Silphidae

Çiftçi, Derya, Růžička, Jan, Hasbenli, Abdullah & Şahin, Ülfet, 2018, The large carrion beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae) of Turkey: a review with a new species record, Zootaxa 4441 (3), pp. 555-591 : 557-558

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4441.3.10

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:25DC9A68-CA02-4187-A2FB-9D80DF22F8A7

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6486156

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03DF87ED-F47F-C054-7CF0-FED5FA454974

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Silphidae
status

 

Key to species and subspecies of Silphidae recorded from Turkey

The characters used in the key were taken from Šustek (1981), Peck (1990), Piloña & Valcárcel (2002), Sikes (2003) and Qubaiová et al. (2015). In Nicrophorus , characters based on setation of pronotum, metaventrite and abdominal segments are sometimes hardly visible on abraded specimens.

1 Antennomere 2 small and hardly visible, which makes the antenna seemingly 10 segmented (as on Fig. 22 View FIGURES 21–24 ). Last four antennomeres abruptly widened into a distinctly swollen club (as on Figs. 1–7 View FIGURES 1–4 View FIGURES 5–8 and 22–24 View FIGURES 21–24 ). Clypeal membrane membranous, sometimes contrastingly coloured (as on Figs. 22–23 View FIGURES 21–24 ). Body rounded to oval on transverse section, elytra truncate. Fifth abdominal tergum with a pair of stridularory files. Nicrophorinae , Nicrophorus ........................................... 15

- Antennomere 2 fully developed, antenna with 11 distinct antennomeres (as on Fig. 21 View FIGURES 21–24 ). Antennal club elongate, antennomeres only gradually widening into club (as on Fig. 21 View FIGURES 21–24 ). Clypeal membrane sclerotized (as on Fig. 21 View FIGURES 21–24 ). Body flattened, elytra usually covering all or most of abdomen. Fifth abdominal tergum without stridulatory files. Silphinae ....................... 2

2 Pronotum pale yellow with large median black spot, elytra pale yellow with 4 black spots ( Fig. 11 View FIGURES 9–12 )................................................................................................... Dendroxena quadrimaculata

- Elytra uniformly brown to black.......................................................................... 3

3 Eyes very large, laterally prominent, head abruptly narrowed behind eyes ( Fig. 12 View FIGURES 9–12 ). Antennae black with last three antennomeres pale orange ( Fig. 12 View FIGURES 9–12 ). Pronotum orbicular, widest toward middle ( Fig. 12 View FIGURES 9–12 ). Moderate to large males with metafemora swollen and toothed toward apex........................................................... Necrodes littoralis

- Eyes smaller, laterally not prominent, head with developed tempora behind eyes (as on Fig. 21 View FIGURES 21–24 ). Antennae fully black (as on Fig. 21 View FIGURES 21–24 ), some antennomeres brown only in teneral specimens (as on Fig. 18 View FIGURES 17–20 ). Pronotum usually widest toward base, not orbicular (as on Fig. 18 View FIGURES 17–20 ). Metafemora of males never swollen or toothed............................................. 4

4 Intermediate coxae separated by a space equal or larger than the width of the femora of the same pair.................. 5

- Intermediate coxae separated by a space smaller than the width of the femora of the same pair........................ 8

5 Pronotum orange ( Fig. 21 View FIGURES 21–24 ). Head with a short row of prominent longer and more erect setae laterally just behind eyes ( Fig. 21 View FIGURES 21–24 ). Third elytral ridge ending on the posterior callus, surface of elytra with velvet pubescence ( Fig. 21 View FIGURES 21–24 ). Oiceoptoma thoracicum

- Pronotum dark brown to black ( Fig. 18–20 View FIGURES 17–20 ). Head without a row of prominent longer and more erect setae laterally behind eyes ( Figs. 18–20 View FIGURES 17–20 ). Third elytral ridge exceeding the posterior callus more posteriorly, surface of elytron matt ( Figs. 18–20 View FIGURES 17–20 ). Thanatophilus ....................................................................................... 6

6 Surface of elytra between elytral ridges with transverse irregular ripples ( Fig. 18 View FIGURES 17–20 )................. Thanatophilus rugosus

- Surface of elytra between elytral ridges simple, without irregular ripples ( Figs. 19–20 View FIGURES 17–20 ).............................. 7

