Scaphobaeocera Csiki, 1909

Löbl, Ivan, 2011, On the Scaphisomatini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scaphidiinae) of the Philippines, II, Revue suisse de Zoologie 118 (4), pp. 695-721 : 696-698

Scaphobaeocera Csiki, 1909

This genus comprises 77 species currently recognized as valid. Its range covers large parts of tropical and subtropical Asia, extending to warm temperate areas of Far East Russia, the Pacific islands, Australia, Africa, Seychelles and the Mascarene archipelago. Only one species, S. minutissima ( Löbl, 1969), was so far reported from the Philippines ( Löbl, 1969, 1972, 1997). It is notable that this species was absent from extensive modern collections. It was based on a single specimen found in an old collection that comes, according to its label data, from Mount Makiling. Scaphobaeocera appears particularly diverse on Mount Makiling where eight of the 19 Philippine species were found. However, this fact may be explained rather by the more intensive field work in the easily accessible sites of that mountain than by diversity patterns.

KEY TO THE PHILIPPINE SPECIES OF SCAPHOBAEOCERA

1 Antennomere VII longer than antennomeres IV to VI combined and more than 5 times as long as antennomere VIII............ S. escensa sp. n.

- Antennomere VII much shorter than antennomeres IV to VI combined and much less than 5 times as long as antennomere VIII................ 2

2 Antennomere XI about 2 or 2.5 times as long as antennomere X and about 3 to 5 times as long as wide................................. 3

- Antennomere XI about 1.2 to 1.5 times as long as antennomere X and about 2 to 3 times as long as wide................................. 7

3 Hypomeron lacking stria........................... S. palawana sp. n.

- Hypomeron with longitudinal stria................................. 4

4 Elytra microsculptured and usually iridescens........................ 5

- Elytra not microsculptured and not iridescent. Aedeagus without spiral flagellum.................................................... 6

5 Small species 1.0 mm long. Lateral parts of metaventrite distinctly punctate. Basolateral parts of abdominal ventrite 1 not microsculptured. Aedeagus with flagellum simple, spiral............. S. minutissima (Löbl)

- Medium-sized species 1.3-1.4 mm long. Lateral parts of metaventrite extremely finely punctate. Entire abdominal ventrite 1 distinctly microsculptured.................................... S. montivagans sp. n.

6 Abdominal ventrite 1 with microsculpture consisting of transverse striae. Aedeagus with simple internal sac..................... S. watrousi sp. n.

- Abdominal ventrite 1 lacking microsculpture. Aedeagus with complex internal sac.................................... S. complicans sp. n.

7 Elytra with sutural striae extending along basal margins. Punctures margining mesocoxal lines coarse and extended laterally along mesepimera........................................ S. excisa sp. n.

- Elytra with sutural striae not extending along basal margins. Punctures margining mesocoxal lines not extending laterally and usually very fine.... 8

8 Hypomeron with longitudinal stria. Male with apicomedian surface of metasternum completely covered by conspicuously dense patch of pubescence.................................... S. pubiventris sp. n.

- Hypomeron lacking stria. Male with pubescence not completely covering apicomedian surface of metasternum........................ 9

9 Elytra with sutural striae shortened, starting clearly posterior pronotal lobe........................................... S. monticola sp. n.

- Elytra with sutural striae starting near basal margins and usually curved along pronotal lobe............................................ 10

10 Thorax and elytra lacking obvious microsculpture, not iridescent......... 11

- Thorax and/or elytra microsculptured, elytra usually distinctly iridescent... 13

11 Metepisterna about 0.05 mm wide, with straight suture. Punctures bordering mesocoxal lines fine......................... S. davaoana sp. n.

- Metepisterna about 0.08-0.14 mm wide, with arcuate suture. Punctures bordering mesocoxal lines coarse................................. 12

12 Elytra with parasutural striae. Antennomere VIII about 2.5 times as long as wide. Metepisterna conspicously large, 0.10-0.14 mm wide, with suture strongly arcuate............................ S. episternalis sp. n.

- Elytra without parasutural striae. Antennomere VIII conspicuously small, only slightly longer than wide. Metepisterna 0.08-0.10 mm wide, with suture weekly arcuate.......................... S. serpentis sp. n.

13 Median lobe of aedeagus without prominent ventral processes or tubercles. 14

- Median lobe of aedeagus with prominent ventral processes or tubercles.... 17

14 Aedeagus with flagellum of internal sac sinuate, not forming circles...... 15

- Aedeagus with flagellum of internal sac forming complete circle......... 16

15 Elytra with distinct parasutural striae. Metepisterna very narrow. Flagellum lacking basal hook............................ S. werneri sp. n.

- Elytra without or with hardly visible parasutural striae. Metepisterna fairly wide. Flagellum with basal hook.................. S. hamata sp. n.

16 Aedeagus with flagellum of internal sac evenly narrow, except at abruptly widened base. Parameres shorter than basal bulb of median lobe................................................ S. bulbosa sp. n.

- Aedeagus with flagellum of internal sac gradually narrowed apically, without abruptly widened base. Parameres longer than basal bulb of median lobe.................................... S. sabapensis Löbl

17 Aedeagus with ventral processes of median lobe approximate. Parameres not widened apically.......................... S. orousseti sp. n.

- Aedeagus with ventral processes of median lobe distant. Parameres widened apically............................................. 18

18 Aedeagus with flagellum of internal sac strongly sinuate, weakly widened basally, without basal hook............... S. pseudotenella sp. n.

- Aedeagus with flagellum of internal sac weakly sinuate, strongly widened basally, with basal hook......................... S. data sp. n.