Pselaphodes flexus 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 : 96-98

Pselaphodes flexus Yin & Li sp. n. Figs 11C14

Type material

(1 ♂, 7 ♀♀). Holotype: ♂, labeled 'CHINA (N-Yunnan) Lijiang Naxi / Aut. Co., E Yulongxue Shan, / 30 km N Lijiang, 2800-2900 m / 25°09.0'N, 100°14.9'E (creek / valley, secondary mixed forest) / 13.VIII.2003 Wrase [01] // Sammlung / M. Schülke / Berlin // M. SCHÜLKE Coll. / Staphylinidae , Pselaphinae / Labomimus sp. 9 / S. Nomura det., 2005' (cSch). Paratypes: 3 ♀♀, same label data as holotype, except ' Labomimus sp. 7 / S. Nomura det., 2005'; 4 ♀♀, same label data, except '13.VIII.2003, M. Schülke, (cSch, SNUC).

Diagnosis.

Reddish brown; length 2.87; postgenae rounded; antennomeres IX–XI enlarged, IX modified in the male; pronotum with lateral margins slightly angularly expanded laterally; with long metaventral processes apically narrowed; metacoxae simple; aedeagus with asymmetric median lobe.

Description.

Male (Fig. 11C). Length 2.87. Head longer than wide, HL 0.66, HW 0.60; eyes each composed of about 25 facets. Antennal clubs as in Fig. 14A. Pronotum (Fig. 14B) about as long as wide, PL 0.65, PW 0.63, with lateral margins slightly angularly expanded laterally. Elytra wider than long, EL 0.81, EW 1.12. Long metaventral (Fig. 14C) processes narrowed apically. Protrochanters with small ventral spine, profemora with big sharp spine at ventral margin (Fig. 14D), protibiae with broad triangular spur (Fig. 14E); mesotrochanters with small spine at ventral margin, mesofemora simple (Fig. 14F); metatrochanters and metafemora (Fig. 14G) simple. Abdomen broad at base and narrowed apically, AL 0.75, AW 1.23. Sternite IX as in Fig. 14H. Aedeagus length 0.60, with asymmetric median lobe (Figs 14 I–K).

Female. Unknown.

Comparative notes.

As discussed above, this species may be related to Pselaphodes erlangshanus and Pselaphodes zhongdianus by sharing a similar general habitus, elongate antennomeres IX–XI, and a somewhat similar aedeagal form. Pselaphodes flexus can be separated from Pselaphodes erlangshanus by the smaller size, the mesotrochanters with single ventral spine, and much thinner metaventral process. The nearly symmetrically cylindrical antennomeres IX of Pselaphodes flexus readily separate it from Pselaphodes zhongdianus , whose antennomeres IX are strongly roundly and projecting anterolaterally.

Distribution.

Southwest China: Yunnan.

Biology.

The individual was sifted from a secondary mixed forest in a ravine.

Etymology.

The Latin word ‘flexus’ means 'curved, bent, twisting’, referring to the curved terminal antennomere of the new species.