Paederus nanlingensis Peng

Li, Qi-Li, Li, Li-Zhen, Gu, Fuang-Kang & Peng, Zhong, 2016, New data on brachypterous Paederus (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) of mainland China, Zootaxa 4184 (3), pp. 576-588 : 577-581

Paederus nanlingensis Peng and L.-Z. Li, new species

( Figs 1 B, 1E, 3, 6)

Type material. HOLOTYPE: Ƌ, labeled ‘ China: Guangdong Prov., Ruyuan, Nanling, Shikengkong , 24°55'33''N 112°59'29''E, 1820 m, 30.IV.2015, Peng, Tu & Zhou leg.’ ( SNUC) . Paratypes: 17 Ƌ, 20 ♀♀, same label data as holotype (SNUC); 5 ƋƋ, 3 ♀♀, same data, but ‘ 24°55'47''N 112°59'50''E, 1500 m, 05.V.2015, Peng, Tu & Zhou leg.’ ( SNUC) .

Description. Measurements (in mm) and ratios: BL: 9.01–10.73; FL: 4.45–5.17; HL: 1.47–1.59; HW: 1.70– 1.92; AnL: 2.87–3.40; PL: 1.71–1.93; PW: 1.66–1.85; EL: 0.95–1.06; EW: 1.59–1.70; AW: 1.78–1.99; AL: 2.58– 2.61; HL/HW: 0.83–0.86; HW/PW: 1.02–1.04; HL/PL: 0.82–0.86; PL/PW: 1.03–1.05; EL/PL: 0.54–0.56; diameter of eye: 0.36–0.45.

Habitus as in Fig. 1 B. Coloration: head, labrum and abdomen black; pronotum bright red; elytra metallic-blue; legs and antennae dark-yellowish.

Head wider than long, widest across eyes; punctation moderately coarse and sparse; interstices glossy. Eyes distinctly convex. Antenna as in Fig. 1 E.

Pronotum stout, strongly convex in cross-section; punctation similar to that of head, but somewhat sparser. Elytra trapeziform; punctation coarse, defined and moderately dense. Hind wings reduced. Metatarsomere I as long as combined length of metatarsomeres II and III.

Abdomen distinctly broader than elytra; punctation moderately coarse; interstices with very shallow microsculpture; posterior margin of tergite VII without palisade fringe.

Male. Labrum ( Fig. 3 D) distinctly sinuate. Posterior margin of tergite VIII ( Fig. 3 E) convex; sternite VII unmodified; sternite VIII ( Fig. 3 F) with deep posterior incision, this incision approximately 0.5 times as long as sternite VIII; aedeagus as in Figs 3 G–I; dorsal plate nearly symmetric and stout; parameres apically very weakly curved; internal sac with pair of strongly sclerotized spines.

Female. Labrum as in Fig. 3 A. Posterior margin of tergite VIII ( Fig. 3 B) convex; posterior margin of sternite VIII symmetric and trifurcate as in Fig. 3 C.

Comparative notes. As can be inferred from the highly similar sexual characters, the new species is allied to the geographically close P. volutobliquus Li, Solodovnikov & Zhou, 2013 (Guangdong: Danxia Shan), from which it differs by the somewhat more transverse head, the shape of dorsal plate and two short sclerotized spines in the internal sac of the aedeagus, and the shaped posterior margin of the female sternite VIII. For illustrations of P. volutobliquus see Li et al. (2013: figures 5, 6E).

Distribution and natural history. The type locality is situated in the Nanling to the north of Ruyuan, northern Guangdong. The specimens were sifted from leaf litter and humus in a mixed and a bamboo forest at altitudes of 1500 and 1820 m.

Etymology. The species is named after its type locality (Nanling).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Habitus (A – C): A — P. daicongchaoi; B — P. nanlingensis; C — P. (Gnathopaederus) bursavacua (Dashahe). Antenna (D – F): D — P. daicongchaoi; E — P. nanlingensis; F — P. (G.) bursavacua (Dashahe). Scale bars: A – C 2.0 mm, D – F 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 3. Paederus nanlingensis. A — female mouthparts; B — female tergite VIII; C — female sternite VIII. D — male mouthparts; E — male tergite VIII; F — male sternite VIII; G — aedeagus in ventral view; H — aedeagus in lateral view; I — aedeagus in dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.