A revision of the Central Asian Scopaeus Similis species group (Staphylinidae, Paederinae)

Abstract

The Scopaeus similis species group, distributed in Central Asia and the Middle East, is proposed for S. ferganensis sp. n. (Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan), S. gissarensis sp. n. (Uzbekistan), S. hiekei sp. n. (Kazakhstan), S. longilobatus sp. n. (Kyrgyzstan), S. triangularis Luze, 1904 (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tadzhikistan, Uzbekistan), and two subspecies of S. Similis Eppelsheim, 1892, S. s. Similis (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Tadzhikistan) and S. s. minor ssp. n. (Iran, Turkmenistan). It is described including bionomic and biogeographic information, followed by diagnoses of the included species, the Distribution patterns of which are discussed and mapped. The S. Similis species group is proposed a monophyletic clade using apomorphic characters of the primary sexual organs. Its phylogenetic position within Scopaeus Erichson, 1839 is discussed as well as the phylogeographic relationships within the species group. New country records are published for S. s. Similis (Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan), S. Similis incertae sedis (Afghanistan, India), and S. triangularis (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan).