Corresponding author: Lech Karpiński (
Academic editor: A. Frolov
We report on new findings of nearly 50 species that represent four families of the superfamily
Byk A, Matusiak A, Taszakowski A, Szczepański WT, Walczak M, Bunalski M, Karpiński L (2020) New and interesting findings of scarab beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea) from Tajikistan. ZooKeys 1003: 57–82.
The first comprehensive study that contained information on the scarabaeoid beetle fauna of Tajikistan was presented by
The majority of the works on the
Tajikistan is a relatively small intra-continental country that is situated at the boundary of the subtropical and temperate climatic zones. It is located in the mountain desert zone of the Eurasian continent, in the southern part of Central Asia. In this region, diverse ecosystems such as deserts, steppes, conifer forests, mixed mountain forests, and high-mountain deserts are widely represented. The formation of this unique biological diversity in the country, which counts numerous endemic and relict species, is due to the varied mountain climatic conditions and historical natural processes (
An entomological expedition, which consisted of four scientists from the former Department of Zoology, University of Silesia in Katowice (Poland), was undertaken over 25 days from 24 June to 18 July 2014. During the research, several field surveys in various locations in the western part of Tajikistan were conducted (Fig.
Collection sites of the scarabaeoid beetles in Tajikistan (2014).
No. | Locality | Geographical coordinates | Altitude [m a.s.l.] | Date of collection |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Iskanderkul [Искандарkӯл] (Fig. |
|
2300 | 18 Jul. 2014 |
2. | Tojikobod [Тоҷикобод] (Fig. |
|
2225 | 13 Jul. 2014 |
3. | Gharm [Ғарм] (Fig. |
|
1330 | 14 Jul. 2014 |
4. | Safed Dara [Caфeд Дapa] = Takob (Taкoб) (Fig. |
|
2300 | 27–28 Jun. 2014 |
|
1850 | 8–10 Jul. 2014 | ||
5. | Karatag river valley, near Kuran [Куран] (Fig. |
|
1060 | 30 Jun.–1 Jul. 2014 |
17 Jul. 2014 | ||||
6. | Romit [Ромит] (Fig. |
|
1285 | 26–27 Jun. 2014 |
7. | Komsomolabad [Дарбанд] (Fig. |
|
1160 | 11–12 Jul. 2014 |
Nurobod [Нуробод] (Fig. |
|
1215 | 11 Jul. 2014 | |
8. | Shahrinav [Шаҳринав] |
|
870 | 1 Jul. 2014 |
9. | Arykboshi [Арыкбошӣ] |
|
905 | 28 Jun., 2 Jul. 2014 |
10. | Kangurt [Kангурт] env. |
|
1065 | 5 Jul. 2014 |
Chavrok [Чаврок], N of Kangurt (Fig. |
|
1215 | 5 Jul. 2014 | |
11. | Dohanaklik [Даханакиик] (Fig. |
|
860 | 16 Jul. 2014 |
12. | Ganchi [Сафедсанг] |
|
765 | 25 Jun. 2014 |
13. | W of Kulob [Куляб], Vose–Kulob road (Fig. |
|
525 | 3 Jul. 2014 |
|
535 | 3 Jul. 2014 | ||
14. | Shurroabad [Ноҳияи Шӯрообод] (Fig. |
|
2150 | 4 Jul. 2014 |
15. | Sarichashma [Сары-Чашма] |
|
920 | 25 Jun. 2014 |
15. | Novabad [Новабад] (Fig. |
|
580 | 16–17 Jul. 2014 |
17. | Jilikul [Ҷиликӯл] (Fig. |
|
330 | 24 Jun. 2014 |
Research plots in the western part of Tajikistan
The area covered by our study includes several different nature ecosystems such as alpine meadows, mesophilic shrubs, shrub steppes, broad-leaf forests, and tugay, as well as agroecosystems such as gardens, orchards, fields, and pastures (Figs
Typical landscapes in Tajikistan, habitats of scarabeoid beetles
Beetles were photographed in their habitats with Canon EOS 550D, Canon EOS 600D, and Olympus XZ-1 cameras. Mounted specimens were imaged using a Leica M205C stereomicroscope with Leica LED5000 HDI high-diffuse dome illumination and equipped with a Leica DFC495 digital camera. The images that were produced were stacked, aligned, and combined using Leica application suite v. 4.9.0 software. The images selected were cleaned, retouched, and arranged into figures using Adobe Photoshop CS6 software. The geographical coordinates were recorded using a Garmin Oregon 550T 3-Inch Handheld GPS Navigator. For each specimen that was collected, the exact location, altitude, date, and the names of the collectors are given.
