Cephennodes (s. str.) unicornis, Jałoszyński, 2025

Cephennodes (s. str.) unicornis sp. nov.

( Figs 175–180 View FIGURES 175–180 )

Type material. Holotype: CHINA (YUNNAN Prov.): ♂, two labels: “CHINA: Yunnan, Wuding, Lion / Mountain Scenic Area , 2200 m, / 25º31’59’’N, 102º22’36’’E, stream / valley with deciduous forest, moist / litter sifted 17.VIII.2014, / leg. M. Schülke [ CH14-11 ]” [white, printed]; “ CEPHENNODES (s. str.) / unicornis m. / P. Jałoszyński, 2025 / HOLOTYPUS ” [red, printed] ( MNB) GoogleMaps . Paratypes (7 exx.): 2 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, same data as for holotype, each with yellow “ PARATYPUS ” label (cPJ, MNB) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. Body large, BL around 1.6–1.7 mm; antennae gradually thickened; punctures on clypeus, pronotum and elytra small but sharply marked and dense, separated by spaces subequal to their diameters, those on elytra slightly larger than on pronotum, head posterior to frontal ‘horn’ virtually impunctate; subhumeral lines short, as long as 0.3 × EL. Male: head modified ( Figs 176–178 View FIGURES 175–180 ), with subtriangular median anterior projection (‘horn’), its anterior margins at each side of apex sinuate, large median area posterior to ‘horn’ asetose except for long median longitudinal line composed of minute densely set setiferous punctures, this median area is flanked by densely setose lateral regions with long erect setae directed anterad ( Fig. 178 View FIGURES 175–180 ); aedeagus ( Figs 179–180 View FIGURES 175–180 ) relatively stout, in ventral view with distal margin of capsular region subtriangular, obtuse-angled.

Description. Body of male ( Fig. 175 View FIGURES 175–180 ) strongly convex, oval, with barely discernible constriction between pronotum and elytra, moderately to strongly dark brown with slightly lighter tarsi, covered with light brown setae. BL 1.55–1.63 mm.

Head ( Figs 176–178 View FIGURES 175–180 ) broadest across moderately large and moderately strongly convex, coarsely faceted eyes, HL 0.25 mm, HW 0.40–0.43 mm; frontovertexal region modified, with subtriangular median anterior projection, its anterior margins at each side of apex nearly straight, large median area posterior to projection asetose except for long median longitudinal line composed of minute densely set setiferous punctures, this median area is flanked by densely setose lateral regions with long erect setae directed anterad, so that pair of thickened vertexal setae is obscured by long setae. Punctures on clypeus small but sharply marked, separated by spaces subequal to their diameters, frontovertexal region posterior to subtriangular projection virtually impunctate. Antennae long and slender, gradually thickened, AnL 0.98–1.00 mm, antennomere 1 about as long as broad, 2 distinctly elongate, 3 about as long as broad, 4–7 each weakly elongate, 8 about as long as broad, 9 and 10 each indistinctly elongate, 11 as long as 9 and 10 combined, about twice as long as broad.

Pronotum semi-oval, strongly convex at middle and flattened near hind corners, broadest slightly behind middle but indistinctly narrowing posterad; PL 0.50 mm, PW 0.70–0.78 mm. Anterior margin in strictly dorsal view nearly straight; lateral margins strongly rounded in anterior half and feebly so posteriorly, finely microserrate, posterior corners nearly right-angled; posterior margin shallowly bisinuate; lateral marginal carinae simple (i.e., not doubled); lateral antebasal pits shallow but distinct, each located much closer to posterior than to lateral pronotal margin. Punctures on median region of pronotal disc small but sharply marked, separated by spaces subequal to their diameters, punctures near posterior angles distinctly denser and somewhat coarse. Setae on pronotal disc long and moderately dense, suberect.

Elytra as wide as pronotum, together oval, broadest near anterior third; EL 0.80–0.88 mm, EW 0.70–0.78 mm, EI 1.10–1.13; subhumeral lines developed as sharp borders between elevated humerus and lower mesal region, as long as 0.3 × EL and distinctly divergent posterad; basal elytral fovea on each elytron about equidistant from lateral margin of mesoscutellum and subhumeral line; elytral apices separately rounded. Punctures on elytra slightly larger than those on pronotum and similarly dense; setae slightly longer than those on pronotum, dense and suberect.

Hind wings lacking.

Metaventrite lacking lateral impressions.

Legs long and slender, unmodified.

Aedeagus ( Figs 179–180 View FIGURES 175–180 ) of modified simonis form, AeL 0.40 mm; in ventral view with distal margin of capsular region subtriangular, obtuse-angled; parameres long and slender, not reaching apex of aedeagus, each with one long apical and two similarly long subapical setae.

Female. Externally similar to male, except for unmodified head and slightly shorter antennae in relation to BL; wingless; BL 1.63–1.65 mm; HL 0.25 mm, HW 0.41–0.43 mm, AnL 0.85–0.88 mm; PL 0.50–0.53 mm, PW 0.73–0.83 mm; EL 0.88–0.90 mm, EW 0.78–0.80 mm, EI 1.09–1.16.

Distribution. S China: Yunnan.

Etymology. The adjective unicornis refers to the frontal ‘horn’ on the head in males.

Remarks. Cephennodes unicornis is very similar to C. frontorhinus , and I base my decision to treat them as separate species mainly on the strong difference in the apex of the capsular region of median lobe. This hypothesis should be verified by studying a larger sample of both ‘morphospecies’ to check whether the difference in the aedeagi is stable or forms a morphocline (and in the latter case the species should be merged). See also Remarks for C. frontorhinus .