New data on the systematics of the Darkling-beetle tribe Stenosini (Coleoptera,Tenebrionidae) of the Southern Palaearctic

The following new species are described: Pseudethas jacobsoni sp. n. (India: Kashmir), P. kabakovi sp. n. (Afghanistan: Laghman Prov.), Dichillus kabakovi sp. n. (Afghanistan: Kandahar), D. kabulensis sp. n. (Afghanistan: Kabul), Microtelus zarudnyi sp. n. (Iran: Horassan; Afghanistan: Herat Prov.), and Microblemma kabakovi sp. n. (Afghanistan: Farah). Specific distinctness of Tagenostola pilosa Motsch. and T. turkestanica Rtt. is substantiated, and a new synonymy is established: Reitterella fusiformis Semenov, 1891 = R. gracillima Semenov, 1903, syn. n.; = R. turkestanica Pic, 1906, syn. n.     

New data on the fauna and systematics of Palaearctic species of the click-beetle subfamily Agrypninae Candèze, 1857 (Coleoptera,Elateridae)

New data on the distribution and taxonomy of some Palaearctic species of click-beetles of the subfamily Agrypninae are given. The external morphology and genitalia of the previously unknown females of Compsolacon korotjaevi Gur. and C. agrestis (Vats et Kash.) comb. n. are described. Several taxa are recorded from the following territories for the first time: the genus Eumoeus Cand. from the Palaearctic Region, the species Compsolacon agrestis comb. n. and C. himalayanus Jag. from Afghanistan, Compsolacon turkestanicus (Schw.) from Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan, Danosoma conspersum (Gyll.) from Kazakhstan, Lacon quadrinodatus Lew. from Russia, and L. unicolor (Cand.) from Iraq. Several Northern Indian species of Agrypnus Esch. are transferred to Compsolacon Rtt., and their systematic positions are briefly discussed: C. agrestis, C. inlustris (Vats et Kash.), C. jacksoni (Vats et Kash.), C. kuluensis (Vats et Kash.), C. maisus (Vats et Kash.), C. planocorpus (Vats et Kash.), C. rameshi (Vats et Kash.), C. repercussus (Vats et Kash.), C. solanensis (Vats et Kash.), C. souslapisus (Vats et Kash.), C. subargillus (Vats et Kash.), C. subfaenum (Vats et Kash.) and C. sublapideus (Vats et Kash.) (all comb. n.). The following new combinations are also established: Compsolacon aequalis (Cand.) comb. n. and Compsolacon brachychaetus (Kollar) comb. n. (both ex Lacon). The following new synonymies are established: Lacon funebris (Sols.) = Adelocera grisea Schw., syn. n.; = Adelocera incompta Kr., syn. n.; Eumoeus murrayi Cand. = Tetralobus quadrifoveatus Vats et Kash., syn. n.     

Little-Known Weevil Taxa (Coleoptera,Curculionidae) Described by V. I. Motschulsky from the Caucasus

Lectotypes of Orthochaetes caucasicus Motschulsky, 1845 and Opitomorphus brevirostris Motschulsky, 1845 are designated. A new combination and new synonymies are established: Anchonidium caucasicum (Motschulsky, 1845), comb. n. (= Styphlus ulcerosum Aubé, 1850, syn. n., = Anchonidium corticeum Faust, 1886, syn. n.); Stomodes Schoenherr, 1826 (= Opitomorphus Motschulsky, 1845, syn. n.); Stomodes tolutarius Schoenherr, 1826 (= Opitomorphus brevirostris Motschulsky, 1845, syn. n.).     

New Data on the Taxonomy and Distribution of Flat Moths of the Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agonopterix</Emphasis> Hübner, [1825] (Lepidoptera,Depressariidae) of the Russian Fauna

New data on the distribution and taxonomy of Agonopterix species in Russia are given. The following new synonymy is established: Agonopterix anticella (Erschoff, 1877) = A. abjectella (Christoph, 1882), syn. n., = A. japonica Saito, 1980, syn. n.; A. pullella Hannemann, 1971 = A. dubatolovi Lvovsky, 1995, syn. n. A new species A. volgensissp. n. is described from the Middle Volga Region. Two species are recorded from Russia for the first time, both represented by new subspecies: A. ivinskisi daghestanicasubsp. n. from Daghestan and Armenia, and A. kisojiana dilutasubsp. n. from the southern part of the Russian Far East.     

