Published November 2, 2017 | Version v1
Taxonomic treatment Open

Zyras (Diaulaconia) artemis Liang & Maruyama & Li 2017, sp. n.

Description

Zyras (Diaulaconia) artemis Liang, Maruyama & Li, sp. n.

(Figs 1–6)

Type materials (163 specimens). Holotype: male, Taiwan: Pingtung Co.: Sheding: 21.9646˚N; 120.8270˚E, 165m, 18.XI.2015, by high-intensity discharge lamp (HID light trap), W.-R. Liang & Y.-C. Lan, deposited in NMNS. Paratypes: Hualien Co.: Danongdafu: 23.6185˚N; 121.4009˚E, 160m, 20.X.2016, by ultraviolet light trap (UV light trap), W.-R. Liang & Y.-Z. Huang, 1♂ (dissected) (NMNS); Hsilin trail: 23.8275˚N, 121.4250˚E, 270m, 19.X.2016, by UV light trap, W.-R. Liang & Y.-Z. Huang, 1♀ (dissected) (NCHU). Nantou Co.: Xiaping: 23.7759˚N, 120.6720˚E, 150m, 25.IV–30.V.2015, by flight interception trap (FIT), W.-R. Liang, 1♂, 1♀ (all dissected) (KUM); 23.VI–15.VII.2015, by FIT, 3♂♂ (NMNS); 28.I.2016, near the foraging site of O. formosanus in the rotten wood, 1♂, 1♀ (NCHU); 28.VIII.2016, 1♂ (NMNS); 23.7760˚N, 120.6723˚E, 147m, 15.VII– 2.VIII.2015, by UV light trap, 4♂♂, 5♀♀ (NCHU); 23.7748˚N, 120.6722˚E, 149m, 15.VII–2.VIII.2015, by UV light trap, 10♂♂, 11♀♀ (KUM); Shueili, 23.7661˚N, 120.8560˚E, 404m, 29.IV–16.V.2016, by Malaise trap, H.-T. Yeh, 1♂, 3♀♀ (NTU); 16.V–1.VI.2016, 1♂, 2♀♀ (KUM); 1.VI–15.VI.2016, 2♀♀ (NTU); Qingshuigou: 23.7615˚N, 120.7927˚E, 434m, 29.IV–16.V.2016, by Malaise trap, H.-T. Yeh, 5♀♀ (KUM); 16.V–1.VI.2016, 1♂ (KUM); 1–15.VI.2016, 2♂♂, 1♀ (KUM); 30.VI–1.VII.2016, 1♂ (NTU); 2–17.VIII.2016, 1♀ (NTU). Penghu Co.: Penghu Islands [Peng Hwu Isls.], 4–13.VI.1948, C.-W. Chen & L-T. Chen, 8♂♂, 7♀♀ (2♂♂, 2♀♀ dissected) (TARI). Pingtung Co.: same data as holotype, 7♂♂, 6♀♀ (4♂♂, 4♀♀ dissected) (KUM, NCHU, NMNS); Sheding: 21.9613˚N; 120.8236˚E, 193m, 24.VIII.2015, by sifting from the foraging site of O. formosanus in the leaf litter, Naomichi Tsuji & W.-R. Liang, 9♂♂, 8♀♀ (1♂, 3♀♀ dissected) (KUM, NCHU, NMNS); Dahanshan: 22.4073˚N; 120.6644˚E, 463m, 21.XI.2015, by UV light trap, W.-R. Liang, 1♀ (dissected) (NCHU); Formosa: Kuraru [Kueitzuchiao], 21–25.VIII.1932, Y. Miwa, 1♀ (TARI). Taichung City: Dakeng: 24.1758˚N; 120.7776˚E, 378m, 19.VIII.2016, by UV light trap, W.-R. Liang, 1♂, 3♀♀ (all dissected) (NCHU); 27.VIII.2016, 3♂♂, 1♀ (all dissected) (NCHU); Wanfeng Hill, X.1984, K.-S. Lin & K.-C. Chou, by Malaise trap, 9♂♂, 9♀♀ (TARI); Hsinshe, 5–8.XII.1955, 1♂, 2♀♀ (TARI). Taitung Co.: Basian Cave: 23.3995˚N, 121.4788˚E, 43m, 21.X.2016, near the foraging site of O. formosanus in the rotten wood, W.-R. Liang & Y.-Z. Huang, 3♂♂ (1 dissected) (NCHU); Taitung [Formosa: Taito], 25.II–27.III.1919, S. Inamura, J. Sonan, and M. Yoshino, 1♂ (dissected), Zyras compressicornis (det. T. Shiraki), Zyras artemis (det. W.-R. Liang, 2017) (TARI); Luanshan: 22.9139˚N, 121.1839˚E, 605m, 14.XI.2015, by UV light trap, W.-R. Liang, 8♂♂, 10♀♀ (2♂♂, 2♀♀ dissected) (KUM, NCHU, NMNS). Taoyuan Co.: Gaupo: 24.7634˚N, 121.3486˚E, 514m, 12.IV.2016, near the foraging site of O. formosanus in the rotten wood, W.-R. Liang & Y.-Z. Huang, 3♂♂, 1♀ (1♂, 1♀ dissected) (NCHU).

