Quedius (Distichalius) laetepictus, Smetana, 2015

Smetana, Aleš, 2015, Contributions to the knowledge of the Quediina (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Staphylinini) of China. Part 51. Genus Quedius STEPHENS, 1829. Subgenus Distichalius CASEY, 1915. Section 4, Linzer biologische Beiträge 47 (1), pp. 905-924 : 912-913

Quedius (Distichalius) laetepictus nov.sp. ( Figs 24-29 )

T y p e l o c a l i t y: China:" CHINA: Guizhou, Leishan Co. SE Kaili, NE Leishan, Leigong Shan E slope, 2.5 km E of pass, 26°23’39"N 108°13"33"E, ca. 1600 m. T y p e m a t e r i a l Holotype (3): CHINA: " CHINA: Guizhou, Leishan Co. SE Kaili, NE

Leishan Leigong Shan, E – slope 26°23’39"N 108°13"33"E / 2.5 km E of pass 19.6.2001, ca. 1600

m leg. Schillhammer (14). In NMW.

D e s c r i p t i o n: Head black, pronotum piceous with lateral margins widely and anterior and posterior margins very narrowly pale testaceous, scutellum black, elytra pale testaceous with large, common black spot covering medial third of each elytron, abdominal tergites testaceorufous, each with middle portion darkened, darkened area becoming gradually narrower toward apex of abdomen; tergite 2 (in front of first entirely visible tergite) testaceous; maxillary and labial palpi testaceous, antennae with segments 1-3 testaceous, following segments becoming gradually darkened, outer segments piceous; legs entirely pale testaceous. Head of rounded shape, wider than long (ratio 1.24), distinctly narrowed behind eyes, posterior angles entirely obsolete; eyes very large and convex, tempora considerably shorter than eyes seen from above (ratio 0.22); two setiferous punctures between anterior frontal punctures; posterior frontal puncture touching posteriomedial margin of eye; temporal puncture touching posterior margin of head; two punctures behind posterior frontal puncture at posterior margin of head; surface of head with very fine and dense microsculpture of transverse waves. Antenna moderately long, segment 3 slightly longer than segment 2 (ratio 1.19), segments 4 and 5 slightly longer than wide, following segments gradually becoming shorter, outer segments about as long as wide, last segment about as long as two preceding segments combined. Pronotum slightly wider than long (ratio 1.11), widest at posterior third, markedly narrowed anteriad, with lateral margins continuously arcuate with broadly rounded base, transversely convex; dorsal rows each with three punctures, no additional punctures between dorsal and sublateral rows, sublateral rows each with two punctures, posterior puncture situated behind large lateral puncture; microsculpture on pronotum distinctly finer and denser than that on head. Scutellum impunctate, with fine, superficial microsculpture of transverse waves. Elytra relatively long, at base somewhat narrower than pronotum at widest point, only vaguely widened posteriad; at suture as long as, at sides distinctly longer than pronotum at midline (ratio 1.32); each elytron very finely, irregularly, sparingly punctate and with three irregular rows of coarse punctures, each bearing short stiff seta; surface between punctures without microsculpture. Wings apparently fully developed. Abdomen with tergite 7 (fifth visible) bearing distinct whitish apical seam of palisade fringe; tergite two (in front of first entirely visible tergite) impunctate; punctuation of abdominal tergites moderately fine and sparse, becoming somewhat sparser toward apex of each tergite and in general toward apex of abdomen; pubescence testaceous, long stiff setae on each tergite black; surface between punctures with exceedingly fine and dense microsculpture of transverse striae.

Male. First four segments of front tarsus moderately dilated, each densely covered by tenent setae ventrally; segment two vaguely narrower than apex of tibia (ratio 0.90); segment four slightly narrower than preceding segments. Sternite 8 sparingly setose, with two long setae on each side; with narrow and rather deep, obtusely triangular medioapical emargination, small triangular area before emargination flattened and smooth ( Fig. 24 ). Genital segment with tergite 10 narrow, markedly narrowed toward obtuse apex, with several setae of variable length at and near apex, otherwise asetose ( Fig. 25 ); sternite 9 very sparingly setose, slightly emarginated medioapically, with one long seta at each side of emargination ( Fig. 26 ). Aedoeagus ( Figs 27-29 ) elongate, quite narrow; median lobe without apical lobes, for most part parallelsided, anteriorly narrowed into rather long, split apical portion; paramere of characteristic shape, with subacute apex markedly exceeding apex of median lobe; two apical setae, one minute seta at each lateral margin and two similar setae at each lateral margin still farther posteriad; sensory peg setae on underside of paramere numerous, situated as in Fig. 29 .

Female unknown

Length 7.0 mm.

E t y m o l o g y: The specific epithet is the combination of the two Latin adjectives: laetus, - a, - um (pleasant) and pictus, - a, - um (painted). It refers to the bright coloration of the species.

G e o g r a p h i c a l d i s t r i b u t i o n Quedius laetepictus is at present known only from the type locality in southern Guizhou.

B i o n o m i c s:Nothingisknown about the collecting circumstances of the holotype, except that it was taken at low elevation of about 1600 m.

R e c o g n i t i o n a n d c o m m e n t s Quedius laetepictus may be easily recognized by the coloration, and by the characteristic shape of the aedoeagus.

Figures

Figs 20-30: 20-23: Quedius causarius sp. nov.: (20) apical portion of aedoeagus, lateral view; (21) apical portion of median lobe, paramere removed; (22) apical portion of underside of paramere with sensory peg setae; (23) tergite 10 of female genital segment. 24-29: Quedius laetepictus sp. nov.: (24) apical portion of male sternite 8; (25) tergite 10 of male genital segment; (26) sternite 9 of male genital segment; (27) aedoeagus, ventral view; (28) apical portion of median lobe, paramere removed; (29) apical portion of underside of paramere with sensory peg setae. Quedius iaculifer sp. nov.: (30) apical portion of male sternite 8.