The Position of the Palaeozoic Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tunguskagyrus</Emphasis> Yan,Beutel et Lawrence in the Family Triaplidae sensu n. (Coleoptera,Archostemata: Schizophoroidea)

Re-examination of the late Permian Tunguskagyrus planus Yan, Beutel et Lawrence, 2018 has shown that it does not belong to the family Gyrinidae (Adephaga) but should be placed in the family Triaplidae sensu n. (Archostemata) as a congener to “Triaplus” sibiricus Volkov, 2013 (Tunguskagyrus sibiricus (Volkov, 2013), comb. n.). Both these Palaeozoic species, in contrast to the Triassic members of Triaplus Ponomarenko, 1977, have no large metacoxal femoral plates and, therefore, would be better placed apart from the Mesozoic representatives of Triaplus (in a different genus). The synonymy of the family names Triaplidae Ponomarenko, 1977 (= Catiniidae Ponomarenko, 1968, syn. n., nom. praeocc., non Catiniidae Bocquet et Stock, 1957 (Crustacaea, Copepoda), = Coleocatiniidae Ponomarenko et Prokin, 2015, syn. n.) is established. Thus, the family now comprises Avocatinus Ponomarenko, 1969, Catinius Ponomarenko, 1968, Catinoides Ponomarenko, 1969, Macrocatinius Ponomarenko, 1969, Triaplus Ponomarenko, 1977, Triassocatinius Ponomarenko, 1969 and Tunguskagyrus Yan, Beutel et Lawrence, 2018.     

Revision of the carabid genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Meroctenus</Emphasis> Gemminger et Harold,with a new status of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xenodochus</Emphasis> Andrewes (Coleoptera,Carabidae: Harpalini)

Originally described as a monotypical genus with unclear taxonomic position from Sudan, Meroctenus Gemminger et Harold, 1868 is treated as a polytypical genus of the Selenophori genus group with two subgenera: Meroctenus s. str. and Xenodochus Andrewes, 1941, stat. n. (the latter was previously considered a distinct genus). Within Meroctenus, two species are recognized: M. (Meroctenus) crenulatus Chaudoir, 1843 (type species) and M. (M.) mediocris (Andrewes, 1936), comb, n., transferred to Meroctenus s. str. from Xenodochus. A new subspecies M. (M.) crenulatus orientalis subsp. n. is described from Pakistan. Diagnoses of the genus Meroctenus in new interpretation as well as of its two subgenera are discussed, and a taxonomic review of the subgenus Meroctenus s. str. with a key to the species and subspecies is provided. The following synonymy is proposed: Meroctenus Gemminger et Harold, 1868 = Paregaploa Müller, 1947, syn. n.; Meroctenus crenulatus (Chaudoir, 1843) = Egaploa (Paregaploa) conviva Müller, 1947, syn. n. Lectotypes are designated for Ctenomerus crenulatus Chaudoir, 1843 and Xenodus mediocris Andrewes, 1936.     

New Data on the Taxonomy of the Weevil Subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caucasoplinthus</Emphasis>, Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plinthus</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Curculionidae)

The taxonomic composition of the subgenus Caucasoplinthus Davidian, 1995 is revised. The immunis and granulosus groups are downgraded to subgroups of the silphoides and fallax groups, respectively; the voriseki subgroup is transferred from the fallax to the fausti group. Plinthus attilai Davidian et Savitsky, sp. n. and P. ljudae Davidian et Savitsky, sp. n. are described from Turkey and Abkhazia, respectively. New data on the taxonomy, distribution, and ecology of some little-known species are presented. The following new synonymy is established: Molytes vittatus Motschulsky, 1839 (= Meleus irroratus Reitter, 1884, syn. n., = Meleus faldermanni Faust, 1884, syn. n., = Meleus difficilis Faust, 1884, syn. n.).     

