On Scaphidium grande-complex ( Coleoptera , Staphylinidae , Scaphidiinae )

Th e Scaphidium grande-complex is defi ned and six new species of the complex are described: S. longum sp. n. from Hainan Province, S. spinatum sp. n., from Anhui Province, S. laxum sp. n. and S. infl exitibiale sp. n. from Yunnan Province, S. reni sp. n., from Guizhou Province, and S. liui sp. n., from Xizang Autonomous Region. Th eir diagnostic characters are illustrated and a key to Scaphidium grande-complex is provided.


Introduction
Scaphidium grande Gestro, 1880 is a common species widely distributed in south Asia.It can be easily distinguished from the thus far known congeners by its large body size, the strongly convex pronotum, and the black body with reddish fascia on mesofemora and metafemora.None of the previously described species was considered as closely related to S. grande.
Recently, we have examined many specimens of Scaphidium collected in China and, surprisingly, found six new species closely related to S. grande.Th us, Scaphidium grande forms with its allies, a monophyletic complex that is defi ned by the following characters: body large, length: 5.9-9.5 mm; body color: black, sometimes with faint blue luster; legs entirely black or with reddish fascia on the mesofemora and metafemora; antennal club broad, 11 th segment more or less asymmetric; head, pronotum, and elytra distinctly punctuate, elytra without clearly punctate rows (in rare case, blurry punctate rows can be found in S. grande); male metasternum with well developed setal patch; male pronotum more raised above elytra and relatively slightly longer than that of female; male protarsi without dense setae on ventral side, male protibiae more or less incurved with apical or/and subapical projections on inner side, male profemora without/with projection on inner side, tubercles present on both inner sides of protibiae and ventral sides of profemora; aedeagus with parameres slightly incurved, internal sac of median lobe with sclerites of characteristic structure.
Th e structure of internal sac is diagnostic in many taxa of the subfamily Scaphidiinae.In the Scaphidium grande-complex, it is composed of fi ve parts (from apex to base): longitudinal bands, apical sclerotized rods, median sclerite, subbasal sclerite, and basal sclerotized plates.Th e longitudinal bands can usually be hardly observed in the aedeagi of Scaphidium, but they are very distinct in species of this complex, and even appear to be sclerotized.Th e shape of the apical sclerotized rods is less important for identifi cation, since it is usually similar in diff erent species and not clearly delimited.Th e median sclerite is trapeziform with sides curved or prominent in diff erent degrees.Th e subbasal sclerite has a wing-like shape and is close to the basal sclerotized plates.Th e basal sclerotized plates are paired and spread out.
Th e Scaphidium grande-complex is possibly one of the more complicated groups in the genus.At present, only males can be identifi ed.Detailed knowledge of the distribution of each species may also be helpful for identifi cation, but presently the distribution gaps are too signifi cant, as is evident from information given below.Scaphidium grande is a widely distributed species in South-east Asia and all its Chinese relatives seem to be endemic species restricted to mountain areas.Some species appear parapatric with S. grande, but the latter probably occurs only in lower altitudes.Th is may explain why so many members of the S. grande-complex remained hitherto unnoticed.It may be that additional species will be discovered with further fi eld work, in particular in high mountains close to the Himalayas.A biogeographic analysis of the group will also likely provide interesting results but it considered premature at present.

Material and methods
Specimens examined in this paper were collected in China by hand on decayed wood and fungi in deciduous forests and killed with ethyl acetate.For examination of male genitalia, the last two abdominal segments were detached from the body after softening in hot water.Th e aedeagus was separated, placed in glycerin in a cavity of plastic slide, and sealed by a glass slide.Photos of aedeagi were taken with an Olympus DP71 CCD attached to Olympus SZX 16 stereoscope; other photos were taken with a Cannon macro photo lens MP-E 65mm attached to a Cannon EOS40D camera.Body black and glossy, mesofemora and metafemora with reddish fascia.Frons densely punctuate with an impunctate portion on vertex, punctures mostly elongate and slightly confl uent.Pronotum raised above elytra, with lateral edges slightly sinu-ate.Antebasal row of punctures impressed; disc densely punctuate, punctures round and well delimited, puncture intervals mostly a little larger than diameters.Elytra with humeral protuberance indistinct, apical portion moderately impressed; discal punctation similar to that of pronotum, punctures on apical portion slightly larger; discal row of punctures absent; basal stria row impressed, with punctures about as coarse as those of pronotal antebasal row; sutural stria row of punctures relatively fi ne.Prohypomera smooth with very fi ne and sparse punctures mainly on outer half.Mesepisterna smooth with moderately dense, moderately fi ne, and very shallow punctures.Exposed abdominal sternites and tergites with coarse and relatively sparse punctures and densely reticulate microsculpture.Legs long, mesotibiae and metatibiae slightly curved.
Diagnoses.Th is is a rather variable species, especially in body size and punctuation (Löbl 1992).Among the material we examined was one male from Hainan Prov.with three blurry rows of puncture consisting of coarse punctures.BL: 7.5-9.9mm, ED: 0.31-0.39mm, PL/PW of male: 0.82-0.86,PL/PW of female: 0.77-0.80.

Scaphidium longum
Similar to S. grande in most respects, but diff ers in the following characters: body form distinctly elongate; pronotum more convex; antennal club (Fig. 21) slenderer; male metasternum with larger setal patch; punctation of pronotum slightly fi ner and sparser; male profemora (Fig. 22) longer and slenderer, tubercles smaller; male protibiae (Fig. 22) longer and more incurved with a small subapical expansion and an apical angle on inner side; internal sac of aedeagus as in Figs 19, 20.
Diagnoses.Th is species can be easily distinguished from other related species by the elongate body.
Etymology.Th e Latin adjective "longum" refers to the elongate body and male legs of the new species.
Biological notes.All specimens were collected from a log covered with white fungus (Fig. 43).Territorial behavior of the male was observed by the collector, and it was described as follows: Each male occupies a small area on the fungi.Normally they highly raise bodies upon their long legs and they can shake their bodies up and down rapidly.Once, a small male was too close to a large one, the large male rushed to it immediately and the small male retreated quickly, without having body contact.Diagnoses.Th is species can be easily distinguished from other member of the species complex by its small body size.

Scaphidium spinatum
Etymology.Th e Latin adjective "spinatum" refers to the spined male profemora of the new species.
Biological notes.All specimens were collected from a log covered with fungi.
Similar to S. grande in most respects, but diff ers in the following characters: body form slightly wider, posterior-lateral angles of pronotum more prominent; male profemora (Figs 30) with inner side expanded gradually from base to form a blunt angle at apical third, tubercles smaller and sparser; male tibiae (Figs 30) more incurved; internal sac of aedeagus as in Figs 27, 28.
Etymology.Th e Latin adjective "laxum" refers to the broad body form of the new species.

Scaphidium reni
Diagnoses.Scaphidium reni is extremely similar to the following new species S. liui; for diff erences see description of the latter.Th is species may be easily distinguished from other members of grande-complex by mesofemora and metafemore totally black without reddish fascia.