Catalogue, distribution, taxonomic notes, and conservation of the Western Palearctic endemic hunchback beetles (Tenebrionidae, Misolampus)

By

Rosas-Ramos, Natalia
Mas, Paloma
Gil-Tapetado, Diego
Recuero, Ernesto
Ruiz, José
García-París, Mario

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2020

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

963

Pages

81--129

Subjects

Coleoptera , geographic range , morphological variability , new synonymies , population persistence , saproxylic , scientific collections , Stenochiinae

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.963.53500

 

Abstract

Hunchback darkling beetles of the Ibero-Maghrebian genusMisolampusLatreille, 1807 (Tenebrionidae, Stenochiinae) encompass six species:M. gibbulus(Herbst, 1799),M. goudotiiGuérin-Méneville, 1834,M. lusitanicusBrême, 1842,M. ramburiiBrême, 1842,M. scabricollisGraells, 1849, andM. subglaberRosenhauer, 1856. Previously known distribution ranges of the species were delineated using many old records, the persistence of such populations being questionable under the current situation of global biodiversity loss. Additionally, the status of geographically isolated populations of the genus have been the subject of taxonomic controversy. An exhaustive bibliographical revision and field search was undertaken, and theMisolampuscollection of the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC) was revised. The aims are to (i) provide an updated geographic distribution range for the species ofMisolampus; (ii) to determine the taxonomic status of controversial populations; (iii) to provide a catalogue forMisolampus; and (iv) to discuss the conservation status of these saproxylic beetles. As a result, a catalogue including synonymies and type localities, geographical records, diagnoses, and information on natural history for all species ofMisolampusis presented. The results reveal that the distribution ranges of the species ofMisolampushave not undergone a reduction in the last century, and indicate the presence of the genus in areas where it had never been recorded before. The morphological variability ofM. goudotiidrove the proposal of different taxa that are here formally synonymised as follows:M. goudotiiGuérin-Méneville, 1834 =M. erichsoniVauloger de Beaupré, 1900,syn. nov.=M. peyerimhoffiAntoine, 1926,syn. nov.