taxonID	type	description	language	source
5568A03458731109FC8A9A42FAD6FA54.taxon	materials_examined	Type material examined Syntypes of Meloe majalis Linnaeus, 1758 (LSL, photographs) (not sexed). LINN 6662, labelled: 2 majalis [handwritten white label]; 2 [printed white label]. LINN 6663, not labelled. Lectotype: LINN 6662 (designated here). Holotype of Meloe majalis var. sanguineus Escherich, 1889 (MNHAT) (not sexed). Specimen labelled: Cuenca Castilien 87. K. [printed white label]; maculifrons Lucas [handwritten white label]; majalis v. sanguineus Escherich [handwritten white label]. Figured in García-París et al. (2010: 170, fig. 2). Lectotype designation and nomenclatural comments: The type series of Meloe majalis Linnaeus, 1758 consists of two dry-preserved specimens (syntypes) held in the collection of the Linnean Society of London at Burlington House. We examined several photographs of both specimens (available at http: // linnean-online. org /), which are catalogued as LINN 6662 and LINN 6663. Revision of qualitative features indicates that LINN 6662 and LINN 6663 do not represent the same taxonomic unit, differing mainly in the width of the tergal red bars and in the punctures of the pronotum. While the identity of LINN 6663 is difficult to ascertain without manipulation and close examination of the specimen, the specimen LINN 6662 can be morphologically assigned to the central-southern Iberian plateau clade (lineage A). So, under the provisions of article 74 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature and Declaration 44, Amendment of article 74.7.3 (ICZN, 1999, 2003), we designate the specimen LINN 6662 as lectotype of Meloe majalis Linnaeus, 1758, fixing the unique bearer of the name to the taxon corresponding to lineage A (central-southern Iberian plateau). Likewise, the study of the holotype of B. majalis var. sanguineus Escherich, 1889 confirms the synonymy of this variety with B. majalis s. s. (see: García-París et al., 2010). Description: Berberomeloe majalis s. s. presents the general traits of the genus (see: Bologna, 1989, 1991) and it is characterized as follows: Length (frons to posterior border of elytra), 10 – 20 mm; maximum total length among preserved, studied specimens, 60 mm. General coloration black, usually with red or orange transverse bars on the posterior margin of each abdominal terga, except VII and VIII. Tegument of the head and pronotum finely microreticulated, semi-glossy. Head with punctures dispersed, similar to those of pronotum but sparser; medium-sized punctures over the temples; middle line subtle but perceptible at the vertex. Antennae (male) with antennomeres III – X subtrapezoidal, not especially expanded at inner apexes; antennomeres V and VI subdentiform, with a yellowish, distinct but diffused area in the inner apex; antennomere XI of normal width, widely cleft at the apex, with the inner end pointed. Pronotum subquadrate, with lateral sides weakly or barely convergent in its posterior two-thirds; presence of two types of punctures, small and medium-sized, all over its surface; puncture density low to medium, mostly covering the sides and fore angles; middle longitudinal line finely impressed. Elytral surface with shallow and dispersed punctures; tegument with fine but marked longitudinal corrugations. Abdomen black, usually with a wide red-orange coloured transverse bar at the caudal margin of each terga, except VII and VIII. Male genitalia (Fig. 6 C – F) with tegmen (parameres + phallobasis) evenly sclerotized; parameres moderately elongated, length similar or a little longer than phallobase, with distal lobes relatively elongated in lateral view; median lobe (aedeagus) with two similar, acute ventral hooks far from the apex, and well separated between each other; apex obliquely truncated in lateral view; endophallic hook slender. Female genitalia with sclerotized spicules in the inner side of the bursa copulatrix. Variability: Body length highly variable, from 10 to 20 mm. Morphometric variability is shown in Table 2. Colour intensity of the transverse bar variable, from light-red to blood-red. Populations composed only by entirely black specimens have been recorded in some geographically localized areas in the province of Ciudad Real (Piedrabuena and Carrión de Calatrava) (Bravo et al., 2017). Some specimens show a single, small red spot on the frons, diffuse and little marked (e. g. holotype of Meloe majalis var. sanguineus). A slight variation in the density of the puncturation of head and pronotum was observed across populations. Berberomeloe majalis presents