MEGARTHROPSINI

Diagnosis:

Megarthropsini is distinguished from all tribes of the Tachyporinae by the dense, coarse punctation of the head, pronotum, and elytra (figs. 1, 171, 183, 188), the reflexed, explanate, anterolateral cephalic margin (figs. 171, 183, 189, 194), and the ventrobasal groove on the median lobe of the aedeagus (figs. 48, 80, 97, 152). It is separated from other tribes except the Vatesini by the emarginate posterior elytral margin (figs. 25, 69, 91, 114, 131, 143), and from other tribes but the Deropini by the presence of a neck (fig. 194).

Description:

Length 2.7–4.9 mm; width 1.1–1.5 mm. Color dark to pale reddish brown and with or without yellowish brown lateral margins of pronotum and elytra.

Head with vertex coarsely punctate (figs. 1, 171, 183, 188); punctures setate. Head with anterolateral margin explanate and weakly to strongly reflexed from antenna to anterior margin of clypeus (figs. 171, 183, 189, 194); clypeus with (fig. 184) or without (figs. 189, 194) reflexed anterior margin. Epistomal suture present and complete (fig. 189) or incomplete (fig. 184); suture, when complete, angulate at middle; midcranial suture (figs. 1, 189) present, well developed or rudimentary, and extending posteriorly from middle of epistomal suture or absent. Postocular lateral margin of head with carina (figs. 172, 184) or rounded ridge (figs. 189, 194) extending medially from posterior margin of eye to neck. Neck present and broad (fig. 194). Gular sutures moderately to widely separated and divergent from about middle. Submentum with coarse punctation or impunctate. Mentum coarsely punctate. Labial palp three-segmented; glossa emarginate medially. Maxillary palp four-segmented; fourth segment long, stout, and fusiform (figs. 184, 189); galea with dense cluster of apical setae and with row of setae on lateral margin. Mandible short, broad, and edentate; mola well developed. Antenna long or short and reaching to about middle of elytra or extending beyond posterior margin; antennal insertion beneath reflexed margin of clypeus and frons; antennomere 2 sparsely pubescent; antennomeres 3–11 with fine, dense pubescence.

Pronotum (figs. 1, 66, 79, 130, 188) wider than long; surface with coarse, setate punctation; lateral region explanate and strongly or feebly punctate; anterior and posterior angles angulate (figs. 79, 183) or broadly rounded (figs. 1, 188). Tergosternal suture present. Hypomeron strongly inflexed and not visible in lateral view; postprocoxal lobe present and visible in lateral view. Furcasternum medially carinate.

Elytra with coarse, setate punctation (figs. 1, 171, 183, 188); lateral margin moderately to strongly explanate and forming “epipleural gutter”; epipleural ridge with row of spinelike setae (fig. 1); spinelike setae increasingly short posteriorly; epipleuron visible in lateral view; posterior margin emarginate (figs. 1, 25, 69, 91, 114); posterolateral angle strongly (fig. 91) to slightly (fig. 143) produced. Mesospiracular peritreme lightly sclerotized, triangular, moderately long, tapered medially; peritremes separated by small, interperitremal sclerite. Mesosternum with or without short midbasal carina; paramedial carina present or absent; median surface with curved carina near base of mesosternal process; mesosternal process grooved (fig. 146).

Tarsal formula 5–5–5.

Abdomen strongly tapered posteriorly (fig. 1). Segment II with one pair of paratergites. Segment III with two pairs of paratergites. Segments IV–VII with one pair of paratergites. Sternum I present as narrow sclerite anterior to II. Sternite II fused to III and with median carina. Sternite III with short, basal, median carina. Tergite VII with palisade fringe of posterior margin well developed, reduced, or absent. Tergites IX divided middorsally by tergum X (figs. 13, 73, 119, 144).

Male:

Sternites V–VII and sternum VIII variously modified; V–VII with large to small rounded lobe on internal surface of anterior margin (figs. 3, 4, 11, 87, 95, 108). Sternite VII with (figs. 4, 77) or without (fig. 40) peg setae. Sternum VIII (figs. 6, 51, 88, 111) with deep, apically wide, basally tapered, median emargination; narrow basal portion of emargination with tiny setae along margins; apical margin with four lobes, each with long, stout, dark, apical seta; lateral lobe small, paramedial lobe large.

Aedeagus with medial surfaces of parameres contiguous (figs. 5, 74, 93, 121); median lobe with shallow to deep longitudinal groove on ventral surface of bulbous base (figs. 48, 80, 97, 152).

Female:

Sternites V–VI unmodified. Sternite VII with truncate or rounded posterior margin. Sternum VIII with five (figs. 68, 82) or six (figs. 7, 27, 141) apical lobes; lateral and paralateral apical lobes paired; median region with one or two apical lobes; median lobe(s) flattened and with apical, fanlike arrangement of setae of variable number. Tergum VIII with four (figs. 9, 16), five (figs. 28, 140), or six (fig. 81) apical lobes; lateral lobe with (figs. 9, 81, 140) or without (fig. 117) small secondary lobe on lateral edge; lateral and paralateral lobes paired, long and slender; median region with one or two lobes. Valvifers paired, broad, and curved (figs. 14, 72, 118, 145). Coxite long, slender, cylindrical, and pubescent (fig. 14); stylus long, slender, and pubescent (fig. 14) or short.

Spermatheca as in figures 8, 92, 99, 142.

Discussion:

Cameron (1919) established the tribe with one genus, Megarthropsis. Little was known or written about the group until Smetana (1983a, 1992) redescribed and discussed the tribe and its placement, added two genera (Nepaliodes and Peitawopsis), and published illustrations of characters and a habitus for the genera.

Apically expanded setae on the dorsal surface of the head, pronotum, and elytra are uniquely characteristic of the tribe but are too difficult to view without the high magnification of a compound microscope or scanning electron microscope to be useful as a practical diagnostic feature of the tribe.

Distribution:

The species of this tribe are all known from the southeastern quadrant of Asia. At present, species are reported from Nepal, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, China, and Taiwan. It is probable that the tribe occurs throughout the region, including other sites in China and Indonesia and other countries of Southeast Asia and that many more species will be found. All the species have been collected from moist to wet leaf litter, adjacent to or in stream beds, or on the forest floor. Collections have been made at elevations of 220–2900 m.

Diagnosis:

Megarthropsis can be separated from Nepaliodes by the angulate postocular carina (fig. 172), the rounded anterior angle of the pronotum (figs. 66, 172), and, except for M. djawaensis, the narrowly explanate lateral margin of the elytra (fig. 171). The first antennal segment of most species of Megarthropsis is parallel-sided to slightly tapered (fig. 171), but in one species, M. djawaensis, the scape is moderately strongly tapered apically and similar to that of Nepaliodes. Megarthropsis is distinguished from Peitawopsis and Lacvietina by the distinct postocular carina (fig. 172) and the angulate basal angle of the pronotum (fig. 66); the latter two genera lack both features.

Description:

Length 3.8–4.2 mm; width 1.1–1.4 mm.

Color reddish brown with yellowish brown pronotal lateral margins; head usually dark reddish brown to nearly black.

Head (fig. 171) with dorsum densely and coarsely punctate. Clypeal surface largely impunctate, but with a few punctures present. Head (fig. 171) with lateral margin strongly reflexed from antenna to anterior margin of clypeus; anterior margin of clypeus with feeble ridge. Epistomal suture complete and angulate at middle; midcranial suture rudimentary, minute, and poorly developed (best seen in lightly pigmented or cleared specimens). Dorsum of head without midlongitudinal groove; surface with or without broad, shallow, median depression. Postocular lateral margin of head with carina extending posteromedially from eye; carina angulate near eye (fig. 172); postocular vertical carina present and extending ventrally from lateral carina. Gular sutures widely separated. Submentum impunctate. Antennae long, slender, and reaching beyond posterior margin of elytra; scape more or less parallel-sided from near base to apex (see M. decorata, M. deverra, M. frazerensis) or slightly (see M. durga, M. empusa, M. parca, M. smetanai) to moderately (see M. djawaensis) tapered apically; dorsal surface of scape with short, moderately dense pubescence and ventral surface sparsely pubescent.

Pronotum (figs. 66, 172) with anterior angle broadly rounded and extending beyond median portion of anterior margin; lateral margin unevenly curved to basal angle; basal angle strongly angulate; median three- quarters of notum coarsely and moderately densely punctate and strongly convex; lateral eighth explanate and with coarse, moderately dense punctation.

Elytra convex (fig. 171), slightly convex medially and strongly convex laterally; surface evenly, densely, and coarsely punctate; lateral sixteenth to fifth explanate and with margin reflexed; lateral margin with row of short spinelike setae extending from humeral angle to near basal angle; setae of epipleural ridge increasingly short posteriorly; posterior margin (figs. 25, 69) slightly, moderately, or strongly emarginate laterally; posterolateral angle slightly, moderately, or strongly produced (figs. 25, 69). Mesosternum with short, thick, midlongitudinal carina extending posteriorly from basal margin; paramedial carina rudimentary, present only basally. Metasternum with shallow depression adjacent to apex of mesosternal process; circum-mesocoxal ridge enlarged medially.

Procoxa without carina on medial surface.

Male:

Sternite VII (figs. 4, 11, 21) with wide emargination of posterior margin; surface with deep to shallow median depression and with or without median peg setae. Tergum VIII (figs. 26, 36, 39, 67) with four apical lobes.

Aedeagus (figs. 5, 10, 49, 59) with parameres straight or slightly curved; parameres of nearly equal length and width; median lobe with deep groove adjacent to midline of ventral surface of base (fig. 48).

Female:

Sternum VIII with five (fig. 68) or six lobes (figs. 7, 19); median lobe or pair of lobes with one fanlike cluster of setae. Tergum VIII with four (figs. 9, 16) or five (fig. 28) apical lobes; lateral lobe with small secondary lobe on lateral edge.

Spermatheca (figs. 8, 57) with apex of capsule enlarged and globose, then abruptly constricted and tapered proximally to spermathecal duct; juncture of capsule with spermathecal duct not enlarged.

Discussion:

Cameron (1919: 231) described the genus in detail; Smetana (1983a: 144; 1992: 204–206) supplemented it with new characters and numerous illustrations.

Diagnosis:

Megarthropsis decorata has no one feature that immediately separates it from all of its congeners; various characters must be used to distinguish it. The males of M. decorata can be separated from M. smetanai by the absence of a dense mat of setae on sternites V and VI, from M. frazerensis by the absence of peg setae on sternite V, from M. deverra by the shallower emargination of sternite VII (fig. 4) and the more slender parameres (fig. 5), from M. durga by the evenly curved emargination of sternite VII (fig. 4), and from M. djawaensis, M. empusa, M. parca, and M. durga by the large cluster of discal peg setae on sternite VII (fig. 4).

Females of M. decorata have two median lobes on sternum VIII (fig. 7) and a pair of straight, basally broad median lobes on tergum VIII (fig. 9). Tergum VIII is straight from the base to the apex; the median region is not tumid.

Description:

Length 3.2–3.8 mm; width 1.1–1.3 mm. Color reddish brown and yellowish brown. Head dark reddish brown, nearly black. Pronotum with convex median region reddish brown, darker anteriorly than posteriorly; lateral, explanate region yellowish brown. Elytra dark reddish brown. Abdomen reddish brown. Antennae and legs pale reddish brown.

