Diversity and distribution of blister beetles (Coleoptera, Meloidae) from north-western Saudi Arabia: new observations and first description of a male Mylabris desertica Bologna, 2007

Biodiversity Data Journal 13: e174504 doi: 10.3897/BDJ.13.e174504 Taxonomy & Inventories Diversity and distribution of blister beetles (Coleoptera, Meloidae) from north-western Saudi Arabia: new observations and first description of a male Mylabris desertica Bologna, 2007 Vidak Lakušić, Ladislav Černý , David Kopr , Martina Panisi , Yuri Simone , Marko Stanisavljević, László Patkó , Ayman Abdulkarem , Benjamin P. Y-H. Lee , Magdy El-Bana , Ahmed Al-Ansari , Omar Al-Attas , José Carlos Brito ‡ University of Belgrade, Faculty of Biology, Studentski trg 16, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia § CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal | BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal ¶ The South Bohemian Museum in České Budějovice, Dukelská 1, CZ-370 51, České Budějovice, Czech Republic # Faculty of Agrisciences, Department of Zoology, Mendel University, Zemědělská 1, Brno, Czech Republic ¤ University of Antwerpen, Laboratory of Functional Morphology, Antwerp, Belgium « The Royal Commission for AlUla, Oud Dunes - Amr Aldamri, Riyadh 07747, Saudi Arabia » Department of Environmental Protection and Regeneration, Red Sea Global (RSG - Red Sea Zone), Umluj, Saudi Arabia ˄ Faculty of Science, Port Said University, Port Said, Egypt ˅ Departmant of Environment, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia ¦ Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal Corresponding author: Vidak Lakušić ([email protected]), Ladislav Černý ([email protected]) Academic editor: Enrico Ruzzier Received: 10 Oct 2025 | Accepted: 10 Dec 2025 | Published: 22 Dec 2025 Citation: Lakušić V, Černý L, Kopr D, Panisi M, Simone Y, Stanisavljević M, Patkó L, Abdulkarem A, Lee BPYH, El-Bana M, Al-Ansari A, Al-Attas O, Brito JC (2025) Diversity and distribution of blister beetles (Coleoptera, Meloidae) from north-western Saudi Arabia: new observations and first description of a male Mylabris desertica Bologna, 2007. Biodiversity Data Journal 13: e174504. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.13.e174504 Abstract Background This study presents the first faunistic records of blister beetles (Coleoptera, Meloidae) from north-western Saudi Arabia, specifically Hejaz mountains and north Tihama, ‡,§,| ¶ # §,| ¤ ‡ « « « »,˄»,˅ » §,|,¦ © Lakušić V et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. expanding the known distribution range of the species within the country. Field surveys were conducted between 2022 and 2024, aiming to cover different seasons. These observations contribute to the knowledge of the diversity of meloid fauna of the country and underscoring the importance of continued faunistic exploration in north-western Saudi Arabia, a region that remains relatively under-surveyed in terms of meloid diversity. New information Three species (Hycleus borchmannianus, Hycleus trizonatus, Mylabris filicornis) and one genus (Sitaris) are recorded for the first time in Saudi Arabia. Besides that, this work also provides the first description of the male morphology and genitalia of Mylabris desertica Bologna, 2007. Keywords Arabian Peninsula, Middle East, desert fauna, new records, arid environment Introduction The north-western region of Saudi Arabia remains one of the least explored areas of the country in terms of insect biodiversity, with many insect groups still lacking comprehensive taxonomic studies or recent revisions. Notably, no comprehensive surveys or studies have focused on beetles (Coleoptera) from this part of the Kingdom. The present study represents the first systematic investigation of beetles from the family Meloidae (blister beetles), in north-western Saudi Arabia and, to our knowledge, the first systematic study of any beetle group from this region. The first comprehensive work on the family Meloidae from the Arabian Peninsula was written by Kaszab (1983), who also described one genus, 16 species and three subspecies that were new to science. The list of species occurring in Saudi Arabia was subsequently expanded by Schneider (1991), who described one new species and provided several new distribution records. The most recent and extensive checklist for the Arabian Peninsula was provided by Bologna and Turco (2007), who reviewed all previously published literature and described five new species. Since then, one new species of Mesomeloe has been described from Qatar (Sánchez‐Vialas et al. 2021a). According to their works, a total of 88 species and 10 subspecies of Meloidae have been recorded from the Arabian Peninsula, of which 75 species and nine subspecies occur in Saudi Arabia. Since the publication of their checklists, only eight additional records from Saudi Arabia have been published (El-Hawagry et al. 2013, El-Hawagry et al. 2015, Abdel-Dayem et al. 2017, Abdel-Dayem et al. 2020, Alzahrani et al. 