Quedius (Microsaurus) mutilatus -group

Salnitska, Maria & Solodovnikov, Alexey, 2018, Revision of the Quedius fauna of Middle Asia (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Staphylininae), Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 65 (2), pp. 117-159 : 128

Quedius (Microsaurus) mutilatus -group Fig. 2E

Comments.

We have proposed the mutilatus -group for several Middle Asian species in Salnitska and Solodovnikov (2018), where we revised all available material. Thus only brief information for each of these species is provided with reference to the revision for details.

Diagnosis.

The mutilatus -group is characterized by the following: brown to dark brown dorso-ventrally flattened body, notably small eyes, short elytra, absence of palisade fringe on abdominal tergite VII; aedeagus robust, with apical portion of median lobe slightly curved towards paramere with characteristic tooth near apex (in lateral view), with paramere widest shortly before apex (in parameral view) having four distinct groups of sensory peg setae on the underside: two apical and two lateral.

Distribution and biology.

The mutilatus -group is restricted to the Tien-Shan Mountains where all species of the group are confined to high elevations, up to 3600 m. Based on the morphology and limited bionomic data, all species of the group are hypogean and are mostly found under stones or deep in leaf litter.