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Type: Article
Published: 2026-07-29
Page range: 257-278
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False blister beetles (Coleoptera: Oedemeridae) of Norfolk Island: taxonomy, biogeography, and conservation

School of the Environment; Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science; The University of Queensland; Brisbane; QLD 4072; Australia
Coleoptera Baculipalpus Copidita Asclerini Oedemerinae Tenebrionoidea new species lax beetle Pacific

Abstract

The beetle family Oedemeridae from Norfolk Island is reviewed. Two species are known from the island group. Baculipalpus mirus (Lea, 1917) comb. nov. is transferred from the genus Copidita LeConte, 1866 and redescribed based on specimens from Norfolk Island. Baculipalpus grandichelus sp. nov. is described from Norfolk Island specimens but is also suspected to occur in New Caledonia based on photographic evidence. It can easily be distinguished from other species in the genus by the greatly enlarged maxillary palps of the male and the highly modified aedeagus. A COI barcode is provided for a paratype specimen of the newly described species. Discussion is given to the systematics, biogeography, ecology, and conservation of these species.

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How to Cite

Tweed, J.M.H. (2026) False blister beetles (Coleoptera: Oedemeridae) of Norfolk Island: taxonomy, biogeography, and conservation. Zootaxa, 5857 (2), 257–278. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5857.2.3