Batrisiella Raffray, 1904

Yin, Zi-Wei, 2022, The Batrisini of Tibet: unveiling an enigmatic ant-loving beetle diversity at Earth’s “ Third Pole ” (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae), Zootaxa 5111 (1), pp. 1-211 : 71-72

Batrisiella Raffray, 1904

Chinese common name: 小毛唇à甲¤

Batrisiella Raffray, 1904: 59 ; Jeannel 1960: 426 (key to Indian and Pakistani species), 1961: 436 (key to Sri Lankan species); Löbl & Kurbatov 2001 (redescription, key to Sri Lankan species). Type species: Eubatrisus caviventris Raffray, 1894a: 52 (monotypy).

= Arthromelinus Jeannel, 1952: 98. Type species: Batrisus angulatus Raffray, 1893: 487 (original designation). Synonymized by Jeannel 1960: 426.

The genera Batrisiella and Batriscenellus Jeannel from the Oriental Region and the African Arthromelus Jeannel share a similar external morphology and a large basal capsule with a basally recumbent dorsal lobe of the aedeagus. The first two genera were separated by the presence/absence of a trichome at the apicolateral margin of the scape (e.g., Nomura 1991; Yin et al. 2011b; Wang & Yin 2015; Jiang & Yin 2017), with Batrisiella lacking such a structure nor a glandular orifice ( Löbl & Kurbatov 2001: 671). In this paper, eight species are added to the Tibetan fauna, all possessing an inner glandular structure of varying size (only visible in cleared specimens put in liquid) at the apicolateral or lateral margin of the scape, and two species ( B. ganma , B. zhujianqingi ) have a tiny apicolateral trichome composed of short, thickened setae. It is most likely that such a glandular structure further develops into large, distinct trichomes and is widely represented in Asian species. Thus, there will be no discreet character separating Batrisiella from Batriscenellus. No formal synonymy is proposed here until the types and a wide range of known species of these groups can be examined, but all new species described here are placed in the oldest genus, i. e., Batrisiella . The eight species can be separated in the following key.

Key to Tibetan species of Batrisiella (male)

1 Sexual character present on profemur..................................................................... 2

- Profemur unmodified, sexual character present on other body parts.............................................. 4

2 Metatibia slender, unmodified; vertex with thin median carina ( Fig. 30B ); ventral stalk of median lobe in lateral view broad, recumbent ( Fig. 30H ).................................................................... B. acclivis sp. nov.

- Metatibia broadened at distal 1/2; vertex lacking median carina ( Fig. 31B ); ventral stalk of median lobe in lateral view slender, erect ( Fig. 31H )........................................................................ B. beibeng sp. nov.

3 Metafemur with angulate tubercle at distal 1/3 ( Fig. 34E ), metatibia sinuate at basal 1/3 ( Fig. 30F )... B. curvitibialis sp. nov.

- Metafemur and metatibia simple, unmodified............................................................... 4

4 Antennomeres 8 and 9 with short, thickened setae, 10 constricted at base and dilated at apex ( Fig. 32C )....................................................................................................... B. bomea sp. nov.

- Antennomeres 8–10 simple, unmodified................................................................... 5

5 Tergite 4 (VII) with disc-like lateral protuberances, 5 (VIII) with broad and deep central cavity ( Fig. 36C ); sternites 2 and 3 (IV and V) projecting and 4 (VI) with long, thick setae ( Fig. 36E, F ).................................. B. guttata sp. nov.

- Tergites 4 and 5 (VII and VIII) and sternites 2–4 (IV–VI) unmodified............................................ 6

6 Vertex with distinct median sulcus ( Fig. 33B )................................................. B. concisa sp. nov.

- Vertex lacking median sulcus............................................................................ 7

7 Scape with small, indistinct trichome on apicolateral margin; anterior margin of central cavity of tergite 1 (IV) densely setose ( Fig. 35C ); ventral stalk of aedeagus in dorsoventral view narrowing apically, with round, slightly broadened apex ( Fig. 35F )...................................................................................... B. ganma sp. nov.