variability in the width of coloured transverse tergal bars, but on average they are relatively wide (ratio ‘ total width of the second tergum / width of the transverse bar of the second tergum’ between 1.04 and 2.03, average = 1.6, SD = 0.27, N = 23). Specimens from Penyagolosa (Castellón) show wider coloured transverse tergal bars and deeper punctures. Individuals recently emerged from pupal stage present a non-expanded abdomen, almost completely covered by the elytra; abdomen expands and increases in volume as they start feeding (as reported by Cortés-Fossati, 2018 a for B. payoyo; pers. obs., under laboratory conditions). This pattern of individual abdominal size change is present in all the species of Berberomeloe. Diagnosis: Berberomeloe majalis can be distinguished from all other species of Berberomeloe by the following combination of characters (Fig. 6): (1) abdomen with red-coloured transverse bars of medium to large width in the posterior margin of tergites I – VI; (2) punctures on the head small to medium-sized, rounded, shallow, isolated from each other, but relatively dense; (3) pronotum subquadrate with rounded, not particularly expanded, fore angles and with lateral margins weakly converging backwards; (4) pronotum surface usually homogeneously punctured, with two types of puncturation, small and medium-sized, generally non-confluent; (5) male genitalia with the apex of the median lobe obliquely truncated in lateral view; (6) male antennomere XI wide; and (7) male antennomeres VII and IX moderately expanded on the inner apical side. Distribution and notes on natural history: Berberomeloe majalis occurs in most of the central and eastern regions of the Iberian Peninsula, covering the Meseta Sur and most of the Sistema Ibérico Meridional Mountain Range, over the following Spanish provinces (Fig. 2): Madrid (limited to the south-eastern border), central and eastern Toledo and Ciudad Real, Albacete, Cuenca, Guadalajara (mostly in the south-east), Teruel, Castellón, Valencia and Jaén (north of the province). Distributional limits are yet to be defined in detail. It occurs across a wide spectrum of substrates, from limestone and gypsum soils to granitic formations (see: Vera, 2004). It is present in different habitat types, mostly open areas, including cereal fields, steppes, Mediterranean shrublands and Mediterranean open forests (Fig. 7). Most records are located within the meso-Mediterranean bioclimatic level and, to a lesser extent, at the supra-Mediterranean, in regions with ombrotype from dry to humid (see: Rivas-Martínez, 1987; Rivas-Martínez et al., 2002). Biological aspects of B. majalis are poorly known, but they are expected to be similar to the ones described generically for B. majalis s. l. (previous to this study) by Beauregard (1890), Bologna (1989, 1991), Cros (1912, 1913, 1921, 1928) and Górriz Muñoz (1878, 1882). BERBEROMELOE CASTUO SÁNCHEZ-VIALAS ET AL.,	en	Sánchez-Vialas, Alberto, García-París, Mario, Ruiz, José L., Recuero, Ernesto (2020): Patterns of morphological diversification in giant Berberomeloe blister beetles (Coleoptera: Meloidae) reveal an unexpected taxonomic diversity concordant with mtDNA phylogenetic structure. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 189: 1249-1312
5568A03458681100FF449BEDFA25FC3A.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype: Male: Spain, Madrid, Montejo de la Sierra, pastizal junto al pueblo, 24 April 1999, M. García-París leg. [printed white label]; MNCN _ Ent 231431 [printed white label]; Holotypus, Berberomeloe comunero Sánchez-Vialas, García-París, Ruiz & Recuero des. 2019 [printed white label]. Preserved in absolute ethanol, held at the Entomological Collection of the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid. Paratypes: Spain, Madrid, Montejo de la Sierra, pastizal junto al pueblo, 24 April 1999, MAB 166, M. García-París leg. [white label, printed]; MNCN _ Ent 231431 [white label, printed] (male, preserved in ethanol). ― Spain, Madrid, Montejo de la Sierra, pastizal junto al pueblo, 24 April 1999, NTM 120, M. García-París leg. [white label, printed]; MNCN _ Ent 231433 (female, extracted genitalia, preserved dry). ― Spain, Madrid, Montejo de la Sierra, pastizal junto al pueblo, 24 April 1999, M. García-París leg. [white label, printed]; MNCN _ Ent 231432 [white label, printed]; 118 [white label, handwritten] (female, extracted genitalia, three legs separated, preserved dry). ― Madrid, Rivas de Jarama (Urbanizaciones), 5 June 2009, mel 09044, M. Gª-París & G. Gª-Martín leg. [white label, printed]; MNCN _ Ent 231434 [white