Revision of the pollen beetle genus Meligethes (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)

Abstract

A taxonomic revision of members of the genus <em>Meligethes</em> Stephens, 1830 is carried out. Taxonomic and distributional notes are provided on fiftythree <em>Meligethes</em> species, mostly known from the Eastern Palearctic and marginally from the Western Palearctic and the Oriental Regions. Among these, twentythree new species of <em>Meligethes</em> are diagnosed, figured and described: <em>M</em>. <em>argentithorax</em> sp. n. (Central China: Shaanxi, Shanxi), <em>M</em>. <em>aurantirugosus</em> sp. n. (Nepal),<em> M. aureolineatus</em> sp. n. (Central China: Sichuan), <em>M. aurifer</em> sp. n. (Central China: Shaanxi, Shanxi), <em>M. brassicogethoides</em> sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan), <em>M. clinei</em> sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan), <em>M. elytralis</em> sp. n. (Central China: Sichuan), <em>M. ferruginoides</em> sp. n. (Central China: Sichuan), <em>M.</em> <em>cinereoargenteus</em> sp. n. (Central China: Sichuan), <em>M. henan</em> sp. n. (Central China: Henan), <em>M. luteoornatus</em> sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan), <em>M. marmota</em> sp. n. (Nepal), <em>M. nivalis</em> sp. n. (SW and central China: Xizang and Chongqing), <em>M. martes</em> sp. n. (Central China: Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan), <em>M. nigroaeneus</em> sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan), <em>M. occultus</em> sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan), <em>M</em>. <em>pseudochinensis</em> sp. n. (Central China: Hubei), <em>M. pseudopectoralis</em> sp. n. (SW China: Yunan),<em> M. schuelkei</em> sp. n. (Central China: Sichuan, Shaanxi), <em>M. simulator</em> sp. n. (Central-N China: Shanxi), <em>M. stenotarsus</em> sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan, Xizang), <em>M. tryznai</em> sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan), and <em>M. volkovichi</em> sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan). Revaluations at specific rank from synonymy are introduced for <em>Meligethes lutra</em> Solsky 1860, and for <em>M. melleus</em> Grouvelle, 1908. Three new synonymies are established: <em>Meligethes brevipilus</em> Kirejtshuk, 1980 = <em>M. auripilis</em> Reitter, 1889 (syn. n.), <em>Meligethes zakharenkoi</em> Kirejtshuk, 2005 = <em>M. shirakii</em> Sadanari Hisamatsu, 1956 (syn. n.), and <em>Meligethes shirozui</em> Sadanari Hisamatsu, 1965 =<em> M. wagneri</em> Rebmann, 1956 (syn. n.). Complete redescriptions are given for <em>Meligethes binotatus</em> Grouvelle, 1894, <em>M. castanescens</em> Grouvelle, 1903, <em>M. ferrugineus</em> Reitter, 1873, and <em>M. melleus</em> Grouvelle, 1908. The male of <em>Meligethes lloydi</em> Easton, 1968, is described and figured for the first time. The female genitalia of <em>Meligethes auricomus</em> Rebmann, 1956, <em>M. cinereus</em> Jelínek, 1978, and <em>M. griseus</em> 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 <em>Rosa</em> L., <em>Rubus</em> L., <em>Prunus</em> L., and <em>Crataegus</em> Tourn. ex L. All treated species are grouped in two here revaluated subgenera (<em>Meligethes</em> s.str. and <em>Odonthogethes</em> Reitter, 1871), and tentatively grouped also in species-groups and (when necessary) species-complexes, based on their morphology.