Five new species of Bryaxis Kugelann (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae) from Korea and a nomenclatural note on Bryaxis mahunkai Löbl

Abstract

The genus Bryaxis Kugelann (Goniaceritae: Bythinini) is the most species-rich genus of the subfamily Pselaphinae and is mainly distributed in the Palearctic region. Although previous studies have documented 14 species in the Korean Peninsula, the true diversity, ecology, and immature stages of the genus are still inadequately known. In this study, five new Korean species are described: B. grandinodus sp. nov., B. uljinensis sp. nov., B. fabaiformis sp. nov., B. girinensis sp. nov., and B. nemorosus sp. nov. Illustrations of the habitus and other morphological details, and a distribution map are provided. In addition, Bryaxis leechanyoungi Nomura & Lee, 1993 is proposed as a new synonym of B. mahunkai Löbl, 1975 based on the original description and illustrations of diagnostic characters.