Aleochara (Xenochara) niponensis Sharp, 1888

Yamamoto, Shûhei & Maruyama, Munetoshi, 2016, Revision of the subgenus Aleochara Gravenhorst of the parasitoid rove beetle genus Aleochara Gravenhorst of Japan (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), Zootaxa 4101 (1), pp. 1-68 : 52-55

Aleochara (Xenochara) niponensis Sharp, 1888 , sp. rev.

( Figs 8 , 17 , 26 , 35 , 43 , 93–99 , 117–118 , 127 )

Aleochara niponensis Sharp, 1888: 281 [original description; type localities: Japan, Kiga (Hakone-machi, Kanagawa-ken, central Honshû)]; Fenyes, 1920: 404 (as subgenus Baryodma ; catalogue of world species of Aleocharinae ); Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 783 [as subgenus Aleochara (s. str.); catalogue of world species of Aleocharinae ]; Smetana, 2004b: 354 (as subgenus Baryodma ; catalogue of Palearctic species of Aleocharinae ); Shibata et al., 2013: 105 (as subgenus Baryodma ; catalogue of Japanese species of Staphylinidae ).

“ Aleochara clavigera ”: Park & Ahn, 2009: 521 (as subgenus Aleochara ; A. niponensis considered as synonym of A. clavigera , wrong arrangement based on misidentification; redescription as A. clavigera ; record from Korea); Luo & Zhao, 2012: 191 (as synonym of A. clavigera ; revision of Chinese species of subgenus Aleochara ); Schülke & Smetana, 2015: 490 (as synonym of A. clavigera ; catalogue of Palearctic species of Aleocharinae ).

Type material. Lectotype, here designated, female “ Aleochara nipon / -ensis / Kiga. Type. / Japan / Lewis [PC, HW] // Type [RRL] // Japan. / G. Lewis // Sharp Coll. / 1905-313 // Lectotype / Aleochara niponensis / Sharp, 1888 / des. Maruyama / 2011 ” (dissected in bad condition by PR, spermatheca crushed; abdominal segments IX-X and spermatheca mounted in Euparal by MM) (PL, 1.03 mm; PW, 1.46 mm; HTL, 0.78 mm) ( BMNH). Paralectotype, 1 female, “ Aleochara ni- / ponensis D.S. / Kiga. Japan / Lewis [HW] // Japan. / G. Lewis // Sharp Coll. / 1905-313” (body crushed to some body parts; abdominal segments VIII-X and spermatheca mounted in Euparal by MM) ( BMNH).

Non-type material. JAPAN: [HONSHÛ]: 1 female, Mt. Jinba-yama, Fujino-machi, Kanagawa-ken, 11– 18.viii.2005, T. Watanabe leg., from flight interception trap (cTW); 1 male, Mt. Jinba-yama, Fujino-machi, Kanagawa-ken, 18–27.viii.2005, T. Watanabe leg., from flight interception trap (cTW); 2 females, 4 unsexed, Mt. Komaga-take, Hakone-machi, Kanagawa-ken, 24.vii–1.viii.2008, T. Watanabe leg., from flight interception trap (cTW); 2 males, Mt. Komaga-take, Hakone-machi, Kanagawa-ken, 24.vii–1.viii.2008, T. Watanabe leg. (cTW); 1 male, Yoshida-guchi (Mt. Fuji-san), Fujiyoshida-shi, Yamanashi-ken, 25.vii–1.viii.2012, T. Watanabe leg., alt. 1100m, from flight interception trap (cTW); 1 female, Takizawa-rindô forestry road, Fujiyoshida-shi, Yamanashiken, 27.vi–4.vii.2012, T. Watanabe leg., alt. 1600m, from flight interception trap (cTW); 1 female, Aokigahara, Fujikawaguchiko-machi, Yamanashi-ken, 10–17.viii.2011, T. Watanabe leg., from fermented banana trap (cTW); 1 male, Aokigahara, Fujikawaguchiko-machi, Yamanashi-ken, 17.v–7.vi.2012, T. Watanabe leg., from fermented banana trap (cTW); 1 female, Subashiri (Mt. Fuji-san 1 gôme), Oyama-chô, Shizuoka-ken, 20–26.v.2011, T. Watanabe leg., alt. 1400m, from flight interception trap (cTW); 1 female, Ôbuchi, Fuji-shi, Shizuoka-ken, 6– 13.v.2010, T. Watanabe leg., alt. 950m, from flight interception trap (cTW); 3 males, Ôbuchi, Fuji-shi, Shizuokaken, 6–17.viii.2010, T. Watanabe leg., alt. 950m, from fermented banana trap (cTW); 1 female, Ôbuchi, Fuji-shi, Shizuoka-ken, 14–21.ix.2010, T. Watanabe leg., alt. 950m, from flight interception trap (cTW); 1 female, Nishiusuzuka, Fujinomiya-shi, Shizuoka-ken, 16–22.vii.2010, T. Watanabe leg., from flight interception trap (cTW); 1 male, Nishiusuzuka, Fujinomiya-shi, Shizuoka-ken, 14–21.ix.2010, T. Watanabe leg., from flight interception trap (cTW); [KYÛSHÛ]: 1 male, Mt. Shiouji-yama, Ônojô-shi, Fukuoka-ken, 8.v.2013, K. Kido leg., from flight interception trap (KUM); 1 female, 1 unsexed, Mt. Shiouji-yama, Ônojô-shi, Fukuoka-ken, 23.v.2013, K. Kido leg., from flight interception trap (KUM); 1 male, Mt. Shiouji-yama, Ônojô-shi, Fukuoka-ken, 12.vii.2013, K. Kido leg., from flight interception trap (KUM).

