The darkling beetles of the Sinai Peninsula : coleoptera : tenebrionidae

As long as accurate taxonomic and faunistic data are missing, discussions about biodiversity conservation remains pure academic exercises. At worst, well-intended conservation efforts may be compromised by ill-founded data. Profound taxonomic knowledge is therefore a prerequisite for all faunistic studies. These are in turn the basis for spatial analyses of biodiversity. Extending further on this chain of argument, we have to realise that scientific collections are custodians of the foundations of our knowledge of biodiversity. The physical basis of this knowledge comprises specimens and records of their origin, habitat and collection details. Without specialists capable of critically evaluating these data, this information would not be accessible to the scientific community, and surely not to the public interested in conservation.Fortunately, idealists are keeping track. Led by their enthusiasm for a particular taxon, they mature to specialists providing invaluable contributions not only to the advances of science but also to the protection of biodiversity. We have to thank Martin Lillig and Tomáš Pavlíček for taking this task with enthusiasm and care. In numerous publications, they have already given proof of their scientific expertise. This book will be a significant addition to their personal record and an important and lasting contribution to science. I am quite confident that many users with different scientific and geographical backgrounds will profit from this publication. I trust it will find the wide audience it deserves. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Foreword Preface Authors List of Acronyms and Abbreviations Introduction Chapter I: Description of the Sinai Peninsula I.1. Physical Borders and Landscapes I.2. Climate and Paleoenvironment I.3. Flora and Fauna I.3.1. Mosses and Vascular Plants I.3.2. Vertebrates I.3.3. Invertebrates I.4. Local Geographic Names Chapter II: Collection Methods and Analysis of the Darkling Beetles Distribution Chapter III: Species Richness and Endemism of Tenebrionidae Beetles in the Sinai Peninsula III.1. Global Distribution Patterns of the Tenebrionidae in the Sinai Peninsula Chapter IV: Ecology of Desert Darkling Beetles Chapter V: Identification Keys for the Tenebrionidae Taxa Recorded on the Sinai Peninsula Key 1: Identification Key to the Subfamily Level Key 2: Identification Key for the Subfamily Pimeliinae Key 3: Identification Key for the Subfamilies Blaptinae and Tenebrioninae Key 4: Identification Key for the Subfamily Diaperinae Key 5: Identification Key for the Subfamily Alleculinae Chapter VI: Darkling Beetles Present in the Sinai Peninsula VI.1. Subfamily Pimeliinae Latreille, 1802 VI.1.1. Tribe Adelostomini Solier, 1834 VI.1.1.1. Genus Adelostoma Duponchel, 1827 VI.1.1.2. Genus Machlopsis Pomel, 1871 VI.1.2. Tribe Adesmiini Lacordaire, 1859 VI.1.2.1 Genus Adesmia Fischer von Waldheim, 1822 VI.1.3. Tribe Akidini Billberg, 1820 VI.1.3.1. Genus Akis Herbst, 1799 VI.1.4. Tribe Erodiini Billberg, 1820 VI.1.4.1. Genus Amnodeis Miller, 1858 VI.1.4.2. Genus Erodius Fabricius, 1775 VI.1.5. Tribe Pimeliini Latreille, 1802 VI.1.5.1. Genus Astorthocnemis Lillig & Pavlícˇek, 2002 VI.1.5.2. Genus Pimelia Fabricius, 1775 VI.1.5.3. Genus Prionotheca Dejean, 1834 VI.1.5.4. Genus Pterolasia Solier, 1836 VI.1.5.5. Genus Thriptera Solier, 1836 VI.1.5.6. Genus Trachyderma Latreille, 1828 VI.1.6. Tribe Sepidiini Eschscholtz, 1829 VI.1.6.1. Genus Sepidium Fabricius, 1775 VI.1.6.2. Genus Vieta Laporte de Castelnau, 1840 VI.1.7. Tribe Stenosini Schaum, 1859 (1934) VI.1.7.1. Genus Dichillus Jacquelin du Val, 1860 VI.1.7.2. Genus Microtelus Solier, 1838 VI.1.7.3. Genus Mitotagenia Reitter, 1916 VI.1.7.4. Genus Stenosis Herbst, 1799 VI.1.8. Tribe Tentyriini Eschscholtz, 1831 VI.1.8.1. Genus Cyphostethe Marseul, 1867 VI.1.8.2. Genus Dailognatha Steven, 1828 VI.1.8.3. Genus Hegeterocara Reitter, 1900 VI.1.8.4. Genus Hionthis Miller, 1861 VI.1.8.5. Genus Imatismus Dejean 