Lethrus Scopoli 1777
Creators: name: Bagaturov, Mikhail F.
name: Hillert, Oliver
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Geotrupidae
Lethrus

description: Identification key of the subgenera of the genus Lethrus based on well-developed male specimens
1 Dorsal surface of mandible completely flat, without any slanting, transverse carina (tc) or hornlike protrusion (mhp) (Figs. 24–26); fragmented distribution: SE Turkmenistan, NW Afghanistan, S Tajikistan, E Uzbekistan, S Kirgizia, SE Kazakhstan, W China, S Mongolia, N China ............................................... Heteroplistodus B. Jakovlev, 1890
– Dorsal surface of mandibles with distinct transverse carina (tc) or hornlike protrusion (mhp) on left mandible surface, sometimes ambilateral (Figs. 9–23, 27–35, 37–54)..................................................................... 3
3 Dorsal surface of left mandible with more or less distinct hornlike protrusion (mhp) directed inward and backward (Figs. 9–17); mandibular appendix (ma) on left mandible well developed, on right one less developed or absent..................... 4
– Dorsal surface of left mandible with slanting or transverse carina (tc) of different characteristics but never hornlike directed inward and backward (Figs. 18–23, 27–35, 37–54); mandibular appendix (ma) differently developed, symmetrical or one side more developed or sometimes completely absent on both sides, as in females...................................... 5
4 Dorsal surface of left mandible with short hornlike protrusion (mhp) at middle of length, directed to the right sideward (90°) (Figs. 13–14, 17, 58); right mandible without any apophysis or carina on surface of mandible; mandibular appendix (ma) on left mandible subparallel with mandibular outline; apex of left mandible on lower side without apophysis; right mandible without appendix (ma); apical spur of front tibia without subbasal elevation (Fig. 55); mandibles shorter than head (Figs. 17, 58); mentum strongly convex in side aspect (Fig. 61, 64); parameron longer (Figs. 3–4); distributed in NC China (Fig. 65)............................................................... Sinolethrus Bagaturov & Hillert, new subgenus
– Dorsal surface of left mandible with more elongate hornlike protrusion (mhp) in middle of length of mandible, directed to the right sideward and backward (45°) (Figs. 15–16); right mandible with distinct mandibular protrusion (mp) on surface reaching to lateral mandibular outline (Figs. 9–12); mandibular appendix (ma) on left mandible more or less parallel with mandibular outline approximately (Figs. 10, 12); subapical tooth (sat) on lower side of left mandible well developed (Figs. 9, 11); right mandibular appendix (ma) more or less developed but noticeable shorter than left one; apical spur of front tibia with subbasal elevation (fig. 56); mandibles more long than head; mentum not convex, flat in side aspect; parameron shorter (Figs. 1– 2); distributed in S Kazakhstan, NW Uzbekistan, N Kyrgyzstan and S Russia ....... Ceratodirus Fischer von Waldheim, 1845
5 Profemur armed on frontal edge with keels or apical apopyhses; mandibular appendix (ma) more or less symmetrical, if asymmetrical then right one more developed (Figs. 27–29); fragmented distribution: S Turkmenistan, NE Iran, S Uzbekistan, W Tajikistan, N Afghanistan, S Uzbekistan, S Kirghizia ................................. Scelolethrus Semenov, 1832
– Profemur unarmed on frontal edge........................................................................ 6
6 Metafemur of male with distinct concavity on rear edge (Fig. 36); mandibular appendix (ma) distinct asymmetrically, right appendix more developed; distributed in W Turkmenistan and NE Iran .................... Teratolethrus Semenov, 1894
– Metafemur of male without concavity on rear edge, without keels or apical apophyses at middle of length, plain or only weakly transverse keel-like ridge developed...................................................................... 7
7 Both mandibles without appendices (ma), as in females. Transverse carina (tc) on dorsal surface of apex of left mandible reaching to lateral mandibular outline, clearly delimited (Figs. 46–48); distributed in S Kazakhstan, E Uzbekistan and W Kirgizstan..................................................................... Abrognathus Jakovlev, 1890
– Both mandibles with or without appendices (ma). If mandibles without appendices, transverse carina (tc) on dorsal surface of apex of left mandible not reaching to mandibular outline, surface between apex of mandibles and transverse carina (tc) never clearly delimited (Figs. 49–51)........................................................................... 8
8 Mandibular appendices (ma) blade-shaped, strongly symmetrical and projecting laterally in dorsal aspect, transverse carina (tc) on dorsal surface of apex of left mandible reaching to lateral mandibular outline (Figs. 52–54); probably distributed in Turkmenistan (Turkmenbashi distr.).................................................. Neolethrus Nikolajev, 1987
– Mandibular appendices (ma) different shaped, transverse carina (tc) on dorsal surface of apex of left mandible never reaching to lateral mandibular outline............................................................................. 9
9 Mandibular appendices (ma) distinctly asymmetric, left one mostly S-shaped, directed forward and downward (exceptional L. antovae Medvedev, 1957, both mandibles S-shaped in frontal aspect, symmetrical), left appendix distinctly more strongly developed and more elongate (Figs. 18–23); distributed in Tajikistan (Ghissar-Darwaz Mts.) and S Kirgizia........................................................................................... Furcilethrus Nikolajev, 1968
– Mandibular appendices not distinctly asymmetric; left one not mostly S-shaped and not distinctly more developed than right one............................................................................................... 10
10 Apex of parameres straight acuminate apically and distinct flattened in lateral view (Fig. 6, 8); distributed in S Kazakhstan (western Tien Shan Mts.), NW Kirgizia and E Uzbekistan .............................. .. Paralethrus Nikolajev, 2003
– Apex of parameres acuminate or broadly rounded in dorsal aspect (Figs. 7–8) but not flattened apically in lateral view (Fig. 5)................................................................................................. 11
11 Both mandibles without appendices (ma), as in females (Figs. 49–51); distributed in S Uzbekistan (West of Ghissar-Darwaz Mts.), NW Tajikistan, W Kirgizia, S Kazakhstan ....................................... Mesolethrus Nikolajev, 2003
– Both mandibles with distinct appendices, often nearly symmetric (Figs. 30–32, 37–39)............................. 12
12 Distributed from banks of River Don (Russia) to SE Europe (Balkans) and W Turkey .............. Lethrus (Scopoli, 1777)
– Distributed in S Kazakhstan, W Kirgizia, N Tajikistan S and SE Uzbekistan, Central and N Tajikistan, E Turkmenistan, N Afghanistan ..................................................................... Autolethrus Semenov, 1892
description: Published as part of Bagaturov, Mikhail F. & Hillert, Oliver, 2023, Sinolethrus, a new subgenus of the genus Lethrus Scopoli, 1777 from China (Coleoptera: Geotrupidae: Lethrinae) and new synonymy of the subgenus Paralethrus Nikolajev, 2003, pp. 301-316 in Zootaxa 5258 (3) on page 305, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5258.3.4, http://zenodo.org/record/7780393