Tachyusa nitidula Mulsant & Rey, 1875

Pa ṡnik, Grzegorz, 2006, A revision of the World species of the genus Tachyusa Erichson, 1837 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), Zootaxa 1146, pp. 1-152 : 99-102

Tachyusa nitidula Mulsant & Rey, 1875 ( Figs. 97–99)

Tachyusa nitidula Mulsant & Rey, 1875: 396 .

Tachyusa ventralis Fauvel, 1898: 106 .

Tachyusa iberica Fagel, 1957: 280 , syn. n.

Tachyusa (s. str.) nitidula: Fenyes, 1920: 172 ; Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 585.

Type material. Tachyusa nitidula Mulsant & Rey. Lectotype (here designated): ♂: Corse, Bastelica ( MHNL); Paralectotypes: 2♂♂ and ♀: same data as the lectotype ( MHNL).

Tachyusa iberica Fagel. Holotype: ♀: Andalousie: Ronda Arriate rio Guadalcobacin , 8–20.V.1956, G. Fagel ( IRSNB). Paratypes: 6♀♀: same data as the holotype ( IRSNB).

Tachyusa ventralis Fauvel. Lectotype (here designated): ♂: Algerie, Djebel Tuga ( IRSNB) ; Paralectotypes: ♀: same data as the lectotype ( IRSNB) ; ♂ and 2♀♀: Algerie, Perregaux ( IRSNB) ; ♀: Algerie, St. Charles ( IRSNB) ; 2♀♀: Algerie, Vuad­Rivu ( IRSNB) ; ♂: Algeria, Philippeville, Brikra ( IRSNB) ; ♀: Tunisia, Souk­d­Arba ( IRSNB) ; ♂: Tunisia, Tunis ( IRSNB) ; ♂: Tunisia, Gabes, Taboursouk ( IRSNB) .

Taxonomic notes. In the original description Fagel (1957) states that Tachyusa iberica is distinguished from T. nitidula particularly by the wider head, the coarser and denser puncturation of head and pronotum, the more transverse pronotum and by the longer tergite 3. My comparison of the type material of T. nitidula and other specimens from various regions showed that, regarding all characters, they are well within the range of intraspecific variation. The type specimens of T. iberica and T. nitidula fall within this continous range and, here, they are regarded as representatives of one highly variable species. Consequently, T. iberica must be regarded as a junior synonym of T. nitidula .

The examination of the types of Tachyusa ventralis Fauvel , particularly the genitalia, revealed that it is conspecific with T. nitidula and consequently a junior synonym of the latter.

