Sunius ovaliceps ( FAUVEL 1878)

Assing, V. & A, North, 2008, A revision of the Sunius species of the Western Palaearctic region and Middle Asia (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 40 (1), pp. 5-135 : 28-32

4.4. Sunius ovaliceps ( FAUVEL 1878)

Lithocharis ovaliceps FAUVEL 1878: 110 .

Lithocharis simoni QUEDENFELDT 1881: 291 ; partim.

Lithocharis nitida QUEDENFELDT 1881: 291 ; partim.

Medon fagniezi PEYERIMHOFF 1916: 240 ff.; nov.syn.

Hypomedon peyerimhoffi COIFFAIT 1961: 33 f.; nov.syn.

Hypomedon valentianum [sic] COIFFAIT 1980: 42; nov.syn.

Hypomedon nitidum [sic] murciensis COIFFAIT 1980: 42 ; nov.syn.

Hypomedon deharvengi COIFFAIT 1980: 43 ; nov.syn.

T y p e m a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d:

L. ovaliceps : Holotype ♀: " Daya 10 / ovaliceps Fvl. type / R.I.Sc. N.B. 17.479, Coll. et det. A. Fauvel / Type / H. Coiffait vid., 1959 / Holotypus ♀ Lithocharis ovaliceps Fauvel rev. V. Assing 2008 / Sunius ovaliceps (Fauvel) , det. V. Assing 2008" ( IRSNB).

L. simoni : Paralectotypes: 13, 2♀♀: "Algeciras Simon / Paratypus [sic] Lithocharis Simoni Quedenfeldt 1881 / Hypomedon politum Qued., H. Coiffait det. 1969 / Paralectotypus Lithocharis simoni Quedenfeldt , desig. V. Assing 2007 / Sunius ovaliceps (Fauvel) det. V. Assing 2007" (HNHM).

L. nitida : Paralectotypes: 1 ex.: " Tanger, Quedenfeldt / nitida Qued. / Sunius seminiger (Fairmaire) , det. V. Assing 2007" ( HNHM) ; 1♀: "Arsila / nitida Qued. , Marocco. Quedenfeldt" ( NHMW) .

M. fagniezi : Lectotype 3, here designated: "La Bonde (V.se), Fagniez. Nov. / Type / Medon Fagniezi Peyerimhoff , type / Museum Paris, Coll. P. de Peyerimhoff 1950 / La Bonde (V.se), Fagniez Nov. / Sunius fagniezi det. Adorno & Zanetti 2000" ( MNHNP) . Paralectotypes: 1 ex.: "La Bonde, Vaucluse / Cotype / Hypomedon fagnezi [sic] / Coll. P. Griveau - 2007" ( MHNG) ; 1 ex.: "La Bonde (V.se), Fagniez. Nov. / Cotype / Medon Fagniezi / Hypomedon fagnezi [sic] / Coll. P. Griveau - 2007" ( MHNG) .

H. peyerimhoffi : Holotype 3: " Pic Sidi Abdelkader , Blida, 16.4.1914 (neige) / Coll. Peyerimhoff / Museum Paris, Coll. P. de Peyerimhoff 1950 / Holotype / Hypomedon Peyerimhoffi Coiff. HC. 59" ( MNHNP) . Paratype ♀: "Forêt du Mouzaïa, Alg. / Coll. et det. A. Fauvel, Medon ovaliceps Fauv., R.I.Sc.N.B. 17.479 / Paratype / Hypomedon Peyerimhoffi Coiff., HC. 59" ( IRSNB); 13: Pic de Tarnuguida [?], 9.4.05 / Paratype / Hypomedon Peyerimhoffi Coiff., HC. 59" ( MNHNP) .

H. valentianus: Holotype ♀: "Esp. IV.74, Sa. Javalambre, Pr. Valence / Holotype / Hypomedon valentianum H. Coiffait 1979 " ( MNHNP).

H. murciensis : Holotype 3: "Pr. Murcie, Chirivel / Muséum Paris 1985, Coll. H. Coiffait / Holotype / Hypomedon nitidum murciensis H. Coiffait 1979 " ( MNHNP).

H. deharvengi : Holotype 3: "La Crau, XII.73 / Muséum Paris 1985, Coll. H. Coiffait / Holotype / Hypomedon deharvengi H. Coiffait 1979 / A. Adorno det. 2001" ( MNHNP) . Paratypes: 2♀♀: same data as holotype (MHNG).

