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The first record of Ripiphoridae (Coleoptera, Cucujiformia, Tenebrionoidea) family in Georgia
expand article infoTukazban Iskandarova, Shota Japarashvili, Natalia Bulbulashvili§, Armen Seropian
‡ Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
§ Unaffiliated, Gori, Georgia
Open Access

Abstract

The Ripiphoridae family is reported from Georgia for the first time, based on the collected specimens of Macrosiagon bimaculata (Fabricius, 1787), Ptilophorus dufouri (Latreille, 1817), and Ripiphorus subdipterus (Bosc d'Antic, 1792). Collection data, along with photographs of the preserved specimens, are provided.

Key words

Caucasus, new records, Polyphaga, wedge-shaped beetles

Introduction

The wedge-shaped beetles (Ripiphoridae) have long attracted the attention of entomologists due to the uniqueness of their ecology, which sets them apart from all the Coleoptera, as they are the only among them known for endoparasites that develop, at least partially, in the bodies of other animals. Members of the family differ in their host preferences. The larvae of Ripiphorinae species typically target various species of aculeate Hymenoptera, while some species of Ripidiinae attack cockroach nymphs, and Pelecotominae species target beetles' larvae. The developmental cycle is inadequately studied, known for only a few species, and is characterized by hypermetamorphic larvae, a characteristic shared with blister beetles (Meloidae) (Heitmans et al. 1994).

This small family includes 38 genera comprised in six subfamilies with about 400 species distributed worldwide (Lawrence et al. 2010), of which 14 species (Blattivorus margaritae Rikhter, 1949; Clinops spectabilis Schaufuss, 1872; Macrosiagon bimaculata (Fabricius, 1787); M. ferruginea (Fabricius, 1781); M. medvedevi (Iablokoff-Khnzorian 1973); M. praeusta (Gebler, 1829); Metoecus paradoxus (Linnaeus, 1761); Pterydrias debilis Reitter, 1895; Ptilophorus dufouri Latreille, 1817; P. plumicornis (Reitter, 1898); Ripiphorus subdipterus Bosc d'Antic, 1792; R. syriacus (Pic, 1904); R. turcicus (Pic, 1914); Ripidius quadriceps Abeille de Perrin, 1872) are recorded from the countries neighbouring Georgia (Iablokoff-Khnzorian 1975, 1976; Batelka 2008; Barkley 2020). Herein, we present the first record of the family Ripiphoridae in Georgia, along with collection data and photographs of three species, namely Macrosiagon bimaculata, Ptilophorus dufouri, and Ripiphorus subdipterus.

Materials and methods

The material for the present study was collected in 2021-2023, during individual forays to Gori and the vicinity of Tbilisi, organized within the Caucasus Barcode of Life (CaBOL - https://ggbc.eu/). The specimens were collected by hand, during the day from the stems of the weathered plants, then preserved in 96% ethanol and deposited in the collection of ISU for further genetic studies. For identification, the keys by Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1975, 1976) and Batelka (2007) were used. Photos of the preserved specimens (Figs 1–3) were taken using a Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera with a Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro Photo Lens attached and a Canon Macro Twin Lite MT-26EX-RT, with the whole system mounted on a Novoflex Castel-L Focusing Rack. Digital images were prepared using Zerene Stacker image stacking software and Adobe Photoshop CS6 (version 13.0).

Figures 1–3. 

1: Macrosiagon bimaculata, female, dorsal view. 2: Ripiphorus subdipterus, male, dorsal view. 3: Ptilophorus dufouri, male, dorsal view.

Results

Taxonomic part

Family Ripiphoridae Gemminger & Harold, 1870

Subfamily Ripiphorinae, Gemminger 1870

Genus Macrosiagon Hentz, 1830

Macrosiagon bimaculata (Fabricius, 1787)

Material examined

GEORGIA – Shida Karlti region • 3♀♀; Gori; 41.9811°N, 44.0921°E; 586 m a.s.l.; steppe, Eryngium sp.; leg. Bulbulashvili N.; 6 Aug 2022; CaBOL-IDs: 1027991, 1027992, 1027993 (Fig. 1).

Remarks

The sampling data of Georgian specimens corresponds to that of Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1976), according to whom this species could be found in July-August on flowering Eryngium sp. The species of the Macrosiagon genus are known to be parasitoids of a broad variety of wasps and bees. As in other genera of the subfamily Ripiphorinae, the eggs are laid on different parts of plants where the newly hatched first instar larvae (triungulin) actively attach to the body of the host wasp or bee and are transported into the host nest. A recent study suggested associations with different genera or subfamilies of bees or wasps in species or species complexes of Macrosiagon (Batelka and Hoehn 2007); however, the biology of most of them (including M. bimaculata) remains poorly known.

