (1), pp. 277-331 : 298-299

Oxypoda (Thliboptera) fissa sp.n. ( Figs 109-120 , Map 7 )

Holotype 3: TR - Muğla, 4, 1750 m, 30 km NE Fethiye, Boncuk Dağı, Koru , 36°50'56N, 29°14'04E, 2.X.2002, V. Assing / Holotypus 3 Oxypoda fissa sp. n. det. V. Assing 2006 (cAss). Paratypes: 333, 3♀♀, 3 exs.: TR - Mersin [46], Kirobasi-Güzeloluk, 1430 m, 7.-8. V.2005, 36°45'01N, 33°57'51E, Besuchet (cAss, cFel).

D e s c r i p t i o n: 3.8-4.5 mm; habitus as in Fig. 109 . Coloration as in O. micantoides .

Head as in O. micantoides , but relatively smaller and with more distinct puncturation ( Fig. 110 ). Antennae shorter and much more slender than in O. micantoides ; preapical antennomeres only weakly transverse ( Fig. 111 ).

Pronotum strongly convex in cross-section, about 1.45 times as wide as head and approximately 1.25-1.30 times as wide as long; maximal width behind middle; puncturation very dense and rather distinct; microsculpture very shallow ( Fig. 110 ).

Elytra approximately 1.10-1.15 times as wide as pronotum and at suture about 0.85 times as long as pronotum; puncturation moderately fine, distinct, and very dense, much more distinct and denser than that of pronotum; microsculpture indistinct ( Fig. 110 ). Hind wings apparently fully developed. Legs moderately slender; metatarsomere I of somewhat variable length, usually slightly longer than the combined length of metatarsomeres II-III, sometimes longer and as long as the combined length of II-IV.

Abdomen distinctly narrower than elytra; widest at base, gradually tapering posteriad; puncturation on anterior tergites very dense, gradually decreasing in density posteriad, on tergite VII distinctly sparser than on tergites III-IV; posterior margin of tergite VII with palisade fringe ( Fig. 112 ); tergite VIII about as wide as long or slightly oblong, its posterior margin smoothly convex to indistinctly truncate in the middle ( Fig. 113 ).

3: sternite VIII moderately oblong, its posterior margin strongly convex, not pointed ( Fig. 114 ); median lobe of aedeagus as in Figs 115-117 , without well-defined long sclerotised structures; ventral process apically bifid in ventral view; apical lobe of paramere as in Fig. 118 .

♀: sternite VIII weakly oblong, its posterior margin convex; spermatheca somewhat variable, with relatively long and thin duct ( Figs 119-120 ).

E t y m o l o g y: The name (Lat., adj.: split) refers to the apically incised ventral process of the aedeagus.

C o m p a r a t i v e n o t e s: Oxypoda fissa is distinguished from the other Turkish species of Thliboptera especially by the morphology of the median lobe of the aedeagus, above all by the apically bifid ventral process of the aedeagus. In addition, it is characterised by relatively small size, the short and slender antennae, the strongly convex pronotum, the very densely punctate elytra, and by the relatively long duct of the spermatheca.

D i s t r i b u t i o n a n d b i o n o m i c s: The species is known only from two localities in Mersin and Muğla ( Map 7 ), where it was collected by sifting leaf litter at altitudes of 1430 and 1750 m.

Figures

Map 7: Distributions of the Turkish species of the Oxypoda fissa group: O. inermis (filled circles), O. recta (open circles), O. fissa (filled squares), and O. tenuilaminata (open square).

Figs 109-120: Oxypoda fissa sp.n. (109) habitus; (110) forebody; (111) antenna; (112) tergites IV- VII of abdomen; (113) ♀ tergite VIII; (114) 3 sternite VIII; (115) median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view; (116) apical part of median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view; (117) outline of apical part of median lobe of aedeagus in ventral view; (118) apical lobe of paramere; (119-120) spermatheca. Scale bars: 109: 1.0 mm; 110-112: 0.5 mm; 113-118: 0.2 mm; 119-120: 0.1 mm.