Description. Body (Fig. 1) slender. Head dark blackish-brown. Antennae, pronotum, elytra, and legs orange to reddish-brown. Abdomen blackish-brown with posterior margins of 3rd to 7th segments dark reddish-brown. Head capsule widest behind eyes, surface finely wrinkled, moderately punctate with short setae. Eyes large and laterally prominent, length of eyes 2.08–2.17 times as long as head width. Antennae (Fig. 2B, C) slightly exceeding combined length of head and pronotum; 1 st antennomere longest, longer than 2nd and 3rd combined; 2nd antennomere shorter than 3rd and narrowest, 3rd antennomere longer and slightly narrower than 4th; 4th to 10th antennomeres similar in shape and length; 11th pointed and approximately as long as 3rd; relative lengths of antennomeres: 26:10:15:10:10:10:10:10:11:11:18. Pronotum (Fig. 2A) subtrapeziform with anterior and posterior margin smoothly convex; 1.2 times as wide as long, widest just behind anterior margin, narrowed posteriorly; surface moderately punctate with short and light colour setae, with 4 black macrosetae on pronotal disc and with 40-50 black macrosetae along the whole margin of disc. Scutellum slightly wrinkled and hairy. Elytra (Fig. 2A) slightly widened apically, surface densely punctate with short and light coloured setae. Elytron with about 20 black macrosetae on main surface and 15 black macrosetae on the lateral margin. Legs hairy, hind tibia approximately as long as elytra; approximate relative lengths of tarsomeres: 14:14:12: 29 in fore tarsi; 24:17:13:13: 27 in mid tarsi; 30:19:16:15: 28 in hind tarsi. Abdomen subparallel-sided, nearly as wide as elytra; 3rd to 7th tergites glabrous except for 1–2 rows of setae along each posterior area; 9th tergite with 3 macrosetae; 10th tergite with 6–8 macrosetae.

Male. Frons of head with minute granulations (Fig. 2E). 4th tergite with a pair of projections on posterior margin (Fig. 3A, C); these projections apically bilobed in lateral view in large individuals (Fig. 3B), while in small individuals can be much reduced, not bilobed apically (Fig. 3D). 7th tergite with apical median tubercle (Fig. 3E, F). 8th tergite (Fig. 4A) with posterior margin emarginate and forming pair of projections, with about 20–30 macrosetae; posterior to posterolateral margin fringed with thick and light colour sensory setae. 8th sternite (Fig. 4B) with posterior margin slightly emarginate or rounded, with about 50 macrosetae; thick and light colour sensory setae fringed densely on posterior to posterolateral margin. Aedeagus (Fig. 4C, D) elongate pear-shaped in ventral view, pointed at apex; apical lobe with two lateral projections of internal sac, these projections are slender and curved ventrally (Fig. 4E, F); apical sclerite and copulatory piece of inner sac as in Fig. 4C–F.

