Sphaeroderma changi sp. nov.

Figs 2B, 5A-C, 6

Types.

Holotype ♂ (TARI). Taiwan: Miaoli, Hsishihshan trail (西勢山林道), 26.IX.2021, leg. Y.-F. Hsu. Paratypes. 1♀ (TARI), same but with “28.VIII.2021” .

Description.

Length 3.2 mm, width 2.2 mm. Body color (Fig. 5A-C) yellowish or reddish-brown; head, pronotum, and legs blackish-brown; antennae blackish-brown except four basal antennomeres yellowish-brown. Antennae filiform in males (Fig. 6A), length ratios of antennomeres I-XI 1.0:0.7:0.4:0.5:0.7:0.7:0.8:0.8:0.8:0.8:1.2, length to width ratios of antennomeres I-XI 2.8:2.2:1.9:2.0:2.7:2.5:2.5:2.3:2.3:2.4:3.5; similar in females (Fig. 6B), length ratios of antennomeres I-XI 1.0:0.6:0.5:0.5:0.7:0.6:0.7:0.7:0.7:0.7:0.9, length to width ratios of antennomeres I-XI 2.9:2.2:2.1:2.1:2.7:2.4:2.7:2.6:2.5:2.4:3.2. Antennal calli transverse, with supracallinal sulci well developed. Pronotum 1.7 × 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 1.1-1.2 times longer than wide, sides widely rounded; disc with punctures entirely confused; humeral calli well developed. Abdominal ventrite V without internal median ridge in both sexes. Male genitalia: aedeagus (Fig. 6C, D) wide in dorsal view, 3.1 × longer than wide; parallel-sided, apex narrowly rounded, strongly widened at apical 1/8; moderately curved at middle in lateral view; ventral surface with one pair of oblique ridges from apical 1/5 of lateral margins; ostium membranous and with Y-shaped sclerotized area. Female genitalia: ventrite VIII (Fig. 6E) with apical part triangular, but sides slightly narrowed near apex, apical margin smooth and with seven pairs of setae medially, disc with medial part membranous, spiculum short; gonocoxae (Fig. 6G) separated, longitudinally triangular, with dense, long setae along apical margins, with one slender and transverse basal sclerite; receptacle of spermatheca (Fig. 6F) 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.

Diagnosis.

Adults of Sphaeroderma changi sp. nov. have a characteristic and diagnostic color pattern (Fig. 5A-C). In addition, this new species differs from the other two Taiwanese species ( S. hsui sp. nov. and S. sheipaensis sp. nov.) based on the following combination of characters: yellowish-brown antennomeres I-IV and black antennomeres V-XI (Fig. 5A-C) [entire yellowish-brown antennae in S. hsui sp. nov. (Fig. 3)]; transverse antennal calli with well-developed supracallinal sulci (Fig. 2B) [longitudinal antennal calli with poorly delimited supracallinal sulci in S. hsui sp. nov. (Fig. 2A)]; wide aedeagus, 3.1 × longer than wide, ventral disc with one pair of oblique ridges from apical 1/5 in lateral margin (Fig. 6C, D) [slender aedeagus, 4.0 × longer than wide and ventral disc without oblique ridges in S. hsui sp. nov. (Fig. 4C, D)]; triangular abdominal ventrite VIII in females with apical margin with seven pairs of setae at medial part, subapically and slightly narrowed sides (Fig. 6E) [apical margin lacking setae; subapically and moderately narrowed sides in S. hsui sp. nov. (Fig. 4E)]; longitudinally triangular gonocoxae (Fig. 6G) [transversely triangular gonocoxae in S. hsui sp. nov. (Fig. 4G) and S. sheipaensis sp. nov. (Fig. 7G)].

Etymology.

This species is named for Mr Li-Jen Chang (張勵仁) for his assistance in conducting the project.

Distribution.

Sphaeroderma changi sp. nov. is a rarely collected species known from only one locality in Shei-Pa National Park.