Scymbalium, Erichson, 1839

Assing, Volker, 2018, A revision of Palaearctic and Oriental Scymbalium and Micrillus III. New species, new combinations, and additional records (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 50 (2), pp. 977-996 : 979

Genus Scymbalium ERICHSON, 1839

At present, Scymbalium includes only three revised and confirmed species, the West Palaearctic type species S. anale (NORDMANN, 1837), the West Palaearctic S. persimile CAMERON, 1940 (male unknown), and S. rossii , a new species from Cambodia described below. Numerous additional unrevised species from the Australian and Afrotropical regions are currently assigned to Scymbalium , but most likely belong to Micrillus or other genera ( ASSING 2013).

Scymbalium is distinguished from Micrillus by unmodified abdominal segments IX and X, postero-lateral processes of segment IX of normal length and normal shape (somewhat depressed, not circular in cross-section), and with an apical spine, relatively coarse punctation of the forebody, and a stouter and relatively shorter maxillary palpomere IV (approximately one-third as long as maxillary palpomere III). The aedeagus is of similar shape as that of species of the Micrillus badius and M. testaceus groups, but has strongly sclerotized structures in the internal sac.