Meotica filiformis (Motschulsky, 1860)

Assing, Volker & Vogel, Jürgen, 2019, The mother of synonyms: on the Meotica species of the Palaearctic Region (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae, Oxypodini), Linzer biologische Beiträge 51 (2), pp. 731-772 : 737-740

Meotica filiformis ( MOTSCHULSKY, 1860) ( Figs 1-5 )

Phytosus filiformis MOTSCHULSKY, 1860: 587 f.

Meotica capitalis MULSANT & REY, 1873: 176 f.; nov.syn.

Meotica soniae BONDROIT, 1913: 299; synonymy with M. capitalis by VOGEL (1991).

Meotica orbicularis BENICK, 1953: 60 f.; synonymy with M. capitalis by VOGEL (1991).

Meotica apicalis BENICK, 1953: 61 f.; synonymy with M. capitalis by VOGEL (1991).

Meotica hoelzeli BENICK, 1953: 62 f.; synonymy with M. capitalis by VOGEL (1991).

Meotica clavata BENICK, 1953: 63 f.; synonymy with M. apicalis by BENICK (1968).

Meotica ermischi BENICK, 1953: 68 f.; synonymy with M. capitalis by VOGEL (1991).

Meotica foveolata BENICK, 1953: 69 f.; synonymy with M. capitalis by VOGEL (1991).

Meotica globulosa BENICK, 1953: 72; synonymy with M. capitalis by VOGEL (1991).

Meotica fageli BENICK, 1953: 72 f.; nov.syn.

Meotica bohemica BENICK, 1953: 73 f.; synonymy with M. capitalis by VOGEL (1991).

Meotica bucephala SCHEERPELTZ, 1954a: 152; synonymy with M. apicalis by MUONA (1991).

Meotica gerhardlinkei SCHEERPELTZ, in litt.: see MUONA (1991).

T y p e m a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: M. orbicularis: Holotype ♂: " ♂ / Carlshafen, 30.X.32, Hess . [word illegible] Folwaczny / Meotica orbicularis G. Bck Typus / Coll. G. Benick / Meotica filiformis det. J. Vogel, 2017 / Meotica filiformis ( Motschulsky) , det. V. Assing 2018" ( MHNG).

M. apicalis : Syntypes: 1♀: " ♀ / M. Pfaundler, Birket IV.41 / Meotica apicalis ♀ G. Bck Typus / Coll. G. Benick / Meotica filiformis det. J. Vogel, 2017 / Meotica filiformis ( Motschulsky) , det. V. Assing 2018" ( MHNG) ; 1♂: " ♂ / Geesthacht, Oberelbe , 9.4.52 Dr. Lohse / Meotica apicalis ♂ G. Benick Typus / Coll. G. Benick / Meotica filiformis det. J. Vogel, 2017/ Meotica filiformis ( Motschulsky) , det. V. Assing 2018" ( MHNG) .

M. hoelzeli: Lectotype ♂, present designation: " ♂ / Steiermark, Wind. Bühel, 4.79 Hölzel / Meotica Hölzeli ♂ G. Bck Typus / Coll. G. Benick / Meotica filiformis det. J. Vogel, 2017 / Lectotypus ♂ Meotica hoelzeli Benick , desig. V. Assing 2018 / Meotica filiformis ( Motschulsky) , det. V. Assing 2018" ( MHNG).

M. clavata: Lectotype ♂, present designation: " Kongsvinger, A. Strand / Meotica clavata ♂ G. Bck Typus / Coll. G. Benick / Meotica filiformis det. J. Vogel, 2017 / Lectotypus ♂ Meotica clavata Benick , desig. V. Assing 2018 / Meotica filiformis ( Motschulsky) , det. V. Assing 2018" ( MHNG). Paralectotype ♀: same data as holotype.

M. ermischi: Holotype ♀: " ♀ / Umgeb. Düsseldorf, K. Ermisch / Meerer Busch, 20.11.84, Schilf / Meotica Ermischi G. Bck Typus / Coll. G. Benick / Meotica filiformis det. J. Vogel, 2017 / Meotica filiformis (Motschulsky) , det. V. Assing 2018 " ( MHNG).

