Tribe Helopini Research Articles

Contribution to the knowledge of genus Nalassus Mulsant, 1856 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) from the Eastern Caucasus, Russia.

A new species of darkling beetle of the tribe Helopini is described from the Eastern Caucasus (Russia): Nalassus magomedrasuli Nabozhenko sp. n. It was originally described as the Dagestan population of N. kalashiani Nabozhenko, 2001 based on the similar structure of the male aedeagus. The new species is similar to N. kalashiani in that it differs in the structure of the eyes, male antennae, the shape of the pronotum, the scutellar shield, the male abdomen and habitats. Nalassus magomedrasuli occurs in xerophytic limestone mountain phryganoid steppes in Dagestan, whereas N. kalashiani is distributed in wet alpine meadows in the Chechen Republic and Ingushetia (Russia). The female of N. kalashiani collected in the State Natural reserve Erzi (Ingushetia) is described for the first time.

Beetles and lichens: tracing the origins and evolution of lichenophagy within the darkling beetle tribe Helopini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Abstract Although the complex evolutionary history of lichen-forming fungi has gained considerable attention, particularly regarding the long-debated role of these organisms in shaping early terrestrial ecosystems, the evolution of lichenivory and its potential impact on the diversification of lichenophages have been largely neglected. With > 800 described species worldwide and a broad geographical distribution, the tribe Helopini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) represents a diverse, yet poorly studied, group of predominantly lichenophagous beetles. Using a dataset of 52 ingroup taxa and five gene fragments, a first phylogenetic hypothesis of the tribe was generated, which was subsequently used for reconstructing the ancestral state of the trophic and habitat associations of the beetles and for estimating a time frame of diversification. Our phylogenetic reconstruction sheds light on the higher-level systematics of the tribe, supporting the current subtribal division of the group while also providing a framework for understanding the intergeneric relationships within subtribes. The results also indicate an Early Cretaceous origin of the tribe, highlighting the close association between Helopini and lichen-forming fungi since the emergence of the group. Nevertheless, at least seven independent switches from lichenophagy to alternative feeding habits have occurred since the middle Eocene, which can be linked temporally to transitions from forests to open habitats.

Naturalisation of the Transcaucasian and East Anatolian darkling beetle Odocnemis aurichalcea (Adams, 1817) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Helopini) in the North Caucasus

The present state of the invasive population of Odocnemis aurichalcea (Adams, 1817) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in North Caucasus is studied. This species is widespread in Transcaucasia and has entered Nalchik and Nartkala towns (North Caucasus, Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia) possibly during urban greening where it is mentioned in these localities since at least the middle of the 20th century. Nothing was known about the status of this invasive population for 54 years. A rich population of this species was discovered in the outskirts of Nalchik in a natural beech forest in 2022. The species is naturalized in the North Caucasus, but inhabits only a very narrow, isolated range in this region. Diurnal activity, the response of adults to high temperature and humidity, habitat and trophic associations, and current distribution of the species in the North Caucasus are assessed. Taxocenes of tenebrionids from the tribe Helopini, including O. aurichalcea, were described. We establish that imagoes of the species occupy a narrower ecological niche in the invasive range under natural conditions, than in the native range, inhabiting exclusively beeches and feeding on algae of the genus Desmococcus F. Brand, 1925 (Chlorophyta: Trebouxiophyceae).

Helops glabriventris glabriventris (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), One of the Primary Consumers of Corticolous Lichens in the Coniferous Forests of Cyprus: Bionomics, Trophic Associations and Description of Larvae

We present the life history and trophic relations of the lichenophagous darkling beetle Helops glabriventris glabriventris Reitter, 1885 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Helopini), which is widespread in Cyprus. Adults of H. glabriventris feed primarily on Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf (Parmeliaceae), which is the most widespread fruticose corticolous lichen in Cypriot forests of Pinus brutia Tenore, Cedrus brevifolia (Hook. f.) Meikle and Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold and Anatolian forests of Pinus brutia. Additionally, they can feed on the crustose corticolous lichen Hypocenomyce scalaris (Ach.) M. Choisy (Lecideaceae) as an alternative trophic source. We described and illustrated the last instar larva of this species, collected in the rotten wood of Pinus nigra. Fossorial adaptations of larvae are discussed and compared with other representatives of the tribe Helopini.

