Holotype. China – Xizang Prov. • ♂; glued on a card with two labels as follows: “China: Xizang Prov., Dingjie County, Chentang Town, Xiuxiongma Vill., alt. 27°54'11"N, 87°22'42"E, 2700–3000 m, 25.VI.2021, Peng, Yin & Zhang leg.” “Holotype: Paederuschentangus sp. n., Yang & Peng des. 2024” [red handwritten label]; SNUC. Paratypes. China – Xizang Prov. • 8 ♂♂, 12 ♀♀; Dingjie County, Chentang Town, Xiuxiongma Vill., alt. 27°54'11"N, 87°22'42"E, 2700–3000 m, 25.VI.2021, Peng, Yin & Zhang leg; SNUC • 4 ♂♂, 12 ♀♀; Dingjie County, Chentang Town, Ganma Zangbu, 27°51'38"N, 87°24'59"E, alt. 2300 m, 30.VII.2022, Peng, Song, Yin & Zhang leg; SNUC • 3 ♀♀; Dingjie County, Chentang Town, Ganma Zangbu, 27°51'50"N, 87°24'24"E, alt. 2400 m, 28.VI.2021, Z. Peng leg; SNUC.

Measurements (in mm) and ratios: BL: 9.39–11.22; FL: 4.43–5.00; HL: 1.25–1.37; HW: 1.47–1.57; AnL: 2.78–3.17; PL: 1.34–1.57; PW: 1.42–1.50; EL: 1.05–1.12; EW: 1.49–1.62; AW: 1.62–1.69; AL: 1.72–1.74; HL/HW: 0.84–0.87; HW/PW: 0.98–1.05; HL/PL: 0.87–0.93; PL/PW: 0.95–1.05; EL/PL: 0.71–0.78; diameter of eye: 0.37–0.42.

Habitus as in Figs 1A, 8. Coloration: head and abdomen black; antennae light brown, sometimes antennomeres 4–11 infuscate; pronotum red; elytra black with bluish-green hue; legs black with blackish-brown tarsi.

Head (Fig. 1A) transverse, widest across eyes; punctation coarse and moderately dense; interstices glossy. Eyes distinctly convex. Antennae slender, antennomere 4 approximately 3.8 times as long as broad and antennomere 10 nearly twice as long as broad. Mandibles (Fig. 2A, B) each with apically bifid molar tooth, without evident sexual dimorphism.

Pronotum (Fig. 1A) weakly transverse or as long as broad, strongly convex in cross section; punctures distinctly sparser and shallower than that of head.

Elytra (Fig. 1A) nearly trapeziform; punctation coarse, well defined, and dense. Hind wings reduced. Metatarsomere I shorter than combined length of metatarsomeres II and III.

Abdomen slightly broader than elytra; punctation dense; interstices with distinctly transverse microsculpture; posterior margin of tergite VII without palisade fringe.

Male. Anterior margin of labrum (Fig. 2B) in middle with semicircular median excision; posterior margin of tergite VIII (Fig. 2E) pointed in middle; sternite VII unmodified; sternite VIII (Fig. 2F) with deep posterior excision, this excision approximately 0.4 times as long as sternite VIII; aedeagus as in Fig. 2G–I, ventral plate apically convex in ventral view; dorsal plate asymmetric, apically acute and not reaching apices of parameres in ventral view; parameres weakly asymmetric and apically distinctly curved in lateral view; internal sac with single distinctive sclerotized spine.

Female. Anterior margin of labrum (Fig. 2A) in middle with shallow median excision. Posterior margin of tergite VIII (Fig. 2C) strongly convex; posterior margin of sternite VIII (Fig. 2D) obtusely pointed in middle.

The species was found in three localities in the Chentang area, to the south of Dingjie, southern Xizang. The specimens were sifted from moss, grass roots and loose gravel in shrub habitats at altitudes of 2300–3000 m (Figs 8, 9).

The species is named after its type locality (Chentang).

Based on the sexual characters and the external characters, closer affiliations with other Paederus species from Xizang are not evident. However, the highly similar male sexual characters, particularly the similarly derived morphology of the aedeagus, suggest that P. chentangus is very closely related to P. megascutum Willers, 1999 from Nepal. It differs from P. megascutum by the shape of the head (weakly transverse in P. megascutum), by the shorter elytra, and particularly by the stouter parameres and the curved ventral plate of the aedeagus in ventral view. For illustrations of P. megascutum, see Willers (1999: figs 7, I4, II4).

