Pselaphodes sagephorus Huang & Yin, 2019, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Huang, Meng-Chi
name: Yin, Zi-Wei
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2019
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Staphylinidae
Pselaphodes
Pselaphodes sagephorus

description: Pselaphodes sagephorus sp. nov.
Figs 16B, 18 A-K
Type material (10 specimens): Holotype; MHNG- ENTO-44068; ♂; NEPAL, ‘ NEPAL: distr. Kathmandu: Phulcoki, 2500 m, 28-29.IV.84, Löbl - Smetana’ (MHNG). – Paratypes; MHNG-ENTO-44069 & 44070; 1 ♂, 1 ♀; NEAPL, same label data as holotype. – MHNG-ENTO-44071 to 44072; 1 ♂, 1 ♀; NEAPAL, ‘ NEPAL (Prov. Bagmati), Pokhare NE Barahbise, 2700 m, 7. V.81, Löbl & Smetana’. – MHNG- ENTO-44073; 1 ♂; NEPAL, ‘ NEPAL (Prov. Bagmati), Malemchi, 2800 m, 14.IV.81, Löbl & Smetana’. – MHNG-ENTO-44074; 1 ♂; NEPAL, ‘ NEPAL (Prov. Bagmati), Gul Bhanjyang, 2600 m, 6.IV.81, Löbl & Smetana’. – MHNG-ENTO-44075; 1 ♂; NEPAL, ‘ NEPAL: Bagmati, Pokhare NE Barahbise, 2800 m, 3.5.81, Löbl - Smetana’. – MHNG-ENTO-44076; 1 ♂; NEPAL, ‘ NEPAL (Prov. Bagmati), Phulchauki nr. Kathmandu, 2500 m, 10. V.81, l. Löbl’. – MHNG- ENTO-44077; 1 ♂; NEPAL, ‘ NEPAL, Lalitpur Distr.,
Phulcoki, 2550 m, 15.X.83, Smetana & Löbl’ (all paratypes in MHNG).
Type locality: Nepal, Kathmandu District, Phulchoki Hill, 2500 m alt.
Diagnosis of males: Length 3.41-3.42 mm. Antennomeres 9 with distinct projection and cavity at apex and mesal margin, with tuft of gold-colored setae inside cavity, antennomeres 10 with large projection at base. Metaventral processes long, apically narrowed, with pair of small projection in addition to long processes. Protrochanters with small ventral spine, profemora with large ventral spine, protibiae with blunt projection at apex; mesotrochanters with slender ventral spine; metafemora with large ventral spine. Median lobe of aedeagus slightly asymmetric at apex; parameres broad.
Description: Male (Fig. 16B). Body reddish brown, BL 3.41-3.42 mm. Head slightly longer than wide, HL 0.64-0.68 mm, HW 0.64-0.67 mm; each eye composed of about 45 facets; with well-developed ocular canthus. Antennomeres (Fig. 18A) 9-11 forming distinct club, antennomeres 9 with distinct projection and cavity at apex and mesal margin, with tuft of gold-colored setae inside cavity, antennomeres 10 with large, sharp projection at base. Pronotum (Fig. 18B) longer than wide, PL 0.72-0.74 mm, PW 0.68-0.69 mm, angularly expanded at anterolateral margins. Elytra wider than long, EL 0.84-0.95 mm, EW 1.32-1.41 mm. Metaventral processes (Fig. 18C) long and broad, narrowed at apex, with pair of small projection in addition to long processes. Protrochanters (Fig. 18D) with tiny spine, profemora with large ventral spine, protibiae (Fig. 18E) with blunt projection at apex; mesotrochanters (Fig. 18F) with long, slender ventral spine; metatrochanters simple, metafemora (Fig. 18G) with large, sharp ventral spine. Abdomen broad at base and narrowing apically, AL 1.06-1.20 mm, AW 1.40- 1.43 mm. Sternite IX semi-membranous, shape as in Fig. 18H. Length of aedeagus (Figs 18 I-K) 0.59 mm; median lobe slightly asymmetric, narrowed at apex; parameres broad dorso-ventrally; endophallus composed of one long and one short sclerites.
Female. Each eye composed of about 35 facets; antennae simple. Measurements: BL 3.34 mm, HL 0.72 mm, HW 0.63 mm, PL 0.71 mm, PW 0.67 mm, EL 0.72 mm, EW 1.29 mm, AL 1.19 mm, AW 1.49 mm.
Distribution: Nepal, Bagmati.
Comparative notes: The new species belongs to the P. bagmatius species-group, and can be readily separated from all other members of the group based on the expanded postgenae, strongly modified antennal clubs, long and broad metaventral processes, the long metafemoral spine of the male, and the unique configuration of the aedeagus.
Etymology: The specific epithet ‘ Sagephorus ’ means
‘well-armed’, referring to the strongly modified head, antennae, and legs in the male of the new species.
description: Published as part of Huang, Meng-Chi & Yin, Zi-Wei, 2019, The Pselaphodes (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) of Nepal, pp. 165-196 in Revue suisse de Zoologie 126 (2) on pages 187-189, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3463445