Micranops Cameron, 1913 in the Old World. New species, redescriptions, and new records (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae)

In this contribution on the taxonomy and biogeography of Micranops Cameron, 1913 (Staphylinidae: Paederinae: Lathrobiini: Scopaeina) in the Palearctic and Paleotropics, twenty new species are described, twelve species are redescribed, four lectotypes are designated, two new synonymies are established, new distributional data are published, and an identification key is presented. New species: M. angkorensis sp. nov. (Cambodia), M. australasiaticus sp. nov.

(Australia, Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste), M. bhamoensis sp. nov. (Myanmar), M. cuccodoroi sp. nov. (India), M. cultifer sp. nov.

(Laos), M. hermani sp. nov. (Myanmar), M. indicus sp. nov. (India), M. malukensis sp. nov.

(Indonesia), M. manyarensis sp. nov. (Tansania), M. nepalicus sp. nov. (Nepal), M. nyikensis sp. nov.

(Malawi), M. orientasiaticus sp. nov. (China, Japan), M. palliduloides sp. nov. (Indonesia, The Philippines), M. rougemonti sp. nov.

(India), M. sagittifer sp. nov. (China), M. siebertae sp. nov. (Ruanda), M. taiwanensis sp. nov.

(Taiwan), M. transafricanus sp. nov. (Afrotropics), M. transversosetatus sp. nov. (Thailand), M. vietnamensis sp. nov.

(Vietnam). A significant number of previously named species is redescribed: M. brachyceroides (Fagel, 1973) (Afrotropical Region), M. brachycerus (Fauvel, 1900) (Democratic Republic of the Congo), M. caelebs (Fagel, 1973) (Democratic Republic of the Congo), M. hoyoensis (Fagel, 1973) (Democratic Republic of the Congo), M. lacustris (Bernhauer, 1937) (Afrotropical Region), M. obscurellus (Cameron, 1932) (Malay Peninsula), M. pallidulus (Kraatz, 1859) (Paleotropics), M. planiusculus (Kraatz, 1859) (Mainland Southeast Asia), M. pokharensis (Coiffait, 1981) (Indian Subcontinent), M. subapterus (Cameron, 1951) (Angola), M. upembanus (Fagel, 1973) (Democratic Republic of the Congo), M. viti Assing, 2021 (Indian Subcontinent).

Lectotypes are designated for M. brachycerus, M. obscurellus, M. planiusculus, and M. subapterus. New synonyms: M. hustachei (Coiffait, 1987), syn. nov. = M. pokharensis; M. yemenicus (Coiffait, 1981), syn. nov. = M. pallidulus. Four species described by Fagel (1973) are for the first time illustrated by photographs of their holotypes: M. lwiroensis (aedeagus), M. mabalianus (aedeagus), M. ruwenzoricus (aedeagus), M. zambezianus (habitus).

The previously unknown aedeagus of M. spelaeus Frisch & Oromí, 2006 is illustrated. New country records: M. brachyceroides (Burkina Faso, Niger), M. caelebs (Kenya), M. hoyoensis (South Africa), M. lacustris (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Gambia, Senegal, South Sudan), M. pallidulus (Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Laos, Malaysia, Mali, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam, Yemen), M. planiusculus (Cambodia, Vietnam), M. pokharensis (India, Sri Lanka), M. upembanus (Burundi), M. viti (India, Sri Lanka).

The infrageneric phylogeny of Micranops is discussed, and the current definition of the genus extended as follows:The trichobothrial cavity is not always separated from the posterior margin of the eye, but is connected to it in macrophthalmous, macropterous species. The dorsomidlongitudinal split of the aedeagus is absent or reduced in some species. Thus, both a trichobothrial cavity separated from the eye and the presence of a dorsomidlongitudinal, aedeagal split are present in many species, but not genus diagnostic.