Pselaphodes posticus, Huang & Li & Yin, 2018

Huang, Meng-Chi, Li, Li-Zhen & Yin, Zi-Wei, 2018, Eleven new species and a new country record of Pselaphodes (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) from China, with a revised checklist of world species, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 58 (2), pp. 457-478 : 470-471

Pselaphodes posticus sp. nov.

( Figs 13A , 14 )

Type material ( 1 ex.). HOLOTYPE: ♁, CHINA: ‘ China:W. Jiangxi, Yichun City (Ṙƌffl), Mingyueshan National Park (fiĦƜḄỸŔŴẌů), 27°35′43-41″N, 114°16′29-05″E, along path in mixed forest, bamboo, leaf litter, sifted, 700–1150 m, 13.vii.2013, Song, Yin, Yu leg.’ ( SNUC).

Diagnosis of male. Length 2.93 mm; antennomere IX broadly triangular, with blunt projection on upper surface, antennomere X with distinct projection at base, and small spine at mesal margin; mesotrochanter with three short ventral spines, mesofemur with tiny ventral spines; metafemur strongly setose along ventral margin, with large protuberance at apical third.

Description. Male ( Fig. 13A ). Body reddish brown, BL 2.93 mm. Head as long as wide, HL 0.64 mm, HW 0.64 mm; each eye composed of about 40 facets. Antennomeres IX–XI ( Fig. 14A ) forming distinct club, antennomere IX nearly triangular, with blunt projection on upper surface, antennomere X with distinct broad projection at base, and small protuberance at mesal margin. Pronotum ( Fig. 14B ) wider than long, PL 0.62 mm, PW 0.70 mm, angularly expanded at anterolateral margins. Elytra wider than long, EL 0.85 mm, EW 1.16 mm. Metaventral processes ( Fig. 14C ) broad and long, narrowed at apex. Protrochanter with distinct ventral spine, profemur ( Fig. 14D ) with long ventral spine; protibia ( Fig. 14E ) with small projection at apex; mesotrochanter ( Fig. 14F ) with three short ventral spines, mesofemur with tiny ventral spines; metafemur ( Fig. 14G ) with long setae along ventral margin, and large, blunt projection near apical third. Abdomen broad at base and narrowed apically, AL 0.82 mm, AW 1.17 mm. Sternite IX ( Fig. 14H ) semi-membranous. Length of aedeagus ( Figs 14 I–K) 0.56 mm, median lobe strongly asymmetric, parameres elongate, endophallus composed of two elongate sclerites.

Female. Unknown.

Comparative notes. The new species is placed as a member of the P. walkeri species group based on the asymmetrical male antennomere VII. Males of the new species can be readily separated from those of similar congeners by the unique shape of the antennomeres IX–XI, and the strongly setose and projected metafemur.

Etymology. The specific epithet is Latin adjective referring to the strongly modified metafemur in the male of the new species.

Distribution. China: Jiangxi.

Figures

Fig 14. Male diagnostic features of Pselaphodes posticus 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 – metatrochanter and metafemur; H – sternite IX; I–K – aedeagus, in dorsal (I), lateral (J), and ventral (K) view. Scale bar: 0.3 mm in A–B, D, F–G; 0.2 mm in C, I–K; 0.1 mm in E, H.

Fig. 13. Dorsal habitus of Pselaphodes males. A – P. posticussp. nov; B – P. prominulussp. nov. Scale bar: 1 mm.