7 Lateral portion of pronotum and elytra red-brown in fully mature specimens ( Fig. 20 View FIGURES 17–20 ). Third elytral ridge shorter, not exceeding the callus ( Fig. 20 View FIGURES 17–20 ). Second elytral ridge straight ( Fig. 20 View FIGURES 17–20 ). Elytral shoulders rounded ( Fig. 20 View FIGURES 17–20 ). Thanatophilus terminatus

- Lateral portion of pronotum and elytra black ( Fig. 19 View FIGURES 17–20 ) (brown only in teneral specimens). Third elytral ridge exceeds the callus posteriorly ( Fig. 19 View FIGURES 17–20 ). Posterior portion of second elytral ridge curved outwards ( Fig. 19 View FIGURES 17–20 ). Elytral shoulders with small tooth ( Fig. 19 View FIGURES 17–20 )........................................................................... Thanatophilus sinuatus

8 Labrum deeply grooved, dorsally elevated ( Fig. 10 View FIGURES 9–12 ). Head distinctly transverse, pronotum about twice as broad as head across eyes ( Fig. 10 View FIGURES 9–12 ). Tempora not narrowed behind the eyes. Elytra with irregular ripples and wrinkles between ridges ( Fig. 10 View FIGURES 9–12 ). Phytophagous species...................................................................... Aclypea undata

- Labrum weakly grooved, flat (as on Figs 8 View FIGURES 5–8 , 13–15 View FIGURES 13–16 ). Head less transverse, pronotum about 2.5 to 3.5 as broad as head across eyes ( Figs. 8–9 View FIGURES 5–8 View FIGURES 9–12 , 13–17 View FIGURES 13–16 View FIGURES 17–20 ). Elytra smooth.................................................................... 9

9 Head not prolongated, about as long as wide across eyes, tempora behind eyes short ( Fig. 14–17 View FIGURES 13–16 View FIGURES 17–20 ). Unmodified polyphagous species. Silpha ....................................................................................... 12

- Head distinctly prolongated, longer than wide across eyes, tempora behind eyes elongated. Head adapted to predation of snails in shells ( Figs. 8–9 View FIGURES 5–8 View FIGURES 9–12 , 13 View FIGURES 13–16 )............................................................................... 10

10 Elytra with distinctly developed, elevated ridges ( Fig. 13 View FIGURES 13–16 ). First antennomere as long as combined length of antennomeres 2–4.................................................................................. Phosphuga atrata atrata

- Elytra without elevated ridges ( Figs 8–9 View FIGURES 5–8 View FIGURES 9–12 ). First antennomere slightly longer than combined length of antennomeres 2–3. Ablattaria . .............................................................................................. 11

11 Pronotum with evenly distributed, homogenous, distinct punctures on whole dorsal surface ( Fig. 9 View FIGURES 9–12 ). Elytra with medium-sized, distinct punctures of similar size ( Fig. 9 View FIGURES 9–12 )................................................... Ablattaria laevigata

- Pronotum with only very superficial, very fine punctures medially on disc (which looks impunctate under lower magnification), much larger punctures on whole dorsal surface ( Fig. 8 View FIGURES 5–8 ). Elytra with fine punctures, intermixed with larger ones, dispersed mostly toward the inner elytral margin ( Fig. 8 View FIGURES 5–8 ).......................................... Ablattaria arenaria

12 Elytral punctures without anterior shining granule. Rows of punctures along elytral ribs distinctly smaller than on interstriae ( Fig. 14–15 View FIGURES 13–16 )........................................................................................ 13

- Elytral punctures with anterior shining granule present. Rows of punctures along elytral ribs equal in size with ones on interstriae, sometimes with intermixed large punctures ( Figs 16 View FIGURES 13–16 , 17 View FIGURES 17–20 )................................................ 14

13 Elytra dull with small, oval punctures, surface between elytral punctures smooth ( Fig. 14 View FIGURES 13–16 ).......... Silpha obscura obscura

- Elytra shiny with larger, mostly subquadrate punctures, surface between elytral punctures with granulation ( Fig. 15 View FIGURES 13–16 )......................................................................................... Silpha obscura orientalis

14 Pronotal punctuation dense and deep, the distance between adjacent punctures smaller than the diameter of a puncture ( Fig. 17 View FIGURES 17–20 ). Elytral punctuation arranged in regular pattern, diameter of punctures uniform ( Fig. 17 View FIGURES 17–20 ). Surface between adjacent punc- tures smooth and flat. Elytral ridges distinctly marked ( Fig. 17 View FIGURES 17–20 )....................................... Silpha tristis - Pronotal punctuation very fine and superficial, the distance between adjacent punctures larger than the diameter of a puncture ( Fig. 16 View FIGURES 13–16 ). Elytral punctuation arranged in irregular pattern; punctures fine and superficial, with irregularly intermixed larger punctures close to ridges ( Fig. 16 View FIGURES 13–16 ). Surface between adjacent punctures irregular and convex. Elytral ridges more superficial, less elevated ( Fig. 16 View FIGURES 13–16 )....................................................................... Silpha olivieri