C o m m e n t s: The original description of L. ovaliceps is based on a single female from " Daya " ( FAUVEL 1878). An examination of the brachypterous holotype revealed that it is conspecific with the species previously referred to also as S. fagniezi , S. peyerimhoffi , etc. There is no other species of similar morphology occurring in Algeria.

Lithocharis simoni was described from an unspecified number of syntypes from "Algeciras in Andalusia " ( QUEDENFELDT 1881). The specific name suggests that the type material was collected by Simon. Lithocharis simoni has had a confusing taxonomic history; for details see ADORNO & ZANETTI (2003). In the collections of the HNHM, six syntypes from the type locality and collected by Simon were located. They refer to two species, three of them are conspecific with S. ovaliceps and the other three are conspecific with the interpretation of S. simoni by COIFFAIT (1970, 1984). The lectotype was chosen from the latter three specimens. For more details see the section on S. simoni .

The original description of Medon fagniezi is based on several syntypes ("une serie d'exemplaires") from "La Bonde (Vaucluse)" ( PEYERIMHOFF 1916). Three syntypes were located in the collections of the MNHNP and the MHNG. The syntype in the Peyerimhoff collection at the MNHNP is here designated as the lectotype.

COIFFAIT (1961) described Hypomedon peyerimhoffi from a holotype male (" Algérie, Blida, Pic Sidi Adbelkader [sic]") and numerous paratypes ("assez nombreuses localités d'Algérie et du Maroc "). COIFFAIT (1980) described Hypomedon valentianus (based on two females from the "Sierra Javalambre"), H. nitidus murciensis (holotype male from "Chirivel, province de Murcie"), and H. deharvengi (holotype and 6 paratypes from "La Crau, Bouches-du-Rhône") in one paper. An examination of the types of these names, as well as of the holotype and two paratypes of H. peyerimhoffi revealed that they are all conspecific with S. ovaliceps ; the male genitalia are identical and the external characters are within the range of intraspecific variation of this species. Hence the synonymies proposed above.

