Pselaphini

fig. 1: Pselaphini n.sp?, from Auckland Islands, length about 2.2 mm

Taxonavigation

Ordo: Coleoptera
Familia: Staphylinidae
Subfamilia: Pselaphinae

Name

• Pselaphini Wikispecies link

Notes

• beetles of the tribe Pselaphini are easily recognised by their distinctive habitus (e.g. fig. 1)
• the New Zealand fauna is moderately diverse, but largely undocumented
• the presence of Pselaphini on subantarctic Campbell Island is well-documented, and the tribe is represented there by two sympatric species of the endemic genus Pselaphotheseus Wikispecies link (Park, 1964; Carlton & Leschen, 2001)
• the presence of Pselaphini on the subantarctic Auckland Islands has not been documented, but a probably undescribed species is present there (see fig. 1)
• the Auckland Islands species appears to be unrelated to Pselaphotheseus, and more closely resembles taxa from the N.Z. mainland

References

• Carlton, C.E.; Leschen, R.A.B. 2001: Species in sympatry: Pselaphotheseus of Campbell Island (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae). New Zealand journal of zoology, 28(4): 387-393. doi
• Park, O. 1964: Insects of Campbell Island. Coleoptera: Pselaphidae. Pacific insects monograph, 7: 391-394.

Stephen Thorpe 04:05, 2 March 2011 (CET)