Chinecallicerus serratus, Assing, 2009

Assing, V., 2009, New species and additional records of Homalotini, Athetini, Pygostenini, and Lomechusini from Yunnan, China (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 41 (1), pp. 485-507 : 486-489

Chinecallicerus serratus nov.sp. ( Figs 1-7 )

Holotype Ƌ: China: Yunnan prov., Dali env., Cang Shan Mts., 13.VI.2007, E slope of Zhonghe Shan Mt. , 25°41.2'N, 100°07.9'E, 2650 m, J. Hájek & J. Růžička leg. [Ch23] / individually collected on soil surface and on plants and shrubs, mixed forest (with Pinus and Rhododendron) / Holotypus Ƌ Chinecallicerus serratus sp.n. det. V. Assing 2008 (cAss).

D e s c r i p t i o n: 4.9 mm. Habitus as in Fig. 1 . Coloration: head (including antennae), pronotum, and abdomen blackish-brown to blackish; elytra dark-brown; legs brown.

Head approximately 1.05 times as wide as long; integument with distinct microreticulation and with dense, but extremely fine, barely noticeable punctation. Eyes large and bulging, approximately as long as postocular region in dorsal view ( Fig. 2 ). Antennae massive, approximately 1.7 mm long; antennomere III of conical shape and much larger and longer than II; IV weakly transverse; V-X of subequal width, slightly wider than IV, and approximately as long as wide; XI approximately as long as the combined length of IX and X ( Fig. 3 ).

Pronotum approximately 1.15 times as wide as long and 1.3 times as wide as head; maximal width in anterior half; posterior angles moderately marked; punctation dense and fine, but somewhat more distinct than that of head ( Fig. 2 ); pubescence of midline directed caudad; microreticulation present everywhere, but less pronounced than that of head.

Elytra approximately 1.3 times as wide and at suture about as long as pronotum; punctation dense and more pronounced than that of pronotum; microsculpture indistinct ( Fig. 2 ). Hind wings present. Legs long and slender; metatarsomere I slightly longer than II.

Abdomen at base almost 0.9 times as wide as elytra, weakly tapering posteriad; punctation of tergites III-IV moderately dense, that of tergites V-VI sparse; tergite VII only in posterior half with some fine scattered punctures; tergal surfaces without microsculpture and with pronounced shine; tergites VII and VIII with sexual dimorphism, posterior margin of tergite VII with pronounced palisade fringe ( Fig. 4 ).

Ƌ: tergite VII in posterior half (at some distance from posterior margin) with smooth median tubercle ( Fig. 4 ); tergite VIII posteriorly of distinctive shape ( Fig. 5 ); sternite VIII with strongly convex posterior margin ( Fig. 6 ); median lobe of aedeagus as in Fig. 7 .

♀: unknown.

E t y m o l o g y: The name (Latin, adjective) refers to the distinctive shape of the male tergite VIII.

C o m p a r a t i v e n o t e s: Previously, three species of Chinecallicerus ASSING were known, all of them from northern Yunnan, too. In the following key to the known species of the genus, references to illustrations in previously published articles are abbreviated as follows: A04b = Assing (2004b); A06b = ASSING 2006b.

1 Large species, length of body 6.5-7.0 mm. Antennae gradually incrassate, antennomere V distinctly narrower than X (Fig. A 06b: 15). Punctation of abdomen conspicuously sparse (Fig. A 06b: 19). Ƌ: tergites III and IV with distinct tubercle (Figs A 06b: 18-19) ; tergite VII with U-shaped elevation (Fig. A 06b: 20) ; median lobe of aedeagus approximately 0.7 mm long (Figs A06b: 23-24). ♀: spermatheca as in Fig. A06b: 27 ........ .................................................................................................................. C. wrasei ASSING

- Smaller species, lenth of body <5.5 mm. Antennomeres V-X of subequal width, V not distinctly narrower than X. Punctation of anterior abdominal tergites moderately dense. Ƌ: tergites III and IV unmodified; tergite VII with tubercle of different shape; median lobe of aedeagus much smaller, <0.6 mm (but note that the Ƌ of C. schuelkei is unknown)............................................................................................................................2

2 Coloration paler: anterior abdominal segments, abdominal apex, and antennae yellowish brown to reddish brown. Eyes weakly bulging and smaller, distinctly shorter than postocular region in dorsal view. Elytra with granulose punctation and weak longitudinal elevation on either side of suture (Fig. A04b: 8). ♀: spermatheca as in Fig. A04b: 13............................................................................................... C. schuelkei ASSING

- Coloration darker: abdomen and antennae blackish brown to blackish. Eyes bulging and larger, approximately as long as postocular region in dorsal view. Elytra with fine, not distinctly granulose punctation.....................................................................................3

3 Antennae longer, antennomere IV approximately as long as wide, V-X oblong (Fig. A06b: 3). Elytra at suture distinctly longer than pronotum. Coloration of legs dark yellowish. Abdominal tergite VII with sparse punctation also in anterior half. Ƌ: posterior margin of tergite VIII produced in the middle and somewhat truncate, but not distinctly serrate (Fig. A06b: 8); median lobe of aedeagus 0.53 mm long, shaped as in Figs A06b: 10-11...................................................................... C. laevigatus ASSING - Antennae shorter, antennomere IV wider than long, V-X approximately as long as wide ( Fig. 3 ). Elytra at suture approximately as long as pronotum ( Fig. 2 ). Coloration of legs brown. Abdominal tergite VII virtually impunctate in anterior half ( Fig. 4 ). Ƌ: posterior margin of tergite VIII serrate ( Fig. 5 ); median lobe of aedeagus smaller, 0.44 mm long, and shaped as in Fig. 7 ........................................................... C. serratus nov.sp.

D i s t r i b u t i o n a n d b i o n o m i c s: Like the other species of Chinecallicerus , C. serratus is known only from its type locality, which is situated in the Cang Shan near Dali, northern Yunnan. The holotype was discovered by hand collecting in a mixed forest at an altitude of 2650 m.

Figures

Figs 1-7: Chinecallicerus serratus nov.sp.: (1) habitus; (2) forebody; (3) antenna; (4) male abdominal segments III-VII; (5) male tergite VIII; (6) male sternite VIII; (7) median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view. Scale bars: 1-2, 4: 1.0 mm; 3: 0.5 mm; 5-6: 0.2 mm; 7: 0.1 mm.