M. foveolata: Holotype ♂: "♂ / Ammendorf, 1.5.17, F. Bischof / Meotica foveolata G. Bck Typus / Coll. G. Benick / Meotica filiformis det. J. Vogel, 2017 / Meotica filiformis (Motschulsky) , det. V. Assing 2018 " ( MHNG).

M. globulosa: Holotype ♀: " ♀ / Nordtirol, Pechlaner / Thierburg, 8.11.36 / Meotica globulosa ♂ G. Bck Typus / Coll. G. Benick / Meotica filiformis det. J. Vogel, 2017 / Meotica filiformis (Motschulsky) , det. V. Assing 2018 " ( MHNG).

M. fageli: Syntype ♀ [?] [dissected prior to present study; primary sexual characters missing]: " For. de Soignes , Quatre-Bras, 8-vii-1947, G. Fagel / Meotica Fageli ♂ G. Bck Typus / Coll. G. Benick / Meotica filiformis det. J. Vogel, 2017 / Meotica filiformis (Motschulsky) , det. V. Assing 2018 " ( MHNG) .

M. bohemica: Holotype ♂ [dissected prior to the present study; aedeagus missing]: "♂/ Bilichov. 1.V.913, Bohemia. col. A. Procházka / Meotica bohemica ♂ G. Bck typus [sic] / Coll. G. Benick / Meotica filiformis det. J. Vogel, 2017 / Meotica filiformis (Motschulsky) , det. V. Assing 2018 " ( MHNG).

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: SWEDEN: 1♀, Ystadt env., Sövde, 2.I.1984, leg. Assing (cAss). SPAIN: 1♂, Aragón, Sierra de Albarracín , 1968 (?), leg. Franz (cVog) . FRANCE: 2♀♀, Moret-sur-Loing, Fontainebleau env., 1884, leg. Royer (cVog) ; 1♀, Orval , 20.VI.1955, leg. Derenne ( MHNG) ; 1♂, Alpes-Maritimes, Caille , 20.III.and IV.1959, leg. Ochs ( MHNG) ; 1♀, Alpes-Maritimes, Péone env., Valberg , V.1954, leg. Ochs ( MHNG) . BELGIUM: 1♂, Huy ( Ben-Ahin ), 19.IV.1949, leg. Fagel (cVog) ; 1♂, Ardennes, Seilles , 19.VIII.1945, leg. Fagel ( MHNG) . GERMANY: numerous specimens from numerous localities. SWITZERLAND: 1♂, Genève env., 22.X.1962, leg. Besuchet (cVog) ; 1 ex., Genève, Veyrier , 1968, leg. Besuchet ( MHNG) ; 1 ex., Genève, La Laire , 1964, leg. Comellini ( MHNG) ; 1 ex., Jura, Le Noirmont , 1973, leg. Besuchet ( MHNG) ; Vaud, Saint-Livres , 1965, leg. Toumayeff ( MHNG) ; 1 ex., Luzern, Flühli , 8.V.1992, leg. Kiener ( NMB) ; 1 ex., Bern, Thörishaus , 13.VII.1992, leg. Kiener ( NMB) . AUSTRIA: T i r o l: 1 ex., Forchach, 22.IV.1941, leg. Kofler ( TLMF), 1 ex., Angerberg , 15.IV.1962, leg. Zschästak ( TLMF) ; 1 ex., Kramsach , 17.VI.1983, leg. Kahlen ( TLMF). N i e d e r ö s t e r r e i c h: 1♂, 1♀, Erbreichsdorf, 1941, leg. Franz ( MHNG) ; 1♂, Orth an der Donau, Donauauen , 1966, leg. Franz (cVog) ; 1♂, Langenzersdorf , leg. Mandl (cVog) ; 2 exs., Baumgarten an der March , 2.IV.1994, leg. Kahlen ( TLMF) ; 2 exs., Marchegg, 28.II. & 1.IV.1994, leg. Kahlen ( TLMF). B u r g e n l a n d: 1♀, Zurndorf, 1926, leg. Franz (cVog). S t e i e r m a r k: 1♀, Graz env., 27.II.1992, leg Kreissl (cVog) .

