No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the authors.
A new exceptional Meligethes of the M. aeneus species-group from Western Alps and an updated key to identification of M. aeneus and allied species (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Meligethinae)
Abstract
A new Meligethes from Italian Maritime Alps (Piedmont, Cuneo province), member of the M. aeneus species-group, is described as M. salvan sp. n. The new taxon, despite sharing a few important morphological features with members of the M. aeneus species-complex, is very distinct due to a peculiar combination of characters. The systematic position of Meligethes salvan sp. n. is rather problematic, this new species probably representing a true “palaeoendemic relict” of Tertiary origin, as a few other well-known isolated species of different taxonomic groups, endemic to the crystalline Ercinian massifs of the SW Maritime Alps. The new synonymy Meligethes asperrimus Guillebeau, 1897 = Meligethes flavimanus Stephens, 1830 is introduced, while Meligethes gracilis C. Brisout de Barneville, 1863, recently erroneously synonymyzed with M. aeneus (Fabricius, 1775) by a Russian author, is resurrected at a specific rank. A provisional key to the identification of Meligethes aeneus and allied Holarctic species is finally presented.
... The closely related and purported sister genus Brassicogethes [ Fig. 1 a (c), d], comprises instead some forty, mostly Western Palaearctic species, all associated with Brassicaceae [2,5,[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23], and a few species [e.g. B. aeneus (F.) and B. viridescens (F.)] represent economically important pests, massively attacking blossoms of oilseed rapes, broccoli, cauliflowers, and others. ...
... Most species of Meligethes (and several within the related genus Brassicogethes) have been recently analyzed through an integrated approach combining morphological, molecular, and bionomical data on larval ecology [2,5,[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25]. These contributions were based on morphological and molecular data from adults and on larval bionomical data. ...
... Therefore, geographic isolation in more or less remote mountain valleys seems to have played a more relevant role than ecological specialization to host plants in driving speciation among members included in both Meligethes and Odonthogethes clades. It is interesting to point out that Meligethes and Odonthogethes probably experienced different selective pressures respect to the W Palaearctic Brassicogethes (associated with the unrelated family Brassicaceae), whose more recently-speciated taxa were able to frequently colonize and adapt to rare and/or endemic plant species [1,5,[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. ...
Background
Meligethes are pollen-beetles associated with flowers of Rosaceae as larvae. This genus currently consists of 63 known species in two subgenera, Meligethes and Odonthogethes, predominantly occurring in the eastern Palaearctic. We analyzed 74 morphological and ecological characters (169 states) of all species, as well as of 11 outgroup species from 7 Meligethinae genera (including Brassicogethes), to investigate their phylogeny. We also conducted a parallel molecular analysis on 9 Meligethes, 9 Odonthogethes, 3 Brassicogethes and 2 Meligethinus species based on DNA sequence data from mitochondrial (COI, 16S) and nuclear (CAD) genes.
Results
Morphological phylogenetic reconstructions supported the monophyly of the whole genus and clades corresponding to purported subgenera Meligethes s.str. and Odonthogethes. Main species-groups were mostly confirmed, however some unresolved polytomies remained. Molecular data placed members of Brassicogethes (including 42 mostly W Palearctic species associated with Brassicaceae) as sister to Odonthogethes, with this clade being sister to Meligethes s.str. This phylogenetic scenario suggests that monophyletic Meligethes s.str., Odonthogethes and Brassicogethes should be regarded alternatively as three subgenera of a monophyletic Meligethes, or three genera in a monophyletic genus-complex, with mutually monophyletic Brassicogethes and Odonthogethes. Molecular analyses estimated the origin of this lineage at ca. 14–15 Mya from a common stem including Meligethinus.
Conclusions
We hypothesize that the ancestor of Meligethes specialized on Rosaceae in the Middle Miocene (likely in Langhian Age) and subsequently radiated during Late Miocene and Plio-Pleistocene maintaining a trophic niche on this plant family. This radiation was primarily due to geographic isolation in E Asiatic mountain systems. Combined evidence from morphology, ancestral state parsimony reconstruction of host-plant associations and molecular evidence suggested that Rosoideae (Rosa spp.) represented the ancestral hosts of Meligethes s.str., followed by an independent shift of ancestral Odonthogethes (ca. 9–15 Mya) on Rubus (Rosoideae) and members of Rosaceae Spiraeoideae. Other ancestral Odonthogethes probably shifted again on the unrelated plant family Brassicaceae (maybe 8–14 Mya in S China), allowing a rapid westward radiation of the Brassicogethes clade.
... Most species of Meligethes (and several within the related genus Brassicogethes) have been recently analyzed through an integrated approach combining morphological, molecular, and bionomical data on larval ecology (2,5,(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25). These contributions were based on morphological and molecular data from adults and on larval bionomical data. ...
... Therefore, geographic isolation in more or less remote mountain valleys seems to have played a more relevant role than ecological specialization to host plants in driving speciation among members included in both Meligethes and Odonthogethes clades. It is interesting to point out that Meligethes and Odonthogethes probably experienced different selective pressures respect to the W Palaearctic Brassicogethes (associated with the unrelated family Brassicaceae), whose more recently-speciated taxa were able to frequently colonize and adapt to rare and/or endemic plant species [1,5,[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. ...
... Pollen beetles on these plants are usually highly dispersed and therefore di cult to nd and collect using visual observation only. [5][6]18]. Among the 69 selected morpho-ecological characters, some usually signi cant in Meligethinae interspeci c diagnostics (e.g., some from male and female genitalia) were not included. ...
Background: Meligethes are pollen-beetles associated with flowers of Rosaceae as larvae. This genus currently consists of 63 known species in two subgenera, Meligethes and Odonthogethes, predominantly occurring in the eastern Palaearctic. We analyzed 74 morphological and ecological characters (169 states) of all species, as well as of 11 outgroup species from 7 Meligethinae genera (including Brassicogethes), to investigate their phylogeny. We also conducted a parallel molecular analysis on 9 Meligethes, 9 Odonthogethes, 3 Brassicogethes and 2 Meligethinus species based on DNA sequence data from mitochondrial (COI, 16S) and nuclear (CAD) genes.
