Pseudovostox guizhouensis, Chen & Jiang, 2025

Pseudovostox guizhouensis sp. nov.

Figs 1 View Figure 1 , 2 View Figure 2 , 3 View Figure 3 , 4 View Figure 4 , 5 View Figure 5 , 6 View Figure 6

Type material.

Holotype: China • ♂; Guizhou Province, Guiyang City, Xiangzhigou ; 26.7775 ° N, 106.9346 ° E; 1,151 m; 17. vi. 2024; Zhi-Teng Chen leg. GoogleMaps Paratypes: China • 7 ♂♂ 16 ♀♀; same data as holotype; 7 ♂♂ 2 ♀♀, Guizhou Province, Guiyang City, Herang ; 26.7270 ° N, 106.8766 ° E; 1,010 m; 18. vi. 2024; Zhi-Teng Chen leg. GoogleMaps • 1 ♂, Guizhou Province, Guiyang City, Xiaba Town, near Baishui River ; 26.7254 ° N, 106.9313 ° E; 970 m; 18. vi. 2024; Zhi-Teng Chen leg; 11 ♂♂ 15 ♀♀, Guizhou Province, Guiyang City, Xiangzhigou; 26.7768 ° N, 106.9347 ° E; 1,130 m; 26. vi. 2025; Zhi-Teng Chen, Qing Li leg. GoogleMaps

Differential diagnosis.

The new species shares a similar pale transverse stripe on the tegmina with P. fasciatus ( Steinmann 1990; Srivastava 2003). However, it can be distinguished by several morphological traits ( Steinmann 1990; Srivastava 2003): the male head is longer than wide (vs. wider than long in P. fasciatus ), the pronotum is long with a rounded anterior margin (vs. transverse with a truncate anterior margin), and the pale stripe on the tegmina is near one-fourth of its length (vs. near one-eighth in P. fasciatus ). Additionally, the male’s penultimate sternite of the new species has a mostly truncate posterior margin (vs. concave in P. fasciatus ), and the external paramere is widened subapically and constricted apically with an obtuse apex (vs. gradually tapering to an acute apex in P. fasciatus ). The female of the new species also differs from that of P. fasciatus in having posterior processes on the ultimate tergite and straight inner forceps margins, whereas the female of P. fasciatus lacks such processes, and the inner margin of the forceps is sinuate ( Brindle 1973 a; Steinmann 1990). An updated key to species of Pseudovostox based on Steinmann (1990) is provided below for species delimitation.

Description.

Male. Length. Body length (excluding forceps) 4.5–5 mm, forceps length 0.5–0.8 mm.

Coloration. Head and pronotum dark brown, latter with white posterolateral sides (Fig. 1 A – C View Figure 1 ); antennae yellow at base, pale brown apically. Tegmina dark brown, with a pale transverse stripe near shoulder, the stripe gradually narrowed mediad (Fig. 1 A View Figure 1 ). Scales of hind wings entirely white. Abdomen dark brown; legs and forceps brown (Fig. 1 A View Figure 1 ).

Head. Head longer than wide, tumid; postfrontal and coronal sutures indistinct; hind margin truncate (Fig. 1 A – C View Figure 1 ). Eyes slightly shorter than post-ocular area. Antenna 12 - segmented; basal segment about half the length of distance between antennal bases; second segment as long as wide; third segment three times as long as wide; fourth segment two times as long as wide; fifth and subsequent segments slightly longer than third.

Thorax. Pronotum as broad as long, slightly widened posteriorly; anterior margin slightly rounded, lateral and posterior margins rounded; prozona convex and metazona depressed; median sulcus distinct (Fig. 1 A – C View Figure 1 ). Tegmina well-developed, twice as long as pronotum, pubescent and impunctate; scales of hind wings near as long as one-third length of pronotum (Fig. 1 A View Figure 1 ). Legs with strong femora, thin tibiae and tarsi, and developed tarsal arolia between claws; hind tarsi with first segment 1.5 times longer than combined length of segments 2–3, second segment near as long as wide, third segment twice as long as second (Fig. 1 A View Figure 1 ).

Abdomen. Abdomen fusiform, convex, widest at segments 6–7, cuticle pubescent and impunctate (Fig. 1 A View Figure 1 ). Ultimate tergite transverse, sloping and narrowed posteriad; posterior margin concave medially, with subtriangular processes above base of each branch of forceps (Fig. 2 A View Figure 2 ). Forceps short, contiguous, pubescent, mostly straight, upcurved, apically tapering and gently hooked mediad; inner margins denticulate (Fig. 2 A, B View Figure 2 ). Penultimate sternite transverse, 1.5 times wider than long, posterior margin mostly truncate; basolateral projections short, near one-fifth of sternal length (Fig. 2 C View Figure 2 ).

Genitalia. Genitalia slender (Fig. 3 A – D View Figure 3 ); paramere narrowed basally, widened medially, with rounded anterior margin; external paramere slender, widened subapically, apex narrowed, obtuse; virga thick; inner structure complicated, with two semicircular basal sclerites and a toothed apical sclerite. Genitalia of male paratype slightly varied in shape of external parameral apex and inner sclerite (Fig. 4 A, B View Figure 4 ).

Female. Body length without forceps 4.5–6 mm, length of forceps 0.5–0.8 mm. Body structures and coloration identical to male holotype; tergites and sternites longer than male (Fig. 5 A, B View Figure 5 ). Penultimate sternite subquadrate, posterior margin rounded; basolateral projections very short, about 1 / 11 of sternal length (Fig. 5 C View Figure 5 ). Genitalia with two dark, oval sclerites (Fig. 5 B View Figure 5 ).

Etymology.

The new species is named after Guizhou Province, the type locality.

Distribution.

The species is currently known only from Guizhou Province of southwest China (Fig. 6 View Figure 6 ).

Biology.

Specimens were collected from riparian vegetation using a sweeping net (Fig. 6 View Figure 6 ). This species exhibited no specific vegetation preference and was collected from leaves of bamboo, gramineous weeds, tea trees, vegetables and various other plants. It occurred in high densities near the water’s edge. When disturbed, individuals displayed a typical defensive posture by raising their forceps, a behaviour similar to that of other earwig species (Fig. 7 A, B View Figure 7 ). In addition, they exhibited leg-cleaning behavior (Fig. 7 C, D View Figure 7 ). During a second collecting trip to Guizhou Province in 2025, specimens were encountered under rainy conditions. Individuals immediately became immobile when they contacted the water droplets on the inner surface of the collecting bottle. After several hours, once the water had evaporated, the specimens became very active again. This response suggests that the new species may exhibit thanatosis-like behavior.