Tribe Tmesiphorini Jeannel, 1949

Museums

Regional Maps

• Tmesiphorini Jeannel, R. 1949. Les Psélaphides de l'Afrique Orientale (Coleoptera). Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris [1936-1950] 29: 1-226 [202].

  Type genus:

   Tmesiphorus LeConte, 1849.

Introduction

The Tmesiphorini holds 28 genera, with sixteen of these found only in Africa, and all but one of the rest being found in the Oriental and Australian Regions, or Japan (1) and China (1). Only the widespread genus Tmesiphorus LeConte is found in the New World, with two species occurring in North America. Seven genera are now found in Australia, with 3 of these (Edocranes Sharp, Jardine Chandler, and Tyrocarius Chandler) known only from Australia.

The Tmesiphorini may be characterized by the derived features of the setose, semicircular sulci that partially surround the bases of the antennal insertions (lost in Jardine), the apical looped notch at the metasternal apex, and the protibiae are usually arcuate and the profemora robust with a ventral brush of setae often present on both leg segments (Chandler 2001: 464).

Diagnosis

Body with aciculate setae, setae thick in a few areas such as posterior to eyes, lacking squamous setae; head and pronotum often coarsely punctate. Head with lateral postantennal pits modified into setose semicircular sulci that partially encircle insertions of antennal scapes (sulci reduced or lost in a few genera) (Fig. 24); lacking ocular-mandibular carinae; clypeal apex evenly arcuate, lateral margins relatively straight posteriorly to eyes; carinate clypeal apex extending posteriorly as gular-mandibular carinae ventral to eyes in some genera; maxillary palpi usually with third and/or fourth segments angulate and often bearing lateral spines, second segments often bearing lateral spines; lacking median gular carina. Pronotum lacking antebasal sulcus; lacking paranotal carinae. Metasternal apex with deep looped notch. Abdomen with paratergites accompanying visible tergite 4 (VII); tergite 1 (IV) and visible sternite 2 (IV) deeply sulcate at base. Legs with protibiae thickened medially and curved; tarsi with third tarsomeres as long as or longer than preceding two tarsomeres combined; tarsi with 2 claws, posterior claws reduced in Pseudophanias Raffray.

ID Keys

Key to Australian genera of Tmesiphorini (Chandler 2001: 465).

1. Third segments of maxillary palpi small, about one-fourth length of fourth segments, palpal segments lacking lateral spines or angular projections (Figs.171, 208) … Stethotaphrus Newton and Chandler

Third segments of maxillary palpi about as long as or longer than fourth segments, at least third segments with lateral spines or angulations, spines may be small (Figs. 168, 173) … 2

2. (1) Maxillary palpi small, third segments each with small erect spine on lateral margin; visible abdominal tergites 1-3 (IV-VI) with broad discal carinae; paratergites of these tergites enlarged and lobed laterally, divided longitudinally by sulci (Fig. 168) … Eudranes Sharp

Maxillary palpi larger, third segments with distinct lateral spines or angular lobes; discal carinae of visible tergites narrow when present; paratergites not enlarged or lobed … 3

3. (2) Fourth segments of maxillary palpi spindle-shaped, lacking lateral lobes or spines, second and third segments with lateral spines; abdominal tergites lacking discal carinae (Fig. 174) … Tyrocarius Chandler

Fourth segments of maxillary palpi with lateral spines or broadly rounded lobes (Fig. 173); discal carinae present or absent on abdominal tergites … 4

4. (3) Fourth segments of maxillary palpi elongate and triangular, with lateral spine at middles; second and third palpal segments also with lateral spines (Fig. 170) … Raphitreus Sharp

Fourth segments of maxillary palpi smoothly curved laterally, shallowly to broadly lobed on lateral margins … 5

5. (4) Second and third segments of maxillary palpi with lateral spines; pronotal disc broadly rounded or with rounded hump anterior to median antebasal fovea; abdominal tergites 1-2 (IV-V) with discal carinae of varying lengths (Fig. 173) … Tmesiphorus LeConte

Third segments of maxillary palpi acutely angulate on lateral margins, second segments lacking lateral spines; pronotal disc with blunt tubercle anterior to median antebasal fovea; abdominal tergites lacking discal carinae … 6

6. (5) Head lacking semicircular sulci below antennal bases; antennal clubs feebly formed by slightly enlarged antennomeres XI (Fig. 169) … Jardine Chandler

Head with distinct semicircular sulci partially encircling antennal bases; antennal clubs formed by apical 3 antennomeres (Fig. 172) … Syntectodes Reitter

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] [464]

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