A REVIEW OF ALEOCHARINE ROVE BEETLES FROM THE GALAPAGOS-ISLANDS, ECUADOR (COLEOPTERA, STAPHYLINIDAE, ALEOCHARINAE)

The Galapagos aleocharine rove beetles are reviewed. Fifteen species ( 3 new), in 9 genera and 7 tribes are recognised in our collections: At hetini: Atheta (Acrotona)pseudoclaudiensis sp. n. (endemic), A. (Athet a) coriaria (Kraatz) (introduced, new record), A. lurida (Erichson) (n ative), A. dichroa (Gravenhorst) (native), A. galapagoensis Pace (ende mic); Myllaenini: Myllaena leleupi Pace (endemic); Rothium littoralis sp. n. (probably endemic); Hypocyphtini (=Oligotini): Oligota (Holobus ) chrysopyga Kraatz (introduced, new record); Homalotini (=Bolitochari ni): Diesota (Apheloglossa) franziana (Pace) (status uncertain, possib ly endemic), D. (Apheloglossa) leleupi Pace (probably endemic), Phaner ota tridentata sp. n. (probably introduced), Thecturota franzi Pace (p robably endemic); Falagriini: Myrmecocephalus concinnus (Erichson) (in troduced, new record); Placusini: Euvira scalesia sp. n. (endemic, new record) and Oxypodini: Feluva franzi Pace (probably endemic). The tri bes Falagriini, Hypocyphtini and Placusini are reported from the islan ds for the first time. Diesota galapagosensis Pace (1985a), and Rothiu m ashlocki Ahn & Ashe (1996), previously reported from Galapagos, are not confirmed in our material. All but the unconfirmed species are des cribed/redescribed and their diagnostic features illustrated. Data on bionomics and species affiliations are briefly discussed. Keys for ide ntification are provided. Most naturally occurring species occur in th e arid vegetation zone. The 17 known species seem to represent at leas t 17 separate colonization events.