Tachyusa, : Kraatz, 1856

Pa ṡnik, Grzegorz, 2006, A revision of the World species of the genus Tachyusa Erichson, 1837 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), Zootaxa 1146, pp. 1-152 : 23-29

Key to World species of the genus Tachyusa

1. Puncturation of tergites 3–5 very sparse, punctures minute and scarcely visible; abdominal pubescence long and semierect; abdomen strongly glossy................... 2

– Puncturation of tergites 3–5 moderately dense, punctures moderately small and well visible; abdominal pubescence short and subrecumbent; abdomen moderately glossy ................................................................................................................... 24

2(1). Eyes strongly protruding from lateral contour of head; elytral puncturation minute, pinprick­like and scarcely visible; elytral postero­lateral angles broadly rounded ( Fig. 10); tergal transverse impressions with very short longitudinal ridges ( cordicollis group) ............................................................................................................ 3

– Eyes weakly to moderately protruding from lateral contour of head; elytral puncturation fine and well visible; elytral postero­lateral angles distinctly sinuate ( Fig. 9); tergal transverse impressions with long longitudinal ridges ............................. 9

3(2). Pronotal pubescence at midline directed entirely posteriorly; aedeagus as in Figs. 63–64, spermatheca as in Fig. 65. Distribution: Sri Lanka............ lewisiana Cam.

– Pronotal pubescence at midline directed posteriorly in apical half and anteriorly in basal half; genitalia different ................................................................................. 4

4(3). Tergal basal transverse impressions with 4–5 longitudinal ridges; antennomeres 2 and 3 subequal in length ........................................................................................ 5

– Tergal basal transverse impressions with 7–8 longitudinal ridges; antennomere 3 shorter than 2 ......................................................................................................... 6

5(4). On average smaller, length 2.3 mm; pronotum brown; tergites 3–4 brownish red; spermatheca as in Fig. 57. Distribution: Sri Lanka.................... cordicollis Bernh.

– On average larger, length 2.6–3.0 mm; pronotum and tergites 3–4 red; aedeagus as in Figs. 58–59, spermatheca as in Fig. 60. Distribution: India, Sri Lanka............... ........................................................................................................... elegans Cam.

6(4). Pronotum dark brown; temples strongly narrowed to neck................................... 7

– Pronotum red, temples broadly rounded to neck .................................................... 8

7(6). Head as long as wide; pronotal puncturation minute, pinprick­like and weakly visible; elytral puncturation similar to that on pronotum; aedeagus as in Figs. 66– 67. Distribution: New Guinea.............................................................. loriai (Pace)

– Head wider than long; pronotal puncturation relatively coarse and well visible; elytral puncturation finer that that on pronotum; spermatheca as in Fig. 62. Distribution: Bali ..................................................................................... cephalotes Pace

8(6). Head wider than long; pronotal puncturation relatively coarse; legs uniformly yellow; spermatheca as in Fig. 61. Distribution: Thailand.............. approximans Pace

– Head as long as wide; pronotal puncturation minute, pinprick­like; legs brown with yellow tarsi; aedeagus as in Figs. 68–69. Distribution: China......................... ................................................................................................. schillhammeri sp. n.

9(2). Pronotal pubescence very short, sparse and hardly visible; tergal transverse impressions with 7–8 longitudinal ridges connected by the short transverse ridges in the shape of honeycomb; puncturation of tergites 6–7 similar to that on tergites 3–5 ( gemma group).............................................................................................. 10

– Pronotal pubescence moderately long, dense and well visible; tergal transverse impressions with 7–8 longitudinal ridges not connected by the short transverse ridges in the shape of honeycomb; puncturation of tergites 6–7 distinctly denser than that on tergites 3–5 ( constricta group)......................................................... 17

10(9). Pronotal lateral sides straight; elytral puncturation finer than that on pronotum...11

– Pronotal lateral sides sinuate; elytral puncturation similar to that on pronotum .. 12

11(10). Body on average larger, length 2.8 mm; temples strongly narrowed to neck; pronotal puncturation distinctly asperate; elytral length at suture as long as pronotal length at midline; spermatheca as in Fig. 56. Distribution: Philippines................... .................................................................................................. mindoroensis sp. n.

– Body on average smaller, length 2.5 mm; temples broadly rounded to neck; pronotal puncturation weakly asperate; elytral length at suture shorter than pronotal length at midline; aedeagus as in Figs. 54–55. Distribution: Madagascar............... ........................................................................................................... vadoni (Pace)

12(10). Eyes large, length of each seen from above longer than postocular region; head with distinct microsculpture ................................................................................. 13

– Eyes small, length of each seen from above subequal to that of postocular region; head without microsculpture................................................................................ 15

13(12). Head convex dorsally; antennomere 3 longer than 2; pronotal puncturation relatively coarse; pronotal surface lacking microsculpture; aedeagus as in Figs. 45–46, spermatheca as in Fig. 47. Distribution: India, Thailand, Vietnam.......................... ...................................................................................................... apicipennis Cam.

