Pselaphodes psomus sp. nov.

Figs 13A, 14 A-L

Type material (23 specimens): Holotype; MHNG- ENTO-44009; ♂; NEPAL, ‘ NEPAL (Prov. Bagmati), Gul Bhanjyang, 2600 m, 6.IV.81, Löbl & Smetana’ (MHNG) . – Paratypes; MHNG-ENTO-44010; 1 ♀; NEPAL, same label data as holotype . – MHNG- ENTO-44011; 1 ♂; NEPAL, same label data as holotype, except ‘Chaubas, 5.IV.81’. – MHNG- ENTO-44012 to 44013; 1 ♂, 1 ♀; NEPAL, same label data as holotype, except ‘ Phulchauki nr. Kathmandu, 2500 m, 10. V.81, l. Löbl’. – MHNG-ENTO-44014 to 44015; 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; NEPAL, ‘ NEPAL, Lalitpur Distr., Phulcoki, 2700 m, 16.X.83, Smetana & Löbl’. – MHNG-ENTO-44016 & 44017; 1 ♂, 1 ♀; NEPAL, ‘ NEPAL, Lalitpur Distr., Phulcoki, 2700 m, 15.X.83, Smetana & Löbl’ . – MHNG-ENTO-44018 to 44021; 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; NEPAL, ‘ NEPAL, Lalitpur Distr., Phulcoki, 2550 m, 15.X.83, Smetana & Löbl’. – MHNG-ENTO-44022; 1 ♂; NEPAL, ‘ NEPAL, Lalitpur Distr., Phulcoki, 2650 m, 13.X.83, Smetana & Löbl’. – MHNG-ENTO-44023 to 44027; 1 ♂, 4 ♀♀; NEPAL, ‘ NEPAL, Kathmandu District, Phulcoki, 2600 m, 20.IV.1982, A. & Z. Smetana’ . – MHNG-ENTO-44028; 1 ♂; NEPAL, ‘ NEPAL, Kathmandu District, Phulcoki, 2650 m, 21.IV.1982, A. & Z. Smetana’. – MHNG- ENTO-44029; 1 ♂; NEPAL, ‘ NEPAL, Phulchoki, 3.II.1982, de Rougemont’. – MHNG-ENTO-44030; 1 ♂; NEPAL ‘Nepal, Pulchoki /godabari, 2750 m, Deharveng’ (all paratypes in MHNG) .

Type locality: Nepal, Sindhupalchok District, Helambu Valley, Gul Bhanjyang, 2600 m alt.

Diagnosis of males: Length 2.95-3.06 mm. Antennomeres 9 with disc-shaped process at apex. Metaventral processes long. Protrochanters with slender ventral spine, profemora with large blunt ventral spine, protibiae with distinct spine at apex; mesotrochanters with two ventral spines, mesotibiae with small tubercle at apex. Median lobe of aedeagus extending at apex; parameres elongate and broadened at apex.

Description: Male (Fig. 13A). Body reddish brown, BL 2.95-3.06 mm. Head as long as wide, HL 0.58- 0.62 mm, HW 0.58-0.62 mm; each eye composed of about 35 facets; with well-developed ocular canthus. Antennomeres (Fig. 14A) 9-11 forming distinct club, antennomeres 9 with disc-shaped process at apex, antennomeres 10 projected posteriorly at base. Pronotum (Fig. 14B) almost as long as wide, PL 0.65- 0.67 mm, PW 0.64-0.65 mm, rounded at anterolateral margins, strongly constricted at apical third. Elytra wider than long, EL 0.74-0.81 mm, EW 1.26-1.29 mm. Metaventral processes (Fig. 14C) long. Protrochanters with slender ventral spine, profemora with large blunt ventral spine (Fig. 14D), protibiae (Fig. 14E) with distinct spine at apex; mesotrochanters (Fig. 14F) with two ventral spines; mesotibiae (Fig. 14G) with small projection at apex; metatrochanters and metafemora (Fig. 14H) simple. Abdomen broad at base and narrowing apically, AL 0.94-1.00 mm, AW 1.38- 1.41 mm. Sternite IX semi-membranous, shape as in Fig. 14I. Length of aedeagus (Figs 14 J-L) 0.86 mm; median lobe slightly asymmetric, strongly extended and constricted apically; parameres rather elongate and apically broadened; endophallus composed of one long and one short sclerites.

Female. Each eye composed of about 23 facets; antennae simple. Measurements: BL 2.99-3.02 mm, HL 0.56- 0.58 mm, HW 0.56-0.58 mm, PL 0.65-0.70 mm, PW 0.64-0.67 mm, EL 0.67-0.71 mm, EW 1.25-1.28 mm, AL 1.05-1.09 mm, AW 1.41-1.44 mm.

Distribution: Nepal, Bagmati.

Comparative notes: The new species belongs to the P. bagmatius species-group, and is most similar to P. smetanai described below in sharing similar forms of the antennal clubs, and the median lobe of the aedeagus being strongly extending apically. Pselaphodes psomus can be separated from P. smetanai only based on the slightly different position of the apical process of the antennomeres 9, the relatively longer metaventral processes with a different form of the apex, and the longer ventral spine of the profemora.

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the round apical process of male antennomeres 9 of the new species.