- Scape with distinct trichome on apicolateral margin ( Fig. 37C ); anterior margin of central cavity of tergite 1 (IV) smooth ( Fig. 37D ); ventral stalk of aedeagus in dorsoventral view obliquely dilated ( Fig. 37F )................ B. zhujianqingi sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURE 30. Morphology of Batrisiella acclivis sp. nov. (A–H. Male. I. Female). A. Dorsal habitus. B. Head and pronotum. C. Antennomere 1. D. Apical part of profemur. E. Apical part of mesotibia. F. Sternite 7 (IX). G, H. Aedeagus, anterior (G) and lateral (H). I. Genitalia. Scale bars: 0.5 mm in A; 0.3 mm in B; 0.1 mm in C–E, G–I; 0.05 mm in F.

FIGURE 31. Morphology of Batrisiella beibeng sp. nov. (A–J. Male. K. Female). A. Dorsal habitus. B. Head and pronotum. C. Profemur. D. Apical part of profemur, enlarged. E. Metatibia. F. Sternite 7 (IX). G–J. Aedeagus, dorsal (G), lateral (H), ventral (I) and anterior (J). K. Genitalia. Scale bars: 0.5 mm in A; 0.2 mm in B, C, E; 0.05 mm in F; 0.1 mm in G–K.

FIGURE 32. Morphology of Batrisiella bomea sp. nov. (A–F. Male. G. Female). A. Dorsal habitus. B. Head and pronotum. C. Antennomeres 8–11. D. Sternite 7 (IX). E, F. Aedeagus, anterior (E) and lateral (F). G. Genitalia. Scale bars: 0.5 mm in A; 0.3 mm in B; 0.2 mm in C, E, F; 0.1 mm in D, G.

FIGURE 33. Morphology of Batrisiella concisa sp. nov. (A–H. Male. I. Female). A. Dorsal habitus. B. Head and pronotum. C. Antennomere 1. D. Tergite 1 (IV). E. Sternite 7 (IX). F–H. Aedeagus, dorsal (F), lateral (G) and ventral (H). I. Genitalia. Scale bars: 0.5 mm in A; 0.2 mm in B, D; 0.05 mm in C; 0.1 mm in E–I.

FIGURE 34. Morphology of Batrisiella curvitibialis sp. nov. (A–J. Male. K. Female). A. Dorsal habitus. B. Head and pronotum. C. Metaventrite. D. Mesotibia. E. Metafemur. F. Metatibia. G. Tergite 4 (VII). H. Sternite 7 (IX). I, J. Aedeagus, anterior (I) and lateral (J). K. Genitalia. Scale bars: 0.5 mm in A; 0.2 mm in C–G; 0.05 mm in H; 0.1 mm in I–K.

FIGURE 35. Morphology of Batrisiella ganma sp. nov. (A–F. Male. G. Female). A. Dorsal habitus. B. Head and pronotum. C. Tergite 1 (IV). D. Sternite 7 (IX). E, F. Aedeagus, lateral (E) and ventral (F). G. Genitalia. Scale bars: 0.5 mm in A; 0.2 mm in B, C; 0.05 mm in D; 0.1 mm in E–G.

FIGURE 36. Morphology of Batrisiella guttata sp. nov. (A–J. Male. K. Female). A. Dorsal habitus. B. Head and pronotum. C, D. Tergite 5 (VIII). E, F. Sternites 2–4 (IV–VI). G. Sternite 7 (IX). H–J. Aedeagus, dorsal (H), lateral (I) and ventral (J). K. Genitalia. Scale bars: 0.5 mm in A; 0.2 mm in C–F; 0.05 mm in F; 0.1 mm in G–K.

FIGURE 37. Morphology of Batrisiella zhujianqingi sp. nov. (A–G. Male. H. Female). A. Dorsal habitus. B. Head and pronotum. C. Antennomere 1. D. Tergite 1 (IV). E. Sternite 7 (IX). F, G. Aedeagus, dorsal (F) and lateral (G). H. Genitalia. Scale bars: 0.5 mm in A; 0.3 mm in B; 0.05 mm in C, E; 0.2 mm in D, F, G; 0.1 mm in H.