Amara (Pseudoamara) birmana Baliani, 1934

Kavanaugh, David H., Hieke, Fritz, Liang, Hongbin & Dong, Dazhi, 2014, Inventory of the carabid beetle fauna of the Gaoligong Mountains, western Yunnan Province, China: species of the tribe Zabrini (Coleoptera, Carabidae), ZooKeys 407, pp. 55-119 : 69-72

5. Amara (Pseudoamara) birmana Baliani, 1934 Figs 5 b–c, 5e, 6b, 13, 22a, 23a, 25a, 25b, 27-30

Amara (Amara) birmana Baliani, 1934a: 189. Type material: Holotype female in BMNH, 1 paratype female in MCSNG. Type locality: Burma [without specific locality, but probably from the mountains of northern Myanmar near the border with Yunnan Province, China]. Transferred to subgenus Pseudoamara Baliani by Hieke (2002: 624).

Amara (Celia) yunnana Baliani, 1934a: 193. Type material: Holotype male and 6 paratypes in BMNH. Type locality: China, Yunnan, Yunnan-fou. Synonymized by Hieke (1975: 333).

Amara (Pseudoamara) beesoni Baliani, 1934a: 190. Type material: Holotype male and allotype in BMNH, 4 paratypes in BMNH and MCSNG. Type locality: India, Assam, Shillong. Synonymized by Hieke (1975: 285).

Diagnosis.

Adults of this species (Fig. 13) can be distinguished from those of all other species in the region by the following combination of character states: body length 6.5-7.5 mm; dorsal surface with distinct metallic copper or bronze reflection, non-metallic black in very few specimens, at least femora and outer antennomeres dark (piceous to black); elytral microscuplture comprised of distinctly isodiametric meshes in both males and females (more deeply impressed in females than in males); pronotum (Fig. 13a) more distinctly narrowed anteriorly than basally, anterior margin clearly narrower than posterior margin, lateral margins more or less evenly rounded from apical to basal angle, anterior angles not or only faintly and broadly projected anteriorly beyond anterior margin, posterior angles narrowly rounded, basal impressions deeply foveate but small in diameter, outer basal impressions not distinctly delimited laterally by a broad convexity; elytra without evident sub-basal depressions, parascutellar pore puncture absent, elytral striae distinct throughout but only shallowly impressed in most individuals; medial protibial spurs simple; metatibiae of males without a brush-like patch of setae medially in the apical half; tarsomere 5 of hind tarsi with two or (in a few specimens) three pairs of setae ventrally (Fig. 6b); last abdominal sternite of male with one pair (Fig. 5e) and female with two pairs (Fig. 5c) of setiferous punctures near hind margin; male aedeagus with apical third of median lobe about as broad as middle third, apical hook of right paramere smaller and closer to apex (Fig. 8a).

Habitat distribution.

Specimens of this species were collected, often in great abundance, in daytime from under stones and other cover in open roadside areas (Figs 22a, 25a) and waste areas around human settlements (Figs 23a, 25b) with scattered grasses and shrubs, at the edges of agricultural fields and on open banks of streams, and in these same habitats at night, when beetles were found active on bare substrate. They were also collected under rotting logs on a deciduous forest floor. Members of this species were found at elevations ranging from 1590 to 3150 m, syntopic with adults of Amara chalciope , Amara davidi , Amara dissimilis , Amara lucidissima , Amara pingxiangi , Amara shaanxiensis , Amara sikkimensis and Amara silvestrii at one or more sites.

Geographical distribution within the Gaoligong Shan.