Typical landscapes in Tajikistan, habitats of scarabeoid beetles
All the specimens listed below were collected by Artur Taszakowski (
As a result of this study, about 950 beetles belonging to 48 species in four families of the superfamily
Karatag, 17 Jul. 2014, 1058 m a.s.l., [
Shurroabad, 4 Jul. 2014, 2152 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 1 ex. (♀).
Chavrok, N of Kangurt, 5 Jul. 2014, 1217 m a.s.l., at light, [WS] – 1 ex., [
Romit, 27 Jun. 2014, 1283 m a.s.l., [WS] – 1 ex.;
Takob, 27 Jun. 2014, 2298 m a.s.l., [
We collected it at the end of June in high mountain meadows near Romit and Takob. Two individuals were found on flowers of herbaceous plants.
Shurroabad, 4 Jul. 2014, 2152 m a.s.l., mountain meadows, pastures, [
We collected a single male of this species in a mountain meadow near Shurroabad. The beetle was found inside a calyx of
W of Kulob, 3 Jul. 2014, 526 m a.s.l., at light, [
W of Kulob, 3 Jul. 2014, 537 m a.s.l., at light, [WS] – 1 ex.;
Kangurt, 5 Jul. 2014, 1066 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 1 ex., at light, [
Chavrok, N of Kangurt, 5 Jul. 2014, 1217 m a.s.l., at light, [WS] – 4 exx.;
Komsomolabad, 11 Jul. 2014, 1160 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 1 ex.;
Dohanaklik, 16 Jul. 2014, 862 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 3 exx.;
Novabad, 17 Jul. 2014, 580 m a.s.l., desert, semi-desert, in cow dung, [
Takob, 28 Jun. 2014, 2300 m a.s.l., [WS] – 2 exx.
Romit, 26 Jun. 2014, 1250 m a.s.l., [WS] – 8 exx.;
Karatag, 17 Jul. 2014, 1058 m a.s.l., in cow dung, [
Karatag, 1058 m a.s.l., 30 Jun. 2014, in dung, [
Kangurt, 5 Jul. 2014, 1066 m a.s.l., agrocenoses, at light, [
Chavrok, N of Kangurt, 5 Jul. 2014, 1217 m a.s.l., at light, [WS] – 2 exx.;
Novabad, 17 Jul. 2014, 580 m a.s.l., desert, semi-desert, in cow dung, [
Romit, 27 Jun. 2014, 1250 m a.s.l., [WS] – 2 exx.;
Karatag, 30 Jun. 2014, 1058 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 1 ex., [
Komsomolabad, 11 Jul. 2014, 1160 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 1 ex., [
Takob, 28 Jun. 2014, 2300 m a.s.l., [WS] – 2 exx., [
Arykboshi, 2 Jul. 2014, 906 m a.s.l., [WS] – 1 ex., [
Kangurt, 5 Jul. 2014, 1066 m a.s.l., agrocenoses, at light, [
Chavrok, N of Kangurt, 5 Jul. 2014, 1217 m a.s.l., at light, [WS] – 3 exx.
Karatag, 17 Jul. 2014, 1058 m a.s.l., at light, [
Kangurt, 5 Jul. 2014, 1066 m a.s.l., agrocenoses, at light, [
Chavrok, N of Kangurt, 5 Jul. 2014, 1217 m a.s.l., at light, [WS] – 4 exx.
Fig.
Jilikul, 24 Jun. 2014, 332 m a.s.l., at light, [WS] – 5 exx.;
Arykboshi, 2 Jul. 2014, 906 m a.s.l., at light, [WS] – 1 ex., [
Karatag, 30 Jun. 2014, 1058 m a.s.l., at light, [
W of Kulob, 3 Jul. 2014, 526 m a.s.l., at light, [
W of Kulob, 3 Jul. 2014, 537 m a.s.l., at light, [WS] – 1 ex.;
Chavrok, N of Kangurt, 5 Jul. 2014, 1217 m a.s.l., at light, [WS] – 1 ex.;
Dohanaklik, 16 Jul. 2014, 862 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 3 exx.;
Novabad, 17 Jul. 2014, 580 m a.s.l., desert, semi-desert, in cow dung, [
Photos of
Kangurt, 5 Jul. 2014, 1066 m a.s.l., in dung, [
Fig.
Jilikul, 24 Jun. 2014, 332 m a.s.l., at light, [WS] – 6 exx., [
W of Kulob, 3 Jul. 2014, 537 m a.s.l., at light, [WS] – 7 exx., [
Chavrok, N of Kangurt, 5 Jul. 2014, 1217 m a.s.l., at light, [WS] – 1 ex.
