A review of the genus Anthocomus Erichson, 1840 (Coleoptera, Cleroidea, Malachiidae) species of Inner Asia

The distribution and species diversity of the genus Anthocomus Erichson, 1840 of Inner Asia are discussed. Nine species, Anthocomus (Celidus) equestris (Fabricius, 1781), Anthocomus (Anthocomus) abdominalis Pic, 1903, A.( A.) coreanus Pic, 1911, A. (A.) cyaneipennis Wittmer, 1940, A. (A.) limbellus (Wittmer, 1953), A. (A.) lineatipennis Wittmer, 1995, A. (A.) mongolicus Wittmer, 1969, A. (A.) similicornis Wittmer, 1999 and A. (A.) testaceoterminalis Wittmer, 1995 known from the region and adjacent territories are reviewed. The placement of four species, ? A. (A.) coreanus Pic, 1911, ? A. (A.) cyaneipennis Wittmer, 1940, ? A. (A.) limbellus (Wittmer, 1953) and ? A. (A.) mongolicus Wittmer, 1969 in the genus Anthocomus Erichson is discussed as doubtful. A new species, Anthocomus (Anthocomus) kovali Tshernyshev, sp. n. from Wexi mountains, Yunnan Province, China is described and illustrated. The new species differs in its monochromous orange-yellow elytra with orange-red apical impressions yellow within, appendages orange-brown, head, pronotum, scutellum and palpi dark brown to black and lacking metallic luster, antennae dark brown

Обзор рода Anthocomus Erichson, 1840 (Coleoptera: Cleroidea: Malachiidae) Северной Азии с описанием нового вида из Южного Приморья

В статье обсуждается состав и распространение видов рода Anthocomus Erichson, 1840 (Coleoptera: Malachiidae) на территории Северной Азии. Помимо широко распространенного в лесной зоне вида A. (Celidus) equestris (Fabricius 1781) рассмотрены виды A. (A.) coreanus Pic, 1911 (Korea) и A. (A.) mongolicus Wittmer 1969 (Mongolia), известные из сопредельных территорий. Из Южного Приморья описан новый вид Anthocomus (A.) kurbatovi Tshernyshev, sp.n. (Лазовский заповедник), проиллюстрированы внешний вид, специфические структуры и гениталии самца. Дана определительная таблица видов рода Anthocomus Северной Азии

Dilatapalochrus gen. nov. - a new species and a new genus of soft-winged flower beetle of the tribe Apalochrini (Coleoptera: Malachiidae) from East Africa

A new genus, Dilatapalochrus Tshernyshev gen. nov., from East Africa is described in the tribe Apalochrini with Dilatapalochrus vikhrevi Tshernyshev, sp. nov. designated at the type species. Male external appearance and special male characters for the new species are illustrated. Placement of the genus in the tribe Apalochrini is discussed, and a key to genera of the tribe occurring in Africa is provided

Protomauroania mikhailovi — a new species of malachite beetles (Coleoptera, Dasytidae) in Rovno amber

A new species of malachite beetles, Protomauroania mikhailovi Tshernyshev & Perkovsky, sp. n. is described from late Eocene Rovno amber. The new beetle is the second species of the Eocene fossil genus Protomauroania Tshernyshev, 2021 that was first recorded in Rovno amber and shows fauna similarity of dasytids in Baltic and Rovno amber. The new species is typical owing to the following characters: antennae with 5-segmented wide club, surface covered with darkbrown long semi-erect thin setae, and the ultimate ventrite (apical sternite) simple, narrow, not depressed. Digital high resolution pictures of the beetle are provided

Новый вид жуков малашек рода Kuatunia Evers, 1949 (Coleoptera: Cleroidea, Malachiidae) из Непала

A new malachiid beetle species Kuatunia andreasi Tshernyshev, sp.n. is described from Nepal (Karnali Province). Figures of the external appearance, elytral apices, and genitalia of the male are provided for the new species. A key to all species of the genus Kuatunia Evers, 1949 is given

Ревизия рода Dicranolaius Champion, 1921 (Coleoptera: Cleroidea: Malachiidae) с описанием нового рода жуков малашек Australolaius gen.n. из Австралии