Results: Morphological phylogenetic reconstructions supported the monophyly of the whole genus and clades corresponding to purported subgenera Meligethes s.str. and Odonthogethes. Main species-groups were mostly confirmed, however some unresolved polytomies remained. Molecular data placed members of Brassicogethes (including 42 mostly W Palearctic species associated with Brassicaceae) as sister to Odonthogethes, with this clade being sister to Meligethes s.str. This phylogenetic scenario suggests that monophyletic Meligethes s.str., Odonthogethes and Brassicogethes should be regarded alternatively as three subgenera of a monophyletic Meligethes, or three genera in a monophyletic genus-complex, with mutually monophyletic Brassicogethes and Odonthogethes. Molecular analyses estimated the origin of this lineage at ca. 14-15 Mya from a common stem including Meligethinus.
Conclusions: We hypothesize that the ancestor of Meligethes specialized on Rosaceae in the Middle Miocene (likely in Langhian Age) and subsequently radiated during Late Miocene and Plio-Pleistocene maintaining a trophic niche on this plant family. This radiation was primarily due to geographic isolation in E Asiatic mountain systems. Combined evidence from morphology, ancestral state parsimony reconstruction of host-plant associations and molecular evidence suggested that Rosoideae (Rosa spp.) represented the ancestral hosts of Meligethes s.str., followed by an independent shift of ancestral Odonthogethes (ca. 9-15 Mya) on Rubus (Rosoideae) and members of Rosaceae Spiraeoideae. Other ancestral Odonthogethes probably shifted again on the unrelated plant family Brassicaceae (maybe 8-14 Mya in S China), allowing a rapid westward radiation of the Brassicogethes clade.
... The closely related and purported sister genus Brassicogethes Audisio & Cline, 2009 [Figs 1 A (c), D], comprises instead some forty, mostly Western Palaearctic species, all associated with Brassicaceae [2,5,[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23], and a few species [e.g. B. aeneus (F.) and B. viridescens (F.)] represent economically important pests, massively attacking blossoms of oilseed rapes, broccoli, cauli owers, and others. ...
... B. aeneus (F.) and B. viridescens (F.)] represent economically important pests, massively attacking blossoms of oilseed rapes, broccoli, cauli owers, and others. Most species of Meligethes (and several within the related genus Brassicogethes) have been recently analyzed through an integrated approach combining morphological, molecular, and bionomical data on larval ecology (2,5,(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25). These contributions were based on morphological and molecular data on adults and on bionomical data of larvae. ...
... Therefore, geographic isolation in more or less remote mountain valleys seems to have played a more relevant role than ecological specialization and coevolution with host plants in Meligethes and Odonthogethes. On the contrary, in the W Palaearctic Brassicogethes (associated with the unrelated family Brassicaceae) it is evident that several recently differentiated species evolved in connection with rare and endemic plant species [1,5,[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. ...
Meligethes are pollen-beetles associated with flowers of Rosaceae as larvae. This genus, in its present-day concept, consists of 63 known species in two subgenera, Meligethes and Odonthogethes, predominantly occurring in the eastern Palaearctic. We analyzed 74 morphological and ecological characters (169 states) of all species, as well as of 11 outgroup species from 7 Meligethinae genera (including the believed sister-genus Brassicogethes), to investigate their phylogeny. A parallel molecular analysis was carried out on 9 Meligethes, 9 Odonthogethes, 3 Brassicogethes and 2 Meligethinus species, based on DNA sequence data from mitochondrial (COI, 16S) and nuclear (CAD) genes, to obtain additional phylogenetic information on the group.
Results: Morphological phylogenetic reconstructions supported the monophyly of the genus, and clades corresponding to purported subgenera Meligethes s.str. and Odonthogethes. Main species-groups were mostly confirmed, however some unresolved polytomies remained. Molecular data placed members of Brassicogethes (including 42 mostly W Palearctic species associated with Brassicaceae) as sister to Odonthogethes, with this clade being sister to Meligethes s.str. This phylogenetic scenario suggests that monophyletic Meligethes s.str., Odonthogethes and Brassicogethes should be regarded alternatively as three subgenera of a monophyletic Meligethes, or three genera in a monophyletic genus-complex, with mutually monophyletic Brassicogethes and Odonthogethes. Molecular analyses estimated the origin of this lineage at ca. 14-15 Mya from a common stem including Meligethinus.
Conclusions: We hypothesize that the ancestor of Meligethes specialized on Rosaceae in the Middle Miocene (likely in Langhian Age) and subsequently radiated during Late Miocene and Plio-Pleistocene maintaining a trophic niche on this plant family. This radiation was primarily due to geographic isolation in E Asiatic mountain systems. Combined evidence from morphology, ancestral state parsimony reconstruction of host-plant associations and molecular evidence suggested that Rosoideae (Rosa spp.) represented the ancestral hosts of Meligethes s.str., followed by an independent shift of ancestral Odonthogethes (ca. 9-15 Mya) on Rubus (Rosoideae) and members of Rosaceae Spiraeoideae. Other ancestral Odonthogethes probably shifted again on the unrelated plant family Brassicaceae (maybe 8-14 Mya in S China), allowing a rapid westward radiation of the Brassicogethes clade.
... The truly exceptional and highly isolated pollen-beetle Brassicogethes salvan was described (as Meligethes salvan) by Audisio et al. (2003) from a middle-high altitude locality of the Italian Maritime Alps (Piedmont, Cuneo Province). The discovery of this species (Fig. 1a-d) represented one of the most unexpected recent novelties of the southern European fauna (Fontaine et al., 2007(Fontaine et al., , 2012Audisio et al., 2015), in a region well-studied for centuries by Italian and French naturalists. ...
... Specimens were collected alive and directly killed and preserved in absolute ethanol. Species identifications were made using morphological characters detailed by Audisio et al. (2003Audisio et al. ( , 2011. DNA was extracted from whole specimens following the 'salting out' procedure described by Aljanabi and Martinez (1997). ...
... Other diagnostic characters include the metatibiae being strongly curved and sinuate in both sexes (Fig. 1a); the general body shape and colour (Fig. 1a) partially recalling members of the B. viridescens species complex, but in B. salvan this is coupled with a simple (not toothed) posterior edge of the mesofemora; the humeral angle of each elytron is moderately projected anteriorly and laterally (Fig. 1a), while it is more strongly projected outwards in B. humerosus, and not projected in all other related European species; and there is a peculiarly long and parallel-sided tegmen and median lobe of the aedeagus (Fig. 1b-c). Concerning the list of European species to be attributed to the few recognised species-groups and species complexes within Brassicogethes, refer to: Audisio et al., 1999a,b;Audisio et al., 2003Audisio et al., , 2006Audisio et al., , 2011Mancini et al., 2016. Based on the peculiar combination of morphological character states, the phylogenetic position of B. salvan remains problematic. ...
