Quedius (Raphirus) optabilis Bernhauer 1934
Creators: name: Smetana, Aleš
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2012
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Staphylinidae
Quedius
Quedius optabilis

description: Quedius (Raphirus) optabilis Bernhauer, 1934
(Figs. 37–41)
optabilis Bernhauer 1934: 12 (Quedius; subg. Raphirus)
Smetana 1990: 201 (Quedius; subg. Raphirus; lectotype designation)
Type locality. People’s Republic of China: Mittel Szechuan: Hwa-Yin-Shan, 1600 m.
Type material. Bernhauer (1934: 12) described the species from an unknown number of specimens from Hwa-Yin-Shan, 1600 m. Type material (single male) of Q. optabilis was studied by SMETANA, 1990: 201, who designated the lectotype.
Material studied: The lectotype.
Redescription. In all external characters quite similar to Q. maculipennis and different mainly by the male sexual characters. Body size smaller than that of average sized specimens of Q. maculipennis.
M a l e. First four segments of front tarsus indistinctly dilated, hardly subbilobed, each with some tenent setae ventrally, segment two distinctly narrower than apex of tibia (ratio 0.75); segment 4 narrower than preceding segments. Sternite 8 with three long setae on each side, with moderately deep and wide medioapical emargination (Fig. 37), small triangular area before emargination flattened and smooth. Genital segment with tergite 10 of different shape than that of Q. maculipennis, narrowly arcuate apically, with a few unequally long setae at and near apical margin, otherwise with only two short setae on middle portion (Fig. 38); sternite 9 with moderately long basal portion, apical portion subtruncate apically, with two slightly differentiated, very long apical setae, with general setae markedly long (Fig. 39). Aedoeagus (Figs. 40, 41) similar to that of Q. maculipennis, but markedly shorter, less narrow, median lobe relatively wider, narrowed anteriad in almost straight line, anteriorly slightly dilated into apical portion with subacute apex, with short median carina on face adjacent to paramere: paramere wider, fusiform, with narrowly arcuate apex not reaching apex of median lobe; four fine, equally long, apical setae at apical margin, two similar setae at each lateral margin below apex; sensory peg setae on underside of paramere numerous, forming two long rows situated as in Fig. 41, with sensory peg setae becoming gradually more spaced toward end of each row. Basal portion of lateral face of middle tibia slightly, that of hind tibia distinctly, widely excavate, giving basal portion of tibia somewhat curved appearance (but see Comments).
F e m a l e. Unknown.
Length 4.9 mm.
Geographical distribution. Quedius optabilis is at present known only from the type locality in eastern Sichuan near the Chongqing Shi border (for details see Comments under previous species).
Bionomics. Nothing is known about the habitat requirements of this species.
Recognition and comments. As mentioned above, specimens of Quedius optabilis are quite similar to those of Q. maculiventris, but characters such as the less dilated first four segments of the male front tarsus, the secondary sexual characters on middle and hind tibiae (but see further down), sternite 9 of male genital segment characterized by the very long pair of slightly differentiated subapical setae and long general setae, as well as the shape of the aedoeagus, support the specific distinctness of Q. optabilis. More material from the type locality (same for both species) would help to finalise the status of Q. optabilis.
When I redescribed Q. optabilis (Smetana 1990: 201), I compared it to the Himalayan Quedius aureiventris, which was not quite correct (for details see Comments under the previous species). The redescription also contained some inadvertent inaccuracies; it should therefore be ignored and the present redescription should be considered as valid.
The male secondary sexual character on middle and hind tibiae (see above) is to my knowledge unique within the subgenus. However, a few males of Q. maculiventris showed a similar excavation of the basal lateral face of the hind tibia; they could be distinguished by the shape of the aedoeagus, characteristic of Q. maculiventris. There is a chance that the excavation is actually of a teratological nature.
description: Published as part of Smetana, Aleš, 2012, Contributions to the knowledge of the Quediina (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Staphylinini) of China. Part 42. Genus Quedius Stephens, 1829. Subgenus Raphirus Stephens, 1829. Section 10, pp. 43-68 in Zootaxa 3156 on pages 54-56, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3156.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/210515