New species of the genus Zophohelops Reitter, 1902 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) with review of the species of Northern Tien-Shan

3 new species of the genus Zophohelops Reitter, 1902 are described: Z. kerzhneri sp. n., Z. dolini sp. n. (Northern Tien Shan, Kirgizskiy range), Z. schawalleri sp. n. (Western Tien Shan, Baubashata range). Review of the representatives of the genus Zophohelops of Nothern Tien Shan is provided including redescription of Z. cylindronotoides (Reitter, 1902) and Z. spiridon Reitter, 1922, illustrations of each species and the key to determine the

The genus Raiboscelis Allard, 1876 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae): taxonomic history, nomenclature, morphology

The present paper reviews the history of taxonomy and nomenclature of the genus Raiboscelis Allard, 1876. The original spelling of this genus name is Raibosceles. While Raibosceles was rarely used, the spelling Raiboscelis was adopted by many authors and is in prevailing usage. Consequently, it should be used to denote this taxon [ICZN Art. 33.3.1, and also 33.2.3.1]. The genus Hipponome Laporte, 1840 was established for Helops azureus Brullé, 1832, a valid species known as Raiboscelis azureus. Thus, Hipponome is a senior synonym of Raiboscelis. As Hipponome was not used as valid after 1899 to our knowledge, it may be declared nomen oblitum. Raiboscelis Allard, 1876 is currently used and here declared nomen protectum. The required supporting references [ICZN Art. 23.9.1.2] are annexed. The genus Raiboscelis is redefined and the relevant taxonomic characters are illustrate

Description of the larva of Cylindrinotus gibbicollis Faldermann, 1837 and notes on the classification of the subtribe Cylindrinotina Español, 1956 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Helopini)

The larva of Cylindrinotus gibbicollis Faldermann, 1837 is described in this paper. It is the first larval description for the genus Cylindrinotus Faldermann, 1837. The larva belongs to the cylindrinotoid type and has 10 marginal and 2 discal setae on the labium. It differs from the other described larvae of the tribe Helopini in tribe by the structure of urogomphi which having a large dent on the internal part. Position of the genus Cylindrinotus within the system of the subtribe Cylindrinotina is discussed. Inclusion of the representatives of cylindrinotoid genera in the group with nalassoid genera is proved to be incorrec

A faunistic review of darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae; excluding Alleculinae) of Armenia and partly the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan with new records and taxonomic notes

The faunistic review of Tenebrionidae (excluding Alleculinae) from Armenia is presented. The work is based on longterm collections of one of the authors and materials from museum collections, deposited in Yerevan (the most of material), St Petersburg and Budapest. In total, 123 species of Tenebrionidae, excluding Alleculinae are reliably known from Armenia and confirmed by material. The checklist contains data on specimens (number of specimens and geographic labels) deposited in the museums. Sometimes we refer to reliable sources with the indicated material. Thus, all data have been verified, and the habitat of each species has been confirmed by collection material. The following seven species are recorded from Armenia for the first time: Hedyphanes laticollis Fischer von Waldheim in Ménétriés, 1832 (the first confirmed record), Palorus orientalis Fleischer, 1900, Tenebrio angustus Zoufal, 1892, Pentaphyllus testaceus (Hellwig, 1792), Corticeus longulus (Gyllenhal, 1827), C. suberis (Lucas, 1846), Myrmechixenus picinus (Aubé, 1850). Four latter species are also new for Transcaucasia. The following four species are recorded for Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic (Azerbaijan) for the first time: Aspidocephalus desertus Motschulsky, 1839, Gonocephalum setulosum (Faldermann, 1837), Palorus ratzeburgii (Wissmann, 1848), Cnemeplatia atropos A. Costa, 1847. The following 14 species are excluded from the faunistic list of Armenia because they are not confirmed by collection material: Cnemeplatia atropos, Philhammus cribratellus Reitter, 1901, Lachnogya squamosa Ménétriés, 1848, Leptodes lederi Reitter, 1889, Sternoplax armeniaca (Faldermann, 1837), Lagria atripes Mulsant et Guillebeau, 1855, Blaps scabriuscula scabriuscula Ménétriés, 1832, Neopachypterus serrulatus (Reitter, 1904), Opatrum verrucosum Germar, 1817, Penthicus pinguis pinguis Faldermann, 1836, Sclerum carinatum Baudi di Selve, 1875, Leichenum canaliculatum canaliculatum (Fabricius, 1798), Helops caeruleus stevenii Krynicki, 1834, Uloma culinaris (Linnaeus, 1758). In addition, we presented corrections (we excluded 15 species as a result of synonymy or incorrect distribution data) to the Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera, which were made in previous works (before the date of publication in 2020) but omitted in this catalogue. A new synonymy is proposed: Cyphostethe semenovi Bogatchev, 1947 = Cyphostethe jelineki Merkl, 1991, syn. n. The species Pimelia persica Faldermann, 1837 is transferred from the nominotypical subgenus to the subgenus Chaetotoma Motschulsky, 1860. Two species, Tenebrio angustus and Palorus orientalis, are synantropic invaders in Armenia