• Brassicogethes salvan (Audisio et al. 2003 Insect Systematics and Evolution, 34, 121) is certainly among the most important and unexpected recent discoveries in the European beetle fauna. The species was initially described from a couple of unidentified specimens collected in 1912 on the Maritime Alps (NW Italy).
• Despite a long series of attempts to recollect the species at the type locality (Rovina Lake, Mount Argentera Massif, Cuneo Province, Piedmont, NW Italy) and several neighbouring areas of the SW Alps between 2002 and 2016, no specimens of this species were found.
• We re‐discovered B. salvan in a small high valley of the Regional Natural Park of the Maritime Alps, a few dozen kilometers from the type locality. The previously unknown larval host‐plant as Descurainia tanacetifolia (L.) Rchb., Brassicaceae was determined. Some unusual life history traits were also observed. In an effort to yield a suitable taxonomic placement for this species, we present a partial preliminary molecular phylogeny for this species and related taxa. A discussion regarding some issues about its actual and potential geographic distribution in southern France and northwestern Italy is also provided.
• We propose an EN (Endangered) classification for this species following the IUCN criteria, and discuss aspects of its rather problematic conservation biology.
... Based on a specimen collected in 1912, the beetle Meligethes salvan was described from a small basin in the Italian Alps. The area was almost entirely destroyed by works associated with a hydroelectric power plant in the 1970s, and despite several attempts , no new specimen of this species has ever been found (Audisio et al., 2003 ). Another example is Romanichthys valsanicola , a fish that was restricted to the upper reaches of Arges, Vilsan and Doamnei rivers in Romania. ...
... The beetle Meligethes salvan was believed to be extinct ca. 40 years after its possible extinction (Audisio et al., 2003 ), and the beetle Hydraena sappho was declared extinct some 25–30 years after its actual extinction (Audisio et al., 1996). Moreover, the Mediterranean region is a centre of endemism (Myers et al., 2000), but has experienced serious degradations due to urbanisation, altered fire regimes and agriculture: in Europe, it is probably an area where Centinelan extinctions have occurred. ...
... Therefore, geographic isolation and repeated hostshifts in more or less isolated mountain valleys seems to have played a more relevant role than ecological specialization and coevolution in Meligethes and Odonthogethes evolutionary history. On the contrary, in the mostly W Palaearctic Brassicogethes (associated with the unrelated family Brassicaceae) it is evident that several recently differentiated species evolved in connection with rare and endemic plant species [1,5,[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. Molecular evidence also suggests that the two largest genera of Rosaceae Rosoideae, Rubus and Rosa, split more than 40 Mya [40], well before the estimated divergence between Odonthogethes (mostly associated with Rubus spp.) and Meligethes s. str. ...
Background: Meligethes are pollen-beetles associated with flowers of Rosaceae as larvae. This genus, in its present-day concept, consists of 63 known species in two subgenera, Meligethes and Odonthogethes, predominantly occurring in the eastern Palaearctic. We analyzed 61 morphological and ecological characters (128 states) of all species, as well as of 7 outgroup species from 7 Meligethinae genera (including the believed sister-genus Brassicogethes), to investigate their phylogeny. A parallel molecular analysis was carried out on 9 Meligethes, 9 Odonthogethes, 3 Brassicogethes and 2 Meligethinus species, based on DNA sequence data from mitochondrial (COI, 16S) and nuclear (CAD) genes, to obtain additional phylogenetic information on the group.
Results: Morphological phylogenetic reconstructions supported the monophyly of the genus, and clades corresponding to purported subgenera Meligethes and Odonthogethes. Main species-groups were mostly recovered intact, however some unresolved polytomies remained. Molecular data suggested a different scenario, placing members of Brassicogethes (including 42 mostly W Palearctic species associated with Brassicaceae) as sister to Odonthogethes, with this clade being sister to Meligethes s.str. This alternative phylogenetic assessment suggests that the monophyletic clades Meligethes s.str., Odonthogethes and Brassicogethes should be regarded alternatively as three subgenera of a monophyletic Meligethes, or three genera in a monophyletic genus-complex, with mutually monophyletic Brassicogethes and Odonthogethes. Molecular analyses estimated the origin of this lineage at ca. 14-15 Mya from a common stem including Meligethinus.
Conclusions: We hypothesize in the Middle Miocene (likely in Langhian Age), the first Meligethes specialized on Rosaceae, on which they subsequently radiated during Late Miocene and Plio-Pleistocene. This radiation was enforced by geographic isolation in E Asiatic mountain systems, and by larval host-plant specialization. Combined evidence from morphology, ancestral state parsimony reconstruction of host-plant associations, and molecular evidence, suggested that for Meligethes s.str., Rosoideae (Rosa spp.) represented the ancestral hosts, followed by an independent shift of ancestral Odonthogethes (ca. 9-15 Mya) on Rubus (Rosoideae) and members of Rosaceae Spiraeoideae. Other ancestral Odonthogethes probably shifted again on the unrelated plant family Brassicaceae (maybe 8-14 Mya in S China), allowing a rapid westward radiation of the Brassicogethes clade.
... The large Palaearctic Meligethes aeneus group (Coleoptera, Nitidulidae, Meligethinae) contains some 40 species arranged in subgroups and complexes that are difficult to classify. All species are associated with flowers of Brassicaceae for larval development (Audisio, 1993;Audisio & De Biase, 1999;Audisio et al., 1999aAudisio et al., , 1999bAudisio et al., , 2000Audisio et al., , 2001aAudisio et al., , 2001bAudisio et al., , 2002Audisio et al., , 2003Audisio et al., , 2005aAudisio et al., , 2005bDe Biase et al. , 2003). Meligethes coracinus Sturm, 1845 (Europe to eastern Siberia; Kirejtshuk 1992, Audisio 1993) is a member of the M. aeneus species group, and as discussed by Audisio et al. (2005aAudisio et al. ( , 2005b, is the first described taxon of a relatively large subgroup of species including (Table 1) M. subaeneus % . ...
