(Proceedings submission caseby-case

DEUVE ET AL.: CARABID BEETLE FAUNA OF THE GAOLIGONG MOUNTAINS 437
marized in Fig. 48. Syntopy appears to be relatively rare among trechines of the region, especially
compared with the zabrines of the region. Four of 13 zabrine species have been recorded syntopic
with eight other zabrine species, three other species syntopic with seven other species, and all 13
species syntopic with at least one other species (Kavanaugh et al. 2014). In contrast, seven of the
29 trechine species have not been found syntopic with any other species. Only one trechine species,
Queinnectrechus griswoldi, has been found syntopic with five other species (Q.balli, Q.gongshanicus,
Trechus qiqiensis, T.gongshanensis, and Trechepaphiopsis monochaeta), but at no single site
with more than four of those species. Queinnectrechus balli and T.gongshanensis have been found
syntopic with the same cadre of species except T.monochaeta, and T.qiqiensis has been found syntopic
with all of the above except Q.gongshanicus. All the above records of syntopy are from the
northernmost part of the study area, in Core Area 2. Trechus shibalicus has been found syntopic
with four other species (Trechus shiyueliang, T.pseudoqiqiensis, Trechepaphiopsis unisetulosa and
T.unipilosa) in Core Area 3. Trechus shiyueliang has been found syntopic with the same cadre of
species except T.pseudoqiqiensis in the same area. Trechus indicus has also been found syntopic
with three other species (with Agonotrechus xiaoheishan in Core Area 6 and with A.yunnanus and
Epaphiotrechus fortipes in Core Area 7).
Given the low level of syntopy among the trechines of the area overall, it is perhaps surprising
to find it among congeneric species in several genera. The two Perileptus species in the fauna
are syntopic in Core Areas 6 and 7. All three of the Queinnectrechus species are syntopic in Core
Area 2. Among Trechus species in the region, T.qiqiensis and T.gongshanensis have been found
syntopic in Core Area 2 and T.pseudoqiqiensis, T.shibalicus and T.shiyueliang in Core Area 3.
Among the species of Trechepaphiopsis, only T.unisetulosa and T.unipilosa have been found syntopic,
also in Core Area 3. For several of these syntopic pairs of congeneric species we have noted
evident differences in body size between the pair members. The ranges in size (BL) of Perileptus
imaicus and P.pusilloides adults are 2.6 to 2.8 mm and 2.3 mm, respectively. Those of the two
species of Queinnectrechus (s.str.), Q.griswoldi and Q. gongshanicus, are 4.3 to 4.8 mm and 3.5
to 3.8 mm, respectively. Those of Trechus qiqiensis and T.gongshanensis are 4.0 to 4.2 mm and
3.3 to 3.5 mm, respectively; and those of Trechus pseudoqiqiensis and T.shibalicus are 4.0 mm and
3.3 to 3.5 mm, respectively (T.shiyueliang [BL = 4.0 to 4.2] appears to be more distantly related
based on key morphological features). Finally, those of Trechepaphiopsis unisetulosa and T.unipilosa
are 3.3 to 35 mm and 2.7 to 3.1 mm, respectively. Sokolov and Kavanaugh (2014) found similar
size differences among closely related, small, flightless, litter-dwelling and syntopic anillines
of the genus Geocharidius in Nuclear Centeral America. Just what role such size differences may
play in facilitating syntopy is unclear, but perhaps they allow members of the different species to
share slightly different microspaces and/or food (prey) in their shared habitat without or with
reduced competition.
Finally, we cannot resist commenting on the Agonotrechus fauna of the region. Four species
occur there, all with fully-winged adults, and none of them has yet been recorded syntopic with any
another, although A.fugongensis and A.wuyipeng have been collected in adjacent habitats in the
southern part of Core Area 2. Unlike members of both Perileptus species, which are syntopic in the
southern part of the region, those of all the Agonotrechus species apparently only occupy habitats
above 2000 m in elevation (range = 2000 to 2770 m). Just how, when, or even if these beetles use
their wings remains unknown.