26. Aphelopus taiwanensis Olmi, 1991

(Plate 9C)

Aphelopus taiwanensis Olmi 1991: 113; He & Xu 2002: 67; Xu et al. 2012a: 3.

Aphelopus compressus Xu & Yao in Xu et al. 1997b: 9; type locality: Mt. Fanjingshan (Guizhou, China); He & Xu 2002: 81; syn. nov.

Description of Female. Fully winged; length 2.0– 2.5 mm. Head black, except mandible, clypeus, gena, anterior part of face (more along orbits) and ventral side of head whitish; antenna black, except segments 1–2 testaceous; mesosoma and metasoma black; legs whitish. Antenna clavate; antennal segments in following proportions: 7:5:7:8:8:8:7:6.5:6:10. Head dull, granulated; frontal line complete; POL = 7; OL = 4; OOL = 4; OPL = 6; TL = 4; occipital carina complete. Scutum dull, granulated. Notauli incomplete, reaching approximately 0.75–0.80 length of scutum; occasionally notauli complete and posteriorly separated. Scutellum shiny, slightly granulated. Metanotum shiny, unsculptured. Propodeum with strong transverse keel between dorsal and posterior surface; dorsal surface reticulate rugose; posterior surface with two longitudinal keels, median area shiny and smooth and lateral areas reticulate rugose. Fore wing hyaline, without dark transverse bands. Tibial spurs 1/1/2.

Description of Male. Fully winged; length 1.5–1.6 mm. Head black or brown, except mandible testaceous; in many specimens head more or less whitish, mainly clypeus, gena and face; antenna completely brown, or with segments 1–2 or only 1 testaceous; mesosoma and metasoma black or brown; legs testaceous. Antenna filiform; antennal segments in following proportions: 5:5:6:7:9:9:9:9:9:11.5. Head dull, flat, granulated; frontal line complete or incomplete (then present only in anterior half of face); POL = 5; OL = 3; OOL = 3; OPL = 2; TL = 3; occipital carina complete. Scutum dull, granulated. Notauli incomplete, reaching approximately 0.75 – 0.90 length of scutum; occasionally notauli complete and posteriorly separated. Scutellum and metanotum shiny, smooth, unsculptured. Propodeum dull, reticulate rugose, without transverse or longitudinal keels. Fore wing hyaline, without dark transverse bands. Basivolsella (Plate 9C) with 2 subdistal bristles, without outer process. Tibial spurs 1/1/2.

