Wasmannellus chinensis, Smetana, Aleš, 2008

Smetana, Aleš, 2008, Contributions to the knowledge of the “ Staphylinus-complex ” (Insecta: Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Staphylinini) of China. Part 20. The genus Wasmannellus Bernhauer, 1920. Section 2, Zootaxa 1791, pp. 53-56 : 53-55

Wasmannellus chinensis spec. nov.

( Figs. 1–6 )

Type material. Holotype (male): CHINA: Yunnan: “ CHINA: W-Yunnan mts. 60 km E Tengchong, 2300 m, 14– 19.V.2006 S. Murzin & I. E. Shokhin” (MSC).

Paratypes: CHINA: Yunnan: same data as holotype, 4 ♂♂ (ASC, MSC).

Description. Black, moderately shiny, general pubescence of dorsal side of body black; elytra each with small, inconspicuous spot of yellowish-golden pubescence on humeral area, and with larger spot of yellowish-golden pubescence in middle of lateral margin; abdominal tergites six and seven (4th and 5th visible) each with large spot of moderately dense, yellowish-golden pubescence extended across entire base ( Fig. 1 ); pubescence of abdominal paratergites predominantly greyish-yellow; pubescence of legs, particularly that of tibiae, greyish-yellow; maxillary and labial palpi dark brown to piceous, with terminal segment of maxillary palpus paler; antennae piceous-black, becoming slightly paler toward apex; legs piceous to piceous-black with paler front tarsi. Head wider than long (ratio 1. 30), obtusely quadrangular with broadly rounded posterior angles, eyes slightly shifted dorsally, relatively small, moderately convex, tempora considerably longer than eyes from above (ratio 2.15): dorsal surface of head rather coarsely, quite densely punctate, minute interspaces between punctures without microsculpture. Antenna moderately long, robust, segment 3 slightly longer than segment 2 (ratio 1.24), segments 4–6 slightly longer than wide, gradually becoming shorter, outer segments as long as wide to slightly wider than long, last segment markedly shorter than two preceding segments combined. Pronotum about as long as wide, vaguely narrowed posteriad, with widely arcuate posterior margin; narrow marginal groove disappearing downwards at about anterior fourth of pronotal length; disc of pronotum with narrow, often partially rudimentary, impunctate midline in posterior third of pronotal length, usually slightly widened before posterior margin; punctation and pubescence similar to that on head but finer, minute interspaces between punctures lacking microsculpture. Scutellum densely punctate, entirely covered with black tomentose pubescence. Elytra relatively short, at midline shorter (ratio 1.26), at sides about as long as pronotum at midline; punctation fine, dense, granulose, but elytra not appearing dull; general pubescence black, dense. Wings fully developed. Abdomen with fifth visible tergite with fine, pale apical seam of palisade setae; tergite 2 (in front of first visible tergite) with fine punctation along apical margin; general punctation and pubescence of abdominal tergites fine and dense, becoming in general finer and sparser toward apex of abdomen; each of first three visible abdominal tergites with patch of black tomentose pubescence in middle (pubescence less dense and more extensive on third visible tergite) and with scattered yellowish hairs on lateral portion; visible tergites 4 and 5 each with extensive, basal patch of yellowish-golden tomentose pubescence; pubescence of abdominal paratergites greyish-yellow; lateral portions of first three visible tergites with fine and dense microsculpture of transverse waves, remaining areas of first three visible tergites, and following tergites with extremely fine, rudimentary microsculpture.

Male. Sternite 8 with moderately wide, shallow, obtusely tringular medioapical emargination. Tergite 10 of genital segment with markedly differentiated, acutely triangular apical portion ( Fig. 3 ); sternite 9 with long, slender basal portion, emarginate apically, bearing three strong black setae on each lateral portion before apex ( Fig. 4 ). Aedoeagus ( Fig. 5 ) relatively small; median lobe (ventral view) subparallel-sided, broadly arcuate apically, with a characteristic lobe at lower level at left corner adjacent to paramere; paramere situated on median lobe markedly asymmetrically, very wide basally, rather abruptly narrowed into rod-like middle and apical portion, narrowly arcuate apex of paramere distinctly not reaching apex of median lobe; underside of paramere without sensory peg setae and apical setae; internal sac complex, as in Fig. 6 .

Female. Unknown.

Body length 13.0– 14.5 mm.

Bionomics. Nothing is known about the collecting circumstances of the specimens of the original series except that they come from pitfall traps. The habitat in which the traps were set remains unknown.

Geographical distribution. Wasmannellus chinensis is at present known from the type locality in western Yunnan, west of the Salween river.

Recognition and comments. Wasmannellus chinensis , the second known species of the genus, may be easily distinguished from the type species, Wasmannellus tristis , by the entirely black sixth visible abdominal tergite and corresponding sternite (these are entirely rufotestaceous in W. tristis ), by the color and size of the tomentose patches on visible tergites 4 and 5 (the patches are smaller in size and are greyish in W. tristis ), and by the absence of the small spot of yellowish-golden pubescence on the humeral area in W. tristis . In addition, in W. chinensis , the head is wider with smaller eyes, the elytra are shorter and each lacks the densely set yellowish hairs at the apical margin present in W. tristis .

The medial margin of each mandible in the specimens of W. chinensiss bears a slightly sinuate tooth, limited basally by a distinct subbasal indentation ( Fig. 2 ). This configuration should be considered as typical for the genus. The sinuations of the teeth on the mandible of the holotype of W. tristis are not present (see Smetana 2006: 34), a situation referable to the mandibles of the holotype being markedly worn down.

When describing the holotype of W. tristis (Smetana 2006: 36) , one character state on abdominal tergites was not mentioned. The first three visible abdominal tergites in W. tristis each displays basolateral areas bearing distinct microsculpture similar to those in W. chinensis (see above), but the microsculpture is granulose and coarser, making those areas to appear duller. Also, the area between the anterior and posterior basal lines of the first three visible abdominal tergites is covered with dense granulose microsculpture in W. tristis , while the same area in W. chinensis is covered with microsculpture of often rudimentary transverse waves.

Etymology. The specific epithet is the latinized adjective derived from China, the name of the country that the species occurs in.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 2. Details of Wasmannellus chinensis. 1 — general habitus (arrows pointing to the location of the small inconspicuous spots of yellowish-golden pubescence); 2 — head and pronotum (arrow pointing to the location of the postocular seta).

FIGURES 3 – 6. Details of Wasmannellus chinensis. 3 — tergite 10 of male genital segment; 4 — sternite 9 of male genital segment; 5 — aedoeagus, ventral view; 6 — internal sac.