A Taxonomic Study On The Genera Acylophorus, Anchocerus And Heterothops (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae) Of China

The subtribe Quediina belongs to Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Staphylininae. There are 43 genera and 1352 species of this subtrib have been known to the world, and they are widely distributed all over the world. They live in variety habitats including mountains, fields and so on. They have a wide range of food-habits. Most of them are insect feeders. They are important natural resource.Acylophorus, Anchocerus and Heterothops are three genera of subtribe Quediina. Acylophorus was established by Nordmann in 1837 with the type species Acylophorus ahrensii Nordmann. Until now 130 species of the genus have been known to the world. There are 4 species known in China, of which 2 in the Mainland, 3 in Taiwan, 1 from both Mainland and Taiwan. Anchocerus was established by Fauvel in 1905 with the type species Anchocerus birmanus Fauvel. Up to the present 14 species of the genus have been known all over the world. There are 3 species known in China, of which 2 in the Mainland, 1 in Taiwan. Heterothops was established by Stephens in 1829 with the type species Staphylinus binotatus Gravenhorst. Up to now 155 species of the genus have been known all over the world. There are 3 species known in China, of which 1 in the Mainland, 2 in Taiwan.However, taxonomic study on these three genera in China are only some sporadic studies but without systematic researches. Most of the Chinese known species were reported or recorded by foreign scholars and many type specimens were also deposited overseas. So there are great difficulties for us to study Chinese groups.China has diversity geographical environment and bestrides both Palaearctic and Oriental regions. The Staphylinid beetles resources are very abundant. In order to clarify these insect resources in China, the author selected this as the topic of the MS thesis. The study was based on the consulting all related literature and careful examinations of 189 specimens collected from Yunnan, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Shandong, Shanghai, Hubei, Guizhou, Jiangsu and so on. The conclusions of the study are summed as below:1. This thesis was the first systematic study on genera Acylophorus, Anchocerus and Heterothops from China.2. In the aggregate, 8 species of Acylophorus in China were recognized, of which 6 species were diagnosed as new to science; 4 species of Anchocerus in China were recognized, of which 3 species were diagnosed as new to science; 3 species of Heterothops in China were recognized, of which 1 species were diagnosed as new to science and 1 new to China mainland.3. The keys to the species of Acylophorus, Anchocerus and Heterothops of China were provided.4. A database including all the studied species of the genera Acylophorus, Anchocerus and Heterothops all over the world was delicately built.5. All species were described in detail, with the collecting data and distribution of each species. The color photos of all the species were given and the diagnostic characters were illustrated. The research history was also given for known species.6. A catalog of the genera Acylophorus, Anchocerus and Heterothops of the world was given.