Psychristus discretus, ANDREWES. Habitus, 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 : 1645-1646

Key to species of the P. discretus group of Psychristus subgenus Psychristus

1 Ground colour pale brown. General appearance as figured ( Fig. 4 ). Head ( Figs 4-6 ) broad, with large and hemispherically protruding eyes (HW/PW> 0.81). Mandibles markedly prolonged and curved. Mentum with epilobes less projecting forward ( Fig. 29 ). Shape of pronotum ( Figs 4-6 ) as figured. Elytral interval 3 without setiferous pore in apical half. Median lobe ( Figs 13-17 ) short and stout with characteristic internal structures. Female hemisternite and gonocoxa as figured ( Fig. 23 ). — 3.5-4.3 mm. From northeastern Pakistan, across northern India and Thailand to eastern Laos and one isolated record from Indonesia, Tanimbar Islands.......................... P. brunneus nov.sp.

- Ground colour dark reddish or blackish brown. General appearance different ( Figs 1 , 7 , 10 ). Head ( Figs 2-3 , 8-9 , 11-12 ) narrower, with small and moderately, or large and distinctly protruding eyes (HW/PW <0.82). Mandibles shorter and less curved. Mentum with epilobes moderately to strongly projecting ( Figs 28, 30-31 ). Shape of pronotum different ( Figs 2-3 , 7-9 , 11-12 ). Elytral interval 3 with a setiferous pore in apical half. Median lobe ( Figs 18-21 ) and female genitalia ( Figs 22, 24-25 ) different.......2

2 General appearance as figured ( Fig 1 ). Head ( Figs 2-3 ) narrower, with small and moderately protruding eyes (HW/PW 0.73, HW/HWbE 1.42-1.43). Pronotum ( Figs 2- 3 ) somewhat cordate. Elytra ( Fig. 1 ) in relation to pronotum shorter and narrower (EL/PL 2.69-2.71, EW/PW 1.37-1.39), with surface less convex. Humeral tooth distinctly developed and projecting. Antennae longer relative to elytra (AL/EL 0.66- 0.70). Female genitalia as figured ( Fig. 22 ). — 4.1 mm. Known from northwest Thailand and northeast India.. ................................................................ P. dentatus nov.sp.

- General appearance different ( Fig 7 , 10 ). Head ( Figs 7-9 , 11-12 ) broader, with larger and distinctly protruding eyes (HW/PW 0.75-0.81, HW/HWbE 1.54-1.71). Pronotum ( Figs 7-9 , 11-12 ) less cordate. Elytra ( Figs 7 , 10 ) in relation to pronotum longer and broader (EL/PL 2.81-3.25, EW/PW 1.46-1.63), with surface more convex. Humeral tooth finer and less projecting or only suggested. Antennae shorter relative to elytra (AL/EL 0.56-0.63). Female genitalia different ( Figs 24, 25 ) .............................................. 3 3 Larger species, 3.8-4.6 mm. Body colour darker, blackish brown. Head ( Fig. 7-9 ) 1.54- 1.63 times as wide as head between eyes. Pronotum with anterior angles usually more projecting forward; median line impunctate or less punctate at medial third. Elytra longer relative to pronotum (EL/PL 3.00-2.25), with dorsal surface distinctly convex and humeral tooth often only suggested and not projecting. Median lobe large and elongate, with different shape and a developed apical lamella ( Figs 18-19 ). Hemisternite of female genitalia distinctly projecting in basal half ( Fig. 24 ). — From northwestern India, across Nepal, Bhutan, northeast India, Myanmar to northwest Vietnam.................................................................................. P. discretus ANDREWES 1930

- Smaller species, 3.3-3.7 mm. Body colour lighter, usually dark reddish brown (specimens from India darker). Head ( Fig. 11-12 ) 1.64-1.71 times as wide as head between eyes. Pronotum with anterior angles less projecting; median line usually distinctly punctate at medial third. Elytra shorter relative to pronotum (EL/PL 2.81- 2.92), with dorsal surface less convex and humeral tooth more distinctly developed and projecting. Median lobe smaller, with different shape and without apical lamella ( Figs 20-21 ). Hemisternite of female genitalia less projecting in basal half ( Fig. 25 ). — Known from Taiwan and one record from north India....................... P. shibatai ( ITO 1985)

Figures

Figs 4-6. Psychristus brunneus nov.sp. Habitus, head and pronotum. (4) Holotype; (5) Paratype, India, Rishikesh; (6) Paratype, India, Similipal.

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 13-17. Psychristus brunneus nov.sp. Median lobe of aedoeagus, lateral and dorsal aspect. (13, 17) Paratypes, India, Similipal; (14) Paratype, Indonesia, Tanimbar Islands; (15) Paratype, Thailand, Soppong; (16) Holotype.

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 1-3. Psychristus dentatus nov.sp. Habitus, head and pronotum. (1-2) Paratype; (3) Holotype.

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

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

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).