27. Tychius tachengicus Jiang & Caldara n. sp. Zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 134BACEC-DA5F-48D8-ACFF-C0DFB2F0CBC8

(Figures 85–88, 207–210, 289–290, 330, 343, 355, 386, 421, 450, 477)

Material examined. Holotype, male, CHINA: Xinjiang: Tacheng, Alhagi sparsifolia, 24-VI-1984, leg Jiahu Fu (IOZCAS) . Paratypes, same data as holotype (15 IOZCAS).

Diagnostic description. Length 1.70–2.00 mm (Fig. 85–88). Vestiture on dorsum grayish to brown, either unicolorous or bicoloured. Rostrum (Fig. 207–210) short, moderately stout (Rl/Rw 4.55–4.58 in male, 4.73–5.27 in female; Rl/Pl 1.00– 1.04 in male, 1.06 in female), distinctly curved in basal half. Pronotum subparallel-sided from base to distal third, slightly wider than long (Pw/Pl 1.16–1.19). Elytra (El/Ew 1.44–1.51; Ew/Pw 1.37–1.43) with rectilinear sides in basal half. Femora (Fig. 289–290) unarmed, tibiae (Fig. 330) without sexual characters. Third tarsomere slightly wider than second tarsomere (Fig. 343). Claws (Fig. 355) with medial teeth as long as half of claw, separated from claw from base. Male genitalia: body of penis (Fig. 386) narrow, elongate subparallel-sided until near apex, then gradually narrowing, with subacute tip (Fig. 421), nearly as long as apodeme. Female genitalia: spermatheca see Fig. 450; spiculum ventrale (Fig. 477) with arms almost joined for their whole length.

Remarks and comparative notes. This species is closely related to T. sulphureus by its habitus; however, in T. tachengicus the rostrum is shorter, stouter and less tapered in lateral view (especially in the female), the colour of the vestiture is a little variable but never sulphur yellow, third tarsomere slightly wider than second tarsomere, and claws with medial teeth as long as half of claw. Moreover, the aedeagus is distinctly different. Both species are related to T. franzi Caldara, 1986, which is not known from China. However, in T. franzi the rostrum is short, distinctly tapered from base to apex and poorly sexually dimorphic.

Etymology. The Latin adjective refers to the type locality, Tacheng, at the borders between China and Kazakhstan.

Biology. The specimens of the type series were collected on Alhagi sparsifolia Shap.

Distribution. North-western China (XIN).