Xanthopygoides niger Cameron, 1951 (Xanthopygina) belongs to the genus Philonthus Stephens, 1829 (Philonthina): systematic and nomenclatural changes for the African Staphylinini (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Staphylininae, Staphylinini)

Abstract

A poorly known African species Xanthopygoides niger (Cameron, 195 1), hitherto a member of a monotypic genus of the subtribe Xanthopygina, is transferred to the subgenus Raucalius Tottenham, 1949 of the genus Philonthus Stephens, 1829, subtribe Philonthina, and redescribed. The new genus-group synonymy, Raucalius Tottenham, 1951 = Xanthopygoides Verdcourt, 1952, is established. A new combination Philonthus niger (Cameron, 1951), preoccupied by Philonthus niger (O. Muller, 1764) which is a synonym of Philonthus splendens (Fabricius, 1793), is replaced by a new name Philonthus neoniger Solodovnikov nom. nov. Diagnostic characters of the genus Philonthus, and the Staphylinini subtribes Xanthopygina and Philonthina are discussed