Figure 1. 

Habitus of Paederus species A P. chentangus B P. mirus C P. songi D P. trispinosus E P. yei F P. zhaoi. Scale bars: 2.0 mm.

Figure 2. 

Paederus chentangus A female mouthparts B male mouthparts C female tergite VIII D female sternite VIII E male tergite VIII F male sternite VIII G aedeagus in ventral view H aedeagus in lateral view I aedeagus in dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Holotype. China – Xizang Prov. • ♂; glued on a card with two labels as follows: “China: Xizang Prov., Yadong County, Xiayadong, 27°23'48"N, 88°50'02"E, alt. 3000 m, 01.VIII.2021, Peng, Yin & Zhang leg.” “HOLOTYPE: Paederus mirus sp. n., Yang & Peng des. 2024” [red handwritten label]; SNUC. Paratypes. China – Xizang Prov. • 3 ♀♀: Yadong County, Xiayadong, 27°23'48"N, 88°50'02"E, alt. 3000 m, 01.VIII.2021, Peng, Yin & Zhang leg; SNUC • 1 ♀: Yadong County, Xiayadong, 27°23'48"N, 88°50'02"E, alt. 2750 m, 10.VIII.2010, Wen-Xuan Bi leg; SNUC.

Measurements (in mm) and ratios: BL 9.10–9.45, FL 4.42–4.77, HL 1.26–1.32, HW 1.29–1.35, AnL: 3.24–3.78; PL: 1.50–1.57; PW: 1.26–1.29; EL: 1.01–1.09; EW: 1.24–1.27; AW: 1.51–1.59; AL: 0.95; HL/HW: 0.96–0.98; HW/PW: 1.02–1.05; HL/PL: 0.84–0.85; PL/PW: 1.19–1.21; EL/PL: 0.67–0.69; diameter of eye: 0.32–0.33.

Habitus as in Fig. 1B. Coloration: head and abdomen black; antennae light brown; pronotum red; elytra black with faint bluish hue; legs black with dark brown tarsi.

Head (Fig. 1B) weakly transverse, widest across eyes; punctation distinctly coarse and sparse; interstices glossy. Eyes distinctly convex. Antennae distinctly slender, antennomere 4 nearly four times as long as broad and antennomere 10 nearly twice as long as broad. Labrum (Fig. 3A, B) without evident sexual dimorphism, anterior margin in middle with U-shaped median excision, with small projection on either side of median excision. Mandibles (Fig. 3A, B) each with apically bifid molar tooth, without sexual dimorphism.

Pronotum (Fig. 1B) nearly oviform, strongly convex in cross section; punctures sparser and shallower than on head.

Elytra (Fig. 1B) slightly slender, humeral angles obsolete; punctation coarse, well defined, and dense. Hind wings reduced. Metatarsomere I as long as combined length of metatarsomeres II and III.

Abdomen broader than elytra; punctation dense; interstices with shallow microsculpture; posterior margin of tergite VII without palisade fringe; posterior margin of tergite VIII (Fig. 3C, E) weakly convex, shape subject to some variation, but without evident sexual dimorphism.

Male. Sternites III–VI unmodified; sternite VII (Fig. 3F) strongly transverse, with deep median impression without modified pubescence, posterior margin broadly concave; sternite VIII (Fig. 3G) with deep posterior excision, this excision approximately 0.4 times as long as sternite VIII; aedeagus as in Fig. 3H–J and strongly derived; ventral plate nearly truncate; dorsal plate weakly asymmetric, apically bifid and conspicuous; parameres very short; internal sac without sclerotized spine.

Female. Posterior margin of sternite VIII (Fig. 3D) convex.

The species was discovered in two localities situated to southern Yadong, southern Xizang. Some specimens were sifted from moss and leaf litter in montane primary mixed and coniferous forests at an altitude of 3000 m (Fig. 10).

The specific epithet mirus means “strange, wonderful”, referring to the shape of the aedeagus.

Paederus mirus is characterized particularly by the distinctive shape of the aedeagus and additionally by the shape and chaetotaxy of the male sternite VII, as well as by the slender habitus and antennae. Based on the sexual characters, closer affiliations with other Paederus species are not evident.

Figure 3. 

