Himallaphus chehara, Löbl & Kodada, 2021

Löbl, Ivan & Kodada, Ján, 2021, On the Himalayan Pselaphini (Insecta: Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), Biodiversität und Naturausstattung im Himalaya VII, Erfurt: Naturkundemuseum, pp. 349-368 : 354

Himallaphus chehara n. sp. ( Figs 15, 16 )

Holotype ♂: INDIA Darjeeling Distr., Tiger Hill 2200-2300 m 16.X.78, Besuchet LÖbl # 13 ( MHNG) .

Paratypes: 5 ♂, 6 ♀, INDIA, with the same locality data as the holotype ( MHNG) ; 1 ♂, with the same data but 2500-2600 m, 18.X. ( MHNG) ; 1 ♀, with the same locality data but 2200 m, 7.X.1967, Gy. TopÁl ( HNMB) .

Etymology. The species epithet means face in Hindi.

Description. Length 1.60-1.85 mm. Head about 1.4 times as long as wide. Frontal ridges extended to near level of posterior eye margins, narrowed posteriad. Frontal sulcus parallel-sided, not widened posterior antennal tubercles, reaching mesal ridge about at level of anterior eye margin. Mesal ridge delimited by narrow striae converging posteriad, converging posteriad and forming sulcus extended to neck constriction. Setose patch in frontal sulcus about 0.08-0.09 mm long. Eyes in level of head mid-length, not prominent, with nine or ten facets. Temples appearing smooth, very finely punctate, with margins rounded in dorsal view, lower parts explanate, separated from upper parts by striae. Neck and area near neck with inconspicuous mesal carina. Temples and vertex anterior neck with inconspicuous, oblique and appressed pubescence. Segment IV of maxillary palpus with peduncle longer than enlarged apical area (ratio 21/15). Length/width ratio of antennomeres as: I 28/9: II 13/8: III 9/5: IV 9/5: V 9/5: VI 9/5: VII 9/5: VIII 9/5: IX 12/7: X 14/8: XI 26/12. Pronotum slightly longer than wide, strongly convex, nearly long as head, with evenly rounded lateral margins; antebasal sulcus sharply delimited, longitudinal carinae dense, reachingnearly anterior pronotal margin, striae between carinae narrower than carinae. Pubescence rather long. Elytron impressed toward base, withbasal margin carinate, sutural and discal carinae parallel, discal carina slightly wider than sutural carina and slightly bent; lateral margins throughout convex, carinate in basal third, pubescence rather long, to part longer than pronotal pubescence.

Male characters. Metaventrite with mesal impression delimited by short admesal ridges diverging apically, not reaching metacoxae, sharp marginate, bearing at inner sides setae not forming compact patches. Middle of ventrite II with narrow, shallow impression delimited by dense oblique setae. Aedeagus ( Figs 15, 16 ) 0.37-0.40 mm long. Ventral process narrow, at apex about as wide as fifth of median lobe. Parameres narrow and nearly straight in dorsal and lateral views. Internal sac without sclerotized pieces, with two narrow tufts of short spines overlapping denticulate lobe.

Measurements of the holotype (in mm). Total length 1.83; length/width of head 0.38/0.27, pronotum 0.34/0.32, elytra 0.32/0.65 (0.22), tergite I 0.54/0.77; length of segment IV of maxillary palpus 0.38, length of aedeagus 0.40.

Diagnosis. Upper part of temples and vertex smooth. Contours of temples rounded. Eyes not prominent. Vertexal sulcus reaching neck constriction. Maxillary palpomere IV with peduncle longer than enlarged apical area. Base of elytra impressed, lateral elytral margins carinate. Ventral process of aedeagus narrow, about as fifth of median lobe. Parameres narrow. Internal sac without sclerites, with two tufts of short spines.

Distribution. India, West Bengal: Darjeeling District.

Figures

Figs 12-16. Aedeagi in dorsal and lateral views; 12. Himallaphus arko n. sp.; 13, 14. Himallaphus bahan n. sp.; 15, 16. Himallaphus chehara n. sp.; Scales = 0.1 mm.