Aploderus zhouae, Zheng & Li & Yan, 2018

Zheng, Fake, Li, Yujie & Yan, Xianghui, 2018, Two new species of the genus Aploderus Stephens (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) from China, Zoological Systematics 43 (2), pp. 215-220 : 217-218

Aploderus zhouae sp. nov. ( Figs 9–16 )

Diagnosis. This new species is closely similar to A. disparatus Zheng & Pu, 1999 from Sichuan, China, but can be distinguished from the latter by dorsal surface of head posteriorly without distinct median furrow; elytra yellow with larger subtriangular black marking extending from outer apical angle to apex of suture, and obviously different the shape of the aedeagus. This species also resembles A. endogaeus Assing, 2003 from Turkey, but aedeagus is distinctly different in shape.

Description. Male. Head, pronotum and abdomen black; elytra yellow with vaguely triangular black areas near scutelum, and with large subtriangular black marking extending from outer apical angle to apex of suture; antennae dark brown; maxillary and labial palpi and legs yellowish brown to dark brown.

Length 4.5–4.9 mm.

Head slightly narrower than pronotum (ratio 0.91); without posterior median sulcus; vertex and lateral areas with moderately coarse, but not dense punctation; intervals with vague microreticulation; frons with vague microreticulation and coarse, ill-defined punctation; eyes slightly large and convex, temples longer than eyes seen from above; Antennae with 1st segment as long as 2nd and 3rd combined; 2nd and 3rd elongate; 4th oblong; 5th as long as wide; 6th to 10th transverse; 11th about 1.57 times as long as 10th.

Pronotum transverse, about 1.37 times as broad as long, widest near anterior angles, shorter than elytra (ratio 0.57) and narrower than elytra (ratio 0.55); anterior angles produced forwards, posterior ones rounded; on either side of midline with ill-defined shallow impressions with clear microreticulation and a few coarse punctation; in lateral areas with moderately coarse, slightly sparse punctation and clear microreticulation.

Elytra elongate, about 1.08 times as long as broad, slightly widened apicad; punctuation coarse, dense and well-defined; intervas narrower than diameter of punctures; wings developed.

Abdomen narrower than elytra (ratio 0.96), widest at 5th to 7th segments; tergites with fine and sparse punctation and distinct microsculpture. 8th sternite with broadly and shallowly emarginate at apical margin. Aedeagus as in Figs 14–16 .

Female. Similar to male, but 8th sternite slightly arcuately produced at apical margin.

Material examined. Holotype ♂, China, Sichuan, Yele Nature Reserve , Mianning County (28°50'– 29°00'N, 101°59'– 102°16'E; elev. 2700–3200 m), 11 October. 2005, coll. Ming Zhou. Paratype. 1♀, locality ditto, 7 October 2005, coll. Fan Xiao.

Habitat and Distribution. The species was found in cow dung. It is present known from the type locality in western Sichuan .

Etymology. The specific epithet is patronymic in honor of the collector of the holotype, Miss Ming Zhou.

Figures

Figures 9–16. Aploderus zhouae sp. nov. 9. Habitus, male. 10–11. Forebody. 10. Male. 11. Female. 12–13. 8th sternite. 12. Male. 13. Female. 14–16. Aedeagus. 14. Ventral view. 15. Lateral view. 16. Dorsal view. Scale bars: 9 = 1 mm; 10–11 =500 µm; 12–13= 200µm; 14–16 =145µm.