Plesiochara japonica Inoue & Maruyama 2022, comb. nov.
Creators: name: Inoue, Shûgo
name: Maruyama, Munetoshi
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Staphylinidae
Plesiochara
Plesiochara japonica

description: Plesiochara japonica (Sharp, 1874) comb. nov.
Japanese common name: Kusabira-hanekakushi
(Figs 1A–F, 2, 3, 12A)
Ocalea japonica Sharp, 1874: 4 [original description, type locarity: Copper temple, Nagasaki]; Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 731 [catalogue, as subgenus Ocalea]; Smetana, 2004: 475 [catalogue, as subgenus Ocalea]; Shibata et al., 2013: 121 [catalogue]; Schülke & Smetana, 2015: 694 [catalogue].
Plesiochara fusca Sawada, 1989: 304 [original description, type locality: Minoo, Osaka Pref.]; Smetana, 2004: 361 [catalogue]; Shibata et al., 2013: 106 [catalogue]; Schülke & Smetana, 2015: 505 [catalogue]. Syn. nov.
Redescription. Body elongate; head, thorax and abdomen dark brown; antennae dark reddish brown, with basal part paler; mouth parts and legs reddish yellow; elytra reddish yellow with posterolateral portion darker; head, thorax, abdominal sternites, elytra, and legs covered with setae rather densely; abdominal tergites sparsely covered with setae; dorsal surface of head and pronotum densely covered with reticulation; elytra weakly rugose; abdominal tergites glossy.
Head circular, slightly longer than or as long as wide; postocular parts roundly narrowed toward base; eyes ovate. Antennae slender, longer than a combination of head and pronotum; segments IV–V slightly longer than wide; segments VI–VII as long as wide; segments VIII–IX slightly transverse; segments X as long as wide; segments XI ovate.
Pronotum almost hexagonal, slightly wider than long; anterior margin widely rounded; lateral margin moderately rounded, narrowed more strongly to posterior than anterior; anterior corners rounded; posterior corners obtusely roundly angulated; hypomera visible in lateral view, with posterior part of carina (Fig. 12A) directed posteriorly almost parallel to lateral margin.
Mesoventrite (Fig. 2A) shortly carinate at base of midline; inner coxal process narrow, elongate, reaching to metaventrite process. Metaventrite (Fig. 2A) with inner coxal process short, moderately narrow.
Elytra wider than long, longer and wider than pronotum, weakly diverging to posteriorly, widest near posterolateral corners; hind margin sinuate near posterolateral corners. Hind wings developed.
Abdomen moderately elongate, parallel sided; tergites III–VII with small pores at basal impression; VIII tergite (Fig. 2B) with posterior margin smooth, shallowly emarginate medially in both sexes. VIII sternum with posterior margin smooth, widely rounded in both sexes (Fig. 2C).
Legs slender, rather long (HTL/PL = 1.13–1.20); surface of fore and middle tibia not covered with spines; hind tarsal segments I as long as or slightly longer than a combination of II and III.
Male: Median lobe of aedeagus (Fig. 1B–E) rather small; apical lobe dorso-laterally rather thick, weakly curved dorsally at apex, bisinuate at ventral margin, dilated laterally at apical, rather strongly constricted at middle in ventral view; sclerites 1 (sc1) with posterior margin strongly convex and curved laterally; anterior margin widely emarginate.
Female: Spermatheca (Fig. 1F) with capsule spherical.
Measurements. BL 4.3–4.9, FBL 2.60–2.77, HW 0.68–0.70, HL 0.72–0.75, PW 0.85–0.97, PL 0.83–0.86, EW 1.15–1.39, EL 1.01–1.15, HTL 0.92–1.01.
Type material. Ocalea japonica: lectotype, here designated, male, “ Type [RRL]// Japan (YRLS)// Japan./ G. Lewis //Sharp Coll.//1905-313.// Ocalea /japonica/type D. S.// Lectotype / Ocalea japonica / Sharp, 1874 /des. Maruyama, 2011” (abdominal segments VIII-X and aedeagus were dissected and mounted in Euparal by MM) (PL, 0.85; PW, 0.86; HTL, 1.07) (BMNH).