A review of scarabs of the subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nobius</Emphasis> Mulsant et Rey,genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphodius</Emphasis> Illiger (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae), of the fauna of Russia and neighboring countries

Scarab beetles of the subgenus Nobius Mulsant et Rey, genus Aphodius Illiger, distributed in Russia and neighboring countries are reviewed. A key to the species and notes on their biology are given. The three new synonymies are established: A. serotinus (Panz.),1799 = A. x-signum Reitter, 1892, syn. n.; A. gresseri Sem. 1898 = A. korgaldzhensis Nikolajev, 1987, syn. n.; A. chaldaeus Petr., 1971 = A. moreleti Baraud, 1980, syn. n. Lectotypes of A. inclusus Reitt., 1892 and A. gresseri are designated.     

On the synonymy of two species names of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphodius</Emphasis> Ill. (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae) described by S. M. Iablokoff-Khnzorian

Based on examination of the type material, names of two Aphodius species are placed in synonyms: A. edgardi Solsky, 1876 = A. sartus Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1971, syn. n.; and A. putridus Geoffroy, 1785 = A. avetissiani Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1964, syn. n.     

Two new species of the many-plumed moth genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alucita</Emphasis> Linnaeus (Lepidoptera,Alucitidae) from Madagascar

Two new species of many-plumed moths (Lepidoptera, Alucitidae) from Madagascar are described: Alucita meloui sp. n. and Alucita murzini sp. n. A new synonymy is established: Alucita dohertyi (Walsingham, 1909) = Alucita decariella (Viette, 1958), syn. n.     

Antlions and owlflies (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae,Ascalaphidae) of Kyrgyzstan

The myrmeoleontoid Neuroptera fauna of Kyrgyzstan comprises 34 species-group taxa, among which 23 are recorded from the republic for the first time. Epacanthaclisis alaica Krivokhatsky, 1998 is known only from the holotype collected in the Alai Mt. Range; Kirghizoleon cubitalis Krivokhatsky et Zakharenko, 1994 is known from Kyrgyzstan and from the Hissar Mt. country in Tajikistan; and Mesonemurus vartianorum Hölzel, 1972 is distributed from the Tien Shan to Afghanistan. 26 species are common in Kyrgyzstan and are fairly evenly distributed over its territory. New synonymies are established: Macronemurus persicus (Navás, 1915) = Barreja persica Navás, 1915, = Barreja amoena Hölzel, 1972, syn. n.; Myrmecaelurus acerbus (Walker) = Myrmeleon acerbus Walker, 1853; = Myrmecaelurus varians Navás, 1913, syn. n.; = Myrmecaelurus aequans Navás, 1913, syn. n.; = Myrmecaelurus nematicus Navás, 1932, syn. n. The polymorphous structure of the widely variable Macronemurus persicus is shown, and three its color morphs are distinguished: Macronemurus persicus var. persica (Navás, 1915), var. graciosa var. n., and var. amoena (Hölzel, 1972). Data on the antlion and owlfly fauna of some other Palaearctic countries are supplemented.     

Contribution to Systematics of the Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Astiphromma</Emphasis> Förster (Hymenoptera,Ichneumonidae: Mesochorinae) from Russia and Adjacent Countries

Material of the genus Astiphromma Förster (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae: Mesochorinae) from Russia and adjacent countries in the Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg has been examined. 25 species were identified, 14 of which are new records to the Russian fauna, and 10 are new to the Eastern Palaearctic Region. Four species are new to science: Astiphromma (Astiphromma) flavofaciessp. n., A. (A.) minimumsp. n., A. (A.) paradorsalesp. n., and A. (A.) styleatorsp. n. A new synonymy is established: Astiphromma (Astiphromma) albitarse (Brischke, 1880) = A. punctatum Uchida, 1933, syn. n. For Astiphromma japonense Lee, 1992 a hitherto unknown female is described.     

