28. Tychius sulphureus Faust, 1881

(Figures 89–92, 211–214, 291–292, 331, 344, 356, 387, 422, 451, 478)

Tychius sulphureus Faust, 1881: 325 . Caldara, 1986: 180.

Tychius conformis Faust, 1885: 184 . Caldara, 1986: 180.

Material examined. CHINA: Xinjiang: Hejinghu (1000–1100 m), 21-VIII-2008, leg Xingmin Wang, Xiaosheng Wang (1); Manasi (380 m), 1-VI-1957, leg Chunpei Hong (1); Tacheng, Alhagi sparsifolia, 24-VI-1984, leg Jiahu Fu (4); Tulufan, (20–140 m), 24-VI-1958, leg Guang Wang (4) .

Redescription. Length 1.75–2.10 mm (Fig. 89–92). Vestiture on dorsum usually sulphur-yellow. Rostrum (Fig. 211–214) at base strongly curved (Rl/Rw 4.17–4.33 in male, 5.18–5.73 in female; Rl/Pl 0.85–0.93 in male, 0.90–0.97 in female), slender from antennal insertion to apex especially in female. Pronotum (Pw/Pl 1.06–1.17) subparallel-sided from base to distal third, slightly wider than long. Elytra suboval (El/Ew 1.38–1.53, Ew/Pw 1.35–1.50), parallel-sided in basal two thirds. Femora (Fig. 291–292) unarmed, tibiae (Fig. 331) without sexual characters. Third tarsomere distinctly wider than second tarsomere (Fig. 344). Claws (Fig. 356) with robust medial teeth as long as 2/3 length of claw, fastened to claw in basal half. Male genitalia: body of penis (Fig. 387) elongate, subparallel-sided in dorsal view, until near apex, then gradually narrowing, with subacute tip (Fig. 422), a little longer than apodeme. Female genitalia: spermatheca see Fig. 451; spiculum ventrale (Fig. 478) with arms almost joined for their entire length.

Remarks and comparative notes. This species, closely related to T. franzi and T. tachengicus (see Remarks of this species), is usually characterized by the colour of the dorsal vestiture, which is sulphur yellow (rarely light yellow) and the shape of the rostrum, being distinctly curved at its base, distinctly tapered in its apical half and long, especially in the female, and by the shape of the penis.

Biology. This species is reported as living on Alhagi sp. (Karasjov 1994). We collected some specimens from A. sparsifolia Shap.

Distribution. As with the previous taxon, this species was known from south European Russia and western to central Asia. New record from China (XIN).