Taxonomy of the poorly known Quedius mutilatus group of wingless montane species from Middle Asia (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylinini) Author Salnitska, Maria Author Solodovnikov, Alexey text European Journal of Taxonomy 2018 2018-02-06 401 1 17 journal article 30822 10.5852/ejt.2018.401 49d45069-6150-4b6e-873c-fc8058025a39 1167581 9C9DB157-AAA5-40B7-BA0B-9A57779382C1 Quedius equus Smetana, 2014 Figs 1 , 4G–N Quedius equus Smetana, 2014 : 35 (original description). Quedius equus – Solodovnikov & Hansen 2016 : 8 (distribution). Type material (not examined, listed according to Smetana 2014 ) Holotype CHINA : ♂ , “CHINA: NW-Xinjiang ca 58 km WNW Baicheng right trib. of Terek riv . 42°01′ N , 81°15′ E / 31.5. – 2.6.2009 3500 m alp. meadows, screes leg. J. Kalab ” ( NMW ). Paratypes CHINA : 2 ♂♂ , same collecting data as for holotype ( Smetana 2014 ). Fig. 3. Holotype of Quedius kalabi Smetana, 1995 . A . Habitus. B . Permanent preparation of the aedeagus. Scale bars: 1 mm. Fig. 4. Aedeagi in the Quedius mutilatus group. A–B . Quedius mutilatus Eppelsheim, 1888 . C–D . Quedius kalabi Smetana, 1995 . E–F . Quedius kungeicus sp. nov. G–N . Quedius equus Smetana, 2014 (Karkara Valley, Kazakhstan), variability of the structure of the aedeagus. A, C, E, G, I, K, M = median lobe, laterally. B, D, F, H, J, L, N = paramere (dissected from median lobe), underside (side facing median lobe). Scale bars: 1 mm. Material examined KAZAKHSTAN : 4 ♂♂ , 2 ♀♀ , Karkara Valley , 2000–2500 m [ 42°39′20″ N , 79°13′30″ E ], 18 Jul. 1989 , I. Kabak leg. ( ZIN ); 1 ♂ , Baiankol Valley , 2500–3000 m [ 42°35′45″ N , 79°58′03″ E ], 5 Jul. 1993 , I. Kabak leg. ( ZIN ); 2 ♂♂ , 28 km SW of Narynkol , 3400 m , alpine meadows [ 42.618° N , 79.892° E ], 22 Jul. 1984 , B. Iskakov leg. ( ZIN ). Distribution and bionomics Previously, Q. equus was known from the holotype and two paratypes (all males) only, collected together at the type locality in Xinjiang Province in China . New material examined here matches well with the original description and significantly expands the distribution of this species westwards ( Fig . 1). All newly studied specimens were collected at high elevations around 2000–3400 m in July. For only two of them does the label specifies alpine meadows as the habitat, which is the same as for the type material. Comparison Quedius equus differs from all other species in the Q. mutilatus group by the deep incision on the apex of the paramere and by fewer (1–3) sensory peg setae in the lateral groups arranged in longitudinal rows.