Lomechusa

Chen, Yong-Jie & Zhou, Hong-Zhang, 2007, Taxonomy of the myrmecophilous genus Lomechusa (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae: Lomechusini) from China, Zootaxa 1606, pp. 29-39 : 31

Key to Chinese species of Lomechusa

1 Antennomeres 4–10 moniliform (as in Fig. 1 g) .......................................................................................... 2

- Antennomeres 4–10 with truncate or oblique apex (as in Figs. 2 f, 3g)....................................................... 4

2 Lateral depressions of pronotum almost absent, disk of pronotum with sparse golden erect soft hairs........ ........................................................................................................................ L. parva Chen & Zhou, n. sp.

- Lateral depressions of pronotum obvious, disk of pronotum without hairs ................................................ 3

3 Eyes with some short setae between facets, last antennomere almost as long as antennomeres 8–10 combined, the apical part of aedeagus in lateral view curved ( Fig. 4 c), spermatheca with a small loop in the middle ( Fig. 5 d) ........................................................................................... L . elegans Chen & Zhou, n. sp.

- Eyes without setae between facets, last antennomere distinctly shorter than antennomeres 8–10 combined, the apical part of aedeagus in lateral view straight (Fig. 65 in Hlaváč 2005), spermatheca somewhat Wshaped (Fig. 64 in Hlaváč 2005) ................................................................................ L. barbarae (Schilow)

4 Pronotum ( Fig. 2 b in this paper; Plate 2C in Hlaváč 2005) strongly widened posteriorly, its anterior margin <0.85 times as wide as posterior margin, posterior pronotal angles protruding and acute ................... 5

- Pronotum (Fig. 3f in this paper; Plate 4 in Hlaváč 2005) only slightly widened posteriorly, lateral margins parallel or slightly emarginated medially, anterior margin of pronotum>0.9 times as wide as posterior margin, posterior pronotal angles rounded and obtuse ................................................................................ 6

5 Anterior margin of pronotum emarginated (Plate 2C in Hlaváč 2005), antennomere 8 truncated at the apex, head with temple straight, the apical part of spermatheca almost folded together (Fig. 24 in Hlaváč 2005) ............................................................................................................................. L. kishimotoi Hlaváč

- Anterior margin of pronotum straight ( Fig. 2 b), antennomere 8 oblique at the apex ( Fig. 2 f), head with temple constricted, the apical part of spermatheca curved ( Fig. 2 c) ..... L . brevicornis Chen & Zhou, n. sp.

6 Antennomere 1 as long as last antennomere, all antennomeres without a row of stout setae at the apex, eye diameter observed from above distinctly shorter than temple length, the apical part of aedeagus in lateral view with some punctures (Fig. 61 in Hlaváč 2005) ................................................. L . yunnanensis Hlaváč

- Antennomere 1 slightly shorter than last antennomere (Fig. 3g), each antennomere with a row of stout setae at the apex (Fig. 3g), eye diameter longer than temple length, the apical part of aedeagus in lateral view devoid of punctures (Fig. 3c) .......................................................... L . seticornis Chen & Zhou, n. sp..

Figures

FIGURE 1. Details of Lomechusa parva. a— tergite VIII; b— sternite VIII; c— medial lobe of aedeagus in lateral view; d— tergites IX – X; e— medial lobe of aedeagus in dorsal view; f— pronotum (microsculpture omitted); g— antennae (soft hairs omitted). Scale: a – d, 0.2 mm; e, 0.125 mm; f, g, 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 2. Details of Lomechusa brevicornis. a— tergite VIII; b— pronotum (microsculpture omitted); c— spermatheca; d— tergites IX – X; e— sternite VIII; f— antennae (soft hairs omitted). Scale: a, 0.3 mm; b, f, 0.5 mm; c, 0.1 mm; d, 0.2 mm; e, 0.25 mm.

FIGURE 4. Details of Lomechusa elegans (male). a— tergite VIII; b— tergites IX – X; c— medial lobe of aedeagus in lateral view; d— pronotum (microsculpture omitted); e— medial lobe of aedeagus in dorsal view; f— sternite VIII. Scale: a, f, 0.25 mm; b, c, 0.2 mm; d, 0.5 mm; e, 0.125 mm.

FIGURE 5. Details of Lomechusa elegans (female). a— tergite VIII; b— sternite VIII; c— tergites IX – X; d— spermatheca; e— antennae (soft hairs omitted). Scale: a – c, 0.2 mm; d, 0.1 mm; e, 0.5 mm.