Head with deep, moderately large punctation dorsally; postocular vertical carina dorsoventrally oriented. Antennal scape more or less parallel-sided.

Pronotum with deep, moderately large punctation.

Elytra with deep moderately large punctation; lateroapical emargination moderately deep; epipleural gutter moderately wide.

Wings fully developed. Tergite VII with well-developed palisade fringe on posterior margin.

Male:

Sternite V with shallow median impression; surface without peg setae or dense mat of setae medially; posterior margin with broad, shallow, indistinct emargination.

Sternite VI (fig. 3) with shallow median impression; impression with dense cluster of setae near posterior margin; posterior margin with broad, shallow emargination.

Sternite VII (fig. 4) with broad, shallow median depression; posterior margin with broad, deep, evenly curved, median emargination; emargination without median notch; apical region of disc with two medially separated clusters of peg setae that also extend to and laterally along posterior margin; peg setae along posterior margin arranged in even or slightly sinuate row.

Sternum VIII (fig. 6) with deep, broad, median emargination; emargination strongly constricted near middle and with basal portion of emargination strongly narrowed; margins of emargination strongly sinuate.

Aedeagus (figs. 2, 5) with parameres straight, slender, and tapered to subacute apex.

Female:

Tergum VIII (fig. 9) with median pair of lobes straight, tapered apically, and broad basally; surface without tumescence at base of middle lobe. Sternum VIII (fig. 7) with three pairs of apical lobes.

Spermatheca as in figure 8.

Discussion:

The illustrations cited in 1992 as M. decorata (Smetana, 1992: figs. 30–42) are of M. smetanai and in 1983 the illustrations of the female abdominal segments (Smetana, 1983a: figs. 8–10) are of M. parca.

Illustrations of the male of M. decorata from Singapore were published by Smetana (1983a: 1–7). The figures of M. decorata in the present article were taken from a specimen from Borneo.

Distribution and Habitat:

The species was described from Singapore. The type series was collected from Mandai; later two more specimens were collected from the Nee Soon swamp forest, which is in the Mandai region.

A male collected on Mt. Kinabalu, Borneo, is indistinguishable from the specimens from Singapore. Two females were collected with the male from Borneo. This disjunction of the distribution of M. decorata is surprising given the diversity of species in the Kinabalu region. However, because most species discussed herein are known from only one collecting site or are from different elevations on the same mountain, little can be said about the distribution of the species.

Specimens of the type series were collected in wet rotting leaves on the edge of a jungle stream (Cameron, 1919: 233) and from flood debris (Smetana, 1983a: 146). Smetana (op. cit.) concluded that the species lives in leaf litter and other debris in very wet habitats. Although no elevational data were included on the locality labels, the Mandai region is at low elevation (the highest point in Singapore is about 175 m). The specimens from Mt. Kinabalu were collected from forest floor litter near a stream in the vicinity of the headquarters of the National Park at an elevation of about 1500 m.

Material Examined:

Five specimens: 3 males, 2 females. Singapore: Nee Soon Swamp forest, 24-V-68, R.W. Taylor (1 male, MHNG; 1 male, NHMW). Malaysia: Sabah: near Kinabalu N.P. headquarters, forest floor litter near Liwagu Stream, 29-VII-82, G.-M. de Rougemont (1 male, 2 females, GRC).

Three males and one female were dissected for genitalic and abdominal features.

Diagnosis:

The males of M. deverra can be distinguished from males of all other species by the broad deep emargination of sternite VII (fig. 11) and the short, broad, obliquely truncate parameres of the aedeagus (fig. 10).

The females can be distinguished from those of other species by the short, widely separated median pair of lobes of tergum VIII (fig. 16).

Description:

Length 3.7–4.2 mm; width 1.2 mm. Color dark reddish brown, reddish brown, and yellowish brown. Head dark reddish brown, nearly black. Pronotum with explanate lateral region yellowish brown; convex median region dark reddish brown, nearly black anteriorly and paler reddish brown posteriorly. Elytra dark reddish brown, nearly black. Abdomen reddish brown. Antennae reddish brown. Legs pale reddish brown.

Head with deep, moderately large punctation dorsally; postocular vertical carina dorsoventrally oriented. Antennal scape more or less parallel-sided.

Pronotum with deep, moderately large punctation.

Elytra with deep moderately large punctation; lateroapical emargination moderately deep; epipleural gutter moderately wide.

Wings fully developed. Tergite VII with well-developed palisade fringe on posterior margin.

Male:

Sternite V with feeble, shallow median impression; surface without peg setae or dense mat of setae; posterior margin feebly emarginate.

Sternite VI with broad, shallow depression; surface with cluster of setae on posterior margin near lateral margin of impression, but without dense discal mat of setae; posterior margin with broad moderately deep emargination.

Sternite VII (fig. 11) with broad, moderately deep, median depression; posterior margin with broad, deep emargination; emargination truncate or slightly rounded medially and without median notch; apical region of disc with two medially separated clusters of numerous peg setae; peg setae along posterior margin arranged in evenly curved row.

Sternum VIII (fig. 15) with deep, broad, median emargination; emargination strongly constricted near middle and with basal portion strongly narrowed; margins of emargination strongly sinuate.

Aedeagus (figs. 10, 12) with parameres slightly bent to right (in ventral view); parameres short, broad medially, and obliquely truncate apically.

Female:

Tergum VIII with median pair of lobes broad, short, and widely separated (fig. 16). Sternum VIII with three pairs of apical lobes (fig. 19).

Spermatheca as in figures 17, 18.

Etymology:

The name of this species is from the Latin for the Roman guardian of newborn children (Deverra) and is symbolized by a broom for sweeping away evil influences (Jordan, 1993); used in apposition.

Distribution and Habitat:

This species is known from two localities, one in the Mt. Kinabalu National Park at about 900 m, the other in the nearby Crocker Range.

Material Examined:

Three specimens: holotype male and male and female paratypes.

All specimens were dissected for genitalic and abdominal characters.

Diagnosis:

This species is separated from all others of the genus by the apically tapered antennal scape, the oblique orientation of the postocular vertical carina, and the strongly produced posterolateral angle of the elytra (fig. 25). The punctation of the pronotum and dorsal surface of the head and elytra is coarser and deeper and the punctation of the pronotal disc is more sparse than for any of the other species of the genus. Only this species and M. empusa lack peg setae on sternite VII (fig. 21); these two species can be separated by the features listed in the preceding two sentences.

Description:

Length 3.3–3.8 mm; width 1.3–1.4 mm. Color reddish brown and yellowish brown. Head dark reddish brown to nearly black. Pronotum with convex median region dark reddish brown anteriorly and reddish brown posteriorly; lateral, explanate region reddish brown. Elytra dark reddish brown. Abdomen reddish brown with apical segments darker reddish brown. Antennae and legs reddish brown.

Head with large, deep punctures on dorsal surface. Postocular vertical carina obliquely, dorsoposteriorly to ventroanteriorly, oriented. Antenna with first segment moderately tapered from base to apex.

Pronotum with large, deep punctures.

Elytra with large, deep punctation; lateroapical emargination deep (fig. 25); epipleural gutter wide.

Wings fully developed. Tergite VII with well-developed palisade fringe on posterior margin.

Male:

Sternite V without median impression, peg setae, or dense mat of setae medially; posterior margin without emargination.

Sternite VI with feeble median impression; surface without special cluster of setae; posterior margin without emargination.

Sternite VII (fig. 21) with broad, shallow, median impression; impression without setae medially, but with short setae along lateral margins; posterior margin with moderately deep, broadly V-shaped emargination; posterior margin evenly curved, not sinuate, to median emargination; surface without peg setae.

Sternum VIII (fig. 20) with deep, broad, median emargination; emargination more strongly narrowed near basal quarter; base of emargination narrowly rounded; margins of emargination weakly sinuate.

Aedeagus (figs. 22, 23) with parameres straight, slender, tapered, and narrowly rounded apically.

Female:

Tergum VIII (fig. 28) with paramedial lobes separated by smaller median lobe. Sternum VIII (fig. 27) with three pairs of apical lobes.

Spermatheca as in figure 24.

Etymology:

The name for this species is taken from a variant of the Indonesian name (Djawa) for Java.

Distribution and Habitat:

The species is known only from western Java where specimens were collected from forest litter at 1300 m and 1500 m in August.

Material Examined:

Six specimens: holotype male, 2 paratype males, and 3 paratype females.

Two males and one female were dissected for characters of the abdomen and genitalia.

Diagnosis:

Males of M. durga can be separated from other species by the broad, moderately deep, sinuate posterior margin of sternite VII (fig. 33) and the sinuate row of peg setae near the margin. The disc of sternite VII has only a few peg setae medially.

Females are separated from other species, except M. decorata and M. smetanai, by the pair of median lobes of tergum VIII (fig. 34) that are straight and broad at the base; the surface adjacent to the base of the median lobes is not tumescent. This pair of median lobes is broader basally in M. durga than in M. decorata (fig. 9). Sternum VIII (fig. 35) of M. durga has a pair of median lobes in contrast to the single median lobe of M. smetanai. Denser cephalic, pronotal, and elytral punctation separate M. durga from M. djawaensis.

Description:

Length 3.4–3.8 mm; width 1.4 mm. Color reddish brown and yellowish brown. Head reddish brown to dark reddish brown to nearly black. Pronotum with convex median region reddish brown to dark reddish brown; lateral explanate region yellow brown. Elytra and abdomen reddish brown. Antennae and legs pale reddish brown.

Head with deep, moderately large punctation dorsally; postocular vertical carina dorsoventrally oriented. Antennal scape more or less parallel-sided to slightly tapered apically.

Pronotum with deep, moderately large punctation.

Elytra with deep moderately large punctation; lateroapical emargination moderately deep; epipleural gutter moderately wide.

Wings fully developed. Tergite VII with well-developed palisade fringe on posterior margin.

Male:

Sternite V with feeble median impression; surface without peg setae or dense mat of setae; posterior margin without emargination.

Sternite VI with feeble median impression; impression with slightly denser row of setae along posterior margin, but without dense discal mat of setae; posterior margin with broad, shallow emargination.

Sternite VII (fig. 33) with broad, shallow median impression; posterior margin with broad, moderately deep, sinuate emargination; emargination without median notch; surface with small, median cluster of peg setae on disc and with row of peg setae along posterior margin; peg setae of posterior margin arranged in sinuate row and row narrowly divided medially.

Sternum VIII (fig. 31) with deep, broad, median emargination; emargination slightly more strongly constricted from about apical quarter and gradually convergent to base; margins of emargination moderately sinuate.

Aedeagus (figs. 29, 30) with parameres slightly curved to right (in ventral view), long, slender, and tapered to acute apices.

Female:

Tergum VIII (fig. 34) with median pair of lobes straight, tapered apically, and broad basally; surface without tumescence near base of median lobes. Sternum VIII (fig. 35) with three pairs of apical lobes.

Spermatheca as in figure 32.

Etymology:

Named for the many armed Hindu goddess Durga, who is depicted as a woman riding on a lion or tiger and in whose hands are weapons. In later Hindu tradition, particularly in northern India, Durga is linked with the fertility of crops and is celebrated at harvest time in the Durga Puja (Jordan, 1993); used in apposition.

Discussion:

The females identified as M. durga are not designated as paratypes because they cannot be distinguished reliably from M. decorata.