A d d i t i o n a l m a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: Tunisia [seealsoASSING (2005b)]: 1 ex., Le Kef, I.1939, leg. Normand (cTro). Algeria: 1 ex., Tébessa, leg. Sahlberg ( DEI). Morocco: 2 exs.: "Marocco / Paratypus [sic] Lithocharis nitida Quedenfeldt 1881 / Hypomedon politum Qued. =nitidum Qued., H. Coiffait det. 1969" ( HNHM) ; 1 ex., Ifrane , 1.XII.1962, leg. Comellini ( MHNG) ; 4 exs., Tanger env., Cabo Spartel, leg. Franz ( NHMW, cAss) ; 3 exs., Tanger, leg. Rolph ( DEI) ; 1 ex., Tanger ( MNHUB) ; 2 exs., Tétouan , leg. Comellini ( MHNG) ; 1 ex., Esmir [at the Mediterranean coast between Ceuta and Cabo Negro], leg. Walker ( MHNG) ; 1 ex., Oued Sebou [34°16'N, 06°41'W], IV.1961, leg. Comellini ( MHNG) ; 1 ex., same data, but V.1960 ( MHNG) ; 1 ex., same data, but V:1961 ( MHNG) ; 1 ex., Jebel Moussa ["Jbel Mousa"; 35°54'N, 05°25'W], leg. Franz (cAss) ; 18 exs., Azrou env., leg. Franz ( NHMW, cAss) ; 23 exs., Moyen Atlas , Boulemane, leg. Franz ( NHMW, cAss) ; 1 ex., Moyen Atlas , Col du Zad, leg. Franz ( NHMW) ; 1 ex., Moyen Atlas, Aguelmane de Sidi Ali , 2200 m, 4.V.1960, leg. Besuchet ( MHNG) ; 1 ex., 5 km SW Aguelmane, Agzigza , 1400 m, 19.II.1999, leg. Wrase (cSch) ; 1 ex., Moyen Atlas, S Azrou , 1800 m, 6.V.1960, leg. Besuchet ( MHNG) ; 2 exs., Haut Atlas, east side, Cirque de Jaffar , leg. Franz ( NHMW, cAss) ; 1 ex., N Agadir, Paradise valley , 8.XII.1993, leg. Wunderle (cWun) ; 1 ex., Beni Snassen mts., 10 km S Berklane, Zegzel , 34°50'N, 2°22'W, 400 m, arable land, 30.XII.2001, leg. Bayer (cSch) ; 16 exs., M. de Kebdana , 30 km NW Berkane, 35°03'N, 2°36'W, 350 m, N-slope with pistacia, 31.XII.2001, leg. Bayer (cSch, cAss) ; 6 exs., Ar Rif, Oued Laou env., 35°29'N, 05°07'W, 200 m, 7.-9.VI.2007, leg. Hlaváč (cAss) ; 1 ex., Ar Rif, Chefchaouen region, Bad Bessen env., 34°59'N, 04°51'W, 1120 m, 3.VI.2007, leg. Hlaváč (cAss). Spain:C a s t i l l a - L e ó n: 1 ex., Sierra de Cabrera , 15 km NW Puebla de Sanabria, 42°12'N, 6°33'W, 1750 m, 6.VIII.2002, leg. Behne (cAss) ; 1 ex., Caboalles , leg. Paganetti ( DEI) ; 2 exs., Ponferrada, leg. Paganetti ( DEI). C a t a l u ñ a: 4 exs., Garraf env., leg. Franz ( NHMW) ; 1 ex., Tarragona, Sierra de Montsant , leg. Franz ( NHMW) ; 1 ex., Sierra de Montsant , 23.III.1959, leg. Besuchet ( MHNG) ; 3 exs., El Vendrell env., leg. Franz ( NHMW, cAss) ; 1 ex., Barcelona, Monte del Tibidabo , 16.XI.1951, leg. leg. González ( MHNG) ; 2 exs., Barcelona, Tossa del Mar, 29.III.1987, leg. Siede ( SMNS). M a d r i d: 2 exs., El Escorial env., leg. Franz ( NHMW) ; 1 ex., El Escorial , 5.V.1977, leg. Outerelo (cBoh) ; 3 exs., Soto del Real , 23.II.1975, leg. Outerelo (cBoh) ; 3 exs., La Pedrina , 2.III.1977, leg. Outerelo (cBoh) ; 16 exs., 10 km W Madrid, Boadilla del Monte, Valdepastores , 21.-23.I.1998, leg. Wrase (cSch, cAss) ; 1 ex., Madrid, leg. Fauvel ( DEI). A r a g ó n: 21exs., Sierra de Albarracín, NE Noguera , 40°30'N, 01°35'W, 1625 m, oak forest, 11.IV.2003, leg. Assing, Wunderle (cAss, cWun) ; 30 exs., Sierra de Albarracín, Sierra Alta, 40°29'N, 01°35'W, 1850 m, pine forest, pine and Vaccinium litter, 11.IV.2003, leg. Assing, Wunderle (cAss, cWun) ; 4 exs., Sierra de Albarracín, Sierra Alta , 40°29'N, 01°35'W, 1820 m, pine forest, 11.IV.2003, leg. Assing (cAss) ; 34 exs., Sierra de Albarracín, near Sierra Alta , 40°30'N, 01°36'W, 1760 m, litter and grass roots under bushes, 12.IV.2003, leg. Assing (cAss, cFel) ; 36 exs., Sierra de Albarracín , Orihuela del Tremada, 40°32'N, 01°40'W, 1520 m, oak forest, 12.IV.2003, leg. Assing, Wunderle (cAss, cWun) ; 2 exs., Sierra de Albarracín , leg. Franz ( NHMW) ; 25 exs., 50 km ESE Teruel, 11 km N Rubielos de Mora , 40°14'N, 00°38'W, 1255 m, oak forest, 13.IV.2003, leg. Assing, Wunderle (cAss, cWun) ; 1 ex., N Mora de Rubielos , 1300 m, 17.II.1999, leg. Tronquet (cTro) ; 5 exs., S Mora de Rubielos , 1000 m, 22.IV.1984, leg. Schawaller ( SMNS) ; 1 ex., 40 km E Teruel, Puerto de Alcala , 40°21'N, 0°43'W, 1540 m, pine forest, 15.IV.2003, leg. Wunderle (cWun) ; 2 exs., Teruel , Puerto de Noguera 1400 m, 4.IV.1984, leg. Schawaller ( SMNS) ; 1 ex., Teruel, Puerto de San Rafael , 1600 m, 17.II.1999, leg. Tronquet (cTro) ; 2 exs., Teruel, NE Manzanera , 700 m, 22.IV.1984, leg. Schawaller ( SMNS) ; 11 exs., Zaragoza, Alcoriza, Quercus ilex litter, 18.II.1999, leg. Tronquet (cTro) ; 6 exs., Sierra de Javalambre, 1 km E Arcos de las Salinas , 40°00'N, 1°01'W, 1200 m, 3.VIII.2002, leg. Behne ( DEI) ; 2 exs., same data, but 22.VII.2002 ( DEI) ; 1 ex., Sierra de Gúdar , 3 km NE Mora de Rubielos, 40°19'N, 0°43'W, 1300 m, 24.VII.2002, leg. Behne ( DEI) ; 1 ex., Sierra de Vicort [41°22'N, 01°30'W], 785 m, V.1967 (cZan) ; 1 ex., Zaragoza, SE Codos, 800 m, 25.IV.1984, leg. Schawaller ( SMNS). C a s t i l l a - L a M a n c h a: 2 exs., Cuenca , leg. Korb ( NHMW) ; 1 ex., Cuenca, N Campillos Sierra , 1100 m, 23.IV.1984, leg. Schawaller ( SMNS) ; 1 ex., Albacete, leg. Comellini ( MHNG). V a l e n c i a: 10 exs., Castellón, Sierra de Vallibona , leg. Franz ( NHMW, cAss) ; 9 exs., Castellón , Vinarós env. ( NHMW) ; 3 exs., Castellón, Querol near Morella , 5.V.1966, leg. Besuchet (cAss) ; 4 exs., Castellón, SW Cinctorres , 1000 m, 20.IV.1984, leg. Schawaller ( SMNS) ; 1 ex., Macastre, Sima del Alto de Don Pedro , 26.II.2003, leg. Sendra et al. (cAss) ; 1 ex., Sierra d'Aitana, near Guadelest , 18.III.1978 (cAss) ; 6 exs., Alicante, Col de Rates [38°43'N, 0°04'W], 16.III.1978 (cAss, cWun) ; 3 exs., Alicante Col de Rates , 22.& 27.III.1971, leg. Meybohm ( SMNS) ; 1 ex., Col de Rates , 4.XI.1976 (cAss) ; 5 exs., Val de Ebo , 23.III.1978 (cAss) ; 11 exs., Rio Sella , 25.III.1978 (cAss) ; 1 ex., Alicante, Altea , V.1963, leg. Liebmann ( MNHUB) ; 1 ex., 2 km NE Alpuente, 39°55'N, 1°00'W, 1000 m, Quercus ilex, 21.VII.2002, leg. Behne ( DEI) ; 6 exs., Montroy , 22.VI.1971, leg. Comellini ( MHNG) ; 3 exs., N Játiva [38°59'N, 0°31'W], 20.IX.1972, leg. Fülscher ( MHNG) ; 2 exs., Játiva env., leg. Franz ( NHMW, cAss) ; 2 exs., Sierra de Bernia , 16.IX.1972, leg. Fülscher ( MHNG) ; 7 exs., Alicante, Calpe Maryvilla , 20.III.1971, leg. Meybohm ( SMNS) ; 1 ex., N Puebla de San Miguel, 1000 m, 22.IV.1984, leg. Schawaller ( SMNS). M u r c i a: 1 ex., Sierra de Espuña, 26.III.1959, leg. Besuchet ( MHNG). A n d a l u c í a: 3 exs., SW Sierra de Segura , Sierra de Pozo , 37°56'N, 02°43'W, 1555 m, litter of old Pinus , 9.IV.2003, leg. Assing (cAss) ; 1 ex., Jaén, Sierra de Cazorla, source of Gualaquivir river , 1200 m, macchia with pine trees, 6.X.1993, leg. Wunderle (cWun) ; 9 exs., 15 km NE Málaga, Montes de Málaga, 36°47'N, 04°21'W, 900 m, N-slope with Quercus suber, 24.XII.2003, leg. Assing (cAss) ; 5 exs., Malaga, Mt. St. Anton , 500 m, sifted, 17.V.1994, leg. Siede (cAss) ; 1 ex., Málaga, Marbella , 14.IX.1969, leg. Ulbrich ( SMNS) ; 2 exs., ca. 25 km N Almuñécar, Sierra de Almijara , 36°53'N, 03°42'W, ca. 1200 m, mixed oak and pine forest, 25.XII.2003, leg. Assing (cAss) ; 8 exs., ca. 35 km NE Vélez Malaga, Sierra de Almijara, 36°58'N, 03°56'W, ca. 1000 m, Q. ilex forest with Juniperus , 25.XII.2003, leg. Assing (cAss) ; 1 ex., Algeciras, Sierra de Luna , 350 m, 28.III.1994, leg. Assing (cAss) ; 1 ex., Algeciras, leg. Reitter ( DEI). L o c a l i t y n o t s p e c i f i e d 4 exs., " Hispania ", leg. Reitter ( HNHM, NHMW) ; 1 ex., "Spanien" ( DEI). France: M i d i - P y r é n é e s: 1 ex., Pyrénées-Orientales, Campôme , 800 m, 5.V.2001, leg. Tronquet (cTro) ; 4 exs., Molitg-les-Bains , oak litter, 22.& 28.II.2002, leg. Tronquet (cTro) ; 6 exs., same data, but 7.III.2002 (cTro) ; 2 exs., Molitg-les-Bains, La Boque, 640 m, Quercus ilex litter, 22.XI.2004, leg. Tronquet (cTro) ; 7 exs., Banyuls, Cap Peyrefite, 2.XI.2001, leg. Ponel (cTro). L a n g u e d o c - R o u s s i l l o n: 2exs., Hérault , Mireval , 5.XII.1976, leg. Curti (cSch, cAss). P r o v e n c e: 1 ex., Digne env., 19.II.1979, leg. Vit (cAss). 1 ex., Vaucluse , Plateau de Vaucluse , N St. Saturnin Javon, 700 m, 28.XII.1995, leg. Assing & Stüben (cAss) ; 2 exs., Vaucluse, Villes-sur-Auzon, 420 m, Quercus ilex litter, 9.XI.1997, leg. Coffin (cTro) ; 5 exs., Vaucluse, La Bonde near La Motte-d'Aigues, 15.XII.1903, leg. Fagniez ( MHNG) ; 1 ex., La Bonde , IV., leg. Fagniez ( MHNG) ; 1 ex., La Bonde , X.1912 ( MHNG) ; 3 exs.,

