Research Article |
Corresponding author: Zi-Wei Yin ( pselaphinae@gmail.com ) Academic editor: Jan Klimaszewski
© 2023 Yong-Qin Zhang, Zi-Wei Yin.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Zhang Y-Q, Yin Z-W (2023) The genus Pseudophanias Raffray (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae) from Nanling Priority Area for Biodiversity Conservation, China. ZooKeys 1179: 231-241. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1179.110478
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Prior to this study, no species of Pseudophanias Raffray had been reported from Nanling, a vast biodiversity conservation area that spans five provinces in southern China. In this paper, three new species of the genus are described: Pseudophanias furcilobus sp. nov. (Guizhou, Guangxi), P. leigong sp. nov. (Guizhou), and P. mulun sp. nov. (Guangxi), suggesting that additional study on the diversity of this group in the area is required. These species are characterized, keyed, and compared to similar congeners, supplemented with illustrations of the habitus and other morphological characters.
Ant-loving beetle, Guangxi, Guizhou, new species, Oriental region, Tmesiphorini
After a recent discovery of a morphologically unusual representative at West Tianmu Mountain, East China (
The four species of China were all recently described. Two of them inhabit Taiwan (
The material treated in this paper is deposited in the Insect Collection of Shanghai Normal University (SNUC). The label data of the material are quoted verbatim.
Dissected parts were mounted in Euparal on plastic slides pinned with the specimen. The habitus image of the beetle was taken using a Canon EOS R5 camera, equipped with a 7.5× Mitutoyo M Plan Apo lens, and two Godox V860III-C TTL Li-Ion flashes were used as the light source. Images of morphological details were produced using a Canon G9 camera mounted to an Olympus CX31 microscope under reflected or transmitted light. Zerene Stacker v. 1.04 was used for image stacking. All images were modified and grouped into plates using Adobe Photoshop CC 2020.
Measurements were taken as follows: total body length was measured from the anterior margin of the rostrum to the apex of the abdomen; head length was measured from the anterior margin of the rostrum to the head base, excluding the cervical constriction; head width was measured across the eyes; the length of the pronotum was measured along the midline, the width of the pronotum equals the maximum width; the length of the elytra was measured along the suture; the width of the elytra was measured as the maximum width across both elytra; the length of the abdomen is the length of the dorsally exposed part of the abdomen along its midline, the width is the maximum width.
The terminology follows
(4 exx.). Holotype: China: ♂: ‘China: Guizhou, Libo County, Maolan N. R., 25°16′52″N, 107°54′18″E, 850–890 m, 20.vii.2015, Chen & Zhao leg. (贵州荔波茂兰自然保护区)’ (SNUC). Paratypes: China: 1 ♀, same collecting data as for holotype; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, ‘China: Guangxi, Hechi City, Mulun N. R., 25°3′12″N, 107°57′59″E, 450–600 m, 26.vii.2015, Chen, He & Hu leg. (广西河池木论自然保护区)’ (SNUC).
Male. Body moderately elongate, length approximately 2.1 mm. Vertex coarsely punctate, with punctiform vertexal and slightly larger frontal fovea. Antennomeres 5–11 modified, each distinctly transverse, antennomeres 5 as broad as 6, 7 and 8 much narrower than 6, 9 and 10 successively larger, 11 largest, semiglobular, truncate at base. Pronotum with finely punctate disc, coarsely punctate at basal part. Legs simple. Tergite 1 (IV) about 2.4 times as long as 2 (V), lacking discal carinae. Median lobe of aedeagus at middle greatly projected ventrally, projection deeply forked apically; parameres each with three long setae at apex. Female. Similar to male in external morphology; antenna lacking modifications.
Male. Body (Fig.
Head
(Fig.
Pronotum
(Fig.
Elytra much wider than long, length 0.51–0.54 mm, width 0.85–0.86 mm; roundly trapezoidal, dorsal surface with dense, long pubescence; each elytron with two large, asetose, basal foveae; discal striae shallow and wide, extending from outer basal foveae posteriorly for 5.6/10 elytral length. Humeral denticles absent, humeri almost flat, lacking subhumeral foveae or marginal striae; posterolateral margins shortly oblique with row of dense setae. Metathoracic wings greatly reduced, short.
Mesoventrite
short, laterally fused with metaventrite; median mesoventral foveae widely separated, originating from shared setose, transverse opening, large lateral mesoventral foveae unforked internally, with short, apically truncate mesoventral process. Metaventrite (Fig.
