| Summary: | <i>Paussus</i>, commonly known as ant nest beetles, is the most diverse genus of Paussinae (Coleoptera: Carabidae) with a very complex taxonomic history. Biodiversity research in Southeast and South Asia yields new species that can contribute to a better understanding of the morphological disparity and species-group or subgenus delimitation. Here, we describe nine new species from Southeast Asia and China: <i>Paussus</i> (<i>Scaphipaussus</i>) <i>fencli</i> sp. nov. (China), <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>mawdsleyi</i> sp. nov. (Borneo), <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>bakeri</i> sp. nov. (Philippines), <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>jendeki</i> sp. nov. (Laos), <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>saueri</i> sp. nov. (India), <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>annamensis</i> sp. nov. (Vietnam), <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>phoupanensis</i> sp. nov. (Laos, Vietnam), <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>bilyi</i> sp. nov. (Thailand), and <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>haucki</i> sp. nov. (Thailand). We also bring new data on <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>corporaali</i> Reichensperger, 1927 (Java) and <i>P</i>. (<i>S</i>.) <i>madurensis</i> Wasmann, 1913 (India). Besides formal descriptions, we provide photographs of the habitus in the dorsal and dorsolateral view, antennal club, head crest, and male genitalia if the male is available. Based on the comparison of new and earlier described species, we show that the antennae are highly diverse within the <i>Scaphipaussus</i>. Considering other characters, some species are placed in <i>Scaphipaussus</i>, but they differ from putative relatives in the antennal morphology. The presence of the frontal protuberances and crests is a more reliable character. Additional species show that <i>Scaphipaussus</i> is most diverse in southeastern Asia, especially in Indo-Burma. Concerning its supposed late Miocene origin, the group underwent rapid radiation. The species diversity of <i>Scaphipaussus</i> almost doubled in the last decade, and it is highly probable that further species will be described in the future.
|
|---|