Aleochara (Triochara) zerchei Assing 1995

Aleochara (Triochara) zerchei (Assing, 1995)

(Figs. 57–60, 79–85, 105)

Triochara zerchei Assing, 1995: 230 (diagnostic key to species of Triochara), 231 (original description; type locality: “ RUSSIA: Primorskiy Kray, Ryazanovka, 14km SW Slavyanka, 42.48 N 131.12 E ”); Paśnik, 2001: 232 (record from North Korea).

Aleochara (Triochara) zerchei (Assing, 1995); Maus & Ashe, 1998c (online) (world checklist of subgenus); Maruyama, 2002: 18 (record from Japan (Hokkaidô)); Park & Ahn, 2004: 196 (record from South Korea); Smetana, 2004: 358 (catalogue of Palaearctic species of Aleocharinae); Frank & Ahn, 2011: 10 (figure of living individual), 20 (checklist of coastal Staphylinidae of world).

“ Aleochara (Triochara) trisulcata (Weise, 1877) ”; Ahn et al., 2000: 245 (redescription; as A. trisulcata; misidentification of A. zerchei, corrected by Park & Ahn (2004)).

Type specimens. Not examined.

Non-type specimens. JAPAN: [Hokkaidô]: 1 Ƥ, 1 sex?, Yanbetsu (near Nikuru-numa), Koshimizu-chô, Shari-gun (43.918N, 144.538E), 27 VII 1993, Haga-K. (under seaweed on sandy beach; KUM); 4 sex?, Hamakoshimizu, Koshimizu-chô, Shari-gun (43.935N, 144.450E), 3 X 1996, Katô-T. (KUM); 1 3, Mokoto (near Mokoto-eki railway station), Abashiri-shi (43.970N, 144.322E), 2 VII 1994, Haga-K. (under seaweed; KUM); 1 sex?, Abashiri, Abashiri-shi (43.979N, 144.304E *); 24 VII 2009, Ôhara-M. (45°58ʹ45ʺN, 144°18ʹ13ʺE: mistyping?; under seaweed (Sargassum sp.), eel grass (Zostera sp.); HUM: HK-09-MO-056/SA); 2 sex?, Koitoi, Shiranuka-chô, Shiranuka-gun (42.982N, 144.163E), 19 VIII 2005, Kishimoto-K. (KUM); 1 sex?, Kotan, Atsutaku, Ishikari-shi (43.355N, 141.427E), 9 VII 2009, Ôhara-M. (43°21ʹ18ʺN, 141°25ʹ37ʺE; under seaweed on sandy beach; HUM: HK-09-MO-029/SA); 1 3, 2 Ƥ, Zenibako, Otaru-shi (43.144N, 141.161E), 30 V 1977, Nishikawa- N. (KUM); 1 sex?, Minato-machi, Rankoshi-chô, Isoya-gun (42.880N, 140.364E), 23 IV 1999, Sasaki-K. (KUM); 1 sex?, Kojô-hama, Shiraoi-chô, Shiraoi-gun (42.462N, 141.218E), 30 VII 1953, Shuto-S. (SCM); 1 sex?, Nanaehama, Nanaehama, Hokuto-shi (41.815N, 140.702E), 15 VIII 1977, Nishikawa-N. (KUM). [Honshû]: 1 sex?, Kodomariaoiwa, Nakadomari-machi, Kitatsugaru-gun, Aomori-ken (41.165N, 140.329E *), 15 IV 2004, Abe-A. (KUM); 1 sex?, Sichirinaga-hama (near Benzu-numa), Kizukuritateoka, Tsugaru-shi, Aomori-ken (40.867N, 140.286E), 1 VII 2006, Hayashi-M. (sandy beach; cKaw); 1 sex?, Rikuchû-Yagi, Taneichi, Hirono-chô, Kunohegun, Iwate-ken (40.349N, 141.764E), 28 VI 2010, Ôhara-M. (40°20ʹ56ʺN, 141°45ʹ49ʺE; sandy beach; under seaweed (Laminaria sp., Sargassum sp.) and eel grass (Zostera sp.); HUM: HN-10-MO-044/SA); 1 sex?, Raga, Tanohata-mura, Shimohei-gun, Iwate-ken (39.939N, 141.940E *), 30 V 1998, Watanabe-T. (cWat); 1 sex?, Omoto, Iwaizumi-chô, Shimohei-gun, Iwate-ken (39.850N, 141.974E), 27 VI 2010, Ôhara-M. (39°50ʹ59ʺN, 141°58ʹ27ʺE; sandy beach; HUM: HN-10-MO-042/SA); 