Corresponding author: Mei-Jun Zhao (
Academic editor: Volker Assing
Eight apterous species of the paederine genus
So far, 157 species of the genus
The topology of Sichuan is dominated by mountain regions (49.5%) and plateau (28.5%). The highest peak of Sichuan is the Gongga Shan at 7,556 m. East Sichuan is subject to the subtropical monsoon climate and the west is influenced by plateau alpine climate. Pine and beech forests form the main forest types in Sichuan (
In recent years, we surveyed the staphylinid fauna of several nature reserves in Sichuan Province (Erlang Shan; Labahe N. R.; Micang Shan; Qingcheng Shan and Yele), and collected numerous
Distribution of the
The following abbreviations are used in the text, with all measurements in millimeters:
The type material is deposited in the Insect Collection of Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China (
(1♂, 2♀♀). Holotype: ♂, labelled ‘CHINA: Sichuan Prov., Tianquan County Mt. Erlangshan,
Measurements (in mm) and ratios: BL 5.84–8.06, FL 2.82–3.25, HL 0.83–0.92, HW 0.87–0.94, PL 1.17–1.26, PW 0.93–1.00, EL 0.56–0.67, AL 1.30, HL/HW 0.95–0.98, HW/PW 0.94, HL/PL 0.70–0.73, PL/PW 1.26, EL/PL 0.48–0.53.
Habitus as in
Head subquadrate, distinctly dilated posteriorly; punctation coarse and of variable density, sparser in median dorsal area; interstices with fine microreticulation; eyes 1/4 times as long as postocular region in dorsal view.
Pronotum nearly parallel-sided; punctation somewhat sparser than that of head; impunctate midline broad; interstices without microsculpture.
Elytra approximately 0.48–0.53 times as long as pronotum; punctation fine, shallow, and moderately dense. Hind wings completely reduced. Protarsi with weakly pronounced sexual dimorphism.
Abdomen with moderately fine and dense punctation, that of tergite VII noticeably sparser than that of anterior tergites; interstices with fine microsculpture; posterior margin of tergite VII without palisade fringe; tergite VIII without sexual dimorphism, convexly produced posteriorly (
Male. Sternites III-VI unmodified; sternite VII (
Female. Sternite VIII (
Habitus of
The species is known only from one locality in the Erlang Shan, Sichuan. The specimens were collected at an altitude of 2,200–2,300 m. The holotype was sifted from rhododendron leaves and soil on the east slope of a dry ditch in a rhododendron forest (
The species is named after the mountain where the type locality locality is situated (“Erlang Shan”).
Based on the male and female sexual characters,
(1 ♂). Holotype: ♂, labelled ‘CHINA: Sichuan Prov., Tianquan County Labahe N. R.,
Measurements (in mm) and ratios: BL 8.62, FL 3.39, HL 0.98, HW 0.94, PL 1.31, PW 0.98, EL 0.70, AL 1.72, HL/HW 1.04, HW/PW 0.96, HL/PL 0.75, PL/PW 1.34, EL/PL 0.53.
Habitus as in
Head weakly oblong; punctation moderately coarse and sparse, sparser in median dorsal portion; interstices with shallow microreticulation; eyes 1/5 times as long as postocular region in dorsal view.
Pronotum slender; punctation similar to that of head; impunctate midline moderately broad; interstices without microsculpture.
Elytra 0.53 times as long as pronotum; punctation shallow, moderately dense, and rather weakly defined. Hind wings completely reduced.
Abdomen with fine and dense punctation, that of tergite VII sparser than that of anterior tergites; interstices with fine microsculpture; posterior margin of tergite VII without palisade fringe.
Male. Sternites III-VI unmodified; sternite VII (
Female. Unknown.
The species is known only from one locality in the Labahe Natural Reserve, Sichuan. The holotype was collected by sifting leaf litter and weeds from the floor of the hardwood forest with
The specific epithet (Latin, adjective: seductive) alludes to the long and slender internal spine of the aedeagus.
The morphology of the aedeagus suggests that
(4 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀). Holotype: ♂, labelled ‘CHINA: Sichuan Prov., Shimian County, Liziping. Yele,
Measurements (in mm) and ratios: BL 5.95–7.39, FL 2.83–3.20, HL 0.87–0.93, HW 0.88–0.92, PL 1.15–1.18, PW 0.92–0.96, EL 0.63–0.70, AL 1.24–1.29, HL/HW 0.99–1.01, HW/PW 0.94–0.96, HL/PL 0.76–0.79, PL/PW 1.23–1.25, EL/PL 0.55–0.59.
Habitus as in
Head subquadrate; punctation moderately coarse and rather sparse, slightly sparser in median dorsal portion; interstices with fine microreticulation; eyes 1/4 times as long as postocular region in dorsal view.