– Head flattened dorsally; antennomere 3 at best as long as 2; pronotal puncturation fine; pronotal surface with distinct microsculpture; genitalia different............... 14

14(13). Pronotum red; antennomeres 2 and 3 subequal in length; aedeagus as in Figs. 48– 49, spermatheca as in Fig. 50. Distribution: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines........ ............................................................................................................. javana Cam.

– Pronotum pitchy brown to black; antennomere 3 shorter than 2; aedeagus as in Figs. 51–52, spermatheca as in Fig. 53. Distribution: Indonesia... schawalleri sp. n.

15(12). Pronotum yellow; abdomen uniformly red; aedeagus as in Figs. 42–43, spermatheca as in Fig. 44. Distribution: Ethiopia, Kenya................................ riftensis sp. n.

– Pronotum reddish­brown to brown; abdomen black with two basal tergites red to reddish­brown; genitalia different ....................................................................... 16

16(15). Body on average smaller, length 2.3–2.5 mm; antennae red; aedeagus as in Figs. 39–40, spermatheca as in Fig. 41. Distribution: Ethiopia, Kenya............................ ................................................................................................... leptothorax Fauvel

– Body on average larger, length 2.6–2.8 mm; antennae brown with antennomeres 1–3 red; aedeagus as in Figs. 36–37, spermatheca as in Fig. 38. Distribution: southern Africa .................................................................................. gemma Casey

17(9). Pronotal pubescence at midline directed posteriorly in apical half and anteriorly in basal half............................................................................................................... 18

– Pronotal pubescence at midline directed entirely posteriorly.............................. 19

18(17). Eyes small, length of each seen from above shorter than postocular region; pronotum red; elytral length at suture shorter than pronotal length at midline; aedeagus as in Figs. 29–30, spermatheca as in Fig. 31. Distribution: south­west Europe and North Africa............................................................................................ ferialis Er.

– Eyes large, length of each seen from above subequal to that of postocular region; pronotum pitchy brown to black; elytral length at suture as long as pronotal length at midline; aedeagus as in Figs. 26–27, spermatheca as in Fig. 28. Distribution: Europe (except north), North Africa..................................................... balteata Er.

19(17). Tergal basal transverse impressions with median carina ..................................... 20

– Tergal basal transverse impressions without median carina................................ 22

20(19). Head with microsculpture; pronotal surface impressed medially; tergite 8 with distinct isodiametric mesh microsculpture; aedeagus as in Figs. 33–34, spermatheca as in Fig. 35. Distribution: United States................................... gracillima LeConte

– Head without microsculpture; pronotal surface not impressed medially; tergite 8 without microsculpture; sexual characters different............................................. 21

21(20). Eyes large, length of each seen from above subequal to that of postocular region; temples broadly rounded to neck; pronotum red, wider than long; spermatheca as in Fig. 32. Distribution: United States: Texas ................................. ornatella Casey

– Eyes small, length of each seen from above shorter than postocular region; temples strongly narrowed to neck; pronotum brown, as long as wide; aedeagus as in Figs. 15–16, spermatheca as in Fig. 17. Distribution: Palaearctic Region ............... ............................................................................................................ constricta Er.

22(19). Eyes large, length of each seen from above subequal to that of postocular region; pronotal basal transverse impression present; aedeagus as in Figs. 24–25. Distribution: Egypt................................................................................. rabinovitchi Koch

– Eyes small, length of each seen from above shorter than postocular region; pronotal basal transverse impression absent; aedeagus different................................... 23

23(22). Pronotum brownish red; antennae long, extending beyond pronotal base; pronotum distinctly convex; aedeagus as in Figs. 18–19, spermatheca as in Fig. 20. Distribution: Cyprus................................................................................... agilis Baudi

– Pronotum red; antennae relatively short, extending to pronotal base; pronotum weakly convex; aedeagus as in Figs. 21–22, spermatheca as in Fig. 23. Distribution: Afghanistan, India, Tajikistan............................................ schuberti Jacobson

24(1). Pronotum trapezoidal in outline; puncturation of tergites 3–5 relatively sparse, interstices between punctures 3.0–4.0 times their diameter; abdominal pubescence short and relatively sparse ( impressa group) ........................................................ 25

– Pronotum quadrate in outline; puncturation of tergites 3–5 moderately dense, interstices between punctures 1.5–2.0 times their diameter; abdominal pubescence short and dense ( coarctata group) ........................................................................ 32

25(24). Pronotal lateral sides straight; pronotal puncturation fine.................................... 26

– Pronotal lateral sides concave; pronotal puncturation relatively coarse.............. 29

