Pselaphodes bagmatius, Huang, Meng-Chi & Yin, Zi-Wei, 2019

Huang, Meng-Chi & Yin, Zi-Wei, 2019, The Pselaphodes (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) of Nepal, Revue suisse de Zoologie 126 (2), pp. 165-196 : 168

Pselaphodes bagmatius sp. nov.

Figs 1B , 3 A-L

Type material (3 specimens): Holotype; MHNG- ENTO-43966; ♂; NEPAL, ‘ NEPAL ( Prov. Bagmati), Malemchi, 2900 m, 14.IV.81, Löbl & Smetana’. – Paratypes; MHNG-ENTO-43967 to 43968; 2 ♀♀; NEPAL, same label data as holotype ( MHNG) .

Type locality: Nepal, Sindhupalchok District, Melamchi, 2900 m alt.

Diagnosis of males: Length 3.06 mm. Antennomeres 9 with disc-shaped process at apex, antennomeres 10 with small projection at base. Metaventral processes long, apically broadened. Protrochanters with small ventral spine, profemora with big, blunt ventral spine, protibiae with slender spine at apex; mesotrochanters with acute ventral spine, mesotibiae with small projection at apex; metacoxae with sharp ventral spine. Median lobe of aedeagus narrowed apically; parameres slender at base and broadening apically.

Description: Male ( Fig. 1B ). Body reddish brown, BL 3.06 mm. Head wider than long, HL 0.58 mm, HW 0.62 mm; each eye composed of about 30 facets; with well-developed ocular canthus. Antennomeres ( Fig. 3A ) 9-11 forming distinct club, antennomeres 9 with disc-shaped process at apex, antennomeres 10 with small, lamina-like projection at base. Pronotum ( Fig. 3B ) longer than wide, PL 0.68 mm, PW 0.65 mm, rounded at anterolateral margins, strongly constricted at apical third. Elytra wider than long, EL 0.78 mm, EW 1.20 mm. Metaventral processes ( Fig. 3C ) long, apically expanded. Protrochanters with small ventral spine, profemora with blunt ventral spine ( Fig. 3D ), protibiae ( Fig. 3E ) with slender spine at apex; mesotrochanters ( Fig. 3F ) with acute ventral spine; mesotibiae ( Fig. 3G ) with small projection at apex; metacoxae ( Fig. 3H ) with sharp ventral spine. Abdomen broad at base and narrowing apically, AL 1.02 mm, AW 1.40 mm. Sternite IX semi-membranous, shape as in Fig. 3I . Length of aedeagus ( Figs 3 J-L) 0.74 mm; median lobe strongly asymmetric, narrowed at apex; parameres narrowed at base and broadening apically; endophallus composed of one elongate and one short sclerites.

Female. Each eye composed of about 30 facets; antennae simple. Measurements: BL 3.14-3.16 mm, HL 0.62-0.65 mm, HW 0.58-0.61 mm, PL 0.68-0.70 mm, PW 0.61-0.67 mm, EL 0.68-0.74 mm, EW 1.34- 1.38 mm, AL 1.09-1.14 mm, AW 1.40-1.52 mm.

Distribution: Nepal, Bagmati.

Comparative notes: Among the Nepalese Pselaphodes , the males of 15 species (out of 17 spp.) share the following traits: i) a modified base of antennomere 9, ii) a modified apex of antennomere 10, and iii) an endophallus of the aedeagus composed of one long and one short sclerite. These species seem to have undergone a relatively rapid speciation and form a group of putatively closely related species (here termed as ‘ P. bagmatius species-group’). Pselaphodes bagmatius belongs to this group and can be readily separated from all similar congeners based on the unique spination of the legs, the shapes of the antennal club, the metaventral process, and the aedeagus.

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the type locality of the new species, i.e., Bagmati Province.

Figures

Fig 1. Dorsal habitus of Pselaphodes males. (A) P. ampliatus sp. nov. (B) P. bagmatius sp. nov. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Fig 3. Male diagnostic features of Pselaphodes bagmatius sp. nov. (A) Antennal club. (B) Pronotum. (C) Metaventral process, in lateral view. (D) Protrochanter and profemur. (E) Apex of protibia. (F) Mesotrochanter and mesofemur. (G) Apex of mesotibia. (H) Metatrochanter and metafemur. (I) Sternite IX. (J-L) Aedeagus, in dorsal (J), lateral (K), and ventral (L) view. Scale bars: 0.3 mm in A-B, D, F, H; 0.2 mm in C, J-L; 0.1 mm in E, G, I.