Taxonomic Study On Meloidae (Coleoptera: Polyphaga: Tenebrionoidea From China)

The family Meloidae is a moderately diverse family of Tenebrionoidea, Polyphaga in Coleoptera, with Meloe Linnaeus, 1758 as its type genus, including more than 2500 species around the world and 168 species in China. It has been divided into four subfamilies, viz. Eleticinae, Meloinae, Tetraonycinae, Nemognathinae by modern author.In this thesis, the life habits and economic value are introduced, the taxonomic status of Meloidae is summerised worldwidely and domestically, and the morphology is described in details as well. Based on examination of all specimens of the family Meloidae deposited in the Entomological Museum of Northwest A & F University and Yangtze University, 44 sepcies in 10 genera of 2 subfamilies are recorded and described. The checklist of Meloidae from China is provided for the first time. Keys to the subfamilies, genera and species are provided based on male adult. Moreover, the host plants and distributions of world and China are given. The photos of all the species are provided, as well as male and female genitalia of the new species. In the end, indexes to both Chinese and scientific names are attached.Three species, Mylabris asticta sp. nov., Mylabris irregulara sp. nov., Mylabris pervirida sp. nov. are described as new to science. Mylabris asticta is similar to Mylabris calida but its frons without spots in the middle; Mylabris irregulara is similar to Mylabris speciosa but its pronotum without median longitudinal carina; Mylabris pervirida is similar to Mylabris frolovi but smaller obviously and frons with only one red spot in the middle.The specimens examined are deposited in the Entomological Museum of Northwest A & F University, Yangling and Yangtze University.