Biodiversity of Bembidion (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in central Alborz hotspot

Bembidion, with more than 1200 described species and a worldwide distribution, is the largest carabid genus and are commonly found along edges of freshwater springs, rivers, and running waters. Species of this genus are fast runners with a uniform appearance and long slender antennae and legs. However, they vary in shape and sculpturation of the prothorax, elytra, color pattern, mouthparts, male genitalia and other characters. All Bembidion species are carnivorous; most feed on living or dead insects and some of them are considered important predators of pest insect eggs. Central Alborz region harbors extraordinary biodiversity at all its levels due to its high variability in elevation, vegetation, soil composition, and habitats. Here, samples were collected from 5 different areas of central Alborz by hand and aspirator. Specimens were transferred to the zoological laboratory of the University of Tehran and identified. Totally, 8 species from 5 subgenera belonging to Bembidion were identified. They are listed as follows, species that marked with symbol * is a new record for central Alborz: Bembidion (Bembidion) quadrimaculatum (Linnaeus, 1761); Bembidion (Bembidionetolitzkya) tibiale (Duftschmid, 1812);Bembidion (Bembidionetolitzkya) relictum Daniel, K. 1902; Bembidion (Princidium) punctulatum Drapiez, 1820; Bembidion (Peryphus) subcostatum (Motschulsky, 1850); Bembidion (Peryphus) femoratum Sturm, 1825;Bembidion (Bembidionetolitzkya) concoeruleum*Netolitzky, 1943; Bembidion (Nepha) caucasicum (Motschulsky, 1844).

کلیدواژه ها:

Carabidae ، Faunistics ، Central Alborz ، Species diversity ، Pest control