Zyras (Zyras) novinversus Assing, 2017, nom. nov.
Creators: name: Assing, Volker
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2017
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Staphylinidae
Zyras
Zyras novinversus

description: Zyras (Zyras) novinversus nom. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 3BD2568F-509A-4132-9F55-131D59FE9405
(Figs 30–31, 67, 106, 198–202, Map 5)
Zyras (Zyras) inversus PACE, 2012b: 339; preoccupied.
Type material examined: Holotype ♀: “ THAILAND, Doi Angkhang, 24.X.2010, G. de Rougemont / Holotypus Zyras inversus mihi, det. R. Pace, 2011 / Zyras inversus n. sp., det. R. Pace, 2011 / Zyras novinversus nom. n., det. V. Assing 2016” (cRou).
Comment: The original description is based on two females from “ Thailand Doi Angkhang” (PACE 2012b). The examined holotype is evidently subject to postmortem darkening and has the eyes deformed, most likely as a result of the effect of chemicals or other improper treatment during original dissection.
Zyras inversus PACE, 2012 is a primary homonym of Zyras (Glossacantha) inversus PACE, 2001, a species described based on two females from Tamil Nadu in South India (Pace 2001b). The junior primary homonym is here replaced with the nomen novum Zyras novinversus (a combination of novus and inversus). It is, however, with some hesitation that I propose a replacement name. This species is most likely widespread and the possibility that one of the unrevised names described based on material from Java and Sumatra refers to this name cannot be ruled out with certainty.
Additional material examined: Thailand: 7 exs., Tak province, Umphang district, Song Bae Stream, Thung Yai Wildlife Sanctuary, 15°28'N, 98°48'E, 300 m, evergreen rain forest, 18–27.IV.1988, leg. Brendell (BMNH, cAss); 12 exs., Tak province, Umphang district, Mae Chan – Mae Klong confluence, Thung Yai Wildlife Sanctuary, 15°30'N, 98°48'E, 300 m, edge of Karen clearing, 27.IV.– 6.V.1988, leg. Brendell (BMNH, cAss). Laos: 15 exs., Phongsaly province, Phongsaly env., 1300–1500 m, V.2004 (cMar, cAss).
Redescription: Body length 4.5–6.6 mm; length of forebody 2.1–2.9 mm. Coloration (Figs 30–31, 67, 106): head and pronotum black; elytra reddish-yellow with the postero-lateral portions blackish, rarely nearly uniformly dark with only the humeral angles indistinctly paler; abdomen with segments II–V reddish (rarely reddishbrown with reddish margins), segment VI reddish or brown with reddish margins, segment VII usually darkbrown to blackish-brown with the anterior portion reddish, rarely completely reddish, segment VIII darkbrown to blackish-brown, segment IX dark-brown, and tergite X reddish; legs pale-yellowish; antennae blackishbrown to black with antennomeres I–II reddish-yellow to brown and the apex of antennomere XI dark-reddish; maxillary palpi yellowish-brown, with the terminal palpomere yellowish.
Head (Fig. 67) moderately transverse, broadly impunctate along middle; punctation in lateral dorsal portions moderately coarse and sparse. Eyes large, twice as long as postocular region in dorsal view, or nearly so. Antenna (Figs 30–31) 1.9–2.1 mm long; antennomeres IV and V weakly oblong, VI approximately as long as broad, VII approximately as long as broad or weakly transverse, VIII–X of gradually increasing width and increasingly transverse, X approximately 1.5 times as broad as long, and XI elongate, approximately as long as the combined length of VIII–X.
Pronotum (Fig. 67) approximately 1.2 times as broad as long and 1.07–1.15 times as broad as head, broadest near anterior angles, distinctly tapering posteriad; lateral margins straight or weakly sinuate in posterior two-thirds (dorsal view); punctation very coarse, very irregularly distributed, arranged in more or less distinct clusters, these clusters often situated in very shallow impressions, middle and lateral portion with extensive impunctate patches; lateral margins each with four long, black setae.
Elytra (Fig. 67) 0.85–0.93 times as long as pronotum; punctation coarse, defined, moderately dense to dense, and almost regularly distributed, somewhat less dense in posterior portion. Hind wings fully developed. Metatarsomere I shorter than the combined length of II–IV.
Abdomen (Fig. 106) narrower than elytra, with moderately deep anterior impressions on tergites III–V; anterior impressions of tergites III–V with dense and rather coarse non-setiferous punctation; tergite III with a lateral setiferous puncture on either side and with four setiferous punctures at posterior margin; tergites IV–V with a lateral setiferous puncture on either side (often accompanied by few non-setiferous punctures) and with six setiferous punctures at posterior margin; tergite VI anteriorly with more or less extensive non-setiferous punctation, with a lateral setiferous puncture on either side (often accompanied by few non-setiferous punctures) and with six setiferous punctures at posterior margin; tergite VII with a transverse band of sparse and rather fine non-setiferous punctures anteriorly, with a transverse series of approximately eight setiferous punctures at posterior fourth, and with scattered setiferous punctures at posterior margin, palisade fringe present; tergite VIII with sparse setiferous punctures in posterior portion, posterior margin with sexual dimorphism.
♂: posterior margin of tergite VIII (Fig. 201) with four weakly pronounced blunt projections; posterior margin of sternite VIII (Fig. 202) weakly convex, nearly truncate in the middle; median lobe of aedeagus approximately 0.75 mm long and shaped as in Figs 198–199; paramere (Fig. 200) approximately 0.8 mm long and with rather long apical lobe.
♀: posterior margin of tergite VIII smoothly convex or with shallow median concavity; posterior margin of sternite VIII weakly concave.
Intraspefic variation: Body size, the coloration of the elytra and abdomen, as well as the shapes of tergite and sternite VIII are subject to rather pronounced intraspefic variation.
Comparative notes: As can be inferred from the generally similar external characters, particularly the conspicuously irregular punctation and the often slightly uneven surface of the pronotum, and the punctation pattern of the abdomen, as well as from the sexual dimorphism of tergite VIII, the similar modifications of the male tergite VIII, and from the relatively long apical lobe of the paramere, Z. novinversus is very closely allied to Z. proximus, from which it is distinguished by the different coloration of the abdomen, an on average less uneven disc of the pronotum, less pronounced modifications of the male tergite VIII, and by the shape of the ventral process of the aedeagus.
Distribution and natural history: Although currently known only from Thailand and Laos (Map 5), this species is most likely more widespread in the Oriental region, as is suggested by the vast distribution of the similar and closely related Z. proximus, as well as by the fact that at least the examined non-type material was evidently collected on the wing (practically all the specimens have the hind wings fully unfolded). The additional material from Thailand was collected in an evergreen rain forest and at the edge of a clearing at an altitude of 300 m, together with several other species of Zyras sensu strictu, among them numerous Z. proximus. The specimens from Laos were taken at an altitude of 1300–1500 m.
description: Published as part of Assing, Volker, 2017, On Zyras sensu strictu in the East Palaearctic and Oriental regions, with a focus on the faunas of the Himalaya, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Sulawesi (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae: Lomechusini), pp. 117-192 in Beiträge Zur Entomologie = Contributions to Entomology 67 (1) on pages 151-152, DOI: 10.21248/contrib.entomol.67.1.117-192, http://zenodo.org/record/5742363