Psychristus (s.str.) discretus ANDREWES 1930

Jaeger, B. & H, Ban, 2009, Two new species of Psychristus subgenus Psychristus ANDREWES 1930 from Southeast Asia, India and Pakistan, with additions to the Psychristus discretus group (Col., Carabidae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 41 (2), pp. 1635-1657 : 1642-1644

Psychristus (s.str.) discretus ANDREWES 1930 ( Figs 7-9 , 18-19 , 24 , 27 , 30 )

Psychristus discretus ANDREWES 1930: 22 (type locality: India: Sikkim: Phadam Chen). Bradycellus ponderosus LINDROTH 1939: 117-119 (type locality: Russia: Karelia: "Fennia,

Kuusamo, See Paanajärvi").

The original description given by ANDREWES (1930: 22) and the re-description and illustrations given by JAEGER (1997: 70-71, 87, and 89) include most main characters important for recognition of the species. Therefore, only a diagnosis, including characters that separate the species from others of the P. discretus group, additional images and ratios of various body dimensions (see table 1 and 2) are presented below.

D i a g n o s i s:Thelargestspeciesinthe P. discretus group with general appearance as figured ( Fig. 7 ). Body length 3.8-4.6 mm and width 1.6-1.9 mm. Ground colour of dorsal surface usually blackish brown, sometimes dark reddish brown, with elytral interval 1 (often indistinct or partly), pronotal base and apex medially, and lateral margins of elytra and pronotum paler reddish. Clypeus, labrum and mandibles reddish (with inner and partly outer margins, and apex of mandibles blackish), palpi yellowish. Ventral surface dark reddish- to blackish brown. Legs and antennae yellowish to pale reddish brown. Head including eyes ( Figs 7-9 ) of medium width, 0.75-0.81 times as wide as pronotum, with eyes distinctly prominent (head 1.54-1.63 times as wide as head between eyes). Apical margin of labrum usually weakly emarginated, sometimes almost rectilinear. Mentum with epilobes ( Fig. 30 ) strongly projecting forward and distinctly acuminate at apices. Mental tooth sharp, usually about half as long as epilobes. Ligular sclerite with apex, narrowly or widely rounded, sometimes somewhat acuminate. Mandibles of average size, not markedly prolonged and curved in apical half. Antennae 0.56-0.64 times as long as elytra and 1.70-2.04 times as long as pronotum, with antennomere 3 with scattered pubescence in apical half, at least with few additional setae. Pronotum with shape and punctation as figured ( Figs 7-9 ), 1.23-1.35 times as wide as long and 1.24-1.33 times as wide as head. Base about 1.1-1.2 times as wide as apical margin between anterios angles and 0.83-0.91 times as wide as maximum pronotal width. Median line distinctly punctate in basal third, impunctate, or rarely very faintly punctate in medial third, and moderately punctate in apical third. Macropterous. Elytra ( Fig. 7 ) 1.48-1.60 times as long as wide, 3.00-3.25 times as long and 1.51-1.63 times as wide as pronotum, with surface strongly convex. Humeri less angulate than in other species, with humeral tooth very small, usually no more than suggested. Setiferous pore in posterior half of interval 3 present. Elytral intervals 2-3 comparatively wide and flat at apex, 3 often somewhat dilated. Microsculpture almost absent, except for isodiametric mesh patterns on scutellum and anterior to basal margin. Pro- and mesotarsomeres in both sexes ventrally without a dentiform process, protarsomeres 1-4 of males only very weakly dilated, with typically dilated adhesive hairs beneath. Number and size of spines in pro- and mesotibiae unmodified. Median lobe of aedoeagus ( Figs 18-19 ) large, and elongate, with a distinctly developed apical lamella. Female genitalia as figured ( Fig. 24 ). For ratios representing various body proportions see table 1 and 2.

C o m p a r i s o n s: Within the P. discretus group the species ( Fig. 7 ) is in general appearance most similar to P. shibatai ( Fig.10 ) from which it can be separated usually by the larger size; darker, blackish brown body colour; the pronotum ( Figs 7-9 ) with medial third of median line usually impunctate and anterior angles more projecting forward; the elytra, which are longer relative to the pronotum (EL/PL> 2.99), with humeral tooth very small and not projecting, and dorsal surface strongly convex; the large, elongated median lobe of aedoeagus with developed apical lamella ( Figs 18-19 ) and the different shape of hemisternite ( Fig. 24 ) of female genitalia.

