A Taxonomic Study On The Genera Sphaerobulbus, Protocypus And Ocypus(Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae) Of China

Sphaerobulbus, Protocypus and Ocypus are three genera in thetribe Staphylinini, which belongs to subfamily Staphylininae of the familyStaphylinidae. Sphaerobulbus was established by Smetana in2003withthe type species Sphaerobulbus bisinuatus Smetana. Until now11species of the genus have been known from the world. All species weredecribed from China. Protocypus was established by Muller in1923withthe type species Staphylinus fulvotomentosus Eppelsheim. Up to thepresent29species of the genus have been known from the world, ofwhich11species reported in China and18species in Japan. Ocypuswas established by Leach in1819with the type species Staphylinuscyaneus Paykull. Up to the present195species of the genus have beenknown from the world. They are distributed in the Palaearctic, Orientaland Ethiopian Region. Among them,63species have been known inChina (62in the Mainland and only one in Taiwan).As China has diversity geographical environment and bestridesboth Palaearctic and Oriental regions. The resources of the generaSphaerobulbus, Protocypus and Ocypus are rather abundant. However,most of the Chinese known species were described by foreign scholarsand the type specimens were also deposited in overseas but fewdomestic schplars investigate the genera. So it is urgent for us to studyChinese groups.In order to clarify these insect resources in China, the authorselected this as the topic of the MS thesis. The study was based on theexaminations of86specimens collected from Beijing, Zhejiang, Ningxia, Liaoning, Shaanxi, Fujian, Yunnan, Sichuan, Shanxi, Neimenggu,Heilongjiang and so on. The conclusions of the study are summed asbelow:1.This thesis was the preliminary study on genera Sphaerobulbus,Protocypus and Ocypus of China.2.In the aggregate,2species of Sphaerobulbus and3species ofProtocypus in China were recognized, all of these species were knownalready;11species of in Ocypus in China were recognized, of which2species were diagnosed as new to science.3.keys to the species of Sphaerobulbus and Protocypus of Chinawas presented, and the key to the subgenus of Ocypus of Chinamainland was provided.4.A database including all the studied species of the generaSphaerobulbus, Protocypus and Ocypus all over the world wasdelicately built.5.All species were described in detail, with the collecting data anddistribution of each species. The color photos of all the species weregiven and the diagnostic characters were illustrated. The researchhistory was also given for known species.6.A catalog of the genera Sphaerobulbus, Protocypus and Ocypusof the world was given.