Drusilla

Eldredge, Taro, 2012, Review of the Nearctic species of Drusilla Leach (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), Zootaxa 3300, pp. 45-54 : 52-53

Drusilla sp.

At the present time it is not possible to confidently distinguish D. nearctica and ashei other than by male genitalia.

It is of interest that the North Carolina series of Drusilla , hitherto described as D. ashei , all have an abdominal tergal macrochaetotaxy (segments II–VIII, excluding paratergites) of 2-4- 4-4-4-10 -6. Conversely, the Arkansas series, hitherto designated as D. nearctica , all have an abdominal tergal macrochaetotaxy of 2-4- 4-6-6-10 -6. This nearctica -macrochaetotaxy also applies to all female series from Oklahoma and three singleton female specimens from Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee.

It seems likely that Ashe (Newton et al. 2000) was referring to the above Oklahoma specimens as a third species. Overall color pattern and macrochaetotaxy would suggest that the Oklahoma series is conspecific with D. nearctica , but species of Drusilla tend to be externally cryptic (Maruyama, personal communication; personal observations) and a series containing both sexes is necessary to make any definitive conclusions.

Unidentifiable series of females are listed below to promote future work. Further collecting efforts must be made to understand morphological variation and species limits.

Material examined (11 ƤƤ). U.S.A.: Kentucky: “Ky Edmonsson Co./ 3 mi. E. Mammoth C./ VI-20-1987 / Buzzard Cave//Col. By/C. Krekeler/&J. Rittmann” (Ƥ; FMNH); Oklahoma: “OKLAHOMA: Latimer Co./ September 1981 /K. Stephan” (Ƥ; SEMC); same locality data but - VI-83 Karl Stephan” (Ƥ; SEMC); same locality data but “ XII-86 Karl Stephan” (2 ƤƤ; SEMC); same locality data but “ XII-1987 Karl Stephen (2 ƤƤ; SEMC); same locality data but “ III-1988 Karl Stephan” (2 ƤƤ; SEMC); South Carolina: “S. CAROLINA: Pickens /Co.; Table Rock/St. Pk. leg: W./Suter. VI:14:1973.//FM(HD)#73-228./WS#73-51a./litter at log u./laurel, upland.” (Ƥ, FMNH); Tennessee: “Burrville, Tenn./ 19-5-1956 /B. Benesh” (Ƥ, FMNH).