Metadeinopsis
James S. Ashe (1947-2005) and Stylianos Chatzimanolis
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close boxIntroduction
The five known species of Metadeinopsis are medium-sized (3.5-5.3 millimeters in length), teardrop-shaped, brown to dark brown aleocharines. They are probably associated with leaf litter or detritus in swampy habitats, though collecting information for these rare beetles is very limited. The species of Metadeinopsis are found only in the Neotropical region (currently known from Paraguay, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, French Guiana and Peru).
Characteristics
Adults of Metadeinopsis can be distinguished from those of other Deinopsini by the combination of: 5-5-5 tarsal formula; maxillary palpus 3-segmented; abdominal tergite X with broadly rounded apex; and, antennal segment XI with apical papilla (from Klimaszewski 1979). Klimaszewski (1979) provided descriptions, distributional information, illustrations of structural features, and a key for identification of the known species. Additional distributional information is found in Klimaszewski (1982).
Mouthparts of M. brunnea, from left to right, mandibles, maxilla, hypopharynx and labium.
From left to right, details of mandible, labrum and epipharynx.
Discussion of Phylogenetic Relationships
Klimaszewski (1979) provided the only available phylogeny for three of the species of Metadeinopsis. Because adults of Metadeinopsis are externally extremely similar, the phylogeny is based mostly on characteristics of the terminalia and genitalia and should be considered very provisional. The phylogenetic positions of M. balli and M. ferox have not been examined.
References
Ashe, J. S. 2002. Allodinopsis, new genus of Deinopsine Aleocharinae from Cetral America, and a new species of Metadeinopsis Klimaszewski 1979 (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae: Deinopsini). J. Kans. Entomol. Soc. 75(2): 61-72.
Klimaszewski, J. 1979. A revision of the Gymnusini and Deinopsini of the World. Canada Agriculture monograph No. 25. 169 pp.
Klimaszewski, J. 1982. A revision of the Gymnusini and Deinopsini of the world (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Supplement 2. Canadian Entomologist 114: 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.
Title Illustrations
| Scientific Name | Metadeinopsis brunnea |
|---|---|
| Location | Paraguay |
| Size | length 3.6 mm |
| Copyright |
© 1997 James S. Ashe (1947-2005)
|
About This Page
Development of this page made possible by National Science Foundation PEET grant DEB 95-21755 and DEB 99-78110 to James S. Ashe.
All images on this page copyright © 1997-2003 James S. Ashe.
James S. Ashe (1947-2005)
University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
Stylianos Chatzimanolis
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Page copyright © 1997 James S. Ashe (1947-2005) and Stylianos Chatzimanolis
All Rights Reserved.
- First online 29 August 1997
- Content changed 06 November 2003
Citing this page:
Ashe (1947-2005), James S. and Stylianos Chatzimanolis. 2003. Metadeinopsis. Version 06 November 2003. http://tolweb.org/Metadeinopsis/10044/2003.11.06 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/
