Dayao emeiensis Yin & Li

Yin, Zi-Wei, Hlavac, Peter & Li, Li-Zhen, 2013, Further studies on the Pselaphodes complex of genera from China (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae), ZooKeys 275, pp. 23-65 : 25-26

Dayao emeiensis Yin & Li sp. n. Figs 1A2

Type material

(1 ♂, 1 ♀). Holotype: ♂, labeled 'CHINA: Sichuan, E’meishan City / E’mei Shan Mt., pass between / Xixiangchi and Yanwang Slope / 29°33'28"N, 103°20'36"E, 2200 m / (leaf litter, sifted), 2012.vii.23 / C. C. Dai, Z. Peng & Z. W. Yin leg.' (SNUC). Paratype: ♀, same label data as holotype (SNUC).

Diagnosis.

Reddish brown; length 2.96; postgenae narrowed; antennomeres IX–XI enlarged, unmodified in both sexes; pronotum rounded at anterolateral margins; male with large metaventral processes; aedeagus with asymmetric median lobe.

Description.

Male (Fig. 1A). Length 2.96-2.97. Head longer than wide, HL 0.73, HW 0.62; eyes each composed of about 25 facets. Antennal clubs as in Fig. 2A. Pronotum (Fig. 2B) about as long as wide, PL 0.64, PW 0.62, rounded at anterolateral margins. Elytra wider than long, EL 0.73, EW 1.06. Long metaventral processes with truncate apices (Fig. 2C). Protrochanters and profemora simple (Fig. 2D); protibiae with small apical projection (Fig. 2E); mesotrochanters (Fig. 2F) slightly protuberant at ventral margin; metatrochanters and metafemora simple (Fig. 2G). Abdomen broad at base and narrowed apically, AL 0.86, AW 1.14. Sternite IX as in Fig. 2H. Aedeagus length 0.46, with symmetric median lobe broad (Figs 2 I–K).

Female. Similar to male in general; BL 2.97, HL 0.74, HW 0.59, PL 0.65, PW 0.62, EL 0.68, EW 1.06, AL 0.90, AW 1.19. Eyes each composed of about 15 facets. Antennae simple; metaventral processes absent,.

Comparative notes.

Males of the new species can be readily separated from those of the only known congener, Dayao pengzhongi , by the unmodified antennae, the pronotum lacking tufts of long golden setae near the anterior margin, the much larger metaventral processes, and the aedeagus has broader parameres. Dayao pengzhongi has modified antennomeres IX and pronotum, and the aedeagus has relatively much thinner parameres ( Yin et al. 2011b: 51, figs 11-13).

Distribution.

Southwest China: Sichuan.

Biology.

Adults were collected by sifting leaf litter in a mixed forest.

Etymology.

The new species is named after the type locality, E’mei Shan Mountain.

Notes.

A female specimen (in pcPH) from Nibashan Mt., (Daxiangling Mts., ca. 50 km. W E’meishan) has slightly greater body size, and has each eye composed of about 20 facets. An associated male from Nibashan is needed for species identification.