Philonthina
Creators: name: Chani-Posse, Mariana
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2014
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Staphylinidae

description: Key to the New World genera of Philonthina
1 Pronotum with anterolateral margins forming a distinct ridge above the superior marginal line of hypomeron (Fig. 4 K) and hypomeron with additional oblique line connecting the superior and inferior lines (Fig. 4 D); tarsi with segment 3 enclosing a rather minute segment 4 (Fig. 6 A)............................................................... Delgadobius
- Pronotum with anterolateral margins not forming a ridge above the superior marginal line of hypomeron (Figs. 4 E–J) and hypomeron with or without additional oblique line connecting the superior and inferior lines (Figs. 4 A, C); tarsi with segment 3 and 4 not distinctly different (Figs. 6 B–D, 7E–H)........................................................... 2
2 Head with ventral basal ridge strongly (to moderately) projecting anteriad (Fig. 2 I); pronotal hypomeron with additional oblique line connecting the superior and inferior lines (Fig. 4 C)............................... Holisus (Hyptiomina)
- Head with ventral basal ridge extending more or less parallel to ventral portion of postoccipital suture (Figs. 2 A–H, J); hypomeron without additional oblique line connecting the superior and inferior lines (Fig. 4 A)........................ 3
3 Front femur with medio-ventral process (Fig. 7 A); front tibia abruptly dilated apically (Fig. 7 B); hind tibia distinctly projected apically (Fig. 7 H)......................................................................... Atopocentrum * * based on two male specimens from the type series of Atopocentrum mirabile (Fig. 11 A) and the original description (Bernhauer 1906).
- Front femur, front and hind tibiae not as above..............................................................4
4 Antennae inserted at or below the anterior margin of frontoclypeus (Fig. 3 E); abdomen conical (“petiolate” after Seevers 1965) (Fig. 9 A) or subconical (Fig. 9 B)......................................................................... 5
- Antennae inserted behind the anterior margin of frontoclypeus (Figs. 3 A–D); abdomen dorsoventrally flattened (Fig. 9 D) or
subcylindrical (Fig. 9 C).................................................................................7 5 Hind angles of head rounded to subangulate (Fig. 3 E); front tarsi with tarsomeres I–IV more or less dorsoventrally flattened, not widened distally (Figs. 7 D, E); abdomen subconical (Fig. 9 B); habitus not myrmecoid (Figs. 13 D, G)............... 6
- Hind angles of head obsolete; front tarsi with tarsomeres I–IV not as above; abdomen conical (Fig. 9 A); habitus myrmecoid (Fig. 11 F).................................................................................. Ecitophytes
6 Head about as wide as long with hind angles rounded, not extended beyond anterior margin of neck (Fig. 13 G); pronotum with anterior angles rounded and hypomeron slightly inflexed, visible in lateral view (Fig. 5 B)..................... Xenobius
- Head longer than wide with hind angles subangulate, extended beyond anterior margin of neck (Figs. 3 E, 13D); pronotum with anterior angles distinctly angulate and hypomeron fully inflexed, not visible in lateral view (Fig. 5 A).......... Proxenobius
7 Antennae with pubescence starting on antennomere V, lacking on antennomeres I–IV (with only longer sparse setae) and segment I distinctly more than 1.5 times as wide as antennal segment II (Fig. 3 A); sternopleural (anapleural) suture more or less curved so that medial part of suture is more longitudinal and lateral part more transverse (Fig. 8 A); abdomen subcylindrical in lateral view (Fig. 9 C)............................................................................ Flohria
- Antennae with pubescence starting on antennomere III or IV, lacking on antennomeres I–II or I–III (with only sparse longer setae) and segment I not more than 1.5 times as wide as antennal segment II (Fig. 3 B–D); sternopleural (anapleural) suture transverse, or nearly transverse to distinctly oblique (medial end of suture anterior to its lateral end) (Figs. 8 B, C); abdomen flattened dorsoventrally in lateral view (Fig. 9 D).............................................................8
8 Front tarsi with segments I–IV more or less cylindrical with only regular, unmodified marginal setae on ventral surface..... 9
- Front tarsi with segments I–IV more or less flattened dorsoventrally and widened distally, with modified pale (adhesive) setae on ventral surface (Figs. 6 D, 7F, G)...................................................................... 20
9 Superior marginal line of hypomeron not distinctly deflexed under anterior angle of pronotum; lateral puncture of pronotum bearing long seta situated close to superior line or at a distance no more than three times the diameter of puncture (Fig. 4 F)..................................................................................................... 10