Additional material. Algeria: Djebel Metlilli, gorges d'El Kantara , V.1954, Fagel, 1 ex ( IRSNB) ; Soute el Arba , 2 exx ( MNHN) ; Zeralda , 20.V.1960, Levasseur, 10 exx ( MNHN) ; “ Algeria ” (localities not specified), 1 ex ( DEI) ; 2 exx ( MNHN). Austria: Carinthia, Sachsenburg, 1 ex ( NMPC) ; Eisenkappel, Karten , VII–VIII.1926, Scheerpeltz, 1 ex ( NMW) ; VII–VIII.1931, Scheerpeltz, 1 ex ( NMW) . France: Albertville , Savoy, 5 exx ( BMNH) ; Avignon, Rhône , 1.X.1920, 9 exx ( MNHN) ; 15.VII.1969, 2 exx ( MNHN) ; Corse, Ajaccio , 1 ex ( CAS) ; 1905, O. Leonhard, 1 ex ( DEI) ; 3 exx ( FMNH); Deville , 7 exx ( MNHN) ; Prunelli river , Ochs, 1 ex ( MNHN) ; IX.1960, 1 ex ( MHNG) ; Corse, Bastilica , 3 exx ( IRSNB) ; Corse, Casamozza ( Golo ), 17.VII.1963, G. Tempere, 3 exx ( MHNG) ; Corse, Fium d'Orbo, Ghisonaccia , 19–21.IV.1927, 1 ex ( ZMHB) ; 2 exx ( NMPC); 2–8.V.1955, G. Fagel, 122 exx ( IRSNB) ; 6 exx ( MNHN); 4 exx ( NMW); Corse, Folelli cive Fiumialto , 400 m, 10.VIII.1978, Sette, 7 exx ( AZPC) ; Corse, Foielli , 1905, Leonhard, 1 ex ( DEI) ; Corse, Morel , 1 ex ( FMNH) ; V.1906, 1 ex ( MNHN) ; Corse, Pisciatella , III.1916, 1 ex ( MNHN) ; Corse, Porto , 6–24.IX.1955, G. Benick, 1 ex ( MHNG) ; Corse, Syracuse , 1 ex ( IRSNB) ; Corse, Valle Fiumialto , 300 m, 6.VIII.1980, Sette, 8 exx ( AZPC) ; “ Corse ” (localities not specified), 1 ex ( HNHM) ; 14 exx ( MNHN); 2 exx ( NMW); 1 ex ( NMPC); Digne , 2 exx ( MNHN) ; Marseille , 9 exx ( MNHN) ; Montagnac , Herault, H. Perrot, 1 ex ( MHNG) ; Pont du Gard , 1.VI.1926, J. Therond, 3 exx ( BMNH) ; Roquefort , 1 ex ( MNHN) ; Saint Sever, Landes , 6.VII.1916, J. Mulzon, 1 ex ( MNHN) ; Vichy , VI.1891, L. Mesmin, 1 ex ( MNHN) . Italy: Campagne , 4 exx ( MNHN) ; Emilia, Groana , 11.VI.1899, A. Fiori, 3 exx ( NMPC) ; Guinto, Genova , 20.V.1923, 1 ex ( MHNG) ; Lago di Piegna degli Albanesi , Sicilia, 5.VIII.1961, 1 ex ( MSNM) ; Piazzola sul Brenta , Prov. Padova, 1915, G. Caneva, 2 exx ( MCSN) ; Sardegna, Asuni , Krausse, 1 ex ( MNHN) ; Sardegna, Oristano, A. Dodero, 2 exx ( MNHN) ; 17.V.1873, R. Gestro, 6 exx ( MCSN) ; Sardegna, Sassari, A. Dodero, 1 ex ( FMNH) ; Sardegna, Sargano , 1912, Leonhard, 1 ex ( DEI) ; 1912, Krausse , 1 ex ( FMNH) ; Sardegna, Terranova, G. C. Champion, 3 exx ( BMNH) ; Sicilia, Foce Simeto, Catania , VI.1959, 3 exx ( MSNV) ; 2 exx ( NMW); Stazzano Scrivia , 1866, Ferrari, 1 ex ( MCSN) ; Torino, Po river , 7.IV.1872, L. Fea, 3 exx ( MCSN) . Marocco: Ksar es Souk , 30.VI.1967, Comellini, 5 exx ( MHNG) ; Mechra Benabbon , 21.VI.1967, Comellini, 5 exx ( ISEA) ; 8 exx ( MHNG); Mogador , 9– 14.V.1928, Lindberg, 1 ex ( FMNH) ; Tanroudant , 1 ex ( NMW) . Portugal: Leca, C. Barres, 1 ex ( MNHN) . Spain: Ademuz , Valencia, 17.VI.1970, Comelini, 2 exx ( MHNG) ; Ainsa, Prov. Huesca , 1.VI.1965, Comellini, 1 ex ( ISEA) ; Alcala de Henares , 17.II.1951, H. Franz, 1 ex ( NMW) ; Andalucía, Benaojali , V.1952, Coiffait, 8 exx ( MNHN) ; Andalucía, Ronda, Arriate rio Guadalcobacin , 8–20.V.1956, G. Fagel, 1 ex ( MNHN) ; Aragon, Albarracin environs, 1200 m, VI–VII.1925, 2 exx ( ZMHB) ; 2 exx ( NMW); Aranjuez, Prov. Madrid, 1.IV.1926, Lundberg, 1 ex ( FMNH) ; Astorga, Paganetti , 3 exx ( FMNH) ; Avila, G.C. Champion, 2 exx ( BMNH) ; Ballobar, Huesca , 18.VI.1970, Comellini, 3 exx ( MHNG) ; Barcelona environs, Tordera river near Rio Tordera , 2.IV.1986, 6 exx ( VAPC) ; Caceres, Rio Almonte , 350 m, 2 km S Jaraicejo, 9–10.V.1991, F. Hieke, 1 ex ( ZMHB) ; Cadiz , Jimena de la Frontera, 5–6.VI.1991, Wrase, 6 exx ( VAPC) ; Cadiz, Rio Alberite, 9 km SE Alcala de los Gazules , 7.V.1991, F. Hieke, 7 exx ( ZMHB) ; Calahorra , 1 ex ( FMNH) ; 1 ex ( NMW); Catalogne, Seo de Urgel , V–VI.1962, Fagel, 6 exx ( IRSNB) ; Cueuca , 16.VI.1970, A. Comellini, 2 exx ( ISEA) ; 2 exx ( MHNG); G. C. Champion, 1 ex ( BMNH) ; El Barco de Valdeorras , G. C. Champion, 2 exx ( BMNH) ; Estremadura, Guadalupe, Rio Guadalapejo , V.1958, Fagel, 39 exx ( IRSNB) ; Fraga, Prov. Huesca , 30.V.1965, Comellini, 13 exx ( ISEA) ; Granada, Granada­Mulhacen Rd. , 8 km E Granada, 800–900 m, 21.V.1967, R. Genil, 10 exx ( BMNH) ; Granada , 12.VII.1879, D. Sharp, 2 exx ( BMNH) ; 8 exx ( MNHN); Granada, Granada river near Rio Genil , 24.VII.1971, 2 exx ( MHNG) ; Guadarrama , 2 exx ( BMNH) ; Jaen, Valdepenas de Jaen, Guadajoz river , 900– 1000 m, 25.V.1967, M. E. Bacchus & B. Levey, 6 exx ( BMNH) ; La Granja , 3 exx ( BMNH) ; Madrid, 2 exx ( BMNH) ; Palencia, Paganetti , 1 ex ( NMW) ; Ponferrada, Paganetti , 1 ex ( FMNH) ; 2 exx ( HNHM); 1 ex ( SMNS); Posadas , 18.IV.1925, 2 exx ( NMW) ; Potes , 1 ex ( BMNH) ; Ripoll, Prov. Gerona , V.1965, Comellini, 1 ex ( MHNG) ; Seo de Urgell, Lerida , 15.VI.1969, Comellini, 12 exx ( MHNG) ; Sevilla , 3 exx ( MNHN) ; Sierra Nevada , VI.1879, D. Sharp, 1 ex ( BMNH) ; Sierra Nevada, Pampaneita , 1000 m, 1.VIII.1991, Sprick, 2 exx ( VAPC) ; Soria, G.C. Champion, 5 exx ( BMNH) ; Teba­ Andalucía, Prov. Malaga , 26.III.1998, Esser, 1 ex ( VAPC) ; Tragacete, G.C. Champion, 2 exx ( BMNH) ; Tremp, Lerida , 15.VI.1969, Comellini, 5 exx ( MHNG) ; Vigo, G.C. Champion, 1 ex ( BMNH) . Tunisia: Souk el Arba, 2 exx ( MNHN) ; IX.1899, Fagel, 7 exx ( IRSNB) ; Tunis, Jannel , 3 exx ( FMNH) ; Fauvel , 3 exx ( NMW) .

