Aleochara (Xenochara) dalila LIKOVSKÝ , 1984

Assing, V., 2009, On the taxonomy and zoogeography of some Palaearctic Aleochara species of the subgenera Xenochara M & R and Rheochara M & R (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), Beiträge Zur Entomologie = Contributions to Entomology 59 (1), pp. 33-101 : 43-44

Aleochara (Xenochara) dalila LIKOVSKÝ, 1984 ; revalidated ( Figs 42-44)

Aleochara (Polychara) peusi similis LIKOVSKÝ, 1965b: 53 f.; primary homonym.

Aleochara nidicola LIKOVSKÝ, 1973: 2 ; replacement name for A. similis ; primary homonym.

Aleochara dalila LIKOVSKÝ, 1984: 5 ; replacement name for A. nidicola .

Type material examined:

Holotype ♀: " Mongolia, Central aimak, Bajan-Zurch sum, 1300 m, 30 km O. v. Ulan-Baator, Exp. Dr. Z. Kaszab, 1963 / Nr. 1, 16.VI.63 / Holotypus / Holotypus Aleochara peusi similis m., Zb. Likovský det. 64 / Aleochara dalila Likovský , det. V. Assing 2009" ( HNHM).

Additional material examined:

Mongolia: 17 exs., Suchebaator aimak, Ongon elis, 10 km S Somon Chongor, 900 m, 3.-5.VIII.1965, leg. Kaszab ( HNHM, cAss) ; 11 exs., Suchebaator aimak, Somon Dariganga, basalt mountain, 1270-1300 m, 7.VIII.1965, leg. Kaszab ( HNHM, cAss) ; 4 exs., Suchebaator aimak, Molzog elis, 2 km S Somon Dariganga, 1150 m, 6.-7.VIII.1965, leg. Kaszab ( HNHM, cAss) ; 1 ex., Chentej aimak, 7 km NE Somon Mörön, 1200 m, 28.VII.-21.VIII.1965, leg. Kaszab ( HNHM) ; 2 exs., Central aimak, Cagan Dirschin chodag, Tola valley, 24 km from Somon Tariat, 1130 m, 24.VII.1966, leg. Kaszab ( HNHM) .

Comment:

LIKOVSKÝ (1965b) described A. peusi similis based on a single female from Mongolia. Having realised that A. similis was a primary homonym, LIKOVSKÝ (1973) subsequently replaced the name with the nomen novum A. nidicola . However, this name, too, is a primary homonym and was replaced with the nomen novum A. dalila by the same author ( LIKOVSKÝ, 1984). According to SMETANA (2004), A. dalila is a junior syonym of A. peusi . An examination of the above material from Mongolia, which was identified by Likovský as A. similis and A. nidicola , respectively, revealed that A. dalila is highly similar, both in external and sexual characters, and undoubtedly very closely related to A. cuniculorum . However, constant differences in the shape of the median lobe of the aedeagus and its internal structures suggest that A. dalila is a valid species.

Redescription:

External and secondary sexual characters as in A. cuniculorum .

♂: aedeagus with ventral process more strongly arcuate in lateral view ( Fig. 42); apical part of flagellum much longer and basal part distinctly shorter than in A. cuniculorum ( Figs 42-43).

♀: spermatheca similar to that of A. cuniculorum ( Fig. 44).

Distribution and bionomics:

This species has been recorded only from several localities in Mongolia. The material listed above was collected at altitudes of 900-1300 m.