Specimens examined. JAPAN: Honshu: [Gunma Pref.]: 2 unsexed, Nishiyama-rindô, Sôri, Azuma-mura, Seta-gun, 21. V.2005, T. Horiguchi leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, Nagamine-shizen koen, Ikaho-chô., 13–18.IV.2003, K. Kanai leg. (KUM); 1 male, Ôya, Annaka-shi, 22.IV.2003, T Watanabe leg. (KUM); 1 female, 3 unsexed, Motojuku, Agatsuma-machi, 15. V.2005, T. Watanabe leg. (KUM); [Saitama Pref.]: 1 male, Irikawa, Ôtaki, Chichibu-shi, 3.XI.1991, M. Uchida leg. (KUM); 1 female, 1 unsexed, Mt. Kumakura-san, Chichibu-shi, 3.XI.1990, H. Oda leg. (KUM); 3 unsexed, Kuroyama-santaki, Ogose-machi, Iruma-shi, 3.IV.1983, H. Oda leg. (KUM); [Tokyo Met.]: 1 unsexed, Mt. Takao-san, Hachiôji-shi, 16.IV.1962. Y. Shibata leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, ditto, 24. V.1963, Y. Shibata leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, Setagaya-ku, 25.II.1960, Y. Shibata leg. (KUM); 1 female, 1 unsexed, Machida-shi, 29.XI.1986, M. Tao leg. (KUM); 1 male, Mt. Mitake-san, Ôme-shi, 29. VI.1962, Y. Shibata leg. (KUM); [Chiba Pref.]: 2 males, 10 unsexed, Yata, Shiroi-shi, 14.XI.1989, T. Takeda leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, Koura, Onjuku-machi, 23.XII.1989, T. Takeda leg. (KUM); 2 unsexed, Mt. Nagara, Nagara-machi, 14.XI.1992, T. Takeda leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, Kuramochi, Chônan-machi, 4.XI.1992, T. Takeda leg. (KUM); 2 unsexed, ditto, 23.XI.1992, T. Takeda leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, Mineoka-asama-yama, Kamogawa-shi, 27.IV.1997, S. Nomura leg. (KUM); 6 unsexed, Niaorikawa, Kiwadabata, Kimitsu-shi, 13.III–5. VI.2013, A. Saito leg., by underground trap (NHMC); 5 unsexed, Honzawa. Kiyosumi, Kamogawa-shi, 4. XII.2013 – 22. V.2014, A. Saito leg. (NHMC); 1 unsexed, Maezawa Hodou, Kiwadabata, Kimitsu-shi, 17.IV.2013, A. Saito leg. (NHMC); [Kanagawa Pref.]: 1 unsexed, Jike-chô, Aoba-ku, Yokohama-shi, 23.XI.2015, H. Ooki leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, Motoishikawa, Aoba-ku, Yokohama-shi, 24.III.2019, H. Ooki leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, ditto, 1.III.2021, H. Ooki leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, Kurogane-chô, Aoba-ku, Yokohama-shi, 14.III.2014, H. Ooki leg. (KUM); 3 unsexed, Niiharu-chô, Midori-ku, Yokohama-chô, 19.XI.2010, H. Ooki leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, ditto, 20.XI.2011, H. Ooki leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, Miho, Midori-ku, Yokohama-shi, 27.XI.2013, H. Ooki leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, Midori-ku, Yokohama-shi, 5. V.1987, M. Tao leg.; 1 unsexed, Sengenyama, Nakai-machi, 7.XII.2005, T. Watanabe leg. (KUM); 2 unsexed, Mt. Kôbo-yama, Hadano-shi, 15.XI.1989, T. Watanabe leg. (KUM); 2 unsexed, near Bodai, Tanzawa, Hadano-shi, 29.IV.1970, Y. Shibata leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, Near Ôkura, Tanzawa, Hadano-shi, 29.IV.1973, Y. Shibata leg. (KUM); 1 male, 3 unsexed, Mt. Ishihodoyama, Nishi-tanzawa, Yamakita-machi, 