Redescription. Body. Length 2.5–3.3 mm, convex, parallel­sided, glossy; body colour pitchy brown to black; two basal tergites often paler, reddish brown to brown, legs and antennae red to brownish red.

Head circular in outline; convex, eyes large, weakly protruding from lateral contours of head, length of each seen from above subequal to that of postocular region; surface of head without microsculpture; puncturation fine and moderately dense. Antennae short, clearly increasing in width apically, antennomere 3 slightly shorter than 2, antennomeres 4–7 longer than wide, antennomeres 8–10 quadrate, antennomere 11 nearly conical.

Pronotum subquadrate, lateral sides gradually narrowed in straight line to obtuse hind angles; before base with small and shallow transverse impression; surface without microsculpture; puncturation very fine, dense and weakly asperate; pubescence at midline directed posteriorly.

Elytra longer than wide, at suture as long as pronotum at midline; surface lacking microsculpture; puncturation fine, dense and asperate.

Abdomen parallel­sided, bases of tergites 3–5 each with deep transverse impression, impressions with 7–8 longitudinal ridges, tergal puncturation fine and moderately dense, punctures moderately small and well visible, surface without microsculpture.

Male. Aedeagus as in Figs. 97–98.

Female. Spermatheca as in Fig. 99.

Remarks. See under T. coarctata .

Distribution. T. nitidula is widespread in the western Mediterranean area and is known from Italy, France, Iberian Peninsula and North Africa.