Quediina

Kraatz, 1857

Quediina is a mega-diverse subtribe of (: Staphylinini) comprising hundreds of globally, with exceptional in north and south temperate regions. The subtribe has historically been defined by convention rather than clear , and recent phylogenetic studies have demonstrated polyphyly, leading to major taxonomic revisions. Formerly quediine from the Afrotropical region have been reassigned to unrelated lineages within Staphylinini. The subtribe includes economically important genera such as Quedius and Bolitogyrus.

Philonthus aequalis by no rights reserved, uploaded by Nick Bédard. Used under a CC0 license.

Philonthus lomatus by no rights reserved, uploaded by Nick Bédard. Used under a CC0 license.

Thinopinus by (c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Quediina: //kwɛˈdɪ.iːnə//

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Identification

Quediina is not reliably diagnosed by unique and has been defined primarily by convention. generally exhibit the characteristic staphylinine body plan with exposing most of the . Specific identification requires examination of male , particularly the structure, and detailed punctation patterns of the and elytra. The subtribe is currently delimited phylogenetically rather than by clear morphological autapomorphies.

Images

Distribution

-rich in north temperate and south temperate regions of the world; tropical faunas, including the entire Afrotropical region, are notably depauperate. The Quedius does not occur naturally in sub-Saharan Africa. Chinese fauna includes diverse representatives across multiple provinces including Yunnan, Sichuan, Beijing, Hubei, Guangdong, and Hainan. The genus Queskallion occurs in China, Myanmar, and Nepal.

Similar Taxa

TanygnathininaLinked through phylogenetic intermediates such as Natalignathus; historically confused with Quediina due to shared plesiomorphic characters and convergent in and larval stages.
StaphylininaFormer quediine such as Euristus have been reassigned to this lineage based on phylogenetic analysis, indicating historical misclassification due to convergent character evolution.
PhilonthinaFormerly quediine including misidentified of 'Quedius' (Q. angularis, Q. cinctipennis) and Algon have been transferred to Philonthina or its sublineages based on phylogenetic evidence.

Misconceptions

The historically recognized 'bipolar distribution pattern' of Quediina, with supposed absence from tropical regions, has been demonstrated to be an artifact of taxonomic misidentification rather than a genuine biogeographic phenomenon. The Quedius was long thought to occur in sub-Saharan Africa, but these records were based on misidentified now placed in Philonthus. The subtribe Quediina itself is polyphyletic, rendering many historical invalid.

More Details

Phylogenetic instability

Quediina is currently recognized as polyphyletic, with Afrotropical 'quediine' distributed across at least three unrelated lineages within Staphylinini: 'Staphylinina', 'Philonthina propria', and 'Tanygnathinina novo'. The phylogenetic position of Afroquedius remains ambiguous.

Taxonomic revisions

Recent systematic work has resulted in numerous new combinations: Quedius angularis and Quedius cinctipennis transferred to Philonthus; Algon robustus transferred to Moeocerus (with replacement name M. wendeleri due to preoccupation); and establishment of new Natalignathus as a phylogenetic link between Quediina and Tanygnathinina.

Larval morphology

of some quediine-related exhibit unique morphological features, including special appendages of unknown function on mesothoracic in Atanygnathus—structures unknown elsewhere in or .