label, printed] (female, preserved in ethanol). ― Área de Montarco, Rivas- Vaciamadrid (Madrid), 13 April 2006, J. I. López-Colón leg. [white label, handwritten]; MNCN _ Ent 231435 [white label, printed] (preserved in ethanol). ― Madrid, Alcalá de Henares, 16 May 2001 [white label, printed]; MNCN _ Ent 233312 (preserved dry). ― Madrid, Alcalá de Henares, 16 May 2001 [white label, printed]; MNCN _ Ent 233313 (preserved dry). ― Madrid, Alcalá de Henares, 16 May 2001 [white label, printed]; MNCN _ Ent 233314 (preserved dry). ― Madrid, Leganés, 8 June 1990 [white label, handwritten]; Meloe majalis Linneo; ex. Colección M. de los Mozos; MNCN _ Ent 173819 [white label, printed] (preserved dry). ― Madrid, Barrio del Pilar, 21 April 1980, M. de los Mozos leg., entre hierbas [white label, handwritten]; Meloe majalis Linneo [white label, handwritten]; ex. Colección M. de los Mozos; MNCN _ Ent 173820 [white label, printed] (preserved dry). ― 5 exx. MNCN _ Ent 232449 to MNCN _ Ent 232453 [white label, printed]; Madrid, Braojos, 24 April 2012, F. A. Montes leg. [white label, printed] (preserved dry). ― Madrid, San Fernando de Henares, 16 May 2011, J. I. López-Colón leg. [white label, printed]; MNCN _ Ent 232454 [white label, printed] (preserved dry). ― Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria, 14 April [white label, handwritten]; Berberomeloe majalis Linnaeus, 1758 [white label, printed]; MNCN _ Ent 233310 [white label, printed] (preserved dry). ― Spain, Madrid, Rivas del Jarama, 13 March 1988, F. A. Montes leg. [white label, printed]; Berberomeloe majalis Linnaeus, 1758, M. Gª-París det. 98 [white label, printed]; 342 [white label, handwritten]; MNCN _ Ent 233311 [white label, printed] (preserved dry). ― Madrid, El Molar [white label, handwritten]; Berberomeloe majalis Linnaeus, 1758, M. Gª-París det. 98; 571 [white label, handwritten]; MNCN _ Ent 233309 [white label, printed] (preserved dry). ― 2 exx. labelled: Madrid, Lozoyuela, 20 June 2002, I. Martínez-Solano & I. Sánchez [white label, handwritten]; MNCN _ Ent 250993 and MNCN _ Ent 250994, respectively [white labels, printed] (preserved in ethanol). ― Madrid, Montejo de la Sierra, 24 April 1999, NTM 121 [white label, handwritten]; MNCN _ Ent 250995 [white label, printed] (preserved in ethanol). ― Spain, Madrid, 4.5 Km E / SE de Rivas Vaciamadrid, 576 m, 40 ° 18 ’ 54.46 ’’ N, 3 ° 34 ’ 22.57 ’’ W, 11 / V / 2009, I. Martínez-Solano, C. Settani, E. Recuero leg. [white label, handwritten]; MNCN _ Ent 250996 [white label, printed] (female, preserved in ethanol). ― Spain, Madrid, Colmenar de Oreja, La Aldehuela, 726 m, 40 ° 04 ’ 43.74 ’’ N, 3 ° 23 ’ 57.14 ’’ O, 15 May 2012, mel 12012, M. Gª-París leg. [white label, printed]; MNCN _ Ent 250997 [white label, printed] (preserved in ethanol). ― Madrid, Rivas de Jarama (Urbanizaciones), 5 June 2009, mel 09041, M. Gª-París & G. Gª-Martín leg. [white label, printed]; MNCN _ Ent 250998 [white label, printed] (preserved in ethanol). ― Madrid, Rivas de Jarama (Urbanizaciones), 5 June 2009, mel 09042, M. Gª-París & G. Gª-Martín leg. [white label, printed]; MNCN _ Ent 250999 [white label, printed] (preserved in ethanol). ― Madrid, Rivas de Jarama (Urbanizaciones), 5 June 2009, mel 09043, M. Gª-París & G. Gª-Martín leg. [white label, printed]; MNCN _ Ent 251000 [white label, printed] (preserved in ethanol). ― 3 exx. labelled: Segovia, Prádena, 7 May 2015, M. García-Parísleg. [white label, handwritten]; MNCN _ Ent 251001, MNCN _ Ent 251002 and MNCN _ Ent 251003 respectively [white labels, printed] (preserved in ethanol). All paratypes labelled: ‘ Paratypus, Berberomeloe comunero Sánchez-Vialas, García-París, Ruiz & Recuero, des. 2019 [red labels for dry-preserved specimens, and white labels for ethanol-preserved specimens, all printed] ’. All specimens are held at the Entomological Collection of the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid. Etymology: This species is named in remembrance of the ballad ‘ Los Comuneros’ writen by Luis López Álvarez, published in 1972, and set to music by the folk music group ‘ Nuevo Mester de Juglaría’ in 1976. This ballad narrates the tragic historical events that took place between 1520 and 1522 in Castille, in the area where the new species occur. Description of the holotype: Length (frons to posterior margin of elytra), 7.3 mm. Total length (including abdomen) of preserved holotype, 31 mm. Maximum width, 5 mm. Moderately wide orange transverse bar in the posterior edge of each tergum except VII and VIII, which are entirely black. Tegument finely microreticulated, semi-glossy. Head maximum width, 2.4 