Click beetles of the genus Melanotus Eschscholtz, 1829 (Coleoptera, Elateridae) in the collection of the Institute of Zoology of the Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology of Armenia

Abstract

Aim. The study of the genus Melanotus from the collection of the Institute of Zoology of the Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia taking into account new taxonomic and chorological data.Material and Methods. Scientific material was identified after desktop processing and preparation of genitalia according to current data on the genus Melanotus.Results and Conclusion. We determined 21 species of the genus Melanotus in the collection from Europe, the Caucasus and Middle Asia, 12 species being recorded from the territory of Armenia. The collection of the genus Мelanotus in the Institute of Zoology includes species endemic to Armenia (M. gedeoni Mardjanyan, 2015, M. platiai Mardjanyan, 2015, M. khnzoriani Mardjanyan, 2015), to Tajikistan (M. fragilloides Dolin, 1988, M. vidualis Gurjeva, 1988) and to Iran (M. dichroides Platia & Gudenzi, 1999, M. richterae Mardjanyan, 2015). Three species, M. castanipes Paykull, 1800, M. fulvus Reitter, 1891 and M. sladkovi Dolin & Atamuradov, 1986 are recorded for the first time for Armenia. M. rustamovi Dolin & Atamuradov, 1987 is the first record for Tajikistan and M. persimilis Dolin & Latifi, 1988 for Turkmenistan.

Keywords

• europe
• caucasus
• central
• middle
• eastern asia
• check-list of species
• endemic taxa
• new records