Nepallaphus ekam, Löbl & Kodada, 2021

Löbl, Ivan & Kodada, Ján, 2021, On the Himalayan Pselaphini (Insecta: Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), Biodiversität und Naturausstattung im Himalaya VII, Erfurt: Naturkundemuseum, pp. 349-368 : 358-359

Nepallaphus ekam n. sp. ( Figs 26, 27 )

Holotype ♂: NEPAL (Prov. Bagmati) near Mere Dara , 3000 m, 7.IV.1981 LÖbl & Smetana ( MHNG) .

Paratypes: 5 ♂, 5 ♀, NEPAL, with the same data as the holotype ( MHNG, PCPH) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Bagmati Zone, Mere Dara, 3200 m, north slope, 8.IV.1981, I. LÖbl & A. Smetana ( MHNG) ; 1 ♂, 7 ♀, Bagmati Zone, below Thare Pati , 3300 m, 9.IV.1981, I. LÖbl & A. Smetana ( MHNG, PCVB) .

Etymology. The species epithet is the number one in Sanskrit.

Description. Length 1.70-1.90 mm. Head about 1.6 times as long as wide. Lower margin of frontoclypeus rounded, with long, prominent setae. Anterior margin of frontal rostrum prominent, notched in middle, bidentate. Frontal sulcus narrow, with carinate inner marginsextended to level of eye mid-length. Frontal carinae horizontal, reticulate.Antennal tubercles prominent. Vertex convex, lacking distinct mesal impression, mesal carina near neck absent. Eyes prominent, with diameter as half of interval to neck, consisting of seven to eight facets. Genae reticulate. Temples weakly rounded, in dorsal view with nearly oblique contours. Frontal carinae bearing rows of short appressed setae. Temples and vertex with short appressed setae. Maxillary palpomere IV longer than head, with peduncle about as long as thickened apical part. Length/width ratio of antennomeres as: I 24/10: II 12/9: III 10/6: IV 9/6: V 9/6: VI 9/6: VII 10/6: VIII 10/6: IX 13/8: X 14/9: XI 28/14. Pronotum slightly longer than wide and slightly shorter than head, with punctiform median antebasal fovea, distinct lateral antebasal foveae, punctation sparser than on head. Elytra about 1.4 times as long as pronotum, with lateral margins rounded, at apices well 4 times as wide as at bases, not microsculptured, with three basal foveae, median longitudinal carina with margins well delimited, extending to or nearly to apical third of elytral disc, adsutural and median setose rows simple, disc with outer double row od setae, intervals between rows of setae glabrous. Hind wings atrophied. Abdomen with tergite Islightly wider than elytra, withbroad paratergites and roundedlateral margins.

Male characters. Middle of metaventrite raised to form a flat, circular area inflexed apically and completely covered by short, appressed setae. Aedeagus ( Figs. 26, 27 ) 0.49-0.53 mm long, with basal bulb not widened apically, its sclerotized apicodorsal band not notched, dorsal capsule cordiform.

Measurements of the holotype (in mm). Total length 1.76; length/width of head 0.39/0.25, pronotum 0.35/0.32, elytra 0.49/0.76 (0.17), tergite I 0.50/0.83; length of maxillary palpomere IV 0.43, length of aedeagus 0.50.

Diagnosis. Length 1.70-1.90 mm. Anterior margin of frontal rostrum prominent andnotched in middle. Frontal sulcus narrow, parallel-sided. Maxillary palpomere IV longer than head, with peduncle about as long as thickened apical part. Elytron with discal carina extending to or nearly to apical third of disc. Interval between carinae and laterally discal carina glabrous. Aedeagus with basal bulb not widened apically, its apicodorsal band not notched, dorsal capsule cordiform.

Distribution. Central Nepal.

Comments. See key below to distinguish this species from its congeners.

Figures

Figs 24-27. Aedeagi in dorsal and lateral views; 24, 25. Pselaphogenius baliyo n. sp.; 26, 27. Nepallaphus ekam n. sp.; Scales = 0.1 mm.