Description of a new unusual Pselaphodes Westwood, 1870 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) from Nepal

Abstract

A recent work of Yin et al. 2013 provides a description of an interesting species Pselaphodes monoceros Yin & Hlaváč, 2013. This species was tentatively placed in the genus Pselaphodes Westwood, 1870 although it displays some characters atypical for the genus, such as nearly symmetrical maxillary palpi, with palpomere III without distinct lateral projection and male sexual character located on the clypeus. On the basis of this species the taxonomical limit of the genus was extended, but the correctness of this placement will have to be confirmed by serious phylogenetic analysis (Yin et al. 2013). The collecting efforts of two Bulgarian scientists, Dr. Petar Beron and Dr. Dimitar Bechev, during their expedition to Nepal in 1984 and 2006, provided rich material of Pselaphinae. Among them a new species of Pselaphodes, closely allied to P. monoceros was discovered. Both, P. monoceros and the new species, inhabit middle altitude regions (2500-2800 m) in Himalaya Mountains (Fig. 1). Their similarity in the habitus (see the description) and the presence of the male sexual character atypical for the genus showed their close relationship and they are probably part of a larger monophyletic species lineage in the genus Pselaphodes, or in the Pselaphodes complex of genera. FIGURE 1. Distribution of P. monoceros (blue arrow) and P. unicornis sp.n. (red arrow)-in Himalaya Mts.