Distribution and Habitat:

This species is known only from Mt. Kinabalu in Borneo where it was collected at 900–1580 m.

Material Examined:

Six specimens: holotype male, 2 paratype males, 3 females. The females are from the type locality and were collected with the holotype.

Three males and one female were dissected for genitalic and abdominal characters.

Diagnosis:

The absence of peg setae on sternite VII (fig. 40) will separate the males of this species from the others of the genus except M. djawaensis. This species is distinguished from M. djawaensis by the denser cephalic and pronotal punctation, the nearly cylindrical first antennomere, the dorsoventral orientation of the vertical postocular carina that extends ventrally from the dorsolateral postocular carina, the less strongly produced posterolateral elytral angle, and the narrower epipleural gutter. The emargination of sternite VII of the male of M. empusa (fig. 40) is deeper than in M. djawaensis (fig. 21).

The female is unknown.

Description:

Length 3.4 mm; width 1.2 mm. Color reddish brown and yellowish brown. Head dark reddish brown. Pronotum with convex median region dark reddish brown anteriorly and reddish brown to yellowish brown posteriorly; explanate lateral region yellowish brown. Elytra dark reddish brown. Abdomen reddish brown with darker apical segments. Antennae and legs reddish brown.

Head with moderately large punctation on dorsal surface; postocular ventral carina dorsoventrally oriented. Antennal scape more or less parallel-sided to slightly tapered apically.

Pronotum with moderately large punctation.

Elytra with moderately large punctation; posterolateral emargination moderately deep; epipleural gutter narrow.

Wings fully developed. Tergite VII with well-developed palisade fringe on posterior margin.

Male:

Sternite V slightly flattened medially; surface without peg setae or dense mat of setae medially; posterior margin with moderately wide feeble median emargination.

Sternite VI with wide, feeble median impression; impression with slightly denser pubescence near posterior margin; posterior margin with wide, shallow median emargination.

Sternite VII (fig. 40) with broad, shallow, median impression; impression without setae medially near posterior margin, but with short setae along lateral margin; posterior margin with broad, sinuate emargination; emargination deeper and more or less broadly V-shaped medially; surface without peg setae.

Sternum VIII (fig. 41) with broad, deep, median emargination; emargination strongly constricted from about middle and with basal portion of emargination strongly narrowed; margin of emargination strongly sinuate.

Aedeagus (figs. 37, 38) with paramere straight, moderately broad, and tapered to subacute apex.

Female:

Unknown.

Etymology:

The name is from the Greek (Empousa) for hobgoblin or a mischievious goblin, and is used for the species found hidden in a long series of M. smetanai.

Distribution and Habitat:

This species is known only from the Crocker Range in northern Borneo where it was collected at 1600 m with M. smetanai.

Material Examined:

One specimen: holotype male.

Diagnosis:

The male of Megarthropsis frazerensis can be separated from the males of all other species of the genus by the unique presence of a cluster of peg setae on the middle of the disc of sternite V (fig. 45). The emargination of the posterior margin of sternite VII is notched medially and the peg setae are divided into two clusters (fig. 44).

The female is unknown.

Description:

Length 3.4 mm; width 1.2 mm. Color reddish brown and yellowish brown. Head dark reddish brown, nearly black. Pronotum with explanate lateral region yellowish brown; convex median region reddish brown, darker anteriorly and paler posteriorly. Elytra and abdomen reddish brown. Antennae and legs pale reddish brown.

Head with deep, moderately large punctation dorsally; postocular vertical carina dorsoventrally oriented. Antennal scape more or less parallel-sided.

Pronotum with deep, moderately large punctation.

Elytra with deep moderately large punctation; lateroapical emargination shallow; epipleural gutter moderately wide.

Wings fully developed. Tergite VII with well-developed palisade fringe on posterior margin.

Male:

Sternite V (fig. 45) with broad, shallow emargination of posterior margin; disc with scattered cluster of small peg setae in feeble impression.

Sternite VI (fig. 47) with broad, shallow, median impression; posterolateral edge of impression with small dense cluster of setae; posterior margin with moderately deep, rounded median emargination.

Sternite VII (fig. 44) with broad, shallow median depression; posterior margin with broad, deep median emargination; emargination with small median notch; median region of disc with peg setae arranged in two dense, medially separated clusters; peg setae of anterior region scattered; peg setae along posterior margin aligned in more or less even, medially separated rows.

Sternum VIII (fig. 46) with deep, broad, median emargination; emargination wide apically and strongly constricted near middle and with basal portion of emargination strongly narrowed; margin of emargination strongly sinuate.

Aedeagus (figs. 42, 43) with parameres feebly bent to left (in ventral view) and tapered to subacute apex.

Female:

Unknown.

Etymology:

The name for this species is taken from the type locality, Frazer's Hill in West Malaysia.

Distribution and Habitat:

This species is known by only two Malaysian specimens and both lack further collecting data.

Material Examined:

Two specimens: holotype and paratype males.

Both specimens were dissected for genitalic and abdominal characters.

Diagnosis:

The evenly curved posterior margin of sternite VII (fig. 53), the single row of peg setae near the posterior margin, and absence of discal peg setae will separate the males of M. parca from other species. The ventral surface of each paramere is oblique to the midsagittal plane of the aedeagus; this configuration is unique among the known species.

Females of M. parca can be separated from other species by the tumid apical third of tergum VIII (fig. 55). Each lobe of the median pair of lobes of tergum VIII curves laterad from the midlongitudinal line and the lobes are slender (fig. 54).

Description:

Length 3.7–4.1 mm; width about 1.4 mm. Color reddish brown; head, convex median region of pronotum, elytra, and abdomen with darker infusions; head darker than remainder of body; pronotum with explanate lateral portion paler reddish brown; antennae and legs pale reddish brown.

Head with deep, moderately large punctation dorsally; postocular vertical carina dorsoventrally oriented. Antennal scape more or less parallel-sided to slightly tapered apically.

Pronotum with deep, moderately large punctation.

Elytra with deep moderately large punctation; lateroapical emargination moderately deep; epipleural gutter moderately wide.

Wings fully developed. Tergite VII with well-developed palisade fringe on posterior margin.

Male:

Sternite V with feeble median impression; surface without peg setae or dense setal mat; posterior margin with broad feeble emargination.

Sternite VI (fig. 52) with broad, shallow median depression; impression with moderately dense cluster of setae near posterior margin, but without dense setal mat; posterior margin with broad, shallow emargination.

Sternite VII (fig. 53) with broad, shallow median depression; posterior margin with broad, deep, evenly curved, median emargination; emargination without median notch; disc without peg setae; peg setae arranged in curved row adjacent to posterior margin; row continuous or slightly separated medially.

Sternum VIII (fig. 51) with deep, broad, median emargination; emargination moderately constricted near middle and gradually convergent to narrow base; margins of emargination moderately strongly sinuate.

Aedeagus (figs. 49, 50). Parameres more or less straight (in ventral view), moderately long, moderately broad, and rounded apically; ventral surface oriented obliquely to midsagittal plane; apex with small point on ventral surface.

Female:

Tergum VIII (fig. 54) with median pair of lobes slightly curved laterally; median margin curved; lobes slender and moderately tapered apically; surface near base of median lobes strongly tumescent (fig. 55). Sternum VIII (fig. 56) with three pairs of lobes.

Spermatheca as in figures 57 and 58.

Etymology:

The name of this species is from the Latin (Parca) for the goddess of destiny and birth (Leach, 1992); used in apposition.

Discussion:

Megarthropsis parca was reported as M. decorata from East Malaysia, Sabah, Mt. Kinabalu (Smetana, 1983a: 146 and figs. 8–10).

Distribution and Habitat:

This species is known only from Mt. Kinabalu in Borneo where it was collected at 1580 to 1900 m.

Material Examined:

Nine specimens: holotype male and three male and five female paratypes.

Three males and three females were dissected for genitalic and abdominal features.

Diagnosis:

Males of M. smetanai can be distinguished from their congeners by the dense mat of pubescence in the large median depression of sternites V and VI (figs. 63, 65). Sternite VII (fig. 61) has a deep, rounded median depression, the peg setae are arranged in a dense cluster along the posterior margin, and the posterior margin is sinuate with a small, rounded median notch (fig. 62); this configuration is unique to M. smetanai.

The females of M. smetanai are distinguished from those of all other species by the presence of only five lobes on sternum VIII, the median lobe of which is broad (fig. 68).

Description:

Length 3.3–4.6 mm; width 1.3–1.4 mm. Color reddish brown and yellowish brown. Head dark reddish brown to nearly black. Pronotum convex, median region dark reddish brown to reddish brown, posterior portion usually paler; explanate lateral region pale reddish brown to yellowish brown. Elytra and abdomen reddish brown. Antennae and legs pale reddish brown.

Head with deep, moderately large punctation dorsally; postocular vertical carina dorsoventrally oriented. Antennal scape more or less parallel-sided to slightly tapered apically (fig. 171).

Pronotum with deep, moderately large punctation.

Elytra with deep moderately large punctation; lateroapical emargination moderately deep; epipleural gutter moderately wide.

Wings fully developed. Tergite VII with well-developed palisade fringe on posterior margin.

Male:

Sternite V (fig. 63) with large, moderately deep, median depression; depression with dense mat of setae and depression nearly as long as segment; surface without peg setae; posterior margin with broad, shallow median emargination.

Sternite VI (fig. 65) with large, deep, median depression; depression nearly as long segment and surface covered with dense mat of setae; posterior margin with broad, moderately deep, median emargination.

Sternite VII (fig. 61) with large, deep, rounded, median depression; depression polished medially and without setae in middle, but with short setae laterally and basally; surface with dense cluster of peg setae along posterior margin; cluster of peg setae slightly separated medially; posterior margin with broad sinuate emargination; emargination with small, rounded median notch (fig. 62).

Sternum VIII (fig. 64) with broad, deep median emargination; emargination moderately strongly constricted at about apical third then gradually convergent to narrow base; margins of emargination moderately sinuate.

Aedeagus. Parameres (figs. 59, 60) bent moderately to left (in ventral view) and tapered to subacute apex.

Female:

Tergum VIII (fig. 71) with median pair of lobes straight and broad basally. Sternum VIII (fig. 68) with five lobes, one lateral and one paralateral pair of lobes and one broad median lobe.

Spermatheca as in figure 70.

Etymology:

This species is named to honor my friend and colleagueAleš Smetana for his many sterling contributions to our understanding of the Staphylinidae and who, over the years, I have come to admire for the quality of his work and depth of his knowledge. In large part his studies and collections of the Megarthropsini made the present work possible.

Discussion:

Figures 30–42 published by Smetana (1992) and identified as M. decorata are illustrations of M. smetanai.

Sternum VIII (fig. 68) of the females has one broad median lobe, but other members of the tribe, except the species of Nepaliodes, have a median pair of lobes. The broad lobe in M. smetanai is clearly the result of a fusion of this pair of median lobes.

Distribution and Habitat:

This species is known only from Mt. Kinabalu and the nearby Crocker Range where it was collected at elevations of 1430–1750 m. According to field notes for specimens collected by A. Smetana this species has been collected from fleshy mushrooms and soft polyporus-type mushrooms growing on a fallen rotting tree, and from fresh and rotting fruits of the “kerosene tree”.

Material Examined:

Forty-nine specimens: holotype male, 32 male and 16 female paratypes.

