New Data on the Occurrence of Scarabaeoid Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) in Montenegro

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The Montenegrin insect fauna is still insufficiently researched compared to neighbouring countries. The authors focus on scarabaeoid beetles. The dominant trophic group among scarabaeoid beetles are dung beetles. Dung beetles accelerate the decomposition of faeces, increase soil aeration and reduce parasite (flies and nematodes) numbers. Due to their role in nature, they are sometimes called meadow and forest scavengers. We collected 2130 scarabaeoid beetles belonging to 107 species and 5 families in 34 localities. Collected beetles constitute 54.2% of scarabaeoid beetles recognised so far from Montenegro. Among the fauna collected in this study, 63 species were dung beetles and 16 species were found in Montenegro for the first time. These included Odonteus armiger, Trox sabulosus, Ochodaeus integriceps, Agrilinus convexus, Melinopterus reyi, M. sphacelatus, Phalacronothus biguttatus, Trichonotulus scrofa, Psammodius nocturnus, Platytomus tibialis, Pleurophorus mediterranicus, P. pannonicus, Rhyssemus berytensis, Onthophagus ovatus, Rhizotrogus aestivus and Chaetopteroplia segetum. The discovery of so many species in a relatively short time of fieldwork indicates the need to continue and intensify our surveys in the future. Recommendations for the conservation of Montenegrin biodiversity are given. ABSTRACT: The Montenegrin fauna of the superfamily Scarabaeoidea is not satisfactorily studied. This is evidenced by the small number of species from this superfamily reported from Montenegro, despite the richness of the country’s habitats, especially high-mountain meadows, pastures, lush canyons, riverside, coastal dunes and old forests. Moreover, significant is the greater number of species of scarabaeoid beetles in neighbouring countries. Therefore, we aim to supplement the current information on the distribution of the taxa of the superfamily Scarabaeoidea in the country. The presented scarabaeoid beetles were caught during three expeditions: the first in May/June 2019, the second in May/June 2021, and the third in July 2021. As a result of this study, we have collected 2130 beetles belonging to 107 species and five families of the superfamily Scarabaeoidea: Geotrupidae, Trogidae, Lucanidae, Ochodaeidae and Scarabaeidae. The 28 days of the faunistic study confirmed the occurrence in Montenegro of 54.2% of the scarabaeoid species hitherto known from this country and added 16 new species that had not been previously recorded: Odonteus armiger (Scopoli, 1772), Trox sabulosus (Linnaeus, 1758), Ochodaeus integriceps Semenov, 1891, Agrilinus convexus (Erichson, 1848), Melinopterus reyi (Reitter, 1892), M. sphacelatus (Panzer, 1798), Phalacronothus biguttatus (Germar, 1824), Trichonotulus scrofa (Fabricius, 1787), Psammodius nocturnus Reitter, 1892, Platytomus tibialis (Fabricius, 1798), Pleurophorus mediterranicus Pittino & Mariani, 1986, P. pannonicus Petrovitz, 1961, Rhyssemus berytensis Marseul, 1878, Onthophagus ovatus (Linnaeus, 1767), Rhizotrogus aestivus (Olivier, 1789) and Chaetopteroplia segetum (Herbst, 1783). Six species and three subspecies that are typical for the Balkan Peninsula were also found: Trypocopris alpinus balcanicola (Mikšić, 1954), Onthophagus panici Petrovitz, 1964, Amphimallon solstitiale simplicissimum (Müller, 1902), Omaloplia illyrica (Baraud, 1965), Triodontella dalmatica (Baraud, 1962), Chaetopteroplia segetum straminea (Brullé, 1832), Anomala matzenaueri Reitter, 1918, Exomala adriatica (Petrovitz, 1968) and Oxythyrea dulcis Reitter, 1899. Thus, the number of currently known scarabaeoid species in Montenegro has increased to 184. Twenty-four species of scarabaeoid beetles are illustrated. Our results indicate insufficient knowledge of the Scarabaeoidea of Montenegro and, at the same time, their diversity and the presence of rare species among them. High-mountain and coastal communities of coprophagic scarabaeoid beetles, as well as communities of scarabaeoid beetles inhabiting coastal dunes, are especially valuable, worthy of protection. Therefore, further research and new expeditions to Montenegro are highly desirable.