Himallaphus pahilo, 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 : 352-353

Himallaphus pahilo n. sp. ( Figs 9, 10 )

Holotype ♂: NEPAL Patan Distr. Phulchoki 2500 m 10.V.1981 LÖbl ( MHNG) .

Paratypes: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, NEPAL, Bagmati Zone, with the same locality data as the holotype ( MHNG) ; 2 ♂, 3 ♀, same data but 2600-2700 m ( MHNG) ; 2 ♀, same data but 2650 m, 14.X.1993 ( MHNG) ; 1 ♂, same data but 2500 m, 28-29.IV.1984 ( MHNG) ; 2 ♂, same data but 2550 m, 15.X.1983, Smetana & LÖbl ( MHNG) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Bagmati Zone, Sindhupalchok Distr ,, Dobate ridge NE Barahbise , 2800 m, 2.V.1981, I. LÖbl & A. Smetana ( MHNG) ; 1 ♂, 3 ♀, Bagmati Zone, Sindhupalchok District, Pokhare NE Barahbise , 3000 m, 2.V.1981, I. LÖbl & A. Smetana ( MHNG) .

Etymology. The species epithet means first in Nepali.

Description. Length 1.70-1.80 mm. Head about 1.5 times as long as wide. Frontal ridges extended to near level of posterior eye margins, narrowed posteriad. Frontal sulcus parallel-sided, raised from level of anterior eye margins to form gradually widened longitudinal mesal ridge. Mesal ridge delimited laterally by striae, apically by short carina, followed by deep mesal sulcus extended to neck. Setose patch in frontal sulcus about 0.06 mm long. Eyes in level of head mid-length, prominent, with eight to ten facets. Temples explanate below level of eyes, with rounded contours in dorsal view and transverse striae extended onto vertex. Neck and area near neck lacking striae. Glabrous genal area extended behind eyes and gradually narrowed. Temples and vertex anterior neck rounded, with conspicuous appressed pubescence. Segment IV of maxillary palpus shorter than head, its apical enlarged area about as long as peduncle. Length/width ratio of antennomeres as: I 28/9: II 10/8: III 9/5.5: IV 9/5.5: V 9/5.5: VI 9/5.5: VII 9/5.5: VIII 9/5.5: IX 11/8: X 11/9: XI 27/13. Gular mound subtriangular. Pronotum slightly longer than wide, strongly convex, shorter than head, with evenly rounded lateral margins; antebasal sulcus sharply delimited, longitudinal carinae dense, reaching almost anterior pronotal margin, striae between carinae narrower than carinae. Pronotal pubescence moderately short,. Elytron gradually impressed toward base, with sutural and discal carinae parallel, discal carina slightly wider than sutural carina; basal third of lateral margin carinate and oblique, pubescence short, similar to pronotal pubescence.

Male characters. Metaventrite with mesal impression delimited by large admesal ridges overlapping metacoxae, their inner sides sharply delimited, diverging apically. Surface of ridges oval, flat, completely covered by patches of short flat setae. Middle of ventrite II throughout shallowly impressed, impression about as long as wide. Aedeagus ( Figs 9, 10 ) 0.34-0.35 mm long. Ventral process short, bent, narrow, at apex about as sixth of maximal aedeagal width. Parameres widened apically (lateral view). Internal sac broad, lacking distinct sclerotized pieces, at base variably sclerotized, densely spinose.

Measurements of the holotype (in mm). Total length 1.75; length/width of head 0.40/0.26, pronotum 0.37/0.32, elytra 0.50/ 0.66 (0.19), tergite I 0.54/0.78; length of maxillary palpomere IV 0.34, length of aedeagus 0.34.

Diagnosis. Vertex and temples transversallystriate. Mesal vertexal sulcus extending to neck constriction. Eyes prominent. Maxillary palpomere IV with enlarged apical part about as long as peduncle. Base of elytra impressed. Protuberances of male metaventrite overlapping metatrochanters. Apicoventral process of aedeagus narrow. Parameres wide in dorsal view. Internal sac broad, densely spinose.

Distribution. Central Nepal.

Figures

Figs 7-11. Aedeagi in dorsal and lateral views; 7, 8. Nabepselaphus nepalensis n. sp.; 9, 10. Himallaphus pahilo n. sp.; 11. Himallaphus arko n. sp. Scales = 0.1 mm.