Paederus mirus A female mouthparts B male mouthparts C female tergite VIII D female sternite VIII E male tergite VIII F male sternite VII G male sternite VIII H aedeagus in ventral view I aedeagus in lateral view J aedeagus in dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Holotype. China – Chongqing • ♂; glued on a card with two labels as follows: “China: Chongqing City, Shizhu County, Huangshui Town, Polaoxiang, Near Dafengbao, 30°13'04"N, 108°24'50"E, alt. 1550 m, 27.IX.2023, Xiao-Bin Song leg.” “HOLOTYPE: Paederus songi sp. n., Yang & Peng des. 2024” [red handwritten label]; SNUC. Paratypes. China – Chongqing • 1♀; Shizhu County, Huangshui Town, Polaoxiang, Near Dafengbao, 30°13'04"N, 108°24'50"E, alt. 1550 m, 27.IX.2023, Xiao-Bin Song leg; SNUC.

Measurements (in mm) and ratios: BL 8.11–9.55, FL 4.45–5.02, HL 1.49–1.52, HW 1.54–1.71, AnL: 2.94–3.31; PL: 1.54–1.72; PW: 1.59–1.68; EL: 0.95–1.02; EW: 1.55–1.60; AW: 1.73–1.79; AL: 2.25; HL/HW: 0.89–0.97; HW/PW: 0.97–1.02; HL/PL: 0.88–0.97; PL/PW: 0.97–1.02; EL/PL: 0.59–0.62; diameter of eye: 0.38–0.45.

Habitus as in Fig. 1C. Coloration: head and abdomen black; antennae brown to light brown; pronotum red; elytra black with distinctly bluish hue; legs brown with paler tarsi.

Head (Fig. 1C) transverse, widest across eyes; punctation coarse and sparse; interstices glossy. Eyes distinctly convex. Antennae slender, antennomere 4 approximately 3.4 times as long as broad and antennomere 10 nearly twice as long as broad.

Pronotum (Fig. 1C) nearly as long as broad, strongly convex in cross section; punctures slightly sparser than on head.

Elytra (Fig. 1C) trapeziform; punctation distinctly coarse, well defined, and moderately dense. Hind wings reduced. Metatarsomere I slightly shorter than combined length of metatarsomeres II and III.

Abdomen broader than elytra; punctation dense; interstices with distinctly transverse microsculpture; posterior margin of tergite VII without palisade fringe.

Male. Mandibles (Fig. 4B) each with weakly bifid molar tooth at apex. Labrum (Fig. 4B) with distinctly concave anterior margin, with U-shaped median excision and with broad lateral projection on either side. Posterior margin of tergite VIII (Fig. 4E) convex; sternite VII unmodified; sternite VIII (Fig. 4F) with deep posterior excision, this excision approximately 0.4 times as long as sternite VIII; aedeagus as in Fig. 4G–I, ventral plate asymmetric in ventral view; dorsal plate asymmetric, apically acute in dorsal view and not reaching apices of parameres; parameres asymmetric and weakly curved in lateral view; internal sac with pair of long sclerotized spines and single very short sclerotized spine.

Female. Mandibles (Fig. 4A) each with bifid molar tooth of similar shape. Labrum (Fig. 4A) with U-shaped median excision and with broad lateral projection on either side, as well as a small projection on either side of median excision. Tergite VIII (Fig. 4C) oblong, with convex posterior margin; posterior margin of sternite VIII (Fig. 4D) strongly convex.

The type locality is in northeastern Shizhu, eastern Chongqing. The specimens were sifted from moist leaf litter and roots in a secondary deciduous forest with bamboo at an altitude of 1550 m (Song pers. comm.). The paratype is teneral.

The species is named after Xiao-Bin Song, who collected the type specimens. He is a renowned specialist on mainly Palaearctic Paussinae.

The external and particularly the male sexual characters leave no doubt that this species belongs to the P. biacutus group. Among the species of this group, it appears to be most closely allied to P. sinisterobliquus Li, Zhou & Solodovnikov, 2013, with which it shares the similar morphology of the aedeagus. It is distinguished from P. sinisterobliquus by slightly larger body size, by the stouter pronotum, by three distinctly sclerotized spines of the internal sac and the larger parameres of the aedeagus, as well as by the shape of the female sternite VIII.

Figure 4. 

