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

description: Zyras (Zyras) pindarae (CHAMPION, 1921)
(Figs 3–5, 44, 82–85, 125–131, Map 2)
Myrmedonia (Zyras) pindarae CHAMPION, 1921: 179.
Zyras (Zyras) ruficauda CAMERON, 1939a: 543; syn. n.
Type material examined: Z. pindarae: Holotype ♀: “ Pindar V. Almora, U.P., 8–11,000 ft., July 1920 H.G.C. / 3613 / Myrmedonia (Zyras) pindarae Champ. / E.M.M. 1921, det. G.C.C. / 1921-141 / Holotype / Holotype Myrmedonia (Zyras) pindarae, det. R.G. Booth 2016” (BMNH).
Z. ruficauda: Syntype ♀ [in poor condition: most of head and right elytron missing; dissected prior to present study]: “Holotype [sic] / Ghum dist., Tiger Hill, 8,500– 10,000 ft., v–vi.1931, Dr. Cameron / Z. ruficauda Cam. Type / M. Cameron. Bequest. 1955-147. / Zyras ruficauda Cam., det. R. Pace 1989, Holotypus [sic] / Syntypus ♀ Zyras ruficauda Cameron, rev. V. Assing 2016” (BMNH).
Comment: The original description of Z. pindarae is based on a unique specimen of unspecified sex from “Pindar Valley ... in Kumaon” (CHAMPION 1921), that of Z. ruficauda on an unspecified number of syntypes from “Ghum district: Tiger Hill” (CAMERON 1939a). Only one syntype of Z. ruficauda was located in the Cameron collection at the BMNH. Since it is a female in poor condition, it is not designated as the lectotype.
An examination of the types and of the additional material listed below revealed that this species appears to occur in four colour morphs (see also the notes on intraspecific variation below), one with a uniformly black abdomen, one with the abdomen more or less extensively brown, one with segments VII–X reddish, and one with only segments VIII–X reddish. They are hypothesized to belong to the same species based on the following arguments. First, other significant external differences were not observed, neither in the punctation of the forebody and the abdomen, nor in the shape of the antennae, nor in the proportions of the various body parts. Second, the anterior portions of the posterior segments may be partly paler also in specimens with a seemingly uniformly black abdomen (anterior portions visible only when the respective segments are fully visible). Third, no differences were found in the shape of the aedeagus. And finally, the different colour morphs have sympatric distributions and have on several occasions been collected in the same locality. In consequence, there is little doubt that the type material of Z. pindarae and Z. ruficauda is conspecific, so that the latter is placed in synonymy with the former.
Additional material examined: Abdomen completely black: Nepal: 1 ♀, Dhaulagiri, Parbat region, Ghar Khola valley, near Chitre, 2400 m, 24.V.2004, leg. Kleeberg (cKle); 1 ♂, Dhaulagiri, Parbat region, near Chitre, 2400– 2600 m, 27.V.2004, leg. Kleeberg (cAss); 1 ♂ [identified by Pace as Z. condignus], S-slope of Dhaulagiri range, above Pathlekharka, 28°32'N, 83°29'E, 2500–2700 m, 12.V.2009, leg. Schmidt (NME); 1 ♂ [identified by Pace as Z. condignus], S-slope of Dhaulagiri range, N Banduk, 28°28'N, 83°35'E, 2400–2600 m, 8.V.2009, leg. Schmidt (NME); 1 ♀, 2 exs., Annapurna, Sikles range, Dhara Kharka, N Sikles, 2150 m, 27.IV.1996, leg. Schmidt (SDEI, cAss); 1 ♂, Annapurna, Sikles range, N Pokhara, Kyojo Kharka, N Sikles, 2600 m, 29.IV.1996, leg. Schmidt (SDEI); 1 ex., Annapurna, Sikles range, N Pokhara, Hogo [=Hugo] Kharka, N Sikles, 1850 m, 4.V.1996, leg. Schmidt (cAss); 1 ex., same data, but 28.IV.1996 (SDEI); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Annapurna, Sikles range, Nyauli Kharka, S Sikles, 2400 m, 21–24.IV.1996, leg. Schmidt (SDEI); 1 ♀ [nanistic], Annapurna, N Pokhara, small river near Sikles, 2200 m, 24.IV.1996, leg. Jäger (SMTD); 1 ♀, Rolwaling, between Simigaon and Nyimare, 2600 m, 17.V.2000, leg. Kleeberg (cKle); 1 ♀, Lalitpur district, Phulchoki, 2650 m, 13.X.1983, leg. Löbl & Smetana (MHNG); 1 ♂, Bagmati province, Malemchi, 2800 m, 14.IV.1981, leg. Löbl & Smetana (MHNG); 1 ♀, Parbat district, Ghoropani Pass, N-slope, 2700 m, 6.X.1983, leg. Löbl & Smetana (MHNG).