Mt. Ventoux , Brantes, leg. Fagniez (cAss) ; 1 ex., Alpes-Maritimes, St. - Augustin, leg. Ochs ( MHNG) ; 1 ex., Alpes-Maritimes , St. Vallier, X.1975, leg. Toumayeff ( MHNG). L o c a l i t y n o t i d e n t i f i e d: 2 exs., Tamis, 4.III.1970 ( MHNG) .

D i a g n o s i s: Of similar size as S. bicolor and S. propinquus , but distinguished by the usually uniformly dark yellowish, yellowish brown, or reddish yellow coloration of the forebody; abdominal segments III-VI usually infuscate.

3: posterior margin of sternite VII weakly concave in the middle; sternite with not very deep posterior excision of broadly triangular shape, otherwise unmodified; for illustrations of the aedeagus see ADORNO & ZANETTI (2003).

C o m p a r a t i v e n o t e s: From almost all congeners distributed in the Western Mediterranean, S. ovaliceps is distinguished by external characters alone, especially the relatively large size in combination with the uniformly pale brownish or yellowish coloration of the forebody. From the externally similar S. ibizae and S. mallorcensis (Baleares), as well as S. ignatii and S. georgii (Sicily), it is separated by the different morphology of the aedeagus.

I n t r a s p e c i f i c v a r i a t i o n: The shape of the oblong dorsal rod-like structure is subject to clinal variation. In material from France and the Iberian peninsula, its apex is usually distinctly hooked, whereas in north Africa it is mostly more or less distinctly bent. However, there is some overlap and specimens with hooked apices were also seen from Algeria (e. g. the holotype of S. peyerimhoffi ). For detailed illustrations of the variation of the aedeagus see figures 3-7 and 15-19 (for S. peyerimhoffi , S. murciensis , S. fagniezi , and " S. politus sensu COIFFAIT ", respectively) in ADORNO & ZANETTI (2003).

Sunius ovaliceps is evidently wing-dimorphic, which explains why the species is so widespread. In macropterous specimens, the hind wings are fully developed and the elytra are longer and broader, whereas in brachypterous specimens the hind wings are of distinctly reduced length and the elytra are shorter and more slender.

D i s t r i b u t i o n a n d b i o n o m i c s: Based on the revised material, the species is widespread and rather common in the Western Mediterranean; its known distribution is confined to North Africa ( Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco), Spain, and southern France ( Map 6 ).

The material examined was mainly found in forest and shrup biotopes, especially in oak forests (Q. ilex, Q. suber, etc.), pine forest, mixed forests, in litter of bushes, and in macchia, usually by sifting the leaf litter. On at least one occasion the species was also found in arable land. The altitudes range from near sea-level to 2200 m.

mo nth

Adult beetles were found throughout the year, with a maximum in spring (March through May) and a lower peak in December ( Fig. 4 ).

Figures

Map 6: Distribution of Sunius ovaliceps (FAUVEL) in the Western Mediterranean, based on examined records.

Fig. 4: Seasonal distribution of Sunius ovaliceps (FAUVEL), based on examined specimens (black bars) and records (grey bars).