Pselaphodes erlangshanus Yin & Li

Yin, Zi-Wei & Li, Li-Zhen, 2012, Notes on Michael Schuelke's pselaphine collections from China. - Tyrini. I. genera Labomimus Sharp, Linan Hlavac and Pselaphodes Westwood (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae), ZooKeys 251, pp. 83-118 : 94-96

Pselaphodes erlangshanus Yin & Li sp. n. Figs 11B13

Type material

(2 ♂♂). Holotype: ♂, labeled 'CHINA: W-Sichuan 1999 / Ganzi Tibet. Aut. Pref., Luding Co. / W Erlanshan-pass, 2600 m / 7 km SSE Luding, 29°51'N, / 102°15'E, Laub+Nadelstreu, Pilze / 22. VI., leg. M. Schülke // Sammlung / M. Schülke / Berlin // Labomimus Sharp sp. / det. Brachat 2.09 // M. SCHÜLKE Coll. / Staphylinidae , Pselaphinae / Lasinus sp. 1 / S. Nomura det., 2005' (cSch). Paratype: 1 ♂, same label data as holotype, except 'det. Brachat 4.01' (cSch).

Diagnosis.

Reddish brown; length 3.29-3.78; postgenae nearly rounded; antennomeres IX–XI enlarged, IX modified in the male; pronotum with lateral margins slightly angularly expanded laterally; with long metaventral processes apically narrowed; metacoxae simple; aedeagus with asymmetric median lobe.

Description.

Male (Fig. 11B). Length 3.29-3.78. Head longer than wide, HL 0.74-0.78, HW 0.65-0.68; eyes each composed of about 30 facets. Antennal clubs as in Fig. 13A. Pronotum (Fig. 13B) about as long as wide, PL 0.70-0.72, PW 0.68-0.69, with lateral margins slightly angularly expanded laterally. Elytra wider than long, EL 0.87-0.90, EW 1.34-1.37. Long metaventral (Fig. 13C) processes thick at base, narrowed apically. Protrochanters with small ventral spine, profemora with long sharp spine at ventral margin (Fig. 13D), protibiae with distinct short apical spur (Fig. 13E); mesotrochanters with large and another much smaller spine at ventral margin, mesofemora with tiny ventral spine (Fig. 13F); metatrochanters and metafemora (Fig. 13G) simple. Abdomen broad at base and narrowed apically, AL 0.98-1.00, AW 1.35-1.38. Sternite IX as in Fig. 13H. Aedeagus length 0.65, with asymmetric median lobe (Figs 13 I–K).

Female. Unknown.

Comparative notes.

This species may be related to Pselaphodes flexus and Pselaphodes zhongdianus (both described below) by sharing a similar general habitus, elongate antennomeres IX -XI, and a somewhat similar aedeagal form. Pselaphodes erlangshanus can be readily separated from Pselaphodes flexus by the larger size, the mesotrochanters with two ventral spines, and quite different form of the metaventral processes. The form of the antennomeres IX and aedeagus provide a quick separation of the new species from Pselaphodes zhongdianus .

Distribution.

Southwest China: Sichuan.

Biology.

Individuals were sifted from leaf litter in a coniferous forest.

Etymology.

Named after the type locality.