Pselaphodes corniger, Huang, Meng-Chi & Yin, Zi-Wei, 2019

Huang, Meng-Chi & Yin, Zi-Wei, 2019, The Pselaphodes (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) of Nepal, Revue suisse de Zoologie 126 (2), pp. 165-196 : 173

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.3463445
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3706087
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/0393879E-FF9B-4B7E-6426-FE801F5D96CD
treatment provided by	Carolina
scientific name	Pselaphodes corniger
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Pselaphodes corniger View in CoL sp. nov.

Figs 4B View Fig 4 , 6 View Fig 6 A-M

Type material ( 1 specimen): Holotype; MHNG- ENTO-43981; ♂; NEPAL, ‘ NEPAL (Prov. Bagmati), Pokhare NE Barahbise, 3000 m, 7. V.81, Löbl & Smetana’ ( MHNG).

Type locality: Nepal, Sindhupalchok District , Pokhare NE Barahbise, 3000 m alt.

Diagnosis of males: Length 3.32 mm. Clypeus projected anteriorly, forming horn-like process in male. Antennomeres 9 with large projection at apex, antennomeres 10 with distinct projection at base. Metaventral processes long, apically broadened. Protrochanters with small ventral spine, profemora with blunt ventral spine, protibiae with triangular preapical spine; mesotrochanters with distinct ventral spine, mesotibiae with small projection at apex. Median lobe of aedeagus abruptly narrowed apically; parameres slender at base and strongly broadened apically.

Description: Male ( Fig. 4B View Fig 4 ). Body reddish brown, BL 3.32 mm. Head as long as wide, HL 0.62 mm, HW 0.62 mm, clypeus projected anteriorly, forming horn-like process ( Fig. 6B View Fig 6 ); each eye composed of about 35 facets; with well-developed ocular canthus. Antennomeres ( Fig. 6A View Fig 6 ) 9-11 forming distinct club, antennomeres 9 with large projection at apex, antennomeres 10 with distinct projection at base. Pronotum ( Fig. 6C View Fig 6 ) longer than wide, PL 0.78 mm, PW 0.70 mm, angularly expanded at anterolateral margins, strongly constricted at apical third. Elytra wider than long, EL 0.84 mm, EW 1.23 mm. Metaventral processes ( Fig. 6D View Fig 6 ) long, apically broadened. Protrochanters with small ventral spine, profemora with large, blunt ventral spine ( Fig. 6E View Fig 6 ), protibiae ( Fig. 6F View Fig 6 ) with triangular spine near apex; mesotrochanters ( Fig. 6G View Fig 6 ) with distinct ventral spine; mesotibiae ( Fig. 6H View Fig 6 ) with small projection at apex; metatrochanters and metafemora ( Fig. 6I View Fig 6 ) simple. Abdomen broad at base and narrowing apically, AL 1.08 mm, AW 1.40 mm. Sternite IX semimembranous, shape as in Fig. 6J View Fig 6 . Length of aedeagus ( Figs 6 View Fig 6 K-M) 0.76 mm; median lobe asymmetric, apically narrowed; parameres moderately elongate, basally narrowed and broadening apically; endophallus composed of one long and one short sclerite.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution: Nepal, Bagmati.

Comparative notes: The new species belongs to the P. bagmatius species-group, and is most similar to P. unicornis Bekchiev & Hlaváč from Nepal and P. monoceros Yin & Hlaváč from Xizang based on the modified clypeus of the male. Pselaphodes corniger can be readily separated from both known species based on the presence of a preapical spine of the protibiae (spine at the apex of the protibiae in P. unicornis and P. monoceros ), as well as the unique forms of the antennal clubs, metaventral processes, and the strongly asymmetric median lobe of the aedeagus (median lobe nearly symmetric dorso-ventrally in P. unicornis and P. monoceros ).

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the horned clypeus of the new species.