Pronotum nearly parallel-sided; punctation similar to that of head; impunctate midline moderately broad; interstices without microsculpture.
Elytra 0.55–0.59 times as long as pronotum; punctation moderately dense, shallow, and weakly defined. Hind wings completely reduced. Protarsi with moderately pronounced sexual dimorphism.
Abdomen with fine and dense punctation, that of tergite VII slightly sparser than that of anterior tergites; interstices with shallow microsculpture; posterior margin of tergite VII without palisade fringe; tergite VIII with moderately pronounced sexual dimorphism.
Male. Tergite VIII with weakly convex posterior margin; sternites III-VI unmodified; sternite VII (
Female. Tergite VIII (
This species is currently known only from the type locality. Some of the type specimens were collected by sifting bamboo leaves and humus from the floor of a bamboo forestat an altitude of 2,600 m (
The species is named after its type locality: “Yele”.
Based on the male and female sexual characters, particularly the long and large dorsal plate, and the presence of an apical internal structure of the aedeagus,
(1 ♂). Holotype: ♂, labelled ‘CHINA: Sichuan Prov., Shimian County, Liziping. Yele,
Measurements (in mm) and ratios: BL 10.17, FL 4.10, HL 1.15, HW 1.20, PL 1.55, PW 1.20, EL 0.83, AL 2.38, HL/HW 0.96, HW/PW 1.00, HL/PL 0.74, PL/PW 1.29, EL/PL 0.54.
Habitus as in
Head weakly transverse; punctation coarse and moderately dense, sparser in median dorsal portion; interstices with fine microreticulation; eyes 1/4 times as long as postocular region in dorsal view.
Pronotum nearly parallel-sided; punctation somewhat sparser than that of head; impunctate midline broad; interstices without microsculpture.
Elytra 0.54 times as long as pronotum; punctation fine, shallow, and moderately dense. Hind wings completely reduced.
Abdomen with fine and dense punctation, that of tergite VII sparser than that of anterior tergites; interstices with shallow microsculpture; posterior margin of tergite VII without palisade fringe.
Male. Sternites III-VI unmodified; sternite VII (
Female. Unknown.
Habitus of
This species is currently known only from the type locality. The holotype was collected by sifting litter of bamboo and rhododendronfrom the floor of rhododendron forestat an altitude of 2,600 m.
The specific epithet (Latin, adjective: dark) alludes to the dark brown coloration of the legs.
The morphology of the aedeagus suggests that
(3 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀). Holotype: ♂, labelled ‘CHINA: Sichuan Prov., Shimian County, Liziping. Yele,
Measurements and ratios: BL 5.50–6.89, FL 2.40–2.82, HL 0.72–0.79, HW 0.75–0.78, PL 0.96–1.07, PW 0.77–0.82, EL 0.51–0.57, AL 1.67–1.72, HL/HW 0.96–1.01, HW/PW 0.95–0.97, HL/PL 0.73–0.76, PL/PW 1.25–1.30, EL/PL 0.52–0.54.
Habitus as in
Head subquadrate (HL/HW 0.96–1.01); punctation moderately coarse and sparse, sparser in median dorsal portion; interstices with fine microreticulation; eyes 1/5–1/4 times as long as postocular region in dorsal view.
Pronotum slender; punctation somewhat denser than that of head; impunctate midline broad; interstices without microreticulation.
Elytra 0.52–0.54 times as long as pronotum; punctation fine, shallow, and moderately dense. Hind wings completely reduced. Protarsi with moderately pronounced sexual dimorphism.
Abdomen with fine and dense punctation, that of tergite VII sparser than that of anterior tergites; interstices with shallow microsculpture; posterior margin of tergite VII without palisade fringe; tergite VIII with moderately pronounced sexual dimorphism.
Male. Tergite VIII with nearly truncate posterior margin; sternites III-VI unmodified; sternite VII (
Female. Posterior margin of tergite VIII (
This species is currently known only from the type locality. One male was collected by sifting bamboo leaves and humus from the floor of the bamboo forest (
The species is named after Yin Zi-Wei, who collected the type specimens.
(1 ♂, 2 ♀♀). Holotype: ♂, labelled ‘CHINA: Sichuan Prov., Shimian County, Liziping. Yele,
Measurements (in mm) and ratios: BL 7.84–9.23, FL 3.34–3.77, HL 1.02–1.05, HW 1.11–1.15, PL 1.44–1.50, PW 1.18–1.22, EL 0.74–0.78, AL 1.76, HL/HW 0.91–0.92, HW/PW 0.94, HL/PL 0.70–0.71, PL/PW 1.22–1.23, EL/PL 0.51–0.52.
Habitus as in
Head weakly transverse; punctation coarse and moderately sparse, sparser in median dorsal portion; interstices with fine microreticulation; eyes 1/4–3/8 times as long as postocular region in dorsal view.
