Revision of the Quedius fauna of Middle Asia (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Staphylininae)

Abstract

Twenty eight species of the genus Quedius from Middle Asia comprising Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, are revised. Quedius altaicus Korge, 1962, Q. capitalis Eppelsheim, 1892, Q. fusicornis Luze, 1904, Q. solskyi Luze, 1904 and Q. cohaesus Eppelsheim, 1888 are redescribed. The following new synonymies are established: Q. solskyi Luze, 1904 = Q. asiaticus Bernhauer, 1918, syn. n.; Q. cohaesus Eppelsheim, 1888 = Q. turkmenicus Coiffait, 1969, syn. n., = Q. afghanicus Coiffait, 1977, syn. n.; Q. hauseri Bernhauer, 1918 = Q. peneckei Bernhauer, 1918, syn. n., = Q. ouzbekiscus Coiffait, 1969, syn. n.; Q. imitator Luze, 1904 = Q. tschinganensis Coiffait, 1969, syn. n.; Q. novus Eppelsheim, 1892 = Q. dzambulensis Coiffait, 1967, syn. n., Q. pseudonigriceps Reitter, 1909 = Q. kirklarensis Korge, 1971, syn. n. Lectotypes are designated for Q. asiaticus Bernhauer, 1918, Q. fusicornis Luze, 1904, Q. hauseri Bernhauer, 1918, Q. imitator Luze, 1904, Q. novus Eppelsheim, 1892 and Q. solskyi Luze, 1904. For all revised species, taxonomy, distribution and bionomics are summarized. Quedius fuliginosus (Gravenhorst, 1802), Q. sundukovi Smetana, 2003 and Q. pseudonigriceps Reitter, 1909 are recorded for Middle Asia for the first time. One species from the Q. coloratus-group, found to be new to science is not described due to shortage of material. Another possibly new species is tentatively identified as Q. fulvicollis Stephens, 1833 until the taxonomy of that widespread species is revised. An identification key to all species is provided.