Paederus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) diversity in central Iran and intraspecific variations of allopatric populations of Paederus mesopotamicus

Paederus specimens were manually collected by aspiration from 5 central counties of Lordegan, Ardal, Boroojen, Sharekord and Farsan (May-August 2008). Species diversity of 262 collected specimens indicates that P. (Eopaederus) mesopotamicus (Eppelscheim, 1889) was the predominant species, mostly collected from Lordegan (54 specimens) and Ardal (51 specimens) collecting sites (50° 49' E, 31° 30' N & 50° 37' E, 32° 02' N)., whereas P. (Heteropaederus) fuscipes (Curtis, 1840) and P. (Dioncopaederus) littoralis (Gravenhorst, 1802) were collected from Boroojen (51° 05' E, 31° 50' N) and Shahrekord-Farsan (50° 48' E, 32° 02' N, 50° 33' E, 32° 12' N) respectively. Description of morphologic characters and also morphometry of P. mesopotamicus indicates considerable qualitative and quantitative variations within the two populations. Legs were quite dark in Ardal specimens, but only dark to the apex of femur in Lordegan specimens. Elytra were more shining in Lordegan than Ardal specimens which often showed a non-metallic colour. The last nine antennomeres were quite dark in Ardal specimens, but more pale (brownish) in Lordegan specimens which gradually darkens from base to apex. Morphometric studies of male taxonomic characters in the two fore mentioned populations of P. mesopotamicus indicated that there were statistically significant differences (Mann-Withney U test, n=11, P< 0.05) in variables such as length/width ratio of vertex, elytron width, small curve of cutting edge in mandibles, 1st-4th tarsomeres of forelegs, 1st, 2nd and 5th tarsomeres of midlegs and the 5th tarsomere of the hindlegs.