The systematic position of Placusa Erichson and Euvira Sharp: the tribe Placusini described (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae)

Abstract. The genera Placusa Mannerheim and Euvira Sharp share the 4, 4, 5 tarsal segmentation with other members of the aleocharine tribe Bolitocharini. Placusa has usually been placed together with other subcortical members of this tribe into the subtribe Homalotina or its taxonomic equivalent. Members of the very distinctive genus Euvira are not subcortical. The systematic position of this latter genus has been uncertain though it has been most often placed in the tribe (or subtribe) Autaliini. Because of the striking differences in habitus and habits of members of these two genera, they have always been considered to be, at most, distantly related within the Bolitocharini. Study of the larvae and adults of both genera has revealed that they share a diverse set of derived features (eight in adults; ten in larvae). Many of these are unique to the Aleocharinae. These features are described and illustrated and a discussion of their systematic importance is provided. Four conclusions are drawn: (1) Placusa and Euvira form a monophyletic group; (2) these two genera are misplaced in the tribe Bolitocharini; (3) these two genera do not share derived features with members of any other described tribe of aleocharines; and (4) Placusa and Euvira must be grouped into a redefined tribal level taxon, the Placusini. The tribe Placusini is defined and its composition and systematic placement discussed.     

Phylogeny of the intertidal aleocharine tribe Liparocephalini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

The tribe Liparocephalini (genera Liparocephalus Mäklin, 1853;Diaulota Casey, 1893 [ = Genoplectes Sawada, 1955];Paramblopusa Ahn & Ashe, Amblopusa Casey, 1893;Salinamexus Moore & Legner, 1977 [ = Biophytosus Moore & Legner, 1977]), all of which are exclusively restricted to the Pacific coasts of the Holarctic Region, is hypothesized to be a monophyletic group based on the following synapomorphies: seta v absent (inferred to be lost) from mentum (reversed one time in the Liparocephalus lineage), setae distributed only on mesal surface of galea and apex with setae, one medial seta present on prementum, and contiguous mesocoxal cavities. Natural history and history of the classification of the Liparocephalini are discussed. Phylogenetic analyses of the species of the Liparocephalini are presented based on larval (21 characters, 57 states), adult (49 characters, 115 states), and a combination of larval and adult characters (70 characters, 172 states). Analysis of the combined larval and adult data sets with successive approximation resulted in a single most parsimonious tree (length = 937, CI = 0.885, RI = 0.930) with the following patterns of generic relationships (outgroup (Salinamexus + Biophytosus (Amblopusa (Paramblopusa (Diaulota + Genoplectes, Liparocephalus))))).     

Three littoral Athetini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) species new to Korea

Three littoral Athetini species –Adota magnipennis (Bernhauer), Atheta ririkoae Sawada and Atheta tokiokai (Sawada) – are reported for the first time in Korea. Diagnoses, illustrations of the habitus and line drawings of diagnostic characters are provided.     

Molecular phylogeny of the mega‐diverse rove beetle tribe Staphylinini (Insecta,Coleoptera, Staphylinidae)

Chatzimanolis, S., Cohen, I. M., Schomann, A. & Solodovnikov, A. (2010). Molecular phylogeny of the mega‐diverse rove beetle tribe Staphylinini (Insecta, Coleoptera, Staphylinidae). —Zoologica Scripta, 39, 436–449. Phylogeny of the rove beetle tribe Staphylinini is explored by parsimony and Bayesian analyses of sequences of four genes (COI, wingless, Topoisomerase I, and 28S) for 43 ingroup (various genera of Staphylinini) and eight outgroup (two genera of Paederinae, six genera of other tribes of Staphylininae) taxa. Analyses were conducted for each gene independently and for the concatenated data set. Results of the most robust combined analyses were compared with the morphology‐based phylogenies of Staphylinini (‘test phylogeny’), and with the conventional classification of this tribe. Molecular results were congruent with the ‘test phylogeny’ in the following: ancestors of Staphylinini were ‘Quediina‐like’ lineages; formal subtribe Quediina mixes at least two relatively basal groups, ‘Quediina propria’ and ‘southern Quediina’; specialized subtribe Amblyopinina is an internal clade within ‘southern Quediina’; a relatively deeply nested ‘Staphylinini propria’ that unites current subtribes Staphylinina, Eucibdelina, Anisolinina, Xanthopygina and Philonthina is well supported as a monophyletic group. In strong contrast with morphology, molecular data place the tribes Othiini and Xantholinini nested within Staphylinini. Molecular results strongly conflict with morphology by uniting morphologically very different genera Holisus and Atanygnathus in one clade that has uncertain position within Staphylinini. Consistently with the most congruent areas of the morphology‐ and molecular‐based phylogenies, taxonomic changes are implemented for the formal subtribes Quediina and Amblyopinina.     

