Micropeplus jason sp. n.

Figs. 3, 4.

Diagnosis. This species is easily recognizable by its small size and the unique combination of two characters: effaced pronotal ridges and single line of large punctures on elytral intercostae.

Description. Holotype, female (Figs. 3 A–D). GenBank accession: HQ987124. Length: 1.6 mm. Body not flattened, pronotal ridges effaced, each elytron with seven costae, elytral intercostae with single line of large punctures, metacoxae widely separated. Intraspecific variation. GenBank accessions: HQ987123, HQ987125, KF408053. Length: 1.4–1.6 mm.

Material examined. Holotype female (ZCAS): #0907, “P.R. CHINA, Sichuan, EmeiShan, N29°33' 36.3 E103°20' 38.0, 15.vi.2010, 1947m, sifting33, V.Grebennikov”. Paratypes (CNC, ZCAS): 9 exx in total: 3 exx: #0905, 0 906, #0908: same data as holotype; 2 exx: #0572, #0911: “P.R. CHINA, Sichuan, Emei Shan, N29°33.605' E103°20.633', 05.vii.2009, 1947m, sifting17, V.Grebennikov"; 2 exx: #0573, #0574: "P.R. CHINA, Sichuan, Emei Shan, N29°32.932' E103°20.466', 01.vii.2009, 2310m, sifting14, V.Grebennikov”; 2 exx: #2903, #2904: “P.R. CHINA, Sichuan, Emei Shan, N29°33'00" E103°21'38", 28.v.2011, 1639m, sift08, V.Grebennikov”.

Distribution. This species is known only from Mount Emei in Sichuan, Southwest China. Elevation: 1639–1947 m.

Etymology. The species epithet is the Latinized Greek mythical name of Jason, the leader of Argonauts in their quest for the Golden Fleece; noun in apposition.

Phylogenetic position. See Discussion.