Pselaphaulax sherpa, Löbl & Kodada, 2021

Löbl, Ivan & Kodada, Ján, 2021, On the Himalayan Pselaphini (Insecta: Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), Biodiversität und Naturausstattung im Himalaya VII, Erfurt: Naturkundemuseum, pp. 349-368 : 356

Pselaphaulax sherpa n. sp. ( Figs 22, 23 )

Holotype ♂: NEPAL Kosi ELamjura Pass , 2950 m, 21.X.1984, L. Deharveng ( MHNG) .

Etymology. The species epithet refers to the ethnic group living mainly in Eastern Nepal.

Description. Length about 1.70 mm. Most characters as in S. eklai . Head longer, 1.45 times as long as wide. Eyes about as long as temples, with 10 facets. Maxillary palpomere IV somewhat shorter than head. Length/width ratio of antennomeres as: I 26/11: II 11/8: III 6/6: IV 6/6: V 6/6: VI 6/6: VII 7/6: VIII 7/6: IX 1208: X 10/9: XI 24/13. Pronotum distinctly shorter than head, long as wide. Elytral carinae longer and more distinct, reaching apical fourth. Tergite Ishorter than head, with nearly oblique lateral margins.

Male characters. Mesal area of metaventrite impressed, glabrous, delimited by high lateral ridges gradually narrowed to acute tip. Aedeagus ( Figs. 22, 23 ) 0.28 mm long, with median lobe oval, apical process short, weakly bent and gradually narrowed in lateral view. Parameres weakly sclerotized, in axis with median lobe, strongly widened, in lateral view widest posterior apical third, with single apical seta. Internal sac lacking sclerotized structures or spinose membranes.

Measurements of the holotype (in mm). Total length 1.45; length/width of head 0.38/0.27, pronotum 0.32/0.32, elytra 0.36/0.61 (0.23), tergite I 0.35/0.75; length of maxillary palpomere IV 0.32, length of aedeagus 0.28.

Distribution. Eastern Nepal.

Comments. This species may be distinguished from P. eklai by the longer head, the eyes long as temples, the antennomeres III to VI long as wide, the pronotum long as wide, the discal carinae of elytra longer, extending onto apical fourth of the disc, the aedeagus much smaller, with broader parameres bearing each a single apical seta, and the internal sac lacking sclerotized structures.

Figures

Figs 17-23. Aedeagi in dorsal and lateral views; 17-19. Himallaphus bhaai n. sp., 17, 18. Paratype from Tonglu; 19. Paratype from Dorpar Kharka, sclero- tized part of the internal sac; 20, 21. Pselaphaulax eklai n. sp.; 22, 23. Pselaphaulax sherpa n. sp.; Scales = 0.1 mm.