Falagriini, Mulsant & Rey, 1873

Eldredge, K. Taro, 2022, A new myrmecophilous genus of Falagriini from Colorado, USA (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), Zootaxa 5165 (4), pp. 575-590 : 585-586

Updated key to Falagriini of America, North of Mexico

Myrmecopora incorrectly keys out in Newton et al. (2001) and is corrected here. In Newton et al. (2001), Myrmecopora keys out from couplet 2 to 3 due to the presumed presence of a comb of minute denticles at the apex of tergite VIII. However, examining figures provided by Klimaszewski et al. (2018) for Myrmecopora vaga , the only known Nearctic representative, multiple treatments by Assing (1997a, b, 2001, 2004) and personal correspondence has lead to the conclusion that a comb of minute denticles at the apex of tergite VIII is not present in Myrmecopora and this correction is reflected here (couplet 2 in both Newton et al. [2001] and key presented here).

1 Tarsal formula 4-4-5; marine specialist, associated with wrack on the Pacific coast.......................... Bryobiota

- Tarsal formula 4-5-5; not a marine specialist................................................................ 2

2(1) Apical margin of tergite VIII with a comb of minute denticles.................................................. 3

- Apical margin of tergite VIII without a comb of minute denticles, but may have a dense row of fimbriate setae........... 8

3(2) Pronotum without marginal bead; elytral microsculpture denser near scutellum.................................... 4

- Pronotum with marginal bead; elytral microsculpture not denser near scutellum, except for Falagrioma ................. 6

4(3) Mesosternum ventrally produced and on a plane ventral to metasternum; mesosternal process short and acute, barely extending between mesocoxae............................................................................ Aleoderus

- Mesosternum not ventrally produced and on the same plane as metasternum; mesosternal process longer, extending to middle or near middle of mesocoxae; mesosternal process narrowly rounded to broad and truncated.......................... 5

5(4) Head large and quadrate with angulate temples; mandibles relatively elongated and prominent; body flattened; head typically with a medial longitudinal impression at anterior 0.5 of vertex........................................ Boroboropora

- Head smaller and rounded to transverse but never quadrate with angulate temples; mandibles not elongated and not prominent; body not flattened; vertex without medial longitudinal impression......................................... Lissagria

6(3) Elytral microsculpture denser near scutellum....................................................... Falagrioma

- Elytral microsculpture not denser near scutellum............................................................ 7

7(6) Scutellum bicarinate............................................................................. Falagria

- Scutellum coarsely granulose with smooth, narrow medial impression.................................... Leptagria

8(2) Pronotum moderately to deeply sulcate................................................................... 10

- Pronotum faintly sulcate............................................................................... 11

9(8) Mesothoracic peritremes large and almost plate-like, occupying most of the space posterior of procoxae............... 10

- Mesothoracic peritremes smaller and limited to a narrower area surrounding the spiricles........................... 11

10(9) Mesocoxal marginal bead present; apical margin of tergite VIII with a dense row of fimbriate setae; elytra with small distinct impression near humeral angle; scutellum without medial longitudinal carina................................ Cordalia

- Mesocoxal marginal bead absent; apical margin of tergite VIII without a dense row of fimbriate setae; elytra without small distinct impression near humeral angle; scutellum with medial longitudinal carina.................... Myrmecocephalus

11(8) Neck ~ 0.25 width of head...................................................................... Falagriota

- Neck> 0.25 width of head............................................................................ 12

12(11) Pronotum as wide as long and apex medially roundly produced....................................... Myrmecopora

- Pronotum wider than long and apex not medially roundly produced......................... Myrmecoagria , new genus