Pupae of the mega-diverse rove beetle tribe Staphylinini (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae): their traits and systematic significance

Abstract

This paper is the first comprehensive work on the pupae of Staphylinidae. It is the first-ever attempt to employ the morphological characters of these pupae in phylogenetic analysis. The study shows that the external structures of Staphylinini pupae could be a useful, alternative source for assessing the relationships of certain taxa within a tribe. The paper also includes an illustrated key to the identification of pupae at the subtribe and generic levels (Abemus, Acylophorus, Astrapaeus, Atanygnathus, Bisnius, Creophilus, Emus, Erichsonius, Gabrius, Hesperus, Heterothops, Neobisnius, Ocypus, Ontholestes, Philonthus, Quedius, Quedionuchus, Rabigus, Staphylinus, and Tasgius) of the tribe Staphylinini, found in Europe. Based on current knowledge of the morphology of pupal stages of Staphylinini species, eight morphological pupal types are presented: Acylophorus, Astrapaeus, Atanygnathus, Erichsonius, Heterothops, Philonthus, Quedius and Staphylinus. The paper also comments on pupal habitat, phenology and morphology in the context of antipredator and environmental adaptations.