Six males and one female were dissected for genitalic and abdominal characters; one male was disarticulated.

Diagnosis:

Nepaliodes is separated from other genera of the tribe by the apically tapered antennal scape (fig. 184), the angulate anterior and posterior angles of the pronotum (fig. 79), and the explanate, sparsely punctate lateral third or fourth of the elytra (fig. 183). The parameres (in ventral view) of Nepaliodes are curved to the right, and the right paramere is about twice as long as the left (figs. 74, 84) and is more strongly curved. Females have five lobes on the posterior margin of sternum VIII (figs. 82, 89), and tergum VIII has six slender lobes, the median pair of which is more slender than the others. The spermathecal capsule which tapers proximally from the apex is abruptly expanded before attaching to the spermathecal duct (figs. 83, 92).

Description:

Length 3.7–5.0 mm; width 1.7–2.0 mm. Color evenly reddish brown to dark reddish brown.

Head (fig. 184) with dorsum coarsely and densely punctate. Clypeus sparsely punctate. Head with lateral margin strongly reflexed from antenna to anterior margin of clypeus (fig. 184); anterior margin of clypeus strongly reflexed (fig. 184). Epistomal suture (fig. 184) present laterally on reflexed portion of clypeus just anterior to antennal insertion, absent from median three-fifths; midcranial suture absent. Dorsum of head without midlongitudinal groove; surface with or without broad, shallow median depression. Postocular lateral margin of head with carina extending medially from eye (fig. 184); carina straight; vertical postocular carina absent. Gular sutures moderately widely separated. Submentum coarsely punctate. Antenna long and slender, reaching nearly to apical margin of elytra; scape tapered apically (fig. 184); dorsal surface of scape densely pubescent, ventral surface sparsely pubescent.

Pronotum (figs. 79, 183) with anterior angle angulate, narrowly rounded, and strongly produced beyond median portion of anterior margin; lateral margin broadly and unevenly rounded; basal angle angulate; median three- fifths coarsely and densely punctate and strongly convex; lateral fifth strongly explanate and surface sparsely and feebly punctate.

Elytra (fig. 183) with median two-thirds or three-quarters convex and densely and coarsely punctate; lateral third to quarter concave, sparsely and feebly punctate, strongly explanate, and with lateral margin reflexed; lateral margin with row of short, spinelike setae from humeral angle to near middle of lateral margin; spinelike setae increasingly short posteriorly; posterior margin deeply emarginate laterally (figs. 91, 183); posterolateral angle strongly produced and acute (fig. 91). Mesosternum with midlongitudinal carina extending from basal margin to near base of mesosternal process; paramedial carina rudimentary. Metasternum with shallow depression adjacent to apex of mesosternal process; circum-mesocoxal ridge enlarged medially.

Procoxa without carina on median surface.

Male:

Sternite VII (figs. 77, 87) with wide emargination of posterior margin; surface with broad median depression and with median peg setae. Tergum VIII (figs. 78, 88) with three apical lobes; median lobe with shallow emargination.

Aedeagus (figs. 74, 75, 84, 86), in ventral view, with parameres closely appressed and curved to right; right paramere thicker, more strongly curved, and about twice as long as left; median lobe with deep longitudinal groove near middle of ventral base (fig. 80).

Female:

Sternum VIII (figs. 82, 89) with five apical lobes; median lobe broad and with two small, apical, fanlike clusters of setae, one on each side of midline; median lobe with midapical region more lightly pigmented (and difficult to see) than lateroapical region. Tergum VIII (figs. 81, 90) with six slender apical lobes; median lobes more slender and shorter than lateral and paramedial lobes; lateral lobe without secondary lobe on lateral edge.

Spermathecal (figs. 83, 92) capsule curved and gradually tapered from apex to spermathecal duct; capsule expanded just before juncture with spermathecal duct.

Discussion:

The detailed description of Nepaliodes published by Coiffait (1977: 272) was amplified by Smetana (1983a: 150; 1992: 204), who also presented numerous illustrations.

Females are identified by their collection in association with the males and by distribution. Characters have not been found that permit species identification of the females. Illustrations of segment VIII (figs. 81, 82, 89, 90) of the two species suggest that females can be separated by features of the terga and sterna, but those variations are found in specimens of both species.

Specimens of both species are usually coated with a fine-grained, mudlike substance that can be removed after soaking them in ammonia.

Nepaliodes includes two species, N. variolosus, from Nepal and India and N. solangelae from Thailand and China.

Diagnosis:

The deeper emargination of sternite VII (fig. 77), the finer, less medially directed pubescence of sternites V and VI (fig. 76), and the less strongly tapered, more apically blunt right paramere (figs. 74, 75) will separate the males of N. variolosus from N. solangelae. The females of the two species can be separated by locality.

Description:

Length 3.7–5.0 mm; width 1.2–1.8 mm. Color reddish brown to dark reddish brown; explanate margins of head, pronotum and elytra paler; head darker.

Wings fully developed.

Tergite VII with palisade fringe present.

Male:

Sternite V (fig. 76) with pubescence of median region fine and more or less posteriorly directed. Sternite VI (fig. 76) with pubescence of median region slightly directed to middle. Sternite VII (fig. 77) with broad, deep emargination of posterior margin; disc with dense cluster of peg setae along posterior margin and in shallow median depression of apical half. Sternum VIII (fig. 78) with deep median emargination; emargination broad apically and narrow basally; margins of emargination strongly sinuate and convergent to narrow base.

Aedeagus (figs. 74, 75) with right paramere about half as long as left; left paramere stout, strongly curved to left and tapered apically to moderately broad, rounded apex (in dorsal or ventral view).

Female:

Tergum VIII (fig. 81), sternum VIII (fig. 82), and spermatheca (fig. 83). Species distinguished from N. solangelae by association with male and distribution.

Discussion:

Two spellings of the name were used by Coiffait (1977: 244, 272, 273) in the original publication, namely Nepaliodes variolasa and N. variolosa. As first reviser Smetana (1983a: 154) selected and corrected the name to N. variolosus. Attached to the pin with the holotype, which was not examined by Smetana, is Coiffait's determination label for the species; it reads ”Nepaliodes variolosa”.

The labels record some specimens from “Dobate Ridge NE Barahbise”. According to Smetana (1988: 176), that locality should read “Pokhare NE Barahbise”; it is east of Kathmandu (Smetana, 1988: 172, site 25).

Distribution:

Nepaliodes variolosus is known from Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal in India and Bagmati Province in Nepal at elevations of 1700, 1900, and 2700 m, respectively. In Nepal the species was collected from accumulations of deep, wet leaf litter in depressions and small gullies in a deciduous forest with dense undergrowth (Smetana, 1983a: 155).

Material Examined:

Twenty-seven specimens: 13 males, 14 females. Nepal: holotype, locality cited above, September–October 1971, collected by H. Franz (1 male, NHMW); (Prov. Bagmati), Dobate Ridge [Pokhare: see Discussion above] NE Barahbise, 2700 m, 2.V.81, Löbl and Smetana (1 male, 2 females, MHNG; 1 male, 1 female, AMNH); Prov. Bagmati, Dobate Ridge [Pokhare; see remarks under Discussion above] NE Barahbise, 2800 m, 2.V.81, Löbl and Smetana (1 female, MHNG); Lalitpur Distr., 2 km S Godavari, 1700 m, 19-X-83, Smetana and Löbl (1 male, 2 females). Inde: Garhwal (UP), Mussoorie, No. 15, 1700 m, 19-X-79, I. Löbl (6 males, 2 females, MHNG); Kumaon (UP), Rangarh, No. 6B, 2000 m, 9.X.79, I. Löbl (4 males, 4 females, MHNG); Uttar Pr., Kumaon, Rangarh, No. 6B, 2250 m, 9.X.79, I. Löbl (1 female, MHNG). India: W. Bengal, Darjeeling dist., Algarah-Labha, 1900 m, 11-X-78, Besuchet and Löbl (1 female, MHNG).

Dissections of three males and two females were examined for features of the abdomen and for the male and female genitalia and genital segments.

No specimens were disarticulated.

Diagnosis:

The males of this species are separated from those of N. variolosus by the shallower emargination of the posterior margin of sternite VII (fig. 87), the more strongly tapered, more apically acute right paramere (in ventral view; fig. 84), and the slightly coarser, more medially directed median setae of sternites V and VI (fig. 85). The females are identified by association with the male and by locality.

Description:

Length 4.0–4.7 mm; width 1.8–2.0 mm. Color reddish brown to dark reddish brown; explanate margins of head, pronotum, and elytra paler; head darker.

Wings fully developed.

Tergite VII with palisade fringe present.

Male:

Sternite V (fig. 85) with setae of median region slightly coarse and medioposteriorly directed. Sternite VI (fig. 85) with pubescence of median region slightly coarse and strongly medioposteriorly directed; posterior margin with small median lobe. Sternite VII (fig. 87) with broad, moderately deep emargination of posterior margin; disc with dense cluster of peg setae in broad, shallow, median depression of apical half and along posterior margin. Sternum VIII (fig. 88) with deep median emargination; emargination broad apically and narrow basally; margin of emargination strongly sinuate to narrow base.

Aedeagus (figs. 84, 86) with left paramere (in ventral view) moderately curved and about half as long as right; right paramere stout, strongly curved and tapered apically to acute apex.

Female:

Tergum VIII (fig. 89), sternum VIII (fig. 90), and spermatheca (fig. 92). Species distinguished from N. variolosus by association with male and distribution.

Etymology:

This species is named for Solangel Casabona who has worked with me as a preparator for 25 years.

Discussion:

Females were not selected as paratypes because they can only be identified by distribution and by their collection in association with males. I have been unable to find characters of the females that distinguish the species.

Distribution:

This species is known from northern Thailand where it was collected at elevations of 1000–1780 m, and Guangxi Province, China, where it was collected at 1190 m.

Material Examined:

Seven males and 9 females: holotype male, 6 male paratypes, and 9 females. The localities from which the females were collected are the following. Thailand: Chiang Mai, Doi Inthanon, 1650 m, 7.XI.1985, Burckhardt-Löbl (6 females, MHNG); Chiang Mai, Doi Inthanon, 1780 m, 17.XII.86, P. Schwendinger (1 female, MHNG); Chiang Mai, Doi Suthep, 1400 m, 5.XI.1985, Burckhardt-Löbl (1 female, MHNG); Prov. Chiang Mai, Doi Suthep, 1320 m, 27.XII.1986, P. Schwendinger (1 female, MHNG).

Dissections of five males and three females were examined for features of the abdomen and characters of the male and female genitalia and genital segments.

No specimens were disarticulated.

Diagnosis:

The broadly rounded posterior pronotal angle will separate Peitawopsis (figs. 96, 188) from Nepaliodes (fig. 79) and Megarthropsis (fig. 66) which have strongly angulate posterior angles. The lateral third of the elytra of Peitawopsis is concave (fig. 188), the elytra of Megarthropsis (fig. 171) and Lacvietina (fig. 1) are convex to the narrowly reflexed epipleural ridge, and the elytra of Nepaliodes (fig. 183) are convex to about the lateral third or fourth, which is concave, explanate, and sparsely punctate. The posterior margin of the elytra of Peitawopsis is broadly and evenly emarginate from the lateroapical angle to the elytral suture, but is emarginate laterally in the other genera. The distinct postocular cephalic carina of Nepaliodes (fig. 184) and Megarthropsis (fig. 172) is modified to a rounded ridge in Peitawopsis (fig. 189). The antennal scape of Peitawopsis (fig. 189) is nearly parallel-sided from near the base to the apex, whereas the scape of Nepaliodes (fig. 184) is tapered apically from the base.

