Psammoecus complexus Pal, 1985

Fig. 16

Psammoecus complexus Pal, 1985: 23.

Psammoecus complexus – Sengupta & Pal 1996: 173.

Diagnosis

The following combination of character states distinguishes this species:

Body (Fig. 16A) oval, testaceous, vertex slightly darkened, antennomeres 8 and 9 somewhat darkened, antennomeres 10 and 11 whitish yellow, antennomere 10 more or less darkened or of same colour as antennomere 9, pronotal disk darkened, elytra with piceous maculae; head (Fig. 16B) with long, deep, slightly curved frontal grooves that almost attain posterior 1/5 of eyes, punctation on vertex moderate, punctures slightly elongate, microsculpture absent, pubescence moderate with 3–5 very long setae near frontal grooves; eyes large, somewhat unevenly rounded, temples steep, temple angle 90°; antennae (Fig. 16D) slender; pronotum (Fig.16C) widest at anterior 1/3, punctation sparser and somewhat larger than on head, punctures very slightly elongate, pubescence as on head, few very long setae located on both sides along lateral margins and near middle, lateral margins with three very large and sharp teeth, setae inserted not at tips of teeth, but at antero-dorsal face near tip, tooth I with additional seta on antero-dorsal face near middle, anterior and posterior denticles distinct; elytra (Fig. 16A) widest at middle, with piceous maculae forming an irregular, wide band near middle and darkened or piceous apex, strial setae short, interstrial setae somewhat longer but much longer towards lateral margins, anterior half of elytral margin somewhat serrate, 10 th interstice near humeral swelling with setae-bearing tubercles; male genitalia (Fig. 16E–G) moderately sclerotized, median lobe short, blunt, parameres short, bearing one very long seta, three shorter and numerous very short setae.

Material examined

INDIA – Assam • 4 specs; Cachar Hills District, Mt Borail, Phamai Hunting Camp; 1350 m a.s.l.; 25°06′09″ N, 93°03′35″ E; 18 Oct. 2005; Cuccodoro and Marletta leg.; sifted from dry leaf litter with fungi and moss in mixed broadleaved forest; MHNG. – West Bengal • 1 spec.; Darjeeling, Tonglu; 3100 m a.s.l.; 16 Oct. 1978; Besuchet and Löbl leg.; MHNG • 15 specs; Darjeeling, between Ghum and Lopchu; 2000 m a.s.l.; 14 Oct. 1978; Besuchet and Löbl leg.; MHNG • 19 specs; same locality as for preceding; 12 Oct. 1978; Besuchet and Löbl leg.; MHNG • 7 specs; Darjeeling, Tiger Hill; 2200–2300 m a.s.l.; 13 Oct. 1978; Besuchet and Löbl leg.; MHNG.

Distribution

Psammoecus complexus is solely recorded from India.

Remarks

Pal (1985) described P. complexus based on a single specimen from West Bengal and provided an illustration of the habitus, but no illustration of the male genitalia. According to the original description, the holotype is kept in the Termeszettudomanyi Muzeum, Budapest. Ottó Merkl (2013, pers. com.) could not find the holotype in this collection nor any evidence that the specimen ever arrived there. The holotype is therefore considered lost.

Psammoecus complexus is a very distinct species whose characteristics leave no doubt about its identity. The present author is of the opinion that there is currently no exceptional need for a name-bearing type. Hence, no neotype is designated.