Doyenellus Nabozhenko and Steiner, a New Genus of Darkling Beetles of the Tribe Helopini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) from North America

The new genus Doyenellus Nabozhenko and Steiner (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae, Helopini) is recognised and described, and includes three North American species native to southeastern USA. The type-species, Doyenellus cisteloides (Germar), new combination, is diagnosed and two new species, Doyenellus worthleyorum Steiner, new species and Doyenellus theodorei Steiner and Nabozhenko, new species are described. A key to the species is provided. Distribution and life history information of each species is discussed.

Two new species and new records of lichen-feeding darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Helopini) from Turkey with notes on bionomics and trophic relations.

Turkonalassus mavi M. Nabozhenko B. Keskin, sp. n. and Odocnemis rufocruralis M. Nabozhenko B. Keskin, sp. n., two distinctive darkling beetle species of the tribe Helopini, are described from the Southeastern Anatolia region of Turkey, based on both their external morphology and genital structures. Turkonalassus mavi sp. n. differs from all congeners by the bluish dorsal surface of the body, the pronotum widest before middle, and wide merged baculi of the median lobe of the aedeagus. Odocnemis rufocruralis sp. n. belongs to the praelonga species-group. Odocnemis rufocruralis sp. n. is similar to O. torosica Nabozhenko Keskin, 2016, O. terminassianae (Nabozhenko, 2011) and O. kakunini Nabozhenko Keskin, 2016 but differs from all three taxa by the reddish-brown body with red legs, male apical maxillary palpomere wider than in female, elevate and narrowly separate male protrochanters, and the structure of the very long and narrow apical piece of the aedeagus. New data on distribution, bionomics, and trophic relations of several species of Helopini from Turkey are given. Host lichens are determined for nine species. The majority of studied adult beetles feed on lichens from the families Physciaceae and Parmeliaceae. Some examined taxa feed on Cladoniaceae. Feeding on crustose lichens is registered for the first time for Coleoptera, specifically Odocnemis rufocruralis sp. n. was observed to feed on Pertusaria sp. (on Prunus) in Mardin Province.

Two new species and new records of darkling beetles of the tribe Helopini from Turkey and Cyprus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Two new species of the tribe Helopini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) are described from Turkey: Nalassus (Nalassus) becvari sp. nov. (Elazığ Province) and Hedyphanes (Hedyphanes) kmenti sp. nov. (Artvin Province). The first species is characterized by strongly thickened antennomeres 2–8 and differs from all Turkish Nalassus s. str. Mulsant, 1854 in the ventral aspect of eye, which bears a weak posterior ventral impression (rather than a distinct groove of other species). The second species belongs to the species group with asperate punctation of the prothoracic hypomera and differs from all Hedyphanes Fischer von Waldheim, 1820 in the presence of suberect pubescence on both sides of elytral base. Distribution of some Helopini (the Helops genus-group, subtribe Helopina) from Anatolia and Cyprus is updated with new data. Hedyphanes mannerheimi Faldermann, 1837 is recorded for Turkey (Iğdır Province) for the first time. Helops caeruleus caeruleus Linnaeus, 1758 from Pervolia is a new record for Cyprus and the occurrence is probably a result of anthropogenic introduction.

New and Little Known Species of Lichenophagous Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera) of the Tribe Helopini from Iran

Four new species of tenebrionid beetles of the tribe Helopini are described and figured: Nalassus (s. str.) kadleci {bsp. n.}, N. (s. str.) kataevi {bsp. n.}, Eustenomacidius (Caucasohelops) glebi {bsp. n.} (all the three species are from Loristan Province) and Odocnemis (s. str.) denisi {bsp. n.} from Zanjan and Gilan provinces. The new species of Nalassus Mulsant, 1854 belong to the Iranian medvedevi species group with pubescent head and pronotum; both new species differ from N. medvedevi Nabozhenko, 2006 in the epipleura not reaching elytral suturai angle, the 8th interstria convex at apex and connected there with elytral margin. Odocnemis denisi sp. n belongs to the recticollis species group and is most similar to O. merkli Nabozhenko et Keskin, 2016 in the cordiform pronotum with multiple impressions on disc, but differs from the latter in the unicolorous body, convex interstriae with distinct tubercles, elytral striai punctures connected by furrows, absence of granules on the inner face of male tibiae, and the structure of male genitalia. Eustenomacidius glebi sp. n. differs from all the congeners in the thickened antennomeres 3–8, bicolored (reddish pronotum and head, and brown elytra) body and hair brush in the middle of male abdominal ventrite 1. A key to species of Nalassus (s. str.) of Iran is given. New localities for rare species Eustenomacidius (s. str.) turcmenicus (G. Medvedev, 1964) (first record for Iran) and Euboeus (Pelorinus) chorasanicus (G. Medvedev, 1976) are reported.

