Tachinus (s. str.) paralinzhiensis Feng & Li

Feng, Ting, Schuelke, Michael & Li, Li-Zhen, 2013, A taxonomic revision of the silphaeformis species-group of the genus Tachinus Gravenhorst (Staphylinidae, Tachyporinae) from China, ZooKeys 359, pp. 53-99 : 78-80

Tachinus (s. str.) paralinzhiensis Feng & Li sp. n. Figs 7A, 7B, 9M, 10M, 12D, 14A, 17A, 19E, 20N, 22D

Type locality.

China, Tibet A. R., Milin, Duoxiongla Mountain.

Type material.

Holotype: ♂, CHINA: Tibet A. R., Milin County, North Duoxiongla Pass, alt. 3,650-3,800 m, 29.viii.2005, Liang TANG leg. (SNUC). Paratypes: 6 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀, same label data as the holotype (SNUC); 26 ♂♂, 12 ♀♀, CHINA: Tibet A. R., Linzhi County, Sejila Pass, alt. 4,700 m, 2.viii.2005, Liang TANG leg. (SNUC); 22 ♂♂, 15 ♀♀, CHINA: Tibet A. R., Linzhi County, Mt. Sejila, alt. 3,700 m, 5.viii.2005, Liang TANG leg. (SNUC).

Description.

Measurements of males (holotype): BL 3.56-3.86 (3.56); FL 2.88-2.90 (2.89); PL 0.83-0.89 (0.89); EL 1.33-1.50 (1.50); SEL 0.11-0.14 (0.11); HW 0.82-0.84 (0.83); PW 1.32-1.34 (1.33); EW 1.44-1.46 (1.45); relative length of antennomeres I–XI: 21: 15: 15: 9: 12: 13: 14: 13: 12: 12: 25. Measurements of females: BL 4.73-5.00; FL 3.39-3.78; PL 0.99-1.01; EL 1.67-1.89; SEL 0.14-0.22; HW 0.89-1.00; PW 1.50-1.67; EW 1.77-1.79; relative length of antennomeres I–XI: 22: 15: 15: 10: 15: 15: 15: 14: 14: 14: 26.

Body (Figs 7A, 7B) dark brown; mouthparts, segments I–IV of antennae, elytra and legs reddish brown.

Head slightly transverse, HW: PW = 0.53-0.67 (0.62); surface with fine and sparse punctation and microsculpture consisting of irregular striae or meshes. Antennae moderately long, antennomeres X slightly shorter than wide.

Pronotum: PL: PW = 0.59-0.67 (0.67); surface with microsculpture radiating from punctures; punctation finer than that of head.

Elytra: EL: PL = 1.49-1.81 (1.69), EL: EW = 0.91-1.04 (1.03), EW: PW = 1.07-1.11 (1.09) in males; EL: PL = 1.65-1.91, EL: EW = 0.93-1.07, EW: PW = 1.06-1.19 in females; posterior margin broadly rounded. Surface with microsculpture consisting of transverse meshes; punctation coarser than that of pronotum.

Abdomen with coarse punctation, microsculpture consisting of transverse striae.

Male. Posterior margin of sternite VII (Figs 9M, 10M) with broad, shallow median emargination, apical margin bent ventrad, with large area of coarse granules. Tergite VIII (Fig. 12D) with apical lobes almost fused, forming sinuate apical margin. Sternite VIII as in Fig. 14A. Aedeagus (Fig. 17A) similar to that of Tachinus linzhiensis , with short median lobe and long parameres. Parameres projecting beyond the apex of the median lobe by one third of the length of the median lobe.

Female. Elytra only slightly longer than in male, posterior margin broadly rounded, with distinct sutural emargination. Abdominal tergite VIII (Fig. 19E) similar to that of Tachinus linzhiensis . Sternite VIII (Fig. 20N) with fimbriate median lobes separated by a shallow emargination. Median lobes slightly longer than sublateral ones.

Etymology.

The specific name (adjective) is a combination of the Latin prefix “para” and “linzhiensis”, alluding to the similarity of this species to Tachinus linzhiensis .

Remarks.

Males are distinguished from those of the other species of the group by the strongly elongate parameres of the aedeagus. Females are distinguished from those of all other species except Tachinus linzhiensis by the shape of tergite VIII, from Tachinus linzhiensis by the separate fimbriate lobes of sternite VIII.