Megalopinus punctatus (ERICHSON, 1840)

Puthz, V., 2012, Über die neuweltlichen Megalopinus-Arten (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) (24. Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Megalopsidiinen), Linzer biologische Beiträge 44 (1), pp. 613-834 : 711-713

Key to the species of mixed group 3 ("- frons -complex") of the punctatus -group)

Most of the species can be only identified by the male sexual characters.

1 Elytra with a large reddish yellow area (fig. 105).: Head (fig. 50). Small: 2,9mm. Panama................................................................................................... bullatifrons nov.sp.

- Elytra otherwise, mostly larger species...............................................................................2

2 Elytra with a reddish yellow spot mediolaterally.: Sternite 7 with a small asymmetrical tooth apicomedially (fig. 148).......................................................................3

- Elytra otherwise.: posterior margin of sternite 7 simple.................................................4

3: E (as in fig. 388). 3.9-4.2mm (FB 2.4mm) Panama............................... miriceps nov.sp.

-: E (fig. 270). 4.1mm (FB 2.4mm) Panama....................................... stupendiceps nov.sp.

4 Frons, at least on posterior portion, finely and densely punctate........................................5

- Frons otherwise...................................................................................................................6

5 Frons with a narrow median carina posteromedially (fig. 43).: E (fig. 52, PUTHZ 1994a). 3.5mm. Brazil................................................................. brasiliensis (BERNHAUER)

- Frons with a ± deep impression posteromedially (fig. 56).: E (fig. 234). 3.0-3.9mm. Ecuador............................................................................................... punctulifrons nov.sp.

6 Each elytron with two reddish yellow spots.: Frons completely matt with a small elevated knot medially, E (fig. 255). 3,3mm. Brazil............................... opacifrons nov.sp.

- Elytra otherwise..................................................................................................................7

7 Elytra completely dark, darkbrown or black.......................................................................8

- Elytra each with one ± large reddish yellow spot..............................................................10

8: Frons with elevated teeth...............................................................................................9

-: Frons:: Frons with two small, deep impressions posteromedially (fig. 42). 2.6- 3.2mm. West Indies: Grenada.............................................................. bicavatifrons PUTHZ

9: Frons with four teeth(fig. 45), E (fig. 245). 3.2mm. Nicaragua..... cornuatifrons nov.sp.

-: Frons with two lateral teeth and one median ridge (fig. 52), E (fig. 253). 3.1mm. Costa Rica................................................................................................. mirifrons nov.sp.

10 Most of the elytra reddish yellow.......................................................................................11

- Most of the elytra blackish, each elytron with a reddish yellow spot posteromedially (figs 100-102, 104)............................................................................................................13

11: Frons with a strong bump posteromedially (figs 51, 53).............................................12

-: Frons with a narrow carina posteromedially (fig. 48), E (fig. 241). 3.6mm. Ecuador..... .............................................................................................................. diversifrons nov.sp.

12: Frons with longitudinal striae posteromedially, with coarse punctures near medial eye margins (fig. 51). Pronotum distinctly longer than broad. E (fig. 233). 3,8-4,2mm. Ecuador.................................................................................................. fornicifrons nov.sp.

-: Frons without longitudinal striae posteromedially (fig. 53), no punctures near medial eye margins. Pronotum about as long as broad. E (fig. 232). 3.5mm. Ecuador......... .................................................................................................................. bullifrons nov.sp.

13: Pronotum matt in anterior half.....................................................................................14

-: Pronotum completely shiny.........................................................................................16

14: Frons with a broad excavation posteriorly, most of frons shiny (fig. x), E (fig. y). 3.8-4.8mm. Brazil..................................................................................... v arifrons nov.sp.

-: Frons otherwise, completely matt or densely sculptured.............................................15

15: Frons with two narrow lateral impressions and a median knot, completely matt. fig. 124). 3.8-4.3mm. Brazil......................................................................... scabrifrons nov.sp.

-: Frons densely longituidinally sculptured and coarsely punctate (fig. 49), E (fig. 252). 3.0mm. Mexico............................................................................ crenulifrons nov.sp.

16: Frons with two lateral teeth, shiny (fig. 38), E (fig. 246). 3.7-4.5mm. ................. Brazil. ............................................................................................................... vitulifrons nov.sp.

-: Frons without lateral teeth...............................................................................................17

17: Frons completely matt.................................................................................................18

-: Frons ± shiny, smooth or longitudinally striated.........................................................21

18: Frons with a narrow median carina posteromedially, E (fig. 243). 3.8mm. Brazil.......... ....................................................................................................... carinifrons (WENDELER)

-: Frons otherwise............................................................................................................19

19: Frons with two posteromedian corns (fig. 41, 47). 3.2mm. Brazil................................... ........................................................................................................... bubularifrons nov.sp.

-: Frons otherwise............................................................................................................18

20: Frons strongly triangularly elevated with a small smooth median knot (fig. 44), E (fig. 258). 3.3-3.9mm. Brazil...................................................... brevipennis (BERNHAUER)

-: Frons moderately convex with a small smooth knot posteromedially (fig. 58), E (fig. 249). 3.6mm. Brazil....................................................................... verrucifrons nov.sp.

21: Frons with a deep hollow/impression posteromedially, smooth with some punctures (fig. 46), E (fig. 244). 3.2-3.8mm. Brazil.................................................. cavifrons nov.sp.

-: Frons otherwise, with longitudinal striae.....................................................................20

22: Most of frons longitudinally striated (fig. 54), E (fig. 242). 3.8mm. Brazil..................... ................................................................................................................ striatifrons nov.sp.

-: Frons striate only in posterior portion (fig. 37), E (fig. 248). 3.8mm. Brazil................... ................................................................................................................. strigifrons nov.sp.