New species of the Buprestid genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sphenoptera</Emphasis> Dejean from India and Pakistan with notes on the synonymy and nomenclature of some species of the subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sphenoptera</Emphasis> s. str. (Coleoptera,Buprestidae)

Sphenoptera (s. str.) galkae sp. n. from North Pakistan and. S. (s. str.) jacobsonorum sp. n. from India (Jammu and Kashmir State) are described and compared with closely related species. New synonymy is established for the following taxa: S. hypocrita Mannerheim, 1837 (= S. torrida Jakovlev, 1898; S. ixion Kerremans, 1912, synn. n.), S. bodemeyeri Jakovlev, 1900 (= S. quadrata Kerremans, 1909, syn. n.), S. exoleta Jakovlev, 1908 (= S. politipennis Obenberger, 1927, syn. n.), S. obruta Kerremans, 1909 (= S. chalcosoma Obenberger, 1927; S. abbreviata hetera Obenberger, 1927, synn. n.), S. tragacanthae (Klug, 1829) (= S. maledicta Obenberger, 1920; S. cilicica Obenberger, 1927; S. rambouseki Obenberger, 1927; S. klickai Obenberger, 1927; S. corrosa Obenberger, 1927; S. satrapa Obenberger, 1927; S. syriae Obenberger, 1927; S. vavrai Obenberger, 1927, synn. n.), S. magna Gory et Laporte, 1839 (= S. alexandri Obenberger, 1927, syn. n.). Lectotypes for 74 nominal species and subspecies are designated.     

Asparagus beetles of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Crioceris duodecimpunctata</Emphasis> (Linnaeus, 1758) group (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae) from Russia and Adjacent Countries

The distribution of Crioceris duodecimpunctata (Linnaeus, 1758) and two related species with their subspecies is defined more precisely. Crioceris orientalis tshingisana Lopatin, 1966, stat. n. and C. hypopsila demokidovi Semenov, 1909, stat. n. are treated as subspecies for the first time. Lectotypes of C. hypopsila Jacobson, 1907, C. demokidovi Semenov, 1909, and C. duodecimpunctata hypolachna Jacobson, 1907 are designated. The male and female genitalia are described and illustrated for all the species considered. A new key to the species of Crioceris without a black sutural stripe is compiled.     

A review of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thinodromus lunatus</Emphasis> species-group (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae)

The Thinodromus lunatus species group is revised. The following new species are described: Thinodromus (s. str.) cattiensis sp. n. from Vietnam, Thinodromus (s. str.) forsteri sp. n. from southern Thailand, Thinodromus (s. str.) himalayensis sp. n. from Nepal and northern India, Thinodromus (s. str.) inconspicuus sp. n. from southern China, Thailand, and Vietnam, and Thinodromus (s. str.) spotus sp. n. from southern China. The following new synonymy is established: Thinodromus (s. str.) deceptor (Sharp, 1889) = Thinodromus (s. str.) gravelyi (Bernhauer, 1926), syn. n.; = Thinodromus (s. str.) reitterianus (Bernhauer, 1938), syn. n. Lectotypes are designated for Trogophloeus lunatus Motschulsky, 1857, Trogophloeus pustulatus Bernhauer, 1904, Trogophloeus socius Bernhauer, 1904, Trogophloeus sumatrensis Bernhauer, 1915, Trogophloeus lewisi Cameron, 1919, Trogophloeus gravelyi Bernhauer, 1926, Trogophloeus reitterianus Bernhauer, 1938, and Trogophloeus unipustulatus Cameron, 1941. A key is presented to all the species of the Thinodromus lunatus group.     

New and little-known crickets of the subfamily Phalangopsinae (Orthoptera,Gryllidae). 11. The genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Parendacustes</Emphasis> (Part 2)

Discussions concerning the composition of the genus Parendacustes Chop., in particular, its subgenus Minizacla Gor., are continued. Eleven new taxa of this subgenus are described: P. trusmadi sp. n., P. mulu sp. n., P. brevispina sp. n., P. modispina sp. n., P. longispina sp. n., P. forficula sabah subsp. n., P. doloduo sp. n., P. buton sp. n., P. pallescens sp. n., P. kendari sp. n., and P. lindu sp. n. New data on P. makassari Gor. are also provided.     

A new subgenus of the longicorn genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytoecia</Emphasis> Dejean, 1835 (Coleoptera,Cerambycidae) from the Palaearctic region

Paracoptosia subgen. n., with type species Saperda compacta Ménétriés, 1832, is established as a subgenus of Phytoecia for Coptosia sensu auct. nec Fairmaire, 1865. Coptosia Fairmaire, 1865, syn. n., is a junior objective synonym of Oxylia Mulsant, 1863.