26(25). Eyes small, length of each seen from above shorter than postocular region; antennomeres 2 and 3 subequal in length...................................................................... 27

– Eyes large, length of each seen from above subequal to that of postocular region; antennomere 3 shorter than 2................................................................................ 28

27(26). Pronotal pubescence at midline directed posteriorly in apical half and anteriorly in basal half; aedeagus as in Figs. 73–74, spermatheca as in Fig. 75. Distribution: western Palaearctic ............................................................................ nitella Fauvel

– Pronotal pubescence at midline directed entirely posteriorly; aedeagus as in Figs. 70–71, spermatheca as in Fig. 72. Distribution: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia......... .......................................................................................................... impressa Epp.

28(26). Head flattened dorsally; surface of head impressed medially; temples parallelsided; aedeagus as in Figs. 76–77, spermatheca as in Fig. 78. Distribution: Turkey.............................................................................................................. loebli sp. n.

– Head convex dorsally; surface of head not impressed medially; temples broadly rounded; aedeagus as in Figs. 79–80. Distribution: Turkey................ turcica sp. n.

29(25). Eyes large, length of each seen from above longer than postocular region; spermatheca as in Fig. 81. Distribution: Sudan.................................. boopina Scheerp.

– Eyes small, length of each seen from above subequal in length to that of postocular region; spermatheca different .......................................................................... 30

30(29). Antennae uniformly red; head quadrate in outline; aedeagus as in Figs. 82–83, spermatheca as in Fig. 84. Distribution: Sudan................................. nilensis sp. n.

– Antennae brown with antennomeres 1–2 red; head circular in outline; spermatheca different................................................................................................................. 31

31(30). Body on average smaller, length 2.3–2.6 mm; pronotum red; head with distinct microsculpture; aedeagus as in Figs. 85–86, spermatheca as in Fig. 87. Distribution: Namibia.................................................................................... testacea sp. n.

– Body on average larger, length 2.6–2.9 mm; pronotum dark brown to black; head without microsculpture; aedeagus as in Figs. 88–89, spermatheca as in Fig. 90. Distribution: Republic of South Africa............................................... krugeri sp. n.

32(24). Tergites 3–6 deeply transversely impressed at base; tergite 5 more transverse, 1.6– 1.8 times wider than long..................................................................................... 33

– Tergites 3–5 deeply transversely impressed at base; tergite 5 less transverse, 1.25– 1.55 times wider than long.................................................................................... 34

33(32). Eyes large, length of each seen from above subequal to that of postocular region; antennomeres 2 and 3 subequal in length; elytral puncturation similar to that on pronotum; aedeagus as in Figs. 150–151, spermatheca as in Fig. 152. Distribution: Russian Far East ........................................................................... sulciventris Epp.

– Eyes small, length of each seen from above shorter than postocular region; antennomere 3 shorter than 2; elytral puncturation finer than that on pronotum; spermatheca as in Fig. 153. Distribution: Russian Far East.... pseudosulciventris sp. n.

34(32). Tergal basal transverse impressions with median carina...................................... 35

– Tergal basal transverse impressions without median carina................................ 42

35(34). Head flattened dorsally; temples parallel­sided................................................... 36

– Head convex dorsally; temples broadly rounded................................................. 37

36(35). Body on average larger, length 2.7–3.0 mm; pronotum brownish red; pronotal surface moderately convex and very deeply impressed medially in male and without impression in female; aedeagus as in Figs. 132–133, spermatheca as in Fig. 134. Distribution: North America...................................................... cavicollis LeConte

– Body on average smaller, length 2.5–2.8 mm; pronotum brown; pronotal surface weakly convex, moderately deeply impressed medially in male and without impression in female; aedeagus as in Figs. 135–136, spermatheca as in Fig. 137. Distribution: North America............................................................ obsoleta Casey

37(35). Pronotum and elytra testaceous; surface of head and pronotum with distinct microsculpture; aedeagus as in Figs. 129–130, spermatheca as in Fig. 131. Distribution: United States.............................................................................. arida Casey

– Pronotum and elytra brown to black; surface of head and pronotum without or with obsolete microsculpture; genitalia different ................................................ 38

38(37). Eyes small, length of each seen from above shorter than postocular region; pronotal lateral sides strongly narrowed to hind angles................................................ 39

– Eyes large, length of each seen from above subequal to that of postocular region; pronotal lateral sides moderately narrowed to hind angles ................................. 40

39(38). Antennomere 3 shorter than 2; elytra as long as wide, their length at suture shorter than pronotal length at midline; aedeagus as in Figs. 138–139, spermatheca as in Fig. 140. Distribution: North America ........................................ americana Casey

– Antennomeres 2 and 3 subequal in length; elytra longer than wide, their length at suture as long as pronotal length at midline; aedeagus as in Figs. 141–142, spermatheca as in Fig. 143. Distribution: North America............. americanoides sp. n.

