Tmesiphodimerus sinensis Yin and Coulon

Yin, Zi-Wei, Coulon, Georges & Li, Li-Zhen, 2013, Description of two new species of the genus Tmesiphodimerus gen. n. (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) from South Asia, Zootaxa 3694 (4), pp. 336-342 : 339-341

Tmesiphodimerus sinensis Yin and Coulon , new species

( Figs 1 A, 3)

Type material (2 ♂♂). Holotype: CHINA: ♂, labeled ‘ China: Hainan, Diaoluo Shan / pass to holiday village, 18°41′ / 57″N, 109°52′42″E, 600–1000 / m, moist leaf litter, sifted, / 26.iv.2012, Zi-Wei Yin leg.’ (SNUC). Paratype: CHINA: ♂ [disarticulated specimen preserved in Euparal], labeled ‘ China: Hainan, Jianfeng Ling / Mingfeng Valley, 18°44′33″N / 108°50′16″E, alt. 1000 m, / leaf litter, collected by hand / 15.v.2011, Wen-Xuan Bi leg.’ (SNUC).

Diagnosis. Reddish brown; length 2.69–2.77 mm. Dorsal surfaces of head, pronotum, elytra and abdomen covered with dense, long setae. Apical four antennomeres enlarged, antennomeres IX the largest, IX and XI modified with a disc-shaped projection. Maxillary palpomeres II distinctly projected apicolaterally. Aedeagus with elongate parameres.

Description. Male. Length 2.69–2.77 mm. Head transverse, HL 0.45–0.46 mm, HW 0.53–0.54 mm; eyes each composed of more than 105 facets. Antennomeres IX and XI ( Fig. 3 A) each with one disc-shaped projection. Maxillary palpomeres II distinctly projected apicolaterally ( Fig. 3 B). Pronotum slightly wider than long, PL 0.55– 0.56 mm, PW 0.59–0.60 mm, roundly expanded at lateral margins. Elytra wider than long, EL 0.71–0.73 mm, EW 1.12–1.13 mm. Abdomen broad at base and narrowed apically, AL 0.98–1.02 mm, AW 1.10–1.12 mm. Sternite IX as in Fig. 3 C. Aedeagal length 0.40 mm, median lobe ( Figs 3 D–F) nearly symmetric dorsoventrally, parameres ( Figs 3 G–H) symmetric, elongate.

Female. Unknown.

Comparative notes. The new species can be separated from the only congener, T. malaysianus (described below) by the greater size (2.69–2.77 mm), dorsal surface of the body covered with long setae, the antennomeres IX and XI each with a disc-shaped projection, the much more prolonged apicolateral margins of the maxillary palpomeres II, and the different aedeagal structures. Tmesiphodimerus malaysianus is smaller in size (2.44 mm), the dorsal surface of the body is covered with much short setae, the antennomeres IX and XI are simple, and the maxillary palpomeres are less prolonged at apicolateral margins.

Distribution. South China: Hainan Island.

Biology. The adults were collected from leaf litter of mixed evergreen forests.

Etymology. The new species is named after the country where the type locality is located.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Dorsal habitus of Tmesiphodimerus sinensis (A) and T. malaysianus (B). Scales (mm): 0.5.

FIGURE 3. Diagnostic features of Tmesiphodimerus sinensis. A. Antenna. B. Maxillary palpus. C. Sternite IX. D. Aedeagus, in dorsal view. E. Same, in lateral view. F. Same, in ventral view. G. Parameres, in lateral view. H. Same, in ventral view. Scales (mm): A, D – F = 0.2; B, G, H = 0.1; C = 0.05.