A New, Flightless Species of Medon (Coleoptera:Staphylinidae: Paederinae) from High Appalachia, with Intraspecific Phylogeographic Analysis and Description of its Associated Larva
Caterino MS. 2023. A New, Flightless Species of Medon (Coleoptera:Staphylinidae: Paederinae) from High Appalachia, with Intraspecific Phylogeographic Analysis and Description of its Associated Larva. The Coleopterists Bulletin. 77(4):507-523
ABSTRACT: Medon icarus Caterino, new species (Staphylinidae: Paederinae) is described, restricted largely to the highest elevations of the southern Appalachian Mountains, USA. This flightless species occurs across several high ranges in the region, and analysis of COI sequences from known populations reveals deep genetic divergences among them. Insufficient morphological differentiation has been observed to subdivide them, but the possibility remains that this represents a cryptic species complex, with from 5–12 genetically but otherwise indistinguishable members. This is the only member of this mainly western Nearctic and Palearctic genus in the southeastern US, though it appears to be closely related to the northeastern winged species Medon americanus Casey. Description of DNA-associated larval specimens, along with adult morphological and molecular information, will help determine its position among global Medonina diversity.