Pselaphodes thailandicus, Huang & Li & Yin, 2018

Huang, Meng-Chi, Li, Li-Zhen & Yin, Zi-Wei, 2018, Four new species of Pselaphodes Westwood (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) from Thailand, Laos, and China, Zootaxa 4472 (1), pp. 100-110 : 107-110

Pselaphodes thailandicus , new species

( Figs 5B , 7 )

Type material (9 exs). Holotype: THAILAND: ♂, ‘ THAILAND: Chiang Mai, Doi Inthanon , 2500 m, 9.XI.1985, Burckhardt-Löbl’ ( MHNG) . Paratypes: THAILAND: 4 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, same label data as holotype ( MHNG) ; 1 ♂, ‘ Thailand, Doi Inthanon Nat. Park, Chomthong Dist. , 2300 m, 29.8.1990, P. Schwendinger’ ( MHNG) ; 1 ♂, ‘ THAILAND, 23.V.87, prov. Chiang Mai, Doi Inthanon, 2300 m, P. Schwendinger’ ( MHNG).

Diagnosis of male. Length 2.93–2.94 mm; antennomere IX lacking a disc-shaped process at apex; profemur with a large, blunt projection at ventral margin; metatibia slightly expanded near the apices, with a preapical setose tuft and spine.

Description. Male ( Fig. 5B ). Body reddish brown, BL 2.93–2.94 mm. Head about as long as wide, HL 0.59– 0.60 mm, HW 0.60–0.61 mm; each eye composed of about 30 facets; ocular canthus well-developed.

Antennomeres IX–XI ( Fig. 7A ) enlarged, forming distinct club. Pronotum ( Fig. 7B ) longer than wide, PL 0.65– 0.69 mm, PW 0.60–0.61 mm, rounded at anterolateral margins. Elytra wider than long, EL 0.76–0.79 mm, EW 1.07–1.10 mm. Metaventral processes ( Fig. 7C ) short. Protrochanter ( Fig. 7D ) with small but distinct ventral spine, profemur ( Fig. 7D ) with large, blunt ventral projection; protibia ( Fig. 7E ) with small, blunt projection near middle; mesotrochanter ( Fig. 7F ) with small ventral spine, mesofemur broadly thickened ventrally; metatrochanter and metafemur simple ( Fig. 7G ); metatibia ( Fig. 7H ) with preapical setose tuft and spine. Abdomen broad at base and narrowed apically, AL 0.87–0.92 mm, AW 1.12–1.15 mm. Sternite IX ( Fig. 7I ) semi-membranous. Length of aedeagus ( Fig. 7J–L ) 0.51 mm; median lobe broadened throughout length in lateral view, curved leftward at apex in dorsal view, parameres paired, almost symmetrical.

Female. Similar to male in general; each eye composed of about 30 facets; antennae and legs simple. Measurements: BL 2.84–2.86 mm, HL 0.56–0.60 mm, HW 0.57–0.61 mm, PL 0.63–0.64 mm, PW 0.57–0.59 mm, EL 0.71–0.74 mm, EW 1.07–1.12 mm, AL 0.89–0.93 mm, AW 1.25–1.26 mm.

Distribution. Thailand: Chiang Mai.

Comparative notes. The new species is most similar to P. aculeus Yin, Li & Zhao by the presence of a subapical spine on the metatibia, and a similar form of the aedeagus. These two species may be separated primarily by the absence of a disc-like process of antennomere IX, and a less expanded subapical portion of the metatibia in P. thailandicus , whereas in different populations of P. aculeus there is always a disc-like process near the apex of the antennomere IX, and the metatibia is notably thickened in apical portion ( Yin et al. 2010, 2011).

Etymology. The specific name refers to the country where the species was found.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Dorsal habitus of Pselaphodes males. A. P. suthepensis. B. P. thailandicus. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURE 7. Male diagnostic features of Pselaphodes thailandicus. A. Antennal club. B. Pronotum. C. Metaventral process, in lateral view. D. Protrochanter and profemur. E. Protibia. F. Metatrochanter and metafemur. G. Metatrochanter and metafemur. H. Apex of metatibia. I. Sternite IX. J–L. Aedeagus, in dorsal (J), lateral (K), and ventral (L) view. Scale bars: 0.3 mm in A–B, D–G; 0.2 mm in C, J–L; 0.1 mm in H, I.