All legs elongate and slender; femora coarsely punctate; each tarsus with one major and one reduced setiform pretarsal claw.
Abdomen widest at lateral margins of tergite 1 (IV), length 0.71– 0.72 mm, width 0.84–0.85 mm. Tergite 1 longest, approximately 2.4× as long as 2 (V), with broad, setose basal sulcus and pair of basolateral foveae, lacking discal carinae; tergites 2–4 (V–VII) each lacking basal sulcus or fovea, 2 and 3 successively shorter, 4 distinctly longer than 2 and 3; tergite 5 (VIII) transverse, posterior margin evenly rounded. Sternite 2 (IV) at middle slightly longer than 3–5 (V–VII) combined, with deep, setose basal impression and pair of basolateral sockets, 3 and 4 each short at middle, combined longer than 5 (VII), 3–5 each lacking sulcus or fovea at base, 6 (VIII) transverse, posterior margin slightly convex at middle.
Aedeagus
(Fig.
Female. General external morphology similar to male; antenna slightly shorter, unmodified; each eye composed of about 30 ommatidia; humeral flat; metathoracic wings similar to male, reduced. Measurements (as for male): body length 2.09–2.11 mm, length/width of head 0.44–0.46 mm/0.39–0.40 mm, length/width of pronotum 0.43–0.44 mm/0.43–0.44 mm, length/width of elytra 0.48–0.49 mm/0.83–0.88 mm, length/width of abdomen 0.74–0.82 mm/0.83–0.89 mm.
The male of this species is morphologically similar to Pseudophanias excavatus Inoue, Nomura & Yin from Taiwan, China by the antennal modification composed of apical seven antennomeres (
Southwestern China: Guizhou, Guangxi.
The specific epithet is a combination of Latin stem furc, meaning, “fork”, and noun lobus, meaning, “lobe”, referring to the apically forked ventral projection of median lobe of the aedeagus.
(1 ex.). Holotype: China: ♂: ‘China: Guizhou, Leishan, Leigong Mt, Xiannütang., 26°22'22.11"N, 108°11'52.12"E, 1550 m, 3.v.2021, Tang, Peng, Cai, Song leg. (贵州雷公县雷公山仙女塘)’ (SNUC).
Male. Body moderately elongate, length 2.0 mm. Vertex coarsely punctate, with punctiform vertexal and frontal fovea. Antennomeres 9–11 enlarged, successively larger, much wider than other antennomeres, 10 ventrally protruding on apical margin, 11 hemispherical, truncate at base. Pronotum with smooth disc, coarsely punctate at basal part. Legs simple. Tergite 1 (IV) more than 2.5 times as long as 2 (V), lacking discal carinae. Median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view strongly curved, at middle greatly projected ventrally, and markedly enlarged at apex; parameres each with two long setae at apex. Female. Unknown.
Male. Body (Fig.
Head
(Fig.
Pronotum
(Fig.
Elytra much wider than long, length 0.48 mm, width 0.84 mm; roundly trapezoidal, dorsal surface with long pubescence; each elytron with two large, asetose, basal foveae; discal striae shallow and wide, extending from outer basal foveae to apical 5.4/10 of elytral length. Humeral denticles absent, humeri almost flat, lacking subhumeral foveae or marginal striae; posterolateral margins shortly oblique. Metathoracic wings absent.
Mesoventrite
short, laterally fused with metaventrite; median mesoventral foveae widely separated, originating from shared setose, transverse opening, large lateral mesoventral foveae unforked internally, with short, apically roundly truncate mesoventral process. Metaventrite (Fig.
All legs elongate and slender; femora coarsely punctate; each tarsus with one major and one reduced setiform pretarsal claw.
Legs elongate; femora coarsely punctate; each tarsus with one major and one reduced setiform pretarsal claw.
Abdomen widest at lateral margins of tergite 1 (IV), length 0.67 mm, width 0.83 mm. Tergite 1 longest, more than 2.5× as long as 2 (V), with broad, setose basal sulcus and pair of basolateral foveae, lacking discal carinae; tergites 2–4 (V–VII) each lacking basal sulcus or fovea, 2 and 3 successively shorter, 4 distinctly longer than 2 and 3; tergite 5 (VIII) semicircular, transverse, posterior margin evenly rounded. Sternite 2 (IV) at middle approximately as long as 3–5 (V–VII) combined, with densely setose basal sulcus and pair of basolateral foveae at lateral ends of sulcus, 3–5 each short at middle, lacking sulcus or fovea at base, 6 (VIII) transverse, posterior margin slightly convex at middle.
