Pselaphodes monoceros Yin & Hlavac

Yin, Zi-Wei, Hlavac, Peter & Li, Li-Zhen, 2013, Further studies on the Pselaphodes complex of genera from China (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae), ZooKeys 275, pp. 23-65 : 56-60

Pselaphodes monoceros Yin & Hlavac sp. n. Figs 22B24

Type material

(5 ♂♂, 1 ♀). Holotype: ♂, labeled 'China: Xizang Prov. / Cuona County / Lexiang, alt. 2500 m / 16.vii.2012, Ye Liu leg.' (SNUC); Paratypes: 4 ♂♂, 1 ♀, same label data as holotype type (SNUC).

Diagnosis.

Reddish brown; length 2.91-3.03; clypeus projected anteriorly, forming a horn-like process in male; postgenae elongate, rounded laterally; antennomeres IX–XI enlarged; pronotum rounded at anterolateral margins; male with greatly elongate metaventral processes; metacoxae simple; aedeagus with symmetric median lobe.

Description.

Male (Fig. 22B). Length 2.91-3.00. Head slightly longer than wide, HL 0.58-0.59, HW 0.56-0.58; clypeus projecting anteriorly (Fig. 24B); maxillary palpi (Fig. 24C) with segments III indistinctly projected laterally; eyes each composed of about 40 facets. Antennal clubs as in Fig. 24A. Pronotum (Fig. 24D) slightly longer than wide, PL 0.58-0.61, PW 0.55-0.59, rounded at anterolateral margins. Elytra wider than long, EL 0.89-0.90, EW 1.16-1.17. Metaventral processes greatly elongate, apically narrowed (Fig. 24E). Protrochantersand profemora spinose ventrally (Fig. 24F), protibiae with small apical spur (Fig. 24G); mesotrochanters spinose ventrally, mesofemora simple (Fig. 24H), mesotibiae with small apical spine (Fig. 24I); metatrochanters and metafemora simple (Fig. 24J). Abdomen broad at base and narrowed apically, AL 0.86-0.90, AW 1.16-1.19. Sternite IX as in Fig. 24K. Aedeagus length 0.56, with symmetric median lobe (Figs 24 L–N).

Female. Similar to male in general; BL 3.03, HL 0.62, HW 0.57, PL 0.62, PW 0.60, EL 0.7, EW 1.19, AL 1.06, AW 1.28. Eyes each composed of about 20 facets. Antennae unmodified; metaventral processes absent.

Comparative notes.

This unusual Pselaphodes species has simple maxillary palpomeres II and IV, with palpomeres III only slightly projecting laterally on the anterolateral margins. This form of maxillary palpi together with the modified clypeus in the male is not known in any other species of the Pselaphodes complex of genera. These two characters, in combination with the form of the antennal clubs, and the greatly elongate metaventral processes readily separate the new species from all other congeners of the genus. The generic limit of Pselaphodes is expanded based on this species. The form of maxillary palpi seems to be occasionally variable within genus (also see comments on Labomimus simplicipalpus above). An extensive species-level phylogenetic analysis is needed for the determination of the taxonomic placements of these atypical species.

Distribution.

Southwest China: Xizang (= Tibet).

Biology.

Adults were collected by beating a pile of mixed live and dead branches in a forest.

Etymology.

The Latin word ‘monoceros’ means 'a unicorn’, referring to the unique protuberance on the clypeus in the male.