A morphological analysis was performed, combined with field data on insect/host-plant associations to clarify the taxonomic scenario of the Palaearctic Meligethes subaeneus complex (Coleoptera, Nitidulidae, Meligethinae), including three European and Caucasian species (M. subaeneus, M. matronalis, M. epeirosi n.sp.) that are associated with flowers of Brassicaceae for larval development. The analysis was focused on the diagnosis and formal description of a new species, M. epeirosi n.sp. from NW Greece (Pindo Chain), which develops on Cardamine (s.str.) glauca Sprengel. The morphological variation of the true M. subaeneus in Europe was also analysed; the combined morphological and ecological evidence suggests that this species is structured in three main groups of European populations, which are probably the result of Pleistocene differentiation, suggesting an ongoing process of incipient speciation within this taxon.
... Considering the high number of plant species endemic to Iran (more than 1800), representing a little less than 1/3 of the entire flora (Ghahreman & Attar 2000), we hypothesize that several rare or elusive anthophagous species, chiefly in Kateretidae and in Nitidulidae of the subfamily Meligethinae, will be discovered as new in the next years, with particular attention to members of the genera Brassicogethes Audisio & Cline, 2009 (Brassicaceae associated), Meligethes (Rosaceae associated), Sagittogethes Audisio & Cline, 2009 and Stachygethes (both Lamiaceae associated), which are highly diversified in the SW Asiatic areas (Audisio 1993b;Audisio et al. 1999Audisio et al. , 2000Audisio et al. , 2001bAudisio et al. , 2002Audisio et al. , 2003Audisio et al. , 2005Audisio et al. , 2006Audisio et al. , 2015De Biase et al. 2003;Mancini et al. 2008Mancini et al. , 2016. ...
During recent expeditions in North and Southwest Iran, 10 species of Kateretidae and Nitidulidae (Coleoptera) were found. One species of Kateretidae, Brachyleptus bicoloratus Reitter, 1896, and three nitidulid species, Afrogethes schilskyi (Reitter, 1897), Stachygethes khnzoriani (Kirejtshuk, 1979), and S. nigerrimus (Rosenhauer, 1856) are recorded for the first time for the Iranian fauna (the latter is also a new record for Asia). Thymogethes ahriman (Jelínek, 1981) is herein resurrected to species rank, and two species, Thymogethes kassites sp. nov. and T. khorasanicus sp. nov., are described as new. An updated key to the known Near East and Afghan species of the genus Thymogethes Audisio & Cline, 2009 is also provided. Available and recently collected biological and distributional data, as well as short taxonomic comments, are given for the discussed species.
... two thirds of them being endemic) (Lingdi et al. 2003). The evolutionary scenario strongly resembles taxa in the closely related and mostly Western Palearctic genus Brassicogethes Audisio & Cline, 2009 (Audisio & Spornraft 1990 Audisio et al. 1999 Audisio et al. , 2000 Audisio et al. , 2001a Audisio et al. , b, 2002 Audisio et al. , 2003 Audisio et al. , 2005a Audisio et al. , b, 2006 Audisio et al. , 2011 De Biase et al. 2003, 2012 Jelínek & Audisio 2007; Mancini et al. 2008 Mancini et al. , 2016), whose members are strictly associated with different genera and species of Brassicaceae. In Brassicogethes, several undescribed cryptic species have been recently detected via an integrative taxonomic approach, utilizing combined morphological, ecological, and molecular data. ...
Four new species of Meligethes Stephens, 1830, M. (s.str.) macrofemoratus (Shaanxi, Ningxia), M. (s.str.) yak (NW Sichuan), M. (s.str.) auropilosus (Tibet) and M. (Odontogethes) aurorugosus (Tibet) spp. nov., are described and illustrated from China. Diagnostic characters distinguishing these new species from closely related taxa are discussed. The previously unknown male of Meligethes (s.str.) aureolineatus Audisio, Sabatelli & Jelínek, 2015 from Sichuan and the previously unknown female of M. (Odontogethes) scrobescens Chen, Lin, Huang & Yang, 2015 from Sichuan are also described. Additional data are also presented on the geographic distribution and life history of other Chinese Meligethes species.
... The large Palaearctic Meligethes aeneus group (Coleoptera, Nitidulidae, Meligethinae) contains some 40 species arranged in subgroups and complexes that are difficult to classify. All species are associated with flowers of Brassicaceae for larval development (Audisio, 1993;Audisio & De Biase, 1999;Audisio et al., 1999aAudisio et al., , 1999bAudisio et al., , 2000Audisio et al., , 2001aAudisio et al., , 2001bAudisio et al., , 2002Audisio et al., , 2003Audisio et al., , 2005aAudisio et al., , 2005bDe Biase et al. , 2003). Meligethes coracinus Sturm, 1845 (Europe to eastern Siberia; Kirejtshuk 1992, Audisio 1993) is a member of the M. aeneus species group, and as discussed by Audisio et al. (2005aAudisio et al. ( , 2005b, is the first described taxon of a relatively large subgroup of species including (Table 1) M. subaeneus % . ...
A morphological analysis was performed, combined with field data on insect/host-plant associations to clarify the taxonomic scenario of the Palaearctic Meligethes subaeneus complex (Coleoptera, Nitidulidae, Meligethinae), including three European and Caucasian species (M. subaeneus, M. matronalis, M. epeirosi n.sp.) that are associated with flowers of Brassicaceae for larval development. The analysis was focused on the diagnosis and formal description of a new species, M. epeirosi n.sp. from NW Greece (Pindo Chain), which develops on Cardamine (s.str.) glauca Sprengel. The morphological variation of the true M. subaeneus in Europe was also analysed; the combined morphological and ecological evidence suggests that this species is structured in three main groups of European populations, which are probably the result of Pleistocene differentiation, suggesting an ongoing process of incipient speciation within this taxon.
... From being hypothetical a couple of decades ago, such situations are becoming more and more well documented. For instance, the beetle Meligethes salvan was described from the Italian Alps from specimens collected in 1912 (Audisio et al. 2003); the butterfly Orobrassolis latusoris was described based on specimens collected in Parana, Brazil, in 1919(Penz et al. 2011; and the flying foxes Pteropus allenorum and P. coxi were described based on specimens collected in Samoa in the mid-nineteenth century (Helgen et al. 2009). In all these cases, no specimen was subsequently collected and the new species were declared ''extinct'' or ''possibly extinct'' by their authors at the time of their description. ...