Paederus songi A female mouthparts B male mouthparts C female tergite VIII D female sternite VIII E male tergite VIII F male sternite VIII G aedeagus in ventral view H aedeagus in lateral view I aedeagus in dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Holotype. China – Hubei Prov. • ♂; glued on a card with two labels as follows: “China: Hubei Prov., Wufeng County, Houhe N.R., 30°11'53"N, 110°35'40"E, alt. 1480 m, 12.V.2020, Wen-Xuan Bi leg.” “HOLOTYPE: Paederus trispinosus sp. n., Yang & Peng des. 2024” [red handwritten label]; SNUC. Paratypes. China – Hubei Prov. •4 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Wufeng County, Houhe N.R., 30°11'53"N, 110°35'40"E, alt. 1480 m, 12.V.2020, Wen-Xuan Bi leg; SNUC • 1 ♂; Wufeng County, Houhe N.R., 30°05'10"N, 110°33'04"E, alt. 1150 m, 30.IV.2004, Li-Zhen Li leg; SNUC.

Measurements (in mm) and ratios: BL 9.11–9.67, FL 4.56–4.91, HL: 1.35–1.54; HW: 1.49–1.69; AnL: 3.08–3.22; PL: 1.49–1.67; PW: 1.50–1.67; EL: 1.00–1.10; EW: 1.47–1.54; AW: 1.67–1.74; AL: 2.14–2.17; HL/HW: 0.90–0.93; HW/PW: 0.99–1.02; HL/PL: 0.90–0.93; PL/PW: 0.97–1.01; EL/PL: 0.65–0.68; diameter of eye: 0.38–0.43.

Habitus as in Fig. 1D. Coloration: head and abdomen black; antennae brown, sometimes antennomeres 4−8 infuscate; pronotum red; elytra black with distinctly bluish hue; legs with brown femora, and with brown to light brown tibiae and tarsi.

Head (Fig. 1D) transverse, widest across eyes; punctation coarse and sparse; interstices glossy. Eyes distinctly convex. Antennae slender, antennomere 4 approximately 3.3 times as long as broad and antennomere 10 1.8 times as long as broad. Mandibles (Fig. 5A, B) each with apically bifid molar tooth, without evident sexual dimorphism.

Pronotum (Fig. 1D) nearly as long as broad, strongly convex in cross section; punctures slightly sparser than on head.

Elytra (Fig. 1D) trapeziform; punctation distinctly coarse, defined and moderately dense. Hind wings reduced. Metatarsomere I as long as combined length of metatarsomeres II and III.

Abdomen distinctly broader than elytra; punctation dense; interstices with distinctly transverse microsculpture; posterior margin of tergite VII without palisade fringe.

Male. Labrum (Fig. 5B) with distinctly concave anterior margin, with U-shaped median excision and with large lateral projection on either side, as well as indistinct projection on either side of median excision. Posterior margin of tergite VIII (Fig. 5E) strongly convex; sternite VII unmodified; sternite VIII (Fig. 5F) with deep posterior excision, this excision approximately 0.3 times as long as sternite VIII; aedeagus as in Fig. 5G–I, ventral plate long and apically acute in ventral view; dorsal plate asymmetric and strongly sclerotized, with obtusely acute apical portion and not reaching apices of parameres; parameres distinctly asymmetric and apically straight in lateral view; internal sac with three distinctive sclerotized spines.

Female. Labrum (Fig. 5A) with U-shaped median excision and with broad lateral projection on either side, as well as a small projection on either side of median excision. Posterior margin of tergite VIII (Fig. 5C) weakly convex; posterior margin of sternite VIII distinctly trifurcate as in Fig. 5D.

The species was found in two localities in the Houhe Natural Reserve, to western Wufeng, Hubei. Some specimens were sifted from leaf litter, grass roots and the soil along a forest path at an altitude of 1480 m (Fig. 11).

The specific epithet of this new species consists of the Latin suffix tri- (which means “three”) and the Latin adjective spinosus (which means “spiny”). The name (a Latin adjective) refers to three distinctive sclerotized spines in the internal sac of the aedeagus.

The external and particularly the male sexual characters leave no doubt that this species belongs to the P. biacutus group. This new species is distinguished from other species of this group by the shape of female tergite VIII and the morphology of the aedeagus (the distinctly asymmetric dorsal plate and parameres, as well as two long sclerotized spines and one hooked sclerotized spine in the internal sac).

Figure 5. 

