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Three species of Hyperomma |
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The staphylinid genera Hyperomma and Suniopsis (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae) form a demonstrably monophyletic and well isolated group within the subfamily Paederinae and most likely they should be combined. The group is known as endemic to Australia and New Zealand. All known species of Hyperomma + Suniopsis are flightless, predacious forest leaf litter dwellers, mainly restricted to rainforests.
The group includes 29 described species, but material which I was hitherto able to examine (some more than 300 specimens) already did reveal about 50 species! Presumably, further material will considerably increase the size of the group. The revision is scheduled for current 2-2,5 years and is planned to incorporate descriptive (diagnoses for taxa, illustrations, keys, distribution maps, photos of preferred landscapes and habitats) and analytical parts (phylogenetic analysis, discussion of biogeographical patterns and ecology). Considerable material for this project was collected and prepared for further study by Alfred Newton and Margaret Thayer (FMNH, Chicago), colleagues, who encouraged me to start this revision.
Dear colleagues: taxonomists, curators, collectors, I am most interested to receive all available adult and larvae specimens of Hyperomma+Suniopsis for study. Adults of various species of Hyperomma + Suniopsis are very variable in size and coloration (from 6-7 mm pale brown, to about 30 mm dark blakish-brown beetles), but could be recognized by elongate "narrow-waisted" (pronotum and elytra constricted basally) and brachypterous (elytra short and without distinct humeral bulges) habitus, combined with such characters as dorso-lateral position of eyes, not geniculate antennae, very or moderately long and sharp mandibles with (or without) tooth (teeth) in basal (or median) part of mandible, not expanded 1-4 articles of middle and hind tarses. Hopefully, the images posted here, will be also helpful for recognition of needed beetles.
All information or advise relevant to this project is very welcome and appreciating.
A. Solodovnikov, May, 2000