Three new genera and four new species of aleocharine staphylinids with unusually long mandibles from Australia (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae: Homalotini)

Abstract

This paper describes three distinctive, closely related, new genera and four species of Homalotini (Aleocharinae: Staphylinidae) characterized by extremely long slender, curved mandibles, very long slender and whip-like setae variously placed on the labrum, clypeus, or mentum; and similarities in the mouthparts, aedeagi and spermathecae. These new taxa are Eumecognathus new genus, type species E. tasmaniensis new species (type locality: SW Tasmania, Lower Gordon River); Siagotanyx new genus, type species 5. rufa new species (type locality: Tasmania, Lake St. Claire National Park) and Drepanomastax new genus, type species D. splendida new species (type locality: Australian National Territory, Mt. Ainslie). Also described is D. nitida new species (type locality: Tasmania, Liffey Forest Reserve). The systematic placement of the group within the aleocharine tribe Homalotini, and the logic for recognizing three genera among the available specimens are discussed. A key and illustrations of habitus and structural features are given for separation of the genera and species. Copyright © 2005 Magnolia Press.