S. Mahunka szerk.: Folia Entomologica Hungarica 43/1. (Budapest, 1982)

FOLIA ENTOMOLOGICA HUNGARICA ROVARTANI KÖZLEMÉNYEK XLIII. 1. 1982 p. 111-123 The false darkling beetle genus Lederia Rtt. (Coleoptera, Melandryidae) By N. B. NIKITSKY and V. V. BELOV (Received December *1, 1981) Abstract : The melandryid genus Lederta Rtt. is revised, with a diagnosis of the genus split into 5 subgenera, 4 of which are new: Fuscatelia subgen.n., only with the type species, L. oviformis (Fairm. et Germ.) from Chile; Lederina subgen.n., besides the type species L. kaszabi sp.n. including L. topali sp.n., L. minima sp.n. (all from Vietnam), L. indica sp.n. from India, L. similis sp.n. from Nepal, L. japonica Rtt.

, L. foenilJB (Lewis) and L. lata (Lewis) (all from Japan); Macrolederia subgen.n. only with the type species L. oblonga sp.n. from Chile; Paralederia subgen.n., along with the type species L. anatolica J. Friv. from Turkey and Lenkoran, USSR, containing L. seid- litzj Rtt. from Turkey; and Lederia s.str. with the type species L. suramensis Rtt. from the Caucasus, USSR, and L. arctic a (Horn) from North America. A key is provided to all the 14 species of the genus (except ? L. californica Barrett). The genus Lederia Rtt. belongs to the tribe Orchesiini. Eight species have hitherto been placed in the genus. Besides, Microscapha californica Barrett, 1928, known to us only from its original description, seems in fact to be a Lederia, although this should be justified by a restudy of the types. In addition, two species originally described under Lederia, i.e. L. asturiensis Rtt. and L. ehlersi Heyden, both from southern Spain, have been transferred to the genus Eucineto- morphus Perris. Species of Lederia are mainly met with in the southern parts of the temperate zone, in subtropical and sometimes tropical areas. Only L. arctica LeC. ranges as far northward as Alaska. The life history of these beetles is very poorly known, the larvae being absolutely unknown. The present paper deals with a detailed morphological and taxonomic study of Lederia resulting In distinguishing 4 new subgenera: FuBcatelia

, Lederina

, Macrolederia, and Paralederia. A key is elaborated for all the known species except L. californica (Barrett), comb.n., six species being described as new: L. kaszabi

, L. topali

, L. minima

, all from Vietnam, L. indica from India, L. similis from Nepal and L. oblonga from Chile. Material: We have been able to study types of nearly all hitherto known species of Lede- riaj with the exception of those of L. arctica (Horn) and may be L. oviformis (Fairmaire et Germain), L. anatolica J. Frivaldszky, 1880 (5 specimens, including 3 types), L. arctica (Horn, 1893) (1 female), L

. foenilis (Lewis, 1895) (2 males, including. 1 type), L. indica sp.n. (male holotype), L. japonica Reitter, 1891 (male holotype), L. kaszabi sp.n. (3 males, including holotype, and 1 female), L. lata (Lewis 1895) (1 female syntype), L. minima sp.n. (male holotype), L. oblonga sp.n. (3 males, Including holotype), L. oviformis (Fairmaire et Germain, 1863) (1 specimen identified by the authors of the species, may be the type), L. seidlitzi Reitter, 1916 (male holotype), L. similis sp.n. (2 males, including holotype, and 2 females), L. suramensis Reitter, 1879 (20 specimens, including 3 types), L

. topali sp.n. (2 males, including holotype). Nearly all the new species are based on material deposited at the Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest. The authors express their since appreciation to Dr. Z. KASZAB (Természettudo-