Batriscenellus carltoni Jiang and Yin, 2017

Yin, Zi-Wei, 2017, Eight new species and two new records of Batriscenellus Jeannel (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) from China and India, Zootaxa 4318 (3), pp. 561-575 : 562-565

Batriscenellus carltoni Jiang and Yin , new species

( Figs 1 B, 2B, 2D, 2G–H, 5A–C)

Type material (5 exs). Holotype: ♂: ‘ INDIA: Meghalaya, West Garo Hills dist., Tura Peak , near summit, 25°30'16"N, 90°14'38"E, 1200 m, 17.X.2004, #5b / Leg. G. Cuccodoro, C. Carlton, R. Leschen & D. Eme’.

(MHNG). Paratypes: 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, same label data as the holotype (MHNG, SNUC); 1 ♂: ‘ INDIA: Assam, North Cachar Hills dist., Mt Borail, trail Jatinga –summit, 650 m, 28.X.2004, 25°07'07"N, 93°02'13"E, #16c / Leg. G. Cuccodoro, C. Carlton, R. Leschen & D. Eme. ’ ( MHNG) .

Diagnosis of male. Dorsal surface of head, pronotum, and tergite IV coarsely punctate; antennomeres subcylindrical; elytra with deep sutural and discal striae; all legs simple; tergites VI–VII modified, VI concave, with two long lateral projections, VII strongly concave at base; aedeagus with relatively short and broad ventral and dorsal lobes.

Description. Male ( Fig. 1 B). Body reddish-brown, length 1.97–2.04 mm. Head subrectangular, about as long as wide, HL 0.44–0.45 mm, HW 0.46–0.47 mm, dorsal surface coarsely punctate, with large and round punctures ( Fig. 2 B); vertex lacking median ridge, U-shaped sulcus only distinct at anterior part; antennomeres subcylindrical, clubs loosely formed by apical three antennomeres; each eye composed of about 30 facets. Pronotum about as long as wide, PL 0.44–0.45 mm, PW 0.46–0.47 mm, coarsely punctate ( Fig. 2 B). Elytra wider than long, EL 0.66–0.68 mm, EW 0.77–0.80 mm, narrowed at base, discal striae straight, extending to near elytral apex; sutural striae complete. All legs simple, lacking modification. Abdomen wider than long, AL 0.43–0.46 mm, AW 0.71–0.72 mm, coarsely punctate and with long setae; tergite VI ( Fig. 2 D) strongly concave at middle, receiving large middle projection of tergite VII ( Fig. 2 D). Aedeagus ( Fig 2 G–H) strongly asymmetric, length 0.37 mm, ventral lobe elongate, broad at base and narrowing toward apex, curved leftwards in ventral view, dorsal lobe much longer than ventral lobe, bifurcate near middle, strongly curved ventrally.

Female. Similar to male in general appearance; each eye composed of about 25 facets; tergites VI and VII lacking modification; tergite VIII semicircular and covered with large round punctures ( Fig. 5 A); sternite VIII transverse, rounded and covered with large round punctures ( Fig. 5 B). Measurements: BL 1.91–1.97 mm, HL 0.43–0.44 mm, HW 0.44–0.45 mm, PL 0.44–0.45 mm, PW 0.45–0.46 mm, EL 0.61–0.64 mm, EW 0.76–0.77 mm, AL 0.43–0.44 mm, AW 0.71–0.72 mm. Female genital complex transverse, well-sclerotized ( Fig. 5 C), width 0.42 mm.

Comparative Notes. The new species is placed as a member of the B. besucheti group by the coarsely punctate head, pronotum, and tergite IV, and modified male tergites VI–VII; it can be readily separated from B. besucheti by the simple male protarsomeres I and straight discal striae on the elytra, and from B. cuccodoroi and B. loebli by the male tergites VI–VII being much less strongly modified, and the aedeagus with an exceptionally elongate dorsal lobe.

Distribution. India: Meghalaya and Assam.

Etymology. The new specific name is dedicated to Christopher E. Carlton, co-collector of the holotype.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Male habitus of Batriscenellus besucheti (with right protarsi enlarged) (A), and B. carltoni (B). Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 2. Diagnostic features of male Batriscenellus (A, C, E – F. B. besucheti; B, D, G – H. B. carltoni). A – B. Head dorsum and pronotum. C – D. Abdominal tergites IV – VII, in dorsal view. E – H. Aedeagus, in lateral (E, G) and ventral (F, H) views. Scale bars: 0.2 mm in A – D; 0.1 mm in E – H.

FIGURE 5. Diagnostic features of female Batriscenellus (A – C. B. carltoni; D – F, B. cuccodoroi). A, D. Tergite VIII. B, E. Sternite VIII. C, F. Genital complex. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.