Discovery of the tribe Odontalgini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae; Pselaphinae) in Japan

A new species of the pselaphine genus Odontalgus is described from Honshu, Japan, under the name of Odontalgus masaoi. Odontalgus coreanus Löbl known from North Korea is recorded for the first time from Kyushu, Japan. These are the first formal records of the tribe Odontalgini from Japan.     

A basal oxyteline rove beetle (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) from the Early Cretaceous of China: Oldest record for the tribe Euphaniini

A remarkable new rove beetle, Protodeleaster glaber gen. et sp. nov, is described and illustrated based on two well-preserved specimens from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Liaoning Province, China. The new genus is placed in the extant staphylinid subfamily Oxytelinae, and recent tribe Euphaniini, based on several characteristic features (e.g. a single pair of wide paratergites on abdominal segments; open procoxal fissures; contiguous mesocoxae; abdominal sternite II short and poorly sclerotized). This find from the Early Cretaceous documents the oldest fossil representative of the tribe Euphaniini. Morphologically, it resembles most closely the recent genus Platydeleaster Schülke, 2003, an unusual member of the extant Oxytelinae. According to the currently accepted hypothesis of the phylogenetic position of Euphaniini and the prior discovery of other taxa from the Late Jurassic, we suggest the tribe might have first appeared at least as early as the Late Jurassic.     

Autalia rivularis (Gravenhorst) and Brachida clara (Weise) new to Korea (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae)

Two aleocharine species, Autalia rivularis (Gravenhorst) and Brachida clara (Weise), are identified for the first time in Korea. Diagnoses, habitus illustrations, and line drawings of diagnostic characters are provided.     

Food preference of the rove beetle, Atheta coriaria Kraatz （Coleoptera： Staphylinidae） under laboratory conditions

A study, involving laboratory choice tests, was conducted to determine the feeding behavior, based on food preference, of the adult and larval stage of the rove beetle, Atheta coriaria Kraatz when presented with both fresh moistened oatmeal and second instar fungus gnat, Bradysia sp. nr. coprophila （Lintner） larvae in Petri dishes. Rove beetles used in this study came from a laboratory-reared colony. A rating scale from 1 to 5, based on percent missing （1 = 0 to 10%, 2 = 11 to 30%, 3 = 31 to 50%, 4 = 51 to 75%, and 5 = 76 to 100%）, was used to objectively assess the amount of oatmeal and number of fungus gnat larvae consumed by each rove beetle adult and larva. In all the choice tests, A. coriaria adults and larvae preferred to feed on fungus gnat larvae （78% and 69%, respectively） significantly more so than oatmeal （9% and 5%, respectively） based on the amount of oatmeal and number of fungus gnat larvae consumed after 4 and 6 hours. There were relatively minimal differences in the amount of food consumed for both adults and larvae after 4 and 6 hours. The results of this study indicate that oatmeal may be an inexpensive supplemental food source, during the rearing process, which will not inhibit the effectiveness of rove beetles to control fungus gnat larvae when released into greenhouses.     

A new species of Myrmedonota Cameron from eastern Kansas (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae)

Myrmedonota helianthasp. n. is described from eastern Kansas (USA). All specimens were collected from dung. A modified new key to the species of Myrmedonota of America north of Mexico is provided.     