15 Elytra uniformly black or black with reddish-orange isolated spots ( Figs. 2–3 View FIGURES 1–4 )................................... 16

- Elytra with two orange or yellowish bands interrupting black coloration, sometimes fused, then most of elytra with orange pattern ( Figs. 1, 4–7 View FIGURES 1–4 View FIGURES 5–8 , 22–24 View FIGURES 21–24 ).............................................................................. 17

16 Antennal club with basal antennomere black, apical three antennomeres orange ( Fig. 3 View FIGURES 1–4 ). Elytral epipleura black. Elytral disc black, only rarely with orange spots ( Fig. 3 View FIGURES 1–4 ). Metatibia straight on outer margin, simply expanding posteriad ( Fig. 3 View FIGURES 1–4 )............................................................................................ Nicrophorus humator

- Antennal club black ( Fig. 2 View FIGURES 1–4 ). Elytral epipleura orange. Elytral disc black, in Turkey quite frequently with isolated, orange-reddish spots ( Fig. 2 View FIGURES 1–4 ). Metatibia swollen at middle of outer margin ( Fig. 2 View FIGURES 1–4 )...................... Nicrophorus germanicus

17 At least anterior margin of pronotum with dense, long golden setation ( Figs. 1 View FIGURES 1–4 , 6–7 View FIGURES 5–8 , 23 View FIGURES 21–24 )............................. 18

- Pronotum glabrous or with only a few short hairs near the anterior angles ( Figs. 4–5 View FIGURES 1–4 View FIGURES 5–8 , 22, 24 View FIGURES 21–24 )......................... 21

18 Metatibiae curved ( Figs. 6 View FIGURES 5–8 , 23 View FIGURES 21–24 ). Pronotum with dense, long golden setation only along anterior margin ( Fig. 6 View FIGURES 5–8 , 23 View FIGURES 21–24 )....... 19

- Metatibiae straight ( Figs. 1 View FIGURES 1–4 , 7 View FIGURES 5–8 ). Pronotum with long golden hair on both anterior and posterior margin................. 20

19 Antennal club black ( Fig. 6 View FIGURES 5–8 ). Metatibiae with accessory spine short, not surpassing apex.......... Nicrophorus nigricornis

- Antennal club with basal antennomere black, apical three antennomeres orange ( Fig. 23 View FIGURES 21–24 ). Metatibiae with accessory spine long, surpassing apex................................................................... Nicrophorus vespillo

20 Antennal club entirely orange ( Fig. 1 View FIGURES 1–4 ).................................................. Nicrophorus antennatus

- Antennal club with basal antennomere black, apical three antennomeres orange ( Fig. 7 View FIGURES 5–8 )............ Nicrophorus vestigator

21 Antennal club entirely black ( Fig. 24 View FIGURES 21–24 ). Clypeal membrane black ( Fig. 24 View FIGURES 21–24 )..................... Nicrophorus vespilloides

- Antennal club with basal antennomere black, apical three antennomeres orange ( Figs. 4–5 View FIGURES 1–4 View FIGURES 5–8 , 22 View FIGURES 21–24 ). Clypeal membrane orange (as on Fig. 22 View FIGURES 21–24 ).......................................................................................... 22

22 Metaventrite with extremely short, yellow setae behind metacoxae. All abdominal segments with black setae on posterior margins ( Fig. 22 View FIGURES 21–24 )......................................................................... Nicrophorus sepultor

- Metaventrite with long, yellow setae behind metacoxae. At least the apical abdominal segment posteriorly with yellow setae ( Figs. 4–5 View FIGURES 1–4 View FIGURES 5–8 )......................................................................................... 23

23 Metaepimera with posterior lobe glabrous or with a very few short setae. Abdomen with posterior margins of segments with yellow setae only on last visible segment, other segments with black setae ( Fig. 5 View FIGURES 5–8 )............... Nicrophorus investigator

- Metaepimera with posterior lobe with many long setae. Abdomen with posterior margins of segments with yellow setae at least on several apical segments, usually on all visible segments ( Fig. 4 View FIGURES 1–4 )........................... Nicrophorus interruptus

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Coleoptera

Family

Silphidae

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