ABSTRACT
Monocrepidius Eschscholtz, 1829, previously Conoderus Eschscholtz, 1829, is one of the largest genera in Elateridae, with about 380 species distributed worldwide, with the majority of diversity in Australian and Neotropical regions. Several species groups have been recognized in Monocrepidius. Monocrepidius fuscofasciatus (Eschscholtz 1829) belongs to Candèze's section I with seven species distributed in South America, predominantly in Brazil. Larvae of M. fuscofasciatus is undescribed and distribution of this species is poorly known. In the present work we describe mature larva, pupa and redescribe adults of M. fuscofasciatus, and also add information about distribution of this species. Monocrepidius fuscofasciatus larva is similar to that of M. malleatus Germar, 1824, its closest species with known larva. They differ from other American species in the presence of penicillus on mandible and abdominal tergum IX more setose, with a lateral row of 6 or 7 setae. In the other species, the penicillus is absent and the lateral row bears 2 or 3 setae. These results corroborate that larval evidence is useful in the taxonomy of this genus.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera , Animals , Australia , Larva , PupaABSTRACT
The updated catalogue of Agrypninae from Pakistan is provided. We list 86 described species classified in 18 genera and five tribes (Agrypnini, Drilini, Hemirhipini, Oophorini, and Pseudomelanactini). More than one third of species are currently endemic to Pakistan. For each species we provide information on distribution and relevant bibliography. The following new combinations are proposed for species hitherto included in Conoderus Eschscholtz, 1829 (since Conoderus is currently a synonym of Monocrepidius Eschscholtz, 1829): Monocrepidius aeolodermoides (Platia, 2015) comb. nov., Monocrepidius cylindricus (Platia & Ahmed, 2016) comb. nov., Monocrepidius drasterioides (Platia & Ahmed, 2016) comb. nov., Monocrepidius nigromaculosus (Vats & Chauhan, 1992) comb. nov., Monocrepidius mithiensis (Platia & Ahmed, 2016) comb. nov., and Monocrepidius vartiani (Platia, 2015) comb. nov. Additionally, Conoderus pakistanicus Mangi, Pahnwar & Shaikh, 2022 is synonymized with Lanelater bipunctatus (Candèze, 1857).
Subject(s)
Coleoptera , Animals , Pakistan , Animal DistributionABSTRACT
Hypoganus fedorenkoi sp. nov. is described from Northern Vietnam (Lào Cai Province); the genus is recorded for the first time in Vietnam. The position of this species and its allies within the genus is discussed.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera , Animals , Vietnam , Animal DistributionABSTRACT
Latitudinal gradients allow insights into the factors that shape ecosystem structure and delimit ecosystem processes, particularly climate. We asked whether the biomass and diversity of soil macrofauna in boreal forests change systematically along a latitudinal gradient spanning from 60° N to 69° N. Invertebrates (3697 individuals) were extracted from 400 soil samples (20 × 20 cm, 30 cm depth) collected at ten sites in 2015-2016 and then weighed and identified. We discovered 265 species living in soil and on the soil surface; their average density was 0.486 g d·w·m-2. The species-level diversity decreased from low to high latitudes. The biomass of soil macrofauna showed no latitudinal changes in early summer but decreased towards the north in late summer. This variation among study sites was associated with the decrease in mean annual temperature by ca 5 °C and with variation in fine root biomass. The biomass of herbivores and fungivores decreased towards the north, whereas the biomass of detritivores and predators showed no significant latitudinal changes. This variation in latitudinal biomass patterns among the soil macrofauna feeding guilds suggests that these guilds may respond differently to climate change, with poorly understood consequences for ecosystem structure and functions.
ABSTRACT
Fossil bioinclusions in amber are invaluable source of information on the past evolution and diversity of various organisms, as well as on the paleoecosystems in general. The click-beetles, Elateridae, which originated and greatly diversified during the Mesozoic, are mostly known from the adpression-like fossils, and their diversity in the Cretaceous ambers is only poorly documented. In this study, we describe a new click-beetle based on an incomplete inclusion in ajkaite, an Upper Cretaceous (Santonian) amber from the Ajka Coal Formation from Hungary. We used X-ray micro-computed tomography scanning to reconstruct its morphology because it is deposited in an opaque piece of amber. Our results suggest that the newly described Ajkaelater merkli gen. et sp. nov. belongs to subfamily Elaterinae. It represents the first Mesozoic beetle reported from Hungary, and the first Mesozoic Elateridae formally described from mainland Europe. Our discovery supports an Eurasian distribution and diversification of Elaterinae already in the Cretaceous. The paleoenvironment of the Ajka Coal Formation agrees well with the presumed habitat preference of the new fossil taxon. The discovery of a presumably saproxylic click-beetle shed further light on the yet poorly known paleoecosystem of the Santonian present-day western Hungary.