2025). The majority of the existing knowledge on the Meloidae of the Arabian Peninsula is restricted to its south-western region, while the Hejaz mountain range and northern Tihama still remain largely unexplored. This geographic gap highlights the potential for the discovery of 2Lakušić V et al additional species and the expansion of the current checklist of Arabian meloids (Bologna and Turco 2007). Within the family Meloidae, Mylabris (Mylabris) desertica was described by Bologna and Turco (2007) from a single, partly damaged, female specimen collected from Saudi Arabia, thus leaving the male morphological features undescribed. When only the female of a species is known, describing the male becomes essential for achieving a complete taxonomic characterisation. In many insect groups, including Meloidae, male genitalia represent the most stable and diagnostically informative morphological trait, often exhibiting clear interspecific differences that enable confident identification (Song and Bucheli 2010). Documenting the male morphology not only resolves existing taxonomic gaps, but also provides a foundation for further taxonomic revisions and phylogenetic studies within the group. This work helps to fill the significant biogeographic and taxonomic gaps in north-western Saudi Arabia and provides critical insights into the diversity, distribution and conservation needs of the local insect fauna. New distributional records of species from Meloidae family are presented, including first records of three species and one genus in the country. Finally, the study provides the first description of the male of M. desertica, providing photographs and drawings of diagnostic characters. Materials and methods Study area The study area, encompassing approximately 97,605 km², is situated in the north-western region of the Saudi Arabia. Topographically, elevation varies markedly, ranging from -6 metres along the Red Sea coastline to a maximum of 1,958 metres at Khaybar White Volcano in the south-eastern sector. The landscape is predominantly shaped by the Hijaz Mountain range, which comprises several prominent volcanic and mountainous formations exceeding 1,000 metres in elevation. Wetlands are mostly absent from the study area and, in the mountain regions, they are scarce, predominantly isolated and ephemeral. Wadi Al Hamd in the southwest is the only permanent water source (Lehner et al. 2008). Although the study region is predominantly arid, there is a pronounced longitudinal gradient in annual precipitation (Fick and Hijmans 2017). Western coastal zones exhibit extremely low precipitation levels, whereas precipitation increases markedly towards the interior. Temperature patterns tend to follow the altitudinal variation, with higher mean annual temperatures (26.8°C) recorded in southern lowland coastal areas and lower temperatures (16.2°C) in northern and highland inland regions. The majority of the region is classified as hyper-arid, with only the mountain peaks and eastern zones classified as within the arid category (Trabucco and Zomer 2018). Fieldwork was conducted in 13 conservation areas managed by The Royal Commission for AlUla and the Red Sea Global, including one Biosphere Reserve (Harrat Uwayrid), Diversity and distribution of blister beetles (Coleoptera, Meloidae) from ... 3 one Geopark (Khaybar White Volcano), one National Park (Sharaan), three Nature Reserves (Gharameel, Harrat AlZabin, Wadi Nakhlah), one Area Rich in Biodiversity (Jabal Nakhlah) and six local Key Biodiversity Areas (Amaala Northern Mountains, Jabal Ral and Northern Areas, Jabal Saykhaan, Harrat Lunayyir, Triple Bay Mountains and Wadi Al Hamd) (UNEP-WCMC 2019, El-Bana et al. 2025) (Fig. 1). Data sampling and analysis Fieldwork was conducted between November 2022 and October 2024. During this period, seven field missions were carried out, lasting for 230 days in total, covering various seasonal and environmental conditions spread across 231 different sites. Collecting was performed by random walks, covering different types of microhabitats in each site. Most of the species were collected on flowering plants during the daytime, some were instead found on the ground during the night (Mesomeloe coelatus and Eurymeloe saharensis) and some were attracted by the headlamp or light trap (Lydomorphus spp. and Zonitoschema spp.). Specimens were collected by hand and preserved in ethanol (99%) for morphological investigation. Geographic coordinates were taken with a GPS using the WGS84 datum. Photos of specimens in the field were taken with an Olympus tough TG-6. Collected specimens were mounted on mounting boards or directly pinned through the right elytron. Photographs of whole specimens were taken using a Nikon D5300 digital camera, equipped with a Tamron SP Di AF 90 mm F/2.8 macro lens and a Sigma EM-140 DG ring flash with a DIY light diffuser. Digital images of Mylabris desertica were taken Figure 1. Localities of records of Meloidae (n = 75) in the study area and location of the study area in the north-western Saudi Arabia (small inset).  