Ocypus (Pseudocypus) densissimus ( Bernhauer, 1933 )

Smetana, Aleš & Agr. Gc, 2009, Contributions to the knowledge of the ‘ Staphylinus-complex’ (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylinini) of China. Part 19. The genus Ocypus Leach, 1819, subgenus Pseudocypus Mulsant & Rey, 1876. Section 3., Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 49 (2), pp. 683-694 : 688-691

Ocypus (Pseudocypus) densissimus ( Bernhauer, 1933)

( Figs. 2 , 11–16 )

densissimus Bernhauer, 1933: 35 ( Staphylinus ; subg. Pseudocypus ); SMETANA & DAVIES (2000: 43) ( Ocypus ; subg.

Pseudocypus ); HERMAN (2001: 3373) ( Ocypus ; subg. Pseudocypus ); SMETANA (2004: 677) ( Ocypus ; subg.

Pseudocypus ).

Type locality. People’s Republic of China, ‘Kiang-Si T’en-gan’ (= Jiangxi: De’an).

Type material. HOLOTYPE: ♀, ‘Kiang-Si T’en-gan’ / ‘320’ / ‘ densissimus Brnh. Typ. Unic. [white]’ / ‘densissimus Pseudocypus Brnh. Typus unic.’ / ‘ Chicago NMus M. Bernhauer Collection’ ( FMNH).

The holotype is in poor condition, both antennae are entirely missing, right tibia and tarsus, and left hind tarsus are also missing.

Additional material examined: CHINA: SICHUAN: ‘ W Szechuan, China Senkiangkou leg. Friedrich’ / ‘ Wolung 2000 m Wassuland 7.-10. 1934 ’, 6 JJ, 4 ♀♀ ( ASC, NMW) ; ‘ W Szechuan, China Senkiangkou leg. Friedrich’ / ‘Lungai 2000 m Wassuland 7.-10. 1934 ’, 1J ( NMW) ; ‘ Nitou Tatsienlu Szechuan China Em. Reitter [= Kangding]’, 1 J ( FMNH) ; ‘ W-Sichuan Aba Tibetian Aut. Pref., Weizhou Co., Qionglai Shan Wolong valley , 20km W Guanxian, 1110 m, 31.04.55N 103.26.38E, 14.VII.1999, leg. A. Pütz’, 1 J ( APC) .

Diagnosis. A large species with very densely punctate head and pronotum, with pronotum lacking entire impunctate midline, with tergite 2 (anterior to first visible tergite) punctate and pubescent only along apical margin; with abdominal tergites 6 and 7 (fourth and fifth visible) without a patch of yellowish tomentose pubescence, with abdominal tergite 7 (fifth visible) with pale seam of palisade setae, and with characteristically shaped aedoeagus.

Redescription. In all character states similar to O. lewisius , but different by a few external characters, and by entirely different aedoeagus. Coloration of appendages darker, maxillary and labial palpi piceous with apices of last segments of both paler, antennae and legs black, front tarsi of latter indistinctly paler; head smaller, narrower (ratio width/length 1.20) and more rounded, V-shaped front portion of epicranial suture not apparent; elytra longer, at suture somewhat shorter (ratio 0.85), at sides about as long as pronotum at midline; abdominal tergite 2 (anteior to first visible tergite) punctate and pubescent only along apical margin, tergite 7 (fifth visible) with pale apical seam of palisade setae.

Male. Medioapical emargination of abdominal sternite 8 markedly narrower and less deep than that of O. lewisius . Genital segment with sternite 9 smaller, with apical portion rather oval in shape and with apex minutely emarginate ( Fig. 11 ). Tergite 10 markedly shorter, with widely arcuate apex ( Fig. 12 ). Aedoeagus ( Figs. 13–15 ) of quite characteristic shape, with median lobe in ventral view highly asymmetrical, apex of median lobe on side close to paramere extended into slightly curved, slender process; paramere situated on median lobe markedly asymmetrically, quite narrow and elongate, dagger-like, with apex distinctly not reaching apex of slender process of median lobe; underside of paramere without sensory peg setae, with apical setae extremely small, minute, situated as in Fig. 15 .

Female. Tergite 10 of female genital segment wide, markedly, evenly narrowed toward narrowly arcuate apex ( Fig. 16 ).

Length 16.0–18.0 mm.

Bionomics. Nothing is known about the habitat requirements of this species.

Geographical distribution. Ocypus densissimus is at present known from the provinces of Jiangxi and Sichuan of the mainland China.

The type locality ‘Kiang-Si: T’en-gan’ (various spellings Tengan, Te-an, De’an) is today De’an (29°20’N 115°46’E) in the province of Jiangxi.

Recognition and comments. Ocypus densissimus may only be confused with O. lewisius , but it differs by the entirely different, characteristically shaped aedoeagus, as well as by a few external characters as specified in the description.

Since the female holotype of this species is in poor condition (see above) I choose not to dissect it; the description and illustration of tergite 10 of the female genital segment is therefore that of a female collected subsequently.

Figures

Figs. 1–4. Habitus. 1 – Ocypus lewisius Sharp, 1874; 2 – Ocypus densissimus (Bernhauer, 1933); 3, 4 – Ocypus jelineki sp. nov.

Figs. 11–16. Ocypus densissimus (Bernhauer, 1933). 11 – sternite 9 of male genital segment;12 – tergite 10 and styli of tergite 9 of male genital segment; 13 – aedoeagus, ventral view; 14 – underside of paramere;15 – apical portion of ventral side of paramere with apical setae; 16 – tergite 10 of female genital segment. Scales: 1 mm (short bar for Figure 15 only).