2 sex?, Idoura bay, Fujizuka, Wakabayashi-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi-ken (38.181N, 140.962E), 8 VIII 2009, Ozaki-T. (KUM); 5 sex?, Isohara, Kitaibaraki-shi, Ibaraki-ken (36.790N, 140.752E), 24 V 1998, Ohmomo-S. (KUM); 1 sex?, Hebara, Katuura-shi, Chiba-ken (35.165N, 140.334E), 12 V 1991, Takeda-T. (KUM); 1 3, 1 Ƥ, 1 sex?, Ubara, Katsuura-shi, Chiba-ken (35.137N, 140.275E), 6 IV 1993, Takeda-T. (KUM); 1 sex?, Amatsu-kaigan, Amatsu, Kamogawa-shi, Chiba-ken (35.122N, 140.154E), 3 XI 1990, Takeda-T. (KUM); 1 sex?, Tôjô-kaigan (in front of an aquarium: Kamogawa Seaworld), Higashi-chô, Kamogawashi, Chiba-ken (35.115N, 140.121E), 27 IX 1987, Haga-K. (under flotsam on sandy beach; KUM); 1 sex?, Heisaura, Sakai, Tateyama-shi, Chiba-ken (34.948N, 139.801E), 1 IV 1997, Maruyama-M. (cMar); 1 3, 1 Ƥ, 20 sex?, same place, but 26 XII 2007, Ono-H. (cOno); 4 sex?, Miura-shi, Kanagawa-ken (35.180N, 139.655E *), 26 III 1966, Kiryû-R. (SCM); 1 sex?, Kurihama, Yokosuka-shi, Kanagawa-ken (35.225N, 139.713E *), 25 IV 1965, Kiryû-R. (SCM); 1 Ƥ, Naga-hama swimming beach, Nagai-2chôme 13, Yokosuka-shi, Kanagawa-Ken (35.190N, 139.615E), 7 IV 1975, Tao-M. (KUM); 8 sex?, Hiratsuka beach, Hiratsuka-shi, Kanagawa-ken (35.315N, 139.355E), 28 IX 1958, Sibata-Y. (SCM); 1 3, Shônan-kaigan, Kanagawa-Ken (35.315N, 139.351E *), 2 VII 1976, Niizato (KUM); 6 sex?, Tsumekizaki, Shimoda-shi, Shizuoka-ken (34.659N, 138.987E), 21 IV 2003, Maruyama- M. (cMar); 2 sex?, Mukaiawagasaki, Uchinada-machi, Kahoku-gun, Ishikawa-ken (36.640N, 136.622E *), 12 IV 1948, Takaba-S. (cHayas); 1 3, 3 sex?, Uchinada-machi, Kahoku-gun, Ishikawa-ken (36.656N, 136.636E *), 15 VI 1961, Hayashi-Y. (cHayas); 1 3, 1 sex?, Kanaiwa, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa-ken (36.607N, 136.589E), 15 VII 1961, Hayashi-Y. (cHayas); 27 sex?, Echizen-kaigan, Fukui-ken (36.036N, 136.012E *), 17 IX 2001, Hoshina-H. (sandy beach; under wood logs; KUM); 1 sex?, river mouth of Kushida-gawa, Matsunase-chô, Matsuzaka-shi, Mie-ken (34.605N, 136.582E), 28 IV 2002, Kawakami-Y. (cKaw); 2 sex?, Nagusano-hama, Kemi, Wakayama-shi, Wakayama-ken (34.165N, 135.182E), 14 V 2002, Kawakami-Y. (cKaw); 1 sex?, Kada-kaigan, Kada, Wakayamashi, Wakayama-ken (34.280N, 135.074E), 19 IV 2003, Kawakami-Y. (cHayas); 1 Ƥ, Takashino-hama, Takaishishi, Ôsaka-fu (34.531N, 135.432E), 4 IX 1958, Kimura-Y. (cHayas); 1 3, 2 Ƥ, 4 sex?, Hamadera, Nishi-ku, Sakaishi, Ôsaka-fu (34.543N, 135.439E), 5 V 1965, Itô-T. (cHayas); 1 Ƥ, 1 sex?, shores of Sakai, Ôsaka-fu (34.582N, 135.465E *), 20 VI 1956, Sawada-K. (cHayas); 1 Ƥ, 12 sex?, Minato-ku, Ôsaka-shi, Ôsaka-fu (34.667N, 135.447E), 7 IV 1957, Shibata-T. (cHayas); 1 3, 7 sex?, Nishinomiya, Hyôgo-ken (34.724N, 135.331E), 14 IV 1957, Shibata-T. (cHayas); 2 sex?, Kôshien-hama, Kôshienhama-1chôme, Nishinomiya-shi, Hyôgo-ken (34.712N, 135.349E), 27 V 1998, Kawakami-Y. (cKaw); 1 sex?, same data, but 29 IV 2003; 2 