Pristosia nepalensis Schmidt & Hartmann, 2009, sp. n.

Pristosia nepalensis sp. n.

Figs. 4, 14, 18, 19.

Type material: Holotype male, with labels “ NEPAL, P: Mahakali D: Darchula, 13 km N Ghusa, Hochtal SSW Api, 3600–3900 mNN”, “alpine mats, snowfields, 29°56’22’’ N 80°54’20’’ E, 08.VI.2005, leg. A. Weigel” (NME).

Paratypes: 16 males, 20 females with same label data as holotype (CSCHM, CWG, NME); 11 males, 7 females from same area, but: 12 km NNE Ghusa, 3200 m, W-slope, deciduous forest, 29°54’51’’ N 80°57’11’’ E, 7.VI.2005, leg. A. Weigel & M. Hartmann (CSCHM, CWG, NME); 2 males from same area, but: Shinae bis Hochebene vor Api bei Sare Duru, 2800–3400 m, 7.VI.2005, leg. J. Weipert (CWP); 1 male, 1 female, 13 km N Ghusa, high valley SSW Api, 4100 m, stone debris, 29°56’28 N 80°54’ 24E, 8.VI.2005, leg. A. Weigel (CWG); 6 males, 5 females, Api Base Camp, 4100 m, alpine mats, 29°56N 80°54E, 8/ 9.VI.2005, leg. U. Bössneck (CSCHM, NME).

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the terra typica.

Description: 70 specimens studied.

Body length: 10.2–11.0 mm.

Colour: Dorsal and ventral surface of body and femora dark brown, apex of femora, tibiae, tarsi, antennae and palpi yellowish brown. Male and female dorsal surface moderately shiny throughout.

Microsculpture: Meshes on head and pronotum very weakly engraved, visible under high magnification (100x), head with mesh pattern isodiametric, pronotum with mesh pattern transverse. Meshes of microsculpture on elytra in male moderately engraved, slightly transverse to isodiametric; in female isodiametric, much more deeply engraved.

Head: Antennomeres I+II in distal 1/5, and antennomere III in distal 1/3 with very fine and sparsely arranged hairs in addition to primary apical setation.

Pronotum: Ratio PW/PL 1.08–1.15, PW/HW 1.42–1.44. Sides moderately concave in posterior quarter, hind angles rectangular or slightly obtuse (90–100°) (Fig. 14).

Elytra: Elongate oval, ratio EL/EW 1.59–1.66, EW/PW 1.45–1.50. Basal groove slightly or moderately concave, forming an obtuse angle with scutellar stria and an obtuse or almost right angle with lateral groove. Legs: Hind tarsomeres I–II sometimes with a vague longitudinal furrow on outer lateral surface. Male genitalia: Form of median lobe in dorsal view relatively slender, with sides subparallel and apex moderately short (Fig. 18).

Identification: P. nepalensis sp. n. is very similar to P. championi Andrewes, 1926, redescribed above, but differs in the following characters: Sides of pronotum more strongly convex, the pronotal hind angles sharper. Elytral microsculpture in male less transverse and more deeply engraved, in female without distinct differences of mesh pattern between basal and distal portions of elytra. Aedeagal median lobe somewhat broader with sides very slightly rounded, but with apical lamella longer and more slender. P. nepalensis sp. n. is easily distinguished from all other Pristosia species from western Nepal Himalaya by its pronotal hind angles which are not rounded, and by having two setigerous pore punctures behind middle of elytra.

Distribution: Fig. 42, 43. The species occurs on the south slope of the Api Himal which is a striking massif of the Himalayan mountain range of Far Western Nepal, rising up to an altitude of over 7000 m. P. nepalensis seems to be a geographic vicariant of P. championi which occurs on the south slopes of Nanda Devi. This mountain is, in western direction, the next more striking massif of the Himalayan mountain range.

Habitat: This species was collected in deciduous forests of the high montane zone, more frequently in open ground, also near torrents and on riversides, as well as on subalpine meadows at altitudes from 3000 to 4100 m. All specimens were found in the first decade of June.