Taxonomy Of The Genus Dianous In East China(Coleoptera:Staphylinidae:Steninae)

Dianous is an important genus of the Staphylinidae subfamily Steninae.The members of the genus are small carnivorous beetles,which feed on small insects.Adults of Dianous usually choose to live in concealed places such as haystacks on river banks,large piles of impact objects above the water surface in streams,and under mosses.They are more sensitive to the water quality,so they can be used as indicator organisms for environmental assessment.Before this study,the genus Dianous is comprised of 273 species all over the world with 131 species from China.And 11.5% of them,15 species,are recorded in east China,except Taiwan province.By reviewing the literature of the genus Dianous and examing more than 9400 specimens mainly conserved in SNUC,of which,more than 8100 are from East China.A taxonomic study focusing on the Dianous in east China has been conducted,and the results are as the following:1.This paper is a systematic taxonomic study of the genus Dianous in east China.2.21 species of Dianous in east China are studied including 1 new species: D.rufidulus Shuai & Tang,2019 from Zhejiang;3 new records for East China: D.coeruleovestitus Puthz,2000 from Zhejiang,Fujian,Anhui,Jiangxi,Guangxi,D.schuelkei Puthz,2005 from Zhejiang,Sichuan,Chongqing,Guizhou,D.dubiosus Puthz,2000 from Zhejiang,Jiangxi;a lot of new provincial records: D.coeruleotinctus Puthz,2000(new to Fujian,Anhui,Jiangxi),D.aequelis Zheng,1993 from Zhejiang,Anhui,D.banghaasi banghaasi Bernhauer,1916 from Anhui,D.chinensis Bernhauer,1916 from Guizhou,D.luteostigmaticus Rougemont,1986 from Zhejiang,Anhui,Guizhou,D.rugosipennis Puthz,2000 from Zhejiang,Jiangxi,D.zhejiangensis Shi & Zhou,2009 from Jiangxi,Guizhou.3.Taxonomic histories,distributions,illustrations of major diagnostic characters of 21 species are given.Most species treated in this paper are described.4.A database for species of the genus Dianous was completed.5.Key to the genus Dianous in East China is presented.