4Lakušić V et al using a Canon EOS 750D with the Canon MP-E 65 mm macrolens. The specimens are deposited in the collection of AlUla Museum and Jihočeské muzeum v Českých Budějovicích [The South Bohemian Museum in České Budějovice] (JMBC) with URN numbers not yet assigned. Identification of specimens was performed by the second author. The taxonomic arrangement is used according to Bologna (2020), except for Meloini where Sánchez‐ Vialas et al. (2021b) and Sánchez-Vialas et al. (2022) were followed. Sánchez‐Vialas et al. (2021b) were relied upon because they presented a fully supported molecular phylogeny and clear evidence that genus Meloe Linnaeus, 1758 is paraphyletic and should be divided into several genera. However, Riccieri et al. (2024) did not accept this elevation, with the argument based on larval and adult morphology and preliminary molecular evidence which are part of ongoing, unpublished work, meaning that no currently available data justify departing from the conclusions of Sánchez‐Vialas et al. (2021b). Species Zonitoschema iranica was identified, based on Batelka and Bologna (2014). The complete dataset is available in Suppl. material 1. Taxon treatment Mylabris (Mylabris) desertica Bologna, 2007 Material a. country: Saudi Arabia; stateProvince: Tabuk; municipality: Umluj; locality: 45km E of Umluj; maximumElevationInMeters: 721; verbatimCoordinates: 24.990833N, 37.725556E; eventDate: 18.03.2024.; recordedBy: Lakušić Vidak; associatedReferences: VLA_4104; occurrenceID: D867E344-30D9-520C-AF61-0A72FF8F8FAE Description Length: 11.5 mm (Fig. 2). Body uniformly black, the macrosetation is mixed black and white, with white predominating on the abdomen and ventral side of the thoracic segments. Head is black, frons with a red spot. Head capsule as long as wide with large and sparse punctures, except for the frontal area, where it is dense; surrounding surface smooth and shiny. Temples parallel and rounded posteriorly, shorter than eyes in lateral view. Macrosetation of the head long and erect, black. Clypeus transverse, wider than long, convex with fore margin rounded. Apical third is smooth, the rest rugose, strongly punctured to wrinkled, fronto-clypeal suture clearly visible. Labrum as long as clypeus, wider, anterior margin slightly emarginate, longitudinally depressed in the middle, almost smooth with long black setation, except fore margin, where it is short and whitish. Mandibles well developed with long macrosetation laterally, not regularly convex, but bent at the middle and at apex, longer than clypeus and labrum together. Maxillary palpomeres with long setae, last maxillary palpomeres are obtusely pointed. The eyes are broadly oval. Antennae black, composed of Diversity and distribution of blister beetles (Coleoptera, Meloidae) from ... 5 eleven, progressivelly widened, well-separated segments. The last four segments (VIII-XI) clearly wider than the others. Antennomeres I–II with long macrosetation, black; III–VII with short macrosetation, shiny with faint reddish-brown tinge; antennomere III 1.4x as long as IV; antennomere XI 1.5x as long as X and tapering to the faint tip. Pronotum is longer than wide, tapered in front, with a distinct dorsal depression; macrosetation long, erect, black mixed whitish; with large punctures, laterally and posteriorly contiguous. Mesosternum with developed scutum with a few distinctive macrosetae in its posterior part (Fig. 2B). Elytra covered with sparse, black and white and slightly inclined macrosetae. The black pattern of each elytron consists of short black emargination of the suture behind the scutellum; of two sub-basal black spots, sutural and humeral, the humeral is larger; a transverse medial black spot closely spaced to the suture, but not reaching the outer margin; an irregular postmedian black spot not reaching the margins; and the apex is narrowly black (Fig. 2A). Legs are black with black setation, except for the fore tibiae, where it is mixed with short whitish setation inwardly. Longer black setae are dorsally and laterally on protarsomeres I–IV. Tibial spurs pointed, except the metatibial outer one, which is obtusely ended. The blades of tarsal claws are smooth without denticulation or Figure 2. Mylabris desertica (VLA_4104): A habitus; B mesosternal sclerite; C aedeagus. Bar size a = 5 mm, b = 1 mm. Photo credits Ladislav Černý.  6Lakušić V et al microcrenulation and the ventral ones are well developed, sharply pointed and reaching the length of the dorsal ones. Male genitalia. Aedeagus (Fig. 2C) with two subequal dorsal hooks, positioned in the middle of the distal half, closely spaced and of equal inclination in isoharpagae form. Endophallic hook slender and curved apically. Parameres are slender, concave in lateral view and ca. 2x as long as phallobase, with a pointed and slightly curved apex. Checklist of Meloidae of north-western Saudi Arabia Alosimus syriacus subsp. syriacus (Linnaeus, 1758) Materials a. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Harrat Uwayrid; eventDate: 19/2/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_0846; occurrenceID: ECD45199-BE0E-50FABF6F-4FB83E3D893B b. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Harrat Uwayrid; eventDate: 19/2/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_0852; occurrenceID: 8F0A9AE3-3BE8-57CC-A8FAC0BDD5F76C55 c. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Harrat Uwayrid; eventDate: 21/2/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_0901; occurrenceID: DD9EF31AFBB2-5D6C-9D78-0B39D7E4723B d. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Khaybar White Volcano; eventDate: 3/3/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_1142; occurrenceID: 2EDDE188-6342-5F4FADAC-166BBEB0ED31 e. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Khaybar White Volcano; eventDate: 3/3/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_1148; occurrenceID: 43E1E9C1-E4E4-59A5-9263FD43DE0C0536 f. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Khaybar White Volcano; eventDate: 4/3/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_1210; occurrenceID: 44E87172-C885-552DA1B5-3860246FFDF9 Diagnosis:Suppl. material 2. Lydomorphus angusticollis subsp. suturellus (Haag-Rutenberg, 1880) Materials a. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Jabal Ral and Northern Areas; eventDate: 5/4/2024; associatedReferences: VLA_3325; occurrenceID: 753FD154-6CE0-55C7-8608C99649BF8CB3 b. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Jabal Ral and Northern Areas; eventDate: 7/4/2024; associatedReferences: VLA_3371; occurrenceID: 6B194808BB16-5194-874A-18E5ECF1B07B Diagnosis:Suppl. material 3. Diversity and distribution of blister beetles (Coleoptera, Meloidae) from ... 7 Lydomorphus brittoni (Kaszab, 1953) Materials a. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Khaybar White Volcano; eventDate: 4/3/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_1232; occurrenceID: 5C73E8ED-33C1-5C86-80A9-9564B3FB1E23 b. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Khaybar White Volcano; eventDate: 8/5/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_1495; occurrenceID: 48AA5C65-F309-5126B2AD-7A7146C25781 c. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Khaybar White Volcano; eventDate: 11/5/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_1614; occurrenceID: 0274FE1B-6CBB-563F-8D91B5C6B1480E41 Diagnosis:Suppl. material 4. Lydomorphus palaestinus (Kirsch, 1870) Materials a. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Sharaan; eventDate: 24/2/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_0957; occurrenceID: 185D18D3-6898-5DF8-B954-455CBF3BD913 b. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Sharaan; eventDate: 25/2/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_0994; occurrenceID: C4BFB526-C6C4-5661-958C-C983EAC30021 Diagnosis:Suppl. material 5. Ammabris elegans Olivier, 1811 Material a. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Sharaan; eventDate: 24/5/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_1812; occurrenceID: 039CDC51-0C69-5D08-AD36-AC61CE7582BA Diagnosis:Suppl. material 6. Croscherichia goryi (Marseul, 1870) Materials a. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Sharaan; eventDate: 26/5/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_1868; occurrenceID: DC12F81D-832C-51B8-9262-04806D0FC002 b. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Sharaan; eventDate: 26/5/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_1872; occurrenceID: 01B48321-8166-545A-B5E2-7FA5E2E4A95D c. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Sharaan; eventDate: 26/5/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_1873; occurrenceID: 4564FD9D-D095-5EE9-8DF5-1E36ECE86D5B d. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Harrat Lunayyir; eventDate: 21/4/2024; associatedReferences: VLA_3599; occurrenceID: 934C4BD1-E964-5A78B394-82EB97807139 Diagnosis:Suppl. material 7. 8Lakušić V et al Croscherichia sanguinolenta subsp. arabica Bologna, 1991 Materials a. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Khaybar White Volcano; eventDate: 10/5/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_1541; occurrenceID: A073816E-823A-5E33A12A-24C13C1C7CCC b. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Khaybar White Volcano; eventDate: 10/5/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_1542; occurrenceID: FC767F31-8592-518B-994CF486CC396081 Diagnosis:Suppl. material 8. Croscherichia tigrinipennis (Latreille, 1827) Material a. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Jabal Saykhaan; eventDate: 15/3/2024; associatedReferences: VLA_3125; occurrenceID: F92AF415-B622-578D-B430E5DDC6903915 Diagnosis:Suppl. material 9. Hycleus borchmannianus (Kaszab, 1983) Material a. