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Annals of Agrarian Science 19 (2021) 211-215S. Japarashvili
Introduction
Carrion beetles (Coleoptera, Silphidae) are a
small family of beetles: fewer than 200 species have
been described worldwide, however they have glob-
al distribution [1].
They play an important role in ecosystem as re-
cycles of organic matter. While most of the carrion
beetles are necrophagous, some of the members of
Silphidae family are predaceous (Ablattaria Reit-
ter, Dendroxena Motschulsky, Phosphuga Leach)
or phytophagous (Aclypea Reitter). Larvae of most
species feed on vertebrate carrions [1, 2].
Carrion beetles in Georgia (in Georgian: Sa-
kartvelo) are poorly studied: one of the first list of
Caucasian beetle was published in 1899 by Radde
[3], later Zaitsev provided list of Carrion beetles for
Caucasus region [4, 5], Kobakhidze indicated three
species of Family Silphidae for Lagodekhi region
[6], Jambazishvili provided carrion beetles from
Akhaltsikhe and Akhalkalaki region [7], Qubaiová
et al. provied lockations for Genus Ablattaria (Reit-
Annals of Agrarian Science
Journal homepage: http://journals.org.ge/index.php
220011992019
11771177
33
Checklist of carrion beetle (Coleoptera, Silphidae) from Sakartvelo
(Georgia)
S. Japarashvili*
Institute of Ecology, Ilia State University; 3/5, Cholokashvili Ave., Tbilisi, 0162, Georgia
Received: 25 May 2021; Accepted: 20 June 2021
ABSTRACT
A checklist of Carrion beetles of Sakartvelo (Georgian) contains 26 species, which are represented by nine genera (Ablattaria Reitter,
Aclypea Reitter, Dendroxena Motschulsky, Necrodes Leach, Nicrophorus Fabricius, Oiceoptoma Leach, Phosphuga Leach, Silpha
Linnaeus, Thanatophilus Leach) and two subfamilies Nicrophorinae and Silphinae. Distribution records are given by using available
literature, web databases and collections. The pictures of few specimens are provided and species with doubtful records in Georgia are
not included on the list but are given separately.
Keywords: Carrion beetles, Silphidae, Coleoptera, Distribution, Caucasus, Georgia.
ter, 1884), in their work [8], V. Pushkin provided
data for Georgia for several species in his papers
[2, 9]
Aim of this paper is to summarize all known re-
cords of carrion beetles in Sakartvelo (Georgia).
Material and Methods
Literature review was performed according pub-
lished sources, which was provided by Institute of
Entomology in Agricultural University of Georgia
and National Scientific Library - Georgia and based
on by using Google-Scholar and Researchgate web
databases, using Keywords: “Carrion beetles”, “Sil-
phidae”, “Distribution”, “Caucasus”, “Georgia” and
combination of those keywords. Locations were
looked in GBD (Georgian Biodiversity Database)
[10], GBIF [11 - 18] (Global Biodiversity Informa-
tion Facility) and collections listed in abbreviations
were studied.
All species are listed alphabetically by subfam-
ilies. Nomenclature and classification according to
*Corresponding author: Shota Japarashvili, E-mail:
shota.japarashvili.1@iliauni.edu.ge
212
Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera [19]. For spe-
cies with no exact locations, “Georgia, Exact loca-
tion is unknown” was used in Distribution.
Pictures were taken by using a Canon EOS 550D
camera with Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
lens and Raynox DCR-250 Super Macro Snap-On
Lens attached on it. Digital images were prepared
using Zerene Stacker image stacking software and
Adobe Photoshop CS6.
Abbreviation:
EG - East Georgia.
WG - West Georgia.
GCG - collection of Dr. Giorgi Chaladze, Sakart-
velo (Georgia).
ZIISU - collection of Zoological Institute, Ilia
State University, Sakartvelo (Georgia).
IEAUG - collection of Institute of Entomology,
Agricultural University of Georgia.
CaBOLISU - collection of CaBOL (Caucasus
Barcode of Life), Ilia State University, Sakartvelo
(Georgia).
