Paederus (Gnathopaederus) cheni Z. Peng

Peng, Zhong, Li, Qi-Li, Li, Li-Zhen & Gu, Fu-Kang, 2015, New data on the subgenus Gnathopaederus of the genus Paederus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae) of mainland China, Zootaxa 3999 (3), pp. 421-429 : 428-429

Paederus (Gnathopaederus) cheni Z. Peng and L.-Z. Li, new species

(Figs 1F, 1K, 6)

Type material. HOLOTYPE: ♂, labelled ‘ China: Hunan Prov., Badagongshan Natural Reserve, Doupeng Shan, 29°40'03''N, 103°43'29''E, 1640 m, 12.VII.2005, Li & Zhao leg.’ ( SNUC). PARATYPES: 5 ♀♀, same label data as holotype ( SNUC).

Description. Measurements (in mm) and ratios: BL: 10.00–10.84; FL: 5.28–5.45; HL: 1.59–1.70; HW: 1.70– 1.85; AnL: 3.45–3.73; PL: 1.74–1.81; PW: 1.51–1.66; EL: 1.13–1.28; EW: 1.59–1.67; AW: 1.70–1.93; AL: 2.15; HL/HW: 0.92–0.95; HW/PW: 1.10–1.13; HL/PL: 0.90–0.94; PL/PW: 1.09–1.15; EL/PL: 0.65–0.71; diameter of eye: 0.42–0.49.

Habitus as in Fig. 1F. Coloration: head, labrum and apex of abdomen black, mandibles brown, labial palpi yellowish brown; antennae brown, with the three basal and two apical segments yellowish brown; pronotum red; elytra blackish blue with metallic luster; abdominal segments III-VI yellowish brown; segments VII-VIII black; legs brown, with the basal halves of the femora yellowish brown.

Head slightly wider than long, widest across eyes; punctation moderately coarse and very sparse; interstices glossy. Eyes moderately convex. All antennomeres longer than broad; antenna as in Fig. 1K.

Pronotum oviform; disc distinctly convex, punctation similar to that of head, very sparse.

Elytra trapeziform; punctation coarse, defined, and moderately dense. Hind wings completely reduced. Metatarsomere I as long as combined length of metatarsomeres II and III.

Abdomen broader than elytra; punctation sparse; interstices with shallow microsculpture; posterior margin of tergite VII without palisade fringe; posterior margin of tergite VIII ( Figs 6 F, I) strongly convex.

Male. Labrum as in Fig. 6 D, anterior margin with two small and two large teeth; left mandible ( Fig. 6 A) with single small dorsal tooth, inner margin with one bicuspidate tooth; right mandible ( Fig. 6 B) with one long, stout dorsal tooth, inner margin with single-pointed middle tooth. Sternite VII unmodified; sternite VIII ( Fig. 6 J) transverse and with deep posterior incision, this incision 0.5 times as long as sternite VIII; sternite IX ( Fig. 6 K) asymmetric; aedeagus as in Figs 6 L–N; dorsal plate of median lobe symmetric, straight in lateral view; parameres symmetric and slender; internal sac with single short sclerotized spine.

Female. Labrum as in Fig. 6 E. Posterior margin of sternite VIII ( Fig. 6 G) weakly trifurcate; sternite IX ( Fig. 6 H) nearly symmetric and oblong.

Distribution and natural history. The type locality is situated in the Badagong Shan to the northwest of Sangzhi, north-western Hunan. The specimens were sifted from leaf litter in a mixed deciduous forest at an altitude of 1,640 m.

Etymology. The species is named for Wei Chen, in appreciation of his extensive support of our research.

Comparative notes. This new species is distinguished from other species of this subgenus by the coloration of the legs, the shape of the pronotum, the small female sternite IX and the structure of the aedeagus (shape of dorsal plate of median lobe; slender parameres; short sclerotized spine in the internal sac).

Figures

FIGURE 6. Paederus cheni. A male left mandible B male right mandible C female right mandible D male labrum E female labrum F female tergite VIII G female sternite VIII H female sternite IX I male tergite VIII J male sternite VIII K male tergite IX L aedeagus in ventral view M aedeagus in lateral view N aedeagus in dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.