Aphodius (Liothorax) plagiatus sinoplagiatus subsp. nov.

Figs 22 j, k, 26 f, g, 30 c

Type material examined.

Holotype ♀ Amdo / 1884 / Przevalsky (printed label), Zaidam / Burch Budde / 1-11 - 000 // Aphodius / plagiatus / var. (handwritten) (ZIN) . Paratypes: 1 ♂, data as holotype (originally on the same pin) (ZIN); 1 ♂ China Qinghai / N. Qinghai Hu / Gangca. Roadside / pool Printed label and a further label with the same data in Chinese. 37 ° 18 ' N, 100 ° 11 ' E / 3370 m. 5. vi. 2013, / R. B. Angus, F. L. Jia & Y. Zhang. // A. plagiatus (L.) / Chromosome prep. / 6. vi 2013. / R. B. Angus // JFM 130815017 (printed labels) (NHMUK) ; 1 ♀ Cina-Gansu / Dingxi / 7.8 – 12.8 1996 / E. Kučera leg. // Ex coll. David Král / (NMP) .

Differential diagnosis.

Aphodius (L.) plagiatus sinoplagiatus differs from A. (L.) p. plagiatus by its very glossy varnished appearance, the slightly larger aedeagus (length ca 1.25–1.4 mm) with abruptly widened paramere apices (Fig. 22 j, k), and above all by the strikingly larger spermatheca, length ca 0.42 mm (Fig. 26 f, g), as against ca 0.36 mm in A. (L.) p. plagiatus (Fig. 26 a – e).

Description.

Length: 4.1–4.4 mm (♂), 4.1–4.6 mm (♀), width 1.8–2.0 mm (♂), 1.8–2.0 mm. Head: glossy black, sparsely double punctate, clypeus bulging upwards, frontoclypeal suture without tubercles, straight over middle ¾, effaced laterally. Outer angles of anterior emargination rounded.

Pronotum: highly arched transversely, lateral margins not visible from above medially. Surface sparsely double punctate, the larger punctures slightly stronger than on head, the Gansu male more heavily punctate. Basal margin largely unbordered, the raised margin extending ca ¼ of the way in from the hind angles.

Elytra black, highly polished (varnished), as scutellum. Metaventrite (♂ and ♀) as in the nominal subspecies. Legs mid- to dark brown, longer mesotibial spur longer than basal segment of mesotarsus.

Aedeagus (Fig. 22 j, k) length 1.25–1.4 mm, outer apical membranous part abruptly widened.

Spermatheca (Fig. 26 f, g) length ca 0.42 mm.

Etymology.

sinoplagiatus is an adjective indicating its Chinese distribution.

Remark.

The aedeagus of 2 ♂♂ from near Beijing (Fig. 22 i) resembles that of L. p. sinoplagiatus in its widened paramere apices, but is smaller, length ca 1.1 mm.