Dinaraea Thomson, 1858: 33

Klimaszewski, Jan, Webster, Reginald P., Langor, David W., Caroline Bourdon, & Jacobs, Jenna, 2013, Review of Canadian species of the genus Dinaraea Thomson, with descriptions of six new species (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae, Athetini), ZooKeys 327, pp. 65-101 : 66-67

Genus Dinaraea Thomson, 1858: 33

Type species.

Homalota aequata Erichson, 1837.

Diagnosis.

Body subparallel, flattened, integument with distinct meshed microsculpture, punctation distinct; head large, subquadrate to slightly elongate, genae usually longer than eyes, suborbital carina absent; clypeus long, nearly horizontal, not depressed as in other genera of Athetini ; mandibles strong and slightly curved apically, left one with smooth edge and right one with small subapical tooth in apical third on inner edge; maxillary palpus 4-segmented, basal segment small and apical segment short and needle-shaped; lacinia and galea moderately elongate, lacinia with fringe of long hairs subapically; labial palpus 3-segmented; ligula V-shaped and each arm narrow; pronotum usually of trapezoidal form, usually widest in apical third, with pubescence at midline of disc directed posteriad in apical two-thirds, anteriad in basal third, and laterad at sides; elytra short, at suture as long as pronotum or only slightly longer; abdominal tergites 3-5 each with distinct basal impression; tarsal formula 4-5-5; male tergite VIII in majority of species with small teeth at apical margin and sometimes also in adjacent area of disc; median lobe of aedeagus with athetine bridge and of a simple form, with inconspicuous structures of internal sac; spermatheca with conical capsule and long slim stem coiled posteriorly.

Comments.

Based on the morphology of the male tergite VIII, two groups of species are recognized. One group, consisting of the majority of species, is characterized by tergite VIII bearing two-to-several small teeth on the apical margin. Species in the second group ( Dinaraea borealis , Dinaraea curtipenis , Dinaraea longipenis , Dinaraea planaris , Dinaraea subdepressa ), have tergite VIII truncate and without teeth on the apical margin.

Biology.

Many species are known from the subcortical galleries of other insects but their diet is unknown.