Description:

Length 3.3–4.6 mm; width 1.3–1.7 mm.

Color pale to dark reddish brown; head dark reddish brown, nearly black; anterior and lateral margins of pronotum and elytra pale reddish brown to yellowish brown.

Head (fig. 189) with dorsum moderately densely and moderately coarsely punctate. Clypeal punctation fine and sparse or absent. Head with lateral margin moderately strongly reflexed from antenna to anterior margin of clypeus (fig. 189); anterior margin of clypeus not reflexed and with fine transverse microsculpturing. Epistomal suture (fig. 189) present, complete, and angulate at middle; midcranial suture short (fig. 189). Dorsum of head with midlongitudinal groove extending posteriorly from epistomal suture to near neck and well-developed (fig. 189) to feeble. Postocular lateral margin of head with rounded ridge extending medially from eye (fig. 189); postocular vertical carina absent. Gular sutures widely separated. Submentum moderately coarsely punctate. Antenna short, reaching to near middle of elytra; scape (fig. 189) more or less parallel-sided from near base to apex, and with scattered setae dorsally and ventrally.

Pronotum (figs. 96, 188) with anterior and posterior angles broadly rounded; anterior angles produced beyond median portion of anterior margin; lateral margin broadly and evenly curved; median and lateral surfaces densely and coarsely punctate and with some anastomosing punctures; punctation slightly denser anteriorly and laterally than medially and posteriorly.

Elytra (fig. 188) reduced, combined width greater than length as measured from scutellar apex to line across lateroapical angles of elytra; surface with dense punctation. Elytra (fig. 188) with median two-thirds of dorsal surface shallowly convex and lateral third shallowly concave; surface evenly, densely, and moderately strongly punctate; lateral margin explanate and moderately reflexed; lateral margin with spinelike setae restricted to humeral angle; posterior margin with broad emargination; posterolateral angle strongly produced. Mesosternum without midlongitudinal basal ridge or carina; paramedial carina present basally and moderately long. Metasternum without depression or pit adjacent to apex of mesosternal process; circum-mesocoxal ridge moderately developed medially.

Procoxa with carina on median surface.

Male:

Sternite VII (figs. 95, 108, 110) with broad emargination of posterior margin; surface with peg setae and broad depression medially. Sternum VIII (figs. 100, 101, 111) with deep anteriorly tapered emargination. Tergum VIII with three apical lobes; median lobe with broad, shallow apical emargination. Aedeagus (figs. 93, 103, 112) with parameres tapered apically, straight, and of about equal length and width; median lobe with shallow groove (or depression) near middle of ventral surface of base (fig. 97).

Female:

Sternum VIII (fig. 104) with three pairs of lobes on posterior margin; median pair of lobes with fanlike cluster of setae on each lobe. Tergum VIII (figs. 117, 120) with four apical lobes; lateral lobe without secondary lobe on lateral edge.

Spermathecal capsule enlarged at apex and strongly constricted then tapered proximally (figs. 105, 116) or gradually tapered from apex to spermathecal duct (figs. 98, 99); juncture of capsule with spermathecal duct not enlarged; spermathecal duct with one or more loops near capsule.

Discussion:

Peitawopsis, with three species, is known only from the Chung-Yang Shan of Taiwan. The species have reduced elytra and wings, are flightless, and are found at elevations of 1500–2900 m. Two species, P. monticola and P. watanabei, live on Peitawushan where both were collected from moist litter on the forest floor. The two species were collected at one locality where P. watanabei was found in litter in depressions and gullies of the forest floor, and P. monticola was found in litter and debris along a trail. Although the two species overlap in their elevational distribution, P. watanabei is found at higher elevations to about 2900 m. The third species (P. inexspectata) is from Kuanshan and Peinantashan where it also was collected from moist, forest floor litter.

Diagnosis:

The posterior margin of sternite VII of the males of P. monticola has a medially separated row of peg setae and the disc has a small cluster of peg setae on each side of the midline (fig. 95); this configuration of peg setae will separate P. monticola from the other two species. The parameres of P. monticola are about as long as the median lobe (fig. 93) in contrast to the longer parameres of P. inexspectata (fig. 103).

The spermatheca of the females of P. monticola has the apical end gradually enlarged (figs. 98, 99) in contrast to the abruptly enlarged apical end of the other two species (figs. 106, 115). The spermathecal duct is densely coiled near the spermathecal capsule in P. monticola (fig. 99), but is only slightly coiled in P. inexspectata (fig. 106) and P. watanabei (fig. 116).

Description:

Length 3.4–4.6 mm; width 1.4–1.6 mm.

Color pale to dark reddish brown, head usually dark reddish brown to nearly black. Pronotum with central region reddish brown to dark reddish brown to nearly black and with lateral, anterior, and posterior margins pale reddish brown to yellowish brown. Elytra with central region reddish brown to dark reddish brown to nearly black and with lateral and anterior margins pale reddish brown to yellowish brown. Antennae reddish brown to pale reddish brown. Legs pale reddish brown.

Wings reduced to minute pads.

Tergite VII with minute, irregularly interrupted palisade fringe on posterior margin.

Male:

Sternite V with feeble, median impression on apical half; impression without pubescence near apical margin, but present on remainder.

Sternite VI with shallow, median depression extending for most of length of segment; depression without pubescence on apical fifth, remainder sparsely pubescent.

Sternite VII (fig. 95) with moderately broad, moderately deep, arcuate median emargination of posterior margin; sternite with medially separated row of peg setae on posterior margin and with two, small, medially separated clusters of peg setae on disc near apical half; row of peg setae with longer spinelike seta near lateral end; sternite with 14–19 peg setae; posterior row with 10–14 peg setae and discal clusters each with one to three, but usually with two peg setae; disc with broad, shallow, slightly tapered depression from posterior margin for most of length; depression without punctation or pubescence on most of surface, but with fine punctation and fine setae on basal third and along lateral margin.

Sternum VIII (fig. 100) with broad, deep, median emargination; margins of emargination widely separated apically and gradually curved medially to about basal third then abruptly and narrowly separated; basal third of emargination narrow and tapered to narrowly rounded basal margin.

Aedeagus with parameres about as long as median lobe (figs. 93, 94), as measured from apical margin of basal orifice to apex of parameres.

Female:

Spermathecal capsule gradually and moderately enlarged at apex and tapered from there toward spermathecal duct (figs. 98, 99); spermathecal duct with dense cluster of multiple loops near capsule (fig. 99).

Discussion:

The genitalic structures of this species differ significantly from the other species. The spermathecal duct is densely coiled near the spermathecal capsule, whereas the spermathecal duct of the other species have a few loops near the spermathecal capsule.

The aedeagus of P. monticola has a large, strongly sclerotized capsule within the aedeagus that is presumably part of the internal sac. This structure was not included in the description because the sclerotized structures of the internal sac of the other two species are much smaller and indescript.

Distribution and Habitat:

This species is known only from Peitawushan (see Smetana, 1995b: 6, site 10) in Pingtung Hsien where it was collected at 1500–2325 m. Specimens were collected in mature broadleaf forests by sifting leaves, humus, and other debris from the forest floor.

Material Examined:

Fifty-one specimens: 34 males, 17 females.

Taiwan: Pingtung Hsien: Peitawushan trail at 2000 m, May 23, 1991, A. Smetana, sifting fallen leaves, various other debris and humus accumulated along large fallen trees [1] (holotype male, allotype, paratypes: 1 male, 2 females, ASC). Peitawushan, Kuai- Ku Hut, 2325 m, May 22, 1991, A. Smetana, sifting fallen leaves and other debris along trail in mature broadleaf evergreen forest [0] (paratypes: 11 males, 3 females, ASC); 2125 m, April 27, 1992, A. Smetana, sifting fallen leaves, dead vegetation, and various other moist debris in mature broadleaf evergreen forest [02] (6 males, 2 females, ASC); 2130 m, April 27, 1992, A. Smetana, sifting fallen leaves, dead vegetation, and various other moist debris in mature broadleaf evergreen forest [01] (4 males, 4 females, ASC; 2 males, 1 female, AMNH); 2135 m, April 30, 1992, A. Smetana, sifting fallen leaves, various other debris and humus accumulated along large fallen trees [08] (5 males, 3 females, ASC). Peitawushan Trail at 1500 m, May 1, 1992, A. Smetana, sifting fallen leaves, various other debris, and humus accumulated along large fallen trees [10] (4 males, 1 female, ASC).

Five males and two females were dissected for characters of the genital segments and genitalia, and one female was disarticulated.

Diagnosis:

Sternite VII (fig. 108) of the males of P. inexspectata has a row of peg setae on each side of the midline that begins at the posterior margin and curves medioanteriorly onto the disc; the disc lacks separate clusters of peg setae. This arrangement of peg setae is unique among the three species of the genus.

The females of P. inexspectata are separated from P. monticola by the abruptly expanded apical end of the spermatheca of the former species (fig. 107) in contrast to the gradually expanded portion near the spermathecal capsule (fig. 99). Females of P. inexspectata and P. watanabei are similar and identified by distribution and association with the male.

Description:

Length 3.2–4.4 mm; width 1.3–1.7 mm.

Color pale to dark reddish brown with dark reddish brown to nearly black head. Pronotum with central region reddish brown to dark reddish brown and lateral, anterior, and posterior margins pale reddish brown to yellowish brown. Elytra mostly pale reddish brown with darker central region. Antennae mostly dark reddish brown, paler basally. Legs reddish brown.

Wings reduced to minute pads.

Tergite VII with minute, irregularly interrupted palisade fringe on posterior margin.

Male:

Sternite V with shallow median depression on apical two-thirds; pubescence present on basal half of depression; apical half of depression without pubescence or punctation.

Sternite VI with shallow median depression extending for most of length of segment; depression with punctation and pubescence on basal third and without punctation or pubescence on midapical two-thirds.

Sternite VII (fig. 108) with moderately deep, arcuate, median emargination of posterior margin; sternite with row of peg setae on each side of midline of posterior region; rows begin at posterior margin and curve anteromedially onto posteromedial portion of disc; posterior margin with long, spinelike seta near posterolateral end of row of peg setae; sternite with 8–12 peg setae; median surface of sternite with shallow depression reaching from posterior margin to near base; depression slightly tapered anteriorly and with scattered fine punctation and minute setae around basal and lateral margins, but region anterior to, between, and posterior to rows of peg setae devoid of punctation or fine pubescence.

Sternum VIII (fig. 101) with broad, deep, median emargination; margins of emargination widely separated apically and gradually curved medially to about basal third, then strongly convergent and narrowly separated to base; basal third of emargination tapered to rounded basal margin.

Aedeagus with parameres longer than median lobe (figs. 102, 103) as measured from apical margin of basal orifice to apex of parameres.

Female:

Spermathecal capsule with apical end globular and abruptly enlarged and from there tapered toward spermathecal duct; spermathecal duct with several loops near capsule (figs. 105–107).

