A revision of Ceranota Stephens, subgenus of Aleochara Gravenhorst (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae).

Abstract

Types and additional material of the species of the Aleochara subgenus Ceranota Stephens, 1839 are revised. In all, 30 species are recognised, including four species of doubtful status, whose type material is either lost or inaccessible, or whose male sexual characters are unknown. The known distribution of the subgenus is confined to the Western Palaearctic region, eastwards to Afghanistan. Diagnoses of the subgenus, as well as of the individual species are provided. The following synonymies are proposed: Aleochara penicillata Peyerimhoff, 1901 = A. caprae Gridelli, 1922, syn. n. = A. meschniggi Bernhauer, 1943, syn. n.; A. strasseri Bernhauer, 1901 = A. matzenaueri Rambousek, 1907, syn. n. Aleochara conviva Eppelsheim, 1878, previously a synonym of A. lurida Motschulsky, 1860, and A. consors Eppelsheim, 1890, previously a synonym of A. adusta Eppelsheim, 1890, are revalidated. Aleochara tuberiventris Kraatz, 1859 is excluded from the subgenus. Neotypes are designated for Aleochara ruficornis Gravenhorst, 1802, A. erythroptera Gravenhorst, 1806, A. major Fairmaire, 1858, A. caprae Gridelli, 1922, and A. matzenaueri Rambousek, 1907. Lectotypes are designated for Aleochara diversicollis Fauvel, 1900, A. melichari (Reitter, 1889), A. meschniggi Bernhauer, 1943, A. opacina Fauvel, 1900, A. adusta Eppelsheim, 1890, A. consors Eppelsheim, 1890, and A. libanica Eppelsheim, 1889. Four species are described and illustrated for the first time: Aleochara (Ceranota) virilis sp. n. (Russia: Adygeya), A. (C.) claviculata sp. n. (NE-Turkey), A. (C.) sarica sp. n. (Iran: Mazandaran), and A. (C.) feldmanni sp. n. (Afghanistan). Zoogeographic and bionomic data are compiled. Additional records of Ceranota species are reported, among them numerous new country records. The distributions of eight species are mapped. A key to species and a catalogue are provided.

Keywords

Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae, Aleochara, Ceranota, Palaearctic region, taxonomy, new species, revalidation, new synonymies, descriptions, redescriptions, neotype designations, lectotype designations, distribution, new records.

Nomenclatural Acts

lurida Motschulsky, 1860 (Aleochara), Lectotype now a synonym of Aleochara (Ceranota) subtumida (Hochhuth, 1849)
tuberiventris Kraatz, 1859 (Aleochara), Lectotype; stat. rev. excluded from the subgenus Ceranota
adusta Eppelsheim, 1890 (Aleochara (Ceranota)), Lectotype
caprae Gridelli, 1922 (Aleochara (Ceranota)), Neotype; syn. n. of Aleochara (Ceranota) penicillata Peyerimhoff, 1901
claviculata Assing, 2009 (Aleochara (Ceranota)), spec. n.
consors Eppelsheim, 1890 (Aleochara (Ceranota)), Lectotype; stat. rev. hitherto ba synonym of Aleochara (Ceranota) adusta Eppelsheim, 1890
conviva Eppelsheim, 1878 (Aleochara (Ceranota)), stat. rev. hitherto a synonym of Aleochara (Ceranota) lurida Motschulsky, 1860
diversicollis Fauvel, 1900 (Aleochara (Ceranota)), Lectotype
erythroptera Gravenhorst, 1806 (Aleochara (Ceranota)), Neotype
feldmanni Assing, 2009 (Aleochara (Ceranota)), spec. n.
libanica Eppelsheim, 1889 (Aleochara (Ceranota)), Lectotype
major Fairmaire, 1858 (Aleochara (Ceranota)), Neotype
matzenaueri Rambousek, 1907 (Aleochara (Ceranota)), Neotype; syn. n. of Aleochara (Ceranota) strasseri Bernhauer, 1901
melichari (Reitter, 1889) (Aleochara (Ceranota)), Lectotype described as Ceranota melichari
meschniggi Bernhauer, 1943 (Aleochara (Ceranota)), Lectotype; syn. n. of Aleochara (Ceranota) penicillata Peyerimhoff, 1901
opacina Fauvel, 1900 (Aleochara (Ceranota)), Lectotype
ruficornis Gravenhorst, 1802 (Aleochara (Ceranota)), Neotype
sarica Assing, 2009 (Aleochara (Ceranota)), spec. n.
virilis Assing, 2009 (Aleochara (Ceranota)), spec. n.