Microdera shasenema G. S. Medvedev et Nepesova 1985
Creators: name: Bekchanov, Norbek Kh.
name: Nabozhenko, Maxim V.
name: Bekchanov, Khudaybergan U.
name: Bekchanova, Mokhira Kh.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Tenebrionidae
Microdera
Microdera shasenema

description: Microdera shasenema G.S. Medvedev et Nepesova, 1985
(Fig. 17)
Microdera shasenema Medvedev & Nepesova, 1985b: 359, Fig. 3–6, 360; Medvedev & Nepesova, 1985a: 68.
Type material examined. Holotype (Fig. 17H, I), ♂ (ZIN): “ЮЗ Турк. Мешед-Мессериан Г.Медведев12 М 984” (YuZ Turk. Meshed-Messerian G. Medvedev 12.V 984) (Russian Cyrillic label (now SW Turkmenistan, Mashhadi Misrian (=Dehistan), 38°16′12″N, 54°37′28″E). Paratypes. 21 paratypes (ZIN): “ Shasenem, sev. Karakumy Kir’yakova 7/VI 953” (Russian Cyrillic label) (N Turkmenistan, Shasenem railway station, 41°39ʹN, 59°23ʹE), “na svet” (at light; Russian Cyrillic label), “Paratypus Microdera shasenema sp. nov. Medv. et Nepes.” (the same label for all paratypes); 6 paratypes (ZIN): “YuZ Turk. Meshed-Messerian G. Medvedev 12.V 984 ” (Russian Cyrillic label) (SW Turkmenistan, Mashhad-i Misrian); 2 paratypes (ZIN): “ Krasnovodsk Zakasp. obl. 28.III.916 B. Il’in” (Russian Cyrillic label) (now Turkmenistan, Turkmenbashi); 8 paratypes (ZIN): 5 km Z Khodzheyli G. Medvedev 4 VI 972” (Russian Cyrillic label (now in Uzbekistan, Karakalpakstan); 1 paratypes (ZIN): “ N Shakhi-burun B. Balkhany Turkm. V. Popov 16 VI 934 ” (Russian Cyrillic label); 6 paratypes (ZIN): “ Beltau, oz. Karateren G. Medvedev 24.V 972 ” (Russian Cyrillic label); 2 paratypes (ZIN): “ Zap. ber. Aral m. 12 km V Komsomol’ska G. Medvedev II VI 972” (Russian Cyrillic label) (western coast of the Aral sea, 12 km W of Komsomolsk-on-Ustyurt = Qubla ustyurt); 2 paratypes (ZIN): “ Karakalpak 40 km W Nukus 14-VII-1966 Pirnazarov ” (Russian Cyrillic label); 1 paratype (ZIN): “ Karakalpak Nukus 20-V-1969 Pirnazarov ” (Russian Cyrillic label), “N 21”; 1 paratype (ZIN) “fl. Amudarya ”; 6 paratypes (ZIN): Karakalpakstan, Beltau, Karateren Lake, 24.v.1972 (G.S. Medvedev) (Russian Cyrillic label).
Material examined. 1 specimen (ZIN): Uzbekistan, Karakalpakstan, Beltau, Karateren Lake, 24.v.1972 (G.S. Medvedev); 1 ♂ (PCMN): Uzbekistan, Karakalpakstan, Kungrad Distr., Kyzylzhar env., 43°07ʹ51ʺN / 59°05ʹ44ʺE, h = 80–100 m, 25.04.2024 (M.V. and S.V. Nabozhenko, N.Kh. and Kh.U. Bekchanov, U.E. Duschanov).
Additional material examined. 4 specimens (ZIN): Tajikistan, Khatlon Region, Chiluchorchashma W of Shaartuz, 20.iv.1962 (collector unknown).
Notes. Specimens from the Amudarya delta (Fig. 17A–G, J–L), the coast of the former Aral Sea and NE Karakum (Turkmenistan: Shasenem) differ from those in SW Turkmenistan, having more slender body, less transverse pronotum, more elongate tarsi, lengths of metatarsomeres 1 and 4 are subequal (Fig. 17D) (metatarsomere 1 distinctly shorter than 4 in populations from SW Turkmenistan (Fig. 17I)). The mentioned characters are slightly variable in the population from Uzbekistan and northern Karakum (Turkmenistan: Shasenem). The population from SW Tajikistan more similar to those from SW Turkmenistan, but beetles also slightly differ from other two populations. Medvedev in the original description used characters of the north populations for proportions of metatarsi, while the holotype and specimens from the type locality have other proportions. The status of three disjunctive populations of M. shasenema can be established after examination of a larger number of specimens, especially from the area of the middle reaches of Amudarya (in case the species occurs there). We use characters of the north population (from Uzbekistan and NE Turkmenistan) in a key below.
Distribution. Turkmenistan (Karakum desert), Uzbekistan (Karakalpakstan, lower reaches of Amudarya, Aral coast) (Medvedev & Nepesova 1985b; ZIN collection), Tadjikistan (valley of Kofarnihon, tributary of Amudarya river; new record for the country).
description: Published as part of Bekchanov, Norbek Kh., Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Bekchanov, Khudaybergan U. & Bekchanova, Mokhira Kh., 2025, A review of the genus Microdera Eschscholtz, 1831 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) of Uzbekistan, pp. 451-480 in Zootaxa 5590 (4) on pages 471-473, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5590.4.1, http://zenodo.org/record/14953401