mm. Surface covered by numerous, uniformly distributed punctures. Head punctures from medium-sized to large, rounded, deep marked, close to each other, confluent in temples. A longitudinal midline is impressed on the upper half of the frons, but faded at the vertex. Minimum interorbital distance, 1.5 mm. Clypeus 1.1 mm wide by 0.4 mm long. Labrum 1.1 wide by 0.4 mm long. Antennae with antennomeres widened apically but not strongly serrated, with short black vestiture, mostly decumbent and with a few sparse erect setae, longer and semi-erect on antennomeres I – II; antennomere I slightly widened apically, subcylindrical (length: 0.5 mm); II short, cylindrical (length: 0.2 mm); III (length: 0.4 mm) subcylindrical, slightly widened apically, rectangular; IV (length: 0.3 mm) shorter than III but equally wide, subrectangular; V (length: 0.3 mm) trapezoidal, wider than VI, with a wide and rounded apical tooth on the inner edge; VI (length: 0.3 mm) trapezoidal, with a rounded apical tooth on the inner edge; VII (length: 0.3 mm) trapezoidal, with an apical tooth on the inner edge; VIII (length: 0.3 mm) trapezoidal, narrow than VII, weakly dentate on the apex of the inner edge; IX (length: 0.3 mm) trapezoidal, similar to VIII, dentate on inner edge; X (length: 0.3 mm) trapezoidal, apical tooth slightly acute; XI (length: 0.4 mm) subconical, moderately wide, notched on apex. Pronotum subquadrate with subparallel sides, slightly narrower towards the base (anterior side of pronotum: 2.1 mm; posterior edge of pronotum: 2 mm; pronotum length on sagittal plane: 1.7 mm); fore angles rounded; anterior margin curved, posterior margin slightly arcuate; with an impressed longitudinal midline through the pronotum length and diffuse lateral depressions. Pronotum surface densely and homogenously punctate; punctures of various sizes, mostly large, rounded, and deep, close to each other, confluent and forming a corrugated or reticulated pattern. Dorsal surface of pronotum almost glabrous, with a short isolated seta in each puncture; anterior margin, adjacent to the neck, with numerous, moderately long setae. Elytra imbricated basally (the right over the left), length: 4.1 mm; tegument glabrous, slightly corrugated longitudinally with impressed irregular vermicular lines, with scarce, weakly marked, dispersed punctures. Distal margin of tergites I – VI with an orange transverse bar, moderately narrow in comparison with the total width of the terga (width of the second tergum: 4.8 mm; width transverse bar of the second tergum: 2.7 mm). Last ventrite notched. Metafemur longer than metatibia (metafemur length: 2.5 mm; metatibia length: 2 mm). Metatarsal tarsomeres length, from inner to apical: 2.2, 0.4, 0.4, 0.7 mm. Genitalia with tegmen brownish; moderately elongated, slender both on dorsal and lateral views. Phallobase longer than wide, length similar to the parameres; maximum width at the middle. Parameres longer than wide, basally cylindrical; distal third formed by parameral lobes; setae present on middle region of parameres. Parameral lobes separated by a longitudinal notch that extends to the middle of the dorsal surface of the parameres; apexes rounded. Median lobe long, robust, flattened, truncated at the apex in lateral view, with two acute ventral hooks; ventral hooks similar and close to each other, separated from apex. Endophallic hook visible. Female: Similar to male, but with the last abdominal ventrite rounded, not emarginated in its posterior margin and antennomeres less widened apically. Studied specimens present the inner surface of the bursa copulatrix with few and small sclerotized spicules, sometimes absent (similar to those of B. indalo, as figured in Fig. 8). Variability: Body length (frons to posterior border of elytra) highly variable, from 7.3 to 20 mm; maximum total length among preserved, studied specimens, 54 mm. Morphometric variability is shown in Table 2. Some specimens have a single, small, red spot on the frons, diffuse and faintly marked. Colour of transverse bars in live specimens vary from orange to blood-red, but constant within each population. Populations composed exclusively of entirely black-coloured specimens are found in Madrid (Rivas de Jarama, Valdepiélagos, Talamanca, Daganzo de Arriba, Vicálvaro) and western Guadalajara (Uceda) (Bravo et al., 2017; authors pers. obs.). Berberomeloe comunero presents a high variability in the width of coloured transverse tergal bars, but on average they are relatively wide (ratio ‘ total width of the second tergum / width of the transverse bar of the second tergum’ between 1.32 and 