New species of Ceratoderus and Melanospilus from Southeast Asia (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Paussinae)

Ceratoderus Westwood, 1841 and Melanospilus Westwood, 1847 are highly modified Paussinae ground beetles placed in close relationships with Paussus Linnaeus, 1775 in the latest studies. Four new species are described from Southeast Asia: Ceratoderus anthicoides sp. nov. (Philippines), C. kalamensis sp. nov. (Sulawesi), Melanospilus pilosus sp. nov. (Malay Peninsula), and M. spectabilis sp. nov. (Thailand). The present findings show how diversity is incompletely known, even in areas where many entomologists conducted field research.

Automated summary

In the latest studies, Ceratoderus Westwood, 1841 and Melanospilus Westwood, 1847, highly modified ground beetles in the subfamily Paussinae, were found to have close relationships with Paussus Linnaeus, 1775. Four new species were discovered in Southeast Asia: Ceratoderus anthicoides (Philippines), C. kalamensis (Sulawesi), Melanospilus pilosus (Malay Peninsula), and M. spectabilis (Thailand). These findings highlight the incomplete understanding of biodiversity, even in areas where extensive field research has been conducted by entomologists.