Pselaphodes hui Yin & Li

Yin, Zi-Wei, Li, Li-Zhen & Gu, Fu-Kang, 2012, Taxonomic study on the genus Pselaphodes Westwood (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae) from China. Part III, Zootaxa 3189, pp. 29-38 : 34-35

Pselaphodes hui Yin & Li , new species

( Figs. 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29)

Type material (2 3). Holotype: 3, labeled ‘ CHINA: Guangxi Province / Jinxiu County / Dayaoshan Mt., 7 km / 21.vii.2011, 1,200–1,400 m / J. Y. Hu & Z. W. Yin leg.’. Paratype: 1 3, same label data as holotype.

Diagnosis. Body reddish-brown, medium-sized; postocular margins rounded; antennomeres IX–XI strongly enlarged, with antennomere IX larger than X and XI; pronotum with rounded lateral margins; metaventral processes short, blunt and serrate (in lateral view); pro- and metatibiae with large blunt apical projection; aedeagus with symmetric median lobe.

Description. Male ( Fig. 2). Length 2.58–2.65 mm. Head as long as wide, HL 0.57–0.58 mm, HW 0.55–0.57 mm; genae rounded; eyes large, each composed of about 35 facets. Antennae with scapus longest, antennomeres III–IV strongly, and II, V–VIII slightly elongate, IX–XI clubbed, each enlarged, antennomeres IX with weak protuberance on mesoapical margin (Fig. 5).

Pronotum (Fig. 8) about as long as wide, PL 0.55–0.57 mm, PW 0.56–0.58 mm, with lateral margins rounded. Elytra wider than long, EL 0.79–0.82 mm, EW 0.98–0.99 mm. Metaventral horn-like processes short (Fig. 11). Legs elongate; protibiae with large mesoapical projection (Fig. 14); protrochanters with single small spine at ventral margin; profemora with blunt large spine ventrally (Fig. 17); mesotrochanters spinose (Fig. 20); metatibiae robust, with blunt apical projection.

Abdomen large, AL 0.67–0.68 mm, AW 0.88–0.90 mm. Sternite IX as in Fig. 23. Aedeagus with median lobe symmetric (Figs. 26, 29), 0.51 mm long.

Female. Unknown.

Habitat. The individuals were sifted from a leaf litter of a mixed coniferous broad-leaved forest.

Distribution. South China: Guangxi

Comparative notes. The new species is similar to P. condylus in having the antennomere IX with a discshaped mesoapical protuberance, and the legs share a similar spine pattern. The two species can be readily distinguished by the smaller body size, indistinct apical protuberance of the antennomere IX, pro- and metatibiae each with a large and blunt apical projection, and robust hind legs in P. hui . Pselaphodes condylus is much larger in size (ca. 3.5 mm), the apical protuberance of the antennomeres IX is prominent, all tibiae lack an apical projection, and the hind legs are more slender. Pselaphodes hui is also similar to P. yanbini Yin et al., 2011 by the symmetric median lobe of the aedeagus. The apical portion of the median lobe is simple in P. hui , while in P. yanbini it is trilobed.

Etymology. The species name is dedicated to Jia-Yao Hu, co-collector of the type material.