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Research Article
The Nazeris fauna of the Nanling Mountain Range, China (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Paederinae)
expand article infoXiao-Bin Lin, Jia-Yao Hu
‡ Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
† Deceased author
Open Access

Abstract

Fourteen species of Nazeris Fauvel, 1873 are reported for the Nanling Mountain Range, China. Four of them are described as new: N. xingmini Lin & Hu, sp. nov. (Guangdong, Jiangxi), N. huaiweni Lin & Hu, sp. nov. (Guangdong), N. meihuaae Lin & Hu, sp. nov. (Guangdong, Jiangxi) and N. lichongi Lin & Hu, sp. nov. (Hunan). An identification key to the Nazeris species reported for the Nanling Mountains, and a map showing their distribution are provided.

Keywords

Flightless, leaf litter, new species, Oriental Region, rove beetles, taxonomy

Introduction

The speciose paederine genus Nazeris Fauvel, 1873 previously included 191 species and one subspecies in China. The genus is distinguished from other paederines particularly by the morphology of the aedeagus, which has a pair of dorso-lateral apophyses (Assing 2009). All the known species of the genus are micropterous and flightless. Therefore, most of them have very narrow distributions.

The Nanling Mountain Range in central and eastern China, extend more than 500 km through Guangxi, Hunan, Guangdong and Jiangxi provinces, with several peaks of more than 1500 m. To the present, fifteen Nazeris species have been described from Nanling Mountain Range (Assing 2014, 2016; Hu and Li 2017; Hu et al. 2018a; Hu and Qiao 2019). During recent field trips in the Nanling Mountains, many specimens of Nazeris were collected. Among them, four new species were found. In the present paper, we describe the new species and provide illustrations of their major diagnostic features.

Material and methods

The type material is deposited in the Insect Collection of the Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China (SNUC). The dissected body parts were mounted in Euparal on plastic slides. The habitus photos were taken using a Canon 7D camera. The photos of the sternites and aedeagi were taken using a Canon G9 camera mounted on an Olympus CX31 microscope. The original map source was obtained from http://www.simplemappr.net, an on-line tool for creating maps that can be freely used for publications and presentations.

Measurements

Body length: measured from the anterior margin of the labrum to the apex of the abdomen

Length of forebody: measured from anterior margin of labrum to the posterior margin of the elytra

Eye length: longitudinal length of eye in dorsal view

Postocular length: measured from posterior margin of eye to posterior constriction of head in dorsal view

Head width: width of head across (and including) eyes

Head length: measured from clypeal anterior margin to posterior constriction of head

Pronotum width: maximal width of pronotum

Pronotum length: measured in midline from front margin to posterior margin

Width of elytra: combined width of elytra at posterior margin

Length of elytra: measured from apex of scutellum to posterior margin.

Results

Nazeris alatus Hu & Li, 2017

Fig. 27

Non-type material examined

China: Guangxi Prov.: Guilin, Huaping N. R.: 5 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, nr. Guangfu Peak, 24°33'36.57"N, 109°55'40.81"E, ca 1800 m, 22.iv.2021, sifted, Yin, Zhang, Pan and Shen leg.; 4 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, Yunxi Valley, 25°34'00.62"N, 109°56'19.59"E, 1460–1550 m, 23.iv.2021, sifted, Yin, Zhang, Pan and Shen leg. (SNUC).

Comparative notes

Nazeris alatus is very similar to N. yanzhuqii Hu & Qiao, 2019 in general appearance, but can be separated by the midline of the pronotum with short and narrow impunctate elevation posteriorly (Hu and Li 2017: 337, fig. 15); by the shorter and narrower ventral process of the aedeagus, and by the narrower dorso-lateral apophyses of the aedeagus (Hu and Li 2017: 337, fig. 18).

Distribution and habitat data

The species is known only from Huaping in northeast Guangxi (Fig. 27). The specimens were collected by sifting leaf litter at altitudes of 1700–1800 m.

Nazeris gaoleii Hu, Luo & Li, 2018

Fig. 27

Non-type material examined

China: Guangdong Prov.: Shaoguan, Nanling N. R.: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 24°56'38"N, 112°59'31"E, 1316–1575 m, 29.vi.2020, Xia, Zhang, Yin and Lin leg.; 2 ♀♀, Guangdong Diyifeng, 24°55'29.62"N, 112°59'31.42"E, 1538–1784 m, 28.vi.2020, Xia, Zhang, Yin and Lin leg.; 1 ♂, Xiaohuangshan, 24°53'58"N, 113°01'27"E, 1,425 m, 23.viii.2020, sifted, Zhong Peng leg.; Hunan Prov.: Yizhang, Mangshan N. R.: 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, Mengkengshi, 24°55'10"N, 112°58'37"E, 1625 m, 28.viii.2020, sifted, Zhong Peng leg.; 1 ♂, Jiangjunzhai, 24°57'03"N, 112°55'37"E, 1220 m, 27.viii.2020, sifted, Zhong Peng leg. (SNUC).

