Tenebrionidae

Amari, R., Gammoudi, M., Tlili, H., Ali, M. Ben, Hedfi, A., Albogami, B., Almalki, M., Allagui, M. S. & Achouri, M. S., 2022, Notes on the biological development of the darkling beetle Blaps nefrauensis nefrauensis Seidlitz, 1893 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), Brazilian Journal of Biology (e 246316) 82, pp. 1-10 : 1-2

Tenebrionidae is a highly diverse family of Coleoptera is divided into ten subfamilies, 96 tribes, 61 subtribes,

2300 genera,and about 20000 species distributed worldwide (Löbl et al., 2008; Matthews et al., 2010; Ślipiński et al., 2011). The subfamily Tenebrioninae Latreille, 1802 consists of 29 tribes in which the tribe Blaptini Leach, 1815 includes five subtribes ( Blaptina Leach, 1815, Gnaptorina Medvedev, 2001, Gnaptorinina Medvedev, 2001, Prosodina Skopin, 1960, Remipedellina Semenov, 1907). The largest in the subtribe Blaptina is the genus Blaps Fabricus, 1775 (type genus) which encompasses more than 250 species. It is an emblematic group of large flightless beetles adapted to arid and semi-arid terrestrial ecosystems. With about 230 species, the subgenus Blaps is the most diverse of the four extant subgenera ( Arenoblaps Medvedev , Blaps Fabricus , Dineria Motscnhulsky and Prosoblapsia Skopin and Kaszab ) (Löbl et al., 2008). Within the subgenus Blaps about 140 species are Eurasian, whereas about 90 species mostly occur in the Mediterranean pool (Soldati et al., 2017). In Tunisia (North Africa), 17 taxa (species and subspecies belonging to the subgenus Blaps ) at least were listed ( B.appendiculata Motschulsky, 1851 , B. approximans Seidlitz, 1893 ; B. binominata Escalera, 1914 , B. divergens Fairmaire, 1875 , B. emondi Solier,1848 , B. bifurcata strauchii Reiche, 1861b: 88 , B.gigas Linnaeus,1767 , B.nefrauensis nefrauensis Seidlitz, 1893 , B.nitens nitens Laporte,1840 , B.nitens praedeserta Koch, 1944 , B. nitens requieni Solier, 1848 , B.nitiduloides L.Soldati, 2017 , B. plana Solier, 1848 , B. propheta propheta Reiche, 1861 , B.pubescens Allard, 1880 , B.superstitiosa superstitiosa Erichson, 1841 ) (Bouchard et al., 2005; Löbl et al., 2008; Condamine et al., 2011, 2013; Soldati et al., 2017).

Among the coleopteran species reported in Tunisia, Blaps nefrauensis nefrauensis Seidlitz, 1893 , occurred in Gafsa (Soldati et al., 2017). This desert darkling beetle was widespread in summer in Moulares (Gafsa), invading local gardens and ruins, where it mates, feeds and lays its eggs. This makes it useful as a model organism to study the life cycle of the Blaps species. Knowing that the life histories of the tenebrionid species of North Africa have received little attention to date. (Halstead, 1967; Menon and Putnam, 1988; De Los Santos et al., 1988, 2006; Zanuncio et al., 2001). Therefore,the studies conducted in this zoogeography focused mainly on the biogeography and taxonomy of beetles.On the other hand, first instar larvae in Blaps species were small and white transparent, so that more details could be seen and investigated under the light microscope.

The present work was a contribution to know more about the life cycle of B. nefrauensis and to provide notes on the first instar larvae, especially on the innervations of the ligular and antennal setae. This may be evaluated for use with other species of the Blaps genus or Blabtini tribe.