Recent literature abounds with reports of the decline and extinction of the endemic species of Achatinellidae and Partulidae in the Hawaiian and Society Islands, respectively, resulting from the introduction of the predatory snail Euglandina rosea. Here, we describe a previously unrecognised radiation of helicinid land snails from the Gambier Islands of French Polynesia, with up to seven species co-occurring in a single locality and up to eight species on a single island. This radiation had already become extinct (nine of ten species) several decades before the expansion of E. rosea in the Pacific, and even before the species were collected for scientific study. The Gambier Islands case study shows that massive extinctions of endemic land snails had already taken place in the nineteenth century, but have remained largely unrecognised and undocumented. Nine of the ten species are new to science and are described here almost entirely based on empty shells collected from the shell bank of the soil after the extinction had already taken place. This helicinid radiation alone increases the number of documented global mollusc extinctions by almost 2 %. Most of the species are minute and, at 1.5 mm, rank among the smallest, if not the smallest, species in the family. Several have apertural barriers and one has opercular apophyses—character states not previously documented in Pacific helicinids. Whereas the only surviving Gambier species belongs anatomically to the genus Sturanya, representative helicinid species from the Austral, Society and Cook Islands are not congeneric with it, and the generic name Nesiocina is here established for the latter taxa. It is hypothesised that the extinct Gambier species were also Nesiocina.
Recent molecular and morphological data derived from members of the pollen-beetle subfamily Meligethinae suggest the need to separate the genus Sagittogethes Audisio and Cline, 2009, including species mostly distributed in Western Palaearctic areas, into two distinct (although related) genera, Sagittogethes and Teucriogethes gen. n. This new genus, comprising the Western European Meligethes obscurus Erichson, 1845 as its type species, includes less than ten species distributed between the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa westward, and China and Japan eastward. All inclusive species utilize members of the genus Teucrium L. (Lamiacaeae: Ajugoideae) as larval host-plants. Morphological and bionomical information, and molecular data clearly demonstrate the necessity for updating the taxonomic position of the two clades. Based on molecular evidence, the new genus represents the sister-group of Thymogethes Audisio and Cline, 2009, while the sister-group relationships of the remaining Sagittogethes taxa with other Lamiaceae-associated genera of Meligethinae remain uncertain. Within the new genus, the relictual and rare Western Mediterranean species T. minutus (C.N.F. Brisout de Barneville, 1863) seems to occupy an isolated position.
The 24 members of the Euro‐Asiatic genus Thymogethes are highly specialized pollen beetles associated as larvae with flowers of Lamiaceae Nepetoideae. All members of the genus were analysed in within the framework of an integrative taxonomy approach, which was aimed to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships, as well as the possible pattern of evolution of their larval‐host‐plant association. Evidence from multiple molecular markers [COI; 16S; H3], combined with an estimation of divergence times using an average rate of 0.0177 substitutions/site/My among branches, placed the origin of the genus at a minimum of 9–10 Mya. This date of origin approximates the known evolution of the host plants in Euro‐Mediterranean areas. Evidence from combined molecular and cladistic morphological analyses resulted in suitable agreement with the previously established morphology‐based systematics of the genus, although members of the exilis species‐group were split into three clades. The only disagreement between results of this new combined phylogeny and previous classification is in the exclusion of “Thymogethes” grenieri. This species is herein positioned outside the genus, based on molecular evidence. Our analysis depicts several Thymogethes species differentiating in the last few Mys, specifically those included in the T. lugubris species‐group. Combined evidence from DNA, morphology and ancestral state parsimony reconstruction of larval‐host‐plant associations suggests that subtribe Menthinae likely represents the ancestral host plants, with a series of independent host shifts during the radiation of the clade, in association first with Menthinae and subsequently with Lavandulinae and Nepetinae. Steno‐oligophagy is the most frequent (86%) condition, while strictly monophagous species are less numerous (14%).
This paper compiles an updated checklist of Sicilian species of Nitidulidae and Kateretidae from historical bibliographical data, and new Sicilian material collected by the first author and several other Italian and European entomologists in the last few decades. The paper is completed with an updated checklist of the species so far recorded from the island, including those based on unpublished data or extracted from recently examined material. A total of 88 species are reported (81 Nitidulidae and 7 Kateretidae). The new records for the Island include 10 Nitidulidae and 1 undescribed Kateretidae, and the neotropical Colopterus abdominalis (Erichson, 1843) is first recorded for Europe. The presence in SE Sicily of the invasive beehive pest Aethina tumida Murray, 1867, recently introduced to Calabria (Summer 2014), is also confirmed. Eight species, previously doubtfully recorded for Sicily, are to be excluded from the Sicilian fauna. c 2014 by the Author (s) - licensee Accademia Peloritana dei Pericolanti (Messina Italy).
A taxonomic revision of members of the genus Meligethes Stephens, 1830 is carried out. Taxonomic and distributional notes are provided on fiftythree Meligethes species, mostly known from the Eastern Palearctic and marginally from the Western Palearctic and the Oriental Regions. Among these, twentythree new species of Meligethes are diagnosed, figured and described: M. argentithorax sp. n. (Central China: Shaanxi, Shanxi), M. aurantirugosus sp. n. (Nepal), M. aureolineatus sp. n. (Central China: Sichuan), M. aurifer sp. n. (Central China: Shaanxi, Shanxi), M. brassicogethoides sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan), M. clinei sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan), M. elytralis sp. n. (Central China: Sichuan), M. ferruginoides sp. n. (Central China: Sichuan), M. cinereoargenteus sp. n. (Central China: Sichuan), M. henan sp. n. (Central China: Henan), M. luteoornatus sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan), M. marmota sp. n. (Nepal), M. nivalis sp. n. (SW and central China: Xizang and Chongqing), M. martes sp. n. (Central China: Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan), M. nigroaeneus sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan), M. occultus sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan), M. pseudochinensis sp. n. (Central China: Hubei), M. pseudopectoralis sp. n. (SW China: Yunan), M. schuelkei sp. n. (Central China: Sichuan, Shaanxi), M. simulator sp. n. (Central-N China: Shanxi), M. stenotarsus sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan, Xizang), M. tryznai sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan), and M. volkovichi sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan). Revaluations at specific rank from synonymy are introduced for Meligethes lutra Solsky 1860, and for M. melleus Grouvelle, 1908. Three new synonymies are established: Meligethes brevipilus Kirejtshuk, 1980 = M. auripilis Reitter, 1889 (syn. n.), Meligethes zakharenkoi Kirejtshuk, 2005 = M. shirakii Sadanari Hisamatsu, 1956 (syn. n.), and Meligethes shirozui Sadanari Hisamatsu, 1965 = M. wagneri Rebmann, 1956 (syn. n.). Complete redescriptions are given for Meligethes binotatus Grouvelle, 1894, M. castanescens Grouvelle, 1903, M. ferrugineus Reitter, 1873, and M. melleus Grouvelle, 1908. The male of Meligethes lloydi Easton, 1968, is described and figured for the first time. The female genitalia of Meligethes auricomus Rebmann, 1956, M. cinereus Jelínek, 1978, and M. griseus Jelínek, 1978 are described and figured for the first time. Available information on insect-host-plant relationships and ecology are summarized for each species; probably all are associated as larvae with flowers of Rosaceae, chiefly of members of the closely related genera Rosa L., Rubus L., Prunus L., and Crataegus Tourn. ex L. All treated species are grouped in two here revaluated subgenera (Meligethes s.str. and Odonthogethes Reitter, 1871), and tentatively grouped also in species-groups and (when necessary) species-complexes, based on their morphology.