Revision of the rove beetle genus Antimerus (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Staphylininae), a puzzling endemic Australian lineage of the tribe Staphylinini

The genus Antimerus Fauvel, 1878, endemic to eastern Australia and Tasmania and a phylogenetically enigmatic member of the large rove beetle tribe Staphylinini, is revised. The genus and each of its four previously known species are redescribed, and a lectotype is designated for Antimerus punctipennis Lea, 1906. Five species are described as new: Antimerus metallicussp. n., Antimerus jamesrodmanisp. n., Antimerus gracilissp. n., Antimerus bellussp. n. and Antimerus monteithisp. n., so that the number of known species in this genus now totals nine. For the first time Antimerus larvae are described, tentatively identified as Antimerus smaragdinus Fauvel, 1878, Antimerus punctipennis and Antimerus metallicus. Available distributional and bionomic data are provided for each species and summarized in the discussion. Adult and larval morphology of Antimerus and its distribution patterns are discussed in the broader context of new data on the evolution of the entire tribe Staphylinini, and with respect to the formation of the Australian fauna of this tribe. The phylogenetic position of Antimerus within Staphylinini remains unresolved pending a targeted formal study. However, a majority of currently available data suggests that it could be a basal member of the recently recovered monophyletic clade of Staphylinini tentatively called "Staphylinini propria".     

Three new species of the myrmecophilous genus Doryloxenus from China (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae)

Three new species of the pygostenine genus Doryloxenus Wasmann, viz., Doryloxenus aenictophilus sp. n. (from Zhejiang), Doryloxenus tangliangi sp. n. (from Zhejiang), and Doryloxenus songzhigaoi sp. n. (from Yunnan), are described, illustrated and distinguished from the Asian congeners. An identification key to the Chinese species is given.     

Chemistry and morphology of the tergal gland of freeliving adult Aleocharinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) and its phylogenetic significance

Abstract. Morphology and chemistry of the tergal gland, an abdominal defensive gland of the Staphylinidae subfamily Aleocharinae, is studied comparatively in twenty-two species of ten Central European tribes. To determine trends in the morphological evolution of the tergal gland the results are compared with well-known evolutionary trends of gland systems of other insects. The possible chemical evolution of the gland secretion is proposed by considering the biosynthesis of the different secretion compounds and by testing their biological efficiency on Calliphora larvae (irritancy, mortality). The morphological evolution probably proceeded from a small reservoir with only a few glandular cells D₁ (primitive) to a large and bilobed reservoir with a great number of glandular cells D₁ (advanced). In the chemistry of the quinone-containing gland secretion, long-chain fatty acids as solvents in primitive species were probably replaced by short-chain fatty acids (derived condition). Most advanced species also use hydrocarbons and aldehydes as solvents. With reference to these results, both a statistical (Jaccard-coefficient) and a cladistic analysis are performed to test previous ideas on the phylogeny of the Aleocharinae.     

Biology and distribution of the littoral rove beetle Psamathobledius punctatissimus (Le Conte) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

The intertidal macrofauna on a small sheltered marine beach at Pawley's Island, South Carolina, was dominated by insects, primarily Psamathobledius punctatissimus, a small beetle which attained densities of up to 2 260 adults m⁻². Both adult and larval beetles remained buried in the sand when covered by the tide, then emerged to form mole-like surface trails and feed upon diatoms when exposed. Eggs and young larvae were maintained within special maternal burrows, while larger larvae and non-breeding adults occupied their own individual burrows. Both adults and larvae became comatose when in direct contact with water, but recovered after as long as six hours submergence. In the field, burrows retained air during tidal coverage, allowing the beetles to avoid direct contact with sea water. Seaward extension of the population is probably limited by time available for feeding, while longshore distribution is restricted by sand texture and diatom concentration, or by sediment mobility in more exposed locations. Although very locally distributed, P. punctatissimus has achieved considerable success in a habitat poorly exploited by competitors of either marine or terrestrial origin. Contribution No. 434 of the Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine Biology and Coastal Research Contribution No. 434 of the Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine Biology and Coastal Research     

Morphogenia: a new genus of the Neotropical tribe Jubini (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae) from the Brazilian Amazon

