Lathrobium (Lathrobium) alishanum, Assing, 2010

Assing, Volker, 2010, On the Lathrobiina of Taiwan (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae), Beiträge Zur Entomologie = Contributions to Entomology 60 (2), pp. 301-361 : 307-309

Lathrobium (Lathrobium) alishanum sp. n. ( Figs 10-15 )

Type material:

Holotype ♂: " Taiwan - Chiayi Co., Alishan, Road 18, km 92.5, Nat. Sc. Area , 2100 m, Cryptomeria litter, 11.IV.2009, leg. Vít [4] / Holotypus ♂ Lathrobium alishanum sp. n., det. V. Assing 2009 " (cAss).

Description:

Body length 5.7 mm; habitus as in Fig. 11 . Coloration: body uniformly reddish. Head weakly oblong, 1.08 times as long as wide ( Fig. 12 ); dorsal surface with moderately coarse punctation, punctation of posterior 2/3 rather sparse (interstices on average 2-3 times as wide as diameter of punctures), that of anterior 1/3 somewhat denser (interstices approximately as wide as diameter of punctures); interstices with distinct microreticulation; lateral contours behind eyes weakly convex in dorsal view; eyes small ( Fig. 10 ), not protruding from lateral contours of head and approximately 1/4 the length of postocular region in dorsal view. Antenna similar to that of L. involutum .

Pronotum slender, 1.27 times as long as wide and 1.05 times as wide as head ( Fig. 12 ); lateral margins weakly sinuate slightly before middle; punctation similar to that of head; interstices without microsculpture.

Elytra short, 0.55 times as long as pronotum ( Fig. 12 ); punctation shallow, weakly defined; interstices without apparent microsculpture. Hind wings completely reduced.

Abdomen approximately 1.15 times as wide as elytra; punctation fine and very dense; interstices with microsculpture and rather matt; posterior margin of tergite VII without palisade fringe.

♂: sternite VII with posterior margin weakly concave in the middle, in posterior median area with weakly modified pubescence ( Fig. 13 ); tergite VIII with weakly convex posterior margin; sternite VIII weakly oblong, posterior excision V-shaped, its depth approximately 1/5 the length of sternite ( Fig. 14 ); aedeagus approximately 0.8 mm long, with ventral process, internal structures, and dorsal plate of highly distinctive morphology ( Fig. 15 ).

♀: unknown.

Comparative notes:

Lathrobium alishanum is highly similar to L. involutum , but distinguished by slightly larger size, more pronounced microsculpture of the head, the deeper posterior excision of the male sternite VIII, and particularly by the shape of the aedeagus. From other previously described congeners from Taiwan, it is readily separated by much smaller size alone.

Etymology:

The specific epithet (adjective) is derived from the name of the mountain range where the type locality is situated.

Distribution and natural history:

The type locality is situated in the Alishan mountain range , Chiai Hsien, central Taiwan. The holotype was collected by sifting CryptomeriaCryptomeria litter at an altitude of 2100 m .

Figures

Figs 1-10: Lathrobium involutum sp. n. (1-9) and L. alishanum sp. n. (10): habitus (1); forebody (2); male sternite VII (3); male sternite VIII (4); aedeagus in lateral view (5-6); female tergite VIII (7); female sternite VIII (8); female tergites IX-X (9); head in lateral view (10). Scale bars: 1-2: 1.0 mm; 3-4, 7-10: 0.5 mm; 5-6: 0.2 mm.

Figs 11-15: Lathrobium alishanum sp. n.: habitus (11); forebody (12); male sternite VII (13); male sternite VIII (14); aedeagus in lateral view (15). Scale bars: 11-12: 1.0 mm; 13-14: 0.5 mm; 15: 0.2 mm.