Paussus wakaharai Maruyama & Nakase, 2023

Nagel, Peter, 2024, The Paussus (Scaphipaussus) lanxangensis species group of Indomalayan ant nest beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Paussinae, Paussini) with description of a new species, Zootaxa 5501 (3), pp. 447-457 : 452

Paussus wakaharai Maruyama & Nakase, 2023 [DP 15 July 2023]

Male holotype specimen only.

Type locality: Laos, Xiengkhouang prov. , hot spring, 25 km SE of Ban Ban, 19°33’24.09’’N 103°41’26.17’’, 570 m a.s.l., 28 iv–2 v 2014, Y.Nakase leg.

Depository: KUM

BL 3.95 mm.

The slight discolouration of the specimen was attributed by the original authors to a possible effect of the preservation fluid or to the possibility that the specimen was teneral. The latter seems at least equally probable because the illustration of the specimen displays several edges at the antennal club which may have well resulted from shrinking. This interpretation is supported by the remark that the holotype specimen has a fragile condition ( Maruyama & Nakase 2023, p. 1).

The marginal pygidial trichome was described as absent. The original description of the pubescence of the scape (antennomere 1) does not mention a subapical trichome brush. The authors classify the new species as “allied to P. lanxangensis Nagel, 2009 ” ( Maruyama & Nakase 2023, p. 1, title of account, see also introduction). Perhaps due to the fragile condition, no data were given on details of the mouthparts. The new species was not allocated to a subgenus or species group of Paussus .