Zyras (Termidonia) sexcuspidatus, 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 : 503-505

Zyras (Termidonia) sexcuspidatus nov.sp. ( Figs 53-63 )

Holotype Ƌ: China: Yunnan [ CH 07-16], Baoshan Pref., mountain range 14 km E Tengchong, 1850 m, 25°00'28"N, 98°38'07"E, second mixed forest, litter sifted, 1. VI.2007, leg. A. Pütz / Holotypus Ƌ Zyras sexcuspidatus sp.n. det. V. Assing 2007 (cPüt).

D e s c r i p t i o n: 4.6 mm. Habitus as in Fig. 53 . Coloration: body yellowish; elytra broadly and transversely infuscate, with the anterior margin, the area near the humeral angles, and the posterior margin yellowish; posterior margins of segments IV-VI, except for the middle 1/3 of the tergites, conspicuously blackish.

Head 1.2 times as wide as long; punctation dense, moderately fine, and shallow; interstices on average narrower than diameter of punctures and glossy, without microsculpture. Eyes bulging, distinctly projecting from lateral contours of head, approximately as long as postocular region in dorsal view ( Fig. 54 ). Antenna long (1.8 mm) and slender ( Fig. 55 ). Maxillary palpi long and slender ( Fig. 54 ).

Pronotum 1.17 times as wide as long, widest in anterior half, posteriorly distinctly tapering; posterior angles obtuse, but marked ( Fig. 54 ); lateral and anterior margins on either side with 6 long black setae; punctation similar to that of head; interstices without microsculpture.

Elytra much broader and distinctly longer (1.15 x) than pronotum ( Fig. 54 ); punctation very dense, denser than that of head and pronotum; interstices without microsculpture. Hind wings fully developed. Legs long and slender; metatibia almost 0.8 mm long; metatarsomere I approximately as long as II.

Abdomen widest at posterior margin of segment IV, posteriorly gradually tapering ( Fig. 53 ); segment IV conspicuously elongated, approximately twice as long as segment V (sexual dimorphism?); punctation fine, moderately dense on tergites III-IV, sparse on tergite V, and very sparse on tergites VI-VII; interstices very glossy and without microsculpture; tergite VII at posterior margin with palisade fringe.

Ƌ: segment III conspicuously modified: tergite III posteriorly with long fork-like projection reaching slightly beyond posterior margin of tergite IV, apices of the two processes bent somewhat ventrad ( Fig. 56 ); sternite III laterally on either side with pronounced fork-like projection, the ventral process somewhat longer than the dorsal one and reaching the middle of segment V ( Fig. 57 ); tergite VII near posterior margin with weakly pronounced median keel; tergite VIII with rather broad median tubercle, posterior margin of tergite VIII broadly produced and in the middle weakly concave ( Fig. 58 ); posterior margin of sternite VI in the middle concave; sternite VII much longer and broader than tergite VII, in the middle of posterior margin with spine-like process ( Fig. 59 ), apex of this process with brush of short thin setae ( Fig. 60 ); posterior margin of sternite VIII distinctly convex ( Fig. 61 ); aedeagus with median lobe relatively small (0.42 mm) and of distinctive shape ( Fig. 62 ); paramere as in Fig. 63 .

♀: unknown.

E t y m o l o g y: The name (Latin, adjective) refers to the six conspicuous processes of the male abdominal segment III.

C o m p a r a t i v e n o t e s: The species is tentatively attributed to the subgenus Termidonia MOTSCHULSKY, 1860 , primarily based on the modifications of the male abdomen. Species of Termidonia usually have a distinctly modified male abdomen. However, the species currently attributed to Termidonia have processes on segment IV (not III) and at least some species, like Z. nepalensis PACE 1992 from Nepal, Z. longwangmontis PACE 1998 from China, and Z. viti ASSING in press from Taiwan, also have aedeagi with pronounced modifications (see illustrations in PACE (1992b, 1998c) and ASSING (in press)), which are absent in Z. sexcuspidatus . The new species is distinguished from all its congeners particularly by the pronounced and distinctive modifications of the male abdomen and by the morphology of the aedeagus. The geographically closest consubgeners are Z. longwangmontis PACE 1998 from Hong Kong and Zhejiang, and Z. bidentatus BERNHAUER 1914 from Myanmar and Taiwan. Both species are much larger (> 8 mm), have a different coloration, processes on the male abdominal segment IV, and (at least Z. longwangmontis ) an aedeagus with pronounced processes.

D i s t r i b u t i o n a n d b i o n o m i c s: Thetypelocalityissituatedtotheeast of Tengchong in western Yunnan province. The holotype was sifted in a deciduous forest at an altitude of 1850 m.

Figures

Figs 53-63: Zyras sexcuspidatus nov.sp.: (53) habitus; (54) forebody; (55) antenna; (56) male abdominal segments III-VI; (57) anterior portion of male abdomen in lateral view; (58) male tergite VIII; (59) male sternite VII; (60) posterior spine of male sternite VII; (61) male sternite VIII; (62) median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view; (63) paramere. Scale bars: 53: 1.0 mm; 54-57: 0.5 mm; 58-59, 61, 63: 0.2 mm; 60, 62: 0.1 mm.