Cilea silphoides
(Linnaeus, 1767)
Cilea silphoides is a rove beetle (Staphylinidae: Tachyporinae) originally described by Linnaeus in 1767 as Staphylinus silphoides. It is the sole of the Cilea treated in the 1975 North American revision by Campbell and Davies, which provided detailed morphological descriptions, distribution mapping, and male genitalia illustrations. The species has been taxonomically confused with related genera, and its name has undergone clarification regarding generic priority. It is distinguished from the related genus Coproporus by structural features of the male genitalia and external .
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Cilea silphoides: //ˈsɪliˌɛ sɪlˈfɔɪdiːz//
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Identification
Use the diagnostic key provided in Campbell and Davies (1975), which separates Cilea silphoides from all nine of Coproporus treated in the revision. Confirmation requires examination of male genitalia; the structure of the is distinct from all Coproporus species. The species is readily separated from Coproporus by the combination of body form and genitalic characters detailed in the revision.
Images
Distribution
North America north of Mexico; exact distribution mapped in Campbell and Davies (1975). Records from the Azores (Faial, Flores, Pico, Santa Maria, Terceira) suggest either a broader distribution or possible introduction to Atlantic islands, though the taxonomic status of these requires verification.
Similar Taxa
- Coproporus speciesNine of Coproporus occur sympatrically with Cilea silphoides in North America north of Mexico. These have been historically confused, but Cilea silphoides is distinguished by male genitalia structure and external as detailed in Campbell and Davies (1975).
Misconceptions
The generic name Cilea has been confused with Coproporus in previous publications, and the priority of Cilea versus the synonym Leucoparyphus Kraatz required clarification. The epithet 'silphoides' has led to assumptions about carrion-feeding habits, but no dietary data supports this.
More Details
Taxonomic History
Originally described as Staphylinus silphoides by Linnaeus in 1767. The generic placement in Cilea Jacquelin du Val was clarified by Campbell and Davies (1975), who discussed the confused usage of both Coproporus and Cilea in previous literature and established the priority of Cilea over Leucoparyphus Kraatz.
Type Material
The revision by Campbell and Davies (1975) examined type material and provided the first comprehensive North American treatment, including scanning electron photomicrographs of diagnostic characters.