ABSTRACT
An annotated catalogue of the genus Elathous Reitter, 1890 (Coleoptera: Elateridae: Dendrometrinae) is presented. There are 48 species classified in the genus, of which seven are from the Nearctic realm, 39 from the West Palearctic from Morocco to Iran, and two from Japan. For each taxon we provide synonyms, information on type material, type locality, distribution, and bibliography.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera , Animal Distribution , AnimalsABSTRACT
The Elateridae (click-beetles) are the largest family in Elateroidea; however, their relationships, systematics and classification remain unclear. Our understanding of the origin, evolution, palaeodiversity and palaeobiogeography of Elateridae, as well as reconstruction of a reliable time-calibrated phylogeny for the group, are hampered by the lack of detailed knowledge of their fossil record. In this study, we summarize the current knowledge on all described fossil species in Elateridae, including their type material, geographic origin, age, bibliography and remarks on their systematic placement. Altogether, 261 fossil species classified in 99 genera and nine subfamilies are currently listed in this family. The Mesozoic click-beetle diversity includes 143 species, with most of them described from the Jurassic Karatau, and 118 described species are known from the Cenozoic deposits, mainly from the Eocene North American Florissant Formation and European Baltic amber. Available data on the described past diversity of Elateridae suggest that almost all fossil lineages in this group are in urgent need of revision and numerous Mesozoic species might belong to different families. Our study is intended to serve as a comprehensive basis for all subsequent research focused on the click-beetle fossil record.
ABSTRACT
The life histories of many soil-dwelling invertebrates remain poorly studied. The larvae of two click beetle species, Athous subfuscus and Dalopius marginatus, which are most abundant in European boreal forests, are both classified as omnivorous and are included in lists of root-damaging pests. Nevertheless, we are not aware of any direct proof of their ability (or inability) to consume plant roots. In this study, we asked whether these larvae actually feed on the roots of forest plants in the absence of other food sources. Live roots of boreal forest plants, including trees (Betula pubescens, Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris) and grass (Deschampsia flexuosa), were offered to click beetle larvae in a two-month microcosm experiment. The weight of roots placed in vials with the wireworms did not decrease, indicating that the larvae of these click beetle species did not feed on live roots, even in the absence of other food sources. This suggests that the feeding niches of A. subfuscus and D. marginatus larvae are narrower than previously thought and do not include live plant tissues. Therefore, these click beetle species should be excluded from the lists of forest pests damaging tree roots.
ABSTRACT
Beetle fossils are a rich source of information about the palaeodiversity and evolutionary history of the order Coleoptera. Despite the increasing rate of fossil research on click-beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae), the most diverse group in the superfamily Elateroidea, their fossil record has remained largely unstudied. This may be caused by the combination of their rather uniform external morphology and the suboptimal state of preservation and visibility in most fossil specimens. Here, we used X-ray micro-computed tomography to reconstruct the morphology of an interesting click-beetle from Eocene Baltic amber, which had some principal diagnostic characters obscured by opaque bubbles and body position. Our results suggest that the newly described Baltelater bipectinatus gen. et sp. nov. belongs to tribe Protelaterini within subfamily Lissominae. Since Protelaterini have a predominantly Gondwanan distribution, our discovery is of a great importance for the historical biogeography of the group. Very distinctive are the bipectinate antennae with 11 antennomeres and with rami beginning on antennomere IV, which are not found in any recent Elateridae. The discovery of a new click-beetle lineage from European Eocene amber sheds further light on the palaeodiversity and historical diversification of the family as well as on the composition of the extinct amber forest ecosystem.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera/physiology , Fossils , Paleontology/methods , X-Ray Microtomography/methods , Amber , Animals , Baltic States , Biological Evolution , ForestsABSTRACT
Dima spicata Schimmel, 1999 has a unique pronotal morphology within Dimini, with the posterior angles extremely elongate and surpassing humeral part of elytra. It was described based on a female specimen from Southwest China (Sichuan, Ya'an). Here, we report the discovery of additional specimens including males from several localitites in Liangshan, Sichuan. We redescribe the species in detail and discuss its intraspecific variability and distribution.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera , Animal Distribution , Animals , China , Female , MaleABSTRACT
