Labomimus torticornis ( Champion, 1925 ) Champion, 1925

Yin, Zi-Wei & Li, Li-Zhen, 2015, Review of some species in the genera Pselaphodes Westwood and Labomimus Sharp (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), Zootaxa 4040 (3), pp. 331-344 : 337

4. Labomimus torticornis ( Champion, 1925) , new combination

( Fig. 4 )

Pselaphodes torticornis Champion, 1925: 262 .

Type material examined. Holotype (fixed by monotypy; in BMNH): INDIA: ♂, with twelve labels ( Fig. 4 B): ‘Doherty (handwritten) / Assam Sudiya (handwritten) / ♂ (printed) / E.M.M. 1925. Det. G.C.C. (printed) / Pselaphodes torticornis Ch (printed) / Pselaphodes torticornis Ch Type ♂ (handwritten) / Fry Coll. 1905. 100. (printed) / 60446 (handwritten) / (small triangular label without text) / Type H. T. (round printed label with a red rim) / Holotype ♂, Pselaphodes torticornis Champion , det. Z.-W. Yin, 2015 / Labomimus torticornis (Champion) Zi-Wei Yin det. 2015’ (right second mesotarsomere missing).

Notes on type designation. Champion (1925: 263) explicitly stated that this species was based on a single male. According to Article 73.1.2., this male is the holotype fixed by monotypy.

Diagnosis of male. Reddish brown; body length over 3.0 mm; postgenae rounded; antennal club composed of three apical antennomeres; pronotum roundly expanded laterally; metathorax with long metaventral processes; mesotrochanters spinose ventrally; aedeagus with asymmetric median lobe.

Redescription of male. Habitus as in Fig. 4 A. Body length 3.1 mm. Head about as long as wide, HL 0.60 mm, HW 0.59 mm, postgenae rounded at posterolateral margins; each eye composed of about 40 facets. Distinct antennal club composed of three enlarged apical antennomeres, antennomeres IX and X obliquely conjoined ( Fig. 4 C, 4D). Pronotum slightly longer than wide, PL 0.59 mm, PW 0.56 mm, distinctly narrowed at anterolateral margins, disc with distinct median longitudinal sulcus. Elytra wider than long, EL 0.88 mm, EW 1.14 mm. Metaventral processes ( Fig. 4 F) long and slender, narrowed apically. Legs simple, except for mesotrochanters which are spinose at ventral margin ( Fig. 4 E). Abdomen broad at base and narrowed posteriorly, AL 1.03 mm, AW 1.16 mm. Length of aedeagus 0.59 mm; aedeagus ( Figs 4 G, 4H) with asymmetric median lobe, parameres slender, endophallus composed of one short and one long sclerites.

Comparative notes. This species is here transferred from the genus Pselaphodes to Labomimus by the presence of a distinct median metaventral fovea. Currently Labomimus torticornis cannot be placed near any other known congener. The obliquely conjoined antennomeres IX and X, simple fore and hind legs, long and slender metaventral processes in the male, and structures of the aedeagus may serve to quickly separate this species from all other members of the genus.

Distribution. This species is known only from Assam, north-eastern India.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Holotype of Pselaphodes torticornis, male. A. Dorsal habitus. B. Labels of the holotype. C, D. Antennal club. E. Mesotrochanter and mesofemur. F. Metaventral process. G. Aedeagus, in dorsal view. H. Same, in lateral view. Scales: A = 1.0 mm; D – E = 0.3 mm; F – H = 0.2 mm.