Distribution

A Western Palaearctic species known from North Africa, the Iberian Peninsula, France, Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria, Poland, Montenegro, Israel, Russia, the Caucasus (but not from Georgia), Kazakhstan, Iran (as “Persia”), and Turkestan. From the neighboring territories, M. bimaculata is recorded in Armenia, Turkey, and Ukraine (Crimea) (Iablokoff-Khnzorian 1976; Batelka et al. 2016).

Ripiphorus Bosc, 1791

Ripiphorus subdipterus Bosc d'Antic, 1792

Material examined

GEORGIA – Tbilisi • 1♂; Dighomi Vill.; 41.7799°N, 44.7092°E; 657 m a.s.l.; Paliurus spina-christi dominated shrubland, dried Achillea sp.; leg. Bulbulashvili N., Seropian A.; 24 Jul. 2021; CaBOL-ID: 1011779 (Fig. 2).

Remarks

According to Chobaut (1906), the host of R. subdipterus first-instar larva is Halictus (Halictus) sexcinctus (Fabricius, 1775) – a solitary bee species known to occur in Georgia (Tarkhnishvili et al. 2013).

Distribution

A Western Palaearctic species, known from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, France, Italy, the Iberian Peninsula, Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Crete, Cyprus, Montenegro, North Africa, and Israel. From the neighboring territories, R. subdipterus is recorded in Armenia and Azerbaijan (Iablokoff-Khnzorian 1976; Batelka et al. 2016).

Subfamily Pelecotominae Seidlitz, 1875

Genus Ptilophorus Dejean, 1834

Ptilophorus dufouri Latreille, 1817

Material examined

GEORGIA – Tbilisi • 2♀♀; Dighomi Vill.; 41.7781°N, 44.7003°E; 476 m a.s.l.; Paliurus spina-christi dominated shrubland, twigs; leg. Bulbulashvili N., Seropian A.; 27 Apr 2023; CaBOL-IDs: 1035452 (Fig. 3), 1035453.

Remarks

Unlike most wedge-shaped beetles, the adults of Ptilophorus have mouthparts adapted to feeding on liquid food, although the feeding behavior has never been observed (Iablokoff-Khnzorian 1975). The host is unknown, as were the larvae for a long time, whose weakly sclerotized, very small bodies and simplified mouthparts strongly suggest a parasitic way of life and consumption of liquid food (Batelka et al. 2022).

Distribution

A Western Palaearctic species, known from North Africa, the Iberian Peninsula, France, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Israel, Iran, and the Caucasus (but Georgia). From the neighboring territories, P. dufouri is recorded in Armenia, Turkey, and Ukraine (Crimea) (Iablokoff-Khnzorian 1975; Batelka 2008; Barkley 2020).

Discussion

According to Batelka (2008) and Bakrley (2020), there are approximately 60 species of Ripiphoridae documented in the Palaearctic region, of which 14 species, including the herein-reported first finds for Georgia, are recorded from the territories of adjacent countries (see Introduction). Although Iablokoff-Khnzorian laid a foundation with his research of Ripiphoridae of the USSR, the absence of prior finds of the wedge-shaped beetles in Georgia doesn’t necessarily imply insufficient studies in the country and most likely is associated with the biological aspects of these insects, with most species known to have a very short lifespan, making them available for collection and observation only during a relatively short period (Iablokoff-Khnzorian 1975, 1976; Batelka 2007). Summarizing the above, the number of Riphiporidae species within the fauna of Georgia remains undefined, as it is yet to be thoroughly studied and is highly expected to yield additional discoveries of new species.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the anonymous reviewers and the Caucasiana editorial team for their help in shaping the manuscript. The authors are solely responsible for the content of this publication.

Additional information

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Ethical statement

No ethical statement was reported.

Funding

The study was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research under grant number 01DK20014A.

Author contributions

TI and SJ led the writing, AS and NB performed specimen collecting, AS prepared photos.

Author ORCIDs

Tukazban Iskandarova https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6144-3511

Shota Japarashvili https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9674-3719

Armen Seropian https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3777-9954

Data availability

All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text or Supplementary Information.

References

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