A Revision of the New World Species of the Genus Neobisnius Ganglbauer (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

Thirty-nine species of the genus Neobisnius are recognized from the New World. Included in this total are 5 new species (type localities in parentheses): nothocreatus (U.S.A., California, Calaveras Co., Mokelumne Hill), omnirufus (Argentina, Mendoza), vigii (Colombia, Magdalena, Parque Tayrona, 21 mi. E. of Santa Marta), edznai (Mexico, Campeche, Edzmi), and occidentoides (U.S.A., Texas, Lake Corpus Christi State Park). Thirteen species names (in parentheses) are newly placed as synonyms of the following 8 valid names: villosulus (Stephens) (=fulvicornis (Notman)); terminalis (LeConte) (= delicatulus (Sharp) = adustus (Sharp)); ludicrus (Erichson) (= umbripennis (LeConte) = deletus (Sharp));jocosus (Horn)(= alternans (Sharp)); nitidulus (Sharp) (= politus (Sharp)); sobrinus (Erichson) (= agnatus (Erichson)= ocreatus (Horn)= arduus (Sharp)= simulator (Smetana); simplex (Sharp) (= cavifrons Bierig); infimus (Horn) (= formosus (Fall)). N. ludicrus (Erichson) is considered to have 2 allopatric subspecies, which are I. ludicrus and I. fauveli Smetana (new status). N. terminalis (LeConte) likewise is thought to have 2 subspecies, which are t. terminalis and t. elegantulus (Horn) (new status). The 3 species nigrocoeruleus Cameron, demme/i Bierig, and funerulus Cameron are recognized as distinct from humilis (Erichson), and the 3 names are removed from synonymy. Adults of all 39 valid species are described or redescribed with the aid of illustrations. Keys are provided to males from 4 regions: (1) America north of Mexico; (2) Mexico and Central America; (3) the West Indies; and (4) South America. The distribution of each species is recorded and mapped, based on specimens examined. Species are grouped according to morphological similarity of the adults, and the groups are differentiated, with their possible phylogenetic relationships discussed briefly.