Aedeagus
(Fig.
Female. Unknown.
The male of this species is externally similar to those of P. furcilobus and P. mulun, both described here, but can be readily separated by the different antennal modification, i.e., only antennomeres 9–11 enlarged in P. leigong sp. nov. vs. antennomeres 6–11 enlarged in the latter two species, and the configuration of the aedeagus.
Southwestern China: Guizhou.
The named is taken from Leigong Mountain, the type locality of the new species.
(1 ex.). Holotype: China: ♂: ‘China: Guangxi, Hechi City, Mulun N. R., 25°12'14"N, 108°5'46"E (at the broader of Guangxi and Guizhou), 460 m, 27.vii.2015, Chen, He & Hu leg. (广西河池木论自然保护区)’ (SNUC).
Male. Body moderately elongate, length approximately 1.9 mm. Vertex coarsely punctate, with punctiform vertexal and frontal fovea. Antennomeres 6–11 enlarged, each distinctly transverse, antennomere 69 much wider than 7–9 and as wide as 10, 10 angularly protruding ventrally. Pronotum with smooth disc, coarsely punctate at basal part. Legs simple. Tergite 1 (IV) more than 2.5 times as long as 2 (V), lacking discal carinae. Median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view C-shaped, abruptly narrowed before apex; parameres each with two long setae at apex.
Male. Body (Fig.
Head
(Fig.
Pronotum
(Fig.
Elytra much wider than long, length 0.49 mm, width 0.77 mm; roundly trapezoidal, dorsal surface with dense, long pubescence; each elytron with two large, asetose, basal foveae; discal striae broad and shallow, extending from outer basal foveae posteriorly for 5.4/10 elytral length; humeral denticles absent, humeri weakly protuberant, lacking subhumeral foveae or marginal striae; posterolateral margins shortly oblique. Metathoracic wings absent.
Mesoventrite
short, laterally fused with metaventrite; median mesoventral foveae widely separated, originating from shared setose, transverse opening, large lateral mesoventral foveae unforked internally, with short, apically truncate mesoventral process. Metaventrite (Fig.
Legs elongate and slender; femora coarsely punctate; each tarsus with one major and one reduced setiform pretarsal claw.
Abdomen widest at lateral margins of tergite 1 (IV), length 0.67 mm, width 0.76 mm. Tergite 1 (IV) longest, more than 2.5× as long as 2 (V), with broad, setose basal sulcus and pair of basolateral foveae, lacking discal carinae; tergite 2 (V) slightly longer than 3 (VI), 4 (VII) distinctly longer than 2 and 3, 2–4 each lacking basal sulcus or fovea; tergite 5 (VIII) semicircular, transverse, posterior margin evenly rounded. Sternite 2 (IV) at middle approximately as long as 3–5 (V–VII) combined, with deep, setose basal impression and pair of basolateral sockets, 3 (V) and 4 (VI) each short at middle, combined approximately as long as 5 (VII), 3–5 lacking sulcus or fovea at base, 6 (VIII) transverse, posterior margin slightly convex at middle.
Aedeagus
(Fig.
Female. Unknown.
This species is morphologically similar to the Burmese Pseudophanias spinicornis Inoue & Nomura and P. tanintharyiensis Inoue & Nomura by the male antennal modification composed of apical six antennomeres (
Southwestern China: Guangxi.
This species is named after its type locality, Mulun Nature Reserve.
1 | Antennomeres 6 enlarged, much broader than 7 (Figs |
2 |
– | Antennomeres 6 normal, approximately as broad as 7 (Fig. |
Pseudophanias leigong sp. nov. |
2 | Antennomeres 5 greatly transverse, as broad as 6 (Fig. |
Pseudophanias furcilobus sp. nov. |
– | Antennomeres 5 unmodified, much narrower than 6 (Fig. |
Pseudophanias mulun sp. nov. |
Christopher Carlton (Louisiana State Arthropod Museum, Louisiana, USA) critically commented on the draft manuscript which improved the paper.
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
No ethical statement was reported.
Financial support was provided by the GDAS (Guangdong Academy of Sciences) Special Project of Science and Technology Development (2020GDASYL–20200102021; 2020GDASYL–20200301003), and National Natural Science Foundation of China (31872965).
Conceptualization: ZWY. Funding acquisition: ZWY. Investigation: ZWY. Methodology: YQZ. Validation: YQZ. Writing – original draft: YQZ. Writing – review and editing: ZWY.
Yong-Qin Zhang https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6112-6640
Zi-Wei Yin https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6659-9448
All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text.