Pseudomedon huetheri (HUBENTHAL 1927)

Assing, V., 2008, On the taxonomy and zoogeography of some Palaearctic Paederinae and Xantholinini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 40 (2), pp. 1237-1294 : 1251-1252

Pseudomedon huetheri (HUBENTHAL 1927)

Medon Hütheri HUBENTHAL 1927: 42 f.

Medon Hütheri helveticus KOCH 1938: 104 ff.; nov.syn.

T y p e m a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d M. huetheri : Lectotype, present designation: " / Münch. Isar, Hochwasser / Hüther donavit / ex coll. Scheerpeltz / Cotypus Medon Hütheri Hubenthal / Lectotypus Medon huetheri Hubenthal , desig. V. Assing 2008 / Pseudomedon huetheri (Hubenthal) det. V. Assing 2008" ( NHMW). Paralectotypes: 1: "Münch. Isar, Hochwasser / Hütheri / Emmerich Reitter vend. I.1940 / ex coll. Scheerpeltz " ( NHMW) ; 1: "München. / Fredmanniger Heide, Frühjahr 1922, M. Hüther / im Fluge / Hütheri Hbthl. Type. / muss Fröttmaninger Heide heissen, Ent. Bl. 1927 / Samml. Hubenthal" ( MNG / MNE) .

M. huetheri helveticus: Lectotype, present designation: "Capo Lago, Bernhauer / Euphonus Apfelbecki Bh. det C. Koch / helveticus Koch, det. C. Koch / Holotype 1956, det. Kamp / Lectotypus Medon huetheri helveticus Koch, desig. V. Assing 2008 / Pseudomedon huetheri (Koch) , det. V. Assing 2008" ( NHMB). 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: Germany: 3 exs., München, Gr. Hesselohe, Isar, flood debris, 1.IX.1928 ( MNE, MNG, MNHUB); 1 ex., same data, but 28.V.1939 (cSch); 7 exs., München, 24.VIII.1931 ( MNHUB, cAss); 1 ex., München, Grünwald , Isar , flood debris, 21./ 24.VIII.1929, leg. Stöcklein ( NHMW) 1 ex., Wolfratshausen , Isar , flood debris, 12.V.1930, leg. Stöcklein ( NHMW). Switzerland: 1 ex., Genève env., Allondon , Russin (cAss); 3 exs., Ticino, Capolago , leg. Bernhauer ( NHMW, cAss).

C o m m e n t: The original description of Medon huetheri is based on two syntypes from "München in der Fredmanniger Heide" and several syntypes collected "in diesem Jahre" (i. e. in 1926 or 1927) "an der Isar im Angeschwemmten des Hochwassers im Juni und Juli in mehreren ausgefärbten Stücken" (HUBENTHAL 1927). One of the syntypes, a female, was located in the Hubenthal collection. Two additional syntypes, a male and a female, were found in the collections of the NHMW ; the male is designated as the lectotype. The species is conspecific with the interpretation of LOHSE (1964).

Medon huetheri helveticus was described from an unspecified number of syntypes from "Capo Lago", today Capolago in Ticino ( Switzerland), collected by Bernhauer ( KOCH 1938). A male syntype was located in the Frey collection at the NHMB and is designated as the lectotype. A comparison of this specimen with material of P. huetheri from Germany confirmed that it differs by smaller eyes (little more than half as long as postocular region in dorsal view), as well as by slightly shorter and more slender elytra with less pronounced humeral angles. The male primary and secondary sexual characters, however, are identical. The presence of a distinct subspecies of a potentially flying species in Switzerland would not seem plausible for zoogeographic reasons. Therefore, it seems most likely that P. huetheri is a (wing-) dimorphic species, this dimorphism also involving eye size. A similar dimorphism has been observed also in other Paederinae , e. g. Micrillus RAFFRAY ( ASSING 2008a) . Consequently, M. huetheri helveticus is synonymised with M. huetheri .

Pseudomedon huetheri was previously placed in the subgenus Euphonus FAUVEL 1902 (type species: Euphonus pallidus FAUVEL 1902 ), a taxon of highly doubtful status. A comparative study of P. huetheri , P. obscurellus , and P. obsoletus (NORDMANN 1837) , type species of Pseudomedon , yielded no evidence whatsoever that they should belong to different subgenera. Therefore, P. huetheri is placed in the nominal subgenus. An examination of P. pallidus will be required to clarify the status of Euphonus.