Pterostichus (Circinatus) wangjiani, Shi, Hongliang & Liang, Hongbin, 2015

Shi, Hongliang & Liang, Hongbin, 2015, The genus Pterostichus in China II: the subgenus Circinatus Sciaky, a species revision and phylogeny (Carabidae, Pterostichini), ZooKeys 536, pp. 1-92 : 22

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Carabidae

Pterostichus (Circinatus) wangjiani sp. n. Figures 19, 43, 66, 82, 104, 124, 134, 136

Type locality.

Yunnan: Dongchuan, Jiaozishan Mt. (also called Jiaozixueshan Mt.), N26.08475°, E102.87425° - N26.08553°, E102.86436°, altitude 3405-4223 m.

All three paratypes were collected by pitfall trap in one locality (N26.08383, E102.88794, 3367 m). The holotype was collected under a stone along the way to the highest peak of Jiaozishan (3405-4223 m). It is presumed that the holotype was collected from middle-high altitude (ca. 3400-3700 m).

Type material.

Holotype (IZAS): male, body length = 10.5 mm, pin mounted, genitalia dissected and glued on plastic film pinned under specimen, "China, Yunnan, Dongchuan, / Fazhe, Jiaozishan Mt., way / from Xiaohai to The Peak; / N26.08475°, E102.87425° - / N26.08553°, E102.86436° "; “3405– 4223 m, 2010.V.28; / Shi Hongliang, under stone. / Inst. of Zoology, CAS / 东川轿子山小海至轿子顶”; "IOZ(E) 1891157"; "HOLOTYPE ♂/ Pterostichus (Circinatus) / wangjiani new species / des. SHI H.L. 2015" [red label]. Paratypes, a total of 1 male and 2 females: 1 male, 2 females (IZAS): "China, Yunnan, Dongchuan, Fazhe, Jiaozishan Mt., way to Dahai; N26.08383, E102.88794, 3367 m, 2010.V.28, pit fall trap, Shi Hongliang lgt.".

Diagnosis.

Pronotum approx quadrate, with single mid-lateral seta; posterior seta close to hind angle, distance between seta and hind angle less than half distance between hind angle and inner basal foveal groove; hind angle forming obtuse angle; elytron with distinct microsculpture, transverse or isodiametric; males with terminal sternum strongly concave in middle, concavity occupying four fifths length of terminal sternum.

The new species can be distinguished from most other Circinatus species by the position of the pronotal hind seta (very close to hind angle), except for Pterostichus baenningeri and its related four species (listed in table 1). Pterostichus wangjiani sp. n. can be distinguished from them by different elytral microsculpture, as well as by the different male terminal sternum. Pterostichus baenningeri and its related species all have two tubercles on male terminal sternum, but in Pterostichus wangjiani sp. n., the terminal sternum is strongly concave and without such tubercles.

Description.