The 17 known members of the mostly Western Palaearctic Brassicogethes coracinus species group (highly specialized pollen beetles associated with flowers of Brassicaceae) were re-analyzed, with the aim to reconstruct their phylogenetic relationships and the pattern of evolution of their larval/host-plant associations. Evidence from mtDNA data (COI marker), combined with an estimation of divergence times, placed the main differentiation of the clade around 5 My with most species likely differentiated in the last 1–2 My. Combined evidence from mtDNA, morphology and ancestral state parsimony reconstruction of larval/host-plant associations, suggested that Brassicaceae of the tribe Brassiceae likely represented the ancestral host plants for the group, with a subsequent series of independent host shifts during the evolution and radiation of the clade (in association first with Cardamineae, and later with Arabideae, Sisymbrieae, Erysimeae, Hesperideae and Anchonieae). Molecular and ecological evidence also suggests the need to formally separate European populations of the widespread Brassicogethes subaeneus (Sturm, 1845) into two distinct and widely sympatric cryptic taxa, one of them described herein as new (Brassicogethes cardaminicola sp. nov.). The neotype of the true B. subaeneus is also herein designated.
A molecular analysis was performed, combined with field data on insect/host-plant associations, in order to clarify taxonomic relationships within the W-Palaearctic Meligethes aeneus complex (Coleoptera, Nitidulidae, Meligethinae). The analysis was focused on the specific distinction of M. aeneus (Fabricius, 1775), and M. gracilis C.Brisout de Barneville, 1863, with special regard to populations occurring in sympatry. The genetic divergence between the two examined taxa, based on comparison between mtDNA sequence data, was congruent with distance values usually scored between related, but evidently separated, insect species. Genetic data and ecological evidence clearly show that Meligethes aeneus and M. gracilis, erroneously synonymized in a recent paper by a Russian author, are distinct biological species that frequently occur in syntopy in Western Europe.
The pollen beetle subfamily Meligethinae C. G. Thomson, 1859 (Nitidulidae), is distributed throughout the Holarctic, Afrotropical, Oriental, and Australasian Regions. Previously, the subfamily included fifteen genera and approximately seven hundred species, most of which were attributed to the widespread and paraphyletic genus Meligethes Stephens, 1830, and to a lesser extent the primarily Afrotropical genus Pria Stephens, 1830. Herein, twenty-two additional genera are described as new from Europe, Africa, North America and Asia; including the following: Afrogethes, Aristogethes, Asterogethes, Bolbocero- gethes, Boragogethes, Brassicogethes, Fabogethes, Genistogethes, Indogethes, Jelinekigethes, Lamiogethes, Lucanopria, Neolariopsis, Odontholariopsis, Paleo- gethes, Rubiogethes, Sagittogethes, Stachygethes, Tarchonanthogethes, Thymo- gethes, Xenostrongylogethes, and Xerogethes, all Audisio & Cline, gen. nov. Six previously recognized and/or described subgenera of Meligethes are elevated to generic rank; including Acanthogethes Reitter, 1871, Clypeogethes Scholz, 1932, Idiogethes Kirejtshuk, 1977, Chromogethes Kirejtshuk, 1989, Lariopsis Kirejtshuk, 1989, and Astylogethes Kirejtshuk, 1992 stat. nov. The new combinations for all transferred species are established. The type species of all recognized genera are fixed and/or indicated, a preliminary check list of inclusive described species attributed to each of the resulting 43 Meligethinae genera is provided, and a new genus/species is described from Rwanda, i.e. Lucanopria wagneri Audisio & Cline, gen. nov. and sp. nov. One new synonymy is proposed: Meligethes albens Audisio & De Biase, 2004, = Chromogethes formosus (Kirejtshuk, 1989) syn. nov. A preliminary phylogenetic scenario of Meligethinae is discussed, based on selected morphological characters and evidence from partially published molecular data (i.e. COI, ITS2, and PEPCK genes) representing most Meligethinae genera. Also, the available bionomical data and larval host-plant associations of inclusive genera are summarized.
The European Union has adopted the ambitious target of halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010. Several indicators have been proposed to assess progress towards the 2010 target, two of them addressing directly the issue of species decline. In Europe, the Fauna Europaea database gives an insight into the patterns of distribution of a total dataset of 130,000 terrestrial and freshwater species without taxonomic bias, and provide a unique opportunity to assess the feasibility of the 2010 target. It shows that the vast majority of European species are rare, in the sense that they have a restricted range. Considering this, the paper discusses whether the 2010 target indicators really cover the species most at risk of extinction. The analysis of a list of 62 globally extinct European taxa shows that most contemporary extinctions have affected narrow-range taxa or taxa with strict ecological requirements. Indeed, most European species listed as threatened in the IUCN Red List are narrow-range species. Conversely, there are as many wide-range species as narrow-range endemics in the list of protected species in Europe (Bird and Habitat Directives). The subset of biodiversity captured by the 2010 target indicators should be representative of the whole biodiversity in terms of patterns of distribution and abundance. Indicators should not overlook a core characteristic of biodiversity, i.e. the large number of narrow-range species and their intrinsic vulnerability. With ill-selected indicator species, the extinction of narrow-range endemics would go unnoticed.
