Daimophyllon gen. nov., a striking new genus of Athetini rove beetle (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) from Brazil with description of two new species

Among the Aleocharinae rove beetles, the tribe Athetini is one of the most diverse and morphologically poorly delimited, obviously non‐monophyletic groups, with approximately 4000 described species. Despite overlapping morphological diagnoses of Athetini and other tribes such as Oxypodini, as well as many poorly delimited genera in Athetini, this study describes Daimophyllon gen. nov. with two new species, Daimophyllon ozzyosbournei gen. et. sp. nov. and Daimophyllon dio gen. et. sp. nov. from southeastern Brazil, placed in this tribe. The new genus has some morphological characters shared with the satisfactorily delimited genus Seeversiella Ashe, 1986, but several distinct characters set both genera apart. Notable diagnostic characters for Daimophyllon gen. nov. include the three‐processed spinose tergite III, the distinctive occipital suture, and additional morphological divergences described herein. These new taxa expand the morphological diversity of Athetini in Latin America, especially in Brazil, and stress the continuing need for the taxonomic exploration of this group. The establishment of Daimophyllon gen. nov. highlights the importance of morphological delimitation within hyperdiverse groups such as Aleocharinae.