Thinodromus (s. str.) candidus Gildenkov, 2018

Gildenkov, M. Yu., 2018, A new species of the genus Thinodromus Kraatz, 1857 (Coleoptera: Staphilinidae: Oxytelinae) from China, Far Eastern Entomologist 356, pp. 17-20 : 18-19

Thinodromus (s. str.) candidus Gildenkov , sp. n.

Figs 1–4

TYPE MATERIAL. Holotype – male, China : Yunnan province, with label “ CHINA:

Yunnan [ CH 07-05], Dali Bai Auton Pref., Diancang Shan W Dali, 25°41´33´´N, 100°06´36´´E ,

2927 m, litter at moist escarpment sifted, under stones, 28. V.2007, M. Schülke” (now in

cMSch, but in future will be deposited in the Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt

Universität zu Berlin, Germany). Paratypes: China: 3♂, 5♀, 3 ex. with labels “ CHINA :

Yunnan [ CH 07-05], Dali Bai Auton Pref., Diancang Shan W Dali, 25°41´33´´N, 100°06´36´´E ,

2927 m, litter at moist escarpment sifted, under stones, 28.V.2007, M. Schülke” (2♂, 2♀ –

cMSch; 3 ex. – cMG); 1♀ with label “ CHINA: Yunnan [CH07-03], Dali Bai Auton Pref .,

Diancang Shan W Dali, 25°41´49´´N, 100°06´24´´E, 2970 m, sifted at rock edges and under small shrubs, 28.V.2007, M. Schülke ” (cMSch); 7♂♂, 7♀♀, 33 ex. with labels “ YUNNAN

2900 – 3500m | 27.01N 100.12E 1993 | YULONGSHAN mts. 24 – | Vít Kubáň leg. – 26/5.”

( 1♂, 1♀ – AMNH; 1♂, 1♀ – FMNH; 1♂, 1♀ – IZ-CAS; 1♂, 1♀ – MHNG; 33 ex. – NHMB;

1♂, 1♀ – NHMW ; 1♂, 1♀ – ZMUC ).

DESCRIPTION. MALE (holotype). Length about 3.2 mm. Body black except apices of tibia and tarsi dark brown; posterior inner angles of elytra yellow red, characteristic sutural spot present ( Fig. 1 ); integument shining. Body with short, light-coloured hairs.

Head transverse, ratio of its length (from posterior margin of head to anterior margin of clypeus) to maximum width about 27:37. Temples weakly developed, eyes large, convex, eye diameter in dorsal view about twice as long as temple ( Fig. 1 ). Head surface with distinct, large and dense punctation. Diameter of punctures about equal to that of eye facets, interspaces between punctures smaller than puncture diameter. Antennae rather short, antennomeres 1–7

elongate; segment 8 about as long as wide; segments 9–10 slightly transverse; segment 11

elongate, cone-shaped ( Fig. 1 ).

Pronotum rather narrow, ratio of length to maximum width about 30:39, with distinct,

large and dense punctation, similar to that on head ( Fig. 1 ). Base of pronotal disc with distinct,

horseshoe-shaped depression ( Fig. 1 ); central part of disc with 2 rather deep, symmetrical,

oval depressions.

Elytra rather wide, ratio of elytral length to their combined width about 53:62. Surface with distinct, large and rather dense punctation. Puncture diameter equal to that on head and pronotum, but interspaces slightly longer, about equal to puncture diameter ( Fig. 1 ).

Abdomen with delicate, fine and rather sparse punctation ( Fig. 1 ).

Aedeagus of characteristic structure ( Figs 2–3 ). Anterior sclerotised edge of paramere not extending onto its plane, posterior margin of paramere tapered in shape of angle, anterior shield of sac of aedeagus consisting of two rather short, narrow, straight plates ( Figs 2–3 ).

FEMALE. Similar to male in colouration and body proportions, sexual dimorphism absent.

Spermatheca equally divided ( Fig. 4 ).

DISTRIBUTION. China: Yunnan province.

ETYMOLOGY. From Latin candidus (“strikingly beautiful, beaming with beauty” rich black, shining, with a yellow red spot at the apex of the elytra in the sutural area).

aedeagus, dorsal view; 3 – same, lateral view; 4 – paratype, spermatheca, lateral view.

DIAGNOSIS. This species is apparently close to the Thinodromus lunatus species group,

which was recently reviewed ( Gildenkov, 2017 ). It differs markedly from all species of this group in having a distinct and large punctation on the body surface, most notably on the head and pronotum. The new species is most similar to T. (s. str.) socius (Bernhauer, 1904) in size,

colouration and punctation of the pronotum, but can be clearly distinguished from this species by more developed temples, shorter antennae, and significantly more distinct and large punctation on the head and pronotum. It also differs from all species of the Thinodromus lunatus species group ( Gildenkov, 2017 ) in the structure of the aedeagus ( Figs 2–3 ).

Figures

Figs. 1–4. Thinodromus candidus sp. n. 1 – holotype, body, dorsal view; 2 – holotype,