Pselaphodes banphabat, Yin & Li, 2021

Yin, Zi-Wei & Li, Ning, 2021, Eight new species and additional records of the Pselaphodes complex from Laos and Vietnam, with a key to known species (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae (Acta. Ent. Mus. Natl. Pragae) 61 (1), pp. 35-53 : 42

Pselaphodes banphabat sp. nov.

( Figs 4A , 5 )

Type material (1 specimen). HOLOTYPE: LAOS: BOLIKHAMSAI: ♂, ‘LAOS: 27.iv-1.v.97, 70 km NE Vientiane BAN PHABAT, 150 m, N18°16′, E103°11′, Sausa & Jendek’ ( MHNG) .

Diagnosis. Male body length 3.05 mm. Antennomeres 9–11 enlarged and forming club, antennomeres 9 and 10 each with small tubercle at apex and base, respectively. Horn-like metaventral processes long, in lateral view narrowing apically. Protrochanter with tiny ventral spine, mesotrochanter with acute ventral spine; mesofemur with small tooth at middle. Median lobe of aedeagus slightly asymmetrical dorso-ventrally; parameres elongate; endophallus composed of spine-like structures and a single sclerite. Female unknown.

Description. Male ( Fig. 4A ). Body length 3.05 mm, Head approximately as long as wide, HL 0.59 mm, HW 0.57 mm; eyes prominent, each composed of about 44 facets. Antennomeres 9–11 ( Fig. 5A ) enlarged and forming distinct club, antennomere 9 with a round tubercle at apex, antennomere 10 with similar but larger tubercle at base. Pronotum ( Fig. 5B ) as long as wide, PL and PW 0.59 mm, roundly narrowing apically at apical 2/5. Elytra much broader than long, EL 0.83 mm, EW 1.05 mm. Horn-like metaventral processes ( Fig. 5C ) long, in lateral view narrowing apically. Protrochanter ( Fig. 5D ) with tiny spine at ventral margin, profemur simple; mesotrochanter ( Fig. 5E ) with acute ventral spine, mesofemur with small tooth at middle; metatrochanter and metafemur ( Fig. 5F ) simple. Abdomen broad at base and narrowed posteriorly, AL 0.98 mm, AW 1.05 mm; tergite 1 (IV) longest, about 2.5 times as long as tergite V; sternite 7 (IX) ( Fig. 5G ) hemi-membranous, semi-ellipse. Aedeagus ( Fig. 5H–J ) 0.59 mm long; median lobe dorso-ventrally slightly asymmetric; parameres elongate, broadening to near apices, then greatly narrowed at apices, each paramere with one long apical seta; endophallus composed of numerous spine-like structures, one membranous part, and one forked sclerite.

Female. Unknown.

Comparative notes. The new species is quite distinctive in the form of the male antennal clubs, which leads to a ready separation of P. banphabat from all other congeners.

Etymology. The new species is named after the type locality, Ban Phabat. The name is a noun in apposition.

Distribution. Laos: Bolikhamsai.

Figures

Fig. 4. Dorsal habitus of Pselaphodes males. A – P. banphabat sp. nov.; B – P. dalatensis sp. nov. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Fig. 5. Male diagnostic features of Pselaphodes banphabat sp. nov.A – left antennal club, in ventral view; B – pronotum; C – metaventral process, lateral view; D – protrochanter and profemur; E – mesotrochanter and mesofemur; F – metatrochanter and metafemur; G – sternite 7 (IX); H–J – aedeagus, in dorsal (H), lateral (I), and ventral (J) view. Scale bars: 0.3 mm in A, B, D, E, F; 0.2 mm in C, H, I, J; 0.1 mm in G.