Sphaeraphodius gaohani Kakizoe, Jiang & Wang, 2021

Kakizoe, Showtaro, Jiang, Ri-Xin, Cai, Hao-Hong & Wang, Shuo, 2021, Sphaeraphodius gaohani, a new genus and species of Aphodiini (Coleoptera Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) from Guangxi, China, Zootaxa 4949 (2), pp. 333-340 : 338-339

Sphaeraphodius gaohani Kakizoe, Jiang & Wang , new species

( Figs. 1A – 4F )

Type materials. Holotype, ♀, labeled “ China: Guangxi (), Guigang City (), Guiping City (), Chongbiao ( ṘR), 30.IV.2020, local people leg., H: ~ 400 m, in nest of the termite Macrotermes sp.” ( MYNU) . Paratype, 1 ♀, same label data as for the holotype ( SKCJ) .

Description of holotype female. Head ( Figs. 1A–B , 2A ) narrower than pronotum with a ratio of pronotal width to head width ca. 1.46. Pronotum ( Figs. 1A–B ) distinctly shorter than elytra with a ratio of elytral length to pronotal length ca. 2.25. Elytra ( Fig. 1A ) with a ratio of length to width ca. 1.17. Other character status are as described for the description of the genus.

Male. Unknown.

Measurements. Body length 4.2 mm; maximum width of head 1.5 mm; median dorsal length of pronotum 1.2 mm, maximum width 2.2 mm; sutural length of elytra 2.7 mm, maximum width 2.3 mm; maximum width of epipharynx 0.50 mm.

Differential diagnosis. This species is readily distinguished from other members of Aphodiini by the generic diagnostic features described above.

Etymology. Dedicated to Mr. Han Gao, the donator of the holotype.

Distribution. China: Guangxi Province.

Provisional symbiotic host. Macrotermes sp. ( Figs. 4G–I ; see discussion).

Collecting circumstances. All specimens were collected from the nest of Macrotermes sp., in a typical semitropical evergreen broad-leaf forest.

Figures

FIGURES 1A–C. Sphaeraphodius gaohani Kakizoe, Jiang & Wang, new genus and new species (holotype, female).A, habitus, dorsal view; B, habitus, ventral view; C, habitus, lateral view.

FIGURES 2A–E. Sphaeraphodius gaohani Kakizoe, Jiang & Wang, new genus and new species (holotype, female). A, head, dorsal view; B, right elytron, dorsal view; C, antennae, ventral view; D, right hind wing, dorsal view; E, tergite 8 (pygidium), dorsal view.

FIGURES 4A–I. Sphaeraphodius gaohani Kakizoe, Jiang & Wang, new genus and new species (holotype, female), and potential host termite. A, right fore leg, dorsal view; B, right middle leg, dorsal view; C, right hind leg, dorsal view; D, outer edge of right mesotibia; E, ditto, metatibia; F, apical spinules of right metatibia; G, potential host termite, soldier, dorsal view; H, ditto, left mandible, dorsal view; I, ditto, right mandible, dorsal view.