Pselaphodes paraculeus, Huang & Li & Yin, 2018

Huang, Meng-Chi, Li, Li-Zhen & Yin, Zi-Wei, 2018, Eleven new species and a new country record of Pselaphodes (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) from China, with a revised checklist of world species, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 58 (2), pp. 457-478 : 468-470

Pselaphodes paraculeus sp. nov.

( Figs 10B , 12 )

Type material (7 exs). HOLOTYPE:♁, CHINA: ‘ China: Guangxi, Wuming County (ĒḆữ), Daming Shan (†fiƜ), 23°28′44″N, 108°26′06″E, mixed leaf litter, sifted, 1500 m, 29.vii.2012, Jia-Yao Hu leg.’ ( SNUC). PARATYPES: CHINA: 2 ♁♁, same label data as the holotype ( SNUC); 2 ♁♁, also from Daming Shan, except ‘ 23°30′57″N, 108°26′13″E, 1150–1250 m, 31.vii.2012, Hu & Song leg.’ ( SNUC); 1 ♁, also from Guangxi, except ‘Guilin City (ẂŴffl), Xingan County ( KÊR), Maoer Shan ( ŘĀƜ), 25°51′28″N, 110°29′04″E, 450–650 m, mixed litter, sifted, 25.vii.2012, Hu & Song leg.’ ( SNUC); 1♁, ‘ China: Guizhou, Libo Hsien, Maolan N. R., 25°15′49″N, 107°54′26″E, mixed leaf litter, sifted, 750–850 m, 20.vii.2015, He, Hu & Wang leg.’ ( SNUC).

Diagnosis of male. Length 2.52–2.82 mm; antennomere IX with disc-shaped process near apex; metaventral processes long, with blunt spine at apical third; protibia with distinct, blunt projection near middle; mesotibia with small apical spine; metatibia with preapical setose tuft and spine.

Description. Male ( Fig. 10B ). Body yellowish-brown, BL 2.52–2.82 mm. Head wider than long, HL 0.45–0.52 mm, HW 0.49–0.55 mm; each eye composed of about 25 facets; with well-developed ocular canthus.Antennomeres IX–XI ( Fig. 12A ) forming distinct club, antennomere IX with disc-shaped process at apex. Pronotum ( Fig. 12B ) as long as wide, PL 0.47–0.56 mm, PW 0.48–0.53 mm, lateral margins narrowed anteriorly at apical third. Elytra wider than long, EL 0.77–0.81 mm, EW 0.92–0.97 mm. Metaventral processes ( Fig. 12C ) long, with blunt spine near apical third, and two spines at apex. Protrochanter ( Fig. 12D ) with acute ventral spine, profemur with large blunt ventral spine; protibia( Fig. 12E ) with distinct, blunt projection near middle; mesotrochanter ( Fig. 12F ) with thin but distinct ventral spine, mesofemur broadly thickened ventrally; mesotibia ( Fig. 12G ) with small apical spine; metatrochanter and metafemur ( Fig. 12H ) simple; metatibia ( Fig. 12I ) with preapical setose tuft and spine. Abdomen broad at base and narrowed apically, AL 0.78–0.97 mm, AW 0.90–0.98 mm. Sternite IX ( Fig. 12J ) semi-membranous. Length of aedeagus 0.50 mm; median lobe broad and nearly symmetric, parameres elongate, symmetric, endophallus ( Figs 12 K–M) composed of several elongate or broad sclerites.

Female. Unknown.

Comparative notes. The new species is most similar to P. aculeus in sharingthe presence of a disc-like process of antennomere IX, and a preapical spine of the metatibia. The latter species is widely distributed from eastern to southern China, with considerable variations of male external features (although the combination is always stable). However, the aedeagal median lobe of all populations of P. aculeus is deeply and broadly concave in the middle of the apex, while that of the new species is simply rounded at the apex.

Etymology. The species name indicates a close relationship of the new species to P. aculeus ; adjective.

Distribution. China: Guangxi, Guizhou.

Figures

Fig. 10. Dorsal habitus of Pselaphodes males. A – P. maolanensissp. nov; B – P. paraculeussp. nov. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Fig. 12. Male diagnostic features of Pselaphodes paraculeus sp. nov. A – antennal club; B – pronotum; C – metaventral process, in lateral view; D – protrochanter and profemur; E – protibia; F – mesotrochanter and mesofemur; G – apex of mesotibia; H – metatrochanter and metafemur; I – apex of metatibia; J – sternite IX; K–M – aedeagus, in dorsal (K), lateral (L), and ventral (M) view. Scale bar: 0.3 mm in A–B, D–F, H; 0.2 mm in C, K–M; 0.1 mm in I, J; 0.05 mm in G.