1834 VI.1.8.6. Genus Mesostena Eschscholtz, 1831 VI.1.8.7. Genus Micipsa Lucas, 1855 VI.1.8.8. Genus Oterophloeus Desbrochersdes Loges, 1881 VI.1.8.9. Genus Oxycara Solier, 1835 VI.1.8.10. Genus Prochoma Solier, 1835 VI.1.8.11. Genus Scelosodis Solier, 1835 VI.1.8.12. Genus Schweinfurthia Andres, 1922 VI.1.8.13. Genus Tentyria Latreille, 1802 VI.1.8.14. Genus Tentyrina Reitter, 1900 VI.1.8.15. Genus Thraustocolus Kraatz, 1865 VI.1.8.16. Genus Trichosphaena Reitter, 1916 VI.1.9. Tribe Zophosini Solier, 1834 VI.1.9.1. Genus Zophosis Latreille, 1802 VI.2. Subfamily Blaptinae Leach, 1815 VI.2.1. Tribe Blaptini Leach, 1815 VI.2.1.1. Genus Blaps Fabricius, 1775 VI.2.2. Tribe Dendarini Mulsant & Rey, 1854 VI.2.2.1. Genus Dendarus Dejean, 1821 VI.2.3. Tribe Opatrini Brullé, 1832 VI.2.3.1. Genus Ammobius Guérin-Méneville, 1844 VI.2.3.2. Genus Clitobius Mulsant & Rey, 1859 VI.2.3.3. Genus Proscheimus Desbrochers des Loges, 1881 VI.2.3.4. Genus Diphyrrhynchus Fairmaire, 1849 VI.2.3.5. Genus Gonocephalum Solier, 1834 VI.2.3.6. Genus Mesomorphus Miedel, 1880 VI.2.3.7. Genus Opatroides Brullé, 1832 VI.2.3.8. Genus Scleropatroides Löbl & Merkl, 2003 VI.2.3.9. Genus Eurycaulus Fairmaire, 1868 VI.2.3.10. Genus Sclerum Dejean, 1834 VI.2.4. Tribe Pedinini Eschscholtz, 1829 VI.2.4.1. Genus Drosochrus Erichson, 1843 VI.2.4.2. Genus Leichenum Dejean, 1834 VI.3. Subfamily Tenebrioninae Latreille, 1802 VI.3.1. Tribe Alphitobiini Reitter, 1917 VI.3.1.1. Genus Alphitobius Stephens, 1829 VI.3.2. Tribe Helopini Latreille, 1802 VI.3.2.1. Genus Hedyphanes Fischer von Waldheim, 1820 VI.3.3. Tribe Melanimonini Seidlitz, 1894 VI.3.3.1. Genus Cheirodes Gené, 1839 VI.3.4. Tribe Scaurini Billberg, 1820 VI.3.4.1. Genus Scaurus Fabricius, 1775 VI.3.5. Tribe Triboliini Gistel, 1848 VI.3.5.1. Genus Tribolium MacLeay, 1825 VI.4. Subfamily Diaperinae Latreille, 1802 VI.4.1. Tribe Crypticini, Brullé, 1832 VI.4.1.1. Genus Pseudoseriscius Español, 1950 VI.4.2. Tribe Phaleriini Blanchard, 1845 VI.4.2.1. Genus Phaleria Latreille, 1802 VI.4.2.2. Genus Phtora Germar, 1836 VI.4.3. Tribe Trachyscelini Blanchard, 1845 VI.4.3.1. Genus Trachyscelis Latreille, 1809 VI.5. Subfamily Alleculinae Laporte de Castelnau, 1840 VI.5.1. Tribe Alleculini Laporte de Castelnau, 1840 VI.5.1.1. Genus Mycetocharina Seidlitz, 1890 VI.5.2. Tribe Cteniopodini, Seidlitz, 1896 VI.5.2.1. Genus Cteniopus Solier, 1835 VI.5.2.2. Genus Omophlus Dejean, 1834 Chapter VII: Incorrect and Doubtful Records (In Alphabetical Order) Chapter VIII: Species Expected to Be Found on the Sinai Peninsula (In Alphabetical Order) Bibliography Taxonomic Index An expanded and updated edition of the out-of-print 2003 supplementum of Zoology in the Middle East, this concise guide to Darkling Beetles of the Sinai Peninsula has been sought after by researchers in taxonomy, faunistics and biogeography. The new book includes two additional subfamilies of tenebrionid beetles (4-5 species), identification keys and more than 90 colour photographs and species distribution maps. Zoogeographically speaking, the Sinai Peninsula is a crossroad and, at the same time, a center of speciation. Despite its generally arid character, the region harbours a wide range of habitats, from sea level to over 2,500 m above. About 10 percent of the Sinai darkling beetles are endemic to the area. The inclusion of species photographs and identification keys makes this book an invaluable reference field guide, for both specialists and non-specialists, who will thus be able to discover the taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of darkling beetles in the Sinai Peninsula. "An expanded and updated edition of the out-of-print 2003 supplementum of 'Zoology in the Middle East', this concise guide to Darkling Beetles of the Sinai Peninsula has been sought after by researchers in taxonomy, faunistics, and biogeography. The new book includes two additional subfamilies of tenebrionid beetles (4-5 species), identification keys and more than 90 colour photographs and species distribution maps"-- Provided by publisher