Pselaphodes loebli, 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 : 177-178

Pselaphodes loebli sp. nov.

Figs 10A , 11 A-L

Type material ( 9 specimens): Holotype; MHNG- ENTO-43999; ♂; NEPAL, ‘ NEPAL (Prov. Bagmati),

Malemchi, 2800 m, 14.IV.81, Löbl & Smetana’. – Paratypes; MHNG-ENTO-44000 to 44007; 3 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; NEPAL, same label data as holotype ( MHNG) .

Type locality: Nepal, Sindhupalchok District, Melamchi, 2900 m alt.

Diagnosis of males: Length 3.01-3.14 mm. Antennomeres IX with disc-shaped process at apex. Metaventral processes long, with pair of small projection in addition to long processes. Protrochanters with slender ventral spine, profemora with large, blunt ventral spine, protibiae with acute spine at apex; mesotrochanters with multiple ventral spines, mesotibiae with small tubercle at apex. Median lobe of aedeagus almost symmetric, narrowing apically; parameres broad dorso-ventrally.

Description: Male ( Fig. 10A ). Body reddish brown, BL 3.01-3.14 mm. Head about as long as wide, HL 0.58- 0.62 mm, HW 0.59-0.61 mm; each eye composed of about 40 facets; with well-developed ocular canthus. Antennomeres ( Fig. 11A ) 9-11 forming distinct club, antennomeres 9 with disc-shaped process at apex, antennomeres 10 constricted mediobasally. Pronotum ( Fig. 11B ) longer than wide, PL 0.64-0.70 mm, PW 0.64-0.65 mm, rounded at anterolateral margins, strongly constricted at apical third. Elytra wider than long, EL 0.81-0.84 mm, EW 1.28-1.34 mm. Metaventral processes ( Fig. 11C ) long, with pair of small projection in addition to long processes. Protrochanters with slender ventral spine, profemora with large, blunt ventral spine ( Fig. 11D ), protibiae ( Fig. 11E ) with acute spine at apex; mesotrochanters with multiple small to large spines ( Fig. 11F ); mesotibiae ( Fig. 11G ) with small projection at apex; metatrochanters and metafemora ( Fig. 11H ) simple. Abdomen broad at base and narrowing apically, AL 0.94-1.02 mm, AW 1.31- 1.35 mm. Sternite IX semi-membranous, shape as in Fig. 11I . Length of aedeagus ( Figs 11 J-L) 0.62 mm; median lobe almost symmetric; parameres elongate and broad dorso-ventrally; endophallus composed of one long and one short sclerites.

Female. Each eye composed of about 33 facets; antennae simple. Measurements: BL 2.97-2.98 mm, HL 0.59- 0.61 mm, HW 0.58-0.61 mm, PL 0.64-0.68 mm, PW 0.64-0.68 mm, EL 0.68-0.70 mm, EW 1.23-1.26 mm, AL 1.02-1.03 mm, AW 1.38-1.44 mm.

Distribution: Nepal, Bagmati.

Comparative notes: The new species is a member of the P. bagmatius species-group, and can be readily recognized based on the unique forms of the male antennal clubs, the distinct large ventral spine of the profemora, and the almost symmetric aedeagus with broadened parameres.

Etymology: The new species is named after Ivan Löbl, co-collector of the holotype.

Figures

Fig 10. Dorsal habitus of Pselaphodes males. (A) P. loebli sp. nov. (B) P. procerus sp. nov. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Fig 11. Male diagnostic features of Pselaphodes loebli sp. nov. (A) Antennal club. (B) Pronotum. (C) Metaventral process, in lateral view. (D) Protrochanter and profemur. (E) Apex of protibia. (F) Mesotrochanter and mesofemur. (G) Apex of mesotibia. (H) Metatrochanter and metafemur. (I) Sternite IX. (J-L) Aedeagus, in dorsal (J), lateral (K), and ventral (L) view. Scale bars: 0.3 mm in A-B, D, F, H; 0.2 mm in C, J-L; 0.1 mm in E, G, I.