A new genus and species of the large Neotropical pselaphine tribe Jubini is described from Manaus, Brazil, based on material preserved in the Natural History Museum, London. Morphogenia struhligen. et sp. n. represents the possible sister taxon of the abundant and speciose genus Barrojuba Park, sharing with it the putatively derived condition of anterolaterally shifted vertexal foveae, producing a smoothly convex vertex devoid of fovea or sulci. However, unlike Barrojuba, Morphogenia retains a plesiomorphic antebasal sulcus on the pronotum in both sexes, and additionally lacks elaborate abdominal fovea-like pockets and teeth on the lateral margins of the pronotum that are typical of Barrojuba. The genus is also unusual among jubine genera in lacking the characteristic V- or Y-shaped gular carina. In contrast to the commonly-collected Barrojuba, specimens of Morphogenia are absent in extensive jubine collections housed in museums in the United States, indicating that the new taxon may be relatively scarce or localised.     

Mouthpart structure of Stylogymnusa subantarctica Hammond, 1975 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) with a reanalysis of the phylogenetic position of the genus

Structure, particularly of the mouthparts, of the unusual aleocharine staphylinid Stylogymnusa subantarctica Hammond was reevaluated. The mouthparts are described in detail, and drawings of their structure are provided. Several features were found to be misinterpreted in previous accounts of the structure of this aleocharine. In particular, the stylate structures found on the prementum are not a highly modified, hollow, stylate glossa, as had been previously suggested. Instead, these structures represent highly modified labial palpi; the segments are completely fused, all signs of typical setae of the labial palpi are missing, and the palpi are very long and slender. In addition, there is no sign that they are hollow. Small, slender, membranous lobes at the base of, and between, the palpi are interpreted as the true glossae (=ligula). Reinterpretation of these characters, and greatly improved phylogenetic techniques in the 20 years since previous phylogenies had been proposed, allowed testing of previous hypotheses of the phylogenetic position of Stylogymnusa and the relationships of the tribes Gymnusini and Deinopsini within the Aleocharinae. Phylogenetic analysis of 7 out‐group and 12 in‐group taxa, based on 84 characters and 231 character states, produced 3 equally most‐parsimonious trees (tree length = 253, C.I. = 0.557, R.I. =0.674, rescaled C.I. = 0.376). These trees provide strong support for a monophyletic lineage consbting of Stylogymnusa, Gymnusa and the Deinopsini but only weak support for a monophyletic Gymnusini (Gymnusa + Stylogymnusa). Bootstrap analysis based on 1000 resampling repetitions showed the following monophyletic clades to be well supported by the dataset: Aleocharinae (79%), Stylogymnusa+Gymnusa+ Deinopsini (99%), Deinopsis+Adinopsis (100%), and representatives of Myllaenini + Athetini + Aleocharini + Homalotini + Oxypodini (the “higher Aleocharinae”) (88%). Weakly supported clades in the bootstrap analysis were: Paraconosoma+ Gymnusini + Deinopsini (56%), Anacyptus+‘higher Aleocharinae’ (54%), and Athetini + Oxypodini + Homalotini + Aleocharini (52%).     

A new species of genus Tetrasticta Kraatz (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae) from Xishuangbanna,Southwest China

Tetrasticta bobbii Zheng & Zhao, sp. n., collected in Nangongshan, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, is described and illustrated.     

Luthrobium (Tetartopeus): natural history, phylogeny and revision of the nearctic species (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae)

Abstract. The eleven species of Lathrobium subgenus Tetartopeus from the Nearctic Region are revised. Thirteen specific names are placed in synonymy, Lconvolutum sp.n. is described, and Deratopeus Casey is synonymized with Tetartopeus . A cladistic analysis suggests that Tetartopeus is monophyletic, and that five monophyletic species-groups are represented in the Nearctic Region.     

A peculiar new species of the genus Tetrasticta Kraatz (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae) from Peninsular Malaysia

Tetrasticta gnatha sp. n., collected under the bark of a rotten fallen tree in Peninsular Malaysia, is described. A habitus photograph, line drawings of diagnostic characters, and a diagnosis are provided. The new species is readily distinguished from all known congeners by having long mandibles, and long, curved maxillary palpi.