Taxonomic notes on the Chinese endemic genus Straneostichus Sciaky, 1994 (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Pterostichini), with descriptions of three new species Author Chen, Jia-Heng College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1 Weigang, Nanjing, 210095, P. R. China Author Shi, Hong-Liang College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, P. R. China. shihl @ bjfu. edu. cn Author Liang, Hong-Bin Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, P. R. China. lianghb @ ioz. ac. cn text Zootaxa 2022 2022-09-06 5182 3 247 264 journal article 138994 10.11646/zootaxa.5182.3.3 71da9ffb-36f2-4aa1-8146-ea7599d96500 1175-5326 7052983 98773ACB-22ED-4CFA-BE9D-8492B3BB2FCE Key to species of the genus Straneostichus Sciaky, 1994 1. Vertex with fine and dense punctures; pronotal basal fovea composed of two fused grooves (outer groove present); pronotum usually with only one mid-lateral seta (occasionally two, the basolateral seta not included); outer surface of metatarsomere I distinctly ridged on three-fourth or more of its length; in lateral view, apical lamella of aedeagus evenly curved to venter ( fischeri -group )...................................................................................... 2 - Vertex impunctate; pronotal basal fovea composed of single long groove (outer groove absent); pronotum usually with two or more mid-lateral setae (occasionally one); outer surface of metatarsomere I faintly ridged less than half of its length; in lateral view, apical lamella of aedeagus more or less sinuate ( vignai- group )............................................ 8 2. Pronotal basal fovea sporadically punctate, mid-basal area between basal foveae completely impunctate ( Figs 21A–B ); elytral shoulders strongly narrowed; apical lamella of aedeagus much longer than maximum width, L/W = 1.55-1.75 ( Figs 3–4 , 6–7 ) ................................................................................................... 3 - Pronotal basal fovea densely punctate, mid-basal area between basal foveae more or less punctate ( Figs 21C–G ); elytral shoulders moderately narrowed; apical lamella of aedeagus longer or nearly as long as maximum width, L/W = 1.00-1.60 (usually less than 1.40) ( Figs 9 , 11–12 , 14–15 , 17 , 19–20 )..................................................... 4 3. Elytral striae near base with fine punctures ( Fig. 21A ); elytra strongly elongated, EL/EW = 1.50-1.56; basal portion of aedeagus slightly thickened, in dorsal view apical lamella strongly bent rightward ( Figs 3A, 3A ); N. Sichuan , S. Gansu ... S. ovipennis - Elytral striae completely impunctate ( Fig. 21B ); elytra less elongated, EL/EW = 1.43-1.46; basal portion of aedeagus strongly thickened, in dorsal view apical lamella only slightly bent rightward ( Figs 6A, 7A ); C. Sichuan .......... S. politus sp. nov. 4. Pronotal anterior margin subequal to posterior margin (PPW/APW = 0.98–1.05, mean 1.02); endophallic piece hardly visible (depigmented) on ventral surface of apical orifice ( Figs 9 , 11–12 )............................................... 5 - Pronotal anterior margin slightly wider than posterior margin (PPW/APW = 0.85–0.95, mean 0.92); endophallic piece visible (well pigmented) on ventral surface of apical orifice ( Figs 14–15 , 17 , 19–20 )...................................... 6 5. Pronotum finely punctate on mid-anterior area; posterior angles forming a clear denticle ( Figs 21C ); median lobe of aedeagus very narrow on middle portion, apical lamella a little widened in dorsal view ( Fig. 9A ); Shaanxi .............. S. haeckeli - Pronotum impunctate on mid-anterior area; posterior angles evident but usually not forming denticle ( Fig. 21D ); median lobe of aedeagus thicker on middle portion, apical lamella strongly widened in dorsal view ( Figs 11A, 12A ); Gansu, Qinghai ............................................................................................... S. fischeri 6. Pronotal posterior angles rarely forming denticle ( Fig. 21E ); elytral striae almost impunctate; middle portion of median lobe of aedeagus very thick (MW/ML = 0.23–0.27); endophallic piece on apical orifice strongly sclerotized and thickened, visible in lateral view ( Figs 14C, 15C ); Shaanxi , Henan ......................................................... S. puetzi - Pronotal posterior angles usually forming clear denticle ( Fig. 21F‒G ); elytral striae with fine but distinct punctures; middle portion of median lobe of aedeagus thinner ( MW / ML = 0.15–0.22); endophallic piece on apical orifice moderately sclerotized, not thickened, invisible in lateral view; Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia ............................................... 7 7. Maximum width of pronotum just before middle (APL/PL = 0.42‒0.44); elytral striae shallower; middle portion of median lobe of aedeagus thinner (MW/ML = 0.15‒0.17) ( Fig. 17C ); in dorsal view, apical lamella strongly bent rightward, apex nearly truncate ( Fig. 17A‒B ); Ningxia ................................................... ..…… S. liupanensis sp. nov. - Maximum width of pronotum near anterior third (APL/PL = 0.34–0.38); elytral striae deeper; middle portion of median lobe of aedeagus thicker (MW/ML = 0.19–0.22) ( Figs 19C, 20C ); in dorsal view, apical lamella not bent rightward, apex rounded ( Figs 19–20 ); Gansu , Qinghai ............................................................. S. ganqingensis sp. nov. 8. Pronotum nearly trapezoidal ( Figs 22‒23, 25‒26 ), posterior angles more or less evident, forming rectangular or obtuse angles; elytral basal pores present; frontal grooves moderately deep................................................... 9 - Pronotum nearly rounded ( Figs 24 , 27 ), posterior angles obtuse-rounded; elytral basal pores absent; frontal grooves very faint .................................................................................................. 10 9. Dorsal surface metallic purple or coppery ( Figs 22‒23 ); pronotal lateral margins strongly sinuate before posterior angles, which are nearly rectangular or a little pointed; median lobe of aedeagus slenderer with longer apical lamella, in dorsal view, apical lamella a little longer than maximum width; Central and North Sichuan, Gansu, Shaanxi, Ningxia .............. S. vignai - Dorsal surface metallic green or dark blue ( Figs 25‒26 ); pronotal lateral margins faintly sinuate or nearly straight before posterior angles, which are obtuse or slightly pointed; median lobe of aedeagus stouter with shorter apical lamella, in dorsal view, apical lamella evidently longer than maximum width; North Yunnan , South Sichuan ............. S. kirschenhoferi 10. Elytral odd intervals much wider and with shallower microsculpture than even ones ( Fig. 27A‒C ); lateral margins evenly curved in their full length; in lateral view, apical lamella of aedeagus longer and more strongly curved ventrally.................................................................................................... S. rotundatus - Elytral odd intervals a little wider than and with similar microsculpture as even ones ( Fig. 24 ); lateral margins nearly straight before posterior angles; in lateral view, apical lamella of aedeagus shorter and slightly curved ventrally.......... S. farkaci