Ontholestes Ganglbauer, 1895

SMETANA, ALEŠ & DAVIES, ANTHONY, 2000, Reclassification of the North Temperate Taxa Associated with Staphylinus Sensu Lato, Including Comments on Relevant Subtribes of Staphylinini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), American Museum Novitates 3287, pp. 1-1 : 1-

Ontholestes Ganglbauer, 1895

TYPE SPECIES: Staphylinus murinus Linne´, 1758 .

COMMENTS: The species of this genus share four distinctive synapomorphies: ( 1) anterior angles of pronotum angulately extended anteriad ( fig. 44 ); ( 2) marginal line of pronotal hypomeron narrowly rounded at prosternal margin ( fig. 44 ); ( 3) mesosternum with complete, medial longitudinal carina ( fig. 117 ); and ( 4) mentum with long anterolateral seta near lateral margin, lateral seta minute to absent.

Further character states include: outer segments of antenna variably asymmetrical; maxillary and labial palpus both with last segment asetose, fusiform; mandibles each with dorsolateral ridge distinct, removed from margin, bordered by deep, broad depression basally; mandibular prostheca copiously ciliate along entire length, with long, irregular, dense basal ciliae gradually shortening apicad; apical segments of both maxillary and labial palpus distinctly elongate fusiform, without setae; postmandibular ridge present; postgenal ridge arched to base of gula; superior line of pronotal hypomeron rather abruptly deflexed ventrad around middle of pronotum, with anterior portion of superior line therefore situated markedly below basal portion in lateral view; pronotal epimeron long, subtriangular; prosternum highly prominent, sloping abruptly to anterior margin, with strong, convex carina starting between macrosetae; series of long setae on mesosternum arranged in subtransverse row on each side of median carina; mesosternal intercoxal process angulate to broadly truncate apically; metasternum oblique, highly convex between coxae, anterior projection with acutely converging margins ( fig. 117 ); dorsal apicolateral lobe of metacoxa without apparent spines.

Figures

Figs. 39–44. 39. Philonthus politus, dorsal face of neck. 40. Abemus chloropterus, dorsal face of neck. 41. Naddia sp., left posterior corner of head, and part of dorsal face of neck. 42. Dinothenarus fossor, joining of superior and inferior marginal lines of pronotal hypomeron, ventral view. 43. Tasgius ater, joining of superior and inferior marginal lines of pronotal hypomeron, ventral view. 44. Ontholestes murinus, joined marginal lines of pronotal hypomeron, narrowly rounded at anterolateral margin of prosternum, and angulately extended anterior angles of pronotum, ventral view.

Figs. 117–122. 117. Ontholestes murinus, mesosternum with fully developed medial carina. 118. Thoracostrongylus sp., mesosternum with short medial carina at base. 119. Dinothenarus fossor, labium with emarginate ligula, ventral view. 120. Dinothenarus pubescens, labium and mentum. 121. Dinothenarus pubescens, right mandible and right maxilla, ventral view. 122. Abemus chloropterus, mesosternum, showing sockets of serial setae originating behind small elevations.