Subgenus Microsaurus

Diagnosis. The combination of characters that allow to distinguish mature larvae of Microsaurus, including Q. brevicornis (Staniec 2003, and the present study), from other known larvae of Quedius include: head narrowed anteriorly (Figs 2D–F); posterior part of nasale as in Figs 3C, D; antenna: segment III the longest (only in Q. mesomelinus almost equal to segment II) (Figs 4 B, C, D), large sensory appendage on segment III acorn-shaped; teeth (excluding Lt2) on anterior margin of nasale and apex of mandible pointed (most species, Figs 3F, G, 5B) or rounded (only in Q. mesomelinus, Figs 3H, 5C); maxilla: digitiform sensory appendage at the base of apical segment; labium: ligula conical (finger-shaped), gradually narrowed apically, less than twice as long as wide; hypopharynx as on Fig. 7 D with microtrichia forming letter T; frayed setae on meso- and metanotum absent (most species) or present (only in Q. brevis).