The genus Dicranolaius Champion, 1921 is revised, the type species, Laius (Dicranolaius) falcifer Champion, 1921 is redescribed, and the differential male characters of the genus are discussed, namely 5-segmented anterior tarsi with the comb above the 2nd tarsomere, enlarged and modified 1st and 3rd antennomeres, and simple head, legs and pronotum lacking impressions or protuberances. A new genus, Australolaius Tshernyshev, gen.n. with a type species Dicranolaius weiri Liu, Ślipiński et Pang, 2015 is described for several Australian Dicranolaius species with male special characters as follows: anterior femora are stout and hollowed externally, urites are elongate and emarginated, and apex of the aedeagus is spicular-shaped. The external appearance, special male characters and genitalia of the type species of the studied genera are illustrated, and a distribution map are provided. A key to the Laius-group genera of the tribe Apalochrini is also provided. How to cite this article: Tshernyshev S.E. 2021. The revision of soft-winged flower beetle genus Dicranolaius Champion, 1921 (Coleoptera: Cleroidea: Malachiidae) with description of a new genus Australolaius gen.n. from Australi

First record of the genus Sceloattalus Wittmer, 1966 (Coleoptera, Malachiidae) from China, with description of a new species

The genus Sceloattalus Wittmer, 1966 is recorded from China for the first time. A new species, S. nigroprominens Tong & Yang, sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Xizang Autonomous Region of China. This new species is the fourth member of Sceloattalus and can be easily distinguished from others by the yellow antennae with a small black spot at apex of last antennomere, black elytra without metallic lustre, all tarsi yellow, and hind tibiae yellow to black. The generic diagnosis of Sceloattalus is resummarized. An identification key to all known species of Sceloattalus is also updated

Invertebrates of Siberia, a potential source of animal protein for innovative food production. 1. The keelback slugs (Gastropoda: Limacidae)

The use of terrestrial invertebrates occurring in Siberia as a source of nutrients is an innovative form of new quality food production in North Asia. The species available for this production should be qualified by necessary criteria; for example, they should be common in the region and easily obtainable, free from restriction or prohibition as rare or protected species, adapted to regional environmental conditions, and their bodies should be free from toxins and allergens. They should also be unpretentious in terms of housing, consumption of cheap and suitable feed which provides a satisfactory increase in biomass and contains necessary nutrients in the required ratio. Several local species of terrestrial molluscs and insects fit these criteria and have been were selected as model species, such as the yellow slug Limacus flavus (Linnaeus, 1758) which has been studied in detail. Individuals of this slug were collected from a subterranean vegetable store in the city of Novosibirsk, and reared for 5 months under laboratory conditions with different lighting, humidity and temperature. Standard vegetables for winter storage, carrot, cabbage and potato (the preferred ingredient), were provided to the slugs. The most effective factors for the development of body weight and size of the slugs were registered in the dark under moderate humidity and temperature. Average weight and length of slugs at the beginning of the experiment in March 2022 were 0.62 gram and 3.42 mm, and at the end of the experiment in August 2022 were 3.67 gram and 5.76 mm (respectively x 5.9 and x 1.7). Therefore, basement and underground cold premises lacking constant lighting and provided with potato waste as a feeding substrate appear to be optimal for raising and rearing this slug species; naturally this would be of particular interest for food production in regions with cold climate conditions

