Pselaphodes tibialis Yin & Li

Yin, Zi-Wei & Li, Li-Zhen, 2012, Notes on Michael Schuelke's pselaphine collections from China. - Tyrini. I. genera Labomimus Sharp, Linan Hlavac and Pselaphodes Westwood (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae), ZooKeys 251, pp. 83-118 : 99-100

Pselaphodes tibialis Yin & Li sp. n. Figs 15B17

Type material

(2 ♂♂). Holotype: ♂, labeled 'CHINA: Yunnan [CH07-09], / Dali Bai Aut. Pref., Diancang Shan 45 / km NW Dali, 2730 m, 26°01'20"N, 99°53'17"E, creek valley, pines, ferns, / sifted, 29.V.2007, M. Schülke’ (cSch). Paratype: 1 ♂, same label data as holotype (cSch).

Diagnosis.

Reddish brown; length 2.52-2.58; postgenae slightly angulate posterolaterally; antennomeres IX–XI enlarged, IX modified in the male; pronotum with lateral margins slightly angularly expanded laterally; with metaventral processes apically enlarged; metacoxae simple; aedeagus with asymmetric median lobe.

Description.

Male (Fig. 15B). Length 2.52-2.58. Head longer than wide, HL 0.58-0.59, HW 0.54-0.55; eyes each composed of about 40 facets. Antennal clubs as in Fig. 17A. Pronotum (Fig. 17B) about as long as wide, PL 0.54-0.55, PW 0.54-0.56, with lateral margins slightly angularly expanded laterally. Elytra wider than long, EL 0.68-0.71, EW 0.99-1.00. Long metaventral (Fig. 17C) processes broadened apically. Procoxae with sharp ventral tooth, protrochanters with short thin ventral spine, profemora with long sharp spine at ventral margin (Fig. 17D), protibiae with distinct apical spur (Fig. 17E); mesotrochanters with small spine at ventral margin, mesofemora simple (Fig. 17F), mesotibiae (Fig. 17G) with big apical projection; metatrochanters and metafemora (Fig. 17H) simple. Abdomen broad at base and narrowed apically, AL 0.72-0.73, AW 1.00-1.02. Sternite IX as in Fig. 17I. Aedeagus length 0.53, with asymmetric median lobe (Figs 17 J–L).

Female. Unknown.

Comparative notes.

The resemblance in general habitus, antennal modification, placement of spines on the legs, and the shared modified pro- and mesotibiae place Pselaphodes tibialis closest to Pselaphodes venustus sp. n. described below. The two species can be separated by the smaller body size, the metaventral process being much thinner, and different aedeagal form in Pselaphodes tibialis , while Pselaphodes venustus is larger in size (3.07-3.34) and the metaventral process are much stouter.

Distribution.

Southwest China: Yunnan.

Biology.

Individuals were sifted from mixed leaf litter in a ravine.

Etymology.

The specific name refers to the modifications present on the pro- and mesotibiae.