sex?, Sumaura-kaigan, Sumauradôri, Suma-ku, Kôbe-shi, Hyôgo-ken (34.637N, 135.103E), 19 IV 1998, Kawakami-Y. (cKaw); 1 3, same data, but 27 V 2010; 1 sex?, Gunge-hama (Awaji-shima), Gunge, Awaji-shi, Hyôgo-ken (34.475N, 134.845E), 5 V 2000, Kawakami-Y. (cKaw); 1 sex?, Marutahama coast (Awaji-shima), Amanishi-machi, Minamiawaji-shi, Hyôgo-ken (34.201N, 134.732E), 13 V 1998, Kawakami-Y. (cKaw); 1 sex?, Matue-kaigan, Matsue, Akashi-shi, Hyôgo-ken (34.654N, 134.955E), 10 V 1998, Kawakami-Y. (cKaw); 3 sex?, Yagi, Ôkubo-chô, Akashi-shi, Hyôgoken (34.670N, 134.933E), 9 V 1999, Kawakami-Y. (cKaw); 4 sex?, river mouth of Kako-gawa, Youta, Onoe-chô, Kakogawa-shi, Hyôgo-ken (34.737N, 134.811E), 1 VI 1999, Kawakami-Y. (cKaw); 4 3, 1 Ƥ, Matogata-kaigan, Matogata, Matogata-chô, Himeji-shi, Hyôgo-ken (34.769N, 134.746E), 16 V 2010, Kawakami-Y. (cKaw); 2 sex?, Kugui, Higashi-ku, Okayama-shi, Okayama-ken (34.584N, 134.086E *), 31 III 2003, Fujitani-Y. (KUM); 13 sex?, same data, but 9 V 2003 (under seaweed on beach); 13 sex?, same data, but 28 V 2003; 2 3, 2 Ƥ, 1 sex?, Kogushi, Minami-ku, Okayama-shi, Okayama-ken (34.591N, 134.037E), 11 III 1977, Watanabe-A. (KUM); 1 3, Inazumi, Sugeura, Mihonoseki-chô, Matue-shi, Shimane-ken (35.564N, 133.166E *), 1-2 VI 2008, Hayama-T. (sandy beach; cHayam); 4 sex?, Sotozono-kaigan, Sashiumi, Koryô-chô, Izumo-shi, Shimane-ken (35.333N, 132.664E), 12-13 IV 2009, Hayama-T. (under seaweed; cHayam); 1 sex?, Kuromatsu-chô, Gôtsu-shi, Shimane-ken (132.310N, 35.057E), 2 V 2009, Hayama-T. (from seaweed; cHayam); 11 sex?, Kiami-chô, Masuda-shi, Shimane-ken (34.676N, 131.750E *), 15-16 VI 2008, Hayama-T. (FIT on supratidal zone; cHayam); 1 sex?, same locality, but 10 V 2009, Hayama-T. (cHayam); 1 sex?, Chûdô coast, Aiohigashi, Yamaguchi-shi, Yamaguchi-ken (33.996N, 131.450E), 4 V 2003, Kawakami-Y. (cKaw). [Shikoku]: 13 sex?, Tosadomariura (Ôge-jima), Naruto-chô, Narutoshi, Tokushima-ken (34.232N, 134.639E), 29 IX 1972, Tomokuni-M. and Sakai-M. (EEEU); 1 sex?, river mouth of Yoshino-gawa (between Nada-bashi bridge and Daijû-zeki sluice), Tokushima-shi, Tokushima-ken (34.089N, 134.561E), 3 V 1999, Kawakami-Y. (cKaw); 3 sex?, estuary of Yoshino-gawa, Tokushima-shi, Tokushima-ken (34.074N, 134.595E *), 15 V 2007, Changdo-H. (EEEU); 1 sex?, Ôura, Matsuyama-shi, Ehime-ken (33.996N, 132.771E), 15 IV 2010, Kawakami-Y. (cKaw); 1 sex?, Takahama-machi, Matsuyama-shi, Ehime-ken (33.898N, 132.709E *), 14 V 2002, Kurihara-T. (sandy beach; EEEU); 1 sex?, Mori, Iyo-shi, Ehime-ken (33.740N, 132.678E), 20 III 2001, Sakai-M. (EEEU). [Kyûshû]: 10 sex?, Noko (Nokono-shima), Nishi-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken (33.608N, 130.299E *), 13 V 1998, Fujimoto-H. (KUM); 1 sex?, same locality, but 4 V 2008, Ôkawa- A. (KUM); 1 sex?, same place name (33.608N, 130.299E), but 20 III 2009, Yamamoto-S. (from a seaweed mass on sandy beach with Aleochara (Emplenota) segregata and A. (T.) trisulcata; cYam).

