Pengzhongiella daicongchaoi gen. et sp. n., a remarkable myrmecophile (Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae, Batrisitae) from the Gaoligong Mountains

Zi-Wei Yin,Li-Zhen Li

doi:10.3897/zookeys.326.5933

Abstract

A new genus and species, Pengzhongiella daicongchaoi, of the subtribe Batrisina (Batrisitae: Batrisini) is described from the Gaoligong Mountains, Yunnan, Southwest China. Adults were collected in a colony of Odontomachus monticola, and presented reduction of certain external characters and elongate appendages relating to myrmecophily. Description and illustrations of the habitus and major diagnostic features of the new taxon are provided; a brief discussion of its taxonomic placement is included. The new species also represents the first record of a Pselaphinae in association with an Odontomachus ant.

Highlights

In China, eleven genera of the subtribe Batrisina (Batrisitae: Batrisini) were reported to contain myrmecophilous species
During a recent (April 2013) expedition made to the south Gaoligong Mountains in Yunnan, South China, an unusual batrisine was collected from a nest of Odontomachus monticola Emery, and presented remarkably elongate appendages and reduced foveae on the head, pronotum, and elytra
The type series is housed in the Insect Collection of Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China (SNUC)

Summary

Introduction

In China, eleven genera of the subtribe Batrisina (Batrisitae: Batrisini) were reported to contain myrmecophilous species. During a recent (April 2013) expedition made to the south Gaoligong Mountains in Yunnan, South China, an unusual batrisine was collected from a nest of Odontomachus monticola Emery, and presented remarkably elongate appendages and reduced foveae on the head, pronotum, and elytra.

Results

Conclusion