Abdominal segments VIII–X reddish: Nepal: 1 ♀, Bagmati province, Pokhare NE Barahbise, 2800 m, 2.V.1981, leg. Löbl & Smetana (MHNG).
Abdominal segment VII–X reddish: Nepal: 1 ♂, Dhaulagiri, Baglung Lekh, 30 km W Baglung, 2800 m, 21.V.2004, leg. Kleeberg (cAss); 1 ♀, Annapurna, Marsyangdi valley, valley to Bargachap, 1700–2200 m, 22–23.VIII.1995, leg. Schmidt (SDEI); 1 ♀, Annapurna, Sikles range, Dhara Kharka, N Sikles, 2150 m, 27.IV.1996, leg. Schmidt (SDEI); 1 ♂, Parbat District. Ghoropani Pass, N slope, 2700 m 6.X.1983, leg. Smetana & Löbl (MHNG); 1 ♂ [identified by Pace as Z. condignus], S-slope of Dhaulagiri range, above Pathlekharka, 28°32'N, 83°29'E, 2500–2700 m, 12.V.2009, leg. Schmidt (NME); 1 ♀ [identified by Pace as Z. condignus], S-slope of Dhaulagiri range, N Banduk, 28°28'N, 83°35'E, 2400–2600 m, 8.V.2009, leg. Schmidt (NME).
Abdomen brownish: Nepal: 1 ♂ [teneral; identified by Pace as Z. perforatus], Bagmati province, Pokhare NE Barahbise, 2700 m, 2.V.1981, leg. Löbl & Smetana (MHNG); 1 ♂ [teneral], Dhaulagiri, Parbat region, Chitre, 2500 m, 26.V.2004, leg. Kleeberg (cKle); 1 ♀, Rolwaling Himal, Simigau village, ca. 2600 m, 28.V.2000, leg. Schmidt (cKle); 1 ♂, Kathmandu, Shivapuri National Park, 2200 m, 24.V.2004, leg. Chaudary (cAss).
Redescription: Species of variable size; body length 6.5–8.3 mm; length of forebody 3.1–3.8 mm (one nanistic specimen: body length 6.0 mm; length of forebody 2.7 mm). Coloration (Figs 3–5, 44, 82–85): body completely black, or with the abdominal apex (segments VII–X or VIII–X) reddish, or with the abdomen brown with blackish-brown tergites VI–VII and yellowishbrown margins of tergites III–V; legs bicoloured with the femora blackish-brown to black and the tibiae and tarsi yellowish-brown; antennae black, with antennomere XI dark-reddish to dark-brown; maxillary palpi dark-brown to blackish-brown, with the apical palpomere yellowish.
Head (Fig. 44) distinctly transverse, broadly impunctate along middle; punctation in lateral dorsal portions moderately coarse and moderately dense. Eyes slightly longer than postocular region in dorsal view. Antenna (Figs 3–5) 2.4–2.9 mm long and moderately massive; antennomeres IV and V approximately as long as broad, VI–X weakly transverse, X much less than 1.5 times as broad as long, and XI as long as, or slightly shorter than the combined length of IX and X.