We collected 16 individuals of
This is the first record for Tajikistan. The material was additionally verified by Łukasz Minkina (Poland).
W of Kulob, 3 Jul. 2014, 526 m a.s.l., at light, [
W of Kulob, 3 Jul. 2014, 537 m a.s.l., at light, [WS] – 1 ex.
Fig.
Karatag, 17 Jul. 2014, 1058 m a.s.l., in cow dung, [
W of Kulob, 3 Jul. 2014, 526 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 1 ex., [
Shurroabad, 4 Jul. 2014, 2152 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 5 exx., [
Kangurt, 5 Jul. 2014, 1066 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 3 exx., [
Novabad, 17 Jul. 2014, 580 m a.s.l., desert, semi-desert, in cow dung, [
Sarichashma, 25 Jun. 2014, 921 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 5 exx.;
Romit, 26 Jun. 2014, 1250 m a.s.l., [WS] – 2 exx.;
Karatag, 30 Jun. 2014, 1058 m a.s.l., in cow dung, [
W of Kulob, 3 Jul. 2014, 526 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 2 exx., [
Shurroabad, 4 Jul. 2014, 2152 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 1 ex., [
Komsomolabad, 11 Jul. 2014, 1160 m a.s.l., in dung [WS] – 8 exx., [
Gharm, 14 Jul. 2014, in dung, [WS] – 6 exx.;
Dohanaklik, 16 Jul. 2014, 862 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 6 exx., [
Novabad, 17 Jul. 2014, 580 m a.s.l., desert, semi-desert, in cow dung, [
Fig.
Karatag, 30 Jun. 2014, 1058 m a.s.l., in cow dung, [
W of Kulob, 3 Jul. 2014, 526 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 14 exx., [
Kangurt, 5 Jul. 2014, 1066 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 1 ex.;
Dohanaklik, 16 Jul. 2014, 862 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 3 exx.;
Novabad, 17 Jul. 2014, 580 m a.s.l., [
Fig.
Karatag, 30 Jun. 2014, 1058 m a.s.l., [
W of Kulob, 3 Jul. 2014, 526 m a.s.l., in dung, [
Shurroabad, 4 Jul. 2014, 2152 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 16 exx., [
Novabad, 16 Jul. 2014, 580 m a.s.l., [
Fig.
Karatag, 30 Jun. 2014, 1058 m a.s.l., [
W of Kulob, 3 Jul. 2014, 526 m a.s.l., in cow dung, [WS] – 1 ex., [
Dohanaklik, 16 Jul. 2014, 862 m a.s.l., [WS] – 6 exx., [
Novabad, 16 Jul. 2014, 580 m a.s.l., in horse dung, [WS] – 1 ex., [
We found most individuals in cow and horse dung in warm and dry meadows at altitudes from 500 to 1050 m a.s.l.
Fig.
Shurroabad, 4 Jul. 2014, 2152 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 2 exx.
Takob, 9 Jul. 2014, 1850 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 22 exx., [
Arykboshi, 2 Jul. 2014, [
Karatag, 30 Jun. 2014, 1058 m a.s.l., [
W of Kulob, 3 Jul. 2014, 526 m a.s.l., in dung, [
Shurroabad, 4 Jul. 2014, 2152 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 6 exx., [
Takob, 9 Jul. 2014, 1850 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 21 exx., [
Arykboshi, 2 Jul. 2014, [
Karatag, 17 Jul. 2014, 1058 m a.s.l., [
W of Kulob, 3 Jul. 2014, 526 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 3 exx., [
Shurroabad, 4 Jul. 2014, 2152 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 3 exx., [
Novabad, 16 Jul. 2014, 580 m a.s.l., [
In considering the general distribution of these taxa and the differences in their morphology (Table
Differences in the external morphology between
|
|
|
Head in males | frontal suture arcuately widening towards lateral edges (frontal view), located near clypeus edge (Fig. |
frontal suture not widening towards lateral edges (frontal view), located clearly further from clypeus edge, about half of length of head (Fig. |
Pronotum | surface matte, rarely with barely noticeable gloss (Fig. |
surface clearly shiny (Fig. |
Elytra | surface matte, black, very rarely brown or reddish-brown (in the studied material all of the individuals were uniformly black) (Fig. |
surface slightly shiny, black or reddish-brown (in the studied material approx. 75% of the specimens had a light-coloured elytra) (Fig. |
Material examined | 64 exx.; Georgia, Armenia, Turkey, Greece, Albania and Spain | 55 exx.; Tajikistan (collected in six different localities) |
Fig.
