Tachinus (s. str.) armatus Feng, Li & Schuelke

Feng, Ting, Schuelke, Michael & Li, Li-Zhen, 2013, A taxonomic revision of the silphaeformis species-group of the genus Tachinus Gravenhorst (Staphylinidae, Tachyporinae) from China, ZooKeys 359, pp. 53-99 : 55-56

Tachinus (s. str.) armatus Feng, Li & Schuelke sp. n. Figs 1A, 1B, 9A, 10A, 11A, 13A, 15A, 18A, 20A, 21A

Type locality.

China, Sichuan, Nanping, Jiuzhaigou Natural Reserve.

Type material.

Holotype: ♂, CHINA: Sichuan Prov., Aba A. R., Nanping County, Jiuzhaigou, 27.vii.2001, LI & ZHAO leg. (SNUC). Paratypes: 1 ♀, same label data as holotype (SNUC); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, CHINA: N-Sichuan Pass btw. Songpan & Nanping, E side, 3450-3500 m, 21.VI.2002, leg. S. Murzin & I. Shokhin (cSch).

Description.

Measurements of holotype: BL 4.00;FL 3.06; PL 0.83; EL 1.45; SEL 0.11; HW 0.83; PW 1.33; EW 1.50; relative length of antennomeres I–XI: 23: 14: 15: 10: 15: 15: 15: 12: 12: 12: 26. Measurements of female paratype: BL 4.89; FL 3.61; FL 3.61; PL 0.89; EL 1.67; SEL 0.28; HW 0.89; PW 1.45; EW 1.72; relative length of antennomeres I–XI: 23: 16: 16: 10: 13: 12: 12: 12: 10: 12: 26.

Body (Figs 1A, 1B) dark brown; mouthparts and elytra reddish brown; basal four antennomeres and legs reddish yellow.

Head shorter than wide, HW: PW = 0.58-0.62, disc with microsculpture consisting of irregular striae, punctation fine and sparse. Antennae moderately short, antennomeres X slightly shorter than wide.

Pronotum distinctly wider than long (PL: PW = 0.61-0.62); apical margin transversely concave, base slightly convex; surface with microsculpture consisting of irregular transverse striae, punctation slightly finer than that of head.

Elytra slightly elongate; EL: EW = 0.96; EL: PL = 1.73; EW: PW = 1.13 in male; EL: EW = 0.97; EL: PL = 1.88; EW: PW = 1.19 in female. Surface with microsculpture composed of fine meshes, punctation coarser than that of head.

Surface of abdomen with microsculpture radiating from punctures.

Male. Posterior margin of sternite VII (Figs 9A, 10A) broadly and deeply emarginate, apical margin bent ventrad, with moderately broad area of coarse granules. Tergite VIII (Fig. 11A) with four short lobes, median lobes slightly longer than lateral ones. Sternite VIII (Fig. 13A) broad. Median lobe of aedeagus (Fig. 15A) broad and projecting beyond apex of parameres, parameres fused, forming one apically truncate plate.

Female. Body (Fig. 1B) slightly larger than that of male. Elytra only slightly longer than in male; inner part of posterior margin produced, forming a distinct angle. Microsculpture more distinct than in male. Lobes of tergite VIII (Fig. 18A) completely reduced, posterior margin sinuate, lateral angles each with pair of long setae. Sternite VIII (Fig. 20A) with fimbriate median lobes fused and as long as sublateral ones.

Etymology.

The specific name (Latin adjective), meaning “armed”, refers to the conspicuous secondary sexual features of the male.

Remarks.

Males can be separated from those of the other species by the unique shape of the parameres and of the apex of the median lobe of the aedeagus. Females are distinguished by the shape of tergite VIII, and by the reduced median lobes of the female sternite VIII.