Pselaphodes spinosus Champion, 1925

Yin, Zi-Wei & Li, Li-Zhen, 2015, Review of some species in the genera Pselaphodes Westwood and Labomimus Sharp (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), Zootaxa 4040 (3), pp. 331-344 : 340

6. Pselaphodes spinosus Champion, 1925

( Figs 6 , 7 )

Pselaphodes spinosus Champion, 1925: 261 .

Pselaphodes championi ( Jeannel, 1960: 454) , new combination (transferred from Labomimus ), new synonymy.

Type material examined. Pselaphodes spinosus : Lectotype (fixed by present designation; in BMNH): INDIA: ♂, with nine labels ( Fig. 6 B): ‘Haldwani Dist., Kumaon, India. H. G. Champion (printed) / G. C. Champion. Brit. Mus. 1925–42. (printed) / ♂ (printed) / Pselaphodes spinosus C type ♂ (handwritten) / Pselaphodes spinosus Champ. (printed) / E. M. M. 1925. det. G. C. C. / Type H. T. (round printed label with a red rim) / sand banks Gauniaran Haldwani 29. 4. 23 / Lectotype ♂, Pselaphodes spinosus Champion , des. Z.-W. Yin, 2015 (handwritten)’. Labomimus championi : Holotype (fixed by original designation; in BMNH): INDIA: ♂, with six labels ( Fig. 7 B): ‘Haldwani Dist., Kumaon, India. H.G.C. (printed) / G.C. Champion coll. B.M. 1927-409 (printed) / TYPE (red printed label) / Type (round printed label with a red rim) / Labomimus championi R. Jeannel det., 19 / Holotype ♂, Labomimus championi Jeannel , det. Z.-W. Yin, 2015 (handwritten)’.

Lectotype designation. Pselaphodes spinosus was described by Champion based on five males and two females without designating a holotype ( Champion 1925: 262). All of these specimens have a status of syntype. We did examine a male from the Natural History Museum, London, and here designate this specimen as the lectotype to ensure the stability of nomenclature and provide a unique name-bearing type for the name. The rest of the specimens of the type series become paralectotypes. Labomimus championi was described on the basis of one male and one female. Jeannel used the term ‘type’ for the male specimen ( Jeannel 1960: 453). According to Article 73.1.1, this male is a holotype fixed by original designation.

Diagnosis of male. Reddish brown; body length over 3.5 mm; postgenae rounded laterally; antennal club composed of enlarged antennomeres IX–XI, antennomeres XI–X modified; pronotum rounded at anterolateral margins; metathorax with long metaventral processes; trochanters and femora of fore and middle legs strongly spinose ventrally; aedeagus with asymmetric median lobe.

Redescription of male. Habitus as in Figs 6 A, 7A. Body length 3.71–3.85 mm. Head longer than wide, HL 0.83–0.84 mm, HW 0.69–0.72 mm; each eye composed of about 45–50 facets. Antennal club composed of three apical antennomeres, antennomere IX broadened laterally at apical half ( Fig. 7 D), X strongly concave at middle ( Figs 6 C, 7C). Pronotum longer than wide, PL 0.76–0.78 mm, PW 0.72–0.73 mm, rounded at anterolateral margins. Elytra wider than long, EL 1.04–1.06 mm, EW 1.31–1.36 mm. Metaventral processes elongate, emarginate at apices ( Figs 6 D, 7E). Protrochanters, profemora ( Figs 6 E, 7F), mesotrochanters, and mesofemora ( Figs 6 F, 7G) strongly spinose ventrally. Abdomen broad at base and narrowed posteriorly, AL 1.08–1.17 mm, AW 1.36–1.37 mm. Length of aedeagus 0.66 mm; aedeagus ( Figs 6 G, 6H, 7H, 7I) with asymmetric median lobe, endophallus composed of two short sclerites.

Comparative notes. The unique form of the strongly modified antennomere X, combined with the protuberant preapical portions of the protibiae, long metaventral processes, spination of the fore and middle legs, and structure of the aedeagus readily separate Pselaphodes spinosus from all other known congeners. After an examination of the holotype, Labomimus championi is here transferred to the genus Pselaphodes based on the lack of the median metaventral fovea, and this species is placed as a junior synonym of Pselaphodes spinosus by possessing same diagnostic characters ( Fig. 7 A, 7C–I).

Distribution. Pselaphodes spinosus is known from Haldwani in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Lectotype of Pselaphodes spinosus, male. A. Dorsal habitus. B. Labels of the lectotype. C. Antennal club. D. Metaventral process. E. Protrochanter and profemur. F. Mesotrochanter and mesofemur. G. Aedeagus, in dorsal view. H. Same, in lateral view. Scales: A = 1.0 mm; C – F = 0.3 mm; G, H = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 7. Holotype of Labomimus championi, male. A. Dorsal habitus. B. Labels of the holotype. C, D. Antennal club. E. Metaventral process. F. Protrochanter and profemur. G. Mesotrochanter and mesofemur. H. Aedeagus, in dorsal view. I. Same, in lateral view. Scales: A = 1.0 mm; C – G = 0.3 mm; H. I = 0.2 mm.