Velleius Leach 1819

Zhao, Zong-Yi & Zhou, Hong-Zhang, 2015, Phylogeny and taxonomic revision of the subgenus Velleius Leach (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae), Zootaxa 3957 (3), pp. 251-276 : 258-259

Subgenus Velleius Leach 1819

( Fig. 3)

Leach 1819: 172; Westwood 1838: 15; Erichson 1839: 483 (as a synonym of Quedius ); Kraatz 1857: 490 (as a synonym of Quedius ); Cameron 1932: 279; Blackwelder 1952: 402; Coiffait 1978: 285; Naomi 1986: 239; Watanabe 1990: 59; Smetana 1995: 109; Cho 1996: 114; Herman 2001: 3303 (complete list of references); Solodovnikov 2012: 31 (as a synonym of Quedius ); Smetana 2013:204 (subgenus of Quedius ).

Type species: Staphylinus dilatatus Fabricius, 1787 , fixed by subsequent designation ( Westwood 1838: 15). Synonymy: Laverna Gistel 1829: 1129 ; Blackwelder 1952: 212 (synonym of Velleius ).

Redescription. Body robust; antennae with segments IV–X bearing variably bifurcated projections on anterior side ( Fig. 4 A, B), segments I–III lacking pubescence; mandibles bearing dorsal longitudinal ridge; no additional setiferous puncture between anterior frontal setiferous punctures and between anterior and posterior frontal setiferous punctures on each side ( Fig. 4 C, D), one or two additional setiferous punctures before and near nuchal constriction on each side ( Fig. 4 C, D); infraorbital ridge well developed; pronotum with anterior angles protruding forwards beyond anterior median edge, lateral and posterior edges round, lateral and posterior margins with a circle of large setae along, each dorsal row and sublateral row with no more than two large punctures ( Fig. 4 E); elytra bearing many large spine-like setae on hypomera ( Fig. 4 F); all tibiae bearing many spines, protarsomeres I–IV strongly dilated and bearing dense soft setae on ventral surface.

Diagnosis. Antennae pectinate ( Fig. 4 A, B), no additional setiferous puncture between anterior and posterior frontal setiferous punctures on each side ( Fig. 4 H, I), last segment of maxillary and labial palpi glabrous, scutellum setose, hypomera of elytra bearing many large spine-like setae ( Fig. 4 F).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Some structures of Velleius. A – B, antenna. (A) Q. (V.) dilatatus, (B) Q. (V.) rectilatus. C – D, head in dorsal view. (C) Q. (V.) dilatatus, (D) Q. (V.) rectilatus, AFSP = anterior frontal setiferous puncture, PFSP = posterior frontal setiferous puncture, (E) pronotum of Q. (V.) dilatatus, DR = dorsal row, SLR = sublateral row (Q. (V.) dilatatus without the posterior puncture), LLSP = large lateral setiferous puncture, (F) elytra of Q. (V.) rectilatus. G – I, scutellum. (G) Q. (V.) dilatatus, (H) Q. (V.) japonicus, (I) Q. (V.) sagittalis, abr = anterior basal ridge, pbr = posterior basal ridge, (J) abdominal tergite V of Q. (V.) dilatatus, LMLS = large middle lateral seta, (K) male abdominal tergite VIII of Q. (V.) elongatus, showing all large setae but not small ordinary ones, (L) male abdominal sternite VIII of Q. (V.) elongatus, showing all large setae and the glabrous area in front of apical emargination. Scales = 0.5 mm.