Quedius (Microsaurus) piceolineatus Scheerpeltz, 1965

Brunke, Adam James, 2023, Review of Quedius (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) described from the 1934 expedition by R. Malaise to Myanmar, European Journal of Taxonomy 864, pp. 117-145 : 132-134

Quedius (Microsaurus) piceolineatus Scheerpeltz, 1965

Figs 2D , 6H–J

Quedius (Microsaurus) piceolineatus Scheerpeltz, 1965: 284 .

Diagnosis

Within the Masasatoi group, Q. piceolineatus can be recognized by the pale yellow-orange body and medial darkening on the sutural area of the elytra ( Fig. 2D ). It is most similar to Q. masasatoi but the latter species is darker, bicolored reddish to orange-yellow and dark-brown ( Fig. 5F ), with darkened parts of the abdominal tergites. Additionally, the median lobe in ventral view and paramere of Q. masasatoi ( Fig. 6K, M ) are distinctly more slender than those of Q. piceolineatus ( Fig. 6H, J ) and the apex of the median lobe in lateral view is broader in Q. masasatoi ( Fig. 6L ). Quedius masatakai is entirely dark bodied and easily distinguished from pale Q. piceolineatus .

Type material

Holotype

MYANMAR – Kachin State • ♂; “ N.E. Burma , Kambaiti; 2000 m; 14/5.1934; Malaise [printed label] / HOLOTYPUS [red handwritten label] / TYPUS Quedius piceolineatus, O. Scheerpeltz [dark red-pink label] / Quedius (Microsaurus) piceolineatus nov. spec., det. Scheerpeltz [printed label] / 6673 E91 [blue printed label] / piceolineatus Scheerpeltz [large, printed, folded label] / NHRS-JLKB 000021049 ”; NHRS.

Redescription

Rather similar to Q. masasatoi (description in Smetana 2007; supplemented by Smetana 2012a) and differing in the following: paler areas of the body in general lighter, brownish-yellow, abdominal tergites entirely pale; antennomeres 7–10 slightly less transverse but still wider than long; tergites III–IV with median impunctate area; male tergite X very similar but with slightly and minutely emarginate apex; male sternite IX similar but with expanded middle part more symmetrical and elongate basal part shorter and less elongate; median lobe in ventral view shorter and broader, pair of median teeth slightly farther apart ( Fig. 6H ), median lobe in lateral view more strongly narrowed at apex ( Fig. 6I ); paramere shorter and more strongly narrowed to apex, which is more rounded, setae on underside in slightly different arrangement ( Fig. 6J ).

Female

Unknown.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality in Myanmar (Kachin).

Bionomics

Nothing is known about the natural history of this species but the holotype has two deutonymphs of a uropodine mite attached to the pronotum ( Fig. 2D ).

Remarks

Based on the rather similar male genitalia, slightly emarginate tergite VIII and overall habitus ( Fig. 6H– M ), Q. piceolineatus is probably the sister species of Q. masasatoi .

Figures

Fig. 2. A–E. Dorsal habitus. A. Malaisdius ruficeps (Scheerpeltz, 1965), ♂, paratype (NHW). B. Malaisdius smetanai gen. et. sp. nov., ♂, holotype (NME). C. Quedius (Microsaurus) rutilipennis Scheerpeltz, 1965, ♂, holotype (NHRS). D. Q. (M.) piceolineatus Scheerpeltz, 1965, ♂ holotype (NHRS). E. Q. (M.) impressithorax Scheerpeltz, 1965, ♀ holotype (NHRS). F. Forebody of Q. (M.) impressithorax Scheerpeltz, 1965. Abbreviation: Pf = posterior frontal puncture. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 6. A, F, H–I, K–L.Aedeagus, in situ. A, F, H, K. Ventral view (inset showing paired teeth). I, L. Lateral view. B–D. Median lobe. B. Ventral view. C–D. Lateral view. E, G, J, M. Underside of paramere. A–E. Malaisdius ruficeps (Scheerpeltz, 1965). F–G. M. smetanai gen. et sp. nov. H–J. Quedius (Microsaurus) piceolineatus Scheerpeltz, 1965. K–M. Q. (M.) masasatoi Smetana, 2007. Scale bars: A–D, F, H–I, K–L = 0.5 mm; E, G, J, M = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 5. A. Malaisdius ruficeps (Scheerpeltz, 1965), dorsal abdomen. B. M. smetanai gen. et sp. nov., dorsal abdomen. C–E. Quedius (Microsaurus) rutilipennis Scheerpeltz, 1965. C. Antenna. D. Pronotum (white arrow: marginal punctures removed from marginal bead; black arrow: anterior angles with marginal bead entirely visible in dorsal view). E. Elytra and basal abdomen. F. Q. (M.) masasatoi Smetana, 2007, pronotum (arrows indicating punctures of the dorsal row). Abbreviation: Pf = posterior frontal puncture. Scale bars: A–B, D–E = 1 mm; C, F = 0.5 mm.