Taxonomy Of The Family Meloidae From The Qinghai-Xizang Plateau Of China

The family Meloidae belongs to the superfamily Tenebrionoidea(Coleoptera:Polyphaga)which currently includes 132 genera of 16 tribes and about 3000 species among 3 subfamilies The meloid beetles are worldwide distribution except New Zealand,Antarctica,and Polynesian islands.26 genera of 8 tribes and about 198 species among 2 subfamilies were recognized from China.Through this study,10 genera of 5 tribes and about 56 species among 2 subfamilies were recorded from Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.Due to the richness of meloid species,the taxonomy of the meloid beetles from the Plateau plays an important role in deepening the knowledge of the Chinese MeloidaeThe present thesis divided into the general account and the classificatory account two parts.The general account including brief review of the taxonomic history of Meloidae from the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau,the materials and methods of study,adult morphological character,and bionomics of meloid beetles.In the classificatory account:10 genera of 5 tribes about 56 species among 2 subfamilies are described in detail;keys to species of each genus are presented;synonyms and citations of each taxon are listed in chronological order;the available data on the geographical distribution and the produce and save area of type specimen are introducedOne new species,four new combinations,one new status,and one reverse combination are proposed presently,which are listed following:Zonitoschema zayuensis sp.n.;Mylabris(Pseudabris)brevipilosa(Pan&Bologna,2013)comb.n.,Mylabris(Pseudabris)latimaculata(Pan&Bologna,2013)comb.n.,Mylabris(Pseudabris)regularis(Pan&Bologna,2013)comb.n.,Mylabris(Pseudabris)tigriodera(Fairmaire,1894)comb.n.,Epicauta(Epicauta)yunnanensis Kaszab,1960 stat.n.;Mylabris(Pseudabris)przewalskyi(Dokhtouroff,1887)comb.rev.