Ganelius Benesh, 1955

Paulsen, M. J., 2017, Revision of the endemic Madagascan stag beetle genus Ganelius Benesh, and description of a new, related genus (Coleoptera: Lucanidae: Lucaninae: Figulini), Insecta Mundi 2017 (592), pp. 1-16 : 2

Ganelius Benesh, 1955

Eudora Laporte, 1840: 174 (not Eudora Péron and Leseur, 1810 ; Eudora Rafinesque, 1815 ; Eudora De Haan, 1833 )

Nagelius Benesh, 1955a: 62 (not Nagelius Lewis, 1909 )

Ganelius Benesh, 1955b: 70 (new name for Nagelius Benesh )

Description. Ganelius are moderately sized (12–22 mm) figuline species that display distinctly sexually dimorphic mandibles in which males have a short mandible with a long, vertically produced dorsal ramus or branch, while females lack the dorsal ramus and have a simple, more-or-less tricuspid mandible. The pronotum appears smooth, bearing only fine punctures and always lacking a strongly indicated midline. In both sexes the pronotum has an anterior tubercle that varies from distinct to almost obsolete (especially in larger males that have the anterior margin produced on either side), and is generally elevated. The male genitalia of Ganelius species have an exceptionally long, thin, and gradually narrowing flagellum that varies from 20–65 mm in length. The genus only occurs in Madagascar. Species within the genus vary most importantly in the form of the mandibles, shape of the ocular canthus and anterior margin of the head, and extent of punctation of the elytra. The male genitalia between species is fairly uniform but with apparent interspecific variation in the length of the flagellum.