Beron P. (ed.). Biodiversity of Bulgaria 4. Biodiversity of Western Rhodopes (Bulgaria and Greece) II. Pensoft & Nat. Mus. Natur. Hist., Sofia A study of the Pselaphinae (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) in the Rhodope Mountains (Bulgaria) Rostislav BEKCHIEV Bekchiev R. 2011. A study of the Pselaphinae (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) in the Rhodope Mountains (Bulgaria). In: Beron P. (ed.) Biodiversity of Bulgaria. 4. Biodiversity of Western Rhodopes (Bulgaria and Greece) II. Pensoft & Nat. Mus. Natur. Hist. Sofia, 267-278. Abstract: Fifty species from subfamily Pselaphinae (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) from the Rhodope Mountains are reported. Four of them (Plectophloeus nubigena, Trimium graecum, Eu- plectus punctatus, Pygoxyon sp.) are new for the Bulgarian fauna. The genus Pygoxyon Reitter, 1881 is reported as a new species for the Bulgarian fauna. Key words: Pselaphinae, faunistics, Rhodopes Мountain, Bulgaria Introduction Subfamily Pselaphinae (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) is poorly investigated in Bulgaria. The extent, to which it has been studied, is probably below 50 % (HUBENOV, 2005). So far about 125 species have been reported in Bulgaria (LÖBL & BESUCHET, 2004, HLAVÁč & al., 2007; BESUchET & BEKchIEV, 2007; BEKCHIEV, 2008). Respectively, only 10 species have been known for the Rhodope Mountains. The first data from this massif was given by Маřan (1936), and later on, data for the region were provided by KARAMAN (1948, 1969, 1972), BESUCHET (1999), BESUCHET & SABELLA (1999) and HLAVÁč & al. (2007). Materials and methods The present paper summarizes all records for this subfamily which are present in the literature. It includes also unpublished data from the collections of the Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle de Genève, the Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt – Universität, Berlin, and the privates collections of Peter Hlaváč (Slovakia) and Albena Gjonova (Bulgaria). The material collected by the author during his expeditions in the Rhodope Mountains, carried out mainly in 2005 – 2009, is also included. The materials are deposed in the collection of the National Museum of Natural History, Sofia. 268 R. BEKCHIEV The specimens were collected sifting leaf, soil and death wood litter. The collected material was placed in a Tullgren or Winkler – Moczarski extractor. Samples were also obtained by hand turning stones and tree bark. All individuals were pinned and the aedeagus of the male specimens were mounted following the procedure explained by BESUCHET (1957). The general distribution of the species is given in alphabetical order from the catalogue of LÖBL & BESUCHET (2004). Abbreviations: MHNG – Musée d’Histoire Naturelle de Genève; NMNHS – National Museum of Natural History, Sofia; ZMHB – Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt – Universität, Berlin PCPH – collection Peter Hlaváč, Košice; PCAG – collection Albena Gjonova, Sofia; ER – Eastern Rhodopes; WR – Western Rhodopes. Results and discussion List of species Faronus parallelus Besuchet, 1958 Records: ER: Madzharovo Town, forest of Quercus sp., in leaf litter, 170 m, 14.04.2007, 1 ♀, leg. R. Bekchiev; Ivailovgrad District, Meden buk Village, 230 m, in leaf litter, 04.05.2009, 1 ♂, leg. R. Bekchiev (NMNHS). Distribution: Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon and Turkey. Delenda carthago Croissandeau, 1891 Records: ER: near Madzharovo Town, bank of Arda River, in rotten wood of Quercus sp., 310 m, 