Body form relatively stout, relatively smaller species within subgenus, body length 9.5-10.5 mm; dorsal side blackish, moderately shining, elytron without iridescent shine; mouthparts, antenna, tarsus, and apex of tibia reddish brown; ventral side blackish. Both sexes with similar elytral microsculpture, isodiametric on disc, gradually turned to transverse on elytral apex and outer intervals. Head. Frons without punctures; antenna reaching elytron basal sixth; gena approx same length as eye, briefly tumid behind eye. Pronotum approx quadrate, lateral margin weakly curved, widest approx in middle; posterior margin a little narrower than anterior margin; PW/PL = 1.20-1.21; one mid-lateral seta present, a little before middle; posterior seta close to but a little distant from hind angle, distance between seta and hind angle much shorter than distance between hind angle and inner basal foveal groove; hind angle forming indistinct obtuse angle (Fig. 104); basal fovea shallow, faintly defined; inner groove subparallel to median line, basal half oblique outwards; outer groove indistinct but present, close to hind angle, approx one fourth length of inner one, outer area of inner groove slightly convex; basal foveal area almost impunctate. Elytron oviform, with basal ridge slightly curved; elytral shoulder moderately widened, shoulder angle between basal ridge and lateral margin completely rounded, humeral tooth absent; intervals feebly convex; striae moderately deep, faintly punctate before middle; scutellar stria short, apex free; third interval with two setigerous pores adjacent to second stria; umbilical pore series on ninth interval sparse in middle, composed of 15-16 pores (6, 1-2, 8-9). Ventral side. Proepisternum impunctate, mesepisternum and metepisternum impunctate; terminal sternum of male strongly concave in middle, concavity occupying four fifths length of terminal sternum, border of concavity carinate at anterior half, apex of terminal sternum flat. (Fig. 124). Legs. Fifth tarsomeres glabrous beneath; males with apical half of mesotibia slightly widened, inner margin slightly crenulate; first metatarsomere with distinct carina on outer surface, such carina on second metatarsomere superficial. Male genitalia. Median lobe of male genitalia bent less than 90 degrees, apex gradually bent ventrally (Fig. 43A); ventral margin evenly curved in middle, turned ventrally near apex; apical orifice large, slightly turned to left side, largely opened on ventral side; in lateral view, apical lamella very short, slightly twisted, laminate, a little thickened, its length approx one eighth length of apical orifice; in dorsal view, apical lamella short and wide, located on right side of aedeagal apex, pointing apically, length approx 0.8 times its basal width, apex rounded (Fig. 43B). Right paramere straight and stout, apical half slightly enlarged, length approx 2.5 times greatest width, apex rounded (Fig. 43C). Endophallus (Fig. 43D, E, F) bent to ventral side across left side of aedeagus, major portion of endophallus located on ventral side of aedeagus (in lateral view); gonopore (gp, gonopore lobe folded in Fig. 43) located at level much before apical lamella, pointing to right side. Six distinct lobes recognized: basal lobe (bl) small, close to apical lamella, decorated with very fine scales; right lobe (rl) small and compressed, decorated with fine spines near apex; left lobe I (lf-I) largest, basal half decorated with fine scales, apex coniform and well chitinized; left lobe II (lf-II) long and coniform, apex chitinized; ventral lobe (vl) long and slender, covered by lf-I, apex sharp, strongly prolonged and bent, its upper surface chitinized; pre-apical lobe (pa) just before gp, small and coniform, apex clearly chitinized. Besides those six lobes, a patch present close to gp, decorated with dense spines. Female genitalia. Spermatheca with seminal canal approx four times as long as receptaculum; receptaculum tubiform (Fig. 66), apical half slightly clavate; seminal canal inserted at base of common oviduct, base of seminal canal sclerotized. Stylomere II with two ensiform setae at outer margin, and one near middle of inner margin; two very short nematiform setae located in a furrow near apex. Female sternum VIII (Fig. 82B) with dense spines on posterior margin; posterior margin almost straight, slightly notched in middle; posterior region chitinized, anterior region semi-chitinized, without denser pigmentation, deeply notched in middle; middle transparent region V-shaped, adjacent to posterior notch but not to anterior notch in middle. Female tergum VIII (Fig. 82A) with major portion semi-chitinized, sparsely pigmented with irregular small spots, only lateral-anterior region with two chitinized patches; anterior margin deeply notched in middle.

Distribution.

This species is known only from Jiaozishan Mountain located on the border between Dongchuan and Luquan counties of north Yunnan (Map 1).

Etymology.

The new species is named for Dr Wang Jian (Honghe University, Mengzi, Yunnan), a specialist in reptiles and close friend of the first author. With his company and help, the first author explored Jiaozishan Mountain and discovered this interesting new species.

Affinities.

At first examination, we did not recognize this species as a member of Circinatus because of the unique pronotal shape (pronotum approximately quadrate with an obtuse hind angle). However, after careful study, it was found that this species is very similar to Pterostichus liciniformis based on the male terminal sternum and the aedeagus. Moreover, in spite of the pronotal shape, the following important characters are all consistent with Circinatus : the pronotal basal foveal grooves faintly defined, the pronotal posterior seta located before the hind angle (although only a short distance before), the third elytral interval with two setigerous pores, the metacoxa with two setae, and the right paramere short and straight. Some species of Circinatus also have a somewhat well-defined pronotal hind angle, such as in Pterostichus maitreya sp. n. Thus, this new species is included in the subgenus Circinatus .

From the position of the pronotal posterior seta and the male secondary sex characters on the terminal sternum, this new species shows an intermediate status between the other two species from northwestern Yunnan ( Pterostichus liciniformis and Pterostichus dimorphus sp. n.) and the other five species (listed in Table 1) of the baenningeri -group (vide infra) from the eastern provinces. For detailed discussions, see the section on infra-subgeneric taxonomy.

Habitat.

Three paratypes of Pterostichus wangjiani sp. n. were collected by pitfall trap in mixed forest with dominant Picea and Rhododendron trees approx 3-5 m tall. The holotype was collected under rocks on open land along path.