Tribasodites tiani Yin and Li

Yin, Zi-Wei, Li, Li-Zhen & Zhao, Mei-Jun, 2011, Discovery in the caves of Guangxi, China: three new troglobitic species of Tribasodites Jeannel (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae), Zootaxa 3065, pp. 49-59 : 54

Tribasodites tiani Yin and Li , new species

( Figs. 3, 12, 15, 18 )

Type material (1 Ƥ). Holotype: Ƥ, labeled ‘ CHINA: Guangxi Prov. / Hechi, Huanjiang Co. / Mulun N. R., water cave / 13.v.2007, L. Deharveng / A. Bedos, M. Y. Tian leg. // [red label] HOLOTYPE (printed) / Tribasodites tiani Yin et Li (hand written) / SHNU Collections (printed)’.

Description. Female. General appearance similar to T. deharvengi . Body dark reddish brown, mouth parts, antennae and tarsi paler; BL 2.91. Head as long as wide, HL 0.60, HW 0.58; antennal clubs slightly indicated by apical three antennomeres, antennomeres II–X maintaining similar width, XI longest and slightly wider; eyes each with about 12 facets; gula lacking carina. Pronotum about as long as wide, PL 0.64, PW 0.62; median antebasal fovea replaced by large impression, marginal and antebasal spines small, discal spines slightly larger than other spines; paranotal carinae well-defined; lateral setose procoxal foveae small. Elytra slightly wider than long, EL 0.85, EW 0.89, lateral margins slightly rounded, narrowed at base; disc normally convex. Thorax without paired humps on metaventrite, apex narrowly and shallowly notched. AL 0.82, AW 0.83; tergite IV about same length as V–VI combined, tergite VIII ( Fig. 12 ) strongly folded ventrolaterally; sternite VIII ( Fig. 15 ) transverse; width of female genitalia ( Fig. 18 ) 0.22.

Distribution. This species is known only from the type locality.

Etymology. The specific name is dedicated to Ming-Yi Tian who donated the specimens treated in the present study.

Comparative notes. Since male specimens of T. tiani are not available, the females of T. bedosae and T. deharvengi were also dissected for a comparative study. Tribasodites tiani may be readily separated from T. bedosae by the darker body color, the pronotal discal spines being small, and the lateral margins of the abdominal tergite IV being nearly parallel, while T. tiani is more similar to the female of T. deharvengi in most external characters. The structure of female genitalia of T. tiani clearly indicates that it is a distinct species: a part of the ventral wall of the tergite III is strongly projected and folded ventrally; the genital complex is as long as wide in anterior view, with a pair of relatively small and short lateral arms. The ventral wall of tergite VIII in T. bedosae is only slightly projected and folded at lateral margins, while in T. deharvengi it is flat; the female genitalia of T. bedosae are transverse, with a pair of long and well-sclerotized lateral arms, which in T. deharvengi are short and membranous.

Figures

FIGURES 10 – 18. Tergite VIII (10 – 12), sternite VIII (13 – 15) and female genitalia (16 – 18) of Tribasodites spp. 10, 13, 16. T. bedosae. 11, 14, 17. T. deharvengi. 12, 15, 18. T. tiani. Scales: a – f = 0.2 mm; g – i = 0.1 mm.