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

GEOGRAPHICAL RELATIONS OF DARKLING BEETLES (COLEOPTERA: TENEBRIONIDAE) OF THE PALAEARCTIC TETHYS DESERT-STEPPE REGION WITH THE HISTORICAL REVIEW

Aim. The aim of the work is to analyze the geographic relationships of the family Tenebrionidae, which should be the basis of faunogenesis of the Tethys region of Palaearctic. Methods. The work is based on the material collected by the authors in the various regions of the Caucasus, the south of the European part of Russia, Kazakhstan and North Africa during 50 years (from 1961 to 2016), as well as the extensive literature data. We used the cluster analysis based on the Jaccard similarity coefficient which considers the positive coincidences for analysis the Tethys region tenebrionid faunas. Invasive species are not included in the analysis. Results. Extensive review of the history of study of Western Palaearctic Tenebrionidae from the mid-19th Century to the present day is given. The main directions of contemporary research are marked. Four hundred three genera of darkling beetles are distributed in the Tethys region including dendrophilous groups with tropical origin,  transpalaearctic  and  cosmopolitan  species,  that  represent  63%  of  all  known  Palaearctic  tenebrionid  genera (640 genera). Three quarters of them (304 genera or 75%) combining 5674 species include mainly xerophilous genera that are not found outside the region or presented only by very small number of species in the neighboring territories. Evidences of a common historical development of tenebrionid fauna appear in the 24 common widespread Tethys genera, which may be slightly spread beyond the boundaries, but have a very high diversity of species and infrageneric (probably a center of the origin) diversity within the Tethys region. The significant part (61%) of common Tethys genera, the high diversity of large Palaearctic genera of Tenebrionidae in the western and eastern parts of Tethys region, as well as the presence of complex of supralittoral relics of marine paleobassins (Western Tethys and Eastern Paratethys) from the genus Ectromopsis, indicates a single area of faunogenesis of darkling beetles, which is historically related with epicontinental Paleogene Tethys Ocean. Two super-regions (with western Tethys and eastern Tethys complexis of taxa) are allocated. These two regions are divided on several subregions which differ by high level of taxonomic diversity. The division is based on the analyses of species and generic abudance and level of an endemism. Claster analyses of common to the region genera, Tethys genera, common to the region species and the genus Blaps shows similarity of Anatolia and the Balkan region faunas; the Caucasus is similar to Iran. Two early allocated super-regions are more or less clearly revealed on all dendrograms. The Arabian Peninsula and North Africa have ancient relations with both super-regions based on the analyses of Tethys genera, and the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East have ancient relations with both super-regions using analyses of all tenebrionid species of the Tethys region. Conclusion. The faunogenesis of several subregions of the Tethys region was formed as island type. Analysis of the distribution and taxonomic diversity of darkling indicates a long-time development of the tenebrionid fauna in coastal and island ecosystems of the Tethys Ocean, and later an independent prime of this fauna in different areas of the Tethys desert-steppe region with the retreat of ocean water, aridity and orogeny. At the same time, faunistic elements of relic type of Paleogene origin are preserved and evoluted in the mountain island forests in Anatolia, the Middle East and the Atlas with the Late Tertiary relict flora

Caucasian Entomological Bulletin, Vol. 19, iss. 1

This issue (Vol. 19, iss. 1) of the Caucasian Entomological Bulletin contains 22 scientific published papers and short communications by authors from Russia, Uzbekistan, Iran, Turkey and Sri Lanka: three taxonomic papers on the Araneae of the Western Palaearctic and 19 ones on the systematics, fauna, ecology and cytogenetics of insects of the Palaearctic, Afrotropics and Oriental region (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae, Curculionidae, Chrysomelidae, Staphylinidae, Cerambycidae, Histeridae; Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae; Lepidoptera: Tortricidae; Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae; Diptera: Dolichopodidae, Limoniidae, Hippoboscidae, Chironomidae

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