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Issue: Vol. 5507 No. 3: 13 Sept. 2024
Type: Article
Published: 2024-09-13
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5507.3.7
Page range: 489-497
Abstract views: 205
PDF downloaded: 19

Unexpected discovery of a new Lycocerus (Coleoptera, Cantharidae) from Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands, southwest Japan

The University of Tokyo; Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences; Laboratory of Forest Zoology; Yayoi 1–1–1; Bunkyô-ku; Tokyo 113–8657; Japan
Coleoptera Cantharinae Cantharini East Asia taxonomy Ryukyus World Natural Heritage Site

Abstract

The soldier beetle fauna of East Asia is very diverse, and despite the long-term tradition of taxonomic research, it remains incompletely known. A new soldier beetle species Lycocerus todai Nakamura sp. nov. is described from Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands, southwest Japan). The discovery of L. todai sp. nov. not only marks an unexpected addition to the well-studied Japanese Lycocerus, but also unveils significant biodiversity in the Ryukyu Islands. Two similar species from the same island, L. okinawanus (Ishida, 1985) and L. yonaensis (Satô et Okushima, 1992), are also examined and a the distribution map of all three species is provided.

 

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