Socotra Archipelago – a lifeboat in the sea of changes: advancement in Socotran insect biodiversity survey

Jan Batelka

Nature conditions in the Socotra Archipelago are briefly summarised, main factors contributing to the composition and diversity of the insect fauna, i.e. geological history, geographic position, geomorphology, climatic conditions and plant diversity, are circumscribed. Results of the Socotran…

List of local Socotran geographical names used in entomological literature

Jan Bezděk, Luboš Purchart, Kamil Král, Vladimír Hula

The paper presents a list of local geographical names and their alternatives quoted in entomological literature related to the Socotra Archipelago. It includes their exact localization with coordinates and visualization on the map.

Calosoma chlorostictum ivinskisi, a new synonym of Calosoma chlorostictum chlorostictum (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Carabini)

Jan Farkač, Martin Häckel

On the basis of extensive material from the Socotra Island, Calosoma chlorostictum ivinskisi Obydov & Saldaitis, 2010, syn. nov., is hereby synonymized with Calosoma chlorostictum chlorostictum Dejean, 1831. Specimens from the Socotra Island described as C. c. ivinskisi do not differ from those in…

Annotated checklist of the Carabidae (Coleoptera) of the Socotra Archipelago

Ron F. F. L. Felix, Jan Farkač, Ahmed Saeed Suleiman

The extensive material of Carabidae collected during expeditions to the Socotra Archipelago between 1999 and 2010 was studied. A total of 50 carabid species-group taxa were recognised, of which 42 were identified at species level, while eight morpho-species remain unnamed. Four species appear to be…

The Hydrophiloid beetles of Socotra Island (Coleoptera: Georissidae, Hydrophilidae)

Martin Fikáček, Juan A. Delgado, Elio Gentili

The hydrophiloid beetles (Georissidae, Hydrophilidae) of Socotra Island (Yemen) are reviewed based mainly on the material collected during the Czech expeditions undertaken between 2000 and 2012. A total of 16 species are recorded, three of which are newly described herein: Georissus (Neogeorissus)…

Limnebius dioscoridus sp. nov. from Socotra Island (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae)

Manfred A. Jäch, Juan A. Delgado

Limnebius dioscoridus sp. nov. (Hydraenidae) is described from Socotra Island (Yemen). It is the only hydraenid species known from Socotra.

New species of Euconnus, subgen. Euconophron (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae) from Socotra Island

Peter Hlaváč

The first record of the Scydmaeninae from the Socotra Island (Yemen) is given. Euconnus (Euconophron) socotranus sp. nov. is described and another, still undescribed species, is also recorded. Geographical distribution of the subgenus Euconophron Reitter, 1909 is briefly commented.

Baeocera socotrana sp. nov., the first species of Scaphidiinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) reported from Socotra Island

Ivan Löbl

Baeocera socotrana sp. nov. is described from Socotra Island, Yemen. The new species is a member of the B. lenta group. It has reduced metathoracic wings, shortened elytral sutural striae, and in dorsal view abdomen almost completely covered by the elytra.

Afromorgus reiterorum sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Trogidae) from Socotra Island

David Král, Vítězslav Kubáň

Afromorgus reiterorum sp. nov. from Socotra Island, Yemen is described and its diagnostic characters are illustrated. The new species is compared with similar and probably closely related species A. squalidus (Olivier, 1789), A. frater (Pittino, 2005), A. saturoi (Kawai, 2006) and species of the A.…

Tanyproctini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) of Socotra Island

David Král, Richard Sehnal, Aleš Bezděk

A review of the Socotran species of the melolonthine tribe Tanyproctini is provided. In addition to three species previously known from this island, five more including one new genus are described: Canudema homhil sp. nov. is closely related to C. socotrae Lacroix, 1994; both species differ mainly…

Homothyrea inornatipennis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Leucocelina): immature stages and distribution

Petr Šípek, Tomáš Vendl, David Král

Homothyrea inornatipennis Gahan, 1903 is the only known Cetoniinae from the Socotra Island (Yemen). Recently collected adults were kept in laboratory conditions and reared. All immature stages (larval instars and pupa) are described in detail and compared with the known larvae of the subtribe…

