Ontholestes lowi, Rougemont, 2016

Rougemont, G. de, 2016, New Bornean Staphylinidae (Coleoptera), Linzer biologische Beiträge 48 (1), pp. 559-572 : 567

Ontholestes lowi nov.sp. (Fig. 5)

3 Holotype: BORNEO, Sabah, ca. 300 m, SAFE Project xi-xii.2011, Logged forest/Palm oil, N4º63’50"- N77’16" E117º43’83"- E117º70’31", Malaise Pitfall Combination / SAFE Project, Ewers et al., 111129-162b 016068 [CRO].

D e s c r i p t i o n: length: 16 mm; length of head: 2.4; breadth of head: 3.3; length of antenna: 4; length of pronotum: 2; breadth of pronotum: 2.8; length of elytron: 3.5; breadth of elytra: 3.9. Integument of head, prothorax and elytra pale brown; vestiture consisting of short, semi-erect coppery pubescence of varying density and orientation variegated with small patches or flecks of silvery pubescence. Abdominal tergites III-IV pale reddish brown, irregularly clothed in pale brassy pubescence, and long slender pale setae on posterior margins; tergite III with a pair of triangular patches of black pubescence near anterior border, such patches lacking on tergite IV which however bears four large black setae on disc in addition to the long pale posterior setae; anterior margin of tergite V narrowly pale brown with brassy pubescence like the preceding tergites as well as a pair of patches of black pubescence like those of tergite III, the posterior part of tergite black, with black pubescence and setae; tergites VI-VIII black, with black pubescence and setae; tergites VII-VIII with an anterior transverse fascia of silvery pubescence. First five antennomeres reddish-brown, the following segments black. Legs entirely testaceous. Head transverse; eyes large, about twice as long as temples, but much smaller than those of other Bornean species. Mandibles very large, asymmetrical, each with a bicuspid molar. Labrum and palpi testaceous. Antennae short, the third segment longer than second, the fourth and fifth small, sub-equal, only a little elongate; segments VI to X strongly transverse, increasingly asymmetrical. Pronotum elongate, widest at anterior angles, the sides concave before arcuate base. Elytra sub-quadrate, the sides slightly rounded, widest at middle.

M a l e: posterior margin of abdominal sternite VIII with a small median emargination with rounded fundus; aedoeagus: Figs 5al, 5av).

O. lowi nov.sp. differs markedly from the other three Bornean species of Ontholestes in the features used in the key below.

D e r i v a t i o n of specific name: after Sir Hugh Low, naturalist, colonial administrator and explorer, who made the first recorded ascent of Mt. Kinabalu in 1851.