Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 May 2012
A revision of the hydrophilid subfamily Sphaeridiinae (Coleoptera) is presented including a historical review, a discussion of diagnostic characters and techniques, and some conclusive remarks, mostly on the zoogeography of this group in North America.Thirteen genera and 62 species are recognized. Three genera, one subgenus, 12 species, and one subspecies are described as new. Sphaeridiolinus Menozzi, 1921, is placed in synonymy with Sphaeridium Fabricius, 1775; Ercycon Rey, 1885, and Paraliocercyon Ganglbauer, 1904, are placed in synonymy with Cercyon Leach, 1817. On the specific level, Phaenonotum dubium Sharp, 1882, is placed in synonymy with Ph. exstriatum (Say, 1837); Sphaeridium quadrimaculatum Herbst, 1783, marginatum Fabricius, 1787, daltoni Stephens, 1829, semistriatum Laporte, 1840, testaceum Heer, 1841, humerale Westhoff, 1881, nigrum Csiki, 1953, and pulchrum Csiki, 1953, with S. bipustulatum Fabricius, 1781; Sphaeridium striolatum Heer, 1841, pictum Ménétries, 1832, marginatum Normand, 1933, nigerrimum Reitter, 1909, inhumerale Csiki, 1953, and confluens EndrÖdy-Younga, 1967, with S. scarabaeoides (Linné, 1758); Cercyon testaceus Blatchley, 1923, with C. praetextatus (Say, 1825); Cercyon fulvipennis Mannerheim, 1852, with C. limbatus Mannerheim, 1843; Cercyon mulsanti Ganglbauer, 1904, with C. quisquilius (Linné, 1761); Cercyon impunctatus Kuwert, 1890, and janssoni Nyholm, 1952, with C. unipunctatus (Linné, 1758); Cercyon incrematus Notman, 1920, with C. lateralis (Marsham, 1802); Cercyon erythropterus Mulsant, 1840, discoidalis J. Sahlberg, 1913, basillaris Notman, 1920, and bifenestratellus EndrÖdy-Younga, 1967, with C. haemorrhoidalis (Fabricius, 1775); Cercyon rufipennis Csiki, 1953, with C. impressus (Sturm, 1807); Cercyon rubripennis Kuwert, 1890, with C. melanocephalus (Linné, 1758); Cercyon separandus Rey, 1885, and pictithorax Gridelli, 1926, with C. terminants (Marsham, 1802); Cercyon binotatus Stephens, 1829, and ruficollis Schilsky, 1888, with C. litoralis (Gyllenhal, 1808); Cercyon falli Winters, 1944 (nomen nudum), with C. analis (Paykull, 1798); Cybocephalus unicolor Motschulsky, 1845, with Cercyon adumbratus Mannerheim, 1843; Cryptopleurum cerei Schwarz, 1899, with C. impressum Sharp, 1882.Neotypes are designated for Cercyon praetextatus (Say), C. occallatus (Say), and C. minusculus Melsh. Lectotypes are designated for Dactylosternum advectum Horn, D. cacti (LeC.), Oosternum costatum Sharp, Cercyon roseni Knisch, C. opacellus Fall, C. pubescens LeC., C. kulzeri Knisch, C. nevadanus Knisch, C. floridanus Horn, C. testaceus Blatch., C. limbatus Mannh., C. fulvipennis Mannh., C. variegatus Sharp, C. indistinctus Horn, C. adumbratus Mannh., C. fimbriatus Mannh., C. luniger Mannh., C. maculatus Melsh., Genyon navicularis (Zimm.), Megasternum posticatum Mannh., Cryptopleurum impressum Sharp, C. cerei Schw., and C. subtile Sharp.Keys to tribes, genera, and species are provided. The tribes and genera are described; each species is described and illustrated, and all available bionomic and distributional data are presented; distributional records are mapped.