Distribution of flightless insect lineages often help us to identify the areas of long-term stability which serve as biodiversity hotspots. In this paper we taxonomically revise the wingless click-beetle genus Neodima Schimmel Platia, 1992 endemic to the mountainous regions of Sichuan, China. Neodima sichuanensis Schimmel Platia, 1992 and N. cechovskyi Schimmel, 1998 are redescribed, and N. belousovi Prosvirov Kundrata sp. nov. is described as new for science. The distribution and morphological diversity of Neodima is discussed, main diagnostic characters for all species are figured, and an identification key to the species of this genus is provided. Mouthparts as well as female pregenital segments and genitalia are described and figured for the first time for this genus. Further, we compare Neodima to morphologically similar genera, and discuss its systematic position within Dimini.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera , Animal Distribution , Animals , Biodiversity , China , FemaleABSTRACT
Senodoniini is a small lineage of click beetles currently comprising 21 species in two genera, distributed in the Himalayas and East and Southeast Asia. The definition and limits of this group have changed considerably during its history. Recent authors treat Senodoniini as a tribe within Dendrometrinae, usually close to Dimini, but this placement has never been rigorously tested. Here, we shed new light on the systematic position and limits of Senodoniini by performing a combined phylogenetic analysis of two nuclear and two mitochondrial molecular markers. Our results recovered Senodoniini not monophyletic, and placed them into the Lissominae complex, where they formed a clade with Austrelater Calder & Lawrence (Protelaterini). Molecular phylogeny is in agreement with the adult morphology. Additionally, we examined the morphology of a monotypic genus Rostricephalus Fleutiaux from Southeast Asia, which was previously classified in various Elateridae groups including Senodoniini, and its position was always uncertain. This genus shares morphological characters with Protelaterini. We provide morphological redescriptions as well as the figures of main diagnostic characters for Senodonia Laporte, Sossor Candèze, and Rostricephalus. Based on our results, we place these genera to Lissominae: Protelaterini, and hence synonymize Senodoniini Schenkling with Protelaterini Schwarz.
ABSTRACT
In this first part of the World catalogue of genus-group names in Elateridae, a nomenclatural review of the genera belonging to ten subfamilies is provided. All names are given with author name, year, and page of publication, type species, and type fixation. We list 132 valid genera in Agrypninae, 2 in Campyloxeninae, 4 in Hemiopinae, 11 in Lissominae, 2 in Oestodinae, 8 in Parablacinae, 2 in Physodactylinae, 2 in Pityobiinae, 1 in Subprotelaterinae, and 7 in Tetralobinae. Genera Anathesis Candèze, 1865, Antitypus Candèze, 1882, Chrostus Candèze, 1878, Dorygonus Candèze, 1859 (with subgenus Rygodonus Fleutiaux, 1932), and Macromalocera Hope, 1834 are tentatively placed as Agrypninaeincertae sedis. Paradrapetesvillosus Fleutiaux, 1895 is designated as the type species for Paradrapetes Fleutiaux, 1895. Two new genera are proposed based on species previously incorrectly used as type species for Abiphis Fleutiaux, 1926 and Lycoreus Candèze, 1857. These genera are Neoabiphis Kundrata & Bouchard, gen. n. (type species: Elaternobilis Illiger, 1800) and Neolycoreus Kundrata & Bouchard, gen. n. (type species: L.regalis Candèze, 1857), respectively. The following new combinations are proposed for species hitherto included in Abiphis Fleutiaux, 1926: Neoabiphiscandezei (Alluaud, 1896), comb. n., N.fairmairei (Fleutiaux, 1903), comb. n., N.goudoti (Fleutiaux, 1942), comb. n., N.insignis (Klug, 1833), comb. n., N.nobilis (Illiger, 1800), comb. n., and N.viettei (Girard, 1966), comb. n. The following new combinations are proposed for species hitherto included in Lycoreus Candèze, 1857: Neolycoreusalluaudi (Candèze, 1900), comb. n., N.corpulentus (Candèze, 1899), comb. n., N.cyclops (Candèze, 1865), comb. n., N.decorsei (Fleutiaux, 1903), comb. n., N.dux (Candèze, 1857), comb. n., N.goudotii (Laporte, 1838), comb. n., N.madagascariensis (Gory, 1832), comb. n., N.oculipennis (Fairmaire, 1903), comb. n., N.orbiculatus (Schwarz, 1901), comb. n., N.regalis (Candèze, 1857), comb. n., N.sicardi (Fleutiaux, 1942), comb. n., N.triangularis (Fleutiaux, 1942), comb. n., N.triocellatus (Laporte, 1838), comb. n., and N.vicinus (Fleutiaux, 1942), comb. n. The following new combinations are proposed for species hitherto incorrectly included in Plectrosternus Lacordaire, 1857: Legnarufa (Lacordaire, 1857), comb. n., L.convexa (Vats, 1991), comb. n., L.coolsi (Schimmel, 1996), comb. n., and L.foveata (Patwardhan & Athalye, 2012), comb. n. This research revealed a nomenclatural problem threatening the stability of the well-established valid genus name Adelocera Latreille, 1829. An application to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature will be necessary in this case to maintain stability. Additionally, we act here as First Revisers (ICZN 1999, Art. 24.2) in giving precedence to Lucarius Gistel, 1848 (Staphylinidae) over Lucarius Gistel, 1848 (Elateridae).