Comparative notes

Nazeris gaoleii is very similar to N. jiaweii Hu, Liu & Li, 2018b in general appearance and aedeagal characters, but can be separated by the narrower posterior excision of male sternite VIII (Hu et al. 2018a: 179, fig. 21), and much shorter dorso-lateral apophyses of the aedeagus (Hu et al. 2018a: 179, fig. 22).

Distribution and habitat data

The species is known from Nanling in northern Guangdong and Mangshan in southern Hunan (Fig. 27). The specimens were collected by sifting leaf litter at altitudes of 1220–1820 m.

Nazeris huapingensis Hu & Li, 2017

Fig. 27

Non-type material examined

China: Guangxi Prov.: Guilin, Huaping N. R.: 6 ♂♂, 9 ♀♀, nr. Guangfu Peak, 24°33'36.57"N, 109°55'40.81"E, ca 1800 m, 22.iv.2021, sifted, Yin, Zhang, Pan and Shen leg.; 8 ♂♂, 11 ♀♀, Yunxi Valley, 25°34'00.62"N, 109°56'19.59"E, 1460–1550 m, 23.iv.2021, sifted, Yin, Zhang, Pan and Shen leg. (SNUC).

Comparative notes

Nazeris huapingensis is very similar to N. obtortus Assing, 2016 from the same locality in general appearance and separated only by aedeagal characters: the apex of the ventral process in ventral view is much broader; apices of the dorso-lateral apophyses rounder and broader (Hu and Li 2017: 336, fig. 13).

Distribution and habitat data

The species is known only from Huaping in northeast Guangxi (Fig. 27). The specimens were collected by sifting leaf litter at altitudes of 1300–1800 m.

Nazeris latilobatus Assing, 2016

Fig. 27

Non-type material examined

China: Guangxi: Xing’an, Mao’ershan N. R.: 1 ♂, 25°52'29.52"N, 110°28'20.01"E, 528 m, 25.viii.2020, Chong Li leg.; 2 ♂♂, 25°30'15.72"N, 110°25'50.87"E, 1900–2040 m, 27.viii.2020, Lu Qiu leg.; 20 ♂♂, 16 ♀♀, Antangping, 25°54'44.07"N, 110°27'37.68"E, 1660 m, 6–7.v.2021, sifted, Yin, Zhang, Pan and Shen leg.; 1 ♂, botanical garden, 25°53'03.83"N, 110°29'13.53"E, 1160 m, 8.v.2021, sifted, Yin, Zhang, Pan and Shen leg. (SNUC).

Comparative notes

Nazeris latilobatus is similar to N. qini Hu & Li, 2012 from Dayaoshan in external and the male sexual characters, but can be separated by the deeper posterior excision of the male sternite VIII (Assing 2016: 307, fig. 9), and the much broader apex of the aedeagal ventral process (Assing 2016: 307, fig. 11).

Distribution and habitat data

The species is known only from Mao’ershan in northeast Guangxi (Fig. 27). The specimen was collected by sifting leaf litter at altitudes of 450–2040 m.

Nazeris nanlingensis Hu, Luo & Li, 2018

Fig. 27

Non-type material examined

China: Guangdong Prov.: Shaoguan, Nanling N. R.: 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, 24°56'38"N, 112°59'31"E, 1316–1575 m, 29.vi.2020, Xia, Zhang, Yin and Lin leg.; 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, Xiaohuangshan, 24°53'58"N, 113°01'27"E, 1425 m, 23.viii.2020, sifted, Zhong Peng leg.; Hunan Prov.: Yizhang County, Mangshan N. R.: 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Mengkengshi, 24°55'10"N, 112°58'37"E, 1625 m, 28.viii.2020, sifted, Zhong Peng leg.; 6 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, Jiangjunzhai, 24°57'03"N, 112°55'37"E, 1220 m, 27.viii.2020, sifted, Zhong Peng leg. (SNUC).