Polycestinae (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) of Socotra Island

Mark G. Volkovitsh

Five polycestine species are reported from Socotra Island including three new species: Acmaeodera (Acmaeotethya) kabateki sp. nov.; A. (A.) hadiboe sp. nov.; and A. (A.) socotraensis sp. nov. Svatacesta Zabransky, 2004, syn. nov., described originally as a subgenus of the genus Strigoptera Dejean,…

A new species of the genus Chalcogenia from Socotra Island (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Buprestinae: Anthaxiini)

Svatopluk Bílý

A new species of the genus Chalcogenia Saunders, 1871, Chalcogenia nana sp. nov., from Socotra Island, Yemen is described, illustrated, compared with the most similar species and attributed to the C. sulcipennis (Gory, 1841) species-group. In addition, sexual dimorphism of C. elongata Kerremans,…

Description of Selasia socotrana sp. nov. (Elateridae: Agrypninae: Drilini) from Socotra Island, with notes on S. homhilia

Robin Kundrata

Selasia socotrana sp. nov. is described from Socotra and compared with Selasia homhilia Geisthardt, 2003. Selasia homhilia is shown to differ in morphology of mandibles and aedeagus from all hitherto known representatives of Drilini. The diagnostic characters of both investigated species are figured…

Ptinus bertranpetiti, a new species of spider beetle from Socotra Island (Coleoptera: Ptinidae)

Xavier Bellés

Ptinus bertranpetiti sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Ptinidae) is described from Socotra Island. The practical absence of secondary sexual dimorphism and the structure of the aedeagus, slender and subsymmetrical, suggest that the new species must be placed in the subgenus Gynopterus Mulsant & Rey, 1868. The…

New species of Oryzaephilus and Silvanolomus from Socotra Island (Coleoptera: Silvanidae: Silvaninae)

David G. H. Halstead

Oryzaephilus socotraensis sp. nov. and Silvanolomus depressus sp. nov. from Socotra Island, Yemen are described, illustrated (habitus and male genitalia), and compared with similar known species. Oryzaephilus gibbosus Aitken, 1965 is also recorded from Socotra. Brief introductory notes on the two…

Phalacridae of Socotra Island (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea)

Matthew L. Gimmel

The family Phalacridae is newly reported from Socotra. Three species in three genera are recorded, including two new species: Olibrosoma eudaimonarabiana, sp. nov., Olibrus socotrana, sp. nov., and Pseudolibrus gestroi Flach, 1889. Illustrations of each species are provided, and a key is given to…

A new species of Lamiogethes from Socotra Island (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Meligethinae)

Paolo Audisio

A new species of pollen beetle of the genus Lamiogethes Audisio & Cline, 2009, L. socotranus sp. nov., is described from Socotra Island (Yemen). The new species is isolated from other East African representatives of this genus, exhibiting a general shape of male genitalia partially resembling…

Description of a new Corticaria from Socotra Island (Coleoptera: Latridiidae)

Wolfgang H. Rücker

Corticaria dioscorida sp. nov. from Socotra Island, Yemen is described and illustrated. With heavily toothed sides of pronotum, the new species is similar to Corticaria arenosa Rücker, 2011 from the United Arab Emirates, from which it differs in broadly rounded and convex elytra.

Mordellidae (Coleoptera) from Socotra Island

Jan Horák, Jan Farkač, Oto Nakládal

Five species of the family Mordellidae from Socotra Island are described and illustrated: Mediimorda socotrensis sp. nov., Mordellina (Pseudomordellistena) purcharti sp. nov., Mordellina (Pseudomordellistena) janae sp. nov., Mordellina (Pseudomordellistena) stastnyi sp. nov. and Ermischiella bejceki…

Ptilophorus purcharti sp. nov., the first ripiphorid from Socotra Island, with an account of the biogeography of the Ptilophorini (Coleoptera: Ripiphoridae)

