New Species of <em>Paussus</em>, Subgenus <em>Scaphipaussus</em> (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Paussinae), from Southeast Asia Reveal Ambiguities in Species Group Limits and High Species Diversity in the Oriental Region

<i>Paussus</i>, commonly known as ant nest beetles, is the most diverse genus of Paussinae (Coleoptera: Carabidae) with a very complex taxonomic history. Biodiversity research in Southeast and South Asia yields new species that can contribute to a better understanding of the morphologica...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Michal Bednařík, Ladislav Bocak
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-12-01
Series:Insects
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/12/947
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850066687649382400
author Michal Bednařík
Ladislav Bocak
author_facet Michal Bednařík
Ladislav Bocak
author_sort Michal Bednařík
collection DOAJ
description <i>Paussus</i>, commonly known as ant nest beetles, is the most diverse genus of Paussinae (Coleoptera: Carabidae) with a very complex taxonomic history. Biodiversity research in Southeast and South Asia yields new species that can contribute to a better understanding of the morphological disparity and species-group or subgenus delimitation. Here, we describe nine new species from Southeast Asia and China: <i>Paussus</i> (<i>Scaphipaussus</i>) <i>fencli</i> sp. nov. (China), <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>mawdsleyi</i> sp. nov. (Borneo), <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>bakeri</i> sp. nov. (Philippines), <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>jendeki</i> sp. nov. (Laos), <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>saueri</i> sp. nov. (India), <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>annamensis</i> sp. nov. (Vietnam), <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>phoupanensis</i> sp. nov. (Laos, Vietnam), <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>bilyi</i> sp. nov. (Thailand), and <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>haucki</i> sp. nov. (Thailand). We also bring new data on <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>corporaali</i> Reichensperger, 1927 (Java) and <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>madurensis</i> Wasmann, 1913 (India). Besides formal descriptions, we provide photographs of the habitus in the dorsal and dorsolateral view, antennal club, head crest, and male genitalia if the male is available. Based on the comparison of new and earlier described species, we show that the antennae are highly diverse within the <i>Scaphipaussus</i>. Considering other characters, some species are placed in <i>Scaphipaussus</i>, but they differ from putative relatives in the antennal morphology. The presence of the frontal protuberances and crests is a more reliable character. Additional species show that <i>Scaphipaussus</i> is most diverse in southeastern Asia, especially in Indo-Burma. Concerning its supposed late Miocene origin, the group underwent rapid radiation. The species diversity of <i>Scaphipaussus</i> almost doubled in the last decade, and it is highly probable that further species will be described in the future.
format Article
id doaj-art-5a32df83eb0b46d7bc45496cbd071764
institution DOAJ
issn 2075-4450
language English
publishDate 2023-12-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Insects
spelling doaj-art-5a32df83eb0b46d7bc45496cbd0717642025-08-20T02:48:39ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502023-12-01141294710.3390/insects14120947New Species of <em>Paussus</em>, Subgenus <em>Scaphipaussus</em> (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Paussinae), from Southeast Asia Reveal Ambiguities in Species Group Limits and High Species Diversity in the Oriental RegionMichal Bednařík0Ladislav Bocak1Independent Researcher, Tř. Spojenců 10, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech RepublicCzech Advanced Science and Technology Institute, Palacký University, Slechtitelu 27, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic<i>Paussus</i>, commonly known as ant nest beetles, is the most diverse genus of Paussinae (Coleoptera: Carabidae) with a very complex taxonomic history. Biodiversity research in Southeast and South Asia yields new species that can contribute to a better understanding of the morphological disparity and species-group or subgenus delimitation. Here, we describe nine new species from Southeast Asia and China: <i>Paussus</i> (<i>Scaphipaussus</i>) <i>fencli</i> sp. nov. (China), <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>mawdsleyi</i> sp. nov. (Borneo), <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>bakeri</i> sp. nov. (Philippines), <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>jendeki</i> sp. nov. (Laos), <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>saueri</i> sp. nov. (India), <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>annamensis</i> sp. nov. (Vietnam), <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>phoupanensis</i> sp. nov. (Laos, Vietnam), <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>bilyi</i> sp. nov. (Thailand), and <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>haucki</i> sp. nov. (Thailand). We also bring new data on <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>corporaali</i> Reichensperger, 1927 (Java) and <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>madurensis</i> Wasmann, 1913 (India). Besides formal descriptions, we provide photographs of the habitus in the dorsal and dorsolateral view, antennal club, head crest, and male genitalia if the male is available. Based on the comparison of new and earlier described species, we show that the antennae are highly diverse within the <i>Scaphipaussus</i>. Considering other characters, some species are placed in <i>Scaphipaussus</i>, but they differ from putative relatives in the antennal morphology. The presence of the frontal protuberances and crests is a more reliable character. Additional species show that <i>Scaphipaussus</i> is most diverse in southeastern Asia, especially in Indo-Burma. Concerning its supposed late Miocene origin, the group underwent rapid radiation. The species diversity of <i>Scaphipaussus</i> almost doubled in the last decade, and it is highly probable that further species will be described in the future.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/12/947ground beetlesant nest beetlesnew speciestaxonomyzoogeography
spellingShingle Michal Bednařík
Ladislav Bocak
New Species of <em>Paussus</em>, Subgenus <em>Scaphipaussus</em> (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Paussinae), from Southeast Asia Reveal Ambiguities in Species Group Limits and High Species Diversity in the Oriental Region
Insects
ground beetles
ant nest beetles
new species
taxonomy
zoogeography
title New Species of <em>Paussus</em>, Subgenus <em>Scaphipaussus</em> (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Paussinae), from Southeast Asia Reveal Ambiguities in Species Group Limits and High Species Diversity in the Oriental Region
title_full New Species of <em>Paussus</em>, Subgenus <em>Scaphipaussus</em> (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Paussinae), from Southeast Asia Reveal Ambiguities in Species Group Limits and High Species Diversity in the Oriental Region
title_fullStr New Species of <em>Paussus</em>, Subgenus <em>Scaphipaussus</em> (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Paussinae), from Southeast Asia Reveal Ambiguities in Species Group Limits and High Species Diversity in the Oriental Region
title_full_unstemmed New Species of <em>Paussus</em>, Subgenus <em>Scaphipaussus</em> (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Paussinae), from Southeast Asia Reveal Ambiguities in Species Group Limits and High Species Diversity in the Oriental Region
title_short New Species of <em>Paussus</em>, Subgenus <em>Scaphipaussus</em> (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Paussinae), from Southeast Asia Reveal Ambiguities in Species Group Limits and High Species Diversity in the Oriental Region
title_sort new species of em paussus em subgenus em scaphipaussus em coleoptera carabidae paussinae from southeast asia reveal ambiguities in species group limits and high species diversity in the oriental region
topic ground beetles
ant nest beetles
new species
taxonomy
zoogeography
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/12/947
work_keys_str_mv AT michalbednarik newspeciesofempaussusemsubgenusemscaphipaussusemcoleopteracarabidaepaussinaefromsoutheastasiarevealambiguitiesinspeciesgrouplimitsandhighspeciesdiversityintheorientalregion
AT ladislavbocak newspeciesofempaussusemsubgenusemscaphipaussusemcoleopteracarabidaepaussinaefromsoutheastasiarevealambiguitiesinspeciesgrouplimitsandhighspeciesdiversityintheorientalregion