Three new species of the subterranean genus Guiodytes from Guangxi, China (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Clivinini)

Sunbin Huang,Arnaud Faille,Jiajun Zhou,Mingyi Tian

doi:10.5852/ejt.2021.774.1537

Abstract

Three new species of the genus Guiodytes Tian, 2013 are described from the limestone caves of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, southern China: Guiodytes weii Huang & Faille sp. nov. and Guiodytes yueliangensis Huang & Tian sp. nov. from Dapo Dong and Huang Dong caves, respectively, in Huanjiang County, northernmost Guangxi; Guiodytes inexpectatus Tian & Zhou sp. nov. from the Zhuzhu Dong cave in Longzhou County, southwestern Guangxi. All of the six known species of Guiodytes are endemic to Guangxi, ranging from the southwest to the northernmost. A modified key to species and a distribution map for Guiodytes are provided.

Highlights

IntroductionThe Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is famous for its karstic wonders such as the landscapes in Guilin, the Tiankengs in Leye and the Fengcongs (clusters of pyramid-shaped peaks) in Huanjiang
The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is famous for its karstic wonders such as the landscapes in Guilin, the Tiankengs in Leye and the Fengcongs in Huanjiang
This new species is most similar to G. deharvengi Tian, 2014, which occurs in Huanjiang County, by the similar character configuration of the head and elytra

Summary

Introduction

The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is famous for its karstic wonders such as the landscapes in Guilin, the Tiankengs in Leye and the Fengcongs (clusters of pyramid-shaped peaks) in Huanjiang. Almost 40 species of blind ground beetles belonging to the carabid tribe Trechini are known in Guangxi, including members of several of the most modified groups in the world, viz Xuedytes Tian & Huang, 2017, Giraffaphaenops Deuve, 2002, Dongodytes Deuve, 1993, Pilosaphaenops Deuve & Tian, 2008, Sinaphaenops Uéno & Wang, 1991 and Uenotrechus Deuve &Tian, 1999. The genus Guiodytes Tian, 2013, with three known species so far, belongs to the tribe Clivinini (Carabidae Latreille, 1802). All species of this genus are cavernicolous and eyeless (Tian 2013, 2014). Further study confirms that they belong to three new species, which are described hereafter. These findings bring the number of species of Guiodytes to six. All of them are endemic to Guangxi, ranging from southwesternmost to the northernmost of the autonomous region (Fig. 1)

Methods

Results

Conclusion