Comparative notes

Nazeris nanlingensis is very similar to N. rubidus Hu, Luo & Li, 2018a from the same locality in general appearance and aedeagal characters, but can be separated by the smaller forebody size; less dense punctation of the head and pronotum (Hu et al. 2018a: 177, fig. 14); a wider ventral process and slenderer dorso-lateral apophyses of the aedeagus in ventral view (Hu et al. 2018a: 177, fig. 17).

Distribution and habitat data

The species is known from Nanling in northern Guangdong and Mangshan in southern Hunan (Fig. 27). The specimens were collected by sifting leaf litter at altitudes of 1100–1850 m.

Nazeris obtortus Assing, 2016

Fig. 27

Non-type material examined

China: Guangxi Prov.: Guilin, Huaping N. R.: 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀, Hongtan, 25°36'15"N, 109°57'35"E, 820–950 m, 24.iv.2021, sifted, Yin, Zhang, Pan and Shen leg. (SNUC).

Comparative notes

Nazeris obtortus is quite similar to N. huapingensis and separated only by aedeagal characters: the apex of the ventral process and apices of the dorso-lateral apophyses are much narrower (Assing 2016: 309, fig. 16).

Distribution and habitat data

The species is known only from Huaping in northeast Guangxi (Fig. 27). The specimens were collected by sifting leaf litter at altitudes of 820–1200 m.

Nazeris rubidus Hu, Luo & Li, 2018

Fig. 27

Non-type material examined

China: Guangdong Prov.: Shaoguan, Nanling N. R.: 5 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀, 24°56'38"N, 112°59'31"E, 1316–1575 m, 29.vi.2020, Xia, Zhang, Yin and Lin leg.; ♂♂, 43 ♀♀, 24°55'43.67"N, 113°0'58.50"E, 1,020 m, 27.vi.2020, Xia, Zhang, Yin and Lin leg.; 2 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, Xiaohuangshan, 24°53'58"N, 113°01'27"E, 1425 m, 23.viii.2020, sifted, Zhong Peng leg. (SNUC).

Comparative notes

Nazeris rubidus is very similar to N. huapingensis in general appearance and aedeagal characters, but can be separated by the following combination of characters: the posterior excision of the male sternite VIII is wider (Hu et al. 2018a: 176, fig. 11); the apex of the ventral process of the aedeagus is widely rounded in ventral view (Hu et al. 2018a: 176, fig. 12); the dorso-lateral apophyses is nearly straight in lateral view (Hu et al. 2018a: 176, fig. 13).

Distribution and habitat data

The species is known from Nanling in northern Guangdong and Mangshan in southern Hunan (Fig. 27). The specimens were collected by sifted leaf litter at altitudes of 700–1820 m.

Nazeris rugosus Hu & Qiao, 2019

Fig. 27

Non-type material examined

China: Guangxi Prov.: Xing’an, Mao’ershan N. R.: 1 ♂, 25°51'57.56"N, 110°24'46.19"E, 2100 m, 5.v.2021, bamboo, broad-leaved bush, sifted, Yin, Zhang, Pan and Shen leg.; 1 ♂, Lijiangyuan, 25°53'32.64"N, 110°25'41.68"E, 1990–2030 m, 6.v.2021, sifted, Yin, Zhang, Pan and Shen leg. (SNUC).

Comparative notes

Nazeris rugosus is distinguished from all the known species of Nazeris from the Nanling Mountains by the microsculpture covering the head, pronotum and abdomen (Hu and Qiao 2019: 436, figs 18–20), and by the distinctive shape of the aedeagus, particularly the apically narrowed ventral process (Hu and Qiao 2019: 436, fig. 23).

Distribution and habitat data

The species is known only from Mao’ershan in northeast Guangxi (Fig. 27). The specimen was collected by sifting leaf litter at altitudes of 1990–2100 m.

Nazeris yanzhuqii Hu & Qiao, 2019

Fig. 27

Non-type material examined

China: Guangxi Prov.: Xing’an, Mao’ershan N. R.: 1 ♀, Lijiangyuan, 25°53'32.64"N, 110°25'41.68"E, 1990–2030 m, 6.v.2021, sifted, Yin, Zhang, Pan and Shen leg. (SNUC).

Comparative notes

Nazeris yanzhuqii is most similar to N. alatus in general appearance and aedeagal characters, but can be separated by the impunctate elevation of the pronotum very narrow or absent (Hu and Qiao 2019: 438, fig. 35), by the longer and wider ventral process of the aedeagus in ventral view, with much smaller basal laminae, and by the wider dorso-lateral apophyses of the aedeagus (Hu and Qiao 2019: 438, fig. 38).

