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 kungeicus sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:FAD25BCE-73E2-4BC0-90EC-5D31FB2F8DBD Figs 1 , 4E–F , 5 Etymology The specific epithet ‘ kungeicus ’ is a latinized adjective derived from the mountain range where this species was collected. Material examined Holotype KAZAKHSTAN : ♂ , “ Kazakhstan , Kungei Alatau Mountain Ridge, Kurmety valley, 18 km SW from Saty , 2600–2700 m , Picea forest [ca 42°57′00″ N , 78°16′00″ E ], 12.VI.1987 , leg. I. Kabak ” ( ZIN ). Description MEASUREMENTS AND RATIOS. HL: 1.61, HW: 1.48, PL: 1.75, PW: 2.16, EL: 1.64, EW: 2.14, FB: 5.00, HL/ HW: 1.09, PL/PW: 0.81, EL/EW: 0.77. BODY. Length: 10 mm ; dark brown, hind margins of abdominal tergites slightly paler; appendages of the same coloration as body; body flattened dorso-ventrally. Overall external morphology as in Q. mutilatus , but eyes slightly protruding over lateral contour of head ( Fig. 5 A ). Male AEDEAGUS ( Figs 4 E–F , 5B–D ). Apical portion of median lobe (in lateral view) with characteristic ‘hump’ (shown by arrow in Fig. 5B ) more pronounced than in other species of the group and with relatively more elongate apical portion that does not have a pronounced ventral sub-apical tooth; paramere (aedeagus in parameral view) as wide as median lobe, apically ovoid and with hardly visible apical emargination; parameral underside with apical groups of ca 7–8 sensory peg setae on each side of emargination and with two lateral groups of 2–3 peg setae each; parameral apical contour with two pairs of apical setae and two pairs of lateral setae. Internal sac without strong and obvious sclerotized structures. Female Unknown. Distribution and bionomics Quedius kungeicus sp. nov. is known from the holotype only, which was collected in the Kungei Alatau mountain range at an elevation of around 2600–2700 m in spruce forest. According to Ilya Kabak, who collected the holotype of Q. kungeicus sp. nov. , it was most likely taken from under stones. This and the habitus of the species suggest an association with talus. Fig. 5. Quedius kungeicus sp. nov. A . Habitus. B . Aedeagus, laterally. C . Median lobe, in parameral view (paramere detached). D . Paramere, underside (side facing median lobe). Scale bars: 1 mm. Comparison Quedius kungeicus sp. nov. can be reliably distinguished from all other species of the Q. mutilatus group by the structure of the aedeagus, namely by the ovoid contour of the apical portion of the paramere without a distinct apical incision (aedeagus in parameral view) and by the characteristically curved and longer apical portion of the median lobe that lacks a distinct sub-apical tooth (aedeagus in lateral view).