2.34, average = 1.8, SD = 0.29, N = 31). Transverse bars are narrower in mountain populations from the provinces of Madrid and Segovia. Specimens with deeper punctures on the pronotum, forming a strongly corrugated pattern, are found over most part of the province of Madrid and eastern Segovia. Diagnosis: Berberomeloe comunero can be distinguished from all other Berberomeloe species by the following combination of characters (Fig. 11): (1) medium-sized to moderately narrow, coloured, transverse tergal bars on the distal margin of tergites I – VI; (2) punctures on head large to medium-sized, rounded, deep and close to each other; (3) pronotum surface densely and homogeneously punctate, with two types of puncturation simultaneously, large and medium-sized, confluent or subconfluent, often forming a corrugated pattern; (4) fore angles of pronotum rounded and not especially expanded; (5) apex of the median lobe of male genitalia obliquely truncated in lateral view; and (6) antennomere XI in males wide, V – VII in males weakly expanded at its inner apical side. Distribution and notes on natural history: Berberomeloe comunero is a euryecious species distributed over most of the northern Central Iberian Plateau, in the provinces of Madrid (except at its south-eastern edge), Burgos, Segovia, Guadalajara and most of Valladolid. According to the known localities, it occupies a wide elevational range from 522 m at Balcón del Tajo (Madrid) to 1440 m at Puerto de Somosierra (Madrid). It inhabits a wide range of geological formations, from limestone and gypsum of the highlands of the Northern Plateau to granite and gneisses at Sierra de Guadarrama, while micaceous schists, slates and quartzites from Somosierra to Sierra de Ayllón (Rivas-Martínez et al., 1990; Vera, 2004). It occupies the meso- and supra-Mediterranean bioclimatic levels (see: Rivas-Martínez, 1987; Rivas-Martínez et al., 2002). Berberomeloe comunero is found over an extensive variety of open habitats (Fig. 12), such as cereal fields (mostly wheat and barley), gypsum hills with dispersed Quercus coccifera L. trees, steppes, juniper groves and open oak (Quercus rotundifolia Lam., Q. pyrenaica Willd.) and ash (Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl) forests (Rivas-Martínez & Costa, 1970; Rivas-Martínez et al., 1990). Biological aspects of this species are expected to be similar to the ones described for the genus by Bologna (1989, 1991). Adult specimens are found from March to July. BERBEROMELOE INDALO SÁNCHEZ-VIALAS ET AL.,	en	Sánchez-Vialas, Alberto, García-París, Mario, Ruiz, José L., Recuero, Ernesto (2020): Patterns of morphological diversification in giant Berberomeloe blister beetles (Coleoptera: Meloidae) reveal an unexpected taxonomic diversity concordant with mtDNA phylogenetic structure. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 189: 1249-1312
5568A03458521137FF4F9A10FBCCFE3F.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis: Berberomeloe insignis can be distinguished from all other species of Berberomeloe by the following combination of characters (Fig. 23): (1) entirely black abdomen; (2) presence of isolated symmetrical red blotches on the head temples; an additional red blotch on the frons is also present in some populations; (3) punctures on the head generally small to medium-sized, rounded, shallow and mostly isolated from each other; (4) pronotum surface heterogeneously punctured; with medium or large-sized punctures, deep and located mainly on the sides and along the midline area; disc region almost smooth, with isolated punctures; (5) fore angles of pronotum expanded, obtuse, well-marked; (6) antennomere XI slender (both in males and females); (7) antennomeres VII and IX strongly dentate on the inner apical side, especially in males; and (8) male genitalia with apex of the median lobe markedly narrow. A detailed description of the species was provided by García-París (1998). Variability: Total length (frons – last abdominal ventrite) varies from 12 to 49 mm (García-París & Ruiz, 2008). García-París (1998) figured the interpopulation variability regarding the shape and extension of the red blotch of the head temples. Populations from southern Almería, particularly the surroundings of Tabernas, present an additional single red blotch in the middle of the frons. Among examined specimens certain variability has been observed in head and pronotum puncturation density, as well as in male genitalia, i. e. in width and length of parameral lobes and in size and shape of apical hook of aedeagus (Fig. 23 D, F). Distributionandnotesonnaturalhistory: Berberomeloe insignis is a species endemic to south-eastern Spain, including the coastal provinces of Murcia, Almería and Granada (García-París, 1998; García-París & Ruiz, 2011 a). It occurs mostly over the ‘ Murcianoalmeriense’ phytochorological province, but it also extends westward to the Betic phytochorological province (see: Rivas-Martínez, 1987; Valle et al., 2004) along the southern foothills of Sierra Nevada, where the species reach its western distributional limit at the surroundings of Jete, Motril, Órgiva and Polopos (Granada) (García-París & Ruiz, 2008, 2011 a; Ruiz & García-París, 2013).	