Revision of the Afrotropical species of the Philonthus circumcinctus species group (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Philonthina)

Abstract: The Philonthus circumcinctus species group, containing 16 species of the genus Philonthus Stephens, 1829 is redefined and revised. Two species are described as new: Philonthus mehelya sp. nov. (Democratic Republic of the Congo) and P. zosterops sp. nov. (Kenya). Fourteen species are redescribed: P. bonus Tottenham, 1962, P. cailleuxi Levasseur, 1980, P. circumcinctus Eppelsheim, 1895, P. clementi Levasseur, 1962, P. complicatus Tottenham, 1961, P. densecaudatus Bernhauer, 1928, P. densicauda Bernhauer, 1943, P. facialis Tottenham, 1962, P. fraxinatus Tottenham, 1949, P. mlogosiensis Bernhauer, 1934, P. rollei Bernhauer, 1943, P. rubricatus Tottenham, 1962, P. staudingeri, Bernhauer, 1928. P. marginellus Schubert 1902, stat. restit. is removed from synonymy with P. xanthoraphis Eppelsheim, 1895. An identification key to all species of the species group is provided; the aedeagi of most species and relevant morphological characters are figured.

Key words: Taxonomy, key, new species, Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Philonthina, Philonthus, Afrotropical region