Material examined. Types: ♂ holotype of A. taiwanensis: CHINA: Taiwan, Nantou, Wushe, 1150 m, III.1983, H. Townes leg. (AEIC) ; ♂ holotype of A. compressus: CHINA: Guizhou, Mt. Fanjingshan, 12.VII.1993, Zaifu Xu leg. (ZJUC) . Paratypes of A. taiwanensis: same locality label as holotype, IV.1983, V.1983, paratypes (AEIC, AMNH, PMA); CHINA: Taiwan, Meifeng, 2150 m, 22.V.1982, R. Wharton leg., 1♂ (DETAM). CHINA: Taiwan, Tainan, Kwantzeling, 250 m, 6–7.IV.1965, C. M.Yoshimoto leg., 1♂ (BPBM). LAOS: Vientiane, Ban Van Eue, 29.III.1966, 29.IV.1966, 15.V.1966, 30.VI.1966, 15.VIII.1966, 15.XI.1966, Malaise and light traps, paratypes (BPBM, AMNH). THAILAND: Khaophappha, Khaochang, 9–11.I.1964, G.A. Samuelson leg., one paratype (BPBM) ; same locality label, 11–15.I.1964, one paratpe (AMNH). Paratypes of A. compressus: CHINA: same locality label as holotype, 2♂ (AMNH), 12♂ (ZJUC); same locality label as holotype, 14.VII.1993, 1♂ (ZJUC); same locality label as holotype, Songlin Yao leg., 8♂ (ZJUC); same locality label as holotype, Xuexin Chen leg., 10♂ (ZJUC); same locality label as holotype, 13.VII.1993, Xuexin Chen leg., 13♂ (ZJUC); same locality label as holotype, 14.VII.1993, Xuexin Chen leg., 3♂ (ZJUC). Other material. CHINA: Fujian, Mt. Wuyishan, 1.VIII.1985, Junhua He leg., 1♂ (ZJUC); Gansu, Dangchang, Daheba, Min Shi leg., 2300 m, 30.VII.2004, 1♂ (ZJUC); same locality label, 2530 m, 31.VII.2004, Xu 1exin Chen & Min Shi leg., 9♂ (ZJUC); Guangdong, Nanling National Nature Reserve, 8.V.2004, Zaifu Xu leg., 1♂ (ZJUC); Guizhou, Kuankuoshui, 5.VI.2010, Pu Tang leg., 1♂ (SCAU); Guizhou, Daozhen, Dashahe, Xiannudong, 613 m, 26.VIII.2004, Qiong Wu leg., 1♀ (ZJUC); Guizhou, Mt. Leigongshan, 1600 m, 1.VI.2005, Hongying Zhang leg., 1♂ (SCAU); Hunan, Shimen, Mt. Hupingshan, Dingping, 1800 m, 14.VII.1987, Guangchun Lei leg., 1♀ (ZJUC); Hupeh (= Hubei), Lichuan District, Hsiao-Ho, 10.VIII.1948, Gressitt & Djou leg., 1♂ (CAS); Shaanxi, Liping National Forest Park, 1742 m, 22.VII.2004, Qiong Wu leg., 1♂ (ZJUC); Shaanxi, Liping National Forest Park, 21.VII.2004, Xuexin Chen leg., 2♂ (SCAU); same locality label, 22.VII.2004, 2♂ (SCAU); Sichuan, Pingwu, Baimazhai, 25.VII.2006, 26.VII.2006, Hongying Zhang leg., many ♂ and 1♀ (ZJUC); same locality label, 24.VII.2006, 25.VII.2006, J.L. Gao leg., many ♂ (ZJUC); Sichuan, Wolong National Nature Reserve, 21.VII.2006, J.L. Gao leg., 1♂ (ZJUC); same locality label, 25.VII.2006, Hongying Zhang leg., 1♂ (SCAU); Sichuan, Wanglang National Nature Reserve, 26.VII.2006, Hongying Zhang leg., 3♂ (ZJUC); Yunnan, Yingjiang, Tongbiguan, 20.V.2009, Jie Zeng leg., 1♀ (SCAU); Taiwan, Nantou, Sungkang, 2100 m (TARI); Taiwan, Nantou, Tungpu, 1200 m (TARI); Taiwan, Nantou, Tsuifeng, 2300 m (TARI); Taiwan, Nantou, Lushan, 1000 m (TARI); Taiwan, Nantou, Mt. Lushan, 19.VI.2011, Pu Tang leg., 1♂ (SCAU); Taiwan, Nantou, Puli (TARI); Taiwan, Hualien. Tayuling, 2570 m (TARI, FSCA); Taiwan, Taichung, Anmashan, 2275 m (TARI); Taiwan, Taichung, Wuling, 1900 m (TARI); Taiwan, Taichung, Sheng Kuang, 1850 m (TARI); Chiai, Mt. Alishan, 2400 m (TARI); Taiwan, Chiai, Mt. Alishan (TARI); Taiwan, Taitung, Hwalien-Tungho, Fuli (TARI); Taiwan, Pingtung, Shantimen (TARI); Yunnan, Yingjiang, Tongbiguan, 