Female. Frons of head smooth, lacking granulation (Fig. 2D). 3rd to 7th tergite simple, lacking projection or small median tubercle on posterior margin (Fig. 3G). 8th tergite (Fig. 5A) similar to male, slightly shorter and wider than in male. 8th sternite (Fig. 5B) with posterior margin rounded, with about 50 macrosetae; thick and light colour sensory setae fringed sparsely on posterior and posterolateral margin. Spermatheca (Fig. 5C–F, 6) anfractuous, basal part highly variable in shape, at least 10 times as long as apical part, rounded and slightly emarginate at base (Fig. 5C, F), widest at base and suddenly constricted at basal 1/3, inner wall smooth; approximate median 1/3 of basal part thinnest, anfractuous and varied in shape (Fig. 6), inner wall smooth; apical 1/3 of basal part slightly curved, the inner wall unsmooth (Fig. 5C, E); connection of basal part and apical part bended about 90 degrees; apical part short, its inner wall curved apicad (Fig. 5C, D).

Measurements. BL ≈ 6.9–8.8; FBL ≈ 1.7–2.1; HL: 0.84–0.93; HW: 1.18–1.35; EL: 0.55–0.63; AL: 2.20–2.59; PL: 1.18–1.30; PW: 1.38–1.57; ELL: 1.43–1.61; ELW: 1.72–2.07; HTL: 1.23–1.49 (mm).

Diagnosis. Zyras artemis sp. n. is distinguishable from all other Zyras (Diaulaconia) species by its remarkable shape of the spermatheca, which basal part anfractuous diversely and at least 10 times as long as apical part, as well as by the shape of the aedeagus and unique projections of 4th tergite in males.

Etymology. Artemis is the ancient Greek goddess of hunting, wildlife, and childbirth. She is currently seen as the archetype of feminists (Bolen, 2014). The new species is named after Artemis in reference to its predatory behavior, extraordinary reproductive strategy, and in honor of Taiwan’s great progress in gender equality, being the first Asian country legalizing same-sex marriage.

Biological notes. Zyras artemis sp. n. is found to be the obligatory predator of O. formosanus in Taiwan. We also observed its complete life cycle in the laboratory, and confirm its non-feeding larval development. The detail information will be published in other subsequent studies.

Distribution. Zyras artemis sp. n. is commonly distributed in low altitude from 0 to 600m around Taiwan, where it is matching the main habitat of its host O. formosanus.This distribution pattern can be referred to their obligatory relationship, which O. formosanus as the only or main food resource for Z. artemis. There are several small islands around Taiwan, e.g., Lanyu Island, Green Island, and Penghu Islands. Up to the present, Z. artemis has been only recorded in Penghu Islands, where O. formosanus is commonly found, but so far it has not been found on the other two islands, where O. formosanus has been also absent.

Notes

Published as part of Liang, Wei-Ren, Maruyama, Munetoshi & Li, Hou-Feng, 2017, Zyras (Diaulaconia) artemis sp. n., a new termitophilous species from Taiwan (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae: Lomechusini), pp. 528-538 in Zootaxa 4341 (4) on pages 529-533, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4341.4.5, http://zenodo.org/record/1040596

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Linked records

Additional details

Biodiversity

Family
Staphylinidae
Genus
Zyras
Kingdom
Animalia
Order
Coleoptera
Phylum
Arthropoda
Scientific name authorship
Liang & Maruyama & Li
Species
artemis
Taxonomic status
sp. nov.
Taxon rank
species
Taxonomic concept label
Zyras (Diaulaconia) artemis Liang, Maruyama & Li, 2017

References

  • Bolen, J. S. (2014) Artemis: The indomitable spirit in everywoman. Conari Press, San FranCisCo, xix + 253 pp.