Tribe Euplectini Streubel, 1839

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Regional Maps

• Euplectini Streubel, 1839.

  Type genus:

   Eupectus Leach, 1817.

Introduction

The Euplectini form an apparent monophyletic group, based on the ventral form of the seventh visible segment (IX) of the males: sternite IX (the penial plate) is lost, and the lateral sclerites [tergites IX] are expanded and meet broadly at the middle. The genera of Euplectini also share a similar pattern of mesosternal foveae, visible tergites 1 (IV) and usually 2 (V) have mediobasal foveae and discal carinae, the aedeagus has fused parameres that form a flared ventral plate, and an elongate body with parallel sides is typical of almost all members. All other subtribes that were formerly placed in the Euplectini are here placed in the Trichonychini, leaving the Euplectini without any further subdivisions (Chandler 2001: 56).

World genera included are: Acolonia Casey, Afroplectus Jeannel, Anomoplectus Jeannel, Austroeuplectus Chandler, Bothriocephalotes Leleup, Coptoplectus Leleup, Dissemoplectus Jeannel, Dorrigo Chandler, Euplectamecia Park, Euplectus Leach, Labroplectus Kurbatov, Leptoplectus Casey, Mitrametopus Raffray, Okella Chandler, Phthartomerus Sawada, Protoplectus Leleup, Pycnoplectus Casey, Seleneuplectus Jeannel, and Tyxs Chandler.

Diagnosis

Head usually bluntly triangular to elongate, rarely transverse; genae sometimes covered with dense beard of setae, frequently with setae short and sparse; antennomeres I shorter than next two combined, never geniculate at junction between first and second antennomeres. Prosternum convex, never laterally impressed to receive swollen genae of head when head deflexed. Elytra with apicolateral cleft. Basic mesosternal foveal pattern: median mesosternal foveae widely separated to chose and sharing a single opening; lateral mesosternal foveae simple, apices widely separated. Abdomen with small paratergites adjacent to visible tergite 4 (VII). Males lacking penial plate (sternite IX), seventh visible ventral segment with two large sclerites broadly meeting at middle (tergites IX). Legs with posterior tarsal claws reduced, spiniform to setiform. Aedeagus with parameres fused into a flared ventral plate that is constricted at the junction with the median lobe.

ID Keys

Key to genera of Australian Euplectini (Chandler 2001: 57).

Key to Genera.

1. Elytra lacking basal foveae; pronotum lacking lateral antebasal foveae … 2

Elytra with 2-4 basal foveae; pronotum with lateral antebasal foveae distinct … 3

2. (1) Head lacking vertexal foveae; pronotum with lateral margins evenly convergent toward base, with median antebasal fovea (Fig. 34) … Dorrigo Chandler

Head with vertexal foveae; pronotum with lateral margins abruptly constricted and with tooth near base, lacking antebasal foveae (Fig. 36) … Okella Chandler

3. (2) Pronotum with antebasal sulcus distinct, lateral margins of pronotum evenly convergent from middle to base, lacking tooth (Fig. 35) … Euplectus Leach

Pronotum lacking antebasal sulcus, surface smoothly convex between antebasal foveae; lateral margins with tooth adjacent to lateral antebasal foveae (Fig. 33) … 4

4. (3) Pronotal disc with elongate fovea or impression; head with lateral arms of vertexal sulcus parallel to frontal rostrum; pronotum with tooth on lateral margins adjacent to lateral antebasal foveae, lacking tooth or angulation near middle of lateral margins (Fig. 33) … Austroeuplectus Chandler

Pronotal disc convex; head with lateral arms of vertexal sulcus convergent to near frontal rostrum; pronotum often with tooth or angulation near middle of lateral margins (Fig. 37) … Tyxs Chandler

Diagnosis References

Chandler, D.S. 2001. Biology, morphology, and systematics of the ant-like litter beetle genera of Australia (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae). Gainesville, FL : Memoirs on Entomology, International Vol. 15 viii + 560 pp. [Date published 30 April 2001] [55]

Jeannel, R. 1959. Révision des Psélaphides de l'Afrique intertropicale. Annales du Musée Royal du Congo Belge, Tervuren 8, Zool. 75: 1-742 [144]

General References

Chandler, D.S. 2001. Biology, morphology, and systematics of the ant-like litter beetle genera of Australia (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae). Gainesville, FL : Memoirs on Entomology, International Vol. 15 viii + 560 pp. [Date published 30 April 2001]

History of changes