Darkling beetles of the tribe Helopini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) of Jordan

Darkling beetles of the tribe Helopini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) of Jordan

New species and new records of darkling beetles of the tribe Helopini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) from the Western Palaearctic

New species and new records of darkling beetles of the tribe Helopini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) from the Western Palaearctic

Contribution to the knowledge of the genus Ainu (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Stenochiinae)

Abstract The genus Erulipus Fairmaire, 1903 (previously in the subfamily Tenebrioninae, tribe Helopini), after the study of the type species (Erulipus fruhstorferi Fairmaire, 1903 ), is transferred to the genus Ainu Lewis, 1894 (subfamily Stenochiinae, the tribe Cnodalonini) as a subgenus. Consequently, two new combinations are established: Ainu (Erulipus) fruhstorferi ( Fairmaire, 1903 ), comb. nov. and Ainu (s. str.) multicolor ( Pic, 1927 ), comb. nov. The syntypes of Erulipus fruhstorferi and Erulipus multicolor Pic, 1927 are studied and the new synonym is proposed: Erulipus fruhstorferi = Ainu grandis Ren and Yuan, 2005 , syn. nov. Two new species are described from China: Ainu linwenxini Nabozhenko & Ren, sp. nov. (Taiwan) and Ainu basifemoratum Nabozhenko & Ren, sp. nov. (Yunnan). Both the new species are closely related to A. sichuanum Ren and Yuan, 2015 .

Which species of the genus Scaurus Fabricius (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) occurs in the Caucasus and the border areas of Anatolia?

A redescription of the male of Scaurus araxinus Richter, 1945 is given and the female is described for the first time. The species occurs in Azerbaijan (Nakhichevan Republic), Armenia (Tigranashen and Yeghegnadzor) and Eastern Turkey (first record in Iğdır province). It had been regarded as conspecific with S. syriacus Reitter, 1914 and S. puncticollis Solier, 1838 but clearly differs from both these species and is close to S. rugicollis Reitter, 1914 from the Mediterranean region. The female genital tubes of S. araxinus are figured, the first such illustration for the tribe Scaurini. The genus Scaurus has a small secondary bursa copulatrix, separated glandular, moderately short, spermatheca and a relatively short accessory gland, similar to those found in some genera of the tribe Helopini.

К вопросу о классификации и филогении трибы Helopini Latreille, 1802 и восстановление подтрибы Enoplopina Solier, 1848 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

К вопросу о классификации и филогении трибы Helopini Latreille, 1802 и восстановление подтрибы Enoplopina Solier, 1848 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Subtribal, generic and subgeneric composition of darkling beetles of the tribe Helopini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in the Eastern Palaearctic Region

Subtribal, generic and subgeneric composition of darkling beetles of the tribe Helopini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in the Eastern Palaearctic Region

Taxonomic review of the genus Euboeus s. str. Boieldieu, 1865 (= Probaticus s. str. Seidlitz, 1896, syn. n.) (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae).

The taxonomic history and position of the genera Euboeus and Probaticus within the tribe Helopini are discussed. A new synonymy, based on morphological characters is established: Euboeus Boieldieu, 1865 = Probaticus (s. str.) Seidlitz, 1896, syn. n. As a result, 67 new combinations (from Probaticus to Euboeus) are estabished for all species formerly placed in Probaticus. A review of Euboeus s. str. with four species (Balkanian-Anatolian E. mimonti Boieldieu, 1865 and E. tentyrioides (Küster, 1851), Greek E. mori (Brullé, 1832), and Anatolian E. parvostriatus sp. n.) is given. Three new synonyms are established for Euboeus tentyrioides (= Micispa bysantica Motschulsky, 1858, syn. n.; = Micispa pyraei Motschulsky, 1858, syn. nov.; = Micispa graeca Motschulsky, 1858, syn. n.). The forgotten name Helops (Euboeus) parvicollis Baudi di Selve, 1876, nomen oblitum (junior synonym of E. tentyrioides) is discussed. A lectotype is designated for Helops tentyrioides. A key to the four species within the revised Euboeus sensu stricto, along with distributions and images, is provided.

