Pseudohesperus sparsipunctatus, 2011

Li, Liang & Zhou, Hong-Zhang, 2011, Revision and phylogenetic assessment of the rove beetle genus Pseudohesperus Hayashi, with broad reference to the subtribe Philonthina (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylinini), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 163 (3), pp. 679-722 : 712-714

PSEUDOHESPERUS SPARSIPUNCTATUS LI & ZHOU SP. NOV. ( FIG. 28A–I )

Type material: Holotype: ♂, China: Zhejiang: Linan: Shunxi (30°12′N, 119°34′E), 400 m asl, 9.viii.2008,

Zhou Yulingzi collected (IZ-CAS); Paratypes: 4 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀, same data as holotype (IZ-CAS) .

Description: Head and pronotum black, shining. Antennae black-brown, with antennomeres I–III to various extent reddish-brown, antennomere XI or antennomeres X–XI sometimes reddish-brown. Elytra black with posterior margin markedly reddish-brown. Scutellum black. Abdomen black with strongly iridescent lustre. Mandibles, maxillary and labial palpi, and legs reddish-brown.

Body 8.98–9.80 mm long ( HPL: 2.69–2.94 mm). Head of rounded quadrangular shape, 0.98–1.22 mm long, 1.31–1.55 mm wide, distinctly wider than long ( HW: HL = 1.23–1.33). Tempora 0.25–0.33 mm long, almost evenly rounded, sparsely and coarsely punctate; eyes very large, moderately prominent, 0.49– 0.57 mm long, 1.75–2.33 times as long as tempora. Lateral portions of head with scattered, large setiferous punctuation; vertex largely impunctate. Entire head without microsculpture. Antennae long, antennomere I very long, thickened towards apex, antennomere III much longer than antennomere II, following antennomeres gradually decreasing in length, but all longer than wide, antennomere XI obliquely truncated.

Pronotum slightly narrowed anteriad, 1.47– 1.63 mm long, 1.47–1.71 mm wide, slightly wider than head ( PW: HW = 1.10–1.19); each side of broad impunctate midline with 12–15 scatter punctures, sometimes eight to ten punctures forming an irregular, dorsal row, disc without microsculpture.

Elytra 1.80–2.04 mm long, 2.04–2.37 mm wide, along sides 1.16–1.25 times as long as pronotum, densely and finely punctate, punctures separated by one to two times their diameter. Scutellum large, triangular, densely and finely punctate, and pubescent.

Abdomen a little narrowed behind, widest 1.80– 1.96 mm, densely and finely punctate, punctures separated by two to three times their diameter at base on tergites III–V and punctures separated by less than one puncture diameter at base on tergites VI–VII, punctation gradually becoming sparser toward apex of each tergite; tergites III–V with two basal carinae, elevated area between basal carinae densely and coarsely punctate.

Male: Tergite VIII with arcuate apex. Sternite VIII with moderately wide, obtusely triangular medioapical emargination, partly filled by semimembranous extension ( Fig. 28F ). Genital segment with stylus of tergite IX simple, densely setose apically ( Fig. 28G ). Sternite IX with asymmetrical basal portion, apex deeply emarginate, each lobe prolong, forming modified rod-like extensions ( Fig. 28H ). Tergite X triangular, inconspicuously emarginate at apex, with variable number of apical setae ( Fig. 28I ).

Aedeagus with median lobe distinctly exceeding paramere, narrowed into obtusely rounded apex ( Fig. 28A ); in lateral view, apical portion of median lobe slightly dilated ( Fig. 28B ); paramere widened at subapical portion, narrowed into obtusely pointed apex, face adjacent to median lobe with peg setae irregularly arranged along apical portion of paramere ( Fig. 28C, D ).

Female: Sternite VIII with arcuate apex, lacking medioapical emargination. Genital segment with second gonocoxites moderately long, each with minute stylus bearing two long apical setae. Tergite X subtruncated at apex ( Fig. 28E ).

Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from a combination of the Latin words spars- (sparse) and punct- (puncture), and refers to the sparse punctation on the pronotum.

Distribution: At present only known from China (Zhejiang).

Remarks: Pseudohesperus sparsipunctatus Li & Zhou sp. nov. is closely related to P. cf. eustilbus ( Kraatz, 1859) . Pseudohesperus sparsipunctatus Li & Zhou sp. nov. differs from P. eustilbus by distinctly sparser punctures on pronotum, much wider paramere, and larger number of peg setae on underside of paramere.

Figures

Figure 28. Pseudohesperus sparsipunctatus sp. nov. A, aedeagus, dorsal (parameral side) view; B, median lobe of aedeagus, lateral view; C, D, underside of paramere; E, tergite X of female; F, sternite VIII of male; G, stylus of tergite IX of male; H, sternite IX of male; I, tergite X of male. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.