Pselaphogenius Reitter 1910
Creators: name: Owens, Brittany E.
name: Carlton, Christopher E.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Staphylinidae
Pselaphogenius

description: Key­­­to­­­the­­­New­­­Zealand­­­mainland­­­species­­­of­­­ Pselaphogenius (males)
Examination of NZ Pselaphogenius specimens has yielded few external morphological characters useful for specieslevel identification. When available, these are primarily limited to secondary sexual characters of males. As a result, this key relies heavily on characters of the male genitalia. In most cases, identification of females is only possible via association with male specimens. The only species of Pselaphogenius in New Zealand known from offshore islands are those described from Three Kings Islands (Thèry and Leschen 2013). The Three King’s Pselaphogenius are endemic to these isolated islands, and no main island species occur on them. They are treated in Thèry and Leschen (2013) and a concise key for their identification may be found in that manuscript. For purposes of utility and clarity, we limit the following key to the species of Pselaphogenius that may be found on North and South Islands.
1 Number of eye facets fewer (three to six); gular mound longer than wide; maxillary palp IV longer than head, swollen in distal 1/4–1/5, metaventrite depressed or flattened................................................. 2­­­(species­­­group­­­1)
1’ Number of eye facets greater (about fifteen); gular mound wider than long; maxillary palp IV subequal to head, swollen in distal 1/3-1/2; metaventrite flattened or produced into tumosity...................................... 15­­­ (species­­­group­­­2)
2(1) Gular mound narrowed anteriorly and posteriorly, ovate....................................................... 3
2’ Gular mound broadened anteriorly, narrowed posteriorly...................................................... 7
3(2) Ventrite 2 ovate depression modified, bearing thickened lateral ridges or apical flange............................... 4
3’ Ventrite 2 ovate depression simple, unmodified.............................................................. 6
4(3) Ventrite 2 ovate depression with lateral margins thickened at apex; metaventrite depressed........................... 5
4’ Ventrite 2 ovate depression with apex bearing thickened flange; metaventrite raised into slight tumosity.... P.­­­ parki,­­­sp.­­­nov.
5(4) Aedeagus with entire apex modified into beak-like, ventrally curved process...................... P.­­­ calantica sp.­­­nov.
5’ Aedeagus with apex truncate, simple....................................................... P.­­­ ventralis (Broun)
6(3’) Metaventrite produced into tumosity bearing golden setae; ventral process of aedeagus smooth, not carinate................................................................................................... P.­­­ jiaweii,­­­sp.­­­nov.
6’ Metaventrite depressed; ventral process of aedeagus carinate..................................... P.­­­ caecus (Broun)
7(2’) Metaventrite depressed................................................................................. 8
7’ Metaventrite flattened.................................................................................. 9
8(7) Aedeagus with right lateral process bifurcate.................................................. P.­­­ otteai,­­­sp.­­­nov.
8’ Aedeagus with lateral process simple, curved............................................... P.­­­ delicatus (Broun)
9(7’) Aedeagus with either ventral and/or lateral processes present.................................................. 10
9’ Aedeagus with ventral and lateral processes absent........................................... P.­­­ chandleri,­­­sp.­­­nov.
10(9) Aedeagus with ventral process of normal length, not exceeding length of phallobase............................... 11
10’ Aedeagus with ventral process greatly elongate, longer than phallobase........................ P.­­­ elephantus,­­­sp.­­­nov.
11(10) Aedeagus with lateral processes simple, not elaborate in form................................................. 12
11’ Aedeagus with lateral processes bearing elaborations along sides, wing-like in form.................. P.­­­ cornus,­­­sp.­­­nov.­­­
12(11) Aedeagus with ventral process simple, straight or curved..................................................... 13
12’ Aedeagus with ventral process laterally compressed and distally broadened.......................... P.­­­ kangi,­­­sp.­­­nov.
13(12) Aedeagus asymmetrical, right and left lateral processes present................................................ 14
13’ Aedeagus asymmetrical, left lateral process absent.............................................. P.­­­ stouti,­­­sp.­­­nov.­­­
14(13) Aedeagus with median lobe associated with fimbriate process................................... P.­­­ fimbria,­­­sp.­­­nov.
14’ Aedeagus with median lobe simple, not associated with fimbriate process........................ P.­­­ moerewae,­­­sp.­­­nov.
15(1’) Median portion of ventrite 2 with ovate depression.......................................................... 16
15’ Median portion of ventrite 2 with flattened area............................................... P.­­­ citimus (Broun)
16(15) Apex of median depression on ventrite 2 modified, bearing tubercle or small projection............................ 17
16’ Apex of median depression on ventrite 2 unmodified, normal................................. P.­­­ dismukesi,­­­sp.­­­nov.­­­
17(16) Apex of median depression on ventrite 2 bearing small, thickened tubercle....................................... 18
17’ Apex of median depression on ventrite 2 bearing small median projection angled anteriorly............ P.­­­ gibbus,­­­sp.­­­nov.
18(17) Aedeagus with parameres deeply scoop-shaped, encasing much of aedeagus in lateral view............ P.­­­ lescheni,­­­sp.­­­nov.
18’ Aedeagus with parameres not deeply scoop-shaped, not obscuring much of aedeagus in lateral view...... P.­­­ kalleri,­­­sp.­­­nov.­­­
description: Published as part of Owens, Brittany E. & Carlton, Christopher E., 2022, --- Revision- -- of- -- the- -- New- -- Zealand- -- species- -- of- -- the- -- Genus- -- Pselaphogenius Reitter- -- (Staphylinidae: --- Pselaphinae: --- Pselaphitae: --- Pselaphini) ---, pp. 187-220 in Zootaxa 5155 (2) on page 193, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5155.2.2, http://zenodo.org/record/6673382