- Superior marginal line of hypomeron distinctly deflexed under anterior angle of pronotum; lateral puncture of pronotum bearing long seta situated away from superior line at a distance at least three times as large as diameter of puncture (Figs. 4 G–I)..................................................................................................... 14
10 Last segment of labial palpus distinctly narrower than preceding segment; sternum 9 of male genital segment with basal portion not reduced, more or less symmetrical (except in the New World species G. brevipennis Horn (Smetana 1995), G. argentinus (Bernhauer), G. jujuyensis (Bernhauer), and G. n i d i c o l a (Bernhauer) (Chani-Posse de Maus 2009))............. Gabrius
- Last segment of labial palpus not distinctly narrower than preceding segment; sternum 9 of male genital segment with basal portion reduced, asymmetrical..........................................................................11
11 Elytra distinctly bicoloured, darker basally and testaceous distally (Figs. 12 C, D).................................. 12
- Elytra not bicoloured as above, usually unicolourous......................................................... 13
12 Labrum transverse; prosternum with distinct keel (Fig. 5 C); aedeagus with paramere completely fused to median lobe, reduced.......................................................................................... .. Leptopeltus
- Labrum subconical; prosternum without keel (Fig. 5 D); aedeagus with paramere fused to median lobe only at base, elongate.......................................................................................... Leptopeltoides
13 Both neck and basisternum transversely carinate................................................. Pterygolaetus * * based on a single specimen of Pterygolaetus williamsii (holotype, male) (Fig. 13 E) and the original description (Bierig 1937).
- Neck and basisternum not as above.................................................................. Bisnius
14 Antennal insertions closer to eyes than to anterior margin of frontoclypeus or at equal distance at most................. 15
- Antennal insertions closer to anterior margin of frontoclypeus than to eyes....................................... 16
15 Antennal insertions closer to eyes than to anterior margin of frontoclypeus, distance to frontoclypeus at least twice the distance to eye; labrum and frontoclypeus sexually dimorphic (Fig. 11 D)....................................... Chroaptomus
- Antennal insertions at equal distance to both anterior margin of frontoclypeus and eyes; microsculpture of head sexually dimorphic (Fig. 12 E)............................................................................ Linoderus
16 Antennae with pubescence starting on antennomere III, lacking on antennomere I and II (with only longer sparse setae) and segments IV–X distinctly constricted at middle; front tibia not spinose on lateral face (Fig. 12 I)............. .. Paederallus
- Antennae with pubescence starting on antennomere IV, lacking on antennomere I –III (with only longer sparse setae) and segments IV–X not constricted at middle; front tibia spinose on lateral face.........................................17
17 Head and pronotum appearing dull due to distinct, dense and rugose sculpture (Fig. 13 F)................. .. Xanthodermus
- Head and pronotum glossy, with sculpture less dense........................................................ 18
18 Head with interocular punctation extensive, with postmandibular ridge; last segment of both maxillary and labial palpi gradually narrowed to subacute apex (Fig. 2 J); gular sutures not joined before neck and running close to the base....... Phileciton
- Head with few interocular punctures, usually not more than four, rarely with postmandibular ridge; last segment of both maxillary and labial palpi fusiform to subcylindrical (Figs. 2 B, D); gular sutures joined before neck....................... 19
19 Anterior angles of pronotum not or slightly produced beyond (anteriad of) anterior margin of prosternum (Fig. 2 B); neck usually without transverse carina (Fig. 3 D); abdominal tergites III to V with both anterior and posterior lines of transverse carina complete (Fig. 10 A); mesoventrite with sternopleural (anapleural) suture usually transverse, or nearly transverse (very slightly oblique) (Fig. 8 B)............................................................................ Belonuchus
- Anterior angles of pronotum distinctly produced beyond (anteriad of) anterior margin of prosternum (Fig. 4 B); neck with transverse carina (Fig. 3 C); abdominal tergites III to V with only anterior line of transverse carina complete; mesoventrite with sternopleural (anapleural) usually distinctly oblique (medial end of suture anterior to its lateral end) (Fig. 8 C).............
