Atheta (Microdota) xueica, Assing, 2006

Assing, V., 2006, Six new species of micropterous Atheta and Apimela from northern Yunnan, China (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 38 (2), pp. 1143-1156 : 1143-1156

Atheta (Microdota) xueica nov.sp. ( Figs 1-13 )

Holotype Ƌ: China: N-Yunnan [C2005-05], Diqing Tibet. Aut. Pref., Zhongdian Co., Xue Shan near lake 23 km S Zhongdian, 3895 m / 27°37.1'N, 99°38.5'E, devast. mixed forest, meadows, lake border, leaf litter, dead wood, sifted, 5.VI.2005, leg. M. Schülke [C2005-05] / Holotypus Ƌ Atheta xueica sp. n. det. V. Assing 2006 (cAss). Paratypes: 8 exs.: same data as holotype ( OÖLL, cSch, cAss) ; 5 exs.: same data as holotype, but "C2005-05A ... 6.VI.2005 " (cSch, cAss) ; 1 ex.: China: NYunnan [C2005-06], Diqing Tibet. Aut. Pref., Deqin Co., Baima Shan , pass 25 km SE Deqin, 4225 m, / 28°19.38'N, 99°05.47'E, small creek valley, Rhododendron, Salix, leaf litter, moss, dead wood, sifted, 8.VI.2005, leg. M. Schülke [C2005-06] (cAss) .

D e s c r i p t i o n: 2.3-2.8 mm. Habitus as in Fig. 1 . Coloration: body black; legs brown to dark brown, with the femora predominantly blackish; antennae blackish brown.

Head slightly wider than long ( Fig. 2 ), somewhat wedge-shaped (i. e. widest near posterior angles); eyes moderately large ( Fig. 3 ), weakly protruding from lateral outline of head, postocular region approximately 1.5 times as long as eyes; integument with distinct microreticulation and almost matt; puncturation moderately sparse, fine, and very shallow, barely noticeable in the microsculpture. Antenna distinctly incrassate apically ( Fig. 4 ); antennomere III distinctly shorter than II; IV approximately as wide as long; V-X of increasing width and increasingly transverse; X approximately 1.5 times as wide as long.

Pronotum 1.25-1.30 times as wide as long and about 1.25 times as wide as head ( Fig. 2 ); maximal width in anterior half; pubescence directed cephalad along midline; puncturation and microsculpture similar to those of head.

Elytra about as wide and approximately 0.7 times as long as pronotum ( Fig. 2 ); microreticulation pronounced, puncturation denser and slightly more distinct than that of head and pronotum. Hind wings reduced.

Abdomen slightly wider than elytra, maximal width at segments V / VI ( Fig. 1 ); puncturation fine, sparser on posterior than on anterior tergites; microreticulation distinct; posterior margin of tergite VII with palisade fringe.

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Ƌ: head and pronotum unmodified; posterior margin of tergite VIII weakly concave in the middle ( Fig. 5 ); sternite VIII much longer than tergite VIII, its posterior margin strongly convex ( Fig. 6 ); median lobe of aedeagus rather long and slender ( Figs 9-11 ); apical lobe of paramere shaped as in Fig. 12 , with one moderately long and three short setae.

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♀: tergite VIII similar to that of Ƌ ( Fig. 7 ); sternite VIII only slightly longer than tergite VIII, with moderately concave posterior margin ( Fig. 8 ) and rather weakly modified marginal setae; spermatheca with long and slender duct ( Fig. 13 ).

E t y m o l o g y: The name (adj.) is derived from the one of the mountain ranges where the species was discovered.

C o m p a r a t i v e n o t e s: From the other three micropterous Microdota species, A. xueica is easily separated especially by the distinctive primary and secondary sexual characters, particularly the slender median lobe of the aedeagus and the long duct of the spermatheca. In addition, it is characterised by the dark coloration and the pronounced microreticulation. For illustrations of the genitalia of the other micropterous species see the figures in ASSING (2002, 2004) and PACE (1999a).

D i s t r i b u t i o n a n d b i o n o m i c s: The type localities are situated in Zhongdian and Deqin Counties in northern Yunnan. The specimens were sifted from debris in mixed forests at altitudes of 3895 and 4225 m. The locality in the Xue Shan is illustrated in ASSING (2006: Fig. 20 ).

Figures

Figs 1-13: Atheta xueica: (1) habitus; (2) forebody; (3) head in lateral view; (4) antenna; (5) Ƌ tergite VIII; (6) Ƌ sternite VIII; (7) posterior margin of ♀ tergite VIII; (8) ♀ sternite VIII; (9-10) median lobe of aedeagus in lateral and in ventral view; (11) apex of median lobe of aedeagus in ventral view; (12) apical lobe of paramere; (13) spermatheca. Scale bars: 1: 1.0 mm; 2-3: 0.5 mm; 4-8: 0.2 mm; 9-13: 0.1 mm.

Figs 14-26: Atheta foliacea: (14) Ƌ habitus; (15) Ƌ forebody; (16) head in lateral view; (17) antenna; (18) Ƌ tergite VIII; (19) Ƌ sternite VIII; (20) ♀ tergite VIII; (21) ♀ sternite VIII; (22-23) median lobe of aedeagus in lateral and in ventral view; (24) apical lobe of paramere; (25-26) spermatheca. Scale bars: 14: 1.0 mm; 15: 0.5 mm; 16-21: 0.2 mm; 22-26: 0.1 mm.