Syndicus species

Jałoszyński, Paweł, 2023, Two new species of Syndicus in southern India (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Scydmaeninae), Zootaxa 5230 (4), pp. 489-495 : 494

Key for identification of Syndicus species of India

1 Base of antennomere 11 clearly narrower than apex of antennomere 10, so that antennomeres 10 and 11 do not form one compact structure; aedeagus with subapical group of needle-like sclerites surrounding apex of flagellum............................................................................. Syndicus (Semisyndicus) primus sp. n. [Kerala]

- Base of antennomere 11 as broad as apex of 10, so that antennomeres 10 and 11 form one compact ‘pseudoantennomere’; aedeagus lacking subapical group of needle-like sclerites. Syndicus (s. str.)........................................ 2

2 Eye in lateral view conspicuously small and nearly circular, about as wide as apical width of scape............................................................................ Syndicus (s. str.) microphthalmus sp. nov. [Tamil Nadu]

- Eye in lateral view large and distinctly bean-shaped, with posterior emargination, twice and more times wider than apical width of scape............................................................................................. 3

3 Anterior half of pronotal disc densely and coarsely granulose. ... Syndicus (s. str.) rugosicollis Jałoszyński [Meghalaya]

- Entire pronotal disc smooth, only with punctures............................................................. 4

4 Prothorax in lateral view higher than elytra, in dorsal view with nearly circular disc as wide as elytra................................................................................... Syndicus (s. str.) gibbus Jałoszyński [Kerala]

- Prothorax in lateral view not higher than elytra, in dorsal view inversely subtrapezoidal............................. 5

5 Pronotum strongly elongate (PL/PW over 1.25); elytra slender ( EI 1.49 and more); spermatheca in ‘lateral’ view with flat distal surface................. Syndicus (s. str.) himalayanus Franz [ Bhutan, China: Yunnan; India: Assam, Meghalaya; Nepal]

- Pronotum weakly elongate (PL/PW at most 1.21); elytra stout (EI at most 1.46); spermatheca in ‘lateral’ view with convex distal surface......................................................................................... 6

6 EI exceeding 1.4; spermatheca in ‘lateral’ view nearly as high as wide...... Syndicus (s. str.) indicus Franz [Tamil Nadu]

- EI clearly below 1.4; spermatheca in ‘lateral’ view strongly flattened, over twice as wide as high......................................................................... Syndicus (s. str.) pilicornis Motschulsky [“Indes orientales”]