9.X.1995, T. Watanabe leg. (KUM); 2 male, 7 unsexed, Fudakake, Tanzawa, Kiyokawa-mura, 6.XI.1993, T. Watanabe leg., from animal dropping (KUM); 5 unsexed, ditto, 19.X.2000, T. Watanabe leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, Dôdaira, Tanzawa, Kiyokawa-mura, 10.X.1987, Y. Hirano leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, Near Dohdaira, Tanzawa, Kiyokawa-mura, 10.X.1987, Y. Shibata leg. (KUM); 2 unsexed, Mt. Ôyama, 6.XI.1960, Y. Shibata leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, ditto, 23.XI.1967, Y. Shibata leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, ditto, 23.X.1969, R. Kiryu leg. (KUM); [Ishikawa Pref.]: 2 unsexed, Komagaeri, Kanazawa-shi 20.IV.1961, Y. Hayashi leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, 1 female, Kodatsuno, Kanawaza-shi, 13.III.1962, Y. Hayashi leg. (KUM); [Nagano Pref.]: 1 unsexed, Utsukushi, 1. V.1960, Y. Shibata leg.; 1 unsexed, Shimashimadani, Matsumoto-shi, 800 m, 4–7. V.2008, H. Asaki leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, ditto, 800 m, 21–26. V.2008, H. Asaki leg. (KUM); 2 unsexed, ditto, 800 m, 10–16, X.2008, H. Asaki leg. (KUM); [Yamanashi Pref.]: 2 unsexed, Nagasaku, Kosuge-mura, 19.X.1990, T. Watanabe leg. (KUM); 8 unsexed, Maruno-machi, 25.IV.1993, K. Hosoda leg. (cI); [Gifu Pref.]: 1 unsexed, Hongô-chô, Seki-shi, 17.III.1980, Y. Takai leg. (KUM); [Shizuoka Pref.]: 1 male, 3 unsexed, Mt. Amagi-san, Higashiizu-chô, 18. V.1959, K. Mizusawa leg. (KUM); 2 unsexed, same data, Y. Shibata leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, ditto, 4. V.1959, Y. Nagashima leg. (KUM); 1 female, same data, K. Ishida leg. (KUM); 1 male, Amagi-tôge pass, 27.X.1985, S. Nomura leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, Abe-river, 17.XI.1984, M. Tao leg.; [Mie Pref.]: Hirakura, Tsu-shi, 20.XI.1994, T. Ito leg., from mushroom (cI); 2 unsexed, ditto, 19.XI.1994, K. Mizuno leg. (cI); [Kyoto Pref.]: 1 unsexed, Maizuru-shi, 11. IV.1998, T. Ito leg. (cI); 2 unsexed, Nyou, Maizuru-shi, 5.XI.2003, K. Yasukawa and T. Murao leg. (cI); 1 unsexed, Iwakura, Sakyô-ku, Kyoto-shi, 5.XI.1980, T. Ogata leg. (KUM); 1 male, 1 female, Kurama, Sakyô-ku, Kyoto-shi, 1.XI.1964, T. Ito leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, Kibune, Sakyô-ku, Kyoto-shi, 29.IV.1958, Y. Shibata leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, ditto, 2. V.1959, T. Ito leg. (KUM); 2 unsexed, ditto, 1.XI.1964, T. Ito leg. (KUM); 1 male, Kibune, Yamashiro, 19. VI.1929, T. Esaki leg.; 2 male, 1 female, 23 unsexed, Otokoyama, Yawata-shi, 24.II.2011, T. Ito leg., by rotten vegetables trap (KUM, cI); 5 unsexed, Hanase, Sakyô-ku, Kyoto-shi, 26.X.1991, T. Ito leg, from mushroom. (KUM); [Ôsaka Pref.]: 1 unsexed, Minoo-shi, 2.IV.1959, K. Ueda leg. (KUM); 1 male, 1 female, 1 unsexed, ditto, 4.IV.1959, K. Ueda leg. (KUM); 3 unsexed, ditto, 13.IV.1958, Y. Hayashi leg. (KUM); 1 female, Mt. Makio-san, Izumi-shi, 23.IV.1960, Y. Kimura leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, Hiraoka, Sakai-shi, 