Fig. 13d. We examined a total of 244 specimens (126 males and 118 females) from the following localities: Longling County: Longjiang Township (small stream along road at 1.2 km SSE of Km 23.5 on Route 23.5, 24.82888°, 98.76001°, 2020 m, 25-27 May 2005, D.H. Kavanaugh, C.E. Griswold, H.B. Liang & D.Z. Dong collectors [4 males and 5 females; CAS, IOZ]), (Xiaoheishan Forest Station, 24.83671°, 98.76185°, 2067 m, 28 May 2005, H.B. Liang, K.J. Guo & H.M. Yan collectors [2 females; CAS, IOZ]). Longyang County: Bawan Township (mountain near Nankang Yakou, 24.83250°, 98.76944°, 2245 m, 27 October 2003, H.B. Liang & X.C. Shi collectors [3 males and 5 females; CAS, IOZ]), (Km 24 on Baoshan-Tengchong Highway near Nankang Yakou, 24.82583°, 98.77222°, 2130 m, 26 October 2003, H.B. Liang & X.C. Shi collectors [6 males and 5 females; CAS, IOZ]), (Km 36-37 on Bawan-Tenchong Road, 24.93417°, 98.77944°, 2150 m, 12 October 2003, H.B. Liang & X.C. Shi collectors [1 female; IOZ]), (Km 40 on Bawan-Tenchong Road at Dasheyao Plant Protection Station, 24.92944°, 98.75861°, 2320 m, 16 October 2003, H.B. Liang & J.J Yang collectors [1 female; IOZ], 3 June 2005, D.H. Kavanaugh, D.Z. Dong & J.J. Yang collectors [1 male and 1 female; CAS, IOZ]), 90 km W of Baoshan, 26-28 May 1995, S. Bečvar collector [1 female; ZMHB]), (Luoshuidong area at Sancha He, 24.94833°, 98.75667°, 2300 m, 26-31 October 1998, D.H. Kavanaugh & C.E. Griswold collectors [6 males and 4 females; CAS, IOZ, ZMHB], 3 June 2005, D.H. Kavanaugh, C.E. Griswold, H.B. Liang, D.Z. Dong & H.M. Yan collectors [1 female; CAS], 24.94865 0176/98.75193°, 2350 m, 30 May 2005, H.B. Liang & J.J. Yang collectors [3 males and 1 female; CAS, IOZ]), (Nankang Forest Station (24.82444°, 98.77889°, 2085 m, 27 October 2003, H.B. Liang & X.C. Shi collectors [9 males and 12 females; CAS, IOZ]), (Nankang Yakou (24.83167°, 98.76667°, 2130 m, 4-7 November1998, D. H. Kavanaugh collector [25 males and 20 females; CAS, IOZ, ZMHB], 24.82587°, 98.76832°, 2148 m, 22 May 2005, H.B. Liang collector [1 male and 1 female; CAS, IOZ], 24.83124°, 98.76843°, 2210 m, 23 May 2005, H.B. Liang collector [2 females; CAS, IOZ]), (just N of Nankang Yakou, 24.83178°, 98.76472°, 2180 m, 22 and 26 May 2005, H.B. Liang & D.Z. Dong collectors [5 males and 4 females; CAS, IOZ]). Lushui County: Luzhang Township (Km 44.7 on Pianma Road at Yaojiaping, 25.97538°, 98.71006°, 2516 m, 11 May 2005, D.H. Kavanaugh, H.B. Liang, D.Z. Dong & G. Tang collectors [1 female; CAS]), (Fengxue Yakou at Pianma Road, 25.97228°, 98.68336°, 3150 m, D.H. Kavanaugh, P.E. Marek & H.B. Liang collectors [1 female; CAS]), (Lusai He, 25.96378°, 98.77032°, 1873 m, 20 May 2005, H.B. Liang & D.Z. Dong collectors [3 amles and 1 female; CAS, IOZ]), (Yaojiaping He at Pianma Road, 25.97722°, 98.71091°, 2527 m, 20 May 2005, D.H. Kavanaugh, C.E. Griswold, H.B. Liang, D.Z. Dong & G. Tang collectors [1 female; IOZ]); Pianma Township (6 km ESE of Pianma, 26.00808°, 98.65921°, 2310 m, 15 May 2005, H.B. Liang & D.Z. Dong collectors [5 males and 6 females; CAS, IOZ]), (20 km N of Pianma along Gangfang He at Gulang Village, 26.10321°, 98.58094°, 1590 m, 14 May 2005, H.B. Liang collector [1 female; IOZ]), (Xia Pianma Village, 26.01137°, 98.61788°, 