Distribution and habitat data

The species is known only from Mao’ershan in northeast Guangxi (Fig. 27). The specimen was collected by sifting leaf litter at altitudes of 1940–2140 m.

Nazeris yuyimingi Hu & Qiao, 2019

Fig. 27

Non-type material examined

China: Guangxi Prov.: Xing’an, Mao’ershan N. R.: 1 ♀, nr. Antangping, 25°54'44.07"N, 110°27'37.68"E, 1660 m, 7.v.2021, sifted, Yin, Zhang, Pan and Shen leg. (SNUC).

Comparative notes

Nazeris yuyimingi is similar in general appearance and aedeagal characters to N. chenyanae Hu & Li, 2017, but can be separated by the shallowly emarginate male sternite VII (Hu and Qiao 2019: 437, fig. 26), by the narrower ventral process and the wider apex of the dorso-lateral apophyses of the aedeagus in ventral view (Hu and Qiao 2019: 437, fig. 28).

Distribution and habitat data

The species is known only from Mao’ershan in northeast Guangxi (Fig. 27). The specimen was collected by sifting leaf litter at altitudes of 1143–1660 m.

Nazeris xingmini Lin & Hu, sp. nov.

Figs 1, 5–9, 27

Type material

Holotype: China: ♂: “China: Guangdong Prov., Shixing County, Chebaling N. R., 24°43'22"N, 114°15'22"E, 357 m, 19.viii.2020, Liang Tang leg.” (SNUC). Paratypes: 1 ♂, same data as holotype; 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, “China: Jiangxi Prov., Longnan County, Jiulianshan N. R., 24°30'59.23"N, 114°24'52.98"E, alt. 587 m, 16.viii.2020, Liang Tang leg.” (SNUC).

Figures 1–4. 

Male habitus of Nazeris spp 1 N. xingmini 2 N. huaiweni 3 N. meihuaae 4 N. lichongi. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

Description

Body length 6.4–7.5 mm; forebody length 3.2–3.4 mm.

Body (Fig. 1) dark brown; legs yellowish brown; antennae dark brown to light brown.

Head (Fig. 5) 1.02–1.12 times as long as wide; punctation very dense, moderately coarse, non-umbilicate, interstices lacking microsculpture; postocular portion approximately 1.6–2.1 times as long as eye length.

Pronotum (Fig. 5) 1.18–1.22 times as long as wide, 0.95–1.02 times as long and 0.83–0.91 times as broad as head; punctation non-umbilicate, moderately dense and as coarse as that of head; midline posteriorly with short and very narrow impunctate elevation; interstices lacking microsculpture.

Elytra (Fig. 5) 0.59–0.67 times as long as wide, 0.50–0.57 times as long and 0.96–1.09 times as broad as pronotum; punctation as dense as, and slightly coarser than that of pronotum; interstices lacking microsculpture.

Abdomen with punctation dense and rather coarse on tergites III–V, dense and less coarse on tergite VI, moderately dense and fine on tergites VII–VIII; interstices lacking microsculpture.

Male. Sternite VII (Fig. 6) with posterior margin truncate at middle. Sternite VIII (Fig. 7) with wide triangular posterior excision. Aedeagus (Figs 8, 9) well sclerotized; with ventral process narrowed near middle in ventral view, with U-shaped excision at apex in ventral view, with pair of wing-like basal laminae ventrally; dorso-lateral apophyses moderately strong, distinctly curved in ventral view, curved dorsally and slightly widened at apices in lateral view, extending beyond apex of ventral process.

Distribution and habitat data

The species is known from Chebaling in northern Guangdong and Jiulianshan in southern Jiangxi (Fig. 27). The specimens were collected by sifting leaf litter at altitudes of 357–587 m.

Comparative notes

The new species is very similar to N. inaequalis Assing, 2014 in general appearance and separated only by the aedeagal characters: the apex of the ventral process is symmetric in ventral view (Fig. 8); dorso-lateral apophyses extending beyond the apex of the ventral process.

Etymology

The species is named in honor of Xing-Min Wang (South China Agricultural University) who helped a lot during our collection in Nanling.

Nazeris huaiweni Lin & Hu, sp. nov.

Figs 2, 10–14, 27

Type material

Holotype: China: ♂: “China: Guangdong, Shaoguan, Nanling N. R., 24°56'38"N, 112°59'31"E, 1316–1575 m, 29.vi.2020, Xia, Zhang, Yin and Lin leg.” (SNUC). Paratypes: 2 ♀♀, same data, except “Ruyuan, Nanling, nr. Ruyang, Xiaohuangshan, 24°53'44.7"N, 113°1'26.9"E, 1270–1570 m, 2021.v.02, Hu, Lin, Zhou and Li leg.” (SNUC).

