Amphisternus Germar, 1843

Tomaszewska, Wioletta, 2014, New species of the Amphisternus-group of Lycoperdininae from Philippines (Coleoptera: Endomychidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 54 (2), pp. 635-644 : 637

Amphisternus Germar, 1843

Amphisternus Germar, 1843: 85 . Type species: Amphisternus tuberculatus Germar, 1843 , subsequently designated by ARROW (1925): 282.

Amphisternus: TOMASZEWSKA (2005) : 14 (redescription).

Diagnosis. Amphisternus is similar to Cacodaemon , Amphistethus , Spathomeles and Stictomela in having the elytra provided with high tubercles and/or spines. Among these genera, Amphisternus appears to be closely related to Cacodaemon having the ovipositor with base of spermatheca provided with large, at least weakly sclerotized, nodulus-like structure, and the mandible with apices strongly asymmetrical. Both features shared with Cacodaemon separate Amphisternus from Amphistethus , Spathomeles and Stictomela . From Cacodaemon , Amphisternus can be distinguished by the maxillary lacinia long and stout throughout, provided with tuft of S-like setae at apex and a row of dorsal spines, the intercoxal process of mesoventrite widening apically and covering part of coxae and the intercoxal process of metaventrite widely bordered and raised.

Remarks. STROHECKER (1964) included 12 species of Amphisternus in his Synopsis of the Amphisternini. STROHECKER (1968) described another new species, A. lugubris from Sabah (Borneo). This species was however omitted in the key by WANG & REN (2007) who described A. rufituberus Wang & Ren, 2007 from China. CHANG & REN (2013) added another new species from China, A. pubescens Chang & Ren, 2013 . This genus now contains 16 species, including the new species described here. This is the first record of Amphisternus from the Philippines.