Philonthus abyssinus, , Fauvel, 1880

Hromádka, Lubomír, 2008, Revision of Afrotropical species of the Philonthus abyssinus species group (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Philonthina), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 48 (1), pp. 37-50 : 49

Key to males of the Philonthus abyssinus species group

The males of this group are easily distinguished by the shape of the aedeagus. On the other hand, I was not able to find any reliable characters for distinguishing the females (except for P. tottenhami ). The identification of the females is therefore to some extent possible only by the association with the males.

1 Punctation of elytra denser, punctures separated in transverse direction mostly by distance equal to one diameter of punctures. ........................................ P. tottenhami Last, 1953

– Punctation of elytra sparser, punctures separated in transverse direction by distance equal to two or three puncture diameters. ................................................................................ 2

2 Apical portion of median lobe of aedeagus hardly curved in lateral view ( Figs. 2 , 14 , 24 ). .................................................................................................................................. 3

– Apical portion of median lobe of aedeagus markedly, hook-like curved in lateral view ( Figs. 7 , 10 )......................................................................................................................4

Figures

Figs. 1-8. 1-5 – Philonthus abyssinus Fauvel, 1880; 6-8 – P. brendelli sp. nov. 1, 6 – aedeagus, ventral view; 2, 7 – aedeagus, lateral view; 3, 8 – apical portion of sternite VIII, ventral view; 4 – sternite IX, ventral view; 5 – tergite X, dorsal view.

Figs. 9-16.9-12 – Philonthus elgonensis Tottenham,1940; 13-16 – P.pseudoabyssinus Tottenham, 1940.9, 13 – aedeagus, ventral view; 10, 14 – aedeagus, lateral view; 11, 15 – apical portion of sternite VIII, ventral view; 12 – tergite X, dorsal view; 16 – sternite IX, ventral view.

Figs.23-27.Philonthus varanus sp. nov.23 – aedeagus, ventral view; 24 – aedeagus, lateral view; 25 – apical portion of sternite VIII, ventral view; 26 – sternite IX, ventral view; 27 – tergite X, dorsal view.