A revision of Ilyobates Kraatz, 1856 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae, Oxypodini).

Abstract

The types and additional material of the species of Ilyobates Kraatz are revised. Six valid species are recognized: I. nigricollis (Paykull), I. bennetti Donisthorpe, I. propinquus (Aubé), I. mech (Baudi), I. merkli Eppelsheim, and I. mirabilis sp. n. The following synonymies are established or confirmed, respectively: I. nigricollis (Paykull) = I. haroldi Ihssen, = I. nigricollis deubeli Bernhauer, syn. n., = I. hoelzeli Scheerpeltz, syn. n.; I. bennetti Donisthorpe = I. subopacus Palm; I. propinquus (Aubé) = I. rufus Kraatz; I. mech (Baudi) = I. hustachei Méquignon, syn. n., = I. pseudomech Lohse, syn. n., = Calodera sulcicollis Aubé; Pyroglossa Bernhauer = Gennadota Casey, syn. n. Lectotypes are designated for I. haroldi Ihssen, I. nigricollis deubeli Bernhauer, I. subopacus Palm, Calodera sulcicollis Aubé, and I. rufus Kraatz. Callicerus puberulus Casey and Gennadota canadensis Casey, two North American species previously attributed to Ilyobates, are transferred to Pyroglossa Bernhauer. The taxonomic history of Ilyobates is outlined. The diagnoses of the genus and of the species are complemented by a key and by figures of the mouthparts, primary and secondary sexual characters, and further distinguishing characters. The biogeographical data available suggest that all the species of Ilyobates are Pontomediterranean faunal elements. Based on measurements of various body parts, intraspecific morphological variation is assessed and found to be enormous. As can be concluded from field studies and collection data, species of Ilyobates are monovoltine, with reproduction taking place in spring and summer. The adult beetles overwinter in a cryptic habitat. The life histories and possible explanations for the pronounced intraspecific variation of the species of Ilyobates are discussed.

Keywords

Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae, Oxypodini, Ilyobates, Pyroglossa, Gennadota, Palaearctic region, Europe, taxonomy, biogeography, ecology, intraspecific variation, life history, new species, new synonymy, new combination, lectotype designation.

Nomenclatural Acts

haroldi Ihssen, 1934 (Ilyobates), Lectotype now a synonym of Ilyobates nigricollis (Paykull, 1800)
hölzeli Scheerpeltz, 1947 (Ilyobates), syn. n. of Ilyobates nigricollis (Paykull, 1800)
hustachi Méquignon, 1933 (Ilyobates), syn. n. of Ilyobates mech (Baudi, 1848)
mirabillis Assing, 1999 (Ilyobates), spec. n.
pseudomech Lohse, 1994 (Ilyobates), syn. n. of Ilyobates mech (Baudi, 1848)
rufus Kraatz, 1856 (Ilyobates), Lectotype now a synonym of Ilyobates propinquus (Aubé, 1850)
subopacus Palm, 1935 (Ilyobates), Lectotype now a synonym of Ilyobates bennetti Donisthorpe, 1914
deubeli Bernhauer, 1902 (Ilyobates nigricollis), syn. n. of Ilyobates nigricollis (Paykull, 1800)
canadensis (Casey, 1906) (Pyroglossa), comb. n. hitherto Gennadota canadensis
puberula (Casey, 1893) (Pyroglossa), comb. n. hitherto Callicerus puberulus