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Khaybar White Volcano; eventDate: 12/5/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_1627; occurrenceID: AE5B9480-DF34-5DE9A1D9-07A916C87F02 Diagnosis:Suppl. material 10. Notes:This is the first record for Saudi Arabia, previously considered endemic to Yemen (Fig. 3). Hycleus novemdecimpunctatus (Olivier, 1811) Materials a. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Khaybar White Volcano; eventDate: 9/5/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_1506; occurrenceID: CCFF0C76-B2C0-5A21-A36FCA95B0199D8B b. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Khaybar White Volcano; eventDate: 10/5/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_1547; occurrenceID: 878FD6CD-6158-53FEA1D4-60D6127BAE39 c. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Khaybar White Volcano; eventDate: 11/5/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_1608; occurrenceID: 6DC0FA0E-4F81-56E6BDBB-3BDFEE405E42 Diversity and distribution of blister beetles (Coleoptera, Meloidae) from ... 9 b. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Wadi Nakhlah; eventDate: 25/1/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_0373; occurrenceID: 429BC809-7C58-574A-8C2EE814CB80EC3E c. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Jabal Nakhlah; eventDate: 2/2/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_0533; occurrenceID: BB4A9541A4F8-5174-9E30-5A0A505D9AB8 d. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Jabal Nakhlah; eventDate: 2/2/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_0551; occurrenceID: 99992924-3B53-50DB-99E2CB8A678B5B95 e. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Harrat Uwayrid; eventDate: 20/2/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_0890x; occurrenceID: 71330B71-A03E-51D1-9E50ACD41AD5040E f. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Khaybar White Volcano; eventDate: 4/3/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_1212; occurrenceID: D0B3E368-59D3-5D85-BEEECD0A30705DBD g. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Khaybar White Volcano; eventDate: 4/3/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_1217; occurrenceID: A4E02731-D1BA-5D61-A218C3CD2D3F2F0F h. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Khaybar White Volcano; eventDate: 4/3/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_1228; occurrenceID: C7242FBC-179B-5C99-9E63B6AD6B442720 i. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Wadi Al Hamd; eventDate: 14/3/2024; associatedReferences: VLA_3115; occurrenceID: 86AA2887-7FBA-5EBA-817EF24F063E2254 j. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Jabal Nakhlah; eventDate: 3/2/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_4003; occurrenceID: DE2CEDDB-0869-57E6-81ABC5CC4858BFFE Diagnosis:Suppl. material 17. Eurymeloe (Bolognaia) saharensis (Chobaut, 1898) Material a. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Harrat Uwayrid; eventDate: 20/2/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_0890; occurrenceID: 506D0285-A5DB-5206B2D3-67DC9ACB9343 Diagnosis:Fig. 8. Nemognatha chrysomelina (Fabricius, 1775) Materials a. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Khaybar White Volcano; eventDate: 9/5/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_1518; occurrenceID: B4999358-B492-582FBC43-952116E6AC19 b. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Khaybar White Volcano; eventDate: 11/5/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_1616; occurrenceID: A679647F-5F35-5015-95BEA91D065BCE02 16 Lakušić V et al Diagnosis:Suppl. material 18. Zonitoschema iranica Kaszab, 1959 Materials a. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Harrat Uwayrid; eventDate: 6/6/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_2092; occurrenceID: E1A469F8-B5B8-5D7B-BD7BC606F5B0349E b. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Harrat Uwayrid; eventDate: 6/6/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_2100; occurrenceID: 99273815-B16E-589AB7C4-038D6AD9E590 Diagnosis:Suppl. material 19. Zonitoschema rubricolor Pic, 1924 Materials a. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Wadi Nakhlah; eventDate: 21/6/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_2282; occurrenceID: 261C711D-E5CD-5665A6B3-5B983C64F5E8 b. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Wadi Nakhlah; eventDate: 22/6/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_2305; occurrenceID: B4E8E878-05B9-58A0-94C0F335A90770FA Diagnosis:Suppl. material 20. Figure 8. Eurymeloe saharensis (VLA_0890). Photo credits Nikola Vesović.  Diversity and distribution of blister beetles (Coleoptera, Meloidae) from ... 