Sphaeroderma sheipaensis sp. nov.

Figs 3C, 5D-F, 7B, E-G

Types.

Holotype ♀ (TARI). Taiwan: Miaoli, Hsishihshan trail (西勢山林道), 28.VIII.2021, leg. Y.-F. Hsu. Paratype. 1♀ (TARI), Hsiaopangchih (小胖池), 28.VIII.2021, leg. Y.-F. Hsu.

Description.

Length 2.4 mm, width 1.8 mm. Body color (Fig. 5D-F) blackish-brown, head, prothorax, scutellum yellowish-brown; elytra metallic blue, metafemora blackish-brown; antenna black except four basal antennomeres yellowish-brown. Antennae filiform in females (Fig. 7B), length ratios of antennomeres I-XI 1.0:0.6:0.4:0.4:0.6:0.6:0.7:0.7:0.8:0.7:1.0, length to width ratios of antennomeres I-XI 2.9:2.2:2.2:2.0:2.5:2.5:2.3:2.3:2.5:2.2:3.4. Antennal calli transverse, with supracallinal sulci well developed. Pronotum 1.9 times wider than long, disc with fine, scattered punctures the same size as those on elytra; lateral margins almost straight; anterolateral callosity protruding forward; posterolateral callosity poorly developed. Elytra 1.1 times longer than wide, sides widely rounded; disc with punctures entirely confused; humeral calli well developed. Female genitalia: ventrite VIII (Fig. 7E) with apical part triangular, but sides slightly narrowed near apex, apical margin smooth and depressed at middle, lacking setae; disc with medial part membranous, spiculum short; gonocoxae (Fig. 7G) separated, transversely triangular, with dense, long setae along apical margins, with one slender and transverse basal sclerite; receptacle of spermatheca (Fig. 7F) moderately swollen; pump short and strongly curved, transverse wrinkles present on entire pump and extending onto half of receptacle; sclerotized proximal spermathecal duct long, with ramus oblong.

Males unknown.

Diagnosis.

Adults of Sphaeroderma sheipaensis sp. nov. have a characteristic and diagnostic color pattern (Fig. 5D-F). In addition, this new species differs from the two other Taiwanese species ( S. hsui sp. nov. and S. changi sp. nov.) based on the following combination of characters: yellowish-brown antennomeres I-IV and black antennomeres V-XI (Fig. 5D-F) [entire yellowish-brown antennae in S. hsui sp. nov. (Fig. 3)]; transverse antennal calli with well-developed supracallinal sulci (Fig. 2C) [longitudinal antennal calli with poorly delimited supracallinal sulci in S. hsui sp. nov. (Fig. 2A)], triangular abdominal ventrite VIII in females with apical margin lacking setae, subapically and slightly narrowed sides (Fig. 7E) [apical margin with seven pairs of setae at medial part in S. changi sp. nov. (Fig. 6E), subapically and moderately narrowed sides in S. hsui sp. nov. (Fig. 4E)]; transversely triangular gonocoxae (Fig. 7G) [longitudinally triangular gonocoxae in S. changi sp. nov. (Fig. 6G)].

Etymology.

The species is named for Shei-Pa National Park (雪霸國家公園) where three new species were collected.

Distribution.

Sphaeroderma sheipaensis sp. nov. is a rarely collected species known from two localities in Shei-Pa National Park.