Paederus trispinosus A female mouthparts B male mouthparts C female tergite VIII D female sternite VIII E male tergite VIII F male sternite VIII G aedeagus in ventral view H aedeagus in lateral view I aedeagus in dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Holotype. China – Hubei Prov. • ♂; glued on a card with two labels as follows: “China: Hubei Prov., Baokang County, Cuijia’ao, 31.72°N, 111.13°E, alt. 1550 m, 31.VII.2021, Mao Ye leg.” “HOLOTYPE: Paederus (Harpopaederus) Paederusyei sp. n., Yang & Peng des. 2024” [red handwritten label]; SNUC. Paratypes. China – Hubei Prov. • 6 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; Baokang County, Cuijia’ao, 31.72°N, 111.13°E, alt. 1550 m, 31.VII.2021, Mao Ye leg; SNUC • 3 ♂♂: Baokang County, Longping, alt. 1100 m, 15.VII.2017, Lu Qiu leg; SNUC.

Measurements (in mm) and ratios: BL 9.43–10.02, FL 4.46–5.01, HL 1.20–1.25, HW 1.44–1.54, AnL: 2.67–2.79; PL: 1.49–1.67; PW: 1.49–1.69; EL: 1.14–1.20; EW: 1.64–1.74; AW: 1.62–1.74; AL: 1.94–1.99; HL/HW: 0.81–0.83; HW/PW: 0.91–0.97; HL/PL: 0.75–0.81; PL/PW: 0.98–1.01; EL/PL: 0.72–0.76; diameter of eye: 0.30–0.38.

Habitus as in Fig. 1E. Coloration: head and apex of abdomen black; labrum blackish brown; antennae brown, with the four basal and two apical segments yellowish brown; pronotum red; elytra black with faint bluish hue; first four abdominal segments reddish brown; legs with dark brown femora and protibiae, and with brown to light brown meso- and metatibiae and tarsi.

Head (Fig. 1E) transverse, widest across eyes; punctation coarse and sparse; interstices glossy. Eyes convex. Antennae not particularly slender, antennomere 4 approximately 3.1 times as long as broad and antennomere 10 1.7 times as long as broad. Labrum (Fig. 6A, B) with U-shaped median excision and with broad lateral projection on either side, as well as small projection on either side of median excision. Mandibles (Fig. 6A, B) each apically with bifid molar tooth, without sexual dimorphism.

Pronotum (Fig. 1E) as long as broad, moderately convex in cross section; punctation similar to that of head, but somewhat finer.

Elytra (Fig. 1E) nearly parallel-sided, wider than long; punctation coarse, well defined, and dense. Hind wings reduced. Metatarsomere I shorter than combined length of metatarsomeres II and III.

Abdomen as broad as elytra or somewhat broader than elytra; punctation dense; interstices with shallow microsculpture; posterior margin of tergite VII without palisade fringe.

Male. Posterior margin of tergite VIII (Fig. 6E) strongly convex; sternite VII unmodified; sternite VIII (Fig. 6F) with deep posterior excision, this excision approximately 0.4 times as long as sternite VIII; aedeagus as in Fig. 6G–I and nearly symmetric; ventral plate very weakly sclerotized; dorsal plate long and weakly curved in lateral view, extending beyond apices of parameres, dorsally with two rows of 4−5 denticles at some distance from hooked apex; parameres slender and weakly curved in lateral view; internal sac with single long sclerotized spine.

Female. Tergite VIII (Fig. 6C) oblong, posterior margin of strongly convex; posterior margin of sternite VIII trifurcate as in Fig. 6D.

The species was discovered in two localities situated to southwestern Baokang, western Hubei. Some specimens were sifted from leaf litter in a mixed deciduous forest with shrubs at an altitude of 1550 m (Ye pers. comm.).

The species is named for Mao Ye, who collected some of the type specimens.

The geographically closest Harpopaederus species are P. apfelsinicus Willers, 2001, P. cultellatus Assing, 2015, and P. multidenticulatus Li, Solodovnikov & Zhou, 2014. Paederus yei is distinguished from them by the stouter pronotum, particularly by the smaller aedeagus of different morphology (dorsal plate with hooked apex; shape of the internal structure), and by the oblong female tergite VIII. For illustrations of P. apfelsinicus see Willers (2001: figs 16–23), of P. cultellatus see Assing (2015: figs 55–62), and of P. multidenticulatus see Li et al. (2014: fig. 2A–H).

Figure 6. 

Paederus yei A female mouthparts B male mouthparts C female tergite VIII D female sternite VIII E male tergite VIII F male sternite VIII G aedeagus in ventral view H aedeagus in lateral view I aedeagus in dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Holotype. China – Zhejiang Prov. • ♂; glued on a card with two labels as follows: “China: Zhejiang Prov., Zhuji City, Majian Town, Near Longmen, 29.76°N, 119.89°E, 700–1000 m, 27.IX.2023, Tie-Xiong Zhao leg.” “HOLOTYPE: Paederus zhaoi sp. n., Yang & Peng des. 2024” [red handwritten label]; SNUC. Paratypes. Zhejiang Prov. • 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Zhuji City, Majian Town, Near Longmen, 29.76°N, 119.89°E, 700–1000 m, 27.IX.2023, Tie-Xiong Zhao leg; SNUC.

