Songius kiwi Yin and Li

Yin, Zi-Wei & Li, Li-Zhen, 2015, New and little known species of the genus Songius (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) in China, Zootaxa 3905 (2), pp. 293-300 : 294-295

Songius kiwi Yin and Li , new species

Figs 1 A, 2

Type material (1 ♂, 6 ♀♀). Holotype: CHINA: ♂, labeled ‘ China: Guangxi, Xing’an County, Maoer Shan, Jiuniutang, 25°53’07’’N, 110°29’14’’E, beech forest, rotten wood, colony of Lasius sp., 1150 m, 31.vii.2014, Peng, Song, Yu, Yan leg.’. ( SNUC). Paratypes: CHINA: 3 ♀♀, same label data as holotype ( SNUC); 1 ♀, also from Maoer Shan, except ‘ 25°53’14’’N, 110°25’47’’E, 2030 m, 30.vii.2014 ’ ( SNUC); 1 ♀, also from Maoer Shan, except ‘ 25°53’26’’N, 110°25’39’’E, coll. from surface of a dead wood in a mixed forest, alt. ca. 2000 m, 23.vii.2012, Xiao-Bin Song leg.’ ( SNUC); 1 ♀, ab.[ove] Liangshui (1,710 m), Mt. Miao’ershan, Xing’an Xian, Guangxi, CHINA, [locality repeated in Chinese character], 26.v.1996, S. Uéno ( NSMT).

Description. Male ( Fig. 1 A). Length 2.39 mm, reddish brown, general form stout, covered with short setae on dorsal surfaces of head, pronotum, elytra and abdomen. Head ( Fig. 2 A) slightly longer than wide, rectangular, weakly broadened anteriorly, HL 0.62 mm, HW 0.51 mm. Each eye composed of about 55 facets. Antenna ( Fig. 2 B) moniliform, antennomeres XI largest, more than twice length of X. Pronotum ( Fig. 2 A) about as long as wide, nearly trapezoidal, PL 0.55 mm, PW 0.57 mm, area along median longitudinal sulcus impressed. Elytra wider than long, EL 0.78 mm, EW 1.04 mm, disc convex. Mesotrochanters and mesofemora each with small ventral spine, mesotibiae with small apical spur ( Fig. 2 C); metatrochanters with big spine on ventral margin ( Fig. 2 D). Abdomen slightly wider than elytra, and wider than long, AL 0.44 mm, AW 1.06 mm, rounded at apex. Aedeagus ( Fig. 2 E–F) length 0.56 mm, with broad ventral lobe; dorsal lobe expanded toward right, with serrate anterior margin.

Female. Similar to male in general; each eye composed of about 45 facets; middle legs simple, lacking spine/ spur. Measures: BL 2.68–2.87 mm, HL 0.59–0.60 mm, HW 0.50–0.52 mm, PL 0.55–0.60 mm, PW 0.51–0.61 mm, EL 0.83–0.95 mm, EW 1.07–1.17 mm, AL 0.71–0.72 mm, AW 0.40– 0.39 mm.

Comparative notes. Songius kiwi is similar to S. hlavaci and S. pseudohlavaci in the compact habitus, but can be readily separated from both by the setose dorsal surfaces of the head, pronotum, elytra and abdomen. The other species, S. lasiuohospes , also having a setose dorsal surface of the body, can be easily separated from the new species by the much less compact habitus, the pronotal lateral margins being roundly expanded at the basal 1/3, and the much bigger spines on the mesotrochanters, mesofemora, mesotibiae, and metatrochanters in the male. Distribution. Southern China: Guangxi.

Biology. Most adults were collected from several Lasius colonies nesting in fallen rotten trees. Etymology. The specific epithet is based on the resemblance of the new species to kiwifruit.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Dorsal habitus of Songius species. A. S. kiwi, male. B. S. pseudohlavaci, male. Scales: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 2. Diagnostic features of male Songius kiwi. A. Head and pronotum. B. Antenna. C. Mesotrochanter, mesofemur, and mesotibia. D. Metatrochanter and metafemur. E. Aedeagus, in dorsal view. F. Same, in ventral view. Scales: A, B = 0.5 mm; C, D = 0.3 mm; E, F = 0.2 mm.