First report of the Euconnus Thomson subgenus Cladoconnus Reitter in the New World, represented by thirteen new Appalachian species (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Scydmaeninae)

Abstract

Thirteen new species of Euconnus Thomson (Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae: Glandulariini) are described from the southern Appalachian Mts, USA: Euconnus megalopssp. nov., E. vexillussp. nov., E. cumberlandussp. nov., E. vetustussp. nov., E. adversussp. nov., E. astrussp. nov., E. cultellussp. nov., E. falcatussp. nov., E. cataloocheesp. nov., E. kilmerisp. nov., E. dracosp. nov., E. tusquiteesp. nov., and E. attritussp. nov. These share a number of morphological characters with the Old World subgenus Cladoconnus Reitter, representing a diversification of species distinct from anything previously known from the western hemisphere. Most of the species occur at higher elevations, some at the tops of the region’s highest mountains, and a few are single-peak endemics. No females of these species are winged, and in several species neither sex is winged. A preliminary phylogeny suggests the wingless species represent a clade within a clade of wing-dimorphic species.