Hesperus dolichoderes (Lea, 1925) Lea, 1925

Shaw, Josh Jenkins & Solodovnikov, Alexey, 2016, Systematic and biogeographic review of the Staphylinini rove beetles of Lord Howe Island with description of new species and taxonomic changes (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae), ZooKeys 638, pp. 1-25 : 17

Hesperus dolichoderes (Lea, 1925) comb. n.

Philonthus dolichoderes Lea, 1925

Taxon discussion.

This species was originally described in the genus Philonthus ( Lea 1925) where it was still listed in the printed catalogue by Herman (2001). Recently Newton and Thayer (2005) proposed the new combination Hesperus dolichoderes (Lea, 1925) in their online database. They are credited for the taxonomic change that we here confirm and formally implement in printed publication. Despite Philonthus and Hesperus not being monophyletic ( Chani-Posse 2013; Chani-Posse et al. in press), Hesperus dolichoderes is clearly a part of the Hesperus - Actinus - Leucitus - Peucoglyphus lineage of the Asian and Australo-Pacific region. Like many taxa in that lineage, Hesperus dolichoderes has a characteristically tube-like aedeagus with highly reduced paramere, a feature not characteristic to any lineage of a polyphyletic Philonthus . Until large scale revisions of both Philonthus and Hesperus complexes are carried out, Philonthus dolichoderes is moved to Hesperus even though this species is rather characteristic with unusually de pigmented brownish body, brachyptery and smaller eyes presumably adaptations to island inhabitation. Usually Hesperus and related listed genera of that complex are well pigmented and often brightly coloured species with well developed eyes and hind wings. In spite of the peculiar habitus of Hesperus dolichoderes , its overall morphology does not conflict with the current broad and loose definition of Hesperus . As mentioned above, Hesperus dolichoderes and ' Cafius ' gigas Lea, 1929 seem to be sister or at least closely related taxa, and both species will be treated in detail in a separate paper that is in preparation. The majority of Hesperus dolichoderes specimens studied by us were collected from Mount Gower by pitfalls traps. The species is endemic to LHI.