Pselaphodes incisus Huang & Li & Yin 2018, new species

Pselaphodes incisus, new species

(Figs 1B, 4)

Type material (54 exs). Holotype: CHINA: ♂, ‘ China: Yunnan, Xishuangbanna (西双版纳), Menglun, Botanical Garden (勐仑植物园), (21°55′43″N, 101°15′25″E), light trap on roof of hotel, ca. 560 m, 05.v.2014, C. Wu leg.’ (SNUC). Paratypes: CHINA: 4 ♂♂, same label data as holotype (SNUC); 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, ‘ China: Yunnan,

Xishuangbanna, Menglun Town (勐仑镇), Bakaxiaozhai (巴卡小寨), (21°57′58″N, 101°11′44″E), 850 m, 01.IV.2018, sifting, Peng, Shen, Cheng leg.’ (SNUC); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, also from Bakaxiaozhai (21°58′00″N, 101°12′01″E), except ‘ 800 m, 31.III.2018 ’ (SNUC); 2 ♂♂, ‘ China: Yunnan, Menglun Banna Botanical Garden (勐 仑版纳植物园), Green Stone Forest Rain Forest Park (绿石林雨林公园), (21°58′6.68″N, 100°48′27.18″E), 891 m, 20.X.2016, Huang leg.’ (SNUC); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, also from Menglun Banna Botanical Garden (21°55′34.00″N, 101°15′27.43″E), except ‘ 563 m, 19.X.2016.’ (SNUC); LAOS: 19 ♂♂, ‘S LAOS, Attap (e)u Prov., Bolaven Plateau, 18– 30.4.99, 15 km, SE of Ban Houaykong, Nong Lom lake env., 800 m, Jendek & Šauša’ (MHNG); 19 ♂♂, ‘ Laos, ATTAPEU prov., Annam Highlands Mts. Dong Amphan NBCA, ca. 1600 m, NONG FA [crater lake], env., 15°05.9′N, 107°25.6′E, Jiří Hájek leg. 30.iv.-6.v.2010 ’ (NMPC); 1 ♂, ‘ Laos: Vientiane prov.: Phou Khao Khouay, 25–30.v.2008, 700– 800 m, 18°20.369′N, 102°48.523′E, A. Solodovnikov & J. Pedersen leg. Near strongly disturbed primary rainforest, on light. ZMUC collection.’ (ZMUC).

Diagnosis of male. Length 2.72–3.23 mm; metaventral processes long, apically narrowed, without triangular processes above the metacoxae; protibia with large projection at apex; mesotibia without apical projection; metatrochanter with short ventral spine; aedeagal paramere strongly expanded laterally, and distinctly protuberant at posterior margin.

Description. Male (Fig. 1B). Body reddish brown, BL 2.72–3.23 mm. Head longer than wide, HL 0.62–0.71 mm, HW 0.62–0.65 mm; each eye composed of about 40 facets; ocular canthus well-developed. Antennomeres IX–XI (Fig. 4A) forming distinct club, antennomere IX constricted at apex; antennomere X constricted at base. Pronotum (Fig. 4B) as long as wide, PL 0.57–0.62 mm, PW 0.60–0.62 mm, rounded at anterolateral margins. Elytra wider than long, EL 0.83–0.90 mm, EW 1.08–1.20 mm. Metaventral processes (Fig. 4C) long, apically narrowed. Protrochanter (Fig. 4D) with small ventral spine; protibia (Fig. 4E) with small apical projection; mesotrochanter (Fig. 4F) with long ventral spine, mesofemur with acute ventral spine; metatrochanter (Fig. 4G) with short ventral spine. Abdomen broad at base and narrowed apically, AL 0.70–1.00 mm, AW 1.01–1.13 mm. Sternite IX (Fig. 4H) semi-membranous. Length of aedeagus (Fig. 4I –K) 0.54–0.57 mm; median lobe broad and asymmetric, parameres nearly symmetric, strongly expanded laterally at apices, distinctly protuberant at posterior margin.

Female. Similar to male in general; each eye composed of about 35 facets; antennae and legs simple. Measurements: BL 3.22–3.31 mm, HL 0.76–0.78 mm, HW 0.63–0.67 mm, PL 0.63–0.67 mm, PW 0.63–0.68 mm, EL 0.78–0.80 mm, EW 1.16–1.18 mm, AL 1.05–1.07 mm, AW 1.20–1.24 mm.

Distribution. China: Yunnan; Laos: Attapeu, Vientiane.

Comparative notes. The new species is most similar to P. kishimotoi Yin & Nomura in sharing a similar structure of the antennomeres IX–X. These two species can be readily separated primarily by the unique form of the aedeagal paramere, which is strongly expanded laterally, and distinctly protuberant at the posterior margin, as well as by the metatrochanter with a short hook-like ventral spine, absence of the triangular processes above the metacoxae, a larger apical projection of the protibia, and absence of the apical spur of the mesotibia in the new species. In contrast, the aedeagal parameres of P. kishimotoi lack distinct lateral expansions, and there are two short, triangular projections above the metacoxae in the male.

Intraspecific variation. Pselaphodes incisus is distributed in southern China, and western and southern Laos. Although populations from the two countries exhibit slightly differences in shape of the aedeagus (Fig. 4I –K), they can be readily identified as conspecific based on the identical form of the antennal clubs, and similar spines on the legs.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the strongly modified antennomeres IX–X of the new species.