Systematics and phylogeny of the Neotropical genera Pescolinus Sharp and Neopescolinus gen.n. (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

Abstract

A systematic revision and a phylogenetic analysis of the closely related Neotropical genera Pescolinus Sharp, 1885 and Neopescolinus gen.n. (Staphylininae: Staphylinini: Philonthina) are presented. Both genera are revised using characters of external morphology and male and female genitalia, with keys for identification, diagnoses, descriptions, illustrations, a phylogenetic analysis, and a distributional map. Eight valid species are recognized for Pescolinus: P. palmatus Sharp, P. schmidti Bierig and six new species, P. aeneus, P. cartagensis, P. costaricensis, P. montanus, P. moyae and P. varablanquesis. Neopescolinus gen.n., from Costa Rica, is described for one new species, N. nevermanni. Lectotype is designated for Pescolinus palmatus Sharp. The cladistic analysis shows Pescolinus as a monophyletic genus which forms together with Linoderus Sharp, Odontolinus Sharp and Neopescolinus a well supported clade that belongs to a natural group of Neotropical Philonthina.