Two new species of Micropeplus from the Pliocene of western Alaska with remarks on the evolution of Micropeplinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

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Abstract
A radiometrically dated Pliocene fossil locality in western Alaska contains specimens representing two new species of insects: Micropeplus hoogendorni n. sp. and Micropeplus hopkinsi n. sp. (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae, Micropeplinae). Fossils of the extant Micropeplinae species Kalissus nitidus LeConte and Micropeplus tesserula Curtis occur with the fossils of the newly described species. Other insect fossils and plant fossils from the locality suggest that M. hoogendorni and M. hopkinsi lived in a coniferous forest somewhat similar to those in present-day British Columbia or Southeastern Alaska.The holotype and paratypes of Micropeplus hopkinsi provide morphological evidence for the evolutionary sequence of elylral puncture development in the genus Micropeplus. This and other information is used to construct a provisional phylogeny for the subfamily Micropeplinae. The probable derivation of the species groups of Micropeplus is discussed.

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