Baeocera profana, Löbl & Ch-, 2012

Löbl, Ivan, 2012, On the Scaphisomatini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scaphidiinae) of the Philippines, III: the genus Baeocera Erichson, Revue suisse de Zoologie 119 (3), pp. 351-383 : 352-354

Baeocera Erichson, 1845

Several informal species groups were recognized within the genus (see Löbl, 1992, 2012, Löbl & Stephan, 1993). They were based mainly on aedeagal characters that exhibit conspicuous variations, compared to other genera of Scaphidiinae, with the notable exception of Scaphisoma Leach, 1815 . Four species groups are represented among the Philippine collections: the B. brevicornis group, the B. lenta group, the B. ceylonensis group, and the B. monstrosa group. These groups were defined by Löbl, 1971a, 1979, and 1992. The members of the B. brevicornis group have simple aedeagi that do not provide diagnostic characters easy to use. It is with five species comparatively species-rich in the Philippines, and includes both species that have reduced hind wings, B bicolorata Löbl and B. profana sp. nov. The species of the other three groups possess highly derived aedeagi. As elsewhere in south-east Asia, the more species-rich is the B. lenta group. The B. ceylonensis and B. monstrosa groups are represented in the Philippines only by one or two species, respectively.

KEY TO THE PHILIPPINE SPECIES OF BAEOCERA

1 Elytron with sutural stria shorten, starting posterior level of pronotal lobe, basal stria absent........................ B. mindanaosa sp. nov.

- Elytron with sutural stria not shorten, starting at base, curved along pronotal lobe and usually extended along basal margin of elytron to form basal stria................................................... 2

2 Elytron with sutural stria curved along basal margin to form complete basal stria extended to sides and joined with lateral stria................ 3

- Elytron with sutural stria curved at base to form short, incomplete basal stria, not reaching sides and not joined with lateral stria................ 14

3 Basal area of hypomeron distinctly punctate. Metanepisternal suture indistinct.................................... B. hypomeralis sp. nov.

- Hypomeron impunctate, or with even, very fine punctation. Metanepisternal suture often distinct...................................... 4

4 Lateral parts of metaventrite, submesocoxal punctures excepted, very finely punctate or impunctate. Larger species, body about 1.9 to 2.2 mm long........................................................ 5

- Most of metaventrite conspicuously coarsely punctate. Smaller species, body about 1. 0 to 1.8 mm long................................... 6

5 Antennomere XI much longer than antennomere X, about 4.5 times as long as wide.................................... B. alticola sp. nov.

- Antennomere XI slightly longer than antennomere X, about 3 times as long as wide...................................... B. fortis sp. nov.

6 Elytra darken apically. Antennae conspicuously short, antennomeres IX ad X each about 1.3 times as long as wide.............. B. bicolorata Löbl

- Elytra uniformly reddish-brown to black, or becoming lighter near apical margins. Antennae long, antennomeres IX and X each much longer than wide.............................................. 7

7 Metanepisterna distinct, clearly separated by deep suture. Sides of metaventrite with coarse punctures irregularly spaced, at least some puncture intervals larger than puncture diameters...................... 8

- Metanepisterna indistinct, not separated by clearly visible suture, with inner margin indicated by outer row of coarse punctures, eventually by fine stria. Sides of metaventrite very densely punctate, puncture intervals smaller than, or about as large as puncture diameters............... 11

8 Elytron with coarse discal punctation extended apically to, or almost to, apical margin................................................. 9

- Elytron with coarse discal punctation restricted onto smaller surface, areas near basal margin, along suture and at least entire apical third of disc very finely punctate, often appearing impunctate................. 10

9 Sides of metaventrite conspicuously irregularly punctate. Abdominal ventrite 1 lacking distinct punctures, or with few scattered, variably large punctures posterior basal puncture row. Hind wings not reduced................................................ B. brunnea (Löbl)

- Sides of metaventrite almost regularly punctate, except for smooth area near apical margin. Sides of abdominal ventrite 1 distinctly punctate. Hind wings reduced.............................. B. profana sp. nov.

10 Fairly large species, body 1.50-1.80 mm long. Lateral parts of metaventrite with punctation conspicuously irregular........... B. palawana (Löbl)

- Small species, body 1.15-1.35 mm long. Lateral parts of metaventrite with punctation regular............................... B. simoni (Pic)

11 Larger species, body 1.5 mm long. Coarse elytral punctures about as large as puncture intervals and in anterior two thirds of disc extended up to sutural stria. Aedeagus with parameres narrowed apically. B. boettcheri (Löbl)

- Smaller species, body 1.2-1.3 mm long. Coarse elytral punctures either much smaller than puncture intervals, or restricted onto lateral part of disc....................................................... 12

12 Abdominal ventrite 1 usually with distinct basal longitudinal wrinkles. Distinctly punctate area of elytron extending to, or almost to, sutural stria. Aedeagus with parameres straight and slightly widened apically in dorsal view.................................... B. procerula sp. nov.

- Abdominal ventrite 1 lacking wrinkles. Distinctly punctate area of elytron restricted onto outer surface, eventually few coarse punctures situated also on inner part of elytral disc. Aedeagus with parameres slightly arcuate, not widened apically in dorsal view................... 13

13 Antenomeres VII and VIII each about 4 times as long as wide. Aedeagus with parameres distinctly widened in middle.............. B. louisi sp. nov.

- Antennomeres VII and VIII each about 2.5 to 3 times as long as wide. Aedeagus with parameres not widened in middle........ B. danielae sp. nov

14 Entire surface of elytral disc with even, coarse punctation. Abdominal ventrite 1 not rugulose at base, with coarse, irregular punctation, basal punctures not elongate........................... B. wolfgangi sp. nov.

- Large surface of elytral disc very finely punctate, coarse punctures restricted onto smaller surface................................... 15

15 Most of abdominal ventrite 1 coarsely punctate........... B. globosa (Pic)

- Abdominal ventrite 1 very finely punctate posterior basal punctures, appearing impunctate.......................................... 16

16 Aedeagus with parameres notched mesally, in level of tip of median lobe.. 17

- Aedeagus with parameres not notched, abruptly narrowed posterior midlength............................................ B. jeani sp. nov.

17 Internal sac of aedeagus with basal tuft of spine-like structures. B. dilutior Löbl

- Internal sac of aedeagus without spine-like structures................. 18

18 Parameral notches situated posterior mid-third of parameres, section of parameres posterior notch distinctly narrower than section anterior notch............................................ B. jankodadai sp. nov.

- Parameral notches situated in mid-third of parameres, section of parameres posterior notch hardly narrower than section anterior notch..................................................... B. jejuna sp. nov.