Results
Family Silphidae
Subfamily Nicrophorinae Kirby, 1837
Genus Nicrophorus Fabricius, 1775
1 N. antennatus (Reitter, 1885)
Distribution: Georgia, Exect location is un-
known [19].
2 N. germanicus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Distribution: Georgia, Exact location is un-
known [2, 19].
3 N. humator (Gleditsch, 1767)
Distribution: EG: Borjomi [4], Bor-
jom-Kharagauli National park (IEAUG), Tbilisi [4].
4 N. interruptus Stephens, 1830
(= N. fossor (Erichson, 1837)) [2]
Distribution: EG: Lagodekhi [6], Village Khev-
sha [10], WG: Bzyb ridge [2], Swaneti [3], Iprali
[13].
5 N. investigator Zetterstedt, 1824
(= N. funeror (Reitter, 1884)) [23]
Distribution: EG: Lagodekhi [4], Bakuriani [4],
Dighomi Village [10], WG: Swaneti [3, 23].
6 N. nigricornis Faldermann, 1835
Distribution: EG: Lagodekhi [4], Tskra-tskaro
[4], WG: Swaneti [3, 4].
7 N. sepultor (Charpentier, 1825)
(= N. confusus Portevin, 1924) [20]
Distribution: EG: Tbatani [4], Tsalka [15], Chivt-
kilisa [22 as N. confusus], Akhalsheni (previously
known as Kariaki) [22 as N. confusus], Tetri-tsqaro
[22 as N. confusus], Akhaltsikhe region [22 as N.
confusus], Akhalkalaki region [22 as N. confusus].
8 N. vespillo (Linnaeus, 1758)
Distribution: EG: Village Khevsha (GCG), Bak-
uriani forest (GCG), Bakuriani [4], Mountain likhi
(GCG), Akhaltsikhe region [7], Akhalkalaki region
[7], Ketrisi (ZIISU) WG: kintrishi Protected Areas
(CaBOLISU), Chakvistavi [11] , Kobuleti [12].
9 N. vespilloides Herbst, 1783
Distribution: WG: Bzyb range [2].
10 N. vestigator Herschel, 1807
Distribution: Georgia, Exect location is un-
known [19].
Subfamily Silphinae Latreille, 1807
Genus Ablattaria Reitter, 1884
11 A. arenaria (Kraatz, 1876)
Distribution: WG: Sukhumi [2].
12 A. cribrata (Menetries, 1832)
Distribution: EG: Kaspi (GCG), Sioni [8],
Lagodekhi [8], Didgori [10] Borjomi [3, 4], Bor-
jom-Kharagauli, 2 km East Quabiskhevi [8],
Chankaani, near Dedophliswyaro (CaBOLISU).
13 A. laevigata (Fabricius, 1775)
Distribution: EG: Bakuriani [4, 8], WG: Gagra
[8], Kutaisi [8].
Genus Aclypea Reitter, 1884
14 A. opaca (Linnaeus, 1758)
Distribution: EG: Tsodoreti-Paravani [10].
15 A. undata (O.F Müller, 1776)
Distribution: WG: Avadkhara [9], EG: Samach-
ablo (South Ossetia) [2], Surami [3], Kasbegi [3],
Telavi [4], Tbilisi [17], Saghamo lake (CaBOLISU).
Genus Dendroxena Motschulsky, 1858
16 D. quadrimaculata (Scopoli, 1771)
(= Xylodrepa quadrimaculata (Schreber, 1759))
[3, 4]
Distribution: EG: Turtle lake, (Bulbulebis chala)
[10].
Annals of Agrarian Science 19 (2021) 211-215
S. Japarashvili
213
Genus Necrodes Leach, 1815
17 N. littoralis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Distribution: EG: Likani [10], Samachablo
(South Ossetia) [2], Akhaltsikhe region [7], Akha-
lkalaki region [7], WG: Avadhara, Akhalsheni,
Sukhumi Region valley River Gumista [2].
Genus Oiceoptoma Leach, 1815
18 O. thoracicum (Linnaeus, 1758)
Distribution: EG: Samachablo (South Ossetia)
[2], Bakuriani [2], Mt. Lomismta (IEAUG), Surami
[3, 4], Kojori [4], WG: Avadkhara [2], Akhalsheni
[2], Pskhu [4], Kodori [4], Shovi (ZIISU).