Description

Body length 6.2–6.8 mm; forebody length 3.2–3.3 mm.

Body (Fig. 2) dark brown; antennae and legs yellowish brown.

Figures 5–9. 

Nazeris xingmini 5 forebody 6 male sternite VII 7 male sternite VIII 8 aedeagus in ventral view 9 aedeagus in lateral view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (5); 0.5 mm (6–9).

Head (Fig. 10) approximately as long as wide; punctation very dense, moderately coarse, distinctly umbilicate, interstices lacking microsculpture; postocular portion approximately twice as long as eye length.

Pronotum (Fig. 10) 1.12–1.21 times as long as wide, 0.93–1.02 times as long and 0.83–0.84 times as broad as head; punctation non-umbilicate, moderately dense and as coarse as that of head; midline posteriorly with short and very narrow impunctate elevation; interstices lacking microsculpture.

Elytra (Fig. 10) 0.67–0.76 times as long as wide, 0.69–0.71 times as long and 1.03–1.12 times as broad as pronotum; punctation slightly denser and coarser than that of pronotum; interstices lacking microsculpture.

Abdomen with punctation dense and rather coarse on tergites III–V, dense and less coarse on tergite VI, moderately dense and fine on tergites VII–VIII; interstices lacking microsculpture.

Male. Sternite VII (Fig. 11) with posterior margin truncate at middle. Sternite VIII (Fig. 12) with triangular posterior excision. Aedeagus (Figs 13, 14) with ventral process gradually narrowed in apicad half, with acute apex in ventral view or lateral view, with pair of wing-like basal laminae ventrally; dorso-lateral apophyses moderately slender, slightly widened near middle and apices in ventral view, not reaching apex of ventral process.

Distribution and habitat data

The species is known only from Nanling in northern Guangdong (Fig. 27). The specimens were collected by sifted leaf litter at altitudes of 1270–1575 m.

Comparative notes

The new species is very similar to N. divisus Hu & Li, 2015 in general appearance, but can be separated by the wider and shallower posterior excision of male sternite VIII (Fig. 12), by the ventral process with acute apex (Fig. 13), and by the wider dorso-lateral apophyses of aedeagus (Fig. 13).

Etymology

The species is named in honor of Huai-Wen Wang (Administration of Nanling National Nature Reserve) who helped a lot during our collection in Nanling.

Nazeris meihuaae Lin & Hu, sp. nov.

Figs 3, 15–21, 27

Type material

Holotype: China: ♂: “China: Guangdong Prov., Shixing County, Chebaling N. R., 24°40'41.82"N, 114°10'20.42"E, 1067 m, 20.viii.2020, Liang Tang leg.” (SNUC). Paratypes: 5 ♂♂, 18 ♀♀, same data as holotype; 3 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀, same data, except “872 m, 20.viii.2020”; 2 ♀♀, “China: Guangdong Prov., Shixing County, Chebaling N. R., 24°40'58"N, 114°10'14"E, 468–870 m, 24.vi.2020, Xia, Zhang, Yin and Lin leg.”; 6 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, “China: Jiangxi Prov., Longnan County, Jiulianshan N. R., 24°30'10"N, 114°26'35"E, 795 m, 18.viii.2020, Liang Tang leg.”; 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, “China: Jiangxi Prov., Longnan County, Jiulianshan N. R., 24°30'10.43"N, 114°26'35.28"E, leaf litter, sifted, 1253 m, 17.viii.2020, Liang Tang leg.”; 5 ♂♂, 1 ♀, “China: Jiangxi Prov., Longnan County, Jiulianshan, Huangniushi, 24°31'22.7"N, 114°25'3.6"E, 600–1000 m, 10.v.2021, C.-L. Zhou & C. Li leg.”; 3 ♀♀, “China: Jiangxi Prov., Longnan County, Jiulianshan, summit of Huangniushi, 24°30'53"N, 114°26'6.72"E, 1000–1230 m, 12.v.2021, Zhou and Li leg.”; 1 ♂, “China: Jiangxi Prov., Longnan County, Jiulianshan, summit of Huangniushi, 24°30'53"N, 114°26'6.72"E, 1,000–1,230 m, 12.v.2021, Zhou and Li leg.” (SNUC).

