Harpalus (Pseudoophonus) babai Habu, 1973

Kataev, Boris M. & Liang, Hongbin, 2015, Taxonomic review of Chinese species of ground beetles of the subgenus Pseudoophonus (genus Harpalus) (Coleoptera: Carabidae), Zootaxa 3920 (1), pp. 1-39 : 27

Harpalus (Pseudoophonus) babai Habu, 1973

Harpalus (Pseudoophonus) babai Habu, 1973: 108 . Type locality: "Sasaguchi-hama, Niigata Pref.", Honshu, Japan.

Diagnosis. This species is similar in general habitus and isodiametric microsculpture on elytral disc to H. pseudohauserianus , but differs from the latter in having legs pale, reddish brown, and elytra densely, distinctly punctate and pubescent on intervals 8–10 and at apex. Metafemur has four setigerous pores along posterior margin. Body length 12.0– 12.5 mm.

Material examined. China. JIANGXI: 1 ♀, Dongxiang, 10.VII.1958, no collector (IZB).

Distribution. Southeastern China: Jiangxi. The species is recorded from China for the first time.

Harpalus babai was previously known only from Japan (Honshu) and South Korea (mainland and Jejudo Island) ( Kataev et al. 2003; Paik & Jung 2004; Paik & Moon 2005)].

Remarks. The status of this taxon is not entirely known. It was described from two specimens: the female holotype from Honshu, Japan, and the male paratype from Hanna Mountain, Quelpart (= Jejudo) Island, South Korea. Although the original description of H. babai is based on male and female, the aedeagus was not illustrated and its characteristics were not described since the male paratype is teneral ( Habu 1973). The single female from Jiangxi examined by us agrees well with the original description, but the study of additional material including males from Japan and China is much needed to be sure in the identification of this specimen.