Pterostichus ( Morphohaptoderus ) lianquan, Wu & Chen & Shi, 2025

[9] Pterostichus ( Morphohaptoderus) lianquan sp. nov.

Figs 1 D View Figure 1 , 4 C View Figure 4 , 5 K View Figure 5 , 21 View Figure 21

Type material.

Holotype: Hubei • ♂, labeled “ Hubei Province, Wufeng County, Houhe Nature Reserve , pitfall trap, 900–1000 m, 2013. VIII. 4, Hao Huang leg. ” [in Chinese] ( IZAS) . Paratypes: Hubei • 3 ♀, the same data as holotype ( IZAS & CBFU) .

Diagnosis.

Medium-sized species for the subgenus ( BL = 8.8–9.6 mm); elytra with linear microsculpture in both sexes; antennomeres 3 without accessory setae; pronotum strongly constricted basally, PBW / PW = 0.63–0.69, basal foveal area distinctly punctate, outer sulcus absent; elytral interval 3 with one setigerous pore near midpoint of elytra; fifth tarsomeres asetose ventrally. Apical lamella of aedeagus elongated triangular, longer than basal width.

Comparisons.

The present new species, P. lianquan sp. nov., is most closely related to the following species, P. zhizheng sp. nov. These two new species are different from all other Morphohaptoderus species in China by the elytra with only one setigerous pore, and median lobe of aedeagus without ventral ridge, apical lamella not toothed or denticulate. In this aspect, these two new species are only similar to P. unisetosus Fedorenko, 2023 , from North Vietnam. However, P. unisetosus is different from them by the elytra without parascutellar pore, submentum with two setae on each side, median lobe of aedeagus much stouter with shorter apical lamella.

Despite the aforementioned similarities in key characteristics, these two new species have the following distinct differences in external appearances and male genitalia: (1) In P. lianquan sp. nov., pronotum very strongly constricted at base, PBW / PW = 0.63–0.67 (Fig. 5 K View Figure 5 ); whereas in P. zhizheng sp. nov., pronotum only weakly constricted at base, PBW / PW = 0.75–0.77 (Fig. 5 L View Figure 5 ). (2) In P. lianquan sp. nov., pronotum coarsely and widely punctate on the basal fovea and basal-median area; but only with fine punctures along the inner sulcus in P. zhizheng sp. nov. (3) Elytral basal border entirely straight in P. lianquan sp. nov., but distinctly curved in P. zhizheng sp. nov. (4) In P. lianquan sp. nov., the apical lamella of aedeagus strongly elongate and attenuate apically, with the length of apical lamella distinctly greater than its basal width (Fig. 21 B View Figure 21 ); conversely, in P. zhizheng sp. nov., the apical lamella shorter and wider, length less than its basal width (Fig. 22 B View Figure 22 ).

These two species also have the fifth tarsomere asetose ventrally, and this characteristic is relatively uncommon within the subgenus. Prior to this study, among Chinese species, only P. geberti Sciaky & Wrase, 1997 , which was discovered in Shaanxi, was known to lack the ventral setae on the fifth tarsomeres. However, we do not consider P. geberti to be related to the two new species described here, because P. geberti has two setae on each side of the submentum, two setigerous pores on elytral interval 3, and the apical lamella of its aedeagus toothed on the right margin.

Description.

BL = 8.8–9.6 mm, BW = 3.2–3.6 mm; dorsal surface dark brown to black, appendages brown; elytra with linear microsculpture in both sexes (Fig. 21 D, E View Figure 21 ).

Head slightly thickened, HW / PW = 0.57–0.59; frons without puncture; frontal sulci short and shallow; antennae reaching elytral basal fifth, antennomere 3 without accessory seta; eyes large and hemispherical, tempora very shortly swollen behind eyes; submentum with one seta on each side.

Pronotum nearly circular, slightly wider than length, PW / PL = 1.12–1.16, widest near middle, PBW / PW = 0.63–0.69. Anterior margin weakly concaved at middle, slightly narrower than posterior margin, PAW / PBW = 0.82–0.90; anterior angles broadly rounded, hardly projecting; lateral margins evenly arched before middle, strongly constricted basally, straight before posterior angles; posterior angles distinctly obtuse-angled, without denticle. Basal foveae (Fig. 4 C View Figure 4 ) with distinct coarse punctures along inner sulcus, scattered on the basal-median area and usually a few them aggregated near posterior angles; inner sulcus straight and long, shallowly incised without well-defined boundaries; outer sulcus absent, basal fovea completely plain between inner sulcus and lateral margin; lateral channels relatively narrow, with distinct punctures along their full length. Pronotal disc without wrinkles aside median line; median line shallow.

Elytra oblong and flat, humeral area distinctly narrowed, lateral sides slightly curved and expanded near middle, BW / EL = 0.65–0.70. Elytral basal border completely straight, forming a distinct obtuse angle with lateral margin, humeral tooth small, apex faintly pointed; striae finely but distinctly punctate on basal third; parascutellar striole joined to apical portion of stria 1, angular base of stria 1 usually absent (Fig. 4 C View Figure 4 ). Parascutellar pore present; elytral interval 3 with only one setigerous pore near midpoint of elytra, adjacent to stria 2; umbilical pore series on ninth interval sparse in middle, composed of 16–18 pores (6–7, 1–2, 8–9).

Male profemora slightly thicker than in females; fifth tarsomeres without seta ventrally.

Male sternite without secondary sexual modification, apex of sternite VII evenly rounded.

Median lobe of aedeagus (Fig. 21 A View Figure 21 ) slender; in lateral view, ventral margin distinctly bent near basal third, basal portion about right-angled to apical portion; ventral margin straight near middle, weakly sinuate at apical lamella, apex gently bent ventrally; apical orifice narrow and long, slightly turned to left side, opened to the dorsal surface of median lobe. Ventral surface without ridge. Apical lamella thin in lateral view; narrow and elongated with sharp apex in dorsal view, attenuate apically, shaped as a narrow triangle slightly inclined to the right side (Fig. 21 B View Figure 21 ), length much greater than its basal width ( AL / AW = 1.60–1.70). Right paramere short, apex auricular (Fig. 21 C View Figure 21 ).

Endophallus of male genitalia not studied due to restricted materials.

Gonocoxite 2 of female ovipositor wide and crescent-shaped (Fig. 5 K View Figure 5 ), strongly pointed apically, outer margin with two or three ensiform setae in relatively large size, length of the largest ensiform seta ca. 0.05 mm; dorsal margin with one ensiform seta, ridged between the ensiform seta and apex of gonocoxite 2, one nematiform seta located on the apical fifth of outer surface.

Distribution.

This species is only known in the type locality, Houhe Nature Reserve in Wufeng County, Hubei Province. It is distributed at relatively low altitudes of 900–1000 m.

Etymology.

The scientific name of the new species is derived from Qu Yuan’s work “ Yun Zhong Jun ”: 灵连蜷兮既留 [Ling Lian Quan Xi Ji Liu], 烂昭昭兮未央 [Lan Zhao Zhao Xi Wei Yang]. This couplet depicts a scene in which a dancer, seemingly possessed by a deity, exhibits a lithe and graceful figure and shines dazzlingly. Lianquan (连蜷) is a term used to describe a lithely dancing figure in the poem. As a specific name, lianquan depicts the elegant and relatively lightweight body build of the new species. The name is treated as a noun in apposition.