Other specimens. JAPAN: 2 sex? (specimens on the same paper card), Japan./G Lewis./1910-320.// Aleochara / trisulcata /Weise [HW]//Chicago Nat. Hist. Mus. (ex. D. Sharp Colln./by exchange with/Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist.) [FMNH]; 1 sex?, Japan /mus./germ. [HW]// trisulcata Ws [HW]/det. Bernhauer//Chicago NHMus/M. Bernhauer/Collection. [FMNH]; 1 sex?, trisulcata /Wse. Japan /Standinger [HW]//Chicago NHMus/M. Bernhauer/ Collection. [FMNH]; 1 sex?, aleochara / trisulcata Wse / Japan./V. Standinger [HW]//Chicago NHMus/M. Bernhauer/ Collection. [FMNH]; 3 sex?, BEPPU /NO.-KIUSHIU [Beppu-shi, Ôita-ken, Kyûshû]// Japan /Reitter.//Chicago NHMus/M. Bernhauer/Collection. [FMNH]; 1 sex?, BEPPU /NE-KYUSHU [Beppu-shi, Ôita-ken, Kyûshû]// Japan / Reitter// trisulcata Ws. [HW]/det. Bernhau//Chicago NHMus/M. Bernhauer/Colletion. [FMNH]; 2 sex?, BEPPU / NE-KYUSHU// Japan /Reitter.//Chicago NHMu/M. Bernauer/Collection. [FMNH]. RUSSIA: Kuril Islands: [Urup Is.]: 1 3, 3 Ƥ, 5 sex?, near river mouth of Bystraya, Novo-Kurylisk bay (46.223N, 150.319E), 8 VIII 1995, Ôhara-M. (46°12ʹ84ʺN, 150°18ʹ69ʺE; hand pick up; feces of cows; IKIP; HUM: UR-95-MO-8); 1 3, Otkrytyy bay (45.864N, 149.793E), 4 VIII 1995, Ôhara-M. (N45°51ʹ49ʺ, E149°46ʹ95ʺ; hand pick up; under logs and rocks on shore; HUM: UR-95-MO-002); 1 3, Otkrytyy bay (45.851N, 149.770E), 5 VIII 1995, Ôhara-M. (45°51ʹ0 4ʺN, 149°46ʹ12ʺE; under logs and rocks on shore; HUM: UR-95-MO-005).