17 Genus Sitaris Material a. country: Saudi Arabia; locality: Harrat Uwayrid; eventDate: 5/6/2023; associatedReferences: VLA_3047; occurrenceID: 0A7635D1-81DB-5F05-9FC3-31DF49246BE3 Notes:This is the first record of this genus for the Saudi Arabia, but, as the genus has not been studied recently, the identification to the species level is currently not possible (Fig. 9). Analysis Distribution Preliminary distribution patterns were found amongst the recorded meloid beetles (Suppl. material 21). In the study area, L. angusticollis suturellus was found in slopes of lowaltitude mountains along the Red Sea coast, L. brittoni was apparently restricted to highaltitude rocky habitats in the Khaybar volcanic area, while L. palaestinus was found only in sandy habitats interspersed with sandstone outcrops. Apparently, there was clear habitat segregation between Zonitoschema species in the study area, where Z. iranica was observed in rocky habitats of Harrat Uwayrid, while Z. rubricolor was found in sandy areas characterised by well-developed vegetation. In the study area, specimens of M. desertica were observed in lowland areas along the Red Sea coast, where it occupies rocky habitats with sparse vegetation. M. coelatus was relatively widespread in the region, recorded from five protected areas. However, E. saharensis was found only at a single high-altitude site, where it co-occurred with M. coelatus. Two newly-recorded Figure 9. Sitaris sp. (VLA_3047). Bar size 5 mm. Photo credis Nikola Vesović.  18 Lakušić V et al species for the country, H. borchmannianus and M. filicornis, were also found in highaltitude areas of the Khaybar volcanoes. In contrast, H. trizonatus was found in sandy areas with abundant rock formations in the Gharameel region. In one of the most remote parts of Harrat Uwayrid, a single specimen of Sitaris was discovered in a small wadi formed along lava flow paths (Fig. 10). The area of Khaybar White Volcano Geopark was particularly rich in meloid diversity. Of a total of 24 recorded taxa for the study area, 13 were present in this protected area. Besides that, of those 13 taxa, nine were found exclusively there (Fig. 11). This area is highly remote with low accessibility roads, hence it is one of the most well-conserved places in the study area. The area is represented by rocks, lava fields and a significant number of inactive volcanoes. It is rich in wadis formed in lava flows, which support a high abundance and diversity of vegetation (Suppl. material 22). Discussion In this study, a total of 21 species and three subspecies belonging to 11 genera of the family Meloidae were recorded from north-western Saudi Arabia. Amongst those, three species (Hycleus borchmannianus, Hycleus trizonatus, Mylabris filicornis) and one genus (Sitaris) are recorded for the first time in Saudi Arabia. With those discoveries, the number of recorded meloid beetles of Saudi Arabia totals 88. Figure 10. Studied habitats. A, B sites of M. desertica in Jabal Ral and Triple Bay Mountains, respectively; C site of H. borchmannianus and M. filicornis in Khaybar White Volcano Geopark; D site of H. trizonatus in Gharameel.  Diversity and distribution of blister beetles (Coleoptera, Meloidae) from ... 19 High-altitude volcanic habitats, particularly in the Khaybar region, emerged as hotspots of meloid diversity in the study area, with several species restricted to this unique landscape, including the two newly-recorded taxa for the country. The richness of the Khaybar White Volcano Geopark underscores the role of remote and relatively undisturbed habitats in supporting specialised beetle assemblages, while the discovery of rare taxa, such as Sitaris in isolated wadis further emphasises the importance of microhabitats formed by lava flows. In contrast, species, such as M. coelatus, exhibited broader ecological tolerance, occurring across multiple protected areas, whereas others, like E. saharensis, appeared highly restricted. Although, due to its cryptic lifestyle and winter activity, the apparently restricted distribution of E. saharensis we observed in the study area is likely a consequence of insufficient sampling, especially considering its known broad range (Ruiz et al. 2010, Sánchez Vialas et al. 2024). Together, these findings suggest that the mosaic of sandy plains, rocky outcrops and volcanic landscapes in the region creates distinct ecological niches that sustain a diverse meloid fauna, reinforcing the conservation value of these geologically and biologically unique habitats. Overall, this study highlights that the north-western region of Saudi Arabia remains underexplored in terms of Meloidae diversity. As shown by existing literature and confirmed again by our results, the surveys in this region have led to the discovery of species or subspecies either new to the country or new to science (e.g. Licata et al. (2024)). This strongly suggests that additional fieldwork in these remote and diverse Figure 11. Number of species recorded across conservation areas.  