......................................................................................... Paederomimus 20 Superior marginal line of hypomeron not distinctly deflexed under anterior angle of pronotum; lateral puncture of pronotum bearing long seta situated close to superior line or at a distance no more than three times the diameter of puncture (Fig. 4 E).................................................................................................... 21 - Superior marginal line of hypomeron distinctly deflexed under anterior angle of pronotum; lateral puncture of pronotum bearing long seta situated away from superior line at a distance at least three times as large as diameter of puncture (Fig. 4 J)...23
21 Neck without dorsal basal ridge; last segment of labial palpus distinctly narrower than preceding segment....... Gabronthus
- Neck with dorsal basal ridge; last segment of labial palpus not distinctly narrower than preceding segment..............22
22 Head with completely obliterated hind angles; last segment of both maxillary and labial palpi subulate………………. Rabigus
- Head with hind angles variably shaped; last segment of both maxillary and labial palpi fusiform to gradually narrowed into acute or subacute apex, never subulate............................................................ .. Philonthus
23 Antennal segment 1 distinctly longer than half of head length.................................................. 24
- Antennal segment 1 not longer than half of head length....................................................... 25
24 Antennal segment 1 with apical spine-like seta (Fig. 3 F); elytra bicoloured, abdomen with distinct color pattern (Fig. 12 G); lateral tergal sclerites IX (styli) dorsoventrally flattened, distinctly dilated (Fig. 10 C)......................... Odontolinus
- Antennal segment 1 without apical spine-like seta; elytra unicolorous, abdomen with apical segments testaceous, distinctly lighter than the preceding segments (Fig. 12 H); lateral tergal sclerites IX (styli) not as above.................. Ophionthus
25 Anterior angles of pronotum distinctly produced beyond (anteriad of) anterior margin of prosternum; lateral tergal sclerites IX (styli) dorsoventrally flattened, slightly to distinctly dilated (Figs. 10 D, E)................................ Pescolinus
- Anterior angles of pronotum not or slightly produced beyond (anteriad of) anterior margin of prosternum; lateral tergal sclerites IX (styli) not as above (Fig. 10 F).....................................................................26
26 Disc of mesoventrite situated distinctly more ventrally than median part (mesoventral part of mesocoxal acetabula) and mid coxae contiguous (Fig. 8 E)...................................................................... Neobisnius
- Disc of mesoventrite situated more or less in one plane with, or only slightly more ventrally than its median portion (mesoventral part of mesocoxal acetabula) and mid coxae more or less separated by elevated part of metaventrite (Fig. 8 D)........27
27 Head with infraorbital ridge moderately long, extending some distance in front of the lateral bend of the postgenal ridge (Fig. 2 H); front tibia not spinose on lateral face (Fig. 7 F).................................................. Laetulonthus
- Head with infraorbital ridge very short, becoming obsolete just in front of the lateral portion of the postgenal ridge (Fig. 2 A); front tibia spinose on lateral face (Fig. 7 G)................................................................ 28
28 Last segment of both maxillary and labial palpi subcylindrical (Fig. 2 A); mesoventrite with intercoxal process truncate to subtruncate....................................................................................... Hesperus
- Last segment of both maxillary and labial palpi rather fusiform, not subcylindrical; mesoventrite with intercoxal process either acute or rounded apically..............................................................................29
29 Mesoventrite with sternopleural (anapleural) suture distinctly oblique (medial end of suture anterior to its lateral end) and intercoxal process acute apically (Fig. 8 D).............................................................. Cafius
- Mesoventrite with sternopleural (anapleural) suture transverse, or nearly transverse (very slightly oblique) and mesoventrite with intercoxal process rounded apically............................................................... Remus
description: Published as part of Chani-Posse, Mariana, 2014, An illustrated key to the New World genera of Philonthina Kirby (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), with morphological, taxonomical and distributional notes in Zootaxa 3755 (1), DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3755.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/252659