26.III.1961, Y. Hayashi leg. (KUM); [Nara Pref.]: 1 male, Kasuga, 4.XI.1964, T. Ito leg. (KUM); 20 unsexed, Nara-park, Nara-shi, 10.XI.2009, T. Ito leg., from mushroom (KUM); [Wakayama Pref.]: 1 male, Onoda, Kainan-shi, 13.IV.1993, M. Kitabata leg. (KUM); 3 unsexed, Fujishirozaka, Kainan-shi, 23.III.1993, K. Harusawa leg. (cI); 1 unsexed, Higashihonjô, Minabe-chô, 7. III.2019, I. Matoba leg. (cI); 1 unsexed, Ôsumi, Kimino-chô, 7.IV.1979, H. Hiramatsu leg. (cI); [Tottori Pref.]: 1 male, Mt. Daisen, 8.XI.1977, S. Naomi leg. (KUM); [Okayama Pref.]: 1 male. 1 female, 8 unsexed, Okutsugawakeikoku, Kamo-chô, Tomata-gun, 26.X.2003, Y. Fujitani leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, ditto, 23.XI.2003, Y. Fujitani leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, ditto, 7.XII.2003, Y. Fujitani leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, Mumyô-dani, Tetta-chô, Atetsu-gun, 19.X.2003, Y. Fujitani leg. (KUM); [Yamaguchi Pref.]: 1 female, 4 unsexed, Nodani, Tokuji-chô, Saba-gun, 31. III.2004, Y. Fujitani leg. (KUM); 4 unsexed, ditto, 10.IV.2004, Y. Fujitani leg. (KUM); 1 female, ditto, 15.IV.2004, Y. Fujitani leg. (KUM); 1 male, 1 unsexed, ditto, 30.IV.2004, Y. Fujitani leg. (KUM); Shikoku: [Tokushima Pref.]: 1 female, Mt. Tsurugi-san, 15–17.X.1980, S. Naomi leg. (KUM); 1 female, Mt. Maruzasa-yama (alt. 1410 m), Ichiu-son, Tsurugi-machi, 11. VI –6.VIII.2000, M. Yoshida leg., fowl trap (KUM). [Ehime Pref.]: 1 female, 1 unsexed, Riverside of Fukumigawa river, Matsuyama-shi, 27.XI–3.XII.1986, M. Hiraoka leg. (KUM); 3 unsexed, ditto, 5–9.XI.1986, M. Hiraoka leg. (KUM); 3 unsexed, Fukumi, Matsuyama-shi, 5–9.XI.1986, M. Hiraoka leg. (KUM); Kyushu: [Fukuoka Pref.]: 32 male, 12 female, 111 unsexed, Tachibana-yama, Fukuoka-shi, 27.XI.1983, S. Naomi leg. (KUM); 33 unsexed, ditto, 7. V.1980, S. Naomi leg. (KUM); 3 male, 3 unsexed, Mt. Hiko-san, Soedamachi, 24.X.1974, M. T. Chujo leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, ditto, 4.XI.1971, K. Takeno leg., from Omphalotus japonicus (Kawam.) Kircham. & O. K. Mill. (KUM); 1 unsexed, ditto, 19.XI.1980, T. Goto leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, ditto, 20.IV.1969, K. Kanmiya leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, Mt. Wakasugi-yama, 17.IV.1932, K. Yasumatsu leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, Chikushi-yabakei, Nakagawa-shi, 16.III.1986, S. Nomura leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, Kôrasan, Kurume-shi, 1–7.IV.2011, S. Imasaka leg. (cI); [Saga Pref.]: 2 unsexed, Makishima-yama, Seto-chô, Imari-shi, 35 m, 24.II.2021, S. Kakizoe leg., from dog dung (KUM); 2 unsexed, Yuzuriha, Mitsuse-mura, Saga-shi, 400 m, 25.II.2021, S. Kakizoe leg., from dog dung (KUM); [Nagasaki Pref.]: 1 unsexed, Shimabara, 13.IV.1979, S. Imasaka leg. (KUM); 2 unsexed, Senbuki, Shimabara-shi, 4.XI.1977, S. Imasaka leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, ditto, 27.XII.1977, S. Imasaka leg. (KUM); 1 