20.V.2009, Jie Zeng leg., 1♀ (SCAU); Yunnan, Baoshan, Tengchong, Jietou, 13.V.2009, Jie Zeng leg., 1♂ (SCAU); Zhejiang, Mt. Tianmushan, 2.VI.1990, Junhua He leg., 1♀ (ZJUC). INDIA: West Bengal, Darjeeling Distr., Debrapani, 1700 m (NMNH). INDONESIA: Java, Punung, Kiuut, 08°07.789'S 110°59.369'E, riverside, agricultural area, 340 m, 23–28.vii.2005, Malaise trap, 1♂ (MNHN); Sulawesi, Bulusaraung, primary seasonal forest, 1100 m, 03–12.VIII.2005, Malaise trap, 1♂ (MNHN). MALAYSIA: Sabah, Kinabalu Park Poring, 475 m, 9–12.III.1987 (RNHL). MYANMAR: Kambaiti, 2000 m (ZIL). THAILAND: Chiang Mai, Doi Inthanon National Park, 18°35.361'N 98°29.157'E, summit marsh, Malaise trap, 29.VI–2.VII.2006, Y. Areeluck leg., 2♂ (QSBG, MOLC). Palaearctic: CHINA: Ningxia Hui Nationality Autonomous Region, Mt. Liupanshan, 3–14.VII.2009, Huayan Chen leg., 1♂ (SCAU); Ningxia Hui Nationality Autonomous Region, Mt. Liupanshan National Forest Park, 21.VI–14.VII.2008, Jiemin Yao leg., 3♂ (SCAU); Ningxia Hui Nationality Autonomous Region, Mt. Liupanshan, Fengtai, Forest Farm Fengtai Reservoir & Qingliang Reservoir, 5–6.VII.2009, GuangyueWang leg., 1♂ (in XU!); Ningxia Hui Nationality Autonomous Region, Mt. Liupanshan, Hongxia Forest Farm, 2.VII.2008, Jingxian Liu leg., 6♂ and 1♀ (SCAU); same locality label, 1.VII.2008, 6♂ (SCAU); Ningxia Hui Nationality Autonomous Region, Longed, Mt. Liupanshan, Sutai, 24.VI.2008, Jingxian Liu leg., 1♂ (SCAU); Ningxia Hui Nationality Autonomous Region, Jingyuan, Erlonghe Forest Farm, 3.VII.2008, Jiemin Yao leg., 4♂ (SCAU); Ningxia Hui Nationality Autonomous Region, Jingyuan, Xixia Forest Farm, 11–12.VII.2008, Jiemin Yao leg., 1♂ (SCAU); Ningxia Hui Nationality Autonomous Region, Jingyuaner, Longhe Forest Farm, 3.VII.2008, Jiemin Yao leg., 1♂ (SCAU); Ningxia Hui Nationality Autonomous Region, Pengyang, Guamagou, 10.VII.2008, Jiemin Yao leg., 2♂ (SCAU); Ningxia Hui Nationality Autonomous Region, Jingyuan, Longtan Forest Farm, 6.VII.2008, Jiemin Yao leg., 16♂ (SCAU); same locality label, 5.VII.2008, 5♂ (SCAU); Ningxia Hui Nationality Autonomous Region, Jingyuan, Mt. Liupanshan, Hongshan Forest Farm, 1–2.VII.2008, Jiemin Yao leg., 12♂ (SCAU) .

Hosts. Unknown.

Distribution. China (Taiwan, Guizhou, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Hunan, Hubei, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang, Ningxia), Laos (Vientiane), Thailand (Khaophappha, Chiang Mai), India (West Bengal), Indonesia (Java, Sulawesi), Malaysia (Sabah), Myanmar (Kambaiti).

Remarks. Aphelopus compressus Xu & Yao 1997 was described on the basis of male specimens characterized by a very narrow metasoma and notauli about 0.60 length of scutum. Aphelopus taiwanensis Olmi 1991 is a very variable species whose males have notauli 0.75–0.90 length of scutum. A further study of the holotype of A. compressus showed that notauli are really longer than what appears in the description: 0.9 length of scutum on the place of 0.6. In addition the compressed metasoma appears to be a variable character. All the other characters, including colour, are like in both species. For this reason, the two above species are synonymized here and A. taiwanensis gains priority over A. compressus .