Megalinus flavocinctus ( Hochhuth, 1849 ) Hochhuth, 1849

Assing, Volker, 2007, On the Xantholinini of Turkey and adjacent regions (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae), Zootaxa 1474, pp. 1-54 : 44-45

Megalinus flavocinctus ( Hochhuth, 1849) , comb. n.

Material examined. GREECE: mainland: 1 ex., 15 km ESE Kastoria, 4 km S Germas, 2.VI.1989, leg. Kanaar (cSch); Pelopónnisos: 1 ex., "Kyparissia", 5.–10.V.1956, leg. Schubert ( NHMW); Corfou: 1 ex., Paleokastritsa, 0 m, ruderal meadow, 14.X.1987 (cAss); Crete: 1 ex., Geogioupouli, 24.–25.VI.1995, leg. Jaeger (cSch); 1 ex., Rethimni, ca. 1.5 km S Kanevos, Kotsifos cleft, 35°14'N, 24°24'E, 440 m, 20.X.2006, leg. Schülke (cSch). BULGARIA: 1 ex., Burgas, 27.V.1984, leg. Wrase (cSch). TURKEY: Istanbul: 1 ex., Alem Daġı, Polonezköyü, chestnut forest, 10.VI.1966, leg. Ressl (cAss); Çanakkale: 2 exs., 25 km S Kumkale, Beşik Koyu ["Besika Bay", ca. 39°49'N, 26°10'E], leg. Walker ( BMNH); Samsun: 1 ex., 17 km N Çarşamba beach, 19.V.1989, leg. Kanaar (cSch); Gümü ş hane: 1 ex., ca. 12 km NE Gümüşhane, ca. 40°31'N, 39°33'E, 1300 m, 12.VI.1998, leg. Solodovnikov (cAss); Izmir: 1ex., "Smyrna" ( BMNH); Antalya: 1 ex., Kemer, 21.V.1991, leg. Schmid ( NHMW); Mersin: 1 ex., Silifke, V.1967, leg. Schubert (cAss); 1 ex., Çamlıyayla, 11.IV.1966 ( NHMW); 1 ex., Çamlıyayla, 10.V.–3.VI.1963, leg. Schubert (cAss); 1 ex., N Mersin, 11.V.1969, leg. Wewalka ( BMNH); Antakya: 6 exs., Yayladaġı, 450 m, 17.V.1973, leg. Schubert ( NHMW, cAss); 5 exs., Yayladaġı, 22.V.1987, leg. Schönmann & Schillhammer ( NHMW, cAss); 2 exs., Arsuz, 15.–16.IV.1966 ( NHMW); 3 exs., Iskenderun, 7.–9.IV.1960, leg. Petrowitz & Ressl ( NHMW, cAss); 7 exs., E Belen pass, Bakras river, 22.V.1987, leg. Schönmann & Schillhammer ( NHMW); 1 ex., Antakya env., Karaçay, Asi Nehri river valley, 7.V.2005, leg. Vávra (cVav); Gaziantep: 2 exs., N Birecik, east bank of Euphrat, 37°04'N, 37°58'E, 360 m, 24.IV.2004, leg. Brachat & Meybohm (cAss). CYPRUS: 1 ex., Polis, 20.IV.1981, leg. Besuchet (cAss); 3 exs., 5 km N Dhekelia, horse dung, 20.–22.III.1995, leg. Schröder (cSch). SYRIA: 6 exs., 25 km SE Latakia, Qardaha, 2.V.1982, leg. Dvořák (cSch); 1 ex., Homs, X.1939, leg. Boitel (cTro). LEBA- NON: 1 ex., Tripoli, 30.IV.1975, leg. Besuchet (cAss); 1 ex., Jounie, Beskinta, 1100–1500 m, 16.V.2000, leg. Sama ( SMNS). ISRAEL: 10 exs., Upper Galilee, S Ziv'on, 33°01'N, 35°25'E, 750 m, open stony pasture, dolomite, 28.–29.IV.2006, leg. Wrase (cAss, cSch); 2 exs., same data, but leg. Aßmann ( TAUI, cFel); 1 ex., Upper Galilee, Har Avivim, 33°05'N, 35°30'E, 770 m, 21.IV.2006, leg. Aßmann (cFel); 1 ex., Upper Galilee, Mt. Meron, Sasa, 700 m, V.1996, leg. Sama (cAss); 1 ex. [det. Feldmann], Upper Galilee, Hurfeish, 33°01'N, 35°21'E, 625 m, 13.XI.2005 ( TAU); 1 ex. [det. Feldmann], same data, but 27.X.2005 ( TAU); 4 exs., Eilon, N. Betzet, 22.IV.1982, leg. Besuchet & Löbl (cAss); 1 ex., Mevasseret, 30.IV.1982, leg. Besuchet & Löbl (cAss).

Comment. This species is widespread and not uncommon especially in the eastern parts of the Mediterranean. According to Herman (2001) and Smetana (2004) it had not been reported from Israel. Due to their overall similarity and some character overlap, a separation of female M. flavocinctus and M. scutellaris is not easy. The puncturation of the abdomen, which is distinctly sparser (interstices much wider than diameter of punctures) in M. flavocinctus than in M. scutellaris proved to be the most reliable distinguishing character.