20-24.04.2000, 1 ♀, leg. S. Vit (MHNG); Ivailovgrad District, Plevun Village, 490 m, in leaf litter of Quercus sp., 13.05.2009, 1 ♀, leg. R. Bekchiev (NMNHS). Distribution: Bulgaria, Turkey. Bibloporus bicolor Denny, 1825 Records: WR: Batak Town env., above Nova Mahala Village, Kupena Rezerve, Gaijtancha place, under bark of Picea abies (L.), 1000 m, 26.05.2008, 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, leg. R. Bekchiev (NMNHS). Distribution: Europe, Asia (Russia – Far East) Euplectus punctatus Mulsant et Rey, 1861 Records: WR: Peshtera Town env., Kupena Rezerve, Tretata Vrata place, under bark of Pinus sylvestris L. 1045 m, 02.05.2006, 1 ♀, leg. R. Bekchiev; above Nova Mahala Village, Kupena Rezerve, Gaijtancha place, under bark of Picea abies (L.), 1000 m, 26.05.2008, 2 ♂♂, leg. R. Bekchiev (NMNHS). Distribution: Europe, Asia (Russia – East Siberia; Far East). Euplectus bonvouloiri naretinus Reitter, 1882 Records: ER: near Madzharovo Town, bank of Arda River, in rotten wood, 310 m, 20-24.04.2000, 1 ♂, 1 ♀, leg. S. Vit (MHNG). Distribution: Central and Eastern Europe. A study of the Pselaphinae (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) in the Rhodopes 269 Euplectus frivaldszkyi Saulcy, 1878 Records: WR: Peshtera Town, Kupena Reserve, place Mazar Dere, rotten wood of Fagus sylvatica L., 1200 m, 08.10.2005, 1 ♀, leg. R. Bekchiev; Kupena Reserve, place Tretata vrata, in rotten wood, 1045 m, 31.07.2006, 1 ♀, leg. R. Kostova (NMNHS). Distribution: Central and Eastern Europe. Euplectus karstenii (Reichenbach, 1816) Records: ER: Madzharovo Town region, bank of a lake near to Borislavtsi Village, in rotten wood of Salix sp., 310 m, 26.04.2000, 1 ♂, leg. S. Vit (MHNG); Madzharovo Town, bank of Arda River, in old trunk, 120 m, 14.04.2007, 5 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, leg. R. Bekchiev (NMNHS). WR: 3 km of Batak Town, Cigov chark, dam like bank of Batak, under bark of Populus sp., 1115 m, 26.05.2008, 1 ♂, 1 ♀, leg. R. Bekchiev (NMNHS). Distribution: Europe, Asia, North Africa. Euplectus kirbii Denny, 1825 Records: ER: near Madzharovo Town, bank of Arda River, 310 m, 20-24.04.2000, 1 ♀; bank of a lake near to Borislavtsi Village, in rotten wood of Salix sp., 26.04.2000, 9 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀, leg. S. Vit (MHNG); bank of Arda, in rotten wood of Populus sp., 14.04.2008, 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀, leg. R. Bekchiev (NMNHS). WR: Smolyan District, Koshnitsa Village, near Uhlovitsa Cave, in rotten wood, 850 m, 15.05.2005, 1 ♂; between Gorno Fatovo Village and Polkovnik SerafimovoV illage, 900 m, 31.05.2005, 1 ♀, leg. R. Bekchiev; 3 km of Batak Town, Cigov Chark, bank of Dam of Batak, under bark of Populus sp., 1115 m, 26.05.2008, 1 ♀, leg. R. Bekchiev (NMNHS). Distribution: Europe. Plectophloeus nitidus (Fairmaire, 1858) Records: ER; near Madzharovo Town, hollow in Populus sp., rotten wood, 310 m, 28-29.04.2000, 1 ♀, leg. S. Vit (MHNG). Distribution: Europe, Asia (Turkey, Iran). Plectophloeus fischeri(Aubé, 1833) Records: WR: Smolyan District, Gela Village, in rotten wood of Picea abies L., 1500 m, 29.05.2005, 2 ♂♂, leg. R. Bekchiev (NMNHS). Distribution: Europe. Plectophloeus nubigena (Reitter, 1877) Records: WR: Batak Town, above mountain resort Tsigov Chark, Mantaritsa Reserve, place Skelite, in rotten wood of P. abies L., 1300 m, 02.08.2005, 1 ♂, leg. R. Kostova; Peshtera Town, Kupena Reserve, place Tretata Vrata, in rotten wood of old tree, 1045 m, 16.06.2006, 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, leg. R. Bekchiev (NMNHS). Distribution: Europe, Asia (Turkey, Iran). Bibloplectus parvulus Besuchet, 1975 Records: ER: Madzharovo Town region, bank of a lake near to Borislavtsi Village, in leaf litter, 310 m, 26.04.2000, 1 ♂, leg. S. Vit (MHNG). Distribution: Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey. 270 R. BEKCHIEV Trimium puncticeps Reitter, 1880 Records: ER: near Madzharovo Town, bank of Arda River, rotten wood of Salix sp., 310 m, 20-24.04.2000, 1 ♂, 9 ♀♀; bank of a lake near to Borislavtsi Village, 26.04.2000, 1 ♀, leg. S. Vit (MHNG). WR: Bachkovo Village, Chervena Stena Reserve, in leaf litter of Fagus sylvatica L., 500 m, 02.06.2005, 2 ♂♂, leg. R. Bekchiev; 8 km of Velingrad Town, near Lepenitsa Cave, leaf litter of F. sylvatica in the entrance of the cave, 975 m, 22.08.2008, 1 ♂, leg. R. Bekchiev (NMNHS). Distribution: Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldavia, Romania. Trimium graecum Karaman, 1969 Records: ER: near Madzharovo Town, bank of Arda River, 310 m, 20-24.04.2000, 15 ♀♀, leg. S. Vit (MHNG). Distribution: Greece. Trimium carpathicum Saulcy, 1875 Records: WR: Dospat District, Sarnitsa Village, nest of а Formica rufa L., 09.05.2003, 1 ♂, leg. D. Gradinarov; Smolyan District, Polkovnik SerafimovoV illage, in leaf litter of Fagus sylvatica, 700 m, 06.05.2002, 3 ♂♂; 23.09.2006, 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; between Gorno Fatovo Village and Polkovnik SerafimovoV illage, 900 m, 31.05.2005, 9 ♂♂; Koshnitsa Village, near Uhlovitsa Cave, in leaf litter of F. sylvatica, 850 m, 13.10.2007, 1 ♂; Peshtera Town, Kupena Reserve, place Mazar Dere, in leaf litter of F. sylvatica, 1200 m, 02.10.2006, 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, leg. R. Bekchiev (NMNHS). Distribution: Central and Eastern Europe. Trichonyx sulcicollis (Reichenbach, 1816) Records: ER: Madzharovo Town, bank of Arda River, in rotten wood of Populus sp., 310 m, 20-24.04.2000, 1 ♀, leg. S. Vit (MHNG). Distribution: Europe. Bryaxis simoni (Reitter, 1880) Records: WR: Smolyan District, mountain resort Pamporovo, 1750 m , 02.07.1966, 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, leg. K. Emrisch (ZMHB); 12.04.1989, 43 ♂♂, 15 ♀♀, leg. C. Besuchet (MHNG); Chepelare Town, 12.04.1989, 1 ♂, 1 ♀, leg. C. Besuchet (MHNG); Gela Village, P. abies forest, in mousse, 1500 m, 29.05.2005, 2 ♂♂; Koshnitsa Village, near Uhlovitsa Cave, in leaf litter of F. sylvatica, 850 m, 23.09.2006, 2 ♂♂; Smolyan District, near Trigrad Village, 900m, 11.04.1989, 1 ♀, leg. C. Besuchet (MHNG); between mountain resort Pamporovo and Chepelare Town, 1400 m, 12.04.1989, 55 ♂♂, 40 ♀♀, leg. C. Besuchet (MHNG); Chepelare Town, near natural phenomenon Chudnite Mostove, in leaf litter under rock, 1450 m, 02.05.2005, 1 ♂, 5 ♀♀; Batak Town, above mountain resort Tsigov Chark, Mantaritsa Reserve, place Skelite, in rotten wood and leaf litter, 1300 m, 02.08.2005, 12 ♂♂, 13 ♀♀; Velingrad District, Rakitovo Village, Mantaritsa Reserve, place Pashino Bardo, in rotten wood and leaf litter, 1300 m, 04.08.2005, 12 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; 09.10.2005, 4 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀; 15.06.2006, 1 ♂; 03.10.2006, 13 ♂♂, 27 ♀♀; Peshtera Town, Kupena Reserve, place Mazar dere, in leaf litter of F. A study of the Pselaphinae (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) in the Rhodopes 271 sylvatica, 1200 m, 08.10.2005, 1 ♂; 02.10.2006, 6 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, leg. R. Bekchiev; Batak Town, NW slope of Batashki Snezhnik Peak, 1550 – 1700 m, in F.