20 Lakušić V et al habitats will yield further significant findings and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of biodiversity in Saudi Arabia. Acknowledgements We would like to thank Bárbara Santos, Duarte Gonçalves, Fulvio Licata, Margareta Lakušić and Raquel Oliveira for contributing to the field surveys and finding of the animals. Acknowledgements to the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and the Red Sea Global (RSG) for their support in developing fieldwork in Saudi Arabia. VL, MP and YS were supported by the projects Inventory of AlUla Fauna (PR6869) from RCU and Spatial Habitats Assessment for Biodiversity Conservation (R98-Z13M190) from RSG. JCB is supported by Portuguese national funds through FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. (CEECINST/00014/2018/CP1512/CT0001). VL thanks Nikola Vesović for providing photos of specimens. References • Abdel-Dayem M, Fad H, El-Torkey A, Elgharbawy A, Aldryhim Y, Kondratieff B, Al Ansi A, Aldhafer H (2017) The beetle fauna (Insecta, Coleoptera) of the Rawdhat Khorim National Park, Central Saudi Arabia. ZooKeys 653: 1‑78. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys. 653.10252 • Abdel-Dayem MS, El-Ghiet UMA, Elsheikh TM, Elgharbawy AA, Al-Fifi ZIA, Aldhafer HM (2020) The first survey of the beetles (Coleoptera) of the Farasan Archipelago of the southern Red Sea, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ZooKeys 959: 17‑86. https://doi.org/10.3897/ zookeys.959.51224 • Alzahrani A, Kehail MA, Almannaa S, Alkhalifa A, Alqahtani A, Altalhi M, Alkhamis H, Alowaifeer A, Alrefaei AF (2025) Seasonal occurrence and biodiversity of insects in an arid ecosystem: an ecological study of the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve, Saudi Arabia. Biology 14 (3). https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14030254 • Batelka J, Bologna M (2014) Review of the Saharo-Sindian species of the genus Zonitoschema (Coleoptera: Meloidae), with description of new species from Tunisia, Yemen and Socotra Island. Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 54: 241‑268. • Bologna M, Turco F (2007) The Meloidae (Coleoptera) of the United Arab Emirates with an updated Arabian checklist. Zootaxa 1625 (1). https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1625.1.1 • Bologna M (2020) Meloidae. In: Iwan D, Löbl I (Eds) Ctalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera. Vol. 5. Brill, Boston, 500-562 pp. • El-Bana M, Brito J, Ferreira D, Coelho A, Campos J, Al-Ansari A, Al-Attas O (2025) Terrestrial baseline assessment of the Red Sea Zone: A brief report focusing on key biodiversity areas. Department of Environmental Protection & Regeneration, Red Sea Global, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 145 pp. • El-Hawagry M, Khalil M, Sharaf M, Fadl H, Aldawood A (2013) A preliminary study on the insect fauna of Al-Baha Province, Saudi Arabia, with descriptions of two new species. ZooKeys 274: 1‑88. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.274.4529 Diversity and distribution of blister beetles (Coleoptera, Meloidae) from ... 21 • El-Hawagry M, Sharaf M, Al Dhafer H, Fadl H, Aldawood A (2015) Addenda to the insect fauna of Al-Baha Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with zoogeographical notes. Journal of Natural History 50: 1209‑1236. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2015.1103913 • Fick S, Hijmans R (2017) WorldClim 2: new 1‐km spatial resolution climate surfaces for global land areas. International Journal of Climatology 37 (12): 4302‑4315. https://doi.org/ 10.1002/joc.5086 • Kaszab Z (1983) Insects of Saudi Arabia Coleoptera: Fam. Meloidae. A synopsis of the Arabian Meloidae. Fauna of Saudi Arabia 5: 144‑204. • Klug J (1834) Symbolae physicae seu icones et dscriptiones Insectorum que ex itinere per Africam borealem et Asiam occidentalem Friderici Guilelmi Hemprich et Christiani Godofredi Ehrenberg medicinae et chirurgiae doctorum studio nova autillustrate redierunt. Insecta. Berolini: Reimer • Lehner B, Verdin K, Jarvis A (2008) New global hydrography derived from spaceborne elevation data. Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union 89 (10): 93‑94. https:// doi.org/10.1029/2008eo100001 • Licata F, Pola L, Šmíd J, Ibrahim A, Liz AV, Santos B, Patkó L, Abdulkareem A, Gonçalves D, AlShammari AM, Busais S, Egan D, Ramalho RO, Smithson J, Brito JC, et al. (2024) The missing piece of the puzzle: A new and widespread species of the genus Rhynchocalamus Günther, 1864 (Squamata, Colubridae) from the Arabian Peninsula. Zoosystematics and Evolution 100 (2): 691‑704. https://doi.org/10.15468/233ktv • Olivier G (1811) Encyclopedie methodique, ou par ordre de matieres; par une societe de gens de lettres, de savans et d’artistes; precedee d’un vocubulaire universel, servant de table pour tout l’ouvrage, ornee des portraits de Mm. Diderot & d’Alembert, premiers editeurs de l’Encyclopedie. Histoire naturelle. Insectes. Tome huitieme. H. Agasse, Paris, 722 pp. • Pardo-Alcaide A (1954) Études sur les Meloidae, VII. Note additive sur les Mylabrini du Maroc et du Sahara occidental espagnol. Bulletin de la Société des Sciences Naturelles et Physiques du Maroc 34: 367‑368. • Riccieri A, Spagoni L, Bologna MA (2024) Endemic and cryptic: different biogeographic histories of three Italian blister beetles of the genus Meloe (Coleoptera: Meloidae: Meloinae: Meloini). Insect Systematics and Diversity 8 (2). https://doi.org/10.1093/isd/ ixae003 • Ruiz