Deinopsis

Introduction

Species of Deinopsis are small to medium-sized (2.1-4.2 millimeters), teardrop-shaped aleocharines that are found in vegetation, detritus and mud in swampy and marshy areas around ponds, lakes, sphagnum bogs and slow-moving streams. Most species are found in the Holarctic (Nearctic and Palearctic) faunal region, but one species (D. queenslandica) is found in Australia.

Characteristics

Adults of Deinopsis can be distinguished from other Deinopsini by the combination of: 3-3-3 tarsal formula and antennal segment XI without apical papilla. Klimaszewski (1979) provides descriptions, distributional information, illustrations of structural features, and a key for identification of most species of Deinopsis.

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Mouthparts of Deinopsis erosa, from left to right, mandibles, maxilla, hypopharynx and labrum.

From left to right, detail aspect of mandible, epipharynx, labium and tarsus and detail of tarsal claw of D. erosa.

Discussion of Phylogenetic Relationships

Klimaszewski (1979) provided the only available phylogeny for species of Deinopsis. Beacuse adults of Deinopsis are externally extremely similar, the phylogeny is based on characteristics of the terminalia and genitalia. This phylogeny indicates that the Australian species (D. queenslandica) is the sister group to all other Deinopsis; the North American taxa (D. rapida - D. texana clade) is a monophyletic lineage, and the Japanese species (D. minor and D. modesta) form a clade with the European species (D. pulawskii and D. erosa). However, this phylogeny contains a number of poorly supported branches and needs reevaluation using modern methods of character and phylogenetic analysis. Later, Klimaszeski (1980, 1982) and Klimaszeski and Frank (1992) described additional new species.

References

Klimaszewski, J. 1979. A revision of the Gymnusini and Deinopsini of the World. Canada Agriculture monograph No. 25. 169 pp.

Klimaszewski, J. 1980. Two new species of Deinopsini from the Afrotropical and Nearctic regions, with notes on two other species of this tribe (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae). Polskie-Pismo-Entomologiczne. 50(1): 109-120.

Klimaszewski, J. 1982. A revision of the Gymnusini and Deinopsini of the World. Sup 2. Can. Entomol. 114(4): 317-335.

Klimaszewski, J. and F. Genier. 1985. A revision of the Gymnusini and Deinopsini of the World. Sup 3. Colepts. Bull. 39(1): 60-66.

Klimaszewski, J. 1985. Revision of the Gymnusini and Deinopsini of the world (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Supplement 4. New distribution data and description of female Adinopsis bicornis. Ent. News 96(4):142-144.

Klimaszewski, J. and J. H. Frank. 1992. New distributional data for New World Gymnusini and Deinopsini, with description of a new species (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae). Supplement 5. Coleopts. Bull. 46(3): 242-249.