Pronotum (Fig. 44) weakly transverse, 1.05–1.17 times as broad as long and 1.27–1.40 times as broad as head, broadest near anterior angles, distinctly tapering posteriad; lateral margins straight in posterior half (dorsal view); punctation moderately sparse to moderately dense and slightly irregularly distributed, in antero-lateral portion with sparsely punctate patches on either side; midline rather narrowly impunctate; lateral margins each with four moderately long blackish setae.
Elytra (Fig. 44) 0.75–0.80 times as long as pronotum; punctation subject to sexual dimorphism, dense and coarse; scutellum with rather coarse and dense punctation anteriorly, glossy and impunctate in posterior portion. Hind wings fully developed. Metatarsomere I approximately as long as the combined length of II–IV, or nearly so.
Abdomen (Figs 82–85) slightly narrower than elytra, with rather shallow anterior impressions on tergites III–V; anterior impressions of tergites III–V each with few non-setiferous punctures in the middle, laterally impunctate; tergites III–V with a lateral setiferous puncture on either side and with four setiferous punctures at posterior margins; tergite VI with few non-setiferous punctures anteriorly, with a lateral setiferous puncture on either side, and with six setiferous punctures at posterior margin; tergite VII with few non-setiferous punctures anteriorly, and with two transverse series of 4–6 setiferous punctures posteriorly, posterior margin with palisade fringe; tergite VIII (Fig. 130) with two transverse series of long black setae near posterior margin; posterior margin concavely excised in the middle, shape of this excision subject to weak sexual dimorphism.
♂: punctation of elytra somewhat irregularly distributed, very dense and coarse near scutellum, slightly less dense and less coarse elsewhere; posterior excision of tergite VIII with a pronounced acute process on either side (Fig. 130); sternite VIII (Fig. 131) with convex posterior margin; median lobe of aedeagus 0.95– 1.15 mm long and shaped as in Figs 125–128; paramere (Fig. 129) approximately as long as median lobe and with short apical lobe.
♀: punctation of elytra nearly regularly distributed, slightly less dense and less coarse than in male; posterior excision of tergite VIII with less pronounced process on either side; posterior margin of sternite VIII weakly concave in the middle.
Intraspecific variation: Zyras pindarae is the first example ofaspeciesof Zyras sensustrictuwithapronouncedcolour polymorphism. The abdomen may be of uniformly black coloration, or brown with blackish segments VI–VII, or bicoloured with either segments VII–X or VIII–X reddish (Figs 82–85). The different colour morphs may occur syntopically. The aedeagus of all morphs is identical (Figs 125–128).
Comparative notes: Based on the similar punctation pattern of the forebody and the abdomen, on the similar morphology of the antennae, and on the weakly transverse pronotum, Z. pindarae is attributed to the Z. kraatzi group. It is distinguished from other species of this group by the colour polymorphism of the abdomen, the sexual dimorphism of the elytra punctation, only slightly irregularly distributed punctation of the elytra (practically regular in females), the punctation pattern of the abdomen, and by the shape of the median lobe of the aedeagus.
Distribution and natural history: The known distribution includes North India (Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal) and Nepal (Map 2). For previous records from Nepal see PACE (1992, 2006) and ASSING (2016b). Four of the examined specimens from Nepal had been identified by Pace as Z. condignus and one as Z. perforatus, which casts some doubt on previous records by PACE (1992, 2006). The altitudes range from 1850 to 2800 m. In one locality, Z. pindarae was found together with Z. truncatus, in one with Z. pallipes, and in several localities together with Z. perforatus.
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 127-128, DOI: 10.21248/contrib.entomol.67.1.117-192, http://zenodo.org/record/5742363