JL, Bologna MA, García-París M (2010) Taxonomía y distribución de Meloe (Eurymeloe) saharensis Chobaut, 1898 (Coleoptera, Meloidae), con nuevas sinonimias y primeros registros para Europa y la Macaronesia. Graellsia 66 (1): 85‑96. https://doi.org/ 10.3989/graellsia.2010.v66.015 • Sánchez Vialas A, Ruiz JL, Roujas A, François A (2024) New data and threat status of two rare North African species of the subgenus Bolognaia (Coleoptera: Meloidae: Meloini: Eurymeloe). Graellsia 80 https://doi.org/10.3989/graellsia.2024.v80.745 • Sánchez-Vialas A, Ruiz J, Recuero E, Gutiérrez-Pérez F, García-París M (2022) A new systematic arrangement for the blister beetle genus Eurymeloe (Meloini, Meloidae, Coleoptera) with the description of a new species from Spain. ZooKeys 1109: 17‑48. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1109.83863 • Sánchez‐Vialas A, Ruiz J, García‐París M (2021a) Taxonomic study of Mesomeloe coelatus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1857) (Coleoptera: Meloidae: Meloini), with the description of an overlooked new species. Zootaxa 5016 (3): 365‑381. https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5016.3.3 22 Lakušić V et al • Sánchez‐Vialas A, Recuero E, Jiménez‐Ruiz Y, Ruiz J, Marí‐Mena N, García‐París M (2021b) Phylogeny of Meloini blister beetles (Coleoptera, Meloidae) and patterns of island colonization in the Western Palaearctic. Zoologica Scripta 50 (3): 358‑375. https://doi.org/ 10.1111/zsc.12474 • Schneider W (1991) New records of Meloidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) from Arabia with description of a new species. Fauna of Saudi Arabia 12: 273‑288. • Serri S, Bologna M, Riccieri A (2020) Revision of the Hycleus sexmaculatus species group (Coleoptera: Meloidae, Mylabrini). Zootaxa 4790 (1). https://doi.org/10.11646/ zootaxa.4790.1.1 • Song H, Bucheli S (2010) Comparison of phylogenetic signal between male genitalia and non‐genital characters in insect systematics. Cladistics 26 (1): 23‑35. https://doi.org/ 10.1111/j.1096-0031.2009.00273.x • Trabucco A, Zomer R (2018) Global Aridity Index and Potential Evapo-Transpiration (ET0) Climate Database v2. CGIAR Consortium for Spatial Information (CGIAR-CSI). URL: https://cgiarcsi.community • UNEP-WCMC (2019) User manual for the world database on protected areas and world database on other effective area-based conservation measures: 1.6. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge, UK. URL: http://wcmc.io/WDPA_Manual Supplementary materials Suppl. material 1: Complete Meloidae dataset Authors: Vidak Lakušić Data type: table Download file (56.38 kb) Suppl. material 2: Alosimus syriacus VLA_0852 Authors: Vidak Lakušić Data type: Image Download file (2.41 MB) Suppl. material 3: Lydomorphus angusticollis suturellus (VLA_3325) Authors: Vidak Lakušić Data type: Image Download file (1.72 MB) Suppl. material 4: Lydomorphus brittoni (VLA_1614) Authors: Vidak Lakušić Data type: Image Download file (1.66 MB) Diversity and distribution of blister beetles (Coleoptera, Meloidae) from ... 23 Suppl. material 5: Lydomorphus palaestinus (VLA_0994) Authors: Vidak Lakušić Data type: Image Download file (2.27 MB) Suppl. material 6: Ammabris elegans (VLA_1812) Authors: Vidak Lakušić Data type: Image Download file (1.55 MB) Suppl. material 7: Croscherichia goryi (VLA_1868) Authors: Vidak Lakušić Data type: Image Download file (1.66 MB) Suppl. material 8: Croscherichia sanguinolenta arabica (VLA_1542) Authors: Vidak Lakušić Data type: Image Download file (1.72 MB) Suppl. material 9: Croscherichia tigrinipennis (VLA_3125) Authors: Vidak Lakušić Data type: Image Download file (1.72 MB) Suppl. material 10: Hycleus borchmannianus (VLA_1627) Authors: Vidak Lakušić Data type: Image Download file (1.68 MB) Suppl. material 11: Hycleus novemdecimpunctatus (VLA_1624) Authors: Vidak Lakušić Data type: Image Download file (1.52 MB) Suppl. material 12: Hycleus pseudobrunnipes (VLA_1512) Authors: Vidak Lakušić Data type: Image Download file (2.27 MB) 24 Lakušić V et al Suppl. material 13: Hycleus scabratus (VLA_1548) Authors: Vidak Lakušić Data type: Image Download file (1.72 MB) Suppl. material 14: Mylabris calida (VLA_1505) Authors: Vidak Lakušić Data type: Image Download file (2.52 MB) Suppl. material 15: Mylabris filicornis (VLA_1622) Authors: Vidak Lakušić Data type: Image Download file (1.73 MB) Suppl. material 16: Mylabris tenebrosa (VLA_1621) Authors: Vidak Lakušić Data type: Image Download file (1.72 MB) Suppl. material 17: Mesomeloe coelatus (VLA_0373) Authors: Vidak Lakušić Data type: Image Download file (2.37 MB) Suppl. material 18: Nemognatha chrysomelina (VLA_1518) Authors: Vidak Lakušić Data type: Image Download file (2.30 MB) Suppl. material 19: Zonitoschema iranica (VLA_2092) Authors: Vidak Lakušić Data type: Image Download file (1.70 MB) Suppl. material 20: Zonitoschema rubricolor (VLA_2282) Authors: Vidak Lakušić Data type: Image Download file (1.90 MB) Diversity and distribution of blister beetles (Coleoptera, Meloidae) from ... 25