1850 m, 13 May 2005, H.B. Liang collector [1 male; IOZ]). Tengchong County: Houqiao Township (5.9 airkm NE of Houqiao below Guyong Forestry Station, 25.3562°, 98.31610°, 2030 m, 27 May 2006, D.H. Kavanaugh, R.L. Brett & D.Z. Dong collectors [1 female; IOZ]), (8.5 airkm NNE of Houqiao at Gaoshidong, 25.39858°, 98.30533°, 2580 m, 27 May 2006, D.H. Kavanaugh, R.L. Brett & D.Z. Dong collectors [1 male and 1 female; CAS, IOZ]); Jietou Township (Dahetou Lingganjiao, Longtang He, 25.73947°, 98.69630°, 2010 m, 14-16 and 18 May 2006, D.H. Kavanaugh, R.L. Brett & H.B. Liang collectors [16 males and 11 female; CAS, IOZ], 0.3 km S in Longchuan Jiang valley, 25.73678°, 98.69639°, 2005 m, 18 May 2006, D.Z. Dong collector [4 males and 5 females; CAS, IOZ], 1.4 km S along Longchuan Jiang, 25.72717°, 98.69322°, 1960 m, 19 May 2006, D.H. Kavanaugh, R.L. Brett & D.Z. Dong collectors [2 females; CAS, IOZ], 0.75 km N on Longtang He, 25.74622°, 98.69612°, 2030 m, 18 May 2006, D.H. Kavanaugh & R.L. Brett collectors [1 female; CAS]), (Longchuan Jiang from Dahetou Village to Dahetou Lingganjiao, 25.67125°, 98.68016°, 1838-2010 m, 14 May 2006, H.B. Liang collector [2 males and 1 female; CAS, IOZ]), (Shaba Village, Cha He, 25.39256°, 98.70488°, 1840 m, 25 May 2006, D.H. Kavanaugh, R.L. Brett & D.Z. Dong collectors [1 male and 1 female; CAS]); Shangying Township (Km 41 on Bawan-Tenchong Road near Yakou, 24.93972°, 98.75333°, 2440 m, 15 October 2003, H.B. Liang, X.C. Shi & D.Z. Dong collectors [2 males and 1 female; CAS, IOZ]), (Km 42-46 on Bawan-Tenchong Road, 24.95361°, 98.74222°, 2290 m, 14 and 17 October 2003, H.B. Liang & X.C. Shi collectors [7 males and 2 female; CAS, IOZ]), (Km 46-51 on Bawan-Tenchong Road, 24.95722°, 98.73667°, 2220 m, 17 October 2003, H.B. Liang & X.C. Shi collectors [1 male; IOZ]); Wuhe Township (Km 24 on Baoshan-Tengchong Highway, 24.82889°, 98.76028°, 2008 m, 29 October 2003, N.D. Penny, T. Briggs & X.Y. Li collectors [6 males; CAS, IOZ]), (Km 28.8 on Route S317 at Zhengding Forestry Station, 24.84855°, 98.73761°, 1834 m, 23 May 2005, D.Z. Dong & H.M. Yan collectors [1 male and 2 females; CAS, IOZ]), (31 km SE of Tengchong, 24.88639°, 98.75611°, 26 August 2009, D.W. Wrase collector [1 male and 2 females; ZMBH]), (33 km SE of Tengchong, 24.85611°, 98.76000°, 2100-2200 m, 31 May and 4 June 2007, A. Pütz collector [2 males and 1 female; ZMHB], 31 May 2007, D.W. Wrase collector [1 male; ZMHB]), (100 km W of Baoshan, 14-21 June 1993, E. Jendek & O. Sausa collectors [1 male; ZMHB]), (Xiaodifang Village, 24.85722°, 98.75917°, 2150 m, 29 October 2003, D.Z. Dong collector [3 males and 1 female; CAS, IOZ]), (Xiaoheishan Forest Station, 24.82889°, 98.76000°, 2025 m, 29 October 2003, H.B. Liang collector [6 males and 7 females; CAS, IOZ]).

Members of this species were collected only in the southern half of the study area (Core Areas 4, 5, 6 and 7), on both eastern and western slopes of the mountain range.

Overall geographical distribution.

Fig. 27. This species has been recorded from China (Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces), India (Assam, Arunashal Pradesh and Sikkim) and Myanmar. Its occurrence in the study area represents the southern limit of its known geographical range.