male, Shitonezaki, Shikamachi-chô, 1.IV.1988, S. Nomura leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, Suwa-shrine, Nagasaki-shi, 21.I.1984, S. Nomura leg. (KUM); [Kumamoto Pref.]: 1 male, 1 female, 2 unsexed, Ueki-chô, 22.XI.1988, S. Naomi leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, Aso-shimizu-dani, 27.X.1993, Y. Tomishima leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, Mt. Daikan-zan, Seiwa-mura, 3.XI.1994, I. Ohtsuka leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, Tenshu-zan, Yabe-chô, 17.X.1994, Y. Tomishima leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, Naidaijin, Yamato-machi, 22.X.1982, M. Matsuzaki leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, Mt. Ichifusa-yama, Minakami-mura, 31.X.1982, M. Matsuzaki leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, ditto, 13.X.1995, Y. Tomishima leg. (KUM); [Ôita Pref.]: 1 unsexed, Taiko-bashi, Kadota, Takeda-shi, 12.IV.2008, T. Miyazaki leg. (KUM); 1 female, Taiko-bashi-no-ana cave, Kadota, Takeda-shi, 322 m, 26.IV–10. V.2008, K. Ito leg. (KUM); 1 female, Kawanishi, Yufuin-chô, 6.XII.2003, T. Miyazaki leg. (KUM); 1 unsexed, Shin-yabakei, Nakatsu-shi, 30.III.1985, S. Nomura leg. (KUM); 9 unsexed, Mt. Kurotake, Yufu-shi, 1.XI.2021, S. Kakizoe leg., from rotten mushroom (KUM); [Miyazaki Pref.]: 1 unsexed, Mt. Takachiho-no-mine, 24.X.1977, M. T. Chujo leg. (KUM).
Distribution. Japan: Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu (Fig. 3).
Bionomics. The collecting records show that Plesiochara japonica is distributed in lowlands to mountainous areas. Adults appear in fall, winter, and spring (October–June), and are found in mushroom (e. g. Omphalotus japonicus (Kawam.) Kircham. & O. K. Mill), rotten vegetables, animal dropping, and fallen leaves.
Diagnosis. Plesiochara japonica is similar to P. nitida and P. inflexa, but can be distinguished by the following characters: legs shorter (HTL/PL = 1.13–1.20); hypomera with posterior part of carina directed posteriorly almost parallel to lateral margin; median lobe of aedeagus with apical lobe thick, bisinuate at ventral margin; sclerites 1 strongly convex and curved laterally at posterior margin; spermatheca with capsule spherical.
Remarks. According to the original description (Sharp 1874), there should be three syntypes from “Copper Temple, Nagasaki ”. However, only a male syntype was found in the Natural History Museum, London (BMNH), which MM photographed and dissected in 2011; it is designated as the lectotype herein. We compared the photograph of the dorsal habitus and drawing of the aedeagus of the lectotype examined by MM and other specimens from Japan and concluded that P. fusca is a junior synonym of O. japonica.
description: Published as part of Inoue, Shûgo & Maruyama, Munetoshi, 2022, Revision of the genus Plesiochara Sawada (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), pp. 501-519 in Zootaxa 5165 (4) on pages 502-507, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5165.4.3, http://zenodo.org/record/6853869