en	Sánchez-Vialas, Alberto, García-París, Mario, Ruiz, José L., Recuero, Ernesto (2020): Patterns of morphological diversification in giant Berberomeloe blister beetles (Coleoptera: Meloidae) reveal an unexpected taxonomic diversity concordant with mtDNA phylogenetic structure. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 189: 1249-1312
5568A0345850112BFCB99CBDFAA1FA2D.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype: Male: Almería, Calar Alto (37 ° 12 ’ 39 ” N 2 ° 36 ’ 26 ” W, 1927 m), 6 May 2005, mel 05048 Bi, M. Gª-París leg. [white label, printed]; MNCN _ Ent 231451 [white label, printed]; Holotypus, Berberomeloe tenebrosus Sánchez-Vialas, García-París, Ruiz & Recuero des. 2019 [white label, printed] (genitalia extracted). Preserved in absolute ethanol, held at the Entomological Collection of the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid. Paratypes: Peñones S. Fco (de San Francisco), Sierra Nevada, Granada, España, 2400 m, 30 SVG 656065, 10 June 1990, P. Barranco (leg.) [white label, printed]; MNCN _ Ent 231452 [white label, printed] (male, preserved dry). ― Puerto de la Ragua, 2000 m., Sierra Nevada, Granada, España, 21 May 2005, J. M. Barreda leg. [white label, printed]; MNCN _ Ent 231453 [white label, printed] (female, preserved dry). ― Peñones de S. Francisco, Albergue Universitario, Sierra Nevada (Granada), 2500 m; 25 June 1992, J. L. Ruiz leg. [white label, printed]; MNCN _ Ent 231454 [white label, printed] (female, extracted genitalia, preserved dry). ― Almería, Puerto de la Ragua, 8 - V- 2017, D. Escoriza leg. [white label, handwritten]; APP 17005 [white label, handwritten]; MNCN _ Ent 251028 [white label, printed] (preserved in ethanol). ― Almería, Puerto de Escúllar, Sierra de los Filabres, 8 May 2010, M. García-París leg. [white label, handwritten]; ASV 16080 [white label, printed]; MNCN _ Ent 251029 [white label, printed] (preserved in ethanol). ― Granada, Borreguilillo, Pradollano, 10 July 2009, M. G. Rollán & J. París leg. [white label, printed]; ASV 16075 [white label, printed]; MNCN _ Ent 251027 [white label, printed] (preserved in ethanol). ― Granada, carretera del Veleta, Km 41, 2800 m, 15 June 2007, M. G. Rollán leg. [white label, handwritten]; ASV 16071 [white label, printed]; MNCN _ Ent 251030 [white label, printed] (preserved in ethanol). ― El Chorrillo, Granada, 8 July 1984, A. Compte leg. [white label, printed] (preserved dry). ― Río Guadalfeo, Granada, July 1974, A. Compte leg. [white label, handwritten]; MNCN _ Ent 233473 [white label, printed] (preserved dry). ― 2 exx labelled: Residencia Universitaria Veleta, Granada, 5 July 1974, A. Compte leg. [white label, printed]; MNCN _ Ent 233475 and MNCN _ Ent 233476, respectively [white labels, printed] (preserved dry). ― Granada, Pradollano, Sierra Nevada, 2000 m, 21 June 1996, J. París leg. [white label, print]; Berberomeloe majalis Linnaeus, 1758 [white label, print]; 355 [white label, handwritten]; MNCN _ Ent 233472 [white label, printed] (preserved dry). ― Granada, Pradollano, Sierra Nevada, 2000 m, 17 June 83, M. García-París leg. [white label, print]; Berberomeloe majalis Linnaeus, 1758 [white label, print]; 357 [white label, handwritten]; MNCN _ Ent 233468 [white label, printed] (preserved dry). ― 10 exx labelled: Sierra Nevada, VII- 1936, Escalera [white label, printed]; Berberomeloe majalis Linnaeus, 1758, M. Gª-París det. 98 [white label, printed]; [white label, handwritten: numbered from 527 to 536]; MNCN _ Ent 233458 – 233466 respectively [white labels, printed] (preserved dry). ― Loma del tlfno [Teléfono], Sierra Nevada, 17 July 1972 [white label, handwritten]; Berberomeloe majalis Linnaeus, 1758, M. Gª-París det. 98 [white label, printed]; 538 [white label, handwritten]; MNCN _ Ent 233469 [white label, printed] (preserved dry). ― Veleta, Sierra Nevada, 27 - VI- 62; Berberomeloe majalis Linnaeus, 1758, M. Gª-París det. 98 [white label, preserved dry]; MNCN _ Ent 233470 [white label, printed] (preserved