An illustrated key to and diagnoses of the species of Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera) associated with decaying carcasses in Argentina

Abstract

In this study we identified adults of the Tenebrionidae associated mainly to pig and human carcasses located in different arid and semi-arid areas of Argentina. The objective of this work is to provide an illustrated key of 27 Tenebrionidae species associated with decaying carcasses in Argentina, including diagnoses, habitus photographs and a table of these species detailing the substrate from where they were collected and geographical distribution by province. These 27 Tenebrionidae species registered are grouped into four subfamilies: Alleculiinae (one species of Alleculiini), Diaperinae (two species of Cripticini), Tenebrioninae (14 species, eight belonging to the tribe Scotobiini, three to Opatrini, two Alphitobiini and one species of Tenebrionini), Pimeliinae (10 species, three belonging to the tribe Epitragini, two to Evaniosomini, two to Praociini, one species from each tribe: Trilobocarini, Edrotini and Elenophorini). A discussion is presented on the potential forensic importance of some species collected on human and pig carcasses in arid and semiarid lands.