Description

Body length 4.1–4.8 mm; forebody length 2.2–2.6 mm.

Body (Fig. 3) reddish brown; antennae and legs yellowish brown.

Figures 10–14. 

Nazeris huaiweni 10 forebody 11 male sternite VII 12 male sternite VIII 13 aedeagus in ventral view 14 aedeagus in lateral view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (10); 0.5 mm (11–14).

Head (Fig. 15) 0.97–1.03 times as long as wide; punctation very dense, moderately coarse, distinctly umbilicate and partly confluent, interstices lacking microsculpture; postocular portion approximately 1.5–2.1 times as long as eye length.

Pronotum (Fig. 15) 1.05–1.23 times as long as wide, 0.91–1.10 times as long and 0.83–0.87 times as broad as head; punctation non-umbilicate, moderately dense and as coarse as that of head; midline posteriorly with short and very narrow impunctate elevation; interstices lacking microsculpture.

Elytra (Fig. 15) 0.61–0.75 times as long as wide, 0.54–0.66 times as long and 0.97–1.10 times as broad as pronotum; punctation as dense as, and slightly coarser than that of pronotum; interstices lacking microsculpture.

Abdomen with punctation dense and rather coarse on tergites III–V, dense and less coarse on tergite VI, moderately dense and fine on tergites VII–VIII; interstices lacking microsculpture.

Male. Sternite VII (Fig. 16) with posterior margin shallowly emarginate in the middle. Sternite VIII (Fig. 17) with wide triangular posterior excision. Aedeagus (Figs 18–21) with ventral process short, widened near middle in ventral view, with pair of finger-like basal laminae ventrally; dorso-lateral apophyses distinctly curved and widened in apical third in ventral view, extending beyond apex of ventral process.

Distribution and habitat data

The species is known from Chebaling in northern Guangdong and Jiulianshan in southern Jiangxi (Fig. 27). The specimens were collected by sifting leaf litter at altitudes of 468–1253 m.

Comparative notes

This species is very similar in general appearance and aedeagal characters to N. pengzhongi Hu & Li, 2015, but can be separated by the finger-like basal laminae of the ventral process and the longer dorso-lateral apophyses of the aedeagus (Figs 18, 20). The new species is also similar in general appearance to N. rubidus and N. nanlingensis, but can be separated by the distinctly longer laminae of the ventral process and the apically wider dorso-lateral apophyses of the aedeagus (Figs 18, 20). Compared with the holotype from Chebaling, Guangdong (Figs 18, 19), the specimens from Jiulianshan, Jiangxi (Figs 20, 21) display a slightly shorter ventral process and slightly narrower apices of the dorso-lateral apophyses of the aedeagus. Based on the similar general appearance and male sternites, these aedeagal differences are treated as intraspecific variation.

Etymology

The species is named in honor of Mei-Hua Xia, who collected some of the type specimens.

Nazeris lichongi Lin & Hu, sp. nov.

Figs 4, 22–26, 27

Type material

Holotype: China: ♂: “China: Hunan Prov., Yongzhou County, Dupangling N. R., 25°26'12.45"N, 111°20'23.29"E, 448 m, 29.viii.2020, sifted, Chong Li leg.” (SNUC).

Description

Body length 4.7 mm; forebody length 2.4 mm.

Body (Fig. 4) reddish brown; antennae and legs yellowish brown.

Figures 15–21. 

Nazeris meihuaae (15–19 specimen from Chebaling 20–21 specimen from Jiulianshan) 15 forebody 16 male sternite VII 17 male sternite VIII 18, 20 aedeagus in ventral view 19, 21 aedeagus in lateral view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (15); 0.5 mm (16–21).

Head (Fig. 22) 0.97 times as long as wide; punctation very dense, moderately coarse, distinctly umbilicate and partly confluent, interstices lacking microsculpture; postocular portion approximately 1.6 times as long as eye length.

Pronotum (Fig. 22) 1.17 times as long as wide, as long as and 0.83 times as broad as head; punctation non-umbilicate, moderately dense and as coarse as that of head; midline posteriorly with short and very narrow impunctate elevation; interstices lacking microsculpture.

Elytra (Fig. 22) 0.77 times as long as wide, 0.66 times as long and as broad as pronotum; punctation as dense as, and slightly coarser than that of pronotum; interstices lacking microsculpture.

Abdomen with punctation dense and rather coarse on tergites III–V, dense and less coarse on tergite VI, moderately dense and fine on tergites VII–VIII; interstices lacking microsculpture.