Diagnosis. Aleochara niponensis sp. rev. resembles A. (Xenochara) asiatica Kraatz, 1859 from East Asia to the Oriental region, but can be easily distinguished from it by abdominal tergite VIII in both sexes, with only slightly (not deeply) emarginate posterior margins; the configuration of sclerites inside median lobe of male aedeagus, and by; the female spermatheca not complicatedly coiled basally. This species is easily discriminated from the Japanese species of the subgenus Aleochara by having completely carinated mesoventrite and by long antennomere XI, clearly longer than antennomeres IX and IX combined. See descriptions and illustrations of A. (X.) asiatica in Park & Ahn (2010).

Redescription. Measurements (in mm, n = 20): BL = 4.82 (3.23–6.16); HL = 0.58 (0.43–0.68); HW = 0.66 (0.54–0.77); PL = 0.82 (0.59–0.99); PW = 1.18 (0.89–1.36); EL = 0.73 (0.58–0.90); EW = 1.36 (1.00–1.64).

Body ( Figs 8 , 17 ): spindle-shaped, compact, relatively small to medium in size; dorsal surface weakly to moderately glossy and densely pubescent, with wavy micro-reticulation weakly covered with head, very finely punctured uniformly. Color ( Figs 8 , 17 ): usually uniformly brownish brown to blackish brown, but elytra variable in color pattern, reddish brown but infuscate basally and laterally; antennae with antennomeres I–II yellowish brown, antennomere III much darker, antennomeres IV–XI much darker than those of I–II but covered densely with minute whitish setae; mouth parts and legs pale yellowish brown to dark reddish brown; pubescence yellowish brown.

Head ( Fig. 26 ): semicircular, as long as width (HW/HL = 1.14, n = 20), widest at posterior part of eyes; setae on vertex sparse, inconspicuous, directed anteriolaterally; punctation very small, inconspicuous, scattered coarsely, and uniformly including middle of vertex. Eyes: medium in length, occupying approximately half length of head, not protruding laterally but incorporated to head capsule.

Antennae ( Fig. 43 ): relatively short, slightly shorter than head and pronotum combined; rather slender, setose, with antennomere IV only slightly transverse, antennomeres V to X moderately transverse, slightly broaden apically; antennomere XI elliptical, rather conical, long in whole length, clearly longer than antennomeres IX and X combined, with obtusely rounded apex; approximate relative length of antennomeres from basal to apex: 19 (including base): 10: 10: 5.5: 6: 6: 6: 6: 6: 6: 19.

Pronotum ( Fig. 8 ): convex above dorsally, transverse (PW/PL = 1.44, n = 20), very strongly narrowing anterad, slightly longer than sutural length of elytra, widest basad, basal margin weakly rounded; pubescence dense, directed laterally and posterolaterally; punctation dense and uniform and very small and inconspicuous.

Mesoventrite ( Fig. 35 ): inter coxal process rather narrowly elongate, with relatively pointed apex, completely reaching to inter coxal process of metaventrite; fully carinate along midline.

Metaventrite ( Fig. 35 ): inter coxal process of metaventrite small, but obtusely pointed apically.