Genus Phosphuga Leach, 1817
19 P. atrata (Linnaeus, 1758)
Distribution: EG: Didgori (GCG), Bakuriani
[4], Telavi [4], Manglisi [4], National park of Bor-
jom-Kharagauli [10], WG: Lezgara (Church Tekhish
Jgrag) (CaBOLISU), Zeskho (ZIISU), Gagra [4].
20 P. ruzickai Khachikov, 2011
Distribution: WG: Lake Ritsa [19, 21].
Genus Silpha Linnaeus, 1758
21 S. carinata Herbst, 1783
(= S. armeniaca Kolenati, 1846) [4]
Distribution: EG: Passanaur [4], Tsalka [4], Tel-
avi [4], Lagodekhi [4], Mt. Lomismta (IEAUG),
WG: Mt. Taginauri [2].
22 S. obscura Linnaeus 1758
Distribution: EG: Turtle lake (GCG), Khevsha
village (GCG), Tskra-tskaro pass (GCG), Passanau-
ri [16], Surami [3], Tashiskari [10], David Gareja
[10], Akhaltsikhe region [7], Akhalkalaki region
[7], Zemo Tmogvi (CaBOLISU) WG: Adjara [3],
Mt. Taginauri [2], Kintrishi (Khinu) (GCG), Swan-
tei [3], Gagra[14], Near Shkhara (CaBOLISU).
23 S. tristis Illiger, 1798
Distribution: Georgia, Exect location is un-
known [19].
Genus Thanatophilus Leach, 1815
24 T. rugosus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Distribution: EG: Samachablo (South Ossetia)
[2], Teliani [4], Bakuriani [4], Mt. Lomismta [4],
Mtskheta [3, 4], Tbilisi; Vakis park (GCG), Akha-
ltsikhe region [7], Akhalkalaki region [7], Rustavi
(GCG), WG: Akhalsheni, Avadhara, Sukhumi Re-
gion valley River Gumista [2].
25 T. sinuatus (Fabricius, 1775)
Distribution: EG: Khevsha village (GCG), Lisi
[4], Borjom [4], Bakuriani [4], Akhaltsikhe re-
gion [7], Akhalkalaki region [7], WG: Akhalsheni,
Sukhumi Region valley River Gumista [2].
26 T. terminatus (Hummel, 1825)
Distribution: EG: Lisi [4].
Doubtful species which was not included in the
list
1 Thanatophilus dispar (Herbst, 1793)
Distribution: EG: Tskra-tskaro [4], Borjomi [18]
Comment: According to Pushkin [2], Notes
for the Caucasus (Transcaucasia) is wrong.
According to Zaitsev [5], this species must be
crossed out from the list of Caucasians Species
due to misidentification.
1 2 3 4
Fig. 1. Silphidae of Sakartvelo: 1. Ablattaria cribrata, male. 2. Phosphuga atrata, male. 3.
Thanatophilus rugosus, male. 4. Thanatophilus sinuatus, female.
Annals of Agrarian Science 19 (2021) 211-215
S. Japarashvili
214
Fig. 2. Silphidae of Sakartvelo: 5. Necrodes littoralis, female. 6. Nicrophorus interruptus, male. 7.
Nicrophorus investigator, female. 8. Nicrophorus vespillo, male.
Conclusion
In total, 26 species have been represented, from
nine genera, the genus Nicrophorus Fabricius is the
most diverse, with ten species occurred in Georgia.
It is fair to say that the distribution of carrion beetles
in Georgia is very diverse.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Dr. Giorgi Chaladze
(Institute of Ecology, Ilia State University,
Tbilisi, Georgia.), Dr. George Japoshvili (In-
stitute of Entomology, Agricultural Univer-
sity of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia), Dr. Edish-
er Tskhadaia (Institute of Zoology, Ilia State
University, Tbilisi, Georgia.) for access to en-
tomological collections, Entomological team
of CaBOL in Ilia State University for helping
my find burying beetles in Malaise traps, Ar-
men Seropian for taking pictures of speci-
mens. My gratitude to Dr. Jan Růžička for
providing valuable suggestions.
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S. Japarashvili
