Batraxis frontalis Wang and Yin

Wang, Dan & Yin, Zi-Wei, 2016, Supplement to the knowledge of the genus Batraxis Reitter (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) of China, Zootaxa 4179 (1), pp. 111-114 : 113-114

Batraxis frontalis Wang and Yin , new species

( Figs 1 B, 2D‒F, 2H)

Type material (1 ex.). Holotype: CHINA: Ƌ, labeled ‘ CHINA: Yunnan province, SHANZHI env., 24.VI.2007, JIZU

SHAN Mts. (鸡足山), 25°56.8'N, 100°23.9'E, 2000 m, J. Hájek & J. Růžička leg. [ Ch 44]’ ( NMPC). Diagnosis of male. Body with distinct pubescence; frons broad, with abrupt subantennal transverse sulcus; vertexal

foveae shallow; antennomeres XI large and stout, length/width = 1.34; median gular carina low, with two small gular

foveae; protrochanters slightly protuberant; tergite IV with broad basal sulcus, discal carinae short, widely separated;

aedeagus stout.

Description. Male ( Fig. 1 B). Body yellowish brown, moderately pubescent, length 2.04 mm. Head rectangular, slightly longer than wide, HL 0.48 mm, HW 0.44 mm, vertex moderately convex, with two shallow vertexal foveae; frons flattened and broad, subantennal transverse sulcus abrupt, indistinct at middle, vertexal sulcus shallow, its anterior margin merging with subantennal sulcus; each eye composed of about 30 facets; antennomeres III elongate, IV‒V slightly elongate, VI‒VIII as long as wide, IX‒X transverse, XI largest, stout, widest near basal 1/3; median gular carina low, with two small, separated gular foveae. Pronotum slightly wider than long, PL 0.42 mm, PW 0.45 mm, with small but distinct median antebasal fovea. Elytra wider than long, EL 0.58 mm, EW 0.74 mm, each elytron with two distinct foveae at base. Protrochanters slightly protuberant at ventral margin ( Fig. 2 H). Exposed portion of abdomen in dorsal view wider than long, AL 0.57 mm, AW 0.64 mm; tergite IV (first visible tergite) with broad basal sulcus; discal carinae short, widely separated, extending to apical one-fourth of tergal length, width between carinae 0.40 mm at apices, marginal carinae complete. Aedeagus ( Fig. 2 D‒F) 0.25 mm in length, stout, parameres distinctly exceeding apex of median lobe, apex flattened, each with three apical setae; endophallus comprises two pairs of symmetric lateral sclerites, small, forked median sclerite, and series of membranous structures.

Female. Unknown.

Comparative notes. Batraxis frontalis shares with B. gloriosa Wang & Yin , B. nanlingensis Wang & Yin , and B. minor Wang & Yin a broad head which is as wide as the pronotum. The new species can be readily separated from all these species by a more elongate overall body form, longer pubescence, much more elongate head, lack of the pronotal basal impression, and a much wider basal sulcus on tergite IV.

Distribution. Southwestern China: Yunnan.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the elongate and broad frons of the head.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Dorsal habitus of Batraxis males. A. B. tuberculata. B. B. frontalis. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 2. Male diagnostic features of Batraxis males. (A, B, D, E. Aedeagus, in dorsal view. C, F. Same, in lateral view. G, H. Protrochanter, in lateral view). A – C, G. B. tuberculata. D – F, H. B. frontalis. Scale bars: A ‒ F = 0.1 mm; G, H = 0.05 mm.