Loncovilius, Germain, 1903

Reyes-Hernández, José L., Hansen, Aslak Kappel, Shaw, Josh Jenkins & Solodovnikov, Alexey, 2024, Phylogeny-based taxonomic revision and niche modelling of the rove beetle genus Loncovilius Germain, 1903 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (Zool. J. Linn. Soc.) 202 (1), pp. 1-42 : 24-25

Key to the species of Loncovilius

1. Head transverse, round in outline; disc with coarse non-setiferous punctures (Fig. 7C); postmandibular ridge distinctly separated from eye margin; PMP conspicuous (Fig. 8E); mandibles with a shallow dorso-lateral groove; right mandible with distal tooth bifid; left mandible only with proximal, non-bifid tooth. Abdominal tergites III–V with two patches of setiferous punctures separated by an impunctate area (Fig. 9A); second gonocoxite without macrosetae (Fig. 9F)..................................2

- Head about as wide as long or elongate, its outline mostly longitudinally elliptical; disc without coarse non-setiferous punctures (Fig. 7D, E); postmandibular ridge situated very close to eye margin; PMP reduced and hard to see (Fig. 8F); mandibles without dorso-lateral groove; right mandible with distal tooth not bifid; left mandible with proximal and distal teeth, the latter not bifid, short and truncated, space between proximal and distal teeth rough. Abdominal tergites III–V not as described above; second gonocoxite with at least one macroseta (Fig. 9G, H) ................................................................................4

2. Disc of head without microsculpture; antennal insertions situated closer to frontoclypeus than to eye. Aedeagus as in Figure 10A–C........................................................................................................................................ Loncovilius germaini ( Scheerpeltz, 1933)

- Disc of head with microsculpture; antennal insertions situated at equal distance to frontoclypeus and to the eye, or closer to the eye. Aedeagus not as above ....................................................................................................................................................................3

3. Microsculpture on dorsal surface of head meshed to isodiametric. Pronotum and elytral disc with few and scattered coarse non-setiferous punctures. Aedeagus as in Figure 10G, H ................................................................. Loncovilius impunctus sp. nov.

- Microsculpture on dorsal surface of head as transverse waves. Pronotum and elytral disc with conspicuous coarse non-setiferous punctures. Aedeagus as in Figure 10D–F........................................................................... Loncovilius hammondi sp. nov.

4. Head: nuchal ridge present dorsally and laterally. Abdomen: tergites III and IV with more than three rows of punctures, anterior half punctate (Fig. 9B, E) ...................................................................................................................................................................5

- Head: nuchal ridge missing dorsally, present laterally. Abdomen: tergites III and IV with less than three rows of punctures, anterior half impunctate (Fig. 9C, D).........................................................................................................................................................7

5. Protibia in both sexes without a row of thick laterodorsal spines; first metatarsomere shorter than fifth or at most both tarsomeres subequal. Abdominal tergites III and IV with several rows of sparse and fine punctures of moderate density (Fig. 9B); sternite III with basal transverse carina strongly arcuate; aedeagus as in Figure 10I–K ........................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... Loncovilius variabilis sp. nov.

- Protibia with a row of thick laterodorsal spines present at least in females; first metatarsomere moderately longer than fifth. Abdominal tergites III and IV with several rows of punctures of moderate size and density (Fig. 9E); sternite III with basal transverse carina projecting medially in a sharp or obtuse angle; aedeagus not as above ...............................................................6

6. Pronotum rarely with additional paired punctures adjacent to anterior marginal row of setiferous punctures (Fig. 8A). Abdominal sternite III with basal transverse carina sharply pointed medioapically; aedeagus as in Figure 11G, H ........................ ........................................................................................................................... Loncovilius lividipennis ( Fairmaire and Germain, 1862)

- Pronotum always with additional paired punctures adjacent to anterior marginal row of setiferous punctures (Fig. 8A). Abdominal sternite III with basal transverse carina evenly converging at an obtuse angle; aedeagus as in Figure 11I, J .......................................................................................................................................................................... Loncovilius carlsbergi sp. nov.

7. Head and pronotum microsculpture consisting of isodiametric meshes. Head elongate. Pronotum without sublateral setiferous punctures. Males: aedeagus, paramere strongly produced over apex of median lobe. Females: second gonocoxite with three or more macrosetae (Fig. 9G) ...........................................................................................................................................................8

- Head and pronotum with very fine microsculpture of long transverse and diagonal waves. Head about as wide as long. Pronotum with sublateral setiferous punctures. Males: aedeagus, paramere slightly shorter or produced over apex of median lobe. Females: second gonocoxite with one or two macrosetae (Fig. 9H).........................................................................................9

8. Head with small setiferous punctures between frontoclypeal and anterior frontal punctures. Pronotum outline evenly curved. Protibia with a row of thick laterodorsal spines only in females. Elytra rarely with weak bright metallic iridescence .................................................................................................................................................................... Loncovilius cantharoides sp. nov.

- Head without small setiferous punctures between frontoclypeal and anterior frontal punctures. Pronotum outline hexagonal. Protibia in both sexes without a row of thick laterodorsal spines. Elytra with bright greenish, bluish, or purplish metallic iridescence (Figs 1A, 6A)......................................................................................... Loncovilius edwardsianus (Korge, 1963)

9 Elytra with brown-black marking around mesoscutellum and on suture (Fig. 6D). All femora reddish-brown. Male sternite IX without median emargination at apex; male tergite X trilobed (Fig.12H); aedeagus as in Figure 11D–F .............................. ............................................................................................................................................................................ Loncovilius barclayi sp. nov.

- Elytra without dark mark around mesoscutellum and on suture. All femora yellow or yellowish-brown; male sternite IX with median emargination at apex; male tergite X emarginate medio-apically (Fig. 12G); aedeagus as in Figure 11A–C ............................................................................................................................. Loncovilius semiflavus ( Fairmaire and Germain, 1862)