Species diversity of Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera) in mountaintops of extra-Andean volcanoes of Payunia (Argentina), with descriptions of two new species

CARRARA RODOLFO; CHELI GERMÁN HORACIO; SILVESTRO, VIOLETA A.; ROIG-JUÑENT, SERGIO; FLORES GUSTAVO ERNESTO

ANAIS DA ACADEMIA BRASILEIRA DE CIENCIAS.

ACAD BRASILEIRA DE CIENCIAS

Lugar: Rio de Janeiro; Año: 2020

0001-3765

The north ofNeuquén province shares with the south of Mendoza province thesubprovince Payunia of the biogeographical province of Patagonicsteppe, which is characterized by the presence of approximately 800volcanoes. Although we have conducted several samplings in volcanoesof Mendoza in past years to recognize the biodiversity oftenebrionids, it is still pending which is the role that thesemountains have in the biota of tenebrionids in Neuquén. In this workwe reported the results of two consecutive years of prospection intwo volcanoes separated by 120 km between each other, Tromen and AucaMahuida which have 3978 and 2215 meters above sea level respectively.We found that Auca Mahuida harbours a total diversity of 10tenebrionid species and Tromen 9, but these communities weresignificantly different between them. From these prospections two newendemic species of Tenebrionidae are described:ScotobiusaucamahuidensisSilvestrosp.nov.(Tenebrioninae: Scotobiini) from Auca Mahuida and PsectrascelistromensisFloressp. nov. (Pimeliinae: Nycteliini)from Tromen. Photographs for these two new species are included, withcomparisons to other known species of these genera. Based on theseresults we discuss the role of different factors that influencetenebrionid diversity and their implications to conservebiodiversity.