Helops

Abstract: Species of the genus Helopelius Reitter, 1922 (type species: Stenomax aeneipennis Allard, 1876) were known from Rhodes and North Africa. We found that two species described from Rhodes belong to the genus Stenohelops Reitter, 1922, and Helopelius can be interpreted as a subgenus within latter, guided by the article 23.2 of ICZN. The following synonyms are proposed: Helopelius, stat. n. (from genus to subgenus) = Stenomaleis Espanol, 1957, syn. n.; Stenohelops Reitter, 1922 = Gunarellus Reitter, 1922, syn. n.; Stenohelops (Helopelius) aeneipennis (Allard, 1876) = Helopelius disgregus Reitter, 1922, syn. n., = Gunarus gayirbegi Nabozhenko & Keskin, 2009, syn. n. As a result, the following species are transferred from the former genus Helopelius to the genus Stenohelops: Stenohelops (Helopelius) nodifer (Kraatz, 1880), comb. n.; Stenohelops (Helopelius) otini (Antoine, 1949), comb. n.; Stenohelops (Helopelius) subsinuatus (Antoine, 1951), comb. n.; Stenohelops (Helopelius) verrucosus (Vauloger de Beaupre, 1900), comb. n.; Stenohelops (Helopelius) zaianus (Antoine, 1949), comb. n. Thus, the subgenus Helopelius contains 11 species from three isolated geographical exclaves: Western Mediterranean, Eastern Mediterranean and China. Lectotypes of Stenomax aeneipennis Allard, 1876, Helops gratus J. Frivaldszky, 1894 and Cylindrinotus (Helopelius) disgregus Reitter, 1922 are designated. Data on fossil species of the genus and the allied extinct taxa, as well as on bionomics of extant species of the subgenus Helopelius are presented. The check-list for extant and extinct species of Stenohelops is given.

Abstract: The role of rodent predation as a limiting factor in the abundance of sixspecies of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) was examined in a sagebrush–steppe ecosystem (Kemmerer, Wyo.). Rodent predators were identified in feeding experiments using captive rodents and darkling beetles. Grasshopper mice ( Onychomys ) and deer mice ( Peromyscus ) successfully captured and consumed Eleodes extricatus Say. Ground squirrels ( Spermophilus ) and pocket mice ( Perognathus ) initially fed upon E. extricatus but developed an aversion to them after several exposures. Subsequent experiments demonstrated that the chemical aerosol produced by E. extricatus as an antipredator defense was effective in providing escape time during deer mouse attacks but not during grasshopper mouse attacks. A replicated field experiment, employing 10 rodent exclosures (15 by 15 m) and 10 control plots, showed that the removal of rodent predators resulted in population increases in five of the six species of darkling beetles ( Coniontis ovalis, E. extricatus, E. pimelioides, E. rileyi , and Helops difficilis ). The total population of beetles exhibited a 63% increase in abundance following rodent removal. Based on 1986 field density measurements of rodents (8/ha) and beetles (4,931/ha), an average daily consumption of fewer than two beetles per rodent was calculated to be sufficient to produce the observed differences in darkling beetle populations on the site. Therefore, it is concluded that rodent predation functioned as a significant limiting factor on darkling beetle populations in the sagebrush–steppe study area.

Abstract: All new genus-group names included in Gistel's list of Coleoptera from the collection of Count Rudolph von Jenison Walwort, published in 1834, are recorded. For each of these names, the originally included available species are listed and for those with at least one available species included, the type species and current status are provided. The following new synonymies are proposed [valid names in brackets]: Auxora [Nebria Latreille, 1806; Carabidae], Necrotroctes [Velleius Leach, 1819; Staphylinidae], Epimachus [Ochthephilum Stephens, 1829; Staphylinidae], Ocys [Anaulacaspis Ganglbauer, 1895; Staphylinidae], Hydatobia [Autalia Samouelle, 1819; Staphylinidae], Hedonius [Pyrophorus Billberg, 1820; Elateridae], Charmionus [Chalcolepidius Eschscholtz, 1829; Elateridae], Lamprias [Alaus Eschscholtz, 1829; Elateridae], Trypheus [Aeolus Eschscholtz, 1829; Elateridae], Antiphus [Cardiorhinus Eschscholtz, 1829; Elateridae], Phyletus [Lygistopterus Dejean, 1833; Lycidae], Phyllogaster [Lucidota Laporte, 1833; Lampyridae], Pyrrhigius [Phosphaenus Laporte, 1833; Lampyridae], Erota [Luciola Laporte, 1833; Lampyridae], Oxypterus [Aspisoma Laporte, 1833; Lampyridae], Phyllophagus [Chauliognathus Hentz, 1830; Cantharidae], Epaphius [Astylus Laporte, 1836; Melyridae], Isomerus [Choleva Latreille, 1797; Leiodidae], Berecyntha [Aulacochilus Chevrolat, 1836; Erotylidae], Geophilus [Psammodius Fallen, 1807; Scarabaeidae], Ceraunus [Golofa Hope, 1837; Scarabaeidae], Atrimedeus [Pentodon Hope, 1837; Scarabaeidae], Eupalus [Temnorhynchus Hope, 1837; Scarabaeidae], Polycarmes [Anoxia Laporte, 1832; Scarabaeidae], Acidota [Amphicoma Latreille, 1807; Glaphyridae], Cecrops [Mylaris Pallas, 1781; Tenebrionidae], Pythonissus [Zophobas Dejean, 1834; Tenebrionidae], Physignathus [Cymatothes Dejean, 1834; Tenebrionidae], Pelops [Prionychus Solier, 1835; Tenebrionidae], Accantosomus [Semiotus Eschscholtz, 1829; Elateridae]. The type species of the following genus-group taxa are proposed: Ocys [Aleochara nigra Gravenhorst, 1802; Staphylinidae], Hydatobia [Staphylinus impressus Olivier, 1795; Staphylinidae], Hedonius [Elater noctilucus Linnaeus, 1758; Elateridae], Charmionus [Elater porcatus Linnaeus, 1767; Elateridae], Epaphius [Dasytes variegatus Germar, 1823; Melyridae], Geophilus [Scarabeus asper Fabricius, 1775; Scarabaeidae], Atrimedeus [Scarabaeus punctatus Villers, 1789; Scarabaeidae], Polycarmes [Melolontha villosa Fabricius, 1781; Scarabaeidae], Cecrops [Tenebrio gigas Linnaeus, 1763; Tenebrionidae], Pythonissus [Helops morio Fabricius, 1777; Tenebrionidae], Ceratades [Cerambyx sutor Linnaeus, 1758; Cerambycidae]. The following genus-group names are declared nomina oblita [nomina protecta in square brackets]: Berecyntha [Aulacochilus Chevrolat, 1836; Erotylidae], Ceraunus [Golofa Hope, 1837; Scarabaeidae], Atrimedeus [Pentodon Hope, 1837; Scarabaeidae], Eupalus [Temnorhynchus Hope, 1837; Scarabaeidae], Pelops [Prionychus Solier, 1835; Tenebrionidae].