Labomimus vespertilio Yin & Li

Yin, Zi-Wei & Li, Li-Zhen, 2012, Notes on Michael Schuelke's pselaphine collections from China. - Tyrini. I. genera Labomimus Sharp, Linan Hlavac and Pselaphodes Westwood (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae), ZooKeys 251, pp. 83-118 : 90-91

Labomimus vespertilio Yin & Li sp. n. Figs 6C9

Type material

(2 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀). Holotype: ♂, labeled 'CHINA: Yunnan, Dali Bai Aut. Pref., / mount. range E Weishan, 12 km NE / Weishan, 25°17'02-15"N, 100°22' / 22-30"E, 2630-2660 m, scrub with / pines and bamboo, litter sifted, 15.IX. / 2009. leg. M. Schülke [CH09-54]' (cSch). Paratypes: 1 ♂, 5 ♀♀, same label data as holotype (cSch, SNUC).

Diagnosis.

Reddish brown; length 3.34-3.52; postgenae nearly rounded; antennomeres IX–XI enlarged, VIII–X modified in the male; pronotum with lateral margins moderately angularly expanded laterally; with short blunt metaventral processes; metacoxae spinose; aedeagus with symmetric median lobe.

Description.

Male (Fig. 6C). Length 3.34-3.52. Head longer than wide, HL 0.70-0.75, HW 0.63-0.65; eyes each composed of about 30 facets. Antennal clubs as in Fig. 9A. Pronotum (Fig. 9B) slightly longer than wide, PL 0.71-0.74, PW 0.65-0.70, with lateral margins moderately angularly expanded laterally. Elytra wider than long, EL 0.75-0.81, EW 1.23-1.28. Short metaventral processes with rounded apices (Fig. 9C). Protrochanters with small ventral spine, profemora with large ventral spine (Fig. 9D), protibiae with distinct apical tubercle (Fig. 9E); mesotrochanters (Fig. 9F) with tiny spine at ventral margin; metacoxae (Fig. 9G) with long hook-like protuberance at ventral margin, metatrochanters and metafemora simple. Abdomen broad at base and narrowed apically, AL 1.18-1.22, AW 1.28-1.35. Sternite IX as in Fig. 9H. Aedeagus length 0.56, with symmetric median lobe (Figs 9 I–K).

Female. Similar to male in general; BL 3.34-3.40, HL 0.72-0.73, HW 0.61-0.62, PL 0.72-0.73, PW 0.68-0.70, EL 0.73-0.74, EW 1.28-1.29, AL 1.17-1.20, AW 1.38-1.41. Eyes each composed of about 25 facets. Antennae lacking modification; metaventral processes absent.

Comparative notes.

This is placed as a sister species of Labomimus cognatus , sharing with it a number of character states (see comparative notes under Labomimus cognatus ). The two species can be separated by the larger body size, the strongly asymmetric antennomeres IX, and the aedeagus with much broader apex in Labomimus vespertilio , while Labomimus cognatus is smaller in body size, has symmetric antennomeres IX with a disc-like process, and has the aedeagus with a much narrower apex. Other than the aforementioned characters, the two species also share with Labomimus sarculus the lateral rows of dense setae extending from frontal rostrum base to head base, and the three species seem toform a small species-complex. For separation of Labomimus sarculus from Labomimus cognatus and Labomimus vespertilio see the comparative notes under that species.

Distribution.

Southwest China: Yunnan.

Biology.

Adults were from sifted leaf litter in a scrub forest with pines and bamboo.

Etymology.

The Latin word ‘vespertilio’ means 'a bat’, referring to the bat-like apical part of the aedeagal median lobe.