Distribution and Habitat:

This species is known only from Kuanshan and Peinantashan (see Smetana, 1995b: 6, sites 18 and 48) in Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan, where it was collected at 2080–2550 m. Specimens were found in litter and debris on the floor of mature broadleaf evergreen, mixed broadleaf evergreen, and coniferous forests.

Material Examined:

Thirty-five specimens: 19 males, 16 females. Taiwan: Kaohsiung Hsien: Kuanshan trail above Kaunshanchi River, 2550 m, April 21, 1992, A. Smetana, sifting fallen leaves, twigs, and humus from floor of mature broadleaf evergreen forest [6] (holotype male, allotype, paratypes: 3 males, 3 females, ASC; 1 female, AMNH); July 22, 1993, sifting leaves, twigs, and debris from floor of mature mixed broadleaf evergreen and coniferous (Abies) forest [60] (1 male, paratypes: 2 males, ASC; 1 male, AMNH). Peinantashan trail, 2500 m, July 4, 1993, A. Smetana, sifting fallen leaves and other debris from under deciduous bushes along trail [36] (3 males, 1 female, ASC); 2390–2490 m, July 4, 1993, sifting fallen leaves and other debris from under deciduous bushes along trail [38] (3 males, 4 females, ASC); 2080 m, July 6, 1993, sifting layers of moist fallen leaves and other debris accumulated along wall of old forest road in mature broadleaf evergreen forest [41] (4 males, 3 females, ASC); 2450 m, May 2, 1995, sifting debris from a few moist spots on floor of very dry mature mixed forest (Quercus, Pinus, Chamaecyparis) [70] (1 male, 3 females, ASC).

One specimen lacking abdominal segments VI–X was collected at 2500 m along the Peinantashan Trail and is almost certainly P. inexspectata.

Five males and a female were dissected for features of the genital segments and genitalia and one female was disarticulated.

Diagnosis:

Males of Peitawopsis watanabei are separated from those of P. inexspectata and P. monticola by the uninterrupted row of peg setae near the posterior margin of sternite VII (fig. 110).

The females of P. watanabei are separated from those of P. monticola by the abruptly enlarged apical end of the spermatheca and by the slightly coiled end of the spermathecal duct near the capsule (figs. 115, 116). Females of P. watanabei and P. inexspectata are similar and separated by the site of collection.

Description:

Length 3.3–3.7 mm; width 1.3–1.4 mm.

Color pale to dark reddish brown. Head dark reddish brown to nearly black. Pronotum with central region dark reddish brown; lateral, anterior, and posterior margins pale reddish brown to yellowish brown. Elytra with central region dark reddish brown and with lateral and anterior margins pale reddish brown to yellowish brown. Antennae reddish brown to dark reddish brown. Legs pale reddish brown to yellowish brown.

Wings reduced to minute pads.

Tergite VII with minute, irregularly interrupted palisade fringe on posterior margin.

Male:

Sternite V with slight impression on midapical half; impression with microsetae and micropunctures.

Sternite VI with feeble, anteriorly tapering, median depression; depression nearly as long as sternite; depression with microsetae and micropunctures basally and laterally and without punctures or setae midapically.

Sternite VII (fig. 110) with moderately broad, moderately deep, arcuate median emargination of posterior margin; surface adjacent to emargination with uninterrupted row of peg setae; gap between row of peg setae and posterior margin of sternite variable; sternite with 9–16 peg setae (figs. 110, 113); spinelike seta present near lateral end of row of peg setae; sternite without cluster of peg setae on disc separated from posterior row; surface with shallow, anteriorly tapering, median depression extending anteriorly from posterior margin; depression without setae or punctures on midposterior surface, but with micropunctures and microsetae laterally, basally, and on most of median region.

Sternum VIII (fig. 111) with broad, deep, anteriorly tapering emargination; margin of emargination broadly and shallowly sinuate and medially convergent.

Aedeagus with parameres about as long as median lobe (figs. 109, 112), as measured from apical margin of basal orifice to apex of parameres.

Female:

Spermathecal capsule with apical end globular and abruptly enlarged then tapered to spermathecal duct; spermathecal duct with several loops near capsule (figs. 115, 116).

Distribution and Habitat:

This species is known in Pingtung Hsien from Peitawushan (see Smetana, 1995b: 6, site 10) and its foothills that extend south into northern Kaohsiung Hsien (about 25 km south of site 10 in Smetana, 1995b: 6), where it was collected at elevations of 1700 to 2910 m. Specimens were found in moist leaf litter and debris and moss on the floor of broadleaf evergreen and Abies forests. Unlike P. monticola, this species ascends to the main ridge of Peitawushan and occurs there in the Abies forest at close to 3000 m.

Material Examined:

Thirty specimens: 18 males, 12 females. Taiwan: Pingtung Hsien: Taiwan: Pingtung Hsien, Peitawushan, above Kuai-Ku Hut 2680 m, 29.IV.1992, A. Smetana, sifting moist fallen leaves, moss, and other debris from small seepage in mature Abies forest with lush undergrowth [06] (holotype male; paratypes: 9 males and 6 females, ASC; 3 males, 2 females, AMNH). Peitawushan, Kuai-Ku Hut, 2325 m, May 21, 1991, A. Smetana, sifting litter in forest floor depression and in small gullies in mature broadleaf evergreen forest [8] (paratype: 1 male, ASC). Peitawushan, above Kuai-Ku Hut, 2750 m, April 29, 1992, A. Smetana, sifting fallen leaves, old vegetation, moss and various other debris in forest floor depressions and small gullies in mature broadleaf forest intermixed with conifers [07] (paratype: 1 male, ASC). Peitawushan ridge, 2800–2910, April 28, 1992, A. Smetana, sifting of moss, twigs, and various other debris on shaded areas below groups of low Abies trees [05] (paratypes: 2 males, 2 females, ASC). Kaohsiung Hsien: Road above Tona Forest Station, Km 16–17, 1700–1800 m, April 28, 1998, A. Smetana, sifting moist to wet fallen leaves and other debris accumulated along rock wall at edge of forest road in mature broadleaf evergreen forest [90] (paratypes: 1 male, 2 females, ASC).

Six males and three females were dissected for features of the genital segments and genitalia; a male and female were disarticulated.

Diagnosis:

Lacvietina can be separated from all other genera of the tribe by the deep metasternal pit adjacent to the apex of the mesosternal process (figs. 146, 196, 197). The presence of a rounded ridge (fig. 194) in place of a postocular carina on the lateral side of the head and the rounded anterior and posterior angles of the pronotum (fig. 130) separate it from Megarthropsis and Nepaliodes. Lacvietina is distinguished from Peitawopsis by the convex elytra (fig. 1) and absence of a midlongitudinal groove on the vertex of the head (fig. 194).

Description:

Length 2.7–3.7 mm; width 1.1–1.4 mm. Color dark to pale reddish brown.

Head (figs. 1, 194) with dorsum densely and coarsely punctate. Clypeus impunctate or with a few scattered punctures. Head with lateral margin moderately reflexed from antenna to near anterior margin of clypeus (fig. 194); anterior margin of clypeus not reflexed. Epistomal suture (fig. 1) present, entire, and angulate at middle; midcranial suture short and moderately to feebly developed and only visible in some specimens when cleared. Dorsum without median impression or midlongitudinal groove (fig. 194). Postocular lateral margin of head with rounded ridge extending posteromedially from eye; vertical postocular carina absent. Gular sutures widely separated. Submentum coarsely punctate. Antenna long, slender, and extending from about middle of elytra to near posterior margin; scape (fig. 194) more or less parallel- sided from near base to apex, not tapered apically, and with scattered pubescence on dorsal and ventral surfaces.

Pronotum with anterior and posterior angles broadly rounded (figs. 1, 130); anterior angles produced beyond median portion of anterior margin; lateral margin evenly curved; median and lateral surfaces coarsely, densely, and evenly punctate; punctures distinct, not anastomosing; at least one species with moderately coarse, moderately dense punctation laterally and across base and with fine punctation medially and anteriorly (based on undescribed female [sp. A]).

Elytra (fig. 1) convex, moderately convex medially and strongly convex laterally; surface evenly, densely, and coarsely punctate; lateral margin narrowly reflexed and explanate; lateral margin with short, spinelike setae extending posteriorly from humeral angle; posterior margin moderately (figs. 1, 131) to slightly (fig. 143) emarginate laterally; female of one unnamed species without emargination; posterolateral angle moderately to slightly produced (figs. 131, 143). Mesosternum (fig. 146) without midlongitudinal basal carina; paramedial basal carina present and short. Metasternum with deep pit adjacent to apex of mesosternal process (figs. 146, 196, 197); circum-mesocoxal ridge moderately developed medially.

Procoxa without carina on medial surface.

Male:

Sternite VII (figs. 123, 138, 150) with wide emargination of posterior margin, broad median depression, and median cluster of peg setae. Tergum VIII with four apical lobes (figs. 132, 133, 136, 153).

Aedeagus (figs. 121, 134, 147) with parameres more or less straight in ventral view; left paramere (in ventral view) shorter and wider than right; median lobe with shallow groove (or depression) near middle of ventral surface of base (fig. 152).

Female:

Sternum VIII (figs. 141, 168) with three pairs of apical lobes; median pair of lobes with apical, fanlike cluster of setae on each lobe. Tergum VIII with four (figs. 129, 170) or five (figs. 140, 151) apical lobes; median lobe or median pair of lobes moderately wide; lateral lobe with small secondary lobe on lateral edge.

Spermatheca (figs. 142, 170) globose apically, abruptly constricted, then tapered apically to spermathecal duct; juncture of capsule with spermathecal duct not enlarged.

Discussion:

Five species from Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Taiwan are known and characterized herein. A sixth species, from Indonesia, was examined but is known from only one female. It is likely that a seventh species (see below) from Thailand should be included.

The species were collected from montane regions at relatively low elevations. They were all collected from wet to very wet litter and debris. Without doubt other species will be found in southern China, Southeast Asia, and perhaps Indonesia.

Tachinus punctatissimus (Hayashi) is transferred herein to Lacvietina. Hayashi (1991) described the species in Paratachinus Blackwelder, 1952, a genus group name that was first proposed and characterized by Cameron (1932: 396) who, however, did not designate a type species, so the name was unavailable. Blackwelder (1952: 293) made the name available when he designated the type species (Herman, 2001b: 11). Paratachinus, originally established with two species, Paratachinus monticola Cameron and Paratachinus laticollis Cameron (a secondary homonym replaced by Tachinus oblongopunctatus Ullrich), is currently cited as a junior synonym of Tachinus (Tachinoderus) (Ullrich, 1975: 291; Campbell, 1988: 276; Li, 1995b: 207), but see Coiffait (1982: 39, 116; 1984: 117, 138) and Hayashi (1991: 48) who cited it as valid.

Tachinus (Tachinoderus) currently includes 42 species (extracted from Herman, 2001a). Based on the original descriptions of the pronotal punctation of the species in Tachinoderus, only P. punctatissimus Hayashi is reported to have the pronotum covered with coarse punctation, a characteristic feature of species in Lacvietina. The few species of the subgenus that were examined include Tachinus (Tachinoderus) brunneicollis Cameron, 1926, T. (T.) debilis Horn, 1877, T. (T.) himalayicus Cameron, 1926, and T. (T.) monticola Cameron, 1926; all have fine pronotal punctation and lack the metasternal pit. However, a species from Sumatra, for which I have seen only one female, has moderately coarse pronotal punctation basally and laterally and fine punctation medially and anteriorly and belongs in Lacvietina. Based on this specimen and on a habitus illustration by Pace (1986: fig. 10) it is likely that Tachinus (Tachinoderus) rougemonti Pace, 1986: 49, from Thailand, should be transferred to Lacvietina; that transfer must await study of the type or accurately identified specimens. Examination of other species in Tachinus (Tachinoderus) may result in a few additional reassignments.

