Pselaphinae Latreille, 1802

Zhang, Yong-Qin & Yin, Zi-Wei, 2025, The ant-like litter beetle fauna from the Wumenshan National Nature Reserve, China, with description of eight new species (Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), European Journal of Taxonomy 1007, pp. 133-162 : 159-160

Key to the species of the subfamily Pselaphinae Latreille, 1802 from the Wumenshan National Nature Reserve (males only)

1. Anterior margin of antennal scape with distinct notch at apex; parameres of aedeagus fused to ventral membranous plate, or reduced ........................................................................(Batrisitae: Batrisini ) 2

– Anterior margin of antennal scape straight, lacking distinct notch at apex; parameres of aedeagus present, fully developed .......................................... (Goniaceritae: Iniocyphini and Brachyglutini ) 7

2. Each elytron with three basal foveae; pronotal lateral margins spinose, or smooth (representing a rare case) .................................................................................................................................................. 3

– Each elytron with two or one basal foveae; pronotal lateral margins smooth, lacking spines ......... 4

3. Antennomere 10 and 11 greatly modified, 10 ( Fig. 6D ) with large cavity on ventral surface, and 11 ( Fig. 6C ) with broad basal projection; pronotal lateral margins ( Fig. 7B ) markedly protruding, with acute marginal spines; mesotibia ( Fig. 6F ) with distinct apical spine; aedeagus ( Fig. 6H–I ) stout ... ........................................................................................................... Tribasodites pectoralis sp. nov.

– Antennomere 10 and 11 ( Fig. 5C ) simple, unmodified; pronotal lateral margins ( Fig. 5B ) rounded, smooth, lacking marginal spines; mesotibia lacking apical spine; aedeagus ( Fig. 5F–G ) elongate ... ................................................................................................................ Tribasodites ocellus sp. nov.

4. Dorsal lobe of aedeagus ( Fig. 3G–I ) strongly twisted at base, recumbent .......................................... .............................................................................................................. Batrisiella ordinaria sp. nov.

– Dorsal lobe of aedeagus erect ........................................................................................................... 5

5. Abdomen modified, with central cavity on posterior half of tergite 1 (IV) ( Fig. 4E ); aedeagus with relatively small, constricted basal capsule ( Fig. 4G–H ) ......................... Batrisocenus asper sp. nov.

– Abdomen modified or unmodified, lacking central cavity on posterior half of tergite 1; aedeagus with relatively large, extended basal capsule ............................................................................................ 6

6 Dorsal surface of body ( Fig. 1A–B ) with scattered long, thick setae; head venter and prosternite unmodified; abdomen ( Fig. 1A, D ) modified, tergite 1 (IV) densely covered with anteriorly pointed setae ........................................................................................ Arthromelodes punctiventris sp. nov.

– Dorsal surface of body normally setose, lacking long, thick setae ( Fig. 2A ); head venter ( Fig. 2C–D ) with small lamellar-like protuberance at middle; prosternite ( Fig. 2E ) with deep, setose transverse sulcus; abdomen simple, lacking anteriorly pointed setae ..................... Arthromelodes weii sp. nov.

7 Head ( Fig. 7A ) greatly modified, with broad cavity on vertex; gular region lacking median carina; maxillary palpus short; pronotum ( Fig. 7B ) with transverse antebasal sulcus ................................... .......................................................................................................... Nipponobythus flamma sp. nov.

– Head ( Fig. 8A ) lacking modifications; gular region with broad median ridge; maxillary palpus markedly elongate; pronotum ( Fig. 8B ) lacking transverse antebasal sulcus .................................... .................................................................................................... Triomicrus wumengmontis sp. nov.

Figures

Fig. 6. Tribasodites pectoralis sp. nov. A–I. Holotype, ♂ (SNUC). J. Paratype, ♀ (SNUC). A. Dorsal habitus. B. Head and pronotum. C. Antennal club. D. Antennomere 10, ventral view. E. Mesotrochanter. F. Mesotibia. G. Sternite 7 (IX). H. Aedeagus, lateral view. I. Aedeagus, ventral view. J. Genitalia, ventral view. Scale bars: A = 0.5 mm; B = 0.3 mm; C, E–F = 0.2 mm; D, G–J = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 7. Nipponobythus flamma sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (SNUC). A. Dorsal habitus. B. Head and pronotum. C. Tergite 1 (IV). D. Sternite 6 (VIII). E. Sternite 7 (IX). F–G. Aedeagus, ventral views. Scale bars: A = 0.5 mm; B = 0.3 mm; C = 0.2 mm; D–G = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 5. Tribasodites ocellus sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (SNUC). A. Dorsal habitus. B. Head and pronotum. C. Antennal club. D. Mesotrochanter. E. Metatrochanter. F. Aedeagus, lateral view. G. Aedeagus, ventral view. Scale bars: A = 0.5 mm; B, D–E = 0.3 mm; C = 0.2 mm; F–G = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 3. Batrisiella ordinaria sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (SNUC). A. Dorsal habitus. B. Head and pronotum. C. Antennal club. D. Mesotrochanter. E. Mesotibia. F. Sternite 7 (IX). G. Aedeagus, anterior view. H. Aedeagus, lateral view. I. Aedeagus, ventral view. Scale bars: A = 0.5 mm; B, D = 0.3 mm; C, E = 0.2 mm; F = 0.05 mm; G–I = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 4. Batrisocenus asper sp. nov. A–H. Holotype, ♂ (SNUC). I. Paratype, ♀ (SNUC). A. Dorsal habitus. B. Head and pronotum. C. Protibia. D. Mesotibia. E. Tergite 1 (IV). F. Sternite 7 (IX). G. Aedeagus, lateral view. H. Aedeagus, ventral view. I. Genitalia, ventral view. Scale bars: A = 0.5 mm; B = 0.3 mm; C–E = 0.2 mm; F = 0.05 mm; G–I = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 1. Arthromelodes punctiventris sp. nov. A–G. Holotype, ♂ (SNUC). H. Paratype, ♀ (SNUC). A. Dorsal habitus. B. Head and pronotum. C. Protibia. D. Tergite 1 (IV). E. Sternite 7 (IX). F. Aedeagus, lateral view. G. Aedeagus, ventral view. H. Genitalia, ventral view. Scale bars: A = 0.5 mm; B = 0.3 mm; C–D = 0.2 mm; E = 0.05 mm; F–H = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 2. Arthromelodes weii sp. nov. A–I. Holotype, ♂ (SNUC). J. Paratype, ♀ (SNUC). A. Dorsal habitus. B. Head and pronotum. C. Head venter. D. Head, in lateral view. E. Prosternum. F. Mesotrochanter. G. Sternite 7 (IX). H. Aedeagus, lateral view. I. Aedeagus, ventral view. J. Genitalia, ventral view. Scale bars: A = 0.5 mm; B = 0.3 mm; C–F = 0.2 mm; G = 0.05 mm; H–J = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 8. Triomicrus wumengmontis sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (SNUC). A. Dorsal habitus. B. Head and pronotum. C. Antennal club. D. Protibia. E. Mesotibia. F. Sternite 5 (VII). G. Sternite 7 (IX). H. Aedeagus, ventral view. Scale bars: A = 0.5 mm; B = 0.3 mm; C–E = 0.2 mm; F, H = 0.1 mm; G = 0.05 mm.