Belonuchus

Li, Liang & Zhou, Hong-Zhang, 2011, Revision and phylogenetic assessment of the rove beetle genus Pseudohesperus Hayashi, with broad reference to the subtribe Philonthina (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylinini), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 163 (3), pp. 679-722 : 689

THE GENUS BELONUCHUS

The present phylogenetic separation of the genus Belonuchus agreed well with our earlier doubts about the polyphyly of this genus ( Li & Zhou, 2010c). The genus was divided into two clades (D and K) as shown in Figure 30 . Members of Clade D share common characters including protarsi in both sexes dilated, with modified pale setae ventrally and paramere of aedeagus well developed, with peg setae on underside of paramere. This clade is not the real Belonuchus , but the genus Trapeziderus Motschulsky, 1860 (as a synonym of the genus Belonuchus in the current classification; Li & Zhou, 2010c). Clade K represents the strict Belonuchus erected by Nordmann (1837), with the following shared characters: protarsi simple in both sexes, not dilated, lacking modified pale setae ventrally and paramere of aedeagus usually reduced to very small, without peg setae on underside of paramere. Smetana (1995) supported the monophyly of the genus Belonuchus , but only included four Nearctic species in his phylogenetic analysis. All of those belong to the strict Belonuchus erected by Nordmann (1837). The old genus Belonuchus should be taxonomically redefined; the name must be restricted to Clade K taxa (and related ones not included in this study). Clade D is expected to be treated as a separate genus in the future. This problem can be successfully solved once a comprehensive revision of the genus Belonuchus based on the world fauna is accomplished.

Figures

Figure 30. Bisnius lubricus sp. nov. A, aedeagus, dorsal (parameral side) view; B, median lobe of aedeagus, lateral view; C, underside of paramere; D, sternite IX of male; E, sternite VIII of male; F, tergite X of male. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.