Batriscenellus loebli Yin 2017, new species

Batriscenellus loebli Jiang and Yin, new species

(Fig. 6)

Type material (5 exs). Holotype: ♂: ‘ INDIA: Meghalaya, Ri Bhoi dist., near Nongpoh, 600 m, 12.X.2004, 25°55'31"N, 91°52'25"E, #1 / Leg. G. Cuccodoro, C. Carlton, R. Leschen & D. Eme.’ (MHNG). Paratypes: 2 ♂♂, same label data as the holotype (SNUC, MHNG); 1 ♂: ‘ INDIA: Meghalaya, Ri Bho dist., Umran, 700 m, 22.X.2004, 25°46'28"N, 91°52'26"E, #10 / Leg. G. Cuccodoro, C. Carlton, R. Leschen & D. Eme.’ (SNUC); 1 ♂: ‘ INDIA: Meghalaya, Khasi Hills, 700 m, Nongpoh, 5–XI–78, Besuchet, Löbl.’ (MHNG).

Diagnosis of male. Dorsal surface of head, pronotum and tergite IV coarsely punctate; antennomeres subquadrate; elytra with deep sutural and discal striae; all legs simple; tergites V–VII modified, V with broad median impression, two lateral projections with setose spices, and a pair of bunch of long setae, VI concave medially, VII with large triangular median projection, and two blunt lateral projections; aedeagus with relatively short ventral lobe, and an elongate, strongly curved dorsal lobe.

Description. Male (Fig. 6 A). Body reddish-brown, length 1.97–1.98 mm. Head subrectangular, wider than long, HL 0.35–0.36 mm, HW 0.46–0.47 mm, dorsal surface coarsely punctate, with large and round punctures (Fig. 6 B); vertex lacking median ridge, U-shaped sulcus only indicated at anterior part; antennomeres subquadrate, clubs loosely formed by apical three antennomeres; each eye composed of about 30 facets. Pronotum about as long as wide, PL 0.44–0.45 mm, PW 0.44–0.46 mm, coarsely punctate (Fig. 6 B). Elytra wider than long, EL 0.63–0.66 mm, EW 0.75–0.76 mm, narrowed at base, deep discal striae extending to near elytral apex, apically curved laterally; sutural striae complete. All legs simple, lacking modification. Abdomen wider than long, AL 0.52–0.56 mm, AW 0.75–0.76 mm, tergite IV coarsely punctate and with long setae; tergite V (Fig. 6 C–D) with a broad median impression, two lateral projections with setose spices, and pair of bunched long setae, tergite VI (Fig. 6 C– D) strongly concave at middle, tergite VII (Fig. 6 C–D) with large triangular median projection, and with two blunt lateral projections. Aedeagus (Fig. 6 E–F) strongly asymmetric, length 0.36 mm, ventral lobe elongate, broad at base and narrowing toward apex, curved leftwards in ventral view, dorsal lobe strongly transverse, strongly curved and split at apex.

Female. Unknown.

Comparative Notes. The new species is placed as a member of the B. besucheti species group as defined above (see ‘Comparative Notes’ under B. besucheti). Among this group, B. loebli is most similar to B. cuccodoroi by sharing two bunches of elongate setae at the lateral margins of male tergite V. These two species can be best separated by the male tergite VII being less strongly modified in B. loebli, and the aedeagal structures are quite different. Batriscenellus loebli can be separated from B. besucheti by the simple male protarsomeres I, and from B. carltoni by the elytral discal striae being curved laterally on the posterior portion, and the much more strongly developed abdominal modifications of the male.

Distribution. Northeastern India: Meghalaya.

Etymology. The new specific name is dedicated to Ivan Löbl, co-collector of the holotype.