Pterostichus (Orientostichus) leo, Yin & Zhu & Shi, 2023

Yin, Wenqi, Zhu, Pingzhou & Shi, Hongliang, 2023, Taxonomic study on the subgenus Orientostichus, the Pterostichus pulcher species group (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Pterostichus), ZooKeys 1175, pp. 163-185 : 163

Pterostichus (Orientostichus) leo sp. nov.

Figs 3 , 9 , 15 , 21 Chinese vernacular name: 狮通缘步甲

Type locality.

China, Sichuan province: Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Jinyang county, Shizishan mountain (27.88N, 103.23E, alt 3470 m).

Type material.

Holotype: ♂: "China: Sichuan, Jinyang country, Shizishan mt., meadow /fir /rhododendron, N27.8882, E103.2448-N27.8838, E103.2310", "3470-3493 m, 2015.VII.28, under rock/log., Shi HL, Liu B & Ma YL lgt. BJFU exp. 2015", "HOLOTYPE ♂ Pterostichus (Orientostichus) leo sp. nov. det. Yin & Shi, 2022" [red label]; Paratypes: 3 ♂ and 8 ♀: the same data as holotype but labeled as paratypes.

Diagnosis.

Elytral intervals 3 and 5 each with ≥ 3 large foveate discal pores, interval 7 without discal pore. Antennomere 3 with accessory setae. Pronotum nearly circular with slight sinuation before posterior angles, posterior angles with faintly pointed denticle (Fig. 9 ); lateral margins with one mid-lateral seta. Pronotal basal foveae with indistinct outer groove, shorter than 1/2 of inner groove. Male sternite VII without secondary sexual modification. Apical lamella of aedeagus subuliform, very slender with apex strongly turned upward, LL/LW = 2.4-2.65 (Fig. 15 ); endophallus with right branch of bsp tuberculate on dorsal surface (Fig. 21 ).

Comparison.

P. leo sp. nov. is peculiar among the P. pulcher species group for its unmodified male sternite VII and strongly upturned apical lamella of male genitalia, in comparing to other species which possess a tuberculate male sternite VII and conspicuously downward bent apical lamella. For the pronotum strongly narrowed to the base and the posterior angles more or less dentate, P. leo sp. nov. is most similar to P. pemphis sp. nov. But they can be readily distinguished by the differences on pronotum, male sternite VII and male genitalia (details listed in the comparison section of the latter species).

Description.

BL = 14.2-15.2 mm, BW = 5.3-5.6 mm, dorsal surface and appendages black, elytra often a little reddish brown. Antennomere 3 with accessory setae on apical 2/3 in additional to the primary setae forming apical ring. Pronotum nearly circular, PW/PL = 1.20-1.24, widest near anterior 1/3; anterior margin wider than posterior margin; strongly narrowed to base (PBW/PW = 0.63-0.68); lateral margins evenly arched from anterior angles to middle, slightly sinuate before posterior angles; posterior angles a little projected outward, forming a faintly denticle (Fig. 9 ); lateral margins with one mid-lateral seta near maximum width; basal foveae impunctate, inner and outer grooves straight, outer groove very shallow and shorter than 1/2 length of inner groove, area between them slightly depressed; disc without or with very faint transverse wrinkles aside median line. Elytra oblong; parascutellar pore absent; intervals 3 and 5 each with ≥ 3 foveate discal pores; interval 7 without discal pore. Male sternite VII without secondary sexual modification. Median lobe of aedeagus stout, strongly curved near basal 1/3; apical lamella of aedeagus subuliform, strongly elongate (LL/LW = 2.4-2.65) with apex conspicuously thickened and turned upward (Fig. 15 ). Endophallus long, straightly directed ventrally, gonopore opened to ventral-basal direction of aedeagus; vb distinct, spherical, rounded at both apexes; bsp deeply grooved, nearly U-shaped, dorsal surface of right branch folded and strongly hooked forming a tubercle (Fig. 21 ).

Distribution.

This species was only known from its type locality, Shizishan mountain, Jinyang county, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture (Fig. 42 ).

Etymology.

The scientific name of the new species derived from Latin, which means lion. It implies to the type locality of the new species, Shizishan Mt., which means "the mountain of lion" in Chinese.

Figures

Figure 42. Distribution of the taxa of Pterostichus pulcher species group in Sichuan province, China. Brown: P. pemphis sp. nov. Yellow: P. orbicollis sp. nov. Red: P. leo sp. nov. Purple: P. liyuani sp. nov. Blue: P. condylus sp. nov. Green: P. jialini sp. nov. Orange: P. pulcher Sciaky & Allegro.

Figures 1 - 6. Habitus and labels of Pterostichus pulcher species group 1 P. pemphis sp. nov., holotype 2 P. orbicollis sp. nov., holotype 3 P. leo sp. nov., holotype 4 P. liyuani sp. nov., holotype 5 P. condylus sp. nov., holotype 6 P. jialini sp. nov., holotype. Scale bar: 5 mm.

Figures 7 - 12. Pronota of Pterostichus pulcher species group 7 P. pemphis sp. nov., holotype 8 P. orbicollis sp. nov., holotype 9 P. leo sp. nov., holotype 10 P. liyuani sp. nov., holotype 11 P. condylus sp. nov., holotype 12 P. jialini sp. nov., holotype. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figures 13 - 18. Male genitalia of Pterostichus pulcher species group, left lateral view and dorsal view of median lobe of aedeagus 13 P. pemphis sp. nov., holotype 14 P. orbicollis sp. nov., holotype 15 P. leo sp. nov., holotype 16 P. liyuani sp. nov., holotype 17 P. condylus sp. nov., holotype 18 P. jialini sp. nov., holotype. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Figures 19 - 24. Endophallus of Pterostichus pulcher species group, left lateral view and right lateral view 19 P. pemphis sp. nov., paratype from Zhaojue county 20 P. orbicollis sp. nov., paratype from Longzhoushan mountain, Huili county 21 P. leo sp. nov., paratype from Shizishan mountain, Jinyang county 22 P. liyuani sp. nov., paratype from Luojishan mountain, Puge county 23 P. condylus sp. nov., paratype from Mianning county 24 P. pulcher Sciaky & Allegro, paratype from Yizi Yakou, E'bian county to Meigu county. Scale bar: 1 mm. Abbreviations: gp: gonopore, gpl: gonopore lobe, bsp: basal sclerotized projection, vb: ventral basal lobe.