Redescription. Body (Fig. 57): small to somewhat large, normally medium sized; strongly sclerotized; narrowly subparallel sided but moderately thick; entire body shining somewhat strongly, but some individuals shining weakly due to scratches or rough surface entirely. Colour (Figs. 57–60): gland colour light black to grayish brown with almost same (sometimes lighter) colour in elytra; legs, especially tarsal segments, light brown to reddish brown: maxillary and labial palpi reddish brown to brownish brown; antennae dark brown to reddish brown. Head (Fig. 57): longitudinal deep furrows on each side of midline, connected by somewhat deep transverse impression (or furrow) at base. Antennae: moderately thick and quite robust; clearly shorter than combined length of head and pronotum; segment I, about 1.9 times as long as broad; segment II clearly shorter than I; segment III prominently shorter than II; segment IV spherically transverse; segment V to X strongly transverse; segment XI, about 1.5 times as long as broad; relative length (width) of segments from basal to apical: 9.5(5): 6(4): 5.5(3.5): 3(3.5): 3(4): 3(5): 3(5): 3(5.5): 3(5.5): 3.5(6): 7.5(5). Thorax: pronotum (Figs. 57–58) slightly wider than long (PW/PL =1.17), a little broader than head (PW/HW =1.32); surface blackishly shining in most cases, but sometimes nearly mat because of numerous scratches or many large punctures, or too many undulations making rough surface in somecases; dorsal surface lack of hexagonal reticulations as well as shallow distinct punctures, but some deep-distinct punctures and shallow-waving furrows forming three-dimensional patterns; patterns very diverse and varying greatly within the species, [Typical type (see, Fig. 58)]: impunctured area largely similar to half-moon shape on each side, but with cutting off by an oblique row of setae or punctures around middle of each half-moon pattern, forming two pairs of impunctured areas (yellow coloured: Fig. 58), [Other types]: patterns irregular and each impunctured area small and inconspicuous, or lack of impunctured area and having rough surface entirely in some cases; longitudinal three furrows along midline, sometimes weak, wavy and inconspicuous (blue line: Fig. 58). Inter coxal process of mesoventrite (Figs. 59–60) elongated and subparallel sided with rounded apex. Surface of mesoventrite (Figs. 59–60) mat and weakly shining. Inter coxal process of metaventrite (Fig. 59) quite short with rounded anterior margin, about 1/4 as long as mesocoxal cavity. Legs: midtibia as long as metaventrite; hindtibia short, about 0.8 times as long as elytra; relative lengths of tarsomeres from basal to apical: 6: 3: 3: 3: 7 in foretarsus, 7: 4: 4: 4: 10 in midtarsus, 8: 5: 5: 5: 11 in hindtarsus. Abdomen: posterior margin of tergite VIII (Figs. 79–80), with a row of thin and long several sensory setae.

