Male secondary sexual characters resolve taxonomic uncertainty: five new species and a review of the formerly monotypic rove beetle genus Mimosticus Sharp (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae)
Author
Brunke, Adam
Author
Solodovnikov, Alexey
text
Zootaxa
2014
3893
1
journal volume
10.11646/zootaxa.3893.1.2
41188fbe-cee3-4720-8ebc-9238329bba3c
1175-5326
250402
E5EC4E8B-A59E-478D-8A7A-21626F312564
Sharpi
species complex
Three species belong to this species complex and cannot be separated by external morphology. The most reliable characters for their separation are found on male sternite VIII, male sternite IX and male tergite X. Often these characters can be seen in non-dissected males with an extended abdomen. The copulatory sclerite of the internal sac is diagnostically shaped in each species but is more difficult to observe in less-than-ideally prepared specimens. Females cannot as of yet be identified without associated males.