Morphological variability, bionomics and trophic associations of the rare Cypriot endemic Odocnemis intrusicollis (Seidlitz, 1895) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

A single species of the genus Odocnemis Allard, 1876 occurs in Cyprus and it is considered endemic to the island: O. intrusicollis (Seidlitz, 1895). The species was known only by the original description of one female (holotype) from the type locality “Cyprus”. We found two populations of this darkling beetle across the Troodos mountain range, at higher and lower altitudes. The two populations differ in the structures of the prothorax and have slightly different male genitalia. Additionally, the two populations are isolated geographically, have different trophic associations and inhabit different types of forest. These differences may suggest early stages of differentiation into separate taxa. Odocnemis intrusicollis can be included in the separate intrusicollis species-group, similar to some groups from south Anatolia

A new species of the genus Odocnemis Allard, 1876 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) from Greece

A new species Odocnemis bekiri sp.  n. is described from Greece (Macedonia Province). The species belongs to the tuberculiger species-group and differs from similar and all other species of the genus in the completely pubescence body

Contribution to the knowledge of the subgenus Helopondrus Reitter, 1922 of the genus Nalassus Mulsant, 1854 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) of Iran

Brief review of the subgenus Helopondrus Reitter, 1922 of the genus Nalassus Mulsant, 1854 of Iran is given in this paper. 6 species of this subgenus are known from Iran: N. kabakovi sp. n., N. cambyses (Seidlitz, 1896), N. heres (Reitter, 1922), N. cunctator (Reitter, 1922), N. lineatus (Allard, 1877), N. ahngeri (Medvedev, 1998). All species are distributed in northern part of Iran (Elburs, Kopet-Dagh). Lectotypes of Cylindrinotus heres and Stenomax vexator Reitter, 1887 are designate

Taxonomic notes on the genus Catomus Allard, 1876 (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae: Helopini) with description of a new species from Afghanistan

The name Catomodontus Koch, 1935 is not available. The subgenus Catomodontus Löbl & Merkl, 2003 (genus Catomus Allard, 1876) is valid and included 1 species. The new species Catomus kabakovi sp. n. from the subgenus Montanocatomus Nabozhenko, 2006 is described from Southern Hindukush (Afghanistan). The key to the species and map of distribution of Montanocatomus are give

Interstructural correlations in evolution of darkling beetles of the tribe Helopini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Various morphological structures of Helopini [sensu Nabozhenko, 2002a], their functions and evolution are considered. Some adaptations to arid environmental conditions and the main evolutionary trends in the tribe are discussed. The adaptations to digging are characteristic of Xanthomus which inhabits sandy coasts of Mediterranean. Many of Xanthomus have a digging type of fore tibiae (tibiae weakly flat, frequently with denticles and erected hairs on hide external margin.). The most part of other Helopini hide in wide hollows of ground, so some structures are adapted for movement in these hollows (epypleura, thoracic part, pronotum, body form). The genera Hedyphanes, Catomus, Physohelops have hedyphanous type of thoracic part moving in lateral and dorsoventral directions. Other groups of the tribe have nalassous type of thoracic part moving only in dorsoventral direction. Epypleura can be hedyphanous or nalassous also. Three evolutionary lines are traced in the tribe: helopious line (the subtribe Helopina), cylindronotous line (the subtribe Cylindronotina, the genera Cylindronotus, Odocnemis, Armenohelops, Reitterohelops, Stenomax) and “nalassous” line (the subtribe Cylindronotina, the genera Nalassus, Zophohelops, Turcmenohelops, Ectromopsis, Pseudoprobaticus, Stygohelops). Correlative connections between various structures of these three morphological types show precise enough bounds of the subtribes and groups of genera. Nalassous type of larvae, gastral spicula and female sexual ducts are characteristic for groups with nalassous type of male genitalia. Corresponding tendencies are observed in helopious and cylindronotous lines. Structural type of female sexual ducts frequently correlates with male aedeagus type. However an intricate structure of combined spermatheca in some nalassous groups confirms supposition about independent transformation of spermatheca in various groups of the tribe Helopini. This correlation can be used carefully in reasonings about phylogenetic relations and evolutionary advanced Helopini group. Complicate questions of the tribe classification are considered on the basic of outlined data. The analysis of morphological structures confirms parallel evolution of two basic Helopini branches (the subtribes Helopina and Cylindronotina) in adaptation to arid environmental conditions