Philonthus Stephens, 1829

Ferreira, Raul Nascimento, 2014, New records of Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) from São Tomé and Príncipe (Western Africa)., Arquivos Entomolóxicos 10, pp. 93-96 : 95

Genus Philonthus Stephens, 1829

The genus Philonthus Stephens, 1829 is the largest genus of the subtribe Philonthina Kirby, 1837 currently containing more than 1250 species, which occur in all zoogeographical regions ( Herman, 2001). It is represented in the Afrotropical region by approximately 300 known species ( Hromádka, 2009). The type species for the genus is Staphylinus splendens Fabricius, 1793 , fixed by subsequent designation by Curtis (1836).

This genus is represented for S. Tomé by one species, Philonthus cruentus Bernhauer, 1915 , from Àgua Izé (200-700 m) ( Herman, 2001). In this paper two additional new species for the Island of S. Tomé are reported. All specimens were collected in decomposed leaves and grass.

3. Philonthus longicornis Stephens, 1832

Material; São Tomé and Príncipe, São Tomé, Lobata, Santo Amaro, 0˚36′N, 6˚69′E VII-20-1958, 2 ex.

Distribution; Cosmopolitan ( Herman, 2001).

4. Philonthus peregrinus Fauvel, 1866

Material; São Tomé And Príncipe, São Tomé, ÁguA GrAnde , PAntufo 0˚18′52″N, 6˚44′38″E, VII-20-1958, 4 ex.

Distribution; Senegal, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenia, Tanzania, Congo, Namibia, South Africa, Comoros, Madagascar, Mascarene Islands, India, Nepal ( Herman, 2001).