Diversity and distribution of blister beetles (Coleoptera, Meloidae) from north-western Saudi Arabia: new observations and first description of a male Mylabris desertica Bologna, 2007

By

Lakušić, Vidak
Černý, Ladislav
Kopr, David
Panisi, Martina
Simone, Yuri
Stanisavljević, Marko
Patkó, László
Abdulkarem, Ayman
Lee, Benjamin
El-Bana, Magdy
Al-Ansari, Ahmed
Al-Attas, Omar
Brito, José Carlos

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2025-12-22

Original Publication

Biodiversity data journal

Volume

13

Pages

1--26

Subjects

Arabian Peninsula , arid environment , desert fauna , Middle East , new records

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia Pensoft Publishers [2013]-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.13.e174504

 

Abstract

This study presents the first faunistic records of blister beetles (Coleoptera, Meloidae) from north-western Saudi Arabia, specifically Hejaz mountains and north Tihama, expanding the known distribution range of the species within the country. Field surveys were conducted between 2022 and 2024, aiming to cover different seasons. These observations contribute to the knowledge of the diversity of meloid fauna of the country and underscoring the importance of continued faunistic exploration in north-western Saudi Arabia, a region that remains relatively under-surveyed in terms of meloid diversity.<br> <br> Three species (<br> Hycleus borchmannianus<br> ,<br> Hycleus trizonatus<br> ,<br> Mylabris filicornis<br> ) and one genus (<br> Sitaris<br> ) are recorded for the first time in Saudi Arabia. Besides that, this work also provides the first description of the male morphology and genitalia of<br> Mylabris desertica<br> Bologna, 2007.<br>