[Male]: posterior margin of tergite VIII (Fig. 79) nearly truncate or wavy, with around 8 macrosetae. Sternite VIII (Fig. 81) with about 5 large macrosetae and around 4 thin macrosetae; posterior margin produced weakly and medially. Median lobe of aedeagus (Figs. 83–84) compactly elongated, elongated pyriform in ventral view (Fig. 84); a pair of subapico-ventral projections sharply pointed in lateral view (Fig. 83); apical lobe of median lobe extremely short-isosceles shape in ventral view (Fig. 84); flagellum nearly as same length as the whole length of median lobe (Figs. 83–84).

[Female]: tergite VIII (Fig. 80) gently rounded toward posterior and slightly emarginated medially, with around 3 large macrosetae and around 5 thin macrosetae. Sternite VIII (Fig. 82) with 4 large macrosetae and around 3 thinner macrosetae; posterior margin very weakly pointed. Spermatheca (Fig. 85): spermathecal head large, about twice longer than apical portion of spermathecal stem (sa); spermathecal neck inconspicuous, clearly shorter than (sa); basal portion of spermathecal stem simple.

Measurements (male: n=10): BL, 3.19–3.91 (3.62±0.25); FBL, 1.55–2.00 (1.79±0.14); HL, 0.44–0.58 (0.51±0.04); HW, 0.52–0.67 (0.61±0.05); AL, 0.77–0.92 (0.83±0.05); PL, 0.61–0.78 (0.70±0.06); PW, 0.70–0.89 (0.81±0.07); EL, 0.55–0.78 (0.64±0.07); EW, 0.89–1.02 (0.95±0.05); HTL, 0.44–0.55 (0.51±0.04).

Measurements (female: n=10): BL, 3.19–4.47 (3.79±0.49); FBL, 1.58–2.09 (1.82±0.18); HL, 0.43–0.57 (0.49±0.05); HW, 0.51–0.67 (0.60±0.05); AL, 0.69–0.83 (0.75±0.05); PL, 0.58–0.75 (0.67±0.05); PW, 0.70–0.89 (0.79±0.06); EL, 0.55–0.73 (0.66±0.06); EW, 0.82–1.09 (0.93±0.09); HTL, 0.43–0.55 (0.49±0.04).

Confirmed distribution by authors. [JAPAN]: Hokkaidô, Honshû, Shikoku, Kyûshû, Awaji-shima (See, Fig. 105 for Japanese distribution); [RUSSIA]: Kuril Islands: Urup Is.

Other localities in literature. [SOUTH KOREA]: Gangwon (Kangwon) Province, North Gyeongsang Province, Jeju Province (Ahn et al., 2000: as A. trisulcata; Park & Ahn, 2004); [NORTH KOREA]: Chagang Province (PaŠnik, 2001); [RUSSIA]: Far East: Sakhalin, Primorsky Krai (Assing, 1995).

Diagnosis. This species is extremely similar to the former species, Aleochara trisulcata, in many points especially in external appearance. However, our study revealed some important character states to distinguish A. zerchei from other two species as follows: longitudinal subparallel furrows on head connected with a somewhat deep impression (not by a clearly sharrow and incospicuous furrow); impunctured area on pronotum (Fig. 58) largely similar to a half-moon shape on each side, but with cutting off by an oblique row of setae around middle of each half-moon pattern, or lacking impunctured areas and having rough surface entirely; longitudinal sulci on dorsal surface of pronotum shallow, sometimes more or less making wavy lines (Fig. 58); posterior margin of tergite VIII (Figs. 79–80) lack of a row of thick sensory setae but instead have thin and long setae. [Male]: posterior margin of sternite VIII (Fig. 81) weakly pointed; a pair of subapico-ventral projections on median lobe narrowly and sharply pointed in lateral view (Fig. 83). [Female]: base of spermathecal stem (sb) (Fig. 85) very simple and not strongly curved.

Remarks. This species is sympatrically distributed with A. trisulcata in most localities in Japan, although A. zerchei was known only from Hokkaidô by the previous study (Maruyama, 2002). Ahn et al. (2000) misidentified A. zerchei as A. trisulcata and this was later corrected by Park and Ahn (2004) as A. zerchei in combination with real records of A. trisulcata. Aleochara zerchei and A. trisulcata have often been confused, and re-examination of the material used in the previous studies is needed.