Male. Sternite VII (Fig. 23) with posterior margin shallowly emarginate in the middle. Sternite VIII (Fig. 24) with triangular posterior excision. Aedeagus (Figs 25, 26) with broad ventral process, slightly widened in apical half, with round apex in ventral view, with pair of heart-like basal laminae; dorso-lateral apophyses slender, distinctly curved in ventral view, curved dorsally and slightly widened at apices in lateral view, extending beyond apex of ventral process.

Distribution and habitat data

The species is known only from Dupangling in southern Hunan (Fig. 27). The specimen was collected by sifting leaf litter at an altitude of 448 m.

The new species is similar in general appearance and aedeagal characters to N. rubidus and N. nanlingensis, but can be separated by the slightly dorsally curved dorso-lateral apophyses of the aedeagus in lateral view (Fig. 26), and by the heart-like basal laminae of the ventral process (Fig. 25).

Figures 22–26. 

Nazeris lichongi 22 forebody 23 male sternite VII 24 male sternite VIII 25 aedeagus in ventral view 26 aedeagus in lateral view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (22); 0.5 mm (23–26).

Etymology

The species is named in honor of Chong Li, who collected some of the type specimens.

Figure 27. 

Map showing the distribution of Nazeris in Nanling Mountain Range A N. inaequalis B N. rubidus C N. nanlingensis D N. gaoleii E N. huaiweni F N. obtortus G N. huapingensis H N. alatus I N. exilis J N. chenyanae K N. latilobatus L N. maoershanus M N. rugosus N N. yuyimingi O N. biacuminatus P N. yanzhuqii Q N. xingmini R N. meihuaae S N. lichongi.