Elytra ( Fig. 8 ): together, transverse (EW/EL = 1.85, n = 20), medium in size, same size as pronotum, widest near apex; fine and short pubescence scattered densely, diverging posteriorly on each elytron; dorsal surface weakly rough and gently impressed; posterolateral corners of each elytron weakly sinuate.

Legs ( Fig. 8 ): simple, short, rather slender; fore and midtibia, densely covered with thin spines.

Abdomen ( Fig. 8 ): rather strongly narrowed posteriorly; first three visible tergites deeply impressed transversely at base; dorsal and ventral surface moderately covered with thin and long setae including abdominal tergite II.

Male: tergite VIII ( Fig. 45 ): narrowly elongate, convex posteriorly; posterior margin smooth, not serrate at all, insignificantly broadly emarginate medially; dorsal surface covered with relatively long setae densely, with approximately 8 macrosetae. Sternite VIII ( Fig. 95 ): narrowly elongate, convex posteriorly; posterior margin rounded, with a row of thin and long minute sensory setae densely (see Yamamoto & Maruyama, 2012: 10), without a complex-cluster of very minute setae just behind the row of minute setae; ventral surface covered with long setae densely, with approximately 12 macrosetae. Median lobe of aedeagus ( Figs 97–98 ): [lateral view ( Fig. 97 )]: narrowly elongate, moderately narrowing apically; apical lobe pointed, gently hook-shaped paramerally at apex; inside median lobe with a projecting short flagellum, as long as 2/3 of median lobe; [parameral view ( Fig. 98 )]: narrowly elongate, rather tear-drop shaped; apical lobe moderately narrowing apically; inside median lobe with a pair of curved and pointed peculiar sclerites, located near apex; a series of complex sclerites, not reaching basal 1/3 of median lobe.

Female: tergite VIII ( Fig. 94 ): posterior margin as in male; dorsal surface covered with setae densely, with approximately 9 macrosetae. Sternite VIII ( Fig. 96 ): posterior margin broadly, weakly rounded; ventral surface covered with long setae densely, with approximately 7 macrosetae; no complex-cluster of minute setae situated near posterior margin. Spermatheca ( Fig. 99 ): deformed C-shaped, with folded basal part of spermathecal stem; apical invagination of spermatheca very small, inconspicuous; spermathecal head and neck forming large elliptical shape together; attachment of spermathecal duct inconspicuous; basal part of spermathecal stem, deformed basally; each part of spermatheca uniformly and weakly sclerotized; inner wall of spermathecal head and neck coarsely striate, that of basal part only partially striate.

Distribution. Japan (Honshû, Kyûshû).

Bionomics. Flight interception traps (FIT) may be an effective tool for collecting the species. There is no information on the lifestyle of A. niponensis .

Host records. No host record is available.

Remarks for type material. Park & Ahn (2009) synonymized this species with A. clavigera , based on examination of the type material of both species. However, the present re-examination of the type specimens of A. niponensis revealed that they are quite different species, even belonging to different subgenus. A male specimen was not found in BMNH. This species was described from Kiga, Nagasaki, and Nikko. A type material of A. niponensis was indicated as the ‘holotype’ in Park & Ahn (2009). Because four specimens were referred to in the original description, we designate the lectotype here ( Figs 117–118 ).

Comments. We consider A. niponensis as a distinct species, as stated above. Furthermore, we transfer A. niponensis to the subgenus Xenochara here, based on the following morphological characteristics: overall body shape (i.e., rather small, convex, spindle-shaped body); relatively slender antennae with quite long antennomere XI, longer than antennomeres IX and X combined; completely carinate mesoventrite; elongate male abdominal tergite and sternite VIII, and; median lobe of the aedeagus with a projecting flagellum inside.

The synonymic treatment of A. niponensis was erroneous. Thus, this species is endemic only to Japan. Aleochara niponensis is widespread across mainland Japan ( Fig. 127 ), but is not commonly found.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 9. Habitus of Japanese species of Aleochara (Aleochara) with the excluded taxa (dorsal view): 1, Aleochara (Aleochara) coreana; 2, A. (A.) curtula; 3, A. (A.) lata; 4, A. (A.) parens; 5, A. (A.) postica with yellowish elytra from Hokkaidô, Japan; 6, A. (A.) postica with blackish brown elytra from Amami-ôshima Is., Japan; 7, A. (A.) yaeyamensis n. sp.; 8, A. (Xenochara) niponensis sp. rev.; 9, Paraleochara kochi n. comb. Scale bars: 1.5 mm.

