Termitopulex sinensis, Song, Xiao-Bin & Li, Li-Zhen, 2014

Song, Xiao-Bin & Li, Li-Zhen, 2014, Descriptions of three new species of the Termitophilous tribe Termitopaediini in China (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae), ZooKeys 424, pp. 91-100 : 96-97

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Staphylinidae

Termitopulex sinensis sp. n. Fig. 4

Type material.

Holotype: China: ♂, labelled 'CHINA: Yunnan, Baoshan City, Mangkuan Town (芒宽乡), Baihualing N. R. (百花岭), 25°17'47"N, 98°48'22"E, alt. 1400 m, 23-IV-2013, Xiao-Bin Song leg. / HOLOTYPE [red], Termitopulex sinensis sp. n., Song & Li det. 2014, SNUC’. Paratypes: China: 3 ♂♂, 8♀♀, same data as holotype, bearing the following label: 'PARATYPE [yellow], Termitopulex sinensis sp. n., Song & Li det. 2014, SNUC’. (SNUC, KUM).

Comparative notes.

Termitopulex sinensis can be readily separated from the only Asian congener Termitopulex omaniensis Kistner by the posterior margin of abdominal tergite VIII being broadly concave and the different abdominal macrochaetotaxy. The new species differs from other species of the genus by the different macrochaetotaxy of abdomen as well as the shape of aedeagus and spermatheca.

Description.

Body (Figs 4A, 5C) shining, smooth. Coloration: fore body and legs yellowish-brown; abdomen yellowish-brown, with tergites VI–VIII darker.

Head (Fig. 4A) subquadrate in form; slightly longer than wider, about 0.92 times as wide as long; with 4 macrosetae on disc and 1 each along the lateral margins. Mandibles with apical teeth elongate. Pronotum (Fig. 4A) slightly wider than long, about 1.06 times as wide as long; with 6 pairs of macrosetae, with a row of 4 macrosetae along the anterior margin, 4 on disc and 2 each along the lateral margins. Elytra (Fig. 4A) wider than long; disc sparsely covered with macrosetae. Abdomen widest at segments III–V; posterior margin of tergite VIII (Fig. 4B) broadly concave. Macrochaetotaxy of abdominal tergites II–VIII: 2, 4, 4, 4, 4, 2 (very short), 6; inner paratergites without macrosetae but covered with brown setae; macrochaetotaxy of outer paratergites III–VII as follow: 2, 1-2, 1-2, 0, 0.

Male. Sternite VIII rounded at apex; shaped as in Fig. 4D; with 6 pairs of macrosetae. Median lobe of aedeagus and paramere shaped as in Fig. 4 E–F.

Female. Posterior margin of sternite VIII (Fig. 4C) nearly rounded; with 4 pairs of macrosetae. Spermatheca shaped as in Fig. 4G.

Measurements.

Male: BL: 2.08-2.31; FBL: 0.88-0.92; HL: 0.32; HW: 0.29; PL: 0.32-0.33; PW: 0.34-0.35; HW/HL: 0.92; PW/PL: 1.06-1.08; HW/PW: 0.85-0.88. Female: BL: 2.38-2.76; HL: 0.32-0.35; HW: 0.31-0.32; PL: 0.32-0.37; PW: 0.34-0.38; HW/HL: 0.89-0.96; PW/PL: 1.03-1.08; HW/PW: 0.82-0.84.

Distribution.

Southwest China: Yunnan.

Symbiotic host.

Macrotermes sp.

Etymology.

Named after the type locality.