ABSTRACT
The genus Ludioctenus Fairmaire, 1893 hitherto included only L. cyprius (Baudi di Selve, 1871) from the eastern Mediterranean and L. pakistanicus Schimmel Tarnawski, 2012 from Pakistan. Here, we describe L. afghanicus sp. nov. from the Nuristan Province in eastern Afghanistan. The distribution and morphological diversity of Ludioctenus is discussed, main diagnostic characters for all species are figured, and an identification key to the species of this genus is provided. Female pregenital segments and genitalia are figured for the first time for Ludioctenus, and the systematic position of this genus and its relatives is discussed.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera , Afghanistan , Animal Distribution , Animals , Female , PakistanABSTRACT
The species of the genus Calambus C.G. Thomson, 1859 of the East Palaearctic region are discussed. Calambus angulatus sp. nov. is described from Yunnan province of China. C. kusuii Ôhira, 1994 is recorded for the first time from Russia (Sakhalin and Kuril Islands), notes on the morphology of this little-known species are given. A key to the known species of the Calambus of the Palaearctic region is provided. A total of 8 species of the genus have been recorded in the region to date.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera , Animal Distribution , Animals , China , RussiaABSTRACT
An annotated catalogue of the tribe Senodoniini (Coleoptera: Elateridae: Dendrometrinae) is presented. Altogether, 21 extant species are classified in genera Senodonia Laporte, 1838 (20 species) and Sossor Candèze, 1883 (one species). Genus Parallotrius Candèze, 1878 is placed into Dendrometrinae incertae sedis, and Allotriopsis Champion, 1896 is tentatively transferred to Elaterinae: Dicrepidiini. Senodonia bicoloris Vats Chauhan, 1993 is transferred to Arhaphes Candèze, 1860 (Elateridae: Negastriinae) as A. bicoloris (Vats Chauhan, 1993) comb. nov. Senodoniini are distributed in the Himalayas, China and South East Asia. For each taxon we provide synonyms, information on types, type localities, distribution, and bibliography. Additionally, a list of genera earlier classified in Senodoniini but currently placed outside the group is given.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera , Animal Distribution , Animals , Asia, Southeastern , ChinaABSTRACT
Some species of the Ampedini Gistel, 1848 of Central Asia are considered. A new species of the genus Reitterelater Platia & Cate, 1990 is described from Uzbekistan: R. kovalenkoi sp. nov. The systematic position of the little-known species Ampedus russicus Gurjeva, 1972 comb. rev. is discussed; notes on Reitterelater and allied genera are given.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera , Animal Distribution , Animals , UzbekistanABSTRACT
Two new species of the genus Lacon Laporte, 1838 are described: L. elegantissimus sp. nov. (Afghanistan, India) and L. kabakovi sp. nov. (Afghanistan). L. caeruleus Schimmel, 1998 is recorded for the first time in Afghanistan, presence of L. funebris (Solsky, 1881) in Afghanistan is confirmed. In addition, some taxonomic and morphological notes on the Lacon species of Afghanistan and adjacent countries are given.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera/classification , Afghanistan , Animal Distribution , Animal Structures/anatomy & histology , Animal Structures/growth & development , Animals , Body Size , Coleoptera/anatomy & histology , Coleoptera/growth & development , Female , India , Male , Organ SizeABSTRACT
Two new species of the genus Lacon Laporte, 1838 are described from Yunnan province of China: L. diqingensis sp. nov. and L. lijiangensis sp. nov. Lacon salvazai (Fleutiaux, 1918) is recorded for the first time in China. The position of these species within the genus and their geographical distribution are discussed. A preliminary key to the known species of Lacon of mainland China is provided.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera/classification , Animal Distribution , Animal Structures/anatomy & histology , Animal Structures/growth & development , Animals , Body Size , China , Coleoptera/anatomy & histology , Coleoptera/growth & development , Ecosystem , Female , Male , Organ SizeABSTRACT
The genus Margaiostus Stibick, 1978, previously known from North and South America, is recorded for the first time in the fauna of the Palaearctic region. M. sundukovi sp. nov. is described from the Far East of Russia. The position of this species within the genus and the distribution of Margaiostus are discussed.
