Abstract

This study describes a new species of the family Caliscelidae (Hemiptera) from the Xizang region of China—Peltonotellus lasaensis sp. nov. Through integrated morphological examination (including external morphology and genitalia dissection), and mitochondrial gene (COI) sequence analysis, the taxonomic status of this species was determined. Morphological results reveal that the male aedeagus terminates in valvular lobes, with ventral processes comprising a pair of spinous projections. In females, the type IX arcuate process bears approximately 15 ridge teeth on the dorsal margin, a feature that distinctly differentiates it from congeners. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on COI sequences places the new species within a well-supported clade of Caliscelidae, confirming its genus-level placement in Peltonotellus. This study represents the first record of Caliscelidae in the high-altitude regions of Xizang (3650–3800 m), thereby enriching the diversity data of Caliscelids in Asia and providing valuable insights into the biogeography of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.

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