Brachypterous ground beetles of the Trichotichnus subgenus Bottchrus Jedlička (Coleoptera, Carabidae) from the Himalaya, with description of fifteen new species Author Schmidt, Joachim text Zootaxa 2017 2017-09-22 4323 3 301 358 journal article 32021 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.1 f1be4566-adeb-4995-83c7-2aebab3c7458 1175-5326 919606 3E58F99B-2A30-437A-95Ae-D68A1D3Ecc45 Trichotichnus ( Bottchrus ) minutus sp. n. ( Figs 70 , 87–90 , 151 , 11 ) Type material . Holotype : ♂ , “ NEPAL , Kathmandu-Tal Godawari , Mt. Phulchoki N-Hang, 1750 m , Ufergesiebe, 6.V.2001 , leg. O. Jäger ” (cJS). Paratype : 1 ♂ , “ NEPAL N Kathmandu Shivapuri Lekh 2–2300 m slope W of Bagmati riv. 22– 23.5.05 leg. Schmidt ” (cJS). Description . Habitus as in Fig. 70 . Body length 5.5–6.0 mm, width 2.5–2.7 mm . Characters as described for T. ( B .) ganeshensis sp. n. except as follows: Eyes in lateral view slightly more elongate. Pronotum relatively wider, with basal angles subdenticulate; basal margin vaguely bordered laterally (in holotype ) or almost throughout (in paratype ); pronotal lateral gutter very narrow almost equal throughout (in holotype ) or slightly widened in apical third (in paratype ). Elytral striae smooth, not crenulate, slightly impressed along entire length; intervals with slightly more distinct microsculpture. Legs yellowish brown, with femora infuscate. Median lobe of aedeagus ( Figs 87–90 ) with ventral margin slightly convex in middle portion, terminal lamella angularly bent ventrad and sinuate at sides; apical capitulum oblique in lateral view, comparatively large, markedly larger than in T. ( B .) ganeshensis sp. n. and T. ( B .) pusillus sp. n. , approximately equally prominent ventrally and dorsally, in caudal view apical capitulum, as in T. ( B .) ganeshensis sp. n. , somewhat semi-oval, but lightly more elongate, narrowly rounded at tip ( Fig. 89 ). Internal sac with characteristic pattern of spiny folders in the middle portion of median lobe. Proportions (males): PWmax/PL = 1.42–1.43; EL/EW = 1.32–1.36; EL/PL = 2.36–2.42; EW/PWmax = 1.24– 1.25; HWmax/PWmax = 0.67; HWmin/PWmax = 0.54–0.55; PWmax/PWmin = 1.23–1.25; HWmax/HWmin = 1.22–1.23. FIGURES 87–90. Trichotichnus ( Bottchrus ) minutus sp. n. (87, paratype; 88–90, holotype). 87–88, 90, median lobe of aedeagus; 89, terminal lamella and apical capitulum. 87–88, lateral view; 89, caudal view; 90, dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.25 mm (A: Figs 87–88, 90; B: Fig. 89). Etymology . The specific name refers to the small size of the beetles. Comparison . This new species is very similar in size and external morphology to T. ( B .) ganeshensis sp. n. , but distinctly differs from it in the male genitalia as follows: aedeagal median lobe ( Figs 87–90 ) relatively smaller, with ventral margin in lateral view slightly convex in middle portion, apical capitulum much larger, approximately equally prominent ventrally and dorsally [dorsal flange of the apical capitulum in T. ( B .) ganeshensis sp. n. more prominent than ventral flange, figs. 81–82], in caudal view apical capitulum, as in T. ( B .) ganeshensis sp. n. , somewhat semi-oval, but slightly more elongate, narrowly rounded at tip ( Fig. 89 ); internal sac with different pattern of spiny folders in the middle portion of the median lobe. Additionally, pronotum in T. ( B .) minutus sp. n. relatively wider than in T. ( B .) ganeshensis sp. n. (PWmax/PL = 1.42–1.43 versus 1.32–1.39). Distribution ( Fig. 151 , 11 ). Up to today only known from the mountains surrounding the Kathmandu Valley (Shivapuri Lekh, Mt. Phulchoki), at altitudes of 1750–2300 m . This species seems to be a geographical vicariant of T. ( B .) ganeshensis sp. n. which is occurs on the south-western slope of the Ganesh Himal ( Fig. 151 , 10 ).