Protapalochrus Evers 1987

<i>Protapalochrus</i> Evers, 1987 <p> Type species: <i>Apalochrus flavolimbatus</i> Mulsant & Rey, 1853.</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis</b>. Moderate size (c. 3.5–5.0 mm) soft-winged flower beetles with the body elongate, narrow in <i>Protapalochrus</i> (<i>Protapalochrus</i>) and slightly widened in <i>Protapalochrus</i> (<i>Latapalochrus</i>), parallel-sided and slightly expanded posteriorly. Black-brown lacking metallic luster or metallic blue or green with yellow parts (i.e. sides of pronotum, elytra, palpi, basal segments of antennae, median part of abdomen and legs). Antennae filiform, long, expanding over the base of elytra with the 3rd antennomere triangular, longer than the 1st, in <i>Protapalochrus</i> (<i>Latapalochrus</i>) and of the same length in <i>Protapalochrus (Protapalochrus</i>). Head small, flat, slightly narrower than pronotum, eyes simple, small, round, slightly protruding. Pronotum transverse in <i>Protapalochrus</i> (<i>Latapalochrus</i>) and elongate, and distinctly narrowed posteriorly in <i>Protapalochrus (Protapalochrus</i>), almost completely straight anteriorly, with evenly rounded angles and distinctly marginate basal half. Elytra narrow and parallel, densely punctured in <i>Protapalochrus</i> (<i>Protapalochrus</i>) and subparallel, slightly expanded posteriorly in evenly and sparsely punctured in <i>Protapalochrus</i> (<i>Latapalochrus</i>), with distinct but weakly protruding shoulders; apices evenly rounded, simple. Anterior tarsi with distinct transverse rounded not large comb above the 2nd segment, all tibiae simple, not swollen or appendiculate, thin and slightly expanded posteriorly, femora simple, not swollen or rounded, lacking appendages or indentation. Metathorax simple, not swollen, thoracic mesepimere dark, vesicles yellow.</p> <p> Pygidium undivided, evenly rounded, simple, ultimate abdominal ventrite bilaciniate, narrow, evenly rounded distally, aedeagus simple, slightly curved dorsally, with distinct horn-like tube inside endophallus in <i>Protapalochrus</i> (<i>Latapalochrus</i>) and transparent tube in <i>Protapalochrus</i> (<i>Protapalochrus</i>). Tegmen with thin and very short apices of parameres.</p> <p> Species of the genus are similar to representatives of <i>Apalochrus</i> Erichson, 1840 and differ by the presence of a comb in the 2nd segment of anterior tarsi of males.</p> <p> <b>Notes.</b> Species of the genus are distributed in Central and North Asia and South and Central Europe.</p>Published as part of <i>Tshernyshev, Sergei E., 2016, A review of species of the genera Protapalochrus Erichson and Paratinoides L. Medvedev (Coleoptera, Malachiidae), pp. 369-390 in Zootaxa 4139 (3)</i> on pages 371-372, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4139.3.3, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/262356">http://zenodo.org/record/262356</a&gt

Kuatunia oloyensis Wittmer 1999

Kuatunia oloyensis Wittmer, 1999 (Fig. 14) Distribution notes. In the original description Walter Wittmer reports three localities, two of which erroneously placed in Transbaikalia: Holotype: Magadanskaya Oblast, SE Siberia (not in Transbaikalia: Oloy River is a tributary of Omolon River, in its turn a tributary of Kolyma River); a first Paratype labelled “Verkhneudinsk” (now Ulan-Ude), actually in Transbaikalia; a second Paratype from Amurskaya Oblast, in the Russian Far East (Skovorodino) (not in Transbaikalia). Later, some further specimens were found in Baikal (Olkhon peninsula), Chita and Yakutia, as detailed below: IRKUTSKAYA OBLAST: Vitim Upland, upper stream of Bolshoi Amalat River, 1.VIII. 1967, coll.?— 1 Ƥ (SCH); Olkhonsky Raion, Chernorud environce, Sarinskii Goletz (mountain peak stones), on Pinus pumila, 12.VII. 1998, S. Toshchakov leg. — 1 3 (SCH); CHITINSKAYA OBLAST: Chita City, 4.VII. 1977, V. Kovalev, D. Zherikhin leg.— 1 3 (SZMN); YAKUTIA: Keedei Lake, pass to the Amgu river, 15.VII. [19] 25, L. Bianki leg.— 1 3 (ZISP). Thus, this species appears widely distributed in the northeastern part of Asiatic Russia.Published as part of Tshernyshev, Sergei E., 2012, Two new species of soft-winged flower beetles of the genus Kuatunia Evers, 1945 48 (Coleoptera, Malachiidae) from China and northeastern Russia, pp. 56-64 in Zootaxa 3191 on pages 62-63, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21474