New insights on systematics and phylogenetics of Mediterranean Blaps species (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Blaptini), assessed through morphology and dense taxon sampling

The genus Blaps is an emblematic group of large flightless beetles adapted to semi‐arid and arid environments. About 230 species have been described in the subgenus Blaps, which is the largest of the four extant subgenera. Within this subgenus, one large group of morphologically homogeneous species is of particular interest, and comprises the species formerly assigned to Seidlitz's division one. Strikingly, almost all species in this group are endemic to the Mediterranean basin, whereas the remaining Blaps species are mostly distributed in Asia. Here we present the first phylogenetic hypothesis for the Mediterranean Blaps and several taxonomic clarifications for the North African species belonging to this group. Based on careful examination of almost all type material and thousands of specimens for all known species and subspecies (initially 65 taxa), seven lectotypes are designated and six new synonymies are established: Blaps heydeniAllard, 1880 = Blaps heydenissp. taciturna Peyerimhoff syn.n., Blaps emondi Solier = Blaps nitidula Solier syn.n., Blaps tripolitanica Karsch = Blaps vialattei Peyerimhoff syn.n., Blaps bifurcata strauchi Reiche = Blaps bifurcata ssp. gridellii Pierre syn.n., Blaps cognata Solier = Blaps schweinfurhtii Seidlitz syn.n. and Blaps judaeorum Miller = Blaps pharao Seidlitz syn.n. Among the examined material, five species are also new for science and are assigned to extant species group. To infer species relationships, a morphological character matrix was assembled and analysed using both parsimony and probabilistic methods. All analyses yielded a similar and repeatable phylogenetic pattern, which allows us to discuss the systematics of the Mediterranean endemic species, the limit of extant species groups and to clarify the taxonomic status of several ambiguous taxa. We also reveal the existence of a large clade that encompasses the eastern Mediterranean species that are also mostly associated with arid regions. This clade is embedded within a second group that corresponds to western Mediterranean species, which are generally found in semi‐arid regions. Finally, we discuss the relevance of species groups in relation to their geographic distribution. This work represents a first step for further studies in taxonomy, systematics and historical biogeography of Blaps species.