40(38). Surface of head and pronotum with obsolete microsculpture; pronotum with leaden reflection; aedeagus as in Figs. 123–124, spermatheca as in Fig. 125. Distribution: western Palaearctic ........................................................... concinna Heer

– Surface of head and pronotum without microsculpture; pronotum without leaden reflection; genitalia different ............................................................................... 41

41(40). Antennomeres 2 and 3 subequal in length; elytra brown to pitchy brown; aedeagus as in Figs. 144–145, spermatheca as in Fig. 146. Distribution: Canada, United States and Mexico................................................................................ faceta Casey

– Antennomere 3 shorter than 2; elytra brown with posterior margin and shoulders yellow; aedeagus as in Figs. 147–148, spermatheca as in Fig. 149. Distribution: North America .................................................................................. smetanai sp. n.

42(34). Eyes large, length of each seen from above longer than postocular region; temples strongly narrowed to neck; surface of head and pronotum with microsculpture; aedeagus as in Figs. 115–116, spermatheca as in Fig. 117. Distribution: Democratic Republic of the Congo.............................................................. bertiae sp. n.

– Eyes small, length of each seen from above subequal to that of postocular region; temples broadly rounded to neck; surface of head and pronotum without microsculpture; genitalia different ..................................................................................... 43

43(42). Elytral length at suture shorter than pronotal length at midline .......................... 44

– Elytral length at suture at least as long as pronotal length at midline ................. 45

44(43). Eyes small, length of each seen from above shorter than postocular region; pronotum moderately convex; pronotal hind angles rounded; legs yellow; aedeagus as in Figs. 118–119. Distribution: China................................................ hammondi sp. n.

– Eyes large, length of each seen from above subequal to that of postocular region; pronotum strongly convex; pronotal hind angles obtuse; legs reddish brown; aedeagus as in Figs. 120–121, spermatheca as in Fig. 122. Distribution: North America ......................................................................................................... harfordi Casey

45(43). Pronotal puncturation very fine and very weakly asperate .................................. 46

– Pronotal puncturation moderately fine and distinctly asperate............................. 47

46(45). Pronotum wider than long; elytra as long as wide; pronotum moderately convex; aedeagus as in Figs. 106–107, spermatheca as in Fig. 108. Distribution: Palaearctic.............................................................................................. objecta Muls. & Rey

– Pronotum as long as wide; elytra longer than wide; pronotum distinctly convex; aedeagus as in Figs. 97–98, spermatheca as in Fig. 99. Distribution: south­west Europe and North Africa ........................................................ nitidula Muls. & Rey

47(45). Pronotum wider than long.................................................................................... 48

– Pronotum as long as wide..................................................................................... 49

48(47). Pronotum with obsolete transversely stretched isodiametric mesh microsculpture; pronotal puncturation very dense, surface distinctly convex; aedeagus as in Figs. 112–113, spermatheca as in Fig. 114. Distribution: China, Japan, North and South Korea................................................................................................. orientis Bernh.

– Pronotum without microsculpture; pronotal puncturation moderately dense, surface moderately convex; aedeagus as in Figs. 109–110, spermatheca as in Fig. 111. Distribution: Caucasus................................................................ flavolimbata Epp.

49(47). Pronotum with metallic lustre; male and female tergite 8 sinuate apically; aedeagus as in Figs. 94–95, spermatheca as in Fig. 96. Distribution: Austria, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France and Germany....................... coarctatoides sp. n.

– Pronotum without metallic lustre, male and female tergite 8 truncate or rounded apically; genitalia different .................................................................................. 50

50(49). Surface of head and pronotum with very fine isodiametric mesh microsculpture; tergite 8 with isodiametric mesh microsculpture; aedeagus as in Figs. 126–127, spermatheca as in Fig. 128. Distribution: China and Russian Far East .................... ........................................................................................................ harbinica sp. n.

– Surface of head and pronotum without microsculpture; tergite 8 lacking microsculpture; genitalia different ..................................................................................... 51

51(50). Eyes moderately protruding from lateral contour of head; pronotal pubescence dense; aedeagus as in Figs.91–92,spermatheca as in Fig.93.Distribution:Palaearctic ............................................................................................................ coarctata Er.

– Eyes weakly protruding from lateral contour of head; pronotal pubescence moderately dense; genitalia different............................................................................. 52

52(51). Body relatively stout; legs brown; aedeagus as in Figs. 100–101, spermatheca as in Fig. 102. Distribution: China........................................................... gilvipes (Pace)

– Body relatively slender; legs testaceous; aedeagus as in Figs. 103–104, spermatheca as in Fig. 105. Distribution: China, Japan and North Korea............... wei Pace