For differentiation from P. brunneus and P. dentatus see these species and the key.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: The species occurs from northwest India (Uttar Pradesh) in the West, across Nepal, north India (West Bengal, Sikkim), Bhutan, northeast India (Arunachal Pradesh), Myanmar to northwest Vietnam in the East. It has been collected at elevations of about 1500-2800 m. Figure 27 shows the known distribution, based on revised records (see JAEGER 1997: 72 and records below).

LINDROTH (1939) described the species also as Bradycellus ponderosus from Karelia. However, due to zoogeographical reasons an occurrence of the species in this northeast European region seems to be impossible. JAEGER (1999: 968) suspected that the type species was mislabelled and originated from collections from former British India, probably from a large series from Burma collected by R. Malaise in 1934 during the Swedish expedition to British India and Burma.

Since the revision of the species ( JAEGER 1997: 72) the following additional material, including the first record for the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, has been studied:

N e p a l: Far-Western Region : Darchula District : 1 km NE Batar, Chamliya Khola, 2100 m, 29°51'29"N 80°54'34"E, LF, VI. 2005, Weigel (1 - cWEIG). - Western Region: Kaski District: Annapurna, Krapa Danda, 2500 m, V. 1997, Schmidt (1 – cSCHM) ; Lamjung Himal , unt. Taunja Danda , oberh. Hogo-Kh.,W-Hang, 2350 m, V. 1996, Jäger (17 – cSCHM, cJAE). - Central Region: Dolakha District: Cherakapti, nördl. Jiri, 1500-1800 m, IV. 1973, Martens (1 - SMNS) ; E Ting Sang La, 2600 m, 627, VI. 2000, Schawaller (4 - SMNS), N slope of Khare Kola , 2200 m, 612, V./ VI. 2000, Schawaller (1 - SMNS) ; Serukapti, 2400 m, 605, V. 2000, Schawaller (5 - SMNS). - Sindhupalchok District : SW below Dolangsa, 2300 m, 631, VI. 2000, Schawaller (1 - SMNS) ; Pokhare NE Barahbise, 2700 m, V. 1981, Löbl & Smetana (1 - MHNG). - Lalitpur District : 106 KTM Phulchoki 2000-2300 m, Quercus, III. 1980, Martens & Ausobsky (2 - SMNS). - Eastern Region : Solukhumbu District: Junbesi, 2700 m, 514, V. 1997, Schawaller (1 - SMNS). – Terhathum District: Basantapur env., 27.11N 87.27E, 2190 m, VI. 2000, Farkač (5 – NHMB, cJAE). - Region/District not traced: Syabnu [Sic! Probably meaning Syabru?], VI. 1978, Bhakta (1 – NHMB) .

B h u t a n: Timphu Umg., 2500 m, VII. 1988, Holzschuh (1 - NME).

I n d i a: Arunachal Pradesh: W of Bomdila, 2600 m, 27°16'N 92°24'E, V. 2004, Dembický (16 -

NHMB, cJAE).

V i e t n a m: Sa Pa (Lao Cai), 22°20'N 103°50'E, V.-VI. 1991, Jendek (3 - NHMW, cJAE).

Figures

Figs 7-9. Psychristus discretus ANDREWES. Habitus, head and pronotum. (7) Nepal, Basantapur; (8) Vietnam, Sa Pa; (9) India, Bomdila.

Figs 18-21. Median lobe of aedoagus, lateral and dorsal aspect. (18-19) Psychristus discretus ANDREWES (India, Bomdila); (20-21) P. hibatai ITO (Paratype, Taiwan, Wushe).

Figs. 22-25. Female genitalia. Hemisternite and gonocoxa. (22) Psychristus dentatus nov.sp., (Holotype); (23) P. brunneus nov.sp. (Paratype, Laos, Ban Khoun Ngeun); (24) P. discretus ANDREWES (India, Bomdila); (25) P. shibatai ITO (Taiwan, Mt. Kwena).

Figs 26-27. Distribution. (26) P. dentatus nov.sp. (open circles), P. brunneus nov.sp. (filled circles) and P. shibatai ITO (filled squares); (27) P. discretus ANDREWES.

Figs 28-32. Mentum and definition of measurements. (28) Psychristus dentatus nov.sp. (Holotype); (29) P. brunneus nov.sp. (Paratype, India, Similipal); (30) P. discretus ANDREWES (Nepal, Lamjung Himal); (31) P. shibatai ITO (Taiwan, Mt. Kwena).

Figs 10-12. Psychristus shibatai ITO. Habitus, head and pronotum. (10-11) Paratype, Taiwan, Wushe; (12) Female, Mt. Kwena.