Life forms and strategies of lichen-feeding darkling beetles (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae: Helopini)

Trophic relations of lichen-feeding darkling beetles of the tribe Helopini in Turkey, the Caucasus, and Anti-Atlas are considered. This group is the most diverse in relict Anatolian forests of Cedrus libani, Abies cilicica, Pinus nigra, Juniperus spp., and Quercus cerris, where multitaxon lichenophagous assemblages exist. Three life strategies for attenuation of interspecific competition are distinguished: (1) differentiation of the consumed lichens, (2) separation of the life forms based on the types of the lichens consumed, and (3) segregation of circadian activity in adults. We assume that adaptation of the Helopini larvae to the soil life promoted their wide distribution in different landscapes by elimination of the limiting factor for completing their life cycles, namely the need for ligneous substrate of old rotting trees. The possibility of using lichen-feeding beetles of the tribe Helopini in ecosystem and lichen indication is considered.

A new species of the genus Nalassus Mulsant (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Helopini) from the Baltic amber

The first Eocene species of the tribe Helopini, Nalassus klebsi sp. nov., from the Baltic amber is described. The new species is included in the nominative subgenus and similar to the extant species N. dermestoides (Illiger) and N. laevioctostriatus (Goeze), from which it differs in the shape of eyes (eyes are considerably less transverse than in living Palearctic species of the genus Nalassus Mulsant), the shape of the pronotum with acute posterior angles (other Palearctic Nalassus have obtuse or straight pronotal angles) as well as convex elytral intervals. Species of the less specialized nominative subgenus are widespread in forests and (partly) alpine landscapes of Europe (eastwards up to the Urals) and eastern Asia.

Виды-вселенцы среди жуков-чернотелок трибы Helopini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Виды-вселенцы среди жуков-чернотелок трибы Helopini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

The taxocene of lichen-feeding darkling beetles (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae: Helopini) in a forest-steppe ecotone

The taxocene of lichen-feeding darkling beetles from the tribe Helopini is studied in the steppes of the south of Rostov Province. The species of lichens grazed on by the representatives of this tribe are identified for the first time and dependence of circadian activity and spatial distribution of adults on temperature and air humidity is shown. Global warming and human activities may have caused degradation of steppe lichen communities that formed the dietary base for the lichen-feeding darkling beetles in natural ecosystems. As a result, 3 out of 4 beetle species completely left steppe biotopes for tree shelterbelts. This caused a change in the trophic relationships (transition from epigeic to epiphytic lichens) and in the spatial distribution of darkling beetles, promoted the establishment of competitive interactions, and increased the duration of circadian and seasonal activity due to the lengthening of the periods with optimum temperature and air humidity for each species.

ON FAUNOGENESIS OF TENEBRIONID BEETLES (COLEOPTERA: TENEBRIONIDAE) OF MIDDLE ASIA

Aim. The critic analyses of works about faunogenesis of tenebrionid beetles of Middle Asia considering the new data about phylogeography of some Mediterranean Tenebrioidae; analyses of causes of disjunction in distribution of some darkling beetles. Methods. We used important published from 1965 to 2015 works on tenebrionid faunogenesis of Middle Asia and Mediterranean and partly author’s and colleague’s material for the critic analyses. Conclusions. The hypothesis about ancient centers of origin of tenebrionid fauna of Middle Asia on coasts of Tethys Sea is confirmed by modern phylogeographic studies, but the time of the origin of recent taxa is possibly much earlier than previously assumed Pliocene-Pleistocene. New data on distribution of two species of the tribe Helopini, Eustenomacidius laevicollis and Catomus niger (the first record for Turkmenistan), which were previously known only from Tien Shan and Hissar Darvaz Mts are given. Small populations of these two species were found in the Eastern Caspian Region. We assume that the disjunction of its ranges is related with environmental factors (reduction of food resources, competition from close species), but not with geographic isolation.