Pronotum weakly convex in dorsal view; punctation somewhat denser than that of head; impunctate midline broad; interstices without microreticulation and shining.
Elytra 0.51–0.52 times as long as pronotum; punctation fine, shallow, and moderately dense. Hind wings completely reduced. Protarsi with weakly pronounced sexual dimorphism.
Abdomen with fine and dense punctation, that of tergite VII sparser than that of anterior tergites; interstices with shallow microsculpture; posterior margin of tergite VII without palisade fringe; tergite VIII without sexual dimorphism; posterior margin broadly convex (
Male. Sternites III-VI unmodified; sternite VII (
Female. Sternite VIII (
This species is currently known only from the type locality. The specimens were collected by sifting bamboo leaves and humus from the floor of a bamboo forestat an altitude of 2,600 m (
The specific epithet (Latin, adjective: shining) alludes to the shining pronotum.
Based on the apically bilobed ventral process and the anteriorly short and undivided median portion of the female tergite IX,
(1 ♂). Holotype: ♂, labelled ‘CHINA: Sichuan Prov., Nanjiang County Mt. Micangshan,
Measurements (in mm) and ratios: BL 6.78, FL 2.68, HL 0.83, HW 0.85, PL 1.11, PW 0.93, EL 0.56, AL 1.46, HL/HW 0.98, HW/PW 0.91, HL/PL 0.75, PL/PW 1.19, EL/PL 0.50.
Habitus as in
Head subquadrate; punctation moderately coarse and sparse, sparser in median dorsal portion; interstices with fine microreticulation; eyes 1/4 times as long as postocular region in dorsal view.
Pronotum nearly parallel-sided; punctation somewhat denser than that of head; impunctate midline broad; interstices without microsculpture.
Elytra 0.50 times as long as pronotum; punctation moderately dense, defined or weakly defined. Hind wings completely reduced.
Abdomen with fine and dense punctation, that of tergite VII sparser than that of anterior tergites; interstices with shallow microsculpture; posterior margin of tergite VII without palisade fringe.
Male. Sternites III-VI unmodified; sternite VII (
Female. Unknown.
Habitus of
The species is known only from one locality in Micang Shan, Sichuan. The holotype was collected by sifting dry leaf litter and moss on a southward slope with
The species is named after its type locality: “Micang Shan”.
Based on the morphology of the aedeagus (the shapes and chaetotaxy of the male sternites VII and VIII, presence of a moderately sclerotized spine in the internal sac, asymmetric ventral process),
(3 ♂♂). Holotype: ♂, labelled ‘CHINA: Sichuan Prov., Dujiangyan City, Mt. Qingchengshan,
Measurements (in mm) and ratios: BL 7.78–9.51, FL 4.00–4.28, HL 1.25–1.28, HW 1.38–1.40, PL 1.63–1.68, PW 1.40–1.43, EL 0.81–0.83, AL 1.65–1.70, HL/HW 0.91, HW/PW 0.98–0.99, HL/PL 0.77, PL/PW 1.16–1.17, EL/PL 0.49–0.50.
Habitus as in
Head subquadrate; punctation dense and coarse; interstices with fine microreticulation; eyes 0.3 times as long as postocular region in dorsal.
Pronotum with weakly convex lateral margins in dorsal view; punctation somewhat sparser than that of head; impunctate midline narrow; interstices without microsculpture.
Elytra 0.49–0.50 times as long as pronotum; punctation shallow and much denser than that of pronotum; interstices without distinct microsculpture. Hind wings reduced.
Abdomen much broader than elytra, with fine and dense punctation, that of tergite VII sparser than that of anterior tergites; interstices with shallow microsculpture; posterior margin of tergite VII without palisade.
Male. Sternites III-VI unmodified; sternite VII (
Female. Unknown.
The species is known only from one locality in the Qingcheng Shan, Sichuan. Two specimens were collected by sifting leaf litter and humus from the floor of a hardwood forest with Cherokee rose and
Habitats of the new species.
The specific epithet is the past participle of the Latin verb agglutinare (to glue together) and alludes to the fused ventral process and dorsal plate of the aedeagus.
All the collectors mentioned in the text are acknowledged for their field work. Two anonymous reviewers are thanked for comments on a previous version of the manuscript. We are most grateful to Volker Assing (Hannover) for making an unpublished manuscript containing descriptions of several species from Sichuan available to us to avoid overlap, for providing an additional type specimen of one newly described species, and for his comments on an earlier version of the manuscript. Moreover, we thank Wang Lao-er for his support during our field work. The study is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31101659 and No. 31172134, 31201734), the Foundation of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission (No. 12YZ077 and No. 13YZ062) and Shanghai Normal University (SK201234, DZL125 and B–9013–11–003127).