dry). ― Güejar- Sierra [white label, handwritten]; Berberomeloe majalis Linnaeus, 1758, M. Gª-París det. 98 [white label, printed]; 540 [white label, handwritten]; MNCN _ Ent 233471 [white label, printed] (preserved dry). ― All paratypes labelled: ‘ Paratypus, Berberomeloe tenebrosus Sánchez-Vialas, García-París, Ruiz & Recuero, des. 2019 [red labels for dry-preserved specimens, and white labels for ethanol-preserved specimens, all printed] ’. All specimens are held at the Entomological Collection of the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid. Total paratypes: 26 exx. Etymology: The epithet is derived from the Latin adjective tenebrosum, dark, gloomy, shrouded in darkness, referring to the dark appearance of this species due to the entirely black coloration that characterizes this taxon. Description of the holotype: Length (frons to posterior margin of elytra), 9.4 mm. Total length (including abdomen) of preserved holotype, 33 mm. Maximum width, 6.3 mm. Coloration black all over the body and appendages. Tegument finely microreticulated, semimatt. Head maximum width, 3.5 mm. Surface covered by numerous punctures uniformly distributed. Head punctures small to medium-sized, rounded, shallow and isolated from each other. A longitudinal midline is finely impressed from the upper half of the frons to the vertex. Minimum interorbital distance, 2.1 mm. Clypeus, 1.8 mm wide by 0.6 mm long. Labrum, 1.7 mm wide by 0.6 mm long. Antennomeres widened apically, with short black vestiture, mostly decumbent and with a few sparse setae erect, longer and semi-erect on antennomeres I – II; antennomere I slightly widened apically, subcylindrical (length: 0.4 mm); II short, cylindrical (length: 0.1 mm); III (length: 0.5 mm) subcylindrical, slightly widened apically, rectangular; IV (length: 0.5 mm) similar to III, subrectangular; V (length: 0.5 mm) trapezoidal, wider than VI, with a wide and rounded apical tooth on the inner edge; VI (length: 0.4 mm) trapezoidal, with an apical tooth on the inner edge; VII (length: 0.4 mm) trapezoidal, wider than VI, with an expanded apical tooth on the inner edge; VIII (length: 0.4 mm) trapezoidal, narrower than VII, weakly dentate on its outer edge of apex; IX (length: 0.4 mm) trapezoidal, wider than VIII, markedly dentate on inner edge; X (length: 0.3 mm) trapezoidal, apical tooth slightly acute; XI (length: 0.4 mm) subconical, slender, notched on apex. Pronotum subquadrate with subparallel sides, narrower posteriorly (anterior edge of pronotum: 3.1 mm; basal edge of pronotum: 2.6; pronotum length on sagittal plane: 2.2 mm); anterior margin curved, posterior margin slightly arcuate; fore angles expanded, obtusely pointed; with an impressed longitudinal midline and marked but diffuse lateral depressions. Pronotum surface heterogeneously punctate; punctures of various sizes, sparse, mostly medium and small, circular, well separated from each other, not confluent; medium sized punctures deep, located on the lateral borders and along midline. Dorsal surface of pronotum almost glabrous, with an isolated small seta in each puncture; anterior margin, adjacent to the neck, with numerous moderately long setae. Elytra length, 4.9 mm; tegument glabrous, slightly wrinkled longitudinally with impressed irregular vermicular lines, with scarce, weakly marked, dispersed punctures. Abdomen entirely black, without red stripes on the terga. Last ventrite notched. Metafemur shorter than metatibia (metafemur length: 3.3 mm; metatibia length: 3.4 mm). Metatarsal tarsomeres length, from inner to apical: 1.7, 0.8, 0.7, 0.9 mm. Genitalia with tegmen (see Fig. 25 C – F) brownish; moderately elongated, slender both on dorsal and lateral views. Phallobase longer than wide, length similar to the parameres; wider on dorsal view; maximum width in the middle part. Parameres longer than wide, basally cylindrical; distal third formed by parameral lobes; scarce setae present on mid-dorsal region. Parameral lobes relatively long and narrow, separated by a longitudinal notch that extends to the middle of the dorsal surface of the parameres; apexes rounded. Median lobe long, robust, flattened, with rounded apex in lateral view and two acute ventral hooks, close to each other and separated from apex. Endophallic hook visible. Female: Similar to male, but with the last abdominal ventrite rounded, not emarginated in its posterior margin, and less dentate antennomeres. Studied specimens present the inner surface of the bursa copulatrix without sclerotized spicules or plates (similar to those of B. indalo, as figured in Fig. 8 B). Variability: Body length