Tachinus (s. str.) parahercules Feng, Li & Schuelke

Feng, Ting, Schuelke, Michael & Li, Li-Zhen, 2013, A taxonomic revision of the silphaeformis species-group of the genus Tachinus Gravenhorst (Staphylinidae, Tachyporinae) from China, ZooKeys 359, pp. 53-99 : 77-78

Tachinus (s. str.) parahercules Feng, Li & Schuelke sp. n. Figs 6C, 6D, 9L, 10L, 12C, 13L, 16F, 19D, 20M, 22C

Type locality.

China, Sichuan, Aba A. R., Songpan, Huanglongsi.

Type material.

Holotype: ♂, CHINA: Sichuan Prov., Aba A. R., Songpan county, Huanglongsi, 24.vii.2001, LI & ZHAO leg. (SNUC). Paratypes: 20 ♂♂, 18 ♀♀, same label data as the holotype (SNUC); 2 ♀♀, CHINA: N–Sichuan [CH12-19] 47 km N Songpan, road S 301 km 118, N Gongangling pass, 33°03'15"N, 103°43'36"E, 3390 m, spruce forest with shrubs, litter, moss, and mushrooms sifted, 9.viii.2012, leg. M. Schülke (cSch); ♀, CHINA: [19] N–Sichuan N Songpan, 33°03'15"N, 103°43'36"E, 3390 m, spruce forest, sifted, 9.viii.2012, V. Assing (cAss).

Description.

Measurements of males (holotype): BL 3.39-4.23 (4.23); FL 2.89-3.39 (3.39); PL 0.89-1.00 (1.00); EL 1.45-1.50 (1.50); SEL 0.10-0.12 (0.12); HW 0.82-0.84 (0.83); PW 1.33-1.45 (1.45); EW 1.56-1.67 (1.67); relative length of antennomeres I–XI: 24: 15: 15: 8: 15: 13: 13: 13: 13: 13: 26. Measurements of females: BL 4.06-4.45; FL 3.28-3.37; PL 0.95-1.00; EL 1.45-1.62; SEL 0.28-0.33; HW 0.88-0.90; PW 1.45-1.50; EW 1.83-1.89; relative length of antennomeres I–XI: 22: 15: 18: 9: 15: 12: 14: 13: 14: 14: 25.

Body (Figs 6C, 6D) dark brown to black; head black; disc of pronotum reddish brown to dark brown; mouthparts, basal four antennomeres, posterior margin of elytra, and posterior margin of abdominal tergites reddish brown. Sometimes elytra paler and with reddish brown humeral spot.

Head slightly transverse, HW: PW = 0.57-0.63 (0.57); surface with microsculpture consisting of irregular striae, punctation fine and sparse. Antennomeres X distinctly transverse in male, but slightly shorter than wide in female.

Pronotum: PL: PW = 0.61-0.75 (0.69); surface with microsculpture consisting of transverse striae, punctation similar to that of head.

Elytra, EL: PL = 1.45-1.69 (1.50), EL: EW = 0.87-0.96 (0.90), EW: PW = 1.08-1.26 (1.15) in males; EL: PL = 1.45-1.71, EL: EW = 0.77-0.89, EW: PW = 1.22-1.30 in females; punctation denser and coarser than on head and pronotum, microsculpture consisting of transverse meshes.

Abdomen with denser and finer punctation than elytra; surface with microsculpture consisting of transverse striae.

Male. Sternite VII (Figs 9L, 10L) as in Tachinus cavazzutii , apical emargination narrower. Tergite VIII as in Fig. 12C, all four lobes nearly fused, forming an almost regularly sinuate apical margin. Sternite VIII as in Fig. 13L. Aedeagus (Fig. 16F) with broad median lobe projecting beyond the apices of the parameres, parameres slightly broader than the median lobe; apical margin of median lobe with projection directed ventrad in lateral view.

Female. Elytra distinctly longer than in male, with inner part of posterior margin distinctly produced, forming a distinct angle. Microsculpture more distinct, consisting of short, irregular, transverse or rhomboid meshes. Apical lobes of tergite VIII (Fig. 19D) almost fused, forming a smooth to sinuate apical margin, lateral angles each with one pair of long setae. Fimbriate median lobes of sternite VIII (Fig. 20M) completely fused, sublateral lobes slightly longer than median one.

Etymology.

The specific name is a combination of the prefix “para” and “hercules” (noun in apposition). It alludes to the similarity of this species to Tachinus hercules .

Remarks.

Males of this new species are similar to those of Tachinus hercules , they can be separated from Tachinus hercules by the different shape of the apical emargination of sternite VII, and by the size of the parameres. Females are distinguished by the shape of the apical margin of tergite VIII.