A REVISION OF THE GENUSALEOCHARAGRAVENHORST OF AMERICA NORTH OF MEXICO (COLEOPTERA: STAPHYLINIDAE, ALEOCHARINAE)

Abstract A revision of the genusAleocharaof America north of Mexico is presented. Seven subgenera are redefined with 47 currently recognized species, of which nine are described as new (A.arizonica,A.cavernicola,A.curtidens,A.lobata,A.ocularis,A.nidicola,A.rufobmnnea,A.rufonigra,A.unicolor). The species are arranged according to their relationships into species groups within each subgenus. Sixty-one synonymies are newly established (the first specific name is valid): Subg. COPROCHARA,A.bimaculataGravenhorst =B.deserticolaCasey =B.innocuaCasey =B. obsolescens Casey =B. recta Casey;A.notulaErichson =A.duplicataErichson =B.nanellaCasey =B.nitidicollisCasey;A.suffusa(Casey) =B.acuminataCasey =A.verna brundiniBernhauer;A.vernaSay =A.alticolaSharp. Subg.XENOCHARA,A.lacertinaSharp =B.salicolaCasey =B.imbricataCasey =B.idoneaCasey =A.densiventrisBernhauer;A.sallaeiSharp =A.torquataSharp;A.puberulaKlug =B.bipartitaCasey;A.fumataGravenhorst =A.languidaSachse =B.defectaCasey =B.affluensCasey;A.castaneipennisMannerheim =A.glenoranaCasey =B.rotundicollisCasey =B.mannerheimiCasey =B.acomanaCasey =B.insulanaCasey =B.concurrensCasey =B.eludensCasey =A.oregonaHatch;A.quadrataSharp =B.uvidulaCasey =A.sparsicollisBernhauer. Subg.CALOCHARA,A.rubripennisCasey =A.rubripesBlatchley =A.wallawallaeHatch. Subg.ALEOCHARA,A.centralisSharp =A.stygialisSharp;A.gracilicornisBernhauer =A.kansanaCasey =A.pleuralisCasey =A.americanaCasey =A.ellipsicollisCasey;A.lustricaSay =A.pauperSharp =A.serrataSharp =A.texanaCasey =A.fusicornisCasey =A.sternalisCasey =A.algonquinaCasey =A.medialisCasey;A.tahoensisCasey =A.postpictaCasey =A.montanicaCasey;A.thoracicaCasey =A.collusorCasey. Subg.ECHOCHARA,A.lucifuga(Casey) =A.cavicola(Garman). Subg.EMPLENOTA,A.littoralis(Mäklin) =A.maritima(Casey) =P.arenariaCasey =E.quadriferCasey =E.trilimbataCasey =E.longicepsCasey. Subg.MASEOCHARA,A.validaLeConte =M.ponderosaCasey =M.robustaSharp =M.ruficaudaCasey;A.opacella(Sharp) =M.hogeiSharp =M.decipiensCasey;A.depressa(Sharp) =M.puberulaCasey =M.basalisCasey =M.mustaCasey.Ninety-three lectotypes and three neotypes are designated (neotypes are designated for:C.caviolaGarman,A.lustricaSay, andA.vernaSay).Keys to subgenera and species are provided. All species are described, each illustrated with line drawings and scanning electron microscope photomicrographs, and all available bionomic and distributional data are given. Emphasis was put on host records of thoseAleocharaspecies which may be used in biological control of some pest species of Diptera. The systematics and phylogeny of the subgenera and zoogeography of species are discussed.A checklist of NearcticAleocharaand a table listing the known host records for some species is added.