C o m m e n t: Meotica capitalis was described based on type material from Lyon and is the type species of the genus group name Cryptusa MULSANT & REY, 1873, originally established as a subgenus of Meotica . This type material was looked for, but not found in the Rey collection. The only specimen from Lyon located in this collection is conspecific with M. apicalis ( MUONA 1979), which is now a junior synonym of M. filiformis (NIKIKITSKY et al. 1998). MUONA (1979) suggested that "the name Meotica capitalis should not be used any more, as its identity can no longer be determined". Such an appeal, however, is taxonomically meaningless; the name is currently listed as a nomen dubium in the Palaearctic Catalogue (SCHÜLKE & SMETANA 2015). We conclude that the original type material is conspecific with the non-type specimen from Lyon, which, according to MUONA (1979), belongs to M. apicalis . It follows that M. capitalis is a junior synonym of M. filiformis and Cryptusa a junior synonym of Meotica .

In the description of M. orbicularis, which is based on a unique specimen from "Carlshafen (Weser)", BENICK (1953) tentatively sexed the holotype as a female. The specimen is in fact a male and conspecific with M. filiformis .

The original description of M apicalis is based on "Typen" from "Geesthacht Oberelbe" and "Birket b. München", as well as on additional material from " Burgenland: Zurndorf, Wolfratshausen und Grünwald .... Geramis (Tirol), Schleissheim b. München, Rheinprovinz (Hild. Heide), Schellbruch b. Lübeck, Schönberg, Mecklenburg" and " Kärnten " ( BENICK 1953). The examined syntypes confirm that the previously established synonymy with M. filiformis is correct.

Meotica hoelzeli was described based on "ein Pärchen" from "Windisch-Bühel, Steiermark " ( BENICK 1953). The examined male is designated as the lectotype and conspecific with M. filiformis .

Meotica clavata was described based on "ein Pärchen" from "Kongsvinger in [sic] nördlichen Norwegen " ( BENICK 1953). The examined male is designated as the lectotype and conspecific with M. filiformis .

The original description of M. ermischi is based on a unique female collected "bei Düsseldorf in [sic] Meerer Busch" ( BENICK 1953). The holotype is conspecific with M. filiformis .

In the description of M. foveolata, which is based on a unique specimen from "Ammendorf", BENICK (1953) tentatively sexed the holotype as a male. The specimen is in fact a male and conspecific with M. filiformis .

In the original description of M. globulosa which is based on a unique specimen from "Thierburg in der Nähe Innsbrucks", BENICK (1953) erroneously sexed the holotype as a male. An examination of this specimen revealed that it is in fact a female and conspecific with M. filiformis .

Meotica fageli was described based on two syntypes from "Forêt de Soignes bei Quatre- Bras" which BENICK (1953) sexed as a male and a female and of which he retained the former. The syntype in the Benick collection was dissected prior to the present revision and the genitalia are missing. Nevertheless, based on external characters, the specimen is conspecific with M. filiformis .

In the original description of M. bohemica, which is based on a unique specimen from "Bilichow, Bohemia ", BENICK (1953) erroneously sexed the holotype as a female. An examination of this specimen confirmed the previously established synonymy.

D i a g n o s i s: Body usually dark-coloured.

♂: sternite VIII ( Fig. 1 ) strongly transverse, with weakly convex posterior margin; median lobe of aedeagus ( Figs 2-3 ) approximately 0.3 mm long and of distinctive shape; ventral process stout in lateral view; apical lobe of paramere blackish.

♀: posterior margin of sternite VIII strongly convex ( Fig. 4 ); spermatheca of distinctive shape ( Fig. 5 ).

C o n f i r m e d d i s t r i b u t i o n: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, British Isles, Spain, France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Ukraine.

Figures

Figs 1-5: Meotica filiformis: (1) male sternite VIII; (2-3) median lobe of aedeagus in lateral and in ventral view; (4) female sternite VIII; (5) spermatheca. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.