Taxonomy of the Mexican species of Belonuchus Nordmann (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae).

Belonuchus is a diverse genus in the subtribe Philonthina (subfamily Staphylininae, tribe Staphylinini), with some of its species being frequently collected. For the majority of the Mexican species of Belonuchus, little or no taxonomic information has been reported after their original description. For this reason, the Mexican species of Belonuchus were taxonomically revised based on the study of specimens deposited in several Mexican and international collections. We propose eight species groups to accommodate the Mexican species, five of them supported by one unique diagnostic character. Keys to species groups and species in each group, together with photos and drawings of diagnostic structures, are included. Redescriptions of the 29 known species, descriptions of 16 new species, with information about intraspecific variation in terms of secondary sexual dimorphism and size, two new country records (Mexico and Guatemala) and 26 new state records are also included. We propose B. xanthopus Solsky, 1868 and B. celatus (Sharp, 1885) as new synonyms of B. connexus (Say, 1830); B. iteratus (Sharp, 1887) as a new synonym of B. xanthomelas Solsky, 1868; B. latecinctus (Sharp, 1885) as a new synonym of B. iridescens Solsky, 1868; and B. mexicanus Solsky, 1864 as a new synonym of B. viridipennis Baudi di Selve, 1848. Lectotypes were designated for: Belonuchus cariniventris Bernhauer, 1918; Philonthus trochanterinus Sharp, 1885; Philonthus zunilensis Sharp, 1885; Belonuchus jalappensis Bernhauer, 1917; Philonthus iteratus Sharp, 1887; Belonuchus nigerrimus Bernhauer, 1918; and Belonuchus pectinipes Bernhauer, 1910. The Mexican species of Belonuchus are mostly recorded from cloud forest (60%), oak forest (51.1%) and oak-pine forest (46.6%).

Coleoptera in the Canopy of the Cloud Forest From Tlanchinol in the State of Hidalgo, Mexico.

We describe the biodiversity, seasonal variation, and the possible edge effect of Coleoptera found in the canopy of the cloud forest in Tlanchinol in the state of Hidalgo. The coleopterans were collected by means of three fogging events during the dry season and another three during the rainy season in three sites of the forest: the edge, an intermediate, and an internal site. In total, 3,487 coleopterans were collected, belonging to 325 morphospecies from 52 families. The family with the largest number of morphospecies and abundance was Staphylinidae, followed by Curculionidae and Chrysomelidae. Species richness and abundance were higher in the dry season than in the rainy season. The biodiversity analyses, however, suggest that the rainy season showed the highest biodiversity levels, mainly because of the pronounced dominance of some species in the dry season. Species composition was different between the dry and rainy seasons. The internal site showed the lowest biodiversity compared with the intermediate and edge sites. The main edge effect detected was that species composition in the edge site differed from the intermediate and internal sites. Species composition did not differ significantly between the two latter sites. These results suggest that the study zone had a considerable level of biodiversity of Coleoptera and that it was very likely in a well-preserved condition, which supports the findings of another study previously performed in the same site using flight intercept traps.

Taxonomy of the Mexican species of Thyreocephalus Guérin-Méneville Coleoptera: Staphylinidae, Xantholinini).

Mexican species of Thyreocephalus were analyzed taxonomically based on review of 125 specimens in eight entomological collections. We propose that T. dugesi (Casey, 1906) could be a junior synonym of T. scutellaris (Sharp, 1885), but refrain from formal changes until the types can be examined. Thyreocephalus arizonicus Smetana, 1982 is recorded for the first time from Mexico in the states of Estado de México, Jalisco and Morelos. Currently nine species are recorded from Mexico, which is the most species-rich country on the American continent. Five closely related species are included in the "puncticeps" species group recognized and proposed here. A key for species, supported with illustrations of the principal diagnostic structures is provided, as well as redescriptions or diagnoses, and taxonomic discussions for each species. Recognized distribution patterns are briefly discussed.

New national and state records of Neotropical Staphylinidae (Insecta: Coleoptera).

Eighteen new national records of nine species of Osoriinae (Staphylinidae) are added for 10 Neotropical countries. Additionally, 17 species of three subfamilies are first recorded from ten States of México. The distributional patterns of the studied species are commented and the congruence with species of different families of Coleoptera and Odonata previously analyzed is discussed. Finally, we conclude that some of these patterns can be proposed as hypothesis of primary biogeographic homology.

[Taxonomical comments on Oxyporus flohri Sharp (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) and first record of the species from Hidalgo State, Mexico]. / Comentarios taxonómicos sobre Oxyporus flohri Sharp (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) y primer registro de la especie para el Estado de Hidalgo, México.

Oxyporus flohri Sharp is recorded for the fi rst time from Hidalgo State, Mexico. The description and illustration of the aedeagus of this species based on four specimens (three males and one female) is provided for the first time. The geographic distribution, the general morphometric variation of the specimens from Hidalgo State and the intraspecific color variation based on the specimens recently collected, and the information of previous publications are included. Additionally, biological information over this species is included.

Comentarios taxonómicos sobre Oxyporus flohri Sharp (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) y primer registro de la especie para el Estado de Hidalgo, México / Taxonomical comments on Oxyporus flohri Sharp (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) and first record of the species from Hidalgo State, Mexico

Se registra por primera vez para el estado de Hidalgo a Oxyporus flohri Sharp. Se colectaron cuatro ejemplares (tres machos y una hembra) que permitieron describir y esquematizar por primera vez el edéago de esta especie. Se proporciona la distribución geográfica, la variación morfométrica general de los ejemplares de Hidalgo y la variación de color intraespecífica con base en los ejemplares recientemente colectados y la información de los trabajos antecedentes. Además se proporciona información biológica sobre esta especie.

Oxyporus flohri Sharp is recorded for the fi rst time from Hidalgo State, Mexico. The description and illustration of the aedeagus of this species based on four specimens (three males and one female) is provided for the first time. The geographic distribution, the general morphometric variation of the specimens from Hidalgo State and the intraspecific color variation based on the specimens recently collected, and the information of previous publications are included. Additionally, biological information over this species is included.