Bryaxis splendidus

Bryaxis splendidus species group

Diffential diagnosis. The group is defined within the genus by the following combination of characters: (1) body unicoloured, reddish brown; (2) pronotum gibbous; (3) median occipital carina present; (4) eyes reduced, in females sometimes entirely absent; (5) maxillary palpomeres II and III irregularly granulate; (6) terminal maxillary palpomere large and flat with dense setation; (7) scape in males long, with well-projected secretory nodule at inner side; (8) pedicel longer than wide, oval, extended inwards by elevated edge with thickened and apically dentate margin; (9) inner side of pro- and metatibiae dentate close to apex; (10) aedeagus with parameres narrowed apically and forming proximally oriented lobes with variable shape, although the lobes are almost absent in B. monstrosetibialis (Stolz, 1923).

Biology. All specimens have been found in caves or in deep, shady and cold cavities under wet leaves or large, deeply buried stones.

Distribution. The species of the group are endemic to the Carpathians and the area of their distribution extends from northern Romania to central Slovakia (Fig. 8).