variable (frons to posterior edge of elytra), 12 – 16 mm; maximum total length a m o n g p r e s e r v e d, s t u d i e d s p e c i m e n s, 4 2 m m. Morphometric variability is shown in Table 2. The density and distribution of the head and pronotum punctures show weak individual variability. Diagnosis: Berberomeloe tenebrosus can be distinguished from all other species of Berberomeloe by the following combination of characters (Fig. 25): (1) entirely black head and abdomen; (2) punctures on the head small to medium-sized, rounded, shallow and mostly isolated from each other; (3) pronotum surface heterogeneously punctate; with medium-sized punctures, deep and located on the sides and along the midline area; disc region smooth or finely impressed; (4) fore angles of pronotum moderately expanded; (5) apex of the median lobe rounded; (6) male antennomere XI slender; and (7) male antennomeres VII and IX markedly expanded on the inner apical side. Distribution and notes on natural history: Berberomeloe tenebrosus is found in Sierra Nevada and Sierra de Los Filabres mountain ranges (provinces of Almería and Granada) (Fig. 2), within an elevation range from 1250 m (0.6 km west of Ferreira) to 3000 m (surroundings of Pico Veleta), mostly at supra- and oro-Mediterranean bioclimatic levels, and locally at meso- and crioro-Mediterranean levels, with subhumid to humid ombrotypes (see: Rivas-Martínez, 1987; Molero-Mesa et al., 1992; Valle, 2003; Valle et al., 2004). In Sierra Nevada, B. tenebrosus generally inhabits montane open fields such as alpine meadows, open high mountain scrubland and stony soils, dominated by formations of Genista versicolor Boiss. ex Steud. (Fig. 26) and, at higher elevation, by formations of Juniperus communis L., mainly on siliceous substrate (González-Megías et al., 2004; Ruiz & García-París, 2013, as ‘ betic group’ of B. majalis). It can be found also at forest edges, composed mostly of Pinus sylvestris, Quercus pyrenaica and Q. rotundifolia (see: Valle, 2003; Ruiz & García-París, 2013). In the foothills of the northern slopes of Sierra Nevada, at 1250 m, it has been found in almond (Prunus dulcis) fields (pers. obs.). In Sierra de los Filabres (Almería), it is also found in open grasslands with Genista versicolor formations, and on P. sylvestris and Q. rotundifolia forest edges It has been found feeding on Genista versicolor flowers, although it is probably polyphagous, like most members of the genus (Bologna, 1991). Adults are found from April to August (Ruiz & García-París, 2013). COMPARATIVE MORPHOLOGY OF SPECIES OF BERBEROMELOE The clade formed by B. insignis and B. tenebrosus differs from all the taxa of the B. majalis species group in the absence of coloured, transverse tergal bars, the morphology of antennomeres, with slenderer male antennomere XI, and, in general, with much stronger apical teeth in male antennomeres. Berberomeloe insignis can be distinguished from B. tenebrosus and the other congeneric species, among other traits, by the presence of symmetrical red blotches on the temples of the head. Berberomeloe tenebrosus and B. insignis differ from B. castuo, B. comunero, B. yebli, B. laevigatus, B. maculifrons, B. majalis and B. payoyo in the clearly expanded fore angles of the pronotum, comparatively more elongated than in the other species, in the pronotum puncturation and in the slenderer distal region of the median lobe of the male genitalia. Within the B. majalis species group, the conspicuously narrow, coloured tergal bars represent, by itself, a diagnostic character to differentiate B. castuo and B. payoyo from all other species, whereas pronotum puncturation differentiate B. castuo, B. comunero and B. yebli, with usually deeply marked punctures, from B. majalis, B. payoyo, B. indalo and B. maculifrons (except Middle Atlas populations), usually presenting subtler marked punctures. The shape of the distal part of male genitalia median lobe is truncated in most of the B. majalis species group except in B. yebli, in which it is rounded. The puncturation of elytra could represent a diagnostic trait to differentiate B. laevigatus from the other congeneric species. Additional morphological traits to identify each species are presented in the following key:	en	Sánchez-Vialas, Alberto, García-París, Mario, Ruiz, José L., Recuero, Ernesto (2020): Patterns of morphological diversification in giant Berberomeloe blister beetles (Coleoptera: Meloidae) reveal an unexpected taxonomic diversity concordant with mtDNA phylogenetic structure. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 189: 1249-1312
