Contribution to the knowledge of Saprinus Erichson, 1834 of forensic relevance from Lebanon (Coleoptera, Histeridae)

• Published in: ZooKeys 2018-02, Vol.738 (738), p.117-152
• Main Authors: Shayya, Salman, Dégallier, Nicolas, Nel, André, Azar, Dany, Lackner, Tomáš
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Beetles; Carrion; Coleoptera; Forensic science; Genitalia; Histeridae; Identification and classification; Saprinus; Species; Zoology
• ISSN: 1313-2989; 1313-2970
• DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.738.21382

Many histerid beetles are necrophilous on carrion during both active and advanced stages of decomposition. In this study, 13 species of were recorded on carrion from Lebanon, containing eight that are new for the Lebanese fauna. The following species are newly recorded from Lebanon: 1) Saprinus (S.) caerulescens caerulescens (Hoffmann, 1803); 2) S. (S.) calatravensis Fuente, 1899; 3) S. (S.) chalcites (Illiger, 1807); 4) S. (S.) godet (Brullé, 1832); 5) S. (S.) maculatus (P. Rossi, 1792); 6) S. (S.) strigil Marseul, 1855; 7) S. (S.) submarginatus J. Sahlberg, 1913; and 8) S. (S.) tenuistrius sparsutus Solsky, 1876. The peak activity was recorded, key for the species is provided, and habitus images and male genitalia are illustrated in order to facilitate their taxonomic identifications. species are diverse and common on animal carcass; they were likewise collected from a human cadaver in Lebanon. Preliminary comments on biology and distribution of the studied species are given. Our paper represents the first faunistic study on Histeridae from Lebanon. A rigorous research program regarding the biology of in Lebanon and the neighbouring countries would greatly improve the knowledge of the diversity, activity, and possible forensic value of .