FIGURES 10 – 18. Lateral habitus of Japanese species of Aleochara (Aleochara) with the excluded taxa: 10, Aleochara (Aleochara) coreana; 11, A. (A.) curtula; 12, A. (A.) lata; 13, A. (A.) parens; 14, A. (A.) postica with yellowish elytra from Hokkaidô, Japan; 15, A. (A.) postica with blackish brown elytra from Amami-ôshima Is., Japan; 16, A. (A.) yaeyamensis n. sp.; 17, A. (Xenochara) niponensis sp. rev.; 18, Paraleochara kochi n. comb. Scale bars: 1.5 mm.

FIGURES 19 – 27. Head of Japanese species of Aleochara (Aleochara) with the excluded taxa (dorsal view): 19, Aleochara (Aleochara) coreana; 20, A. (A.) curtula; 21, A. (A.) lata; 22, A. (A.) parens; 23, A. (A.) postica with yellowish elytra from Hokkaidô, Japan; 24, A. (A.) postica with blackish brown elytra from Amami-ôshima Is., Japan; 25, A. (A.) yaeyamensis n. sp.; 26, A. (Xenochara) niponensis sp. rev.; 27, Paraleochara kochi n. comb. Scale bars: 0.3 mm.

FIGURES 28 – 36. Meso- and metaventrite of Japanese species of Aleochara (Aleochara) with the excluded taxa (dorsal view): 28, Aleochara (Aleochara) coreana; 29, A. (A.) curtula; 30, A. (A.) lata; 31, A. (A.) parens; 32, A. (A.) postica with yellowish elytra from Hokkaidô, Japan; 33, A. (A.) postica with blackish brown elytra from Amami-ôshima Is., Japan; 34, A. (A.) yaeyamensis n. sp.; 35, A. (Xenochara) niponensis sp. rev.; 36, Paraleochara kochi n. comb. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 37 – 44. Antenna of Japanese species of Aleochara (Aleochara) with the excluded taxa (right, dorsal view): 37, Aleochara (Aleochara) coreana; 38, A. (A.) curtula; 39, A. (A.) lata; 40, A. (A.) parens; 41, A. (A.) postica with yellowish elytra from Hokkaidô, Japan; 42, A. (A.) yaeyamensis n. sp.; 43, A. (Xenochara) niponensis sp. rev.; 44, Paraleochara kochi n. comb. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 93 – 99. Terminalia of Aleochara (Xenochara) niponensis sp. rev.: 93, male tergite VIII, dorsal view; 94, female tergite VIII, dorsal view; 95, male sternite VIII, ventral view; 96, female sternite VIII, ventral view; 97, median lobe of male aedeagus, lateral view; 98, ditto, parameral view; 99, female spermatheca. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (93 – 96); 0.2 mm (97 – 98); 0.1 mm (99).

FIGURES 107 – 119. Type materials of Japanese species of Aleochara (Aleochara) with the excluded taxa (dorsal view): 107, syntype of Aleochara coreana; 108, syntype of A. lewisia; 109, ditto, re-mounted; 110, lectotype of A. discoidea; 111, lectotype of A. parens; 112, paralectotypes of A. parens; 113, holotype of A. postica; 114, lectotype of A. claviger; 115, syntype of A. nitouensis; 116, ditto; 117 – 118, lectotype of A. niponensis; 119, holotype of A. kochi. Deposited in BMNH: 107 – 114, 117 – 118. Deposited in FMNH: 115 – 116, 119.

FIGURES 127 – 128. Collecting localities of Aleochara (Xenochara) niponensis sp. rev. and Paraleochara kochi n. comb. in Japan, based on the specimens examined in this study [previously treated as Aleochara (Aleochara)]: 125, A. (X.) niponensis; 126, P. kochi.

FIGURES 45 – 51. Terminalia of Aleochara (Aleochara) coreana: 45, male tergite VIII, dorsal view; 46, female tergite VIII, dorsal view; 47, male sternite VIII, ventral view; 48, female sternite VIII, ventral view; 49, median lobe of male aedeagus, lateral view; 50, ditto, parameral view; 51, female spermatheca. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (45 – 48); 0.2 mm (49 – 50); 0.1 mm (51).