Tasgius (Tasgius) congener, Smetana, 2010

Smetana, Aleš, 2010, Contributions to the knowledge of the ‘ Staphylinus-complex’ of China (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylinini). Part 22. The genus Tasgius Stephens, 1829, Section 1, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 50 (1), pp. 145-155 : 151-153

Tasgius (Tasgius) congener sp. nov.

( Figs. 14–17 )

Type locality. People’s Republic of China, Gansu, Xinlongshan b. Yuzhong (Yangzhai).

Type material. HOLOTYPE: J, CHINA: GANSU: “ China (Gansu) Xinlongshan b. Yuzhong 2500–3000 m (loc.Yangzhai) 22.–26.VII.1993 Heinz leg.” ( ASC, to be eventually deposited in MHNG).

Description. In all character states similar to T. pugio sp. nov.; different by a few external characters, but particularly by the differently shaped aedoeagus. Body size somewhat larger, body form somewhat stouter; head larger with eyes smaller (ratio length of tempora / length of eyes = 1.43, respective ratio in T. pugio sp. nov. = 1.20).

Male. Medioapical emargination of sternite 8 not appreciably different from that of T. pugio sp. nov. Genital segment with tergite 10 somewhat larger, but not appreciably different from that of T. pugio sp. nov. ( Fig. 14 ); sternite 9 of similar shape as that of T. pugio sp. nov., but longer, more densely setose and with two pairs of strong apical setae ( Fig. 15 ). Aedoeagus as in Figs. 16, 17 , similar to that of T. pugio sp. nov., but larger, apical portion of median lobe of different asymmetrical shape; paramere situated on median lobe quite asymmetrically, markedly longer and narrower than that of T. pugio sp. nov., with acute apex by far not reaching apex of median lobe; underside of paramere without sensory peg setae but with variably long apical setae, situated as in Fig. 17 .

Female unknown.

Length 15.0 mm.

Etymology. The specific epithet is the Latin noun congener , - eris, masculinum (of the same race or kind) in apposition. It refers to the similarity of the species with T. pugio sp. nov.

Bionomics. The holotype was taken from a pitfall trap, but nothing is known about the habitats the trap was set in.

Geographical distribution. Tasgius congener sp. nov. is at present known only from the type locality in Gansu, southeast of Lanzhou.

Recognition and comments. Tasgius congener sp. nov. may only be confused with T. pugio sp. nov., with which it shares the character state of the second abdominal tergite (in front of first visible tergite) entirely punctate and pubescent, but it may be easily distinguished by the differently shaped aedoeagus ( Figs. 12 , 16 ).

The holotype is missing left antenna.

Figures

Figs. 7–15. 7–9 – Tasgius praetorius Bernhauer, 1915. 7 – tergite 10 of male genital segment; 8 – sternite 9 of male genital segment (showing large apical seta); 9 – tergite 10 of female genital segment (setation in Figs. 7–9 not shown). 10–13 – Tasgius pugio sp. nov. 10 – tergite 10 of male genital segment; 11 – sternite 9 of male genital segment; 12 – aedoeagus, ventral view; 13 – apical portion of underside of paramere. 14, 15 – Tasgius congener sp. nov. 14 – tergite 10 of male genital segment; 15 – sternite 9 of male genital segment.

Figs. 16–22. 16–17 – Tasgius congener sp. nov. 16 – aedoeagus, ventral view; 17 – apical portion of underside of paramere.18–22 – Tasgius venustus sp. nov.18 – tergite 10 of male genital segment; 19 – sternite 9 of male genital segment; 20 – aedoeagus, ventral view; 21 – aedoeagus, lateral view; 22 – apical portion of underside of paramere.