Karatag, 30 Jun. 2014, 1058 m a.s.l., [
W of Kulob, 3 Jul. 2014, 526 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 8 exx., [
Dohanaklik, 16 Jul. 2014, 862 m a.s.l., in dung, [
Novabad, 16 Jul. 2014, 580 m a.s.l., [WS] – 1 ex., [
We found 17 individuals in cow dung in rather warm sites in mountain pastures and semi-desert habitats.
Fig.
Takob, 28 Jun. 2014, 2300 m a.s.l., [WS] – 1 ex.
Fig.
Shurroabad, 4 Jul. 2014, 2152 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 1 ex.
We found a single individual in cow dung on a south-facing grassy slope.
Key characters in two sibling species
Fig.
Takob, 9 Jul. 2014, 1850 m a.s.l., in dung, [
Arykboshi, 2 Jul. 2014, [
Karatag, 30 Jun. 2014, 1058 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 3 exx., [
W of Kulob, 3 Jul. 2014, 526 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 1 ex., [
Kangurt, 5 Jul. 2014, 1066 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 2 exx., [
Komsomolabad, 11 Jul. 2014, 1160 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 5 exx., [
Tojikobod, 13 Jul. 2014, 2223 m a.s.l., [
Gharm, 14 Jul. 2014, in dung, [WS] – 3 exx.;
Dohanaklik, 16 Jul. 2014, 862 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 7 exx., [
Novabad, 17 Jul. 2014, 580 m a.s.l., desert, semi-desert, in cow dung, [
Photos of
Takob, 9 Jul. 2014, 1850 m a.s.l., in dung, [
Karatag, 30 Jun. 2014, 1058 m a.s.l., in dung, [
Fig.
Takob, 9 Jul. 2014, 1850 m a.s.l., in dung, [
Karatag, 1058 m a.s.l., 30 Jun. 2014, in dung, [
Novabad, 17 Jul. 2014, 580 m a.s.l., [
We found four individuals of
Sarichashma, 25 Jun. 2014, 921 m a.s.l., in dung, [WS] – 3 exx.
Fig.
Romit, 26 Jun. 2014, 1250 m a.s.l., [WS] – 1 ex.;
Takob, 9 Jul. 2014, 1850 m a.s.l., in cow dung, [WS] – 5 exx., [
Arykboshi, 2 Jul. 2014, [
Karatag, 30 Jun. 2014, 1058 m a.s.l., in cow dung, [
W of Kulob, 3 Jul. 2014, 526 m a.s.l., in sheep dung, [
Shurroabad, 4 Jul. 2014, 2152 m a.s.l., in horse dung, [WS] – 30 exx., [
Novabad, 17 Jul. 2014, 580 m a.s.l., [
We found this species to be one of the most frequently occurring dung beetles in our field survey. We collected it in large numbers in many localities, both in mountain and other pastures near highly urbanized areas. It was found in cow, horse, and sheep dung.
Ganchi, 25 Jun. 2014, 766 m a.s.l., [WS] – 1 ex.;
Kangurt, 5 Jul. 2014, 1066 m a.s.l., in dung, [
We found four individuals in cow dung in mountain pastures.
Fig.
Karatag, 30 Jun. 2014, 1058 m a.s.l., at light, [WS] – 1 ex., 17 Jul. 2014, 1058 m a.s.l., at light, [WS] – 2 exx., [
In the valley of a mountain river in the vicinity of Karatag, four males were attracted to a UV lamp.
Fig.
Jilikul, 11 Jul. 2014, 332 m a.s.l., at light, [
Arykboshi, 28 Jun. 2014, 906 m a.s.l., at light, [WS] – 2 exx., [
Shahrinav, 1 Jul. 2014, 868 m a.s.l., at light, [WS] – 3 exx., [
W of Kulob, 3 Jul. 2014, 537 m a.s.l., at light, [WS] – 1 ex.;
Chavrok, N of Kangurt, 5 Jul. 2014, 1217 m a.s.l., at light, [WS] – 1 ex., [
Komsomolabad, 12 Jul. 2014, 1160 m a.s.l., [
Takob, 8 Jul. 2014, 1850 m a.s.l., [WS] – 5 exx., [
Shurroabad, 4 Jul. 2014, 2152 m a.s.l., [WS] – 1 ex.;
Kangurt, 5 Jul. 2014, 1066 m a.s.l., at light, [
Chavrok, N of Kangurt, 5 Jul. 2014, 1217 m a.s.l., at light, [WS] – 2 exx.;
Tojikobod, 13 Jul. 2014, 2223 m a.s.l., [
Jilikul, 24 Jun. 2014, 332 m a.s.l., at light, [
Arykboshi, 28 Jun. 2014, 906 m a.s.l., at light, [
Karatag, 30 Jun. 2014, 1058 m a.s.l., at light, [
Shahrinav, 1 Jul. 2014, 868 m a.s.l., at light [WS] – 1 ex., [
Fig.
