A new species of Scopaeus Erichson, 1839 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Paederinae) from Socotra Island, with distributional and phylogeographical notes on related species

Abstract

Scopaeus socotrensis sp. n. is described from Socotra Island, Yemen, and compared to S. asirensis Frisch, 2007, S. pakistanensis Frisch, 2007, and S. stramineus Frisch, 2007. These species constitute the S. asirensis lineage of the S. gracilis species group in the Middle East judging from their male genital characters, which are illustrated, and their distribution pattern, which is mapped. Additional diagnostic characters are presented for S. asirensis, S. pakistanensis, and S. stramineus. New Country records are published for S. asirensis (Yemen) and S. stramineus (Oman). A recent first record of S. asirensis from Socotra is based on S. socotrensis sp. n. and thus rejected. The phylogeography of the S. asirensis lineage is discussed.

Keywords

• Scopaeina
• Middle East
• Arabian Peninsula
• Iran
• taxonomy