An analysis of morphometric and bionomic data (as well as the genetic evidence discussed in a companion paper) clearly shows that Meligethes matronalis Audisio & Spornraft, 1990 and M. subaeneus Sturm, 1845 (members of the Meligethes coracinus complex: Coleoptera, Nitidulidae, Meligethinae), recently synonymised by Kirejtshuk (1997), are distinct species. The two species are also compared with the closely related M. coracinus Sturm, 1845. Meligethes matronalis is strictly associated with Hesperis matronalis L. (Brassicaceae) in early Summer, whereas the larvae of the frequently syntopic M. subaeneus develop on Cardamine spp. (Brassicaceae) in Spring; M. coracinus is a more polyphagous species, developing from early Spring to late Summer mostly on Brassica spp., Sinapis spp., Barbarea spp. and Sisymbrium spp. (Brassicaceae).
An allozyme analysis was performed, combined with field data on insect/host‐plant associations, in order to clarify taxonomic relationships within the W‐Palaearctic Meligethes coracinus complex (Coleoptera, Nitidulidae, Meligethinae). The analysis was focused on the specific distinction of M. coracinus, M. matronalis and M. subaeneus, with special regard to the last two species occurring in sympatry. Alternative fixed and unique alleles were scored at several loci. The genetic distances between M. matronalis, M. subaeneus and M. coracinus (0.198–0.572) were in the range of values usually scored between closely related insect species. Genetic data and ecological evidence clearly show that M. matronalis and M. subaeneus, erroneously synonymized in a recent paper, are distinct biological species that frequently occur in syntopy in central and southern Europe, on different larval host plants, although they rarely show synchronous phenology. Their specific differentiation likely occurred during the palaeoclimatic changes of the Plio‐Pleistocene ice cycles in southern Europe.
Biogeographia - vol. XXI - 2000 (Pubb/icato il 30 giugno 2000) Biogeografia de||’AnatoIia The Coleoptera Nitidulidae and Kateretidae from Anatolian, Caucasian and Middle East regionsl PAOLO AUDISIO *, JOSEF JEI§INEK**, ANDREA MARIOTTI *, ALESSIO DE BIASE* *Dzj)¢zrtz'mento di Biblogia Animzzle e de[[’Uomo (Zoologia), Universitiz di Roma qLa Szzpienzzz q, Vizzle zz'eI[’Unz'z/ersitiz, 32 — L00] 8 5 Roma (Italy) “Deprzrtmem of Entomology, Nzztiomzl Museum, Kunnztice 1, CZ — 14800 Pm/Jzz 4, (Czec/7 Repu/alic) Key words: Coleoptera, Nitidulidae, Kateretidae, Anatolia, Caucasus, Middle East, geographical distribution, zoogeography. SUMMARY The known to date geographic distribution of the Coleoptera Nitidulidae and Kateretidae from Anatolian, Caucasian and Middle East areas are summarized and briefly discussed. The updated fauna of the whole region includes 232 species (205 Nitidulidae, 27 Kateretidae), with nearly 24% endemic of the whole study area. The percentage of endemic raxa seems to vary dramatically in the different genera, mainly Following their own ecological requirements. In Fact, several species (around 32%) of the more or less specialized phytophagous genera (such as Melzget/m and Urap/Jam: in the Nitidulidae, or Bra:/tylqwtus and Amzmzzrtu: in the Katereridae) are endemic or subendemic to the Anatolian, Caucasian and Middle East areas, while most of the other non—phytophagous (i.e., zoo- or phyto-saprophagous) species (such as Nitidzzlzz, Omaritzz, Epzmzm, Czupap/Jilw in the Nitidulidae) are usually widespread Palaearctic, Asiatic-European, Siberian—European, or European taxa. One species, Meliget/Jar are!/aiAud.isio and Jelinek n.sp., member oftheM. ratumlica/lit—species group, from northern Turkey, is described as new to Science; presence of at least three other new Anatolian and Caucasian species within the difficult M. corzzcinus species—complex is noticed, as well as occurrence in SE Turkey (Amanus Mts.) of a new, quite unexpected, Xerlartrangylur species, closely related to the rare W—MeditermneanX latent/is Chevrolat. Melzgetht: expkzmztus Reitter, previously known to occur in Middle Asia only, is first recorded for the Western Palaearctic Region (Western Syria); Prizz zenabizz Jelinek, recently described from SE Turkey and Israel, is first recorded for Europe (Western Greece); Meliget/7:35 minutus C. Brisout de Barneville is first recorded for the Eastern Mediterranean (Greece, Crete Island). New data on geographical distribution and host—plant relationships are given for several other discussed species. Percent of the different represented chorotypes in the whole study area within the two considered families, are finally calculated and briefly discussed in a zoogeographic perspective. INTRODUCTION The Western Palaearctic Nitidulidae and Kateretidaez have been recently dealt with and extensively discussed by Audisio (1993c). The present paper is mainly 1 Zoological researches in the Near East by the Universities of Rome: 193. This study was supported by grants from MURST 1999 (University of “Roma Tre”) “Variazione geografica e diversita a livello di specie, faune e zoocenosi: cause storiche ed ecologiche”. 2 In the present paper we use the family name Kateretidae Erichson, in Agassiz, [1846] over the recently used Brachypteridae Erichson, [1845] (Lawrence and Newton, 1995). according to ICZN (I999), opinion I916.
A molecular analysis was performed, combined with field data on insect/host-plant associations, in order to clarify taxonomic relationships within the W-Palaearctic Meligethes aeneus complex (Coleoptera, Nitidulidae, Meligethinae). The analysis was focused on the specific distinction of M. aeneus (Fabricius, 1775), and M. gracilis C.Brisout de Barneville, 1863, with special regard to populations occurring in sympatry. The genetic divergence between the two examined taxa, based on comparison between mtDNA sequence data, was congruent with distance values usually scored between related, but evidently separated, insect species. Genetic data and ecological evidence clearly show that Meligethes aeneus and M. gracilis, erroneously synonymized in a recent paper by a Russian author, are distinct biological species that frequently occur in syntopy in Western Europe.
Allozyme and RAPD analysis were performed to clarify taxonomic relationships within the Meligethes viridescens complex (Coleoptera, Nitidulidae, Meligethinae). Five populations from Central Italy belonging to three species: M. viridescens, M. czwalinai, and a new undescribed species (M. sp. cfr. viridescens), and one population of the morphologically well-differentiated M. aeneus were analysed. The degree of observed genetic differentiation supports separation at the specific rank of M. viridescens, M. czwalinai, and M. sp. cfr. viridescens. The species’ ecology and morphological observations based on scanning electron microscopy also supports such a taxonomic separation. The M13 RAPD primer is a diagnostic marker for distinguishing the four species. Estimates of divergence times calculated from allozymic genetic distance data suggest that the pattern of differentiation observed may be related to the palaeoclimatic changes during the Plio/Pleistocene ice cycles in southern Europe.
