Revision of the pollen beetle genus Meligethes (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)

A taxonomic revision of members of the genus Meligethes Stephens, 1830 is carried out. Taxonomic and distributional notes are provided on fiftythree Meligethes species, mostly known from the Eastern Palearctic and marginally from the Western Palearctic and the Orien-tal Regions. Among these, twentythree new species of Meligethes are diagnosed, figured and described: M. argentithoraxsp. n. (Central China: Shaanxi, Shanxi), M. aurantirugosussp. n. (Nepal), M. aureolineatussp. n. (Central China: Sichuan), M. aurifersp. n. (Central China: Shaanxi, Shanxi), M.brassicogethoidessp. n. (SW China: Yunnan), M. clinei sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan), M. elytralis sp. n. (Cen-tral China: Sichuan), M. ferruginoidessp. n. (Central China: Sichuan), M. cinereoargenteus sp. n. (Central China: Sichuan), M. henan sp. n. (Central China: Henan), M. luteoornatus sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan), M. marmotasp. n. (Nepal), M. nivalissp. n. (SW and central China: Xizang and Chongqing), M. martessp. n. (Central China: Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan), M. nigroaeneus sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan),M. occultus sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan), M. pseudochinensis sp. n. (Central China: Hubei), M. pseudopectoralis sp. n. (SW China: Yun-nan), M. schuelkei sp. n. (Central China: Sichuan, Shaanxi), M. simulator sp. n. (Central-N China: Shanxi), M. stenotarsus sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan, Xizang), M. tryznai sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan), and M. volkovichi sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan).Revaluations at specific rank from synonymy are introduced for Meligetheslutra Solsky 1860, and for M. melleus Grouvelle, 1908. Three new synonymies are established: MeligethesbrevipilusKirejtshuk, 1980 = M.auripilis Reitter, 1889 (syn. n.), Meligethes zakharenkoi Kirejtshuk, 2005 = M.shirakii Sadanari Hisamatsu, 1956 (syn. n.), and Meligethes shirozui Sadanari Hisamatsu, 1965 = M.wagneri Rebmann, 1956 (syn. n.). Complete redescriptions are given for MeligethesbinotatusGrouvelle, 1894, M. castanescens Grouvelle, 1903, M. ferrugineus Reitter, 1873, and M. melleus Grouvelle, 1908. The male of Meligethes lloydi Easton, 1968, is described and figured for the first time. The female genitalia of Meligethes auricomus Rebmann, 1956, M. cinereus Jelínek, 1978, and M. griseus Jelínek, 1978 are described and figured for the first time. Available information on insect-host-plant relationships and ecology are summarized for each species; probably all are as-sociated as larvae with flowers of Rosaceae, chiefly of members of the closely related genera Rosa L., Rubus L., Prunus L., and Cratae-gus Tourn. ex L. All treated species are grouped in two here revaluated subgenera (Meligethes s.str. and Odonthogethes Reitter, 1871), and tentatively grouped also in species-groups and (when necessary) species-complexes, based on their morphology.