Aleochara (Calochara) hongi Ahn & Jung, 2024

Aleochara (Calochara) hongi Ahn & Jung , new species

Differential diagnosis. This species is similar to Aleochara (Calochara) rubricalis (Casey) , including the shape of male tergite VIII and sternite VIII ( Fig. 2A–B View FIGURE 2 , fig. 111–112 in Klimaszewski 1984) and the shape of the median lobe of the aedeagus in lateral view ( Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 , fig. 136 in Klimaszewski 1984), but can be distinguished by the form of the internal structures of the median lobe (two sclerites present, the bigger one very elongated and S-shaped in lateral view; Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 ) and the shape of the spermatheca (bursa more or less semicircular, without umbilicus; duct thick and short, bent 90 degrees at the apex; Fig. 3E View FIGURE 3 ).

Description. Small, body length 3.5–3.7 mm. Body robust, fairly glossy, densely pubescent ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 ). Body brown to dark brown with light reddish brown spots on the medio-apical region of elytra.

Head. Almost round, approximately 1.0 times as long as wide, widest behind eyes, significantly narrower than pronotum; eye moderate in size, slightly prominent, about as long as temple; gular sutures widely separated; infraorbital carina well developed and connected occipital carina, cervical carina extended to postgena. Antenna slightly incrassate apically; antennomeres 1–3 elongate, 4 subquadrate, 5–10 transverse, 11 shorter than preceding two combined.

Mouthparts. Labrum transverse, about eight macrosetae present on each side of midline, α-sensillum long and setaceous. Mandibles asymmetrical, pointed apically; right one with small internal tooth, anterior internal margin slightly serrulate. Maxillary palpus with several long setae; palpomere 1 smallest, 2 about as long as 4, 3 longest and dilated apically, 4 narrowed apically, filamentous sensilla reaching almost basal half. Labium with ligula divided into two broad lobes in basal half; labial palpus elongate, with many setulae; palpomere 1 largest, about 2.0 times as long as wide, 2 about as long as 3. Mentum significantly transverse, anterior margin emarginate, about 2.0 times as wide as long.

Thorax. Pronotum approximately 1.35 times as wide as long, widest near middle; anterior margin almost straight, lateral margin slightly rounded, posterior margin rounded. Pubescence pattern with long setae directed posteriorly in narrow median region and diagonally in lateral region. Elytra more or less quadrate and parallel-sided, slightly wider than pronotum; elytron approximately 1.27 times as long as wide, pubescence directed postero-laterally; posterolateral margin slightly sinuate; hind wings fully developed; flabellum with about 12 setae. Mesoventrite with short carina, less than half length of mesoventrite; mesocoxal cavities narrowly separated, mesoventrital process pointed at apex, reaching metaventrital process, and longer than metaventrital process; length ratio of mesoventrital process, isthmus, and metaventrital process 3.5:0:1; metakatepisternal process distinct, metakatepisternal carina transversely bent; metendosternite Y-shaped. Legs with dense pubescence, tarsal formula 5-5-5, front and middle tibiae with a row of spines; front tarsomere 5 as long as 1–4 combined.

Abdomen. Parallel-sided, convergent at apex; surface glossy; tergites III–V with basal impression; male tergite VIII with slightly sinuate posterior margin ( Fig. 2A View FIGURE 2 ) and female similar but shorter ( Fig. 2C View FIGURE 2 ). Male sternite VIII ( Fig. 2B View FIGURE 2 ) prolonged posteriorly with more or less triangular projection but female rounded ( Fig. 2D View FIGURE 2 ). Male sternite IX as in Fig. 2E View FIGURE 2 . Male tergite X ( Fig. 2F View FIGURE 2 ) with medial setose patch more or less reverse U-shaped, posterior margin slightly rounded but female truncated.

Aedeagus. Median lobe elongated, narrowed at middle in lateral view; apical process convergent at apex in dorsal view; with two pairs of internal sclerites, bigger one very elongated S-shaped ( Fig. 3A–C View FIGURE 3 ). Paramere with elongate apical lobe bearing 4 setae, setae a and b longer than c and d, fovea present in hinge zone of paramerite ( Fig. 3D View FIGURE 3 ).

Spermatheca. Bursa more or less semicircular, duck short and thick, bent 90 degrees distally ( Fig. 3E View FIGURE 3 ).

Type Specimens. Holotype (male), labeled as follow: “ KOREA: Gyeonggi Prov., Yeoncheon-gun, Baekhakmyeon , Duil-ri , N38º1'37.4" E126º54'41", 23 m, 12 XI 2022, SY Hong, ex dung baited pitfall trap (leopard cat); Aleochara (Calochara) hongi Ahn & Jung, Desig. K.-J. Ahn 2024 ”. Deposited in CNUIC, Daejeon, Korea GoogleMaps . Paratypes, 1 female, same data as holotype ; 1 male, same data as holotype except for ‘ ex dung baited pitfall trap (wild boar)'; 2 exx., same data as holotype except for ‘ N38º1'57.1" E126º55'16.1", 31 m, 17 VI 2023, SY Hong, ex dung baited pitfall trap (boar) GoogleMaps ’; 1 ex., KOREA: Gangwon, Pyeongchang, Jinbu, Dongsan-ri , 2. VI. 85 (fish), YS Kim [in Korean] ; 1 male, Seoul, Seongbuk, Dongcheon-dong , ’88. V. 24 (rat), GS Jang [in Korean] ; 1 ex., Gyeongbuk, Geochang, Songjeong , 29. V. 1985 (person), GS Jang [in Korean] .

Distribution. Korea.

Etymology. This species is named after S.-Y. Hong, who recently collected rare specimens.

Remarks. Three specimens were collected about four decades ago from fish, rat, and human feces, respectively. Recently, seven additional specimens, including two DNA voucher specimens, were collected in Korea using pitfall traps baited with the feces of wild boar (Sus scrofa Linnaeus) and leopard cat [ Prionailurus bengalensis (Kerr) ].