Key to Nazeris species in Nanling mountain range

1 Head with non-umbilicate punctation (Fig. 5) 2
Head with umbilicate punctation (Fig. 15) 6
2 Body reddish brown, abdomen with fine microsculpture on all tergites N. gaoleii Hu Luo & Li, 2018
Body dark brown, abdomen lacking microsculpture 3
3 Pronotum with inconspicuous or lacking impunctate elevation in posterior half (Hu and Qiao 2019: 440, fig. 35); forebody length at most 2.9 mm N. yanzhuqii Hu & Qiao, 2019
Pronotum with narrow impunctate elevation in posterior half (Fig. 5); forebody length at least 3.1 mm 4
4 Ventral process of the aedeagus distinctly asymmetrical, dorso-lateral apophyses not reaching apex of ventral process (Assing, 2014: 26, fig. 58) N. inaequalis Assing, 2014
Ventral process of the aedeagus symmetrical, dorso-lateral apophyses extending beyond apex of ventral process 5
5 Dorso-lateral apophyses of aedeagus moderately strong, with widened apex (Figs 8, 9) N. xingmini sp. nov.
Dorso-lateral apophyses of aedeagus slender, with acute apex (Hu and Li 2017: 337, figs 18, 19) N. alatus Hu & Li, 2017
6 Body dark brown (Figs 1, 2), body length at least 6.1 mm, forebody length at least 3.2 mm 7
Body reddish brown (Figs 3, 4), body length at most 6.0 mm, forebody length at most 3.0 mm 11
7 Apex of ventral process of aedeagus divided into two branches in ventral view (Hu and Li 2017: 338, fig. 23) 8
Apex of ventral process of aedeagus not divided into two branches in ventral view 9
8 Sternite VII with posterior margin weakly protruding at middle (Hu and Li 2017: 338, fig. 21); ventral process of aedeagus with thin apical branches (Hu and Li 2017: 338, figs 23, 24); dorso-lateral apophyses of aedeagus slightly curved in lateral view (Hu and Li 2017: 338, fig. 24) N. exilis Hu & Li, 2017
Sternite VII with posterior margin truncate at middle (Hu and Qiao 2019: 438, fig. 31); ventral process of aedeagus with wide apical branches (Hu and Qiao 2019: 438, figs 33, 34); dorso-lateral apophyses of aedeagus straight in lateral view (Hu and Qiao 2019: 438, fig. 34) N. biacuminatus Hu & Qiao, 2019
9 Sternite VIII with rounded triangular posterior excision (Fig. 12); dorso-lateral apophyses of aedeagus not reaching apex of ventral process (Fig. 13) N. huaiweni sp. nov.
Sternite VIII with sharp, V-shaped posterior excision (Hu and Qiao 2019: 437, fig. 27); dorso-lateral apophyses of aedeagus extending slightly beyond apex of ventral process (Hu and Qiao 2019: 437, fig. 28) 10
10 Male sternite VII shallowly emarginate in the middle (Hu and Qiao 2019: 437, fig. 26); dorso-lateral apophyses of aedeagus widened near apex in ventral view (Hu and Qiao 2019: 437, fig. 28) N. yuyimingi Hu & Qiao, 2019
Male sternite VII not emarginate in the middle (Hu and Li 2017: 340, fig. 26); dorso-lateral apophyses of aedeagus not widened near apices in ventral view (Hu and Li 2017: 340, fig. 28) N. chenyanae Hu & Li, 2017
11 Head and pronotum with fine microsculpture (Hu and Qiao 2019: 436, figs 18, 19) N. rugosus Hu & Qiao, 2019
Head and pronotum lacking microsculpture 12
12 Dorso-lateral apophyses of aedeagus extending to same level as apex of ventral process (Hu and Qiao 2019: 434, fig. 10) N. latilobatus Assing, 2016
Dorso-lateral apophyses of aedeagus extending distinctly beyond apex of ventral process 13
13 Ventral process of aedeagus nearly triangular, with narrow apex in ventral view (Assing 2016: 309, fig. 16) N. obtortus Assing, 2016
Ventral process of aedeagus broad, with wide apex in ventral view 14
14 Basal laminae of ventral process of aedeagus very long, more than half length of ventral process (Figs 18, 20) N. meihuaae sp. nov.
Basal laminae of ventral process of aedeagus very short, much less than half length of ventral process 15
15 Ventral process of aedeagus with round apex in ventral view 16
Ventral process of aedeagus with truncate or emarginate apex in ventral view 17
16 Dorso-lateral apophyses of aedeagus curved ventrally in lateral view (Hu et al. 2018a: 176, fig. 13); ventral process with wing-like basal laminae (Hu et al. 2018a: 176, fig. 12) N. rubidus Hu, Luo & Li, 2018
Dorso-lateral apophyses of aedeagus curved dorsally in lateral view (Fig. 26); ventral process with heart-like basal laminae (Fig. 25) N. lichongi sp. nov.
17 Ventral process of aedeagus in ventral view distinctly widened in apical half (Hu et al. 2018a: 177, fig. 17) N. nanlingensis Hu, Luo & Li, 2018
Ventral process of aedeagus in ventral view narrowed in apical half (Hu and Li 2017: 336, fig. 13) 18
18 Apex of ventral process of aedeagus nearly truncate in ventral view (Hu and Li 2017: 336, fig. 13); apices of dorso-lateral apophyses roundly widened in ventral view (Hu and Li 2017: 336, fig. 13) N. huapingensis Hu & Li, 2017
Apex of ventral process of aedeagus with small semi-circular emargination in ventral view (Hu and Qiao 2019: 435, fig. 15); apices of dorso-lateral apophyses not widened in ventral view (Hu and Qiao 2019: 435, fig. 15) N. maoershanus Hu & Qiao, 2019

Acknowledgements

We thank Chong Li, Zhong Peng, Liang Tang, Mei-Hua Xia, Jia-Min Yin, Wen-Xuan Zhang and Cheng-Lin Zhou (Shanghai, China) for collecting specimens, and Xing-Min Wang (South China Agricultural University) and Huai-Wen Wang (Administration of Nanling National Nature Reserve) for assisting us during our trip to Nanling. We are also most grateful to two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on an earlier version of the manuscript.

References

  • Assing V (2009) A revision of the Western Palaearctic species of Nazeris Fauvel, 1873 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae). Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 56(1): 109–131. https://doi.org/10.1002/mmnd.200900010
  • Assing V (2014) A revision of Nazeris. IV. New species from China, Taiwan, and Thailand, and additional records (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae). Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde A Neue Serie 7: 11–32.
  • Assing V (2016) A revision of Nazeris VIII. Five new species from China and additional records (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae). Linzer Biologische Beiträge 48(1): 301–315.
  • Fauvel A (1873) Faune Gallo-Rhénane ou species des insectes qui habitent la France, la Belgique, la Hollande, le Luxembourg, la Prusse Rhénane, la Nassau et la Valais avec tableaux synoptiques et planches gravées. Tome 3. Livraison 4. Le Blanc-Hardel, Caen, 215–390.
  • Hu JY, Liu YX, Li LZ (2018b) Two new species of Nazeris Fauvel in the Luoxiao Mountain Range, China (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Paederinae). Zootaxa 4370(2): 180–188. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4370.2.6
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