Bryaxis splendidus (Croissandeau, 1891)

Hlaváč, Peter, 2009, Taxonomic notes on the Bryaxis splendidus species group (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), with the description of a new species from the Ukraine, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 49 (2), pp. 651-659 : 652

Key to species of the Bryaxis splendidus species group

Note. Because of the small number of specimens available for this study and that fact that the species are very similar in external features, the following key is only tentative. Reliable identification requires the study of the aedeagi.

1 Scape robust, short, 1.4–1.6 times as long as wide, with triangular extension on inner side. ............................................................................................................................... 2

– Scape slender and longer, 1.8–2.0 times as long as wide, almost parallel on inner side. ....................................................................................................................................... 3

2 Eyes very small, composed of two facets in male (female unknown), last segment of maxillary palpus 0.45 mm long, Ukraine. .......................................... B. cepliki sp. nov.

– Eyes large, composed of seven facets in males and 4–5 facets in females, last segment of maxillary palpus 0.38 mm long, Slovakia. .................. B. montrosetibialis ( Stolz, 1923)

3 Large species, body length 2.6 mm, Romania. ...................... B. goliath ( Jeannel, 1922)

– Smaller species, body length 2.0– 2.1 mm, Ukraine. ........................................................ ................................................................................ B. splendidus ( Croissandeau, 1891)