Jilikul, 24 Jun. 2014, 332 m a.s.l., at light, [WS] – 4 exx., [
Arykboshi, 28 Jun. 2014, 906 m a.s.l., at light, [
Karatag, 30 Jun. 2014, 1058 m a.s.l., at light, [
Shahrinav, 1 Jul. 2014, 868 m a.s.l., at light [WS] – 3 exx.;
W of Kulob, 3 Jul. 2014, 537 m a.s.l., at light, [WS] – 3 exx., [
Kangurt, 5 Jul. 2014, 1066 m a.s.l., [
Chavrok, N of Kangurt, 5 Jul. 2014, 1217 m a.s.l., at light, [WS] – 1 ex., [
Gharm, 14 Jul. 2014, meadow, [WS] – 1 ex.
Karatag, 17 Jul. 2014, 1058 m a.s.l., at light, [
Fig.
W of Kulob, 3 Jul. 2014, 526 m a.s.l., [
Tojikobod, 13 Jul. 2014, 2223 m a.s.l., [WS] – 13 exx., [
We caught this species in mountain meadows, and it was observed in large numbers. Adults were observed flying over the grass and became more active in the evening. It is worth noting that two color forms, the typical brownish form (Fig.
Jilikul, 24 Jun. 2014, 332 m a.s.l., at light, [
Romit, 26 Jun. 2014, 1283 m a.s.l., at light, [
Fig.
Romit, 26 Jun. 2014, 1283 m a.s.l., at light, [
Karatag, 30 Jun. 2014, 1058 m a.s.l., at light, [
Kangurt, 5 Jul. 2014, 1066 m a.s.l., [
Fig.
Takob, 8 Jul. 2014, 1850 m a.s.l., [WS] – 1 ex., [
Chavrok, N of Kangurt, 5 Jul. 2014, 1217 m a.s.l., at light, [WS] – 1 ex.
The individuals caught in a mountain meadow in the environs of Takob were collected on flowers, most likely of
Karatag, 30 Jun. 2014, 1058 m a.s.l., [
Takob, 8 Jul. 2014, 1875 m a.s.l., herbaceous habitat, [
Karatag, 1 Jul. 2014, 1088 m a.s.l., shrubs on the river, [
Shurroabad, 4 Jul. 2014, 2152 m a.s.l., mountain meadow, pastures, [
Sarichashma, 25 Jun. 2014, 921 m a.s.l., [WS] – 2 exx., [
Romit, 27 Jun. 2014, 1250 m a.s.l., [WS] – 10 exx., [
Takob, 9 Jul. 2014, 1850 m a.s.l., [WS] – 2 exx., [
Arykboshi, 28 Jun. 2014, 906 m a.s.l., [
Karatag, 30 Jun. 2014, 1058 m a.s.l., [WS] – 2 exx., [
Kangurt, 5 Jul. 2014, 1066 m a.s.l., [WS] – 3 exx.;
Chavrok, N of Kangurt, 5 Jul. 2014, 1200 m a.s.l., [WS] – 4 exx.;
Nurobod, 11 Jul. 2014, 1215 m a.s.l., [WS] – 2 exx., [
Tojikobod, 13 Jul. 2014, 2223 m a.s.l., [WS] – 2 exx., [
Iskanderkul, 18 Jul. 2014, 2300 m a.s.l., meadow, [WS] – 2 exx., [
Approximately 17% of the scarabaeoid fauna of Tajikistan was recorded during our 25-day survey, which was conducted from 24 June to 18 July 2014. We found one species,
The most commonly observed species of pleurostict scarab beetles were
Most of the field research on the scarabaeoid beetles of Tajikistan was conducted in the middle of the 20th century and almost exclusively by Russian entomologists. This was partly caused by the political isolation of the country and partly by the lack of transport and tourist infrastructure. After its separation from the Soviet Union in 1991 and the introduction of tourism facilities, the intensification of research was possible for both scientists and amateur entomologists. This, in turn, undoubtedly contributed to a better understanding of the local entomofauna and in a relatively short time resulted in the description of new species and newly recorded taxa for this country (
The richness of the scarabaeoid fauna of Tajikistan and the geography of the country clearly indicate the possibility of finding further species of this superfamily, in particular in near the borders with neighbouring countries where numerous other taxa have been recorded, for example
We thank Łukasz Minkina (Poland) for his help in verifying the identification of