Species diversity of Chinese carabid genus Pterostichus was poorly investigated and greatly underestimated before. Circinatus, one of the subgenera in Pterostichus, was once believed well studied, with 11 previously known species, but up to now, we have discovered 11 more species and one subspecies. In this monograph, detailed description and illustration for each taxon of Circinatus are provided, and species relationships are discussed with phylogenetic methods. Endophallic characters are emphasized in species distinguishing and systematics analysizing for this subgenus. High-resolution endophallic illustrations for most known species are provided. The monograph also gives a useful key to aid species determination. More species are expected to be discovered in the near future, considering rich species diversity of Chinese Pterostichus.
Introduction 2
Material and methods 3
Subgenus Circinatus Sciaky, 1996 4
Key to species of the subgenus Circinatus 6
New taxa descriptions 9
Supplemental notes on previously described species 36
Species removed from Circinatus 54
Infra-subgeneric taxonomy 57
Phylogenetic analysis of Circinatus 64
Plates 70
Acknowledgements 88
References 88
Appendix 90