Trichotichnus (Bottchrus) minutus, Schmidt, 2017

Schmidt, Joachim, 2017, Brachypterous ground beetles of the Trichotichnus subgenus Bottchrus Jedlička (Coleoptera, Carabidae) from the Himalaya, with description of fifteen new species, Zootaxa 4323 (3), pp. 301-358 : 331-332

Trichotichnus (Bottchrus) minutus sp. n.

( Figs 70 , 87–90 , 151 , 11 )

Type material. Holotype: ♂, “ NEPAL, Kathmandu-Tal Godawari , Mt. Phulchoki N-Hang, 1750 m, Ufergesiebe, 6.V.2001, leg. O. Jäger ” (cJS).

Paratype: 1 ♂, “ NEPAL N Kathmandu Shivapuri Lekh 2–2300 m slope W of Bagmati riv. 22– 23.5.05 leg. Schmidt ” (cJS).

Description. Habitus as in Fig. 70 . Body length 5.5–6.0 mm, width 2.5–2.7 mm. Characters as described for T. (B.) ganeshensis sp. n. except as follows: Eyes in lateral view slightly more elongate. Pronotum relatively wider, with basal angles subdenticulate; basal margin vaguely bordered laterally (in holotype) or almost throughout (in paratype); pronotal lateral gutter very narrow almost equal throughout (in holotype) or slightly widened in apical third (in paratype). Elytral striae smooth, not crenulate, slightly impressed along entire length; intervals with slightly more distinct microsculpture. Legs yellowish brown, with femora infuscate. Median lobe of aedeagus ( Figs 87–90 ) with ventral margin slightly convex in middle portion, terminal lamella angularly bent ventrad and sinuate at sides; apical capitulum oblique in lateral view, comparatively large, markedly larger than in T. (B.) ganeshensis sp. n. and T. (B.) pusillus sp. n., approximately equally prominent ventrally and dorsally, in caudal view apical capitulum, as in T. (B.) ganeshensis sp. n., somewhat semi-oval, but lightly more elongate, narrowly rounded at tip ( Fig. 89 ). Internal sac with characteristic pattern of spiny folders in the middle portion of median lobe.

Proportions (males): PWmax/PL = 1.42–1.43; EL/EW = 1.32–1.36; EL/PL = 2.36–2.42; EW/PWmax = 1.24– 1.25; HWmax/PWmax = 0.67; HWmin/PWmax = 0.54–0.55; PWmax/PWmin = 1.23–1.25; HWmax/HWmin = 1.22–1.23.

Etymology. The specific name refers to the small size of the beetles.

Comparison. This new species is very similar in size and external morphology to T. (B.) ganeshensis sp. n., but distinctly differs from it in the male genitalia as follows: aedeagal median lobe ( Figs 87–90 ) relatively smaller, with ventral margin in lateral view slightly convex in middle portion, apical capitulum much larger, approximately equally prominent ventrally and dorsally [dorsal flange of the apical capitulum in T. (B.) ganeshensis sp. n. more prominent than ventral flange, figs. 81–82], in caudal view apical capitulum, as in T. (B.) ganeshensis sp. n., somewhat semi-oval, but slightly more elongate, narrowly rounded at tip ( Fig. 89 ); internal sac with different pattern of spiny folders in the middle portion of the median lobe. Additionally, pronotum in T. (B.) minutus sp. n. relatively wider than in T. (B.) ganeshensis sp. n. (PWmax/PL = 1.42–1.43 versus 1.32–1.39).

Distribution ( Fig. 151 , 11 ). Up to today only known from the mountains surrounding the Kathmandu Valley (Shivapuri Lekh, Mt. Phulchoki), at altitudes of 1750–2300 m. This species seems to be a geographical vicariant of T. (B.) ganeshensis sp. n. which is occurs on the south-western slope of the Ganesh Himal ( Fig. 151 , 10 ).

Figures

FIGURE 151. Distribution of the Himalayan species of Trichotichnus subgenus Bottchrus. 1, T. holzschuhi Kirschenhofer, 1992; 2, T. baglungensis sp. n.; 3, T. parvulus sp. n.; 4, T. bubsaensis sp. n.; 5, T. schawalleri sp. n.; 6, T. obliquebasalis sp. n.; 7, T. panchhaseensis sp. n.; 8, T. siklesensis sp. n.; 9, T. pusillus sp. n.; 10, T. ganeshensis sp. n.; 11, T. minutus sp. n.; 12, T. cyanescens Ito, 1998; 13, T. martensi sp. n.; 14, T. opacus Ito, 1998.

FIGURES 67 – 70. Himalayan species of Trichotichnus subgenus Bottchrus, photographs of habitus. 67, T. pusillus sp. n., paratype, male, from the Bara Pokhari Lekh mountain range; 68, T. pusillus sp. n., paratype, male, from the Dudh Pokhari Lekh mountain range; 69, T. ganeshensis sp. n., paratype, male; 70, T. minutus sp. n., paratype, male.

FIGURES 87 – 90. Trichotichnus (Bottchrus) minutus sp. n. (87, paratype; 88 – 90, holotype). 87 – 88, 90, median lobe of aedeagus; 89, terminal lamella and apical capitulum. 87 – 88, lateral view; 89, caudal view; 90, dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.25 mm (A: Figs 87 – 88, 90; B: Fig. 89).

FIGURES 5 – 13. Trichotichnus (Bottchrus) holzschuhi Kirschenhofer, 1992 (5 – 7, paratype; 8 – 13, specimens from Sete). 5, terminal lamella of aedeagus; 6 – 8, 11, median lobe of aedeagus; 9, apical capitulum; 10, left metepisternum; 12, apex of last (VII) abdominal sternite, male; 13, same, female. 5, 7, 8, dorsal view; 6, 11, lateral view; 9, caudal view; 10, 12, 13, ventral view. Scale bars = 0.25 mm (A: Figs 5 – 8, 10 – 13; B: Fig. 9).