Hesperus birmanus Cameron, 1932

Cai, Yu-Jie, Li, Yue-Yang & Tang, Liang, 2024, New species group and two new species of the genus Hesperus from China (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Philonthina), Zootaxa 5474 (5), pp. 550-562 : 551-553

Hesperus birmanus Cameron, 1932

(Chinese name: aeDz刃Ḇdzûà)

( Figs 1, 2 , 13, 19 , 25–29)

Hesperus birmanus Cameron, 1932: 160 ; Scheerpeltz, 1933: 1372; Scheerpeltz, 1971: 167.

Material examined. China: Hainan: 1♀, Jianfengling N. R ., alt. 950m, 30.IV.2012, Peng & Dai leg. ( SHNU) ; Yunnan: 1♂, Jinghong, Nabanhe N. R ., 29.IX.2009, MENG Ling-Zeng leg. ( SHNU); 1♀, Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna , Yexianggu, 07.X.2014, Zhong Peng leg. ( SHNU) ; 1♀, Xishuangbanna , Nabanhe N. R ., 18. VI.2009, MENG Ling-Zeng leg. ( SHNU); 1♀, Lianghe County, Mengyang Town , 24°33′28.97″N, 98°16′11.41″E, alt. 550– 1633m, VI –XI.2022; Lin Yicheng leg. ( SHNU).

Redescription. Measurements of male: BL: 10.28 mm, FL: 5.27 mm. HL: 1.12 mm, HW: 1.82 mm, EYL: 0.75 mm, TL: 0.3 mm, PL: 1.85 mm, PW: 1.75 mm, EL: 2.52 mm, EW: 2.8 mm. HW/HL: 1.62, TL/EYL: 0.40, PL/PW: 1.06, EL/EW: 0.90.

Measurements of female: BL: 12.40–12.68 mm, FL: 5.27–5.35 mm. HL: 1.12–1.14 mm, HW: 1.82–1.83 mm, EYL: 0.72–0.77 mm, TL: 0.27–0.28 mm, PL: 1.98–1.99 mm, PW: 1.85–1.86 mm, EL: 2.67–2.69 mm, EW: 2.90– 2.94 mm. HW/HL: 1.59–1.62, TL/EYL: 0.36–0.38, PL/PW: 1.07, EL/EW: 0.92.

The external characters of adult are provided in the original description ( Cameron 1932). Therefore, just supplemental description for the male sexual characters is provided below.

Male. Protarsomeres 1–4 moderately dilated, heart-shaped; sternite VIII with posterior margin emarginate at middle; sternite IX ( Fig.28 ) with narrow, moderately long, asymmetrical basal portion, with apex deeply emarginated; tergite X ( Fig. 29 ) triangular; aedeagus ( Figs 25, 26 ) similar to those of H. wemmeri and H. rougemonti , but with more obtusely pointed apex of median lobe in lateral view; paramere ( Fig. 27 ) slenderer, three setae on each side situated apically.

Distribution. This species is distributed in southwestern and southern China (Hainan, Yunnan), northeastern India (Assam, Sadiya), southeastern Myanmar (Karen Mts), northeastern Thailand and West Malaysia. New to China.

Diagnosis. The collecting locality of the male specimen is about 850 km away from the type locality in northeastern India (Assam) and about 600 km away from the type locality in southeastern Myanmar (Karen Mts). The specimen from China fits the original description ( Cameron 1932) in all external characters. We consider this a tentative new record for China as the genitalia characters of type material are not available for study. Amongst the species of the Hesperus borneensis group with black head and pronotum, H. birmanus may be readily recognized from H. javanus and H. borneensis by only one outer antennomere ( Fig. 13 ) yellowish (two outer antennomeres yellowish in H. borneensis and three outer antennomeres yellowish in H. javanus )

Figures

FIGURES 1–6. Habitus. 1, 2—Hesperus birmanus; 3, 4—H. flexibilis; 5, 6—H. susannekontrusae. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURES 13–24. Characters of Hesperus. 13–18—antennae; 19–24—head; 13, 19—H. birmanus; 14, 20—H. flexibilis; 15, 21—H. susannekontrusae; 16, 22—H. watanabei; 17, 23—H. babai; 18, 24—H. pengi. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURES 25–34. Characters of Hesperus. 25–29—H. birmanus; 30–34—H. flexibilis; 25, 30—aedeagus in lateral view; 26, 31—aedeagus in ventral view; 27, 32—paramere; 28, 33—sternite IX of male; 29, 34—tergite X of male. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.