Lathrobium proprium Peng and Li

Peng, Zhong, Li, Li-Zhen & Zhao, Mei-Jun, 2012, New species of the genus Lathrobium Gravenhorst (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae) from Guangxi, South China, Zootaxa 3389, pp. 1-16 : 8

Lathrobium proprium Peng and Li , new species

( Figs. 1 C, 4)

Type material. (1 3). HOLOTYPE: 3, labelled ‘ CHINA: GUANGXI Prov. / Xing’an County / Maoershan Mt. / 9.vii.2011, alt. 2,000–2,140 m / Chen, Ma, Peng & Zhu leg.’.

Description. Measurements and ratios: BL 5.63, HL 0.71, HW 0.66, PL 0.89, PW 0.71, EL 0.46, HL/HW 1.07, HW/PW 0.93, HL/PL 0.79, PW/PL 0.79, EL/PL 0.51.

Habitus as in Fig. 1 C. Externally similar to L. maoershanense , except for the lighter average coloration, the smaller body size, the rectangular head, the sparser punctation on the head and pronotum, and the shorter elytra.

Male. Sternite VII ( Fig. 4 A) with apical margin truncate, setae unmodified; sternite VIII ( Fig. 4 B) with conspicuously asymmetric emargination and apical ctenidium composed of stout pectinate setae; sternite IX ( Fig. 4 C) asymmetric; aedeagus as in Fig. 4 D– 4F.

Female. Unknown.

Remarks. The new species and L. anmaicum Assing, 2010 from Taiwan share the similar habitus ( Assing, 2010: 310, Fig. 16–17) and a truncate apical margin of the male sternite VII ( Assing, 2010: 310, Fig. 18). Lathrobium proprium can be readily distinguished by the male sternite VIII with a conspicuously asymmetric emargination with an apical ctenidium, and an aedeagus with a long and slender dorsal process in lateral view. In L. anmaicum , in contrast, the male sternite VIII ( Assing, 2010: 310, Fig. 19) has a symmetric emargination and lacks the cuticular projection, and the dorsal process of the aedeagus ( Assing, 2010: 310, Fig. 20) is shorter in lateral view. From other Lathrobium species of Guangxi, it is readily separated by the much smaller size alone.

Distribution. South China (Guangxi: Maoershan Mountain).

Habitat. The adults were collected from the leaf litter of the mountain track by sifting.

Etymology. The specific epithet (Latin, adjective: special) alludes to the apical ctenidium on the male sternite VIII.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Habitus of Lathrobium spp., A — L. dayaoshanense; B — L. maoershanense; C — L. proprium; D — L. shengtangshanense; E — L. zhangdinghengi; F — L. zhujianqingi. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 4. Lathrobium proprium. A — male sternite VII; B — male sternite VIII; C — male sternite IX; D, E — aedeagus in ventral view; F — aedeagus in lateral view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.