Etymology:

The genus is named after the Lac Viet, an ancient group of people in Vietnam. The gender of the name is feminine.

Diagnosis:

The males of Lacvietina cuprina can be separated from their congeners by the small cluster of 3–7 peg setae on the disc of sternite VII, the evenly curved, uninterrupted row of peg setae on the posterior margin of sternite VII (figs. 123–126), the shallow, dully shining depression of sternite VI, and the absence of carinae on sternite V. The base of the emargination of sternum VIII (fig. 128) is rounded and narrower than in the other species (figs. 137, 154, 157, 161).

Females of L. cuprina are separated from those of the other species by the presence of a row of punctures along the ventral margin of the elytral epipleuron and another along the length of the middle (fig. 195); the other species have a row of punctures adjacent to the ventral margin only. Tergum VIII of L. cuprina is comprised of four apical lobes, whereas both L. aurora and L. copiosa have five (figs. 140, 151); L. punctatissima also has four apical lobes (fig. 171).

Description:

Length 2.7–3.4 mm; width 1.1–1.3 mm. Color pale to dark reddish brown. Head darker than remainder of body, elytra darker than pronotum and abdomen. Pronotum with dark disc and paler margins. Abdomen with segments VII and VIII darker than or concolorous with preceding segments. Antennae and legs reddish brown.

Pronotal punctation extending to anterior margin and without lateroapical impunctate, polished spot mesad of anterolateral angle.

Elytra with posterolateral angle moderately to slightly produced (fig. 131); epipleuron (fig. 195) with two rows of punctures, one near vental margin and second on midlongitudinal surface. Wings present and fully developed.

Tergite VII with moderately strong ground sculpturing between punctures; surface dully shining.

Male:

Sternite V with shallow median depression on apical half; depression tapered basally; surface of depression with ground sculpturing and with setae and punctation basally and laterally but absent midapically; posterior margin with broad, shallow median emargination.

Sternite VI (fig. 122) with shallow median depression; depression nearly as long as sternite; surface of depression with ground sculpturing and without punctures or setae except basally and laterally; posterior margin of sternite with broad shallow median emargination.

Sternite VII (fig. 123) with shallow median depression on apical three-fifths; depression elliptical and longer than wide; depression with ground sculpturing and with small group of 3–7 peg setae (figs. 123–126) on disc; posterior margin with broad, evenly curved, moderately deep emargination; surface adjacent to emargination with evenly curved row of peg setae bordered laterally by long, stout, darkly pigmented seta.

Sternum VIII (fig. 128) with broad, deep median emargination; margins of emargination moderately sinuate and converging to base and with surface adjacent to basal two- fifths beveled; basal margin narrowly rounded; sternum with short, curved, medially notched ridge on inner surface adjacent to base of sternal emargination.

Tergum VIII (figs. 132, 133) with shallow to moderately deep, rounded emargination between median pair of apical lobes; emargination wider than deep.

Aedeagus asymmetrical (figs. 121, 127); parameres with lateral margins slightly sinuate, right (in ventral view) more sinuate than left; left paramere (in ventral view) shorter and slightly wider than right; left paramere slightly curved medially and slightly curved ventrally at apex; right paramere more strongly curved medially and ventrally near apex.

Female:

Tergum VIII (fig. 129) with four apical lobes.

Distribution and Habitat:

This species is known from the northern Vietnamese provinces of Hatinh, Quang Binh, and Quang Nam. It was collected at elevations of 220– 1150 m from wet leaf litter near streams in Hatinh Province and from flood debris in Quang Nam Province.

Etymology:

The name of this species is from the Latin for coppery (cuprinus).

Material Examined:

One hundred fifteen specimens. The holotype and 68 male and 46 female paratypes. Six males were dissected for the genitalic features and a male and female were disarticulated.

Diagnosis:

The males of Lacvietina aurora are distinguished from those of the other two species of the genus by the sinuous row of peg setae near the posterior margin of sternite VII (fig. 138), the evenly curved emargination of sternite VII (fig. 138), the small cluster of 7–9 peg setae on the midbasal portion of sternite VII, the polished median depression of sternite VI, and the absence of carinae on sternite V.

Females of L. aurora are separated from L. cuprina by the single row of punctures on the elytral epipleuron and the five apical lobes of tergum VIII (fig. 140), from L. copiosa and L. punctatissima (and probably L. paricosta) by the strongly shining interpunctational surface of tergite VII, and from L. punctatissima by the presence of five apical lobes of tergum VIII (fig. 140).

Description:

Length 3.0–3.5 mm; width 1.1–1.4 mm. Body pale to dark reddish brown. Head darker than remainder of body, elytra darker than pronotum and abdomen. Pronotum with dark disc and paler margins. Antennae and legs reddish brown.

Pronotal punctation extending to anterior margin and without lateroapical impunctate spot mesad of anterolateral angle, but some individuals with slightly less dense punctation on small lateroapical spot.

Elytra with posterolateral angle moderately to slightly (fig. 143) produced; epipleuron with row of punctures near ventral edge and without row of punctures in median region. Wings present and fully developed.

Tergite VII without ground sculpturing between punctures or feeble if present; surface polished.

Male:

Sternite V with shallow median depression on apical fifth; depression increasingly deep and wide apically; basal and lateral margins of depression with cluster of short setae; midapical surface of depression polished; posterior margin of sternite with shallow median emargination.

Sternite VI (fig. 139) with moderately deep median depression on apical three-fourths; depression broad, about as wide as long; depression polished and without setae, punctation, or ground sculpturing; depression abruptly demarcated basally; lateral margins of depression slightly curved but approximately parallel to one another; posterior margin of sternite with broad, shallow emargination.

Sternite VII (fig. 138) with moderately deep median depression on apical two-thirds; depression broad, slightly longer than wide and ovoid; surface of depression shining, with patch of minute setae and punctures on lateral portion, and with small basal cluster of 7–9 peg setae; posterior margin of sternite with broad, deep, evenly curved emargination; emargination bordered by sinuous row of peg setae; row of peg setae bordered laterally by long, stout darkly pigmented seta.

Sternum VIII (fig. 137) with broad, deep emargination; lateral margins of emargination sinuate and converging to base and with surface adjacent to basal third beveled; basal margin of emargination truncate, beveled, and with small median notch.

Tergum VIII (fig. 136) with moderately deep, rounded emargination between median pair of apical lobes; emargination slightly wider than deep.

Aedeagus (figs. 134, 135) asymmetrical; parameres with lateral margins sinuously curved; left paramere (in ventral view) wider and shorter than right and with apical portion straight; apex of right slightly curved medially and with apex slightly bent ventrally.

Female:

Tergum VIII (fig. 140) with five lobes on posterior margin; median lobe tapered apically and with small seta at apex.

Distribution and Habitat:

The species is known from Hatinh Province in northern Vietnam at 1150 m. It was collected near the end of the dry season from leaf litter near a slow flowing, drying stream.

Etymology:

The name of this species is from the Latin for dawn (aurora) and refers to the fact that to reach the site of collection I had to leave camp before sunrise to have a sufficient amount of time to collect.

Material Examined:

Thirteen specimens. Male holotype and 7 male and 5 female paratypes.

Three males and one female were dissected for genitalic features. One male was disarticulated.

Diagnosis:

The males of Lacvietina copiosa can be separated from those of the other four species by the large cluster of 26–30 peg setae on the disc of sternite VII (fig. 150), the medially interrupted row of peg setae along the posterior margin of sternite VII (fig. 150), and the wide parameres (fig. 147).

Females can be separated from those of the other species by the single row of punctures on the elytral epipleuron and the strong interpunctational ground sculpturing of tergum VII; the five apical lobes of tergum VIII (fig. 151) will separate it from L. cuprina (fig. 129) and L. punctatissima (fig. 171).

Description:

Length 3.1–3.7 mm; width 1.3–1.4 mm. Body dark to pale reddish brown. Head darker than remainder of body, elytra darker than pronotum and abdomen. Pronotum with dark disc and paler margins. Antennae and legs reddish brown.

Pronotum with small to moderately large lateroapical impunctate, polished spot mesad of anterolateral angle; spots separated or connected by narrow to feebly developed, impunctate band.

Elytra with posterolateral angle moderately to slightly produced; epipleuron with row of punctures near ventral margin and without row of punctures in median region. Wings present and fully developed.

Tergite VII with strong ground sculpturing between punctures; surface shining dully.

Male:

Sternite V with moderately deep, midapical depression; depression with cluster of short dense setae medially and basally, but polished and without setae midapically; posterior margin with shallow median emargination.

Sternite VI (fig. 149) with broad, deep, polished, median depression; depression without setae, punctures, or ground sculpturing; depression abruptly demarcated basally; width of depression about twice length; lateral margins of depression diverging posteriorly; posterior margin broadly and shallowly emarginate.

Sternite VII (fig. 150) with broad, moderately deep, median depression; depression slightly longer than wide; surface of depression glabrous midapically and with remainder shining dully; depression with dense cluster of 26–30 peg setae; cluster of peg setae denser basally than apically; cluster of peg setae on posteriorly sloping plateau; sternite with irregular row of peg setae adjacent to posterior margin; apical row of peg setae separated medially and bordered laterally by long, darkly pigmented spinelike seta; posterior margin with broad, moderately deep, sinuate emargination; emargination as wide as median depression and with middle more deeply emarginate; median third of posterior margin without setae, polished, and more lightly sclerotized.

Sternum VIII (fig. 154) with broad, deep median emargination; lateral margin of emargination sinuously curved; emargination narrower basally than apically; surface of sternum adjacent to basal half of emargination slightly beveled and shallowly impressed; base of emargination moderately beveled, shallowly curved, and with pair of setae on each side of midline; base of emargination more or less truncate, and with small, median notch.

Tergum VIII (fig. 153) with moderately deep, rounded emargination between median pair of apical lobes; emargination wider than deep.

Aedeagus asymmetrical (figs. 147, 148); parameres each with small, subapical process on ventral surface (viewed laterally); lateral margins sinuously curved; left paramere (in ventral view) wider and shorter than right; apex of left paramere nearly straight; apex of right paramere curved medially.

Female:

Tergum VIII (fig. 151) with five lobes on posterior margin; median process short or long, tapered apically, and with small seta at apex.

Distribution and Habitat:

This species is known from the northern Vietnamese provinces of Hatinh and, farther to the south, Quang Nam. It was collected at elevations of 220–940 m from wet leaf litter near streams in Hatinh Province and from flood debris in Quang Nam Province.

Etymology:

The name of this species is from the Latin for furnished abundantly (copiosus) and refers to the large number of peg setae on sternite VII of the males.

Discussion:

Some males may have somewhat fewer or somewhat more peg setae on sternite VII than indicated in the description. The numbers in the description are based on a sampling of the males; no attempt was made to count the peg setae on all the males examined. The point is that L. copiosa has significantly more peg setae than the other species.

Material Examined:

Seventy-six specimens. Male holotype and 36 male and 39 female paratypes.

