MORDELLOCHROA MILLERI (EMERY, 1876) — A NEW SPECIES OF TUMBLING FLOWER BEETLE (COLEOPTERA: MORDELLIDAE) FOR THE FAUNA OF BELARUS

Abstract

Mordellochroa milleri (Emery, 1876) is a rare saproxylic species associated with old-growth forests. This is the first record of the species in Belarus. M. milleri was found in the protected area of the National park “Belovezhskaya pushcha” with the use of a window trap set in the sedge alder forest in 2005. This find expanded the list of tumbling flower beetles in Belarus to 46 species. The list of Mordellochroa beetles in the National park currently includes 14 species belonging to the genera Mordella, Tomoxia, Mordellaria, Variimorda, Curtimorda, Natirrica, Mordellistena and Mordellochroa. Thus, the genus Mordellochroa currently includes two representatives in Belarus: Mordellochroa abdominalis (Fabricius, 1775) and M. milleri. While the former is widespread in Belarus, the latter is apparently found only in the National park “Belovezhskaya pushcha”, further highlighting the uniqueness of this specially protected natural area. Given that M. milleri has not been recorded in the National park for the past 20 years, it can be assumed that its population is small. Based on the current data on the distribution of M. milleri, its habitat type has been determined to be Eurocaucasian subboreal-subtropical. This article provides an analysis of literary sources, which demonstrates that data on the ecology of M. milleri are sparse. Therefore, further targeted research is required. Nevertheless, it seems reasonable to consider it as a promising bioindicator of undisturbed forest ecosystems within its range.