Measurements (in mm) and ratios: BL 9.99–10.42, FL 4.65–4.78, HL 1.41–1.57, HW 1.56–1.82, AnL: 3.00–3.33; PL: 1.54–1.64; PW: 1.67–1.82; EL: 1.02–1.10; EW: 1.57–1.64; AW: 1.64–1.79; AL: 2.24–2.29; HL/HW: 0.85–0.92; HW/PW: 0.88–1.00; HL/PL: 0.88–0.91; PL/PW: 0.95–1.00; EL/PL: 0.66–0.68; diameter of eye: 0.33–0.37.

Habitus as in Figs 1F, 12. Coloration: head and abdomen black; antennae light brown, sometimes antennomeres 4−8 infuscate; pronotum red; elytra black with distinctly bluish hue; legs with brown femora, and with brown to light brown tibiae and tarsi.

Head (Fig. 1F) transverse, widest across eyes; punctation coarse and sparse; interstices glossy. Eyes distinctly convex. Antennae slender, antennomere 4 approximately 3.2 times as long as broad and antennomere 10 1.7 times as long as broad.

Pronotum (Fig. 1F) weakly transverse or as long as broad, strongly convex in cross section; punctures sparser and slightly finer than on head.

Elytra (Fig. 1F) trapeziform; punctation distinctly coarse, well-defined, and dense. Hind wings reduced. Metatarsomere I as long as combined length of metatarsomeres II and III.

Abdomen broader than elytra; punctation dense; interstices with distinctly transverse microsculpture; posterior margin of tergite VII without palisade fringe.

Male. Mandibles (Fig. 7B) each apically with small bifid molar tooth. Labrum (Fig. 7B) with shallowly concave anterior margin, and with V-shaped median excision. Posterior margin of tergite VIII (Fig. 7E) convex; sternite VII unmodified; sternite VIII (Fig. 7F) with deep posterior excision, this excision approximately 0.4 times as long as sternite VIII; aedeagus as in Fig. 7G–I, ventral plate weakly asymmetric and apically concave in ventral view; apically acute dorsal plate of distinctive shape and nearly reaching apices of parameres; parameres distinctly asymmetric, apically curved in lateral view and acute in ventral view; internal sac with three distinctive sclerotized spines and with one additional dark membranous structure.

Female. Left mandible (Fig. 7A) with apically bifid molar tooth; right mandible (Fig. 7A) with single-pointed middle tooth. Labrum (Fig. 7A) with U-shaped median excision and with broad lateral projection on either side, as well as small projection on either side of median excision. Tergite VIII (Fig. 7C) oblong, with convex posterior margin; posterior margin of sternite VIII (Fig. 7D) strongly convex.

The type locality is situated to the west of Zhuji, central Zhejiang. The specimens were collected by hand on grasses and by sweep-netting of shrubs and shaking of branches both in shrub habitats with oak and bamboo at altitudes of 700–1000 m (Fig. 13).

The species is named after Tie-Xiong Zhao, who collected the type specimens.

The external and particularly the male sexual characters leave no doubt that this species belongs to the P. biacutus group. Among the species of this group, it appears to be most closely allied to P. jianyueae Peng & Li, 2014, with which it shares the similar morphology of the aedeagus. It is distinguished from P. jianyueae by the longer antennae, particularly the morphology of the aedeagus (distinctly asymmetric parameres; shape of the internal structure), and by the shape of the female tergite VIII and sternite VIII. For illustrations of P. jianyueae see Peng et al. (2014: figs 7, 8).

Figure 7. 

Paederus zhaoi A female mouthparts B male mouthparts C female tergite VIII D female sternite VIII E male tergite VIII F male sternite VIII G aedeagus in ventral view H aedeagus in lateral view I aedeagus in dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figures 8–13. 

8 Paederus chentangus walking on a stone 9 habitat of Paederus chentangus 10 habitat of Paederus mirus 11 habitat of Paederus trispinosus 12 Paederus zhaoi walking on a blade of grass 13 Tie-Xiong Zhao collecting Paederus zhaoi at Majian, Zhejiang.