Jan Batelka

Ptilophorus purcharti sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Ripiphoridae) from Socotra Island, Yemen, is described and figured. It is compared with all known Afrotropical and Palaearctic species of the genus and is considered to be a relictual species with Asian relatives. The distribution of the species seems to…

Colydiinae (Coleoptera: Zopheridae) of Socotra Island

Rudolf Schuh

The Colydiinae (Zopheridae) of Socotra Island were studied. Three species are recorded: Sprecodes socotrensis sp. nov. and Lasconotus hajeki sp. nov. are described and illustrated, and Synchita africana (Grouvelle, 1905) is reported from Socotra Island for the first time.

Description of larva and pupa of the genus Deretus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) with key to the larvae of the tribe Helopini

Luboš Purchart, Maxim V. Nabozhenko

Larva and pupa of Deretus spinicollis Schawaller, 2004 are described and illustrated for the first time. The systematic position of the genus Deretus Gahan, 1900 is discussed and an updated key to larvae for known Palaearctic genera within the tribe Helopini is given.

Nanocaecus hlavaci gen. & sp. nov. – first record of the tribe Gnathidiini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Diaperinae) from the Socotra Archipelago

Wolfgang Schawaller, Luboš Purchart

Nanocaecus hlavaci gen. & sp. nov. from Socotra Island is described and figured by SEM. It is the first record of the tenebrionid tribe Gnathidiini, subtribe Anopidiina from the Socotra Archipelago. The closest relatives (genera Anopidium Jeannel & Paulian, 1945, Paranopidium Dajoz, 1973) live in…

A new species of the genus Corticeus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) from Socotra Island

Luboš Purchart, Wolfgang Schawaller

Based on the material collected during biodiversity research of insects on Socotra Island, the new species Corticeus socotranus sp. nov. is described and figured. The new species belongs to the C. longicollis-group and differs in the shape of genae and pronotum, and in the colour of body.

New species of the genus Socotralia and first record of the genus Alogista from Socotra Island (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Alleculinae)

Vladimír Novák, Luboš Purchart

Four new species of the genus Socotralia Novák, 2007 from Socotra Island (Yemen) are described: Socotralia montana sp. nov., S. intermedia sp. nov., S. reitteri sp. nov. and S. vybirali sp. nov. A key to all seven known species of the genus is provided. The genus Alogista Fåhraeus, 1870 is reported…

A review of the family Oedemeridae (Coleoptera) of the Socotra Archipelago

Vladimír Švihla

The species of the family Oedemeridae inhabiting the Socotra Archipelago are reviewed and keyed. Anisochrodes janavlada sp. nov. (Socotra) and Colobostomoides marshalli socotraensis ssp. nov. (Socotra) are described and illustrated.

Studies on the genus Anthelephila (Coleoptera: Anthicidae). 12. Review of the species from Yemen, including Socotra Island

Zbyněk Kejval

The species of Anthelephila Hope, 1833 of Yemen are reviewed. Three species are newly described: Anthelephila kadleci sp. nov. and A. praefecta sp. nov. from continental Yemen, and A. pilitarsis sp. nov. from Socotra Island. A new synonymy, Anthelephila anceyi rathjensi (Pic, 1957) = Formicomus…

Synonymical notes on the genus Sybrinus from Socotra Island (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae)

Jiří Hájek, Petr Kabátek

Based on study of type material, the following new synonymies in the genus Sybrinus Gahan, 1900 are proposed: Sybrinus simonyi Gahan, 1903 = S. sokotrensis Jiroux, Sudre & Téocchi, 2004, syn. nov., and S. x-ornatus Téocchi, Jiroux & Sudre, 2007 = S. kabateki Téocchi, Jiroux & Sudre, 2007, syn. nov.…

Bruchinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from Socotra Island

Alex Delobel

First data on seed beetles (Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) from Socotra Island are presented for seven species: Bruchidius nalandus (Pic, 1927), Callosobruchus rhodesianus Pic, 1902, Caryedon gonagra (Fabricius, 1798), Caryedon sudanensis Southgate, 1971, Caryedon sp., Conicobruchus medaniensis (Decelle,…

Cassidinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from Socotra Island

Jolanta Świetojańska, Lech Borowiec

Two Cassidinae species known from Socotra Island are discussed. Cassida rothschildi Spaeth, 1922 is redescribed, and its last instar larva is described for the first time. Lycium socotranum Wagn. & Vierh. and L. shawii Roem. & Schult. (Solanaceae) are the first host records for this species. Record…

Tituboea purcharti sp. nov., the first representative of Clytrini from Socotra Island (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae)

Jan Bezděk

Tituboea purcharti sp. nov., the first known species of Clytrini from Socotra Island (Yemen), is decribed and illustrated. The new species belongs to the group of larger species (above 7.0 mm) with not prolonged protarsi, glabrous elytra and not elevated posterior pronotal angles. It is closely…

Galerucinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) of Socotra Island, with a review of taxa recorded from Yemen

Jan Bezděk

First data on Galerucinae from Socotra Island (Yemen) are presented. Six species are reported, among them a new genus and five new species are described: Beenenia gen. nov. with B. scanticola sp. nov. as type species, B. kabateki sp. nov., Monolepta suchomeli sp. nov., Monolepta hlavaci sp. nov.,…

Alticinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) of Socotra Island

Manfred Döberl

Data on Alticinae from Socotra Island (Yemen) are presented for the first time. Altogether, 17 species in ten genera are recorded including the following new taxa: Aphthona socotrana sp. nov., Bezdekaltica gen. nov. with B. socotrana sp. nov. as the type species, Luperomorpha biondii sp. nov., and…

Eumolpinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) of Socotra Island

Stefano Zoia

Eumolpinae of Socotra Island are revised. Falsonerissus arabicus Pic, 1951 is synonymized with Eryxia grandis Lefèvre, 1890 (syn. nov.), Falsonerissus Pic, 1951, stat. nov., is considered a subgenus of Colasposoma Laporte, 1833, and the following nomenclatural changes are proposed: Falsonerissus =…

Description of a new species of Aglycyderes (Coleoptera: Belidae: Oxycoryninae)

Miloš Knížek

A new species of Aglycyderes Westwood, 1864 from Socotra Island (Yemen), United Arab Emirates and Pakistan is described. Comparison with other related species and differential diagnosis are provided. Whereas the other two known species of the genus are endemic to Canary Islands and Morocco…

A new species of Halystus from Socotra Island (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae: Polygraphini)

Miloš Knížek

A new species of Halystus Schedl, 1982 from Socotra Island (Yemen) is described. Comparisons with other related genera and species, and differential diagnosis are provided.

Description of male of Leucospis insularis (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Leucospidae) with new records and check-list of Chalcidoidea of Socotra Island

Petr Janšta

A check-list of the Chalcidoidea of Socotra Island based on published data and newly collected material is presented. The male of the endemic species Leucospis insularis Kirby, 1900 (Leucospidae) is described for the first time. The following five species are recorded from the Socotra Island for the…

New species and new records of mutillid wasps from the Socotra Archipelago (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae)

Pietro Lo Cascio, Marcello Romano, Flavia Grita

The present paper provides new data on the mutillid fauna of the Socotra Archipelago (Yemen). The genera Myrmilla Wesmael, 1851, Strangulotilla Nonveiller, 1979, Macromyrme Lelej, 1984, and Dentilla Lelej, 1980 are recorded for the first time. Four new species are described: Strangulotilla…

A new species of the genus Gondwanoscurus, and two new records of non-biting moth flies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Psychodinae) from Socotra Island

Jan Ježek, Michal Tkoč

Gondwanoscurus socotrensis sp. nov. is described and figured. Specimens were collected on Socotra Island, Yemen. The genus Gondwanoscurus Ježek, 2002, with seven species (two from Peninsular Malaysia, two from Thailand and three from Sabah, North Borneo), was previously recorded only from the…