Pselaphodes venustus 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 : 100-102

Pselaphodes venustus Yin & Li sp. n. Figs 15C18

Type materia

(1 ♂, 1 ♀). Holotype: ♂, labeled 'CHINA (Yunnan) Dali Bai Aut. Pref., Jizu Shan, summit plateau, / 37 km NE Dali 3150 m, (mixed / forest, sifted from litter, moss) / 25°58'30"N, 100°21'36"E / 5.IX.2009 DW Wrase [28]' (cSch). Paratype: 1 ♀, same label data, except 'leg. M. Schülke [CH09-28]' (cSch).

Diagnosis.

Reddish brown; length 3.07-3.34; postgenae rounded; antennomeres IX–XI enlarged, IX modified in the male; pronotum with lateral margins roundly expanded laterally; with stout metaventral processes apically broadened; metacoxae simple; aedeagus with asymmetric median lobe.

Description.

Male (Fig. 17C). Length 3.07. Head slightly longer than wide, HL 0.65, HW 0.60; eyes each composed of about 30 facets. Antennal clubs as in Fig. 18A. Pronotum (Fig. 18B) slightly longer than wide, PL 0.65, PW 0.61, with lateral margins roundly expanded laterally. Elytra wider than long, EL 0.83, EW 1.16. Metaventral processes stout with enlarged apices (Fig. 18C). Procoxae with sharp ventral tooth, protrochanters with short thin ventral spine, profemora with large spine at ventral margin (Fig. 18D), protibiae with distinct apical spur (Fig. 18E); mesotrochanters with small spine at ventral margin, mesofemora simple (Fig. 18F), mesotibiae (Fig. 18G) with big apical projection; metatrochanters and metafemora (Fig. 18H) simple. Abdomen broad at base and narrowed apically, AL 0.94, AW 1.20. Sternite IX as in Fig. 18I. Aedeagus length 0.65, with asymmetric median lobe (Figs 18 J–L).

Female. Similar to male in general; BL 3.34, HL 0.68, HW 0.63, PL 0.65, PW 0.60, EL 0.83, EW 1.19, AL 1.18, AW 1.34. Eyes each composed of about 30 facets. Metaventral processes absent.

Comparative notes.

The differences in body size and forms of the tibial modifications between Pselaphodes venustus and Pselaphodes tibialis were thought to be intraspecific variation before suspicions arose, and dissections of the genital segments of both species were done. Now it is clear that Pselaphodes venustus represents a distinct species. It can be readily separated from Pselaphodes tibialis by the larger size, the much stouter metaventral processes and, primarily, the aedeagal form.

Distribution.

Southwest China: Yunnan.

Biology.

Species were sifted from leaf litter and moss in a mixed forest.

Etymology.

The Latin word ‘venustus’ means 'attractive in appearance’, with regard to the strong modifications of the pro- and mesotibiae.