Philonthus discoideus (Gravenhorst)

Aballay, Fernando H., Chani-Posse, Mariana R., Ayón, María Rosana, Maldonado, María Belén & Centeno, Néstor D., 2014, An illustrated key to and diagnoses of the species of Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) associated with decaying carcasses in Argentina, Zootaxa 3860 (2), pp. 101-124 : 116-117

Philonthus discoideus (Gravenhorst)

( Figs. 14 , 53 )

Diagnosis (based on Chani-Posse 2010). Philonthus discoideus may be identified by the head black, thorax castaneous-brunneous, elytra castaneous-piceous to castaneous-brunneous with medial and apical margins lighter and the abdominal segments castaneous-piceous, the eyes moderately longer than temples seen from above, and the distance separating medial interocular punctures on frons about four times as large as distance separating medial punctures from lateral punctures. It differs from other southern South American species of Philonthus by the abdominal terga 2 and 3 with elevated area between basal lines punctuate, and the posterior basal line straight medially. Length 5.0–6.0 mm.

Distribution. Philonthus discoideus is a Palearctic species, currently cosmopolitan and adventive in South America through Cuba ( Smetana 1995; Chani-Posse 2010).

Bionomics. This species has been found to occur in habitats associated with human settlements, cattle droppings and other organic debris ( Smetana 1995).

Figures

FIGURE 13 – 24. Habitus: 13, Philonthus quadraticeps Boheman; 14, P. discoideus (Gravenhorst); 15, P. bicoloristylus Chani- Posse; 16, P. bruchianus Chani-Posse; 17, P. flavolimbatus Erichson; 18, P. bonariensis Bernhauer; 19, P. longicornis Stephens; 20, P. argus Herman; 21, Styngetus viduus (Erichson); 22, Xenopygus analis (Erichson); 23, Nordus elytisi Chatzimanolis; 24, Oligotergus ogloblini Bernhauer.

FIGURE 52 – 59. Head: 52, Philonthus quadraticeps; 53, P. discoideus; 54, P. bicoloristylus. Pronotum: 55, P. bicoloristylus; 56, P. bonariensis; 57, Philonthus quadraticeps. 58, 59. Pronotal hypomeron: 58, Xenopygus analis; 59, Oligotergus ogloblini. Abbreviations: 1 – 5, punctures on dorsal rows of pronotum; Pcp, postcoxal process.