An analysis of morphometric, allozymic and ecological data gives clear cues of the presence in southern Europe and the Near East of a so far not recognised species of the pollen-beetle genus Meligethes Stephens, previously widely confused with the common and widespread M. coracinus Sturm. Re-examination of the type material allowed the authors to discover that this 'new' taxon was originally described by Ganglbauer (1899) as M. coracinus var. aenescens (nec M. aenescens Fairmaire, 1875), later considered a mere synonym of M. coracinus. This taxon is here resurrected at a specific rank, redescribed, and renamed Meligethes erysimicola Audisio & De Biase, nom. n. The two species are also compared with the closely related Meligethes motronalis Audisio & Spornraft, 1990, a monophagous species strictly associated with Hesperis motronolis L. (Brassicaceae). M. erysimicola is an oligophagous species, strictly associated at larval stage with several members of the plant genus Erysimum L. (Brassicaceae), while M. coracinus is a more polyphagous species, developing mostly on Brassica spp., Sinapis spp., Barbarea spp. and Sisynibrium spp. (Brassicaceae). Waiting for the final results of further molecular and ecological researches concerning the same subject, an updated taxonomical outline of the Meligethes coracinus species-complex is also reported, and a provisional key to identification of species and included sub-complexes, is finally given.
Morphological and biogeographical reexamination of the Meligethes squamosus species complex (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Meligethinae)
- P Audisio
- J Jelínek
- M Stevanovic
Audisio, P., Jelínek, J. & Stevanovic, M. (1999) Morphological and biogeographical reexamination of the
Meligethes squamosus species complex (Coleoptera:
Nitidulidae: Meligethinae). Folia Heyrovskyana 7 (1):
61-71.
Identification of Meligethes matronalis Audisio and Spornraft, 1990 and M. subaeneus Sturm, 1845, based on morphometric and bionomic charac-ters (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)
- P Audisio
- C Belfiore
- De
- A Biase
- G Antonini
Audisio, P., Belfiore, C., De Biase, A. & Antonini, G. (2001a) Identification of Meligethes matronalis Audisio and Spornraft, 1990 and M. subaeneus Sturm, 1845, based on morphometric and bionomic charac-ters (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae). European Journal of Entomology 98: 87-97
Bionomic and morphological evidence of a new southern European species of the Meligethes viridescens complex (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)
- P Audisio
- A De Biase
Audisio, P. & De Biase, A. (1999) Bionomic and morphological evidence of a new southern European species of the Meligethes viridescens complex (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae). Folia Heyrovskyana 7 (2): 99113.
New and little known species of the genus Meligethes from Turkey and neighbouring countries (Coleoptera, Nitidulidae)
- J Jelínek
Jelínek, J. (1982a) New and little known species of the
genus Meligethes from Turkey and neighbouring
countries (Coleoptera, Nitidulidae). Türkiye Bitki
Koruma Dergisi 5 (1981) (4): 201-214.
New palaearctic species of the genus Meligethes (Coleoptera, Nitidulidae)
- J Jelínek
Jelínek, J. (1982b) New palaearctic species of the genus
Meligethes (Coleoptera, Nitidulidae). Acta entomologica bohemoslovaca 79: 289-300.
We introduce thus the following synonymy: Meligethes asperrimus Guillebeau, 1897 = Meligethes flavimanus Stephens, 1830, syn. n. References Audisio, P. (1993) Coleoptera Nitidulidae-Kateretidae. Fauna d'Italia
- Rosaceae For
- Development
Rosaceae for their larval development. We introduce thus the following synonymy: Meligethes
asperrimus Guillebeau, 1897 = Meligethes flavimanus Stephens, 1830, syn. n.
References
Audisio, P. (1993) Coleoptera Nitidulidae-Kateretidae.
Fauna d'Italia, vol. 32, Calderini ed., Bologna, XVI +
971 pp.
An addition to the Nearctic Nitidulidae (Coleoptera) Annals and Magazine of Natural History
- A M Easton
Easton, A. M. (1947) An addition to the Nearctic Nitidulidae (Coleoptera). Annals and Magazine of
Natural History, Ser. 11 14: 60-64.
New Palaearctic nitidulid beetles, with notes on synonymy and systematic position of some species (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)
- A G Kirejtshuk
Kirejtshuk, A. G. (1997) New Palaearctic nitidulid beetles, with notes on synonymy and systematic position
of some species (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae). Zoosystematica Rossica 6: 255-268.
New descriptions and records of Brachypteridae and Nitidulidae from the Palaearctic region (Coleoptera)
- J Jelínek
Jelínek, J. (1997) New descriptions and records of Brachypteridae and Nitidulidae from the Palaearctic region (Coleoptera). Folia Heyrovskyana 5 (3): 123-138.
A new Nearctic species of Meligethes (Col., Nitidulidae). Entomologist's Monthly Magazine
- A M Easton
Easton, A. M. (1959) A new Nearctic species of Meligethes (Col., Nitidulidae). Entomologist's Monthly
Magazine 95: 58-61.
The Insects of the USSR far East. III, Coleoptera, 2. Nitidulidae, Kateretidae. Russian Academy of Sciences
- A G Kirejtshuk
Kirejtshuk, A.G. (1992) The Insects of the USSR far
East. III, Coleoptera, 2. Nitidulidae, Kateretidae. Russian Academy of Sciences, St.Petersburgh, "Nauka"
1992: 114-216 (in Russian).
Gli animali delle alte quote
- C Chemini
- A Vigna Taglianti
Chemini, C. & Vigna Taglianti, A. (2002) Gli animali
delle alte quote. Pp. 46-73 in: La fauna in Italia (A.
Minelli, C. Chemini, R. Argano & S. Ruffo eds),
Touring Club Italiano, Milan, and Ministero
dell'Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio, Rome,
448 pp.
Taxonomie, Ökologie und Verbreitung von Meligethes coracinus auctt. mit Beschreibung einer neuen Art (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)
- P Audisio
- K Spornraft
Audisio, P. & Spornraft, K. (1990) Taxonomie, Ökologie
und Verbreitung von Meligethes coracinus auctt. mit
Beschreibung einer neuen Art (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae). Nachrichtenblatt der bayerischen Entomologen
39: 70-75.