Khudaybergan Bekchanov’s research while affiliated with Nukus State Pedagogical Institute named after Ajiniyaz and other places

A review of darkling beetles of the genus Microdera Eschscholtz, 1831 from Uzbekistan is presented. In total, 12 species are known in this country. Two new species are described: M. abdullohi N. Bekchanov et Nabozhenko, sp. nov. (Sulton Uvays Mts.) and M. uzbekistanica N. Bekchanovet Nabozhenko,sp. nov. (Kuldzhuktau Mts.). The following new synonym is introduced: Microdera globulicollis Ménétriés, 1849 = Microdera extabesa Skopin, 1961, syn. nov. The species M. ferghanensis Kaszab, 1957 is resurrected from the synonymy of M. globulicollis Ménétriés, 1849. In describing the ranges of the species mentioned in the paper, we corrected some errors in previous publications and clarified the distribution, including as a result of taxonomic changes. A species rank status is restored for Microdera kaszabi Skopin, 1961, stat. resurr. (from a subspecies of M. convexa (Tauscher, 1812)), as a consequence the range of this species does not include southeastern Kazakhstan, and limited by Kazakh hummocks in the east. Microdera deserta deserta (Tauscher, 1812) is recorded for Uzbekistan for the first time, and M. shasenema Medvedev & Nepesova, 1985 is firstly recorded for Tajikistan. The following species are removed from faunistic lists of different countries: M. laevigatula Reitter, 1915 from the list of Uzbekistan, M. heydeni Kraatz, 1882 from the list of Turkmenistan, M. minax Reitter, 1887 from the list of Kyrgyzstan, M. transversicollis Reitter, 1887 from the list of Armenia. Lectotypes for Tentyria deplanata Gebler, 1841and Microdera semenoviana Bogatchev, 1947 are designated.

The invertebrate fauna of the Hissar State Reserve in Uzbekistan remains largely unstudied. In this reserve, we collected and examined darkling beetles, which are among the most diverse and abundant groups of beetles in Middle Asia. All species were found at altitudes ranging from 1,800 to 2,500 meters, spanning the zone of Juniperus seravschanica Kom. and mountain steppes to the border of subalpine meadows. In total, 21 species were collected, one of which, Prosodes (Uroprosodes) chigrayi Nabozhenko et N. Bekchanov sp. nov., is new to science. Another species, Bioramix (Planoplatyscelis) latipennis (Kaszab, 1940), is recorded for the first time in the fauna of Uzbekistan. Additionally, we found and examined the very rare species Laena dentitibia Reitter, 1901, which was previously known only from the male holotype. The female of the rare species Blaps aruktavica G.S. Medvedev, 2004 is characterised for the first time. Two female specimens of the very rare Hissar population of Blaps caraboides Allard, 1882, which have a pronounced elytral mucron, were found for the first time in 112 years. We provide illustrations of the majority of species for the first time. Data on the distribution, taxonomy, external morphology, variability, and bionomics of the examined species are presented.

The Central Asian genus Dengitha Reitter, 1887 is briefly reviewed. The following new synonymy is proposed: Dengitha crystallina Semenow, 1896 = Dengitha symmetrica G.S. Medvedev, 1964 syn. nov.; Dengitha lutea Reitter, 1887 = Dengitha hyalina Semenow, 1896 resyn. Lectotype is designated for D. crystallina. In total, two species of the genus are distributed in Central Asia, occurring on weakly fixed sands with Haloxylon or dunes without vegetation in the Karakum and Kyzylkum deserts. Dengitha crystallina is widely distributed in Turkmenistan (western, central and north Karakum), Uzbekistan (Ustyurt plateau, Kyzylkum) and Kazakhstan (Kyzylkum); Dengitha lutea is known only from the eastern Karakum (Turkmenistan) and Sundukli deserts near the Amudarya River (Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan).

The genus Sternodes Fischer von Waldheim, 1837 currently consists of one species with two subspecies from Karakum, Sundukli deserts and several surrounding areas. Sternodes pallasi Semenov-Tian-Shanskij et Bogatchev, 1940 is resurrected from a junior synonym of Sternodes caspicus (Pallas, 1781). The following new synonymy is established: Sternodes caspicus caspicus (Pallas, 1781) = Sternodes caspicus eous Semenov-Tian-Shanskij et Bogatchev, 1940, syn. n. The lectotype is designated for S. caspicus eous. As a result, two valid species (without subspecies) are known in the genus. They differ in the structure of head, prosternal process and elytra. Both species are sympatric in Repetek (Karakum Desert, eastern Turkmenistan), but S. caspicus has spring-summer activity, while S. pallasi was collected in late autumn.

A new species of darkling beetles of the genus Philhammus Fairmaire, 1871 is described from Amudarya bank, Khorezm Region, Uzbekistan: Ph. dilaramae Nabozhenko et N. Bekchanov, sp. n. This first representative of the genus in the country belongs to the nominotypical subgenus and most similar to Pre-Caspian Ph. zaitsevi G.S. Medvedev, 1979. The new species differs from the latter in the structure of genae, eyes and pronotum.