Stenus melanarius STEPHENS 1833

Material: Taipei Hsien: 1: Loloshan, 21.V.1980, H. Makihara (cN) ; 2, 2: near Yangmingshan, 24.VII.1983, Y. Shibata (cSh) ; 1, 1: Neismangchi, 28.VIII.1977, K. Matsuki (cSh) ; 1: Near Tzeen, 11.VIII.1977, idem (ibidem) ; 2: near Yungho, 29.III.1974, idem (ibidem, cP) ; 1: Wulai, 28.VIII.1971, M. Nishikawa (cSh). Taoyuan Hsien: 11, 5: near Mt. Lalashan, 1600m, 24., 25.VII.1978, 23.VII.1982, 2.VIII.1983, 1.VIII.1985, Y. Shibata (cSh, cP) ; 3, 5: Mt. Lalashan, 17.IV.1981, H. Takemoto (cN, cP) ; 3, 1: Takuanshan Forest, 1600m, 17.IV.1990, A. Smetana (T 4)(cS, cP) ; 3: ibidem, 1650m, idem (T 5). Ilan Hsien: 1, 1: Chihtuan, 18.IV.1981, H. Takemoto (cN) ; 2: Chyr Duan, 1200m, L. Lesage (cS) ; 18, 5, ibidem 1100m, 18.IV.1990, A. Smetana (T 8) (cS, cP); 2: ibidem, 19.IV.1990, idem (T 9) (ibidem); 3: ibidem, 1650m, idem (T 5) (ibidem); 39, 16: Taipingshan, 1820m, 15.VII.1993, A. Smetana (T 154) (cS, cP) ; 28, 41: ibidem (T 153) (idem) (ibidem); 22, 20: ibidem, 1880m, 14.VII.1993, idem (T 152) (ibidem); 16, 12: Shen-Mi Lake, 24 o 22’43’’N, 121 o 44’12’’E, 1100m, 9.V.1995, idem (T 175) (ibidem) ; 1: ibidem (T 177) (ibidem); 2: Fushan Botanical Garden, 8.-11.IV.2002, O. Merkl (TMB) ; 1, 2: Mingchyh Forest Recreation Area, 1200m, 5.IV.2002, Fábian & Merkl (TMB). Taichung Hsien: 9, 5: Anmashan, 2120m, 1.V.1990, A. Smetana (T 36) (cS, cP) ; 7, 5: ibidem, 2150m, 13.V.1992, idem (T 129) (ibidem). Nantou Hsien: 1: Nanshanchi, 5.IV.1978, T. Niizato (cN) ; 1: near Nanshanchi, 31.III.1982, Y. Shibata (cSh) ; 1: near Meifeng, 2150m, 13.VIII.1981, idem (ibidem) ; 1: ibidem, 2130m, 10.VII.1993, A, Smetana (T 199) (cS); 1: Nankaoshan trail, 2050-2150m, 8.V.1992, idem (T 120) (ibidem) ; 1: Shuantung, 150m, 21.IV.1990, idem (T 14) (ibidem) ; 1: Sungchuankang, 3.VIII.193, Y. Shibata (cSh) ; 2: near Hohuanshan, 3100m, 1.VIII.1983, Y. Shibata (cSh). Hualien Hsien: 5, 6: Taroko National Park, Duodyatunshan, 2650m, 8.V.1990, A. Smetana (T 46) (cS, cP) ; 1: ibidem, 13.V.1990, idem (T 56) (ibidem); 1: ibidem, Nanhushi Hut, 2200m, 11.V.1990, idem (T 53) (ibidem) ; 2, 3: near Juisui-spa, 19.VIII.1971, 26.III.1980, 29.III.1986, Y. Shibata (cSh, cP) ; 1, 2: Juisui, 29.III.1984, Idem (ibidem). Chiayi Hsien: 1, 1: Shenmu, 21.V.1980, H. Makihara (cN) ; 1: Alishan, Sister Ponds, 2180m, 26.IV.1990, A. Smetana (T 24) (cS) ; 3, 2: Alishan, 7., 8.VIII.1970, 2.VIII.1973, Y. Shibata (cSh, cP). Taitung Hsien: 2: Hsinkangshan above Chengkung, 800m, 27.IV.1995, A. Smetana (T 168) (cS) ; 1, 2: ibidem, 17.IV.1998, idem (T 180) (ibidem); 1, 1: ibidem, 550- 60m, 22.IV.1998, idem (T 187) (ibidem); 1: near Kuanshan, 28.III.1980, Y. Shibata (cSh) .

Note: This species was first recorded from Taiwan by CAMERON (1949) under the name " S. verecundus SHARP " from "Musha (= Nantou: Wushe). Most of the Taiwanese specimens have comparatively large (broad) elytra. First I thought, that this may be an indication for a separate subspecies. But measurements of some hundreds of specimens from Taiwan and from the mainland of China led to the result, that the Taiwanese specimens fit in the variability range of the nominate species.