Tag Archives: Tenebrionidae

Amarygmus funebris Arrow

Dark Darkling Beetle (Amarygmus funebris)

The Dark Darkling Beetle was described in 1900 based on nine specimens that had been collected on Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.

The species reached a length of about 0,9 cm; “the colour is black, tinged with a deep purplish or greenish hue, especially upon the head, thorax, and anterior part of the elytra. Some specimens present a slightly sericeous bloom upon the upper surface. Underneath it is a shining black, with the abdominal segment striated longitudinally.” [1]

The Dark Darkling Beetle was not found since the 1930s and is considered very likely extinct. [2]

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References:

[1] Charles William Andrews: A monograph of Christmas Island (Indian Ocean). London: printed by order of the Trustees 1900
[2] John Woinarski: A Bat’s End: The Christmas Island Pipistrelle and Extinction in Australia. CSIRO Publishing, Victoria, Australia 2018

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edited: 27.04.2022

Tarphiophasis wollastoni Ardoin

Wollaston’s Darkling Beetle (Tarphiophasis wollastoni)

Wollaston’s Darkling Beetle was described in 1972, it is, or maybe was, endemic to the island of Saint Helena.

The species was apparently not found during recent field searches and might be extinct, I could, however, not find any further information about this species so far.

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edited: 29.05.2021

Helenomelas basilewskyi Ardoin

Basilewsky’s Darkling Beetle (Helenomelas basilewskyi)

This species is/was endmic to the island of Saint Helena in the southern Atlantic Ocean, where it was apparently restricted to the Prosperous Bay Plain at the eastern coast of the island.

The quite large species reaches a length of about 1,5 cm and is shiny black colored, it superficially resembles scarabeid beetles (Scarabeidae).

Basilewsky’s Darkling Beetle was not found during recent searches in 2003 and is feared to be extinct. [1]

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References:

[1] Philip Ashmole; Myrtle Ashmole: Guide to Invertebrates of Prosperous Bay Plain, St Helena and illustrated account of species found on the Eastern Arid Area (EAA), including Prosperous Bay Plain, Holdfast Tom and Horse Point Plain. Report for St Helena Government 2004

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edited: 02.12.2018

Archaeoglenes sp. ‘Kaua’i’

Kauai Darkling Beetle (Archaeoglenes sp.)

This is another of the many beetle forms that are known only by subfossil remains, in this case found on the island of Kaua’i, Hawaiian Islands.

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The genus Archaeoglenes has a very odd distribution, some species occur in the Caribbean, some on the Mascarene Islands, others again on the islands of the western Pacific.

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edited: 31.10.2020

Nesotes azoricus (Crotch)

Azores Darkling Beetle (Nesotes azoricus 

The Azores Darkling Beetle was described in 1867.  

The species was endemic to the island of São Miguel in the Azores, Portugal,  where it was last recorded in 1930 in a single patch of exotic forest in the valley of Furnas in the southern corner of the island.  

The Azores Darkling Beetle is now most likely extinct.  

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References:  

[1] Sofia Terzopulou; François Rigal; Robert J. Whittaker; Paulo A. V. Borges; Kostas A. Triantis: Drivers of Extinction: the case of Azorean beetles. Biological Letters 11(6): 1-32. 2015 
[2] Paulo Alexandre Vieira Borges; Lucas Lamelas-López; Isabel R. Amorim; Anja Danielczak; Rui Nunes; Artur R.M. Serrano; Mário Boieiro; Carla Rego; Axel Hochkirch; Virgílio Vieira: Conservation status of the forest beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera) from the Azores, Portugal. Biodiversity Data Journal 5: e14557. 2017  

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edited: 15.09.2019

Tarphiophasis tuberculatus Wollaston

Tuberculated Tarphiophasis Beetle (Tarphiophasis tuberculatus)

The Tuberculated Tarphiophasis Beetle was described in 1877; it is, or rather was, endemic to the island of Saint Helena.

The species appears to have already been quite rare when it was discovered.:

The only two examples of this coarsely tuberculated, Tarphius-like insect which I have seen were captured by myself beneath pieces of rotten wood in the Aster-grove beyond West Lodge and overlooking Lufkins, and there can be no doubt that the species is amongst the rarest of the St.-Helena Coleoptera.” [1]

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The Tuberculated Tarphiophasis Beetle was not found during the most recent field searches and might very well be extinct.

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References:

[1] T. Vernon Wollaston: Coleoptera Sanctae-Helenae. London: John Van Voorst, Paternoster Row 1877

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edited: 26.05.2021