Four males and one female were dissected for genitalic features and a male and female were disarticulated.

Diagnosis:

The males of this species can be separated easily from the others of the genus by the pair of posteriorly diverging, medial carinae on sternite V (fig. 160) and the deep incision between the median pair of lobes of tergum VIII (fig. 156). The parameres of L. paricosta (fig. 158) are more slender than are those of L. aurora (fig. 134) and there are fewer peg setae along the posterior margin of sternite VII (fig. 155) than for L. aurora (fig. 138) and L. cuprina (fig. 123) and fewer medial peg setae in L. paricosta (fig. 155) than L. copiosa (fig. 150).

Description:

Length 3.5 mm; width 1.2 mm. Color reddish brown. Head darker than remainder of body. Pronotum with darker reddish brown median region and pale reddish brown to yellowish brown lateral and basal margins. Abdominal segments darker basally than apically.

Pronotum with moderately large, impunctate, polished spot adjacent to anterior margin and mesad of anterolateral angle; impunctate spots connected by similarly impunctate and polished narrow band along anterior margin.

Elytra with posterolateral angle moderately strongly to weakly produced; epipleuron with one row of punctures adjacent to ventral edge. Wings fully developed. Tergum with moderately strong ground sculpturing between punctures; surface dully shining.

Male:

Sternite V (fig. 160) with medial pair of posteriorly diverging carinae; carinae larger apically than basally; median region without punctures or setae, but with cluster of minute, stout, cuticular processes between and at base of carinae (not shown in figure and visible only at high magnification of compound microscope; visible when viewed in glycerine with stereo microscope as pale spots); posterior margin feebly emarginate.

Sternite VI with broad, shallow median depression; depression nearly as long as segment and about a quarter of width; depression without punctures or setae on most of surface but with one stout seta near lateroapical margin; posterior margin feebly emarginate.

Sternite VII (fig. 155) with broad, shallow, indistinctly margined, median depression; depression with weak ground sculpturing and small median cluster of 11–12 peg setae; posterior margin with broad, evenly curved, moderately deep emargination; emargination with row of peg setae medially; peg setae of posterior margin separated, not contiguous; peg seta of posterior margin bordered laterally by row of short setae; lateral edge of row of setae and peg setae marked by long, stout, darkly pigmented seta.

Sternum VIII (fig. 156) with broad, deep median emargination; margins of emargination strongly sinuate and converging to base; surface adjacent to basal fifth of emargination narrowly beveled; basal margin broad, truncate, beveled, and medially notched.

Tergum VIII (fig. 156) with deep emargination between median pair of lobes; emargination much deeper than wide.

Aedeagus (figs. 158, 159) asymmetrical; parameres with lateral margins moderately sinuate; right paramere (in ventral view) less strongly sinuate than left; left paramere (in ventral view) shorter and wider than right.

Female:

Unknown.

Distribution and Habitat:

The species is known from Cameron Highlands in West Malaysia and the Chiang Mai region of Thailand.

Etymology:

The name of this species is from the Latin for equal (par) and rib (costa) and refers to the pair of ridges or carinae on sternite V of the males.

Material Examined:

Two specimens. Male holotype and paratype.

Both males were dissected for abdominal and genitalic features. No specimens were disarticulated.

Diagnosis:

The pronotum of L. punctatissima has a moderately large, polished, impunctate spot adjacent to the anterior margin near the anterolateral angle. Only L. copiosa has a similar, but smaller spot; the pronotal punctation of L. cuprina and L. aurora reaches the anterior margin. The males of L. copiosa have a large cluster of peg setae on the disc of sternite VII (fig. 150) and those of L. punctatissima have a small cluster (fig. 162). Other salient features of the males of L. punctatissima include the even, medially separated marginal row of peg of sternite VII (fig. 162), and the broad, moderately deep, polished depression on sternite VI. Lacvietina punctatissima, with one row of punctures near the ventral edge of the elytral epipleuron, is separated from L. cuprina, which has two rows, one near the ventral margin and one along the length of the middle (fig. 195).

The females of L. punctatissima have four apical lobes on sternite VIII (fig. 170) and those of L. copiosa (fig. 151) and L. aurora (fig. 140) have five.

Description:

Length 3.3–3.6 mm; width 1.3 mm. Color reddish brown to dark reddish brown. Head darker than remainder of body, elytra darker than abdomen and about as dark as median portion of pronotum. Pronotum with dark disc and paler margins. Abdomen evenly pigmented.

Pronotum with moderately large, impunctate, polished spot adjacent to anterior margin and mesad of anterolateral angle; impunctate spots connected by similarly impunctate and polished narrow band along anterior margin.

Elytra with posterolateral angle moderately strongly to weakly produced; epipleuron with one row of punctures adjacent to ventral edge. Wings fully developed.

Tergum VII with moderately strong ground sculpturing between punctures; surface dully shining.

Male:

Sternite V (fig. 163) with arc- shaped median depression; depression about half of length and about one-quarter of width of sternite; basal and medial portion of depression with dense cluster of small, spiniform setae; apical edge of depression strongly shining and without setae; posterior margin with broad, shallow emargination.

Sternite VI (fig. 164) with broad, curved median depression; depression about two- thirds of length and about one-third of width of sternite; depression with minute setae and punctures along perimeter but absent medially and with long seta near lateroapical margin; posterior margin with broad, shallow emargination.

Sternite VII (fig. 162) with broad, shallow, indistinctly margined, median depression; depression with weak ground sculpturing, scattered minute setae, and small, median cluster of 7–13 peg setae; posterior margin with broad, slightly sinuate, moderately deep emargination; posterior margin with row of medially separated peg setae in emargination; lateral edge of cluster of peg setae marked by long, stout, darkly pigmented seta.

Sternum VIII (fig. 161) with broad, deep median emargination; margins of emargination strongly sinuate and converging to base and with surface adjacent to basal two-thirds beveled; basal margin broad, truncate, beveled, and medially notched.

Tergum VIII (fig. 165) with shallow emargination between median pair of apical lobes; emargination wider than deep.

Aedeagus (figs. 166, 167) asymmetrical; parameres with lateral margins strongly sinuate; right paramere (in ventral view) more strongly sinuate than left; left paramere (in ventral view) shorter and wider than right.

Female:

Tergum VIII (fig. 170) with four apical lobes.

Discussion:

Hayashi (1991) based his description of this species on one female and placed it in Paratachinus Blackwelder, 1952. I did not examine the type, but the characters published by Hayashi (1991), including the glabrous spots on the anterior margin of the pronotum and features of the tergum and sternum VIII, are shared by the females studied in the present work. The males examined herein comprise one species and the males and females share features of the distribution of the pronotal punctation, so I conclude they are conspecific. In addition to the coarse cephalic, pronotal, and elytral punctation, specimens of P. punctatissimus have a weakly reflexed anterolateral margin of the head and, most importantly, a deep metasternal pit (see fig. 146); these features support its placement in Lacvietina, and it is so transferred herein. The postocular ridge is obsolete to poorly developed and evident as a sharper curve in the even curvature from the dorsal surface ventrally.

Distribution and Habitat:

Lacvietina punctatissima (Hayashi) is restricted to Taiwan, where it has been collected in five Hsiens, four in the north (Taitung, Ilan, Nantou, and Taipei) and one in the south (Kaohsiung). The species has been collected at elevations of 550–1800 m. Most (perhaps all) of the specimens were collected from plant debris in wet to very wet habitats, both near flowing water and from moist spots on the forest floor. The species has been collected along with species of such wet-habitat genera as Stenus, Dianous, Derops, and Atanygnathus.

Material Examined:

Thirty-five specimens: 15 males, 20 females. Taiwan: Ilan Hsien: Shen-Mi Lake, 24;dg22;pr43"N, 121;dg44;pr12"E, 1110 m, 10.V.1995, A. Smetana, sifting leaflitter and other moist debris under shrubs/trees near lake [77] (7 females, ASC). [Hsien cited as “Illan”]: Near Chihtuan, July 23, 1978, Y. Shibata leg. (1 male, CNC); July 24, 1979, Y. Shibata leg. (1 female, CNC). Kaohsiung [Hsien]: Tengshih, 1400 m, 21–23.VII.2000, leg. H. Sugaya (1 male, 1 female, MSC); Tengchih, 1400 m, 21–23.VII.2000, leg. H. Sugaya (1 male, MSC). Nantou [Hsien]: Chosen-lintao, 1800 m, 11.X.1998, leg. H. Sugaya (2 males, 1 female, MSC); Tehuashe, 900 m, 25.X.2001, H. Sugaya leg. (1 male, MSC). Taitung Hsien: Hsinkangshan above Chengkang, 750 m, 18.IV.1998, A. Smetana, sifting moist plant debris along edges of abandoned forest road in subtropical, mostly broadleaf evergreen forest [82] (2 males, 5 females, ASC); 800 m, 17.IV.1998, A. Smetana, Lise Robillard, sifting of wet plant debris at base of rock wall over which thin layer of water was running [80] (1 male, 1 female, ASC); 550–600 m, 22.IV.1998, A. Smetana, sifting of soaking wet plant debris accumulated at base of dripping wet rock wall and collected together with Atanygnathus sp. [87] (2 males, 1 female, ASC); 750 m, 21.IV.1998, A. Smetana, sifting of moist plant debris along edges of abandoned forest road in subtropical, mostly broadleaf evergreen forest [85] (1 female, ASC); 800 m, 26.IV.95, A. Smetana, sifting moist to wet debris along edges of small creek [67] (1 male, 1 female, ASC); 800 m, 27.IV.95, A. Smetana, sifting wet plant debris at base of rock wall over which thin layer of water was running and collected together with Derops lisae and species of Stenus and Dianous [68] (2 males, 1 female, ASC); 900 m, 19.IV.98, A. Smetana, sifting moist plant debris in forest floor depressions, subtropical, mostly broadleaf evergreen forest [84] (1 male, ASC).

Dissections of eight males and five females were examined for features of the abdomen, genital segments, and genitalia. One disarticulated male and female were examined.

The holotype, not examined for this study, is from Taipei Hsien.

Description:

Female. Length 4.0 mm; width 1.5 mm. Color reddish brown. Head nearly black and darker than remainder of body. Pronotum with pale reddish brown lateral and basal margins.

Head with a few scattered fine punctures and with scattered punctulation; surface polished. Antenna reaching nearly to posterior margin of elytra.

Pronotum with coarse, moderately dense punctation on lateral third and along basal third; median third and anterior margin with scattered punctulation and fine punctures and surface strongly shining to polished.

Elytra with posterolateral angle not produced; epipleuron with one row of punctures adjacent to ventral edge.

Tergum VIII with five apical lobes.

Discussion:

In the key to species for Lacvietina, this species will run to couplet 7, where it can be separated from both L. aurora and L. copiosa by the impunctate median third of the pronotum.

Although the posterolateral elytral margin is rounded, not emarginate as is the case for others of the Megarthropsini, the lateral margin of the head is reflexed from above the antennal insertion anteriorly, the postocular ridge is modestly developed, the neck is present, and the cephalic, pronotal, and elytral punctation is coarse. The species is included in Lacvietina because of the presence of the intermesocoxal metasternal pit.

Distribution:

Indonesia: N. Sumatra, Kotacane, Gn. Sinabung, 2000 m, 7–8.X.1990, leg. A. Riedel (1 female, MSC).

Material Examined:

One female.