Baeocera Erichson, 1845

Löbl, Ivan, 2015, On the Scaphidiinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) of the Lesser Sunda Islands, Revue suisse de Zoologie 122 (1), pp. 75-120 : 76

Baeocera Erichson, 1845

Comments: Baeocera is with over 260 species widely distributed and known from all continents but is poorly represented in northern temperate zones and absent from arid areas. Though Baeocera are often common in tropical and subtropical Asian forests, they are usually under-represented in collections. Adequate sampling methods, such as sifting moist forest floor litter and using berlese or winkler devices for extraction of sampled insects, provide significant amount of specimens. To date, only four species of Baeocera have been reported from the Indonesian Great Sunda Islands ( Löbl, 1997) and three species from the Moluccas ( Löbl, 2014). The species from the Lesser Sundas are members of only two monophyletic group, the B. lenta group, which is in Asia particularly species-rich, and the B. serendibensis group.

Key to the Baeocera species of the Lesser Sunda Islands

1 Elytral punctation very fine and hardly visible at 100x magnification, similar to pronotal punctation, except on distinctly punctured minute lateromedian areas ............................................................................... B. bella sp. nov.

– Elytral punctation distinct and much coarser than pronotal punctation on basal halves of disc at least, often on prevailing or entire discal surface............................................................................................................................. 2

2 Metanepisterna distinct, usually wide, separated from metaventrite by distinct suture. Elytra with basal striae complete, joined to lateral striae............................................................................................................................... 3

– Metanepisterna concealed or very narrow, without distinct suture, lateral margin of metaventrite indicated by outer, eventually impressed, puncture row. Elytra usually with basal striae short, not joined to lateral striae, or basal striae absent .............................................................................................................................................................. 5

3 Median part of sternite 1 punctate. Antennomere XI more than twice as long as wide. Parameres hardly curved at base and not widened apically in lateral view ................................................................................. B. badia sp. nov.

– Median part of sternite 1 impunctate. Parameres distinctly curved at base and widened apically in lateral view... 4

4 Antennomere XI less than twice as long as wide. Internal sac of aedeagus with narrow, elongate, curved sclerite and finely denticulate membranes ................................................................................................... B. barda sp. nov.

– Antennomere XI more than twice as long as wide. Internal sac of aedeagus with robust, not curved sclerite and finely striate membranous structures .......................................................................................... B. baliensis sp. nov.

5 Elytra with sutural striae not curved at base, basal striae absent...................................................... B. bona sp. nov.

– Elytra with sutural striae curved at base and extending laterally to form basal striae ............................................. 6

6 Basal halves, or prevailing surface of basal halves of elytra coarsely punctured, apical fourth to half of elytra becoming abruptly smooth or inconspicuously punctured ....................................................................................... 7

– Elytral punctation distinct on entire discal surface, or on almost entire disc, including areas near apical margins, eventually becoming gradually finer toward apices ................................................................................................. 9

7 Elytra with basal striae entire, joined to lateral striae...................................................................... B. brevis sp. nov.

– Elytra with basal striae shortened, not reaching sides and not joined to lateral striae ............................................. 8

8 Antennomere VIII about 3 times as long as wide. Aedeagus with parameres widened in apical third and notched at level of tip of median lobe (dorsal view)......................................................................................... B. beata sp. nov.

– Antennomere VIII slightly more than twice as long as wide. Aedeagus with parameres narrowed in apical third... ................................................................................................................................................... B. bifurcilla sp. nov.

9 Elytra with basal striae complete, joined to lateral striae .................................................... B. batukoqensis sp. nov.

– Elytra with basal striae shortened, not reaching sides and not joined to lateral striae ...........................................10

10 Parameres slightly notched in middle part (dorsal view) and bent dorsally in apical part (lateral view). Tip of median lobe in level with parameral mid-length or reaching slightly beyond parameral mid-length........................ .................................................................................................................................................... B. bifurcata sp. nov.

– Parameres not notched and not bent dorsally in apical part ................................................................................... 11

11 Apical process of median lobe short, with tip almost reaching apical third of parameral length. Internal sac without denticulate vesicle at level of apical part of sclerotized complex ............................................... B. basalis sp. nov.

– Apical process of median lobe long, with tip reaching apical fourth of parameral length. Internal sac with denticulate vesicle at level of apical part of sclerotized complex ............................................................ B. breviuscula sp. nov.