Lathrobium

Peng, Zhong, Li, Li-Zhen & Zhao, Mei-Jun, 2012, Taxonomic study on Lathrobium Gravenhorst (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Paederinae) from Longwangshan Mountain, East China, ZooKeys 165, pp. 21-32 : 25

Lathrobium sp. indet. Figs 2B7

Material studied

(3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀). 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, labelled 'CHINA: Zhejiang Prov / Anji County / Longwang Mt. / Qianmutian / 25.v.2009, alt. 1300 m / Yuan, Liu, Feng & Yin leg.'.

Description.

Measurements and ratios: BL 6.43-6.65. Holotype: HL 0.78, PL 1.12, PW 0.93, EL 0.74, HL/HW 0.95, HW/PW 0.96, HL/PL 0.74, PL/PW 1.20, EL/PL 0.66.

Habitus as in Fig. 2B. Externally similar to Lathrobium lingae , except for the somewhat smaller body size and the more oblong pronotum.

Male. Sternite VII (Fig. 7A) with conspicuously modified setae at weak impression; sternite VIII (Fig. 7B) with approximately elliptic impression and furnished with numerous peg-setae, emargination irregularly shaped; sternite IX (Fig. 7C) anisomerous; aedeagus (Fig. 7D, 7E) with broad ventral process and two apical gracile dorsal sclerites.

Female. Posterior margins of tergite VIII (Fig. 7F) indistinctly asymmetrical and sternite VIII (Fig. 7G) obtusely produced at middle; tergite IX (Fig. 7H) not separated clearly and its lateral processes acute apically; tergite X relatively short.

Distribution.

East China (Zhejiang: Longwangshan Mountain).

Remarks.

The speciesresembles Lathrobium rougemonti Watanabe from Zhejiangby sharing the similar form, male sternite VII with weak impression and male sternite VIII with many dark setae in the large impression, but that of aedeagus typically with two closer dorsal sclerites. In Lathrobium rougemonti , aedeagus have two widely separated dorsal sclerites. The original description of Lathrobium rougemonti is based on the holotype from West Tianmushan Mountain. The type was not examined, but based on the description and the illustration (habitus, male abdominal apex and aedeagus) provided by Watanabe (1999), there is still doubt whether the population from Longwangshan represents a new species. As intermediate form exists, it will be necessary to study the type material of Lathrobium rougemonti for clarification. (Assing pers. comm.)