Sathytes alpicola sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 71682078-E347-49C1-B2AF-C13A61694281

Fig. 1

Differential diagnosis

The male of S. alpicola sp. nov. is morphologically similar to that of S. grandis Löbl, 1979, S. montanus Löbl, 1979, S. magnus Yin & Li, 2012, S. chayuensis sp. nov. and S. xizangensis sp. nov. from the Himalayan region, and S. tangliangi Yin & Li, 2012 from Yunnan, southwestern China in the relatively large body size (2.53–3.36 mm) and the dense golden pubescence that covers the dorsal surface of the body. The difference between S. alpicola sp. nov. and a few other species, e.g., S. xizangensis sp. nov., is subtle. However, the male of S. alpicola sp. nov. can be separated from that of S. xizangensis sp. nov. and all related species by the unique form of the antennomere 9 (slightly concave on mesal margin) and the apophysis on it (rounded at the apex).

Etymology

The specific name indicates its distribution in high-altitude mountains.

Type material (4 specimens)

Holotype

CHINA • ♂; Xizang, Motuo County (Ḇün), near 80 K; 29°41′09″ N, 95°30′10″ E; alt. 2330 m; 9 Jul. 2018; Cheng, Peng and Shen leg.; mixed leaf litter, sifted; SNUC.

Paratypes

CHINA • 3 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; SNUC .

Description

Male

MEASUREMENTS. AeL = 0.27 mm; AnL = 1.51 mm; AL = 0.78 mm; AW = 0.94 mm; TBL = 2.96 mm; EL = 0.87 mm; EW = 1.90 mm; HL = 0.67 mm; HW = 0.57 mm; LE = 0.18 mm; LT = 0.23 mm; PL = 0.64 mm; PW = 0.65 mm.

Body (Fig. 1A) reddish-brown, mouthparts and tarsi paler. Head distinctly longer than wide. Each eye composed of about 22 facets; LE:LT = 0.8. Antennal clubs (Fig. 1B) formed by antennomeres 9–11; inner margin of antennomere 9 (Fig. 1C) slightly concave on mesal margin, semi-membranous apophysis at basal ¼ on mesal surface; antennomere 10 strongly transverse, each expanded and rounded at apex; antennomere 11 (Fig. 1B) about 1.7 times as long as wide, each with single basal protuberance covered with thin tuft of setae at apex (Fig. 1D). Pronotum about as long as wide. Elytra strongly transverse. Abdomen widest at tergite 1 (IV) and narrowing apically. Aedeagus (Fig. 1E) slightly asymmetrical, slightly broadened apically.

Female

MEASUREMENTS.AnL= 1.21–1.22 mm; AL = 0.87–0.88 mm; AW = 0.89–0.90 mm; TBL = 2.82–2.88 mm; EL = 0.74–0.76 mm; EW = 0.95–0.96 mm; HL = 0.59–0.60 mm; HW = 0.51–0.52 mm; LE = 0.14 mm; LT = 0.19 mm; PL = 0.62–0.64 mm; PW = 0.58–0.59 mm.

Slightly smaller than male in size. Each eye composed of about 14 facets; LE: LT = 1.6. Antennal clubs lacking modifications.

Distribution

China: Xizang (Tibet).