Norwegian Journal of Entomology - Norsk entomologisk forening

Gonodera luperus (Herbst, 1783) (Col., Tenebrionidae)
and Anthocomus rufus (Herbst, 1784) (Col., Melyridae)
new to Norway
Stefan Olberg
THE SPECIES
Gonodera luperus (Herbst, 1783)
One specimen of Gonodera luperus (Figure 1)
(family Tenebrionidae) was caught in a windowtrap
at AK Bærum: Kolsås (EIS 28) 15 June – 7
July 2005, leg. and coll. S. Olberg. The fairly large
(7-9 mm) darkling beetle G. luperus, belonging to
the subfamily Alleculinae, is previously known
from Sweden, Denmark and Estonia in Northern
Europe (Silfverberg 2004). In Sweden it is recorded
in several of the southern districts (Sk, Bl, Sm, Öl,
Go, Ög, Sö, Up, Vs) (Lundberg 1995). G. luperus
is widespread but not common in both Sweden
and Denmark (Hansen 1938). It is therefore not
surprising that the species also appears in southeastern
parts of Norway. Despite the relatively
large size of G. luperus, it has so far not been
detected in Norway and must be regarded as rare.
The larva develops in rotten wood of various
deciduous trees while imago visits flowers. It is
unlikely that this is a newly invaded species, but
its rarity and probable restricted distribution in
Norway, most likely explain why this species has
been undetected in the Norwegian fauna.
Norw. J. Entomol. 53, 51-53, 22 May 2006
Olberg, S. 2006. Gonodera luperus (Herbst, 1783) (Col., Tenebrionidae) and Anthocomus rufus
(Herbst, 1784) (Col., Melyridae) new to Norway. Norw. J. Entomol. 53, 51-53.
One specimen of Gonodera luperus (Herbst, 1783) (Family Tenebrionidae) was collected in a
window-trap at Kolsås, Bærum (EIS 28) in Akershus (AK). Several specimens of Anthocomus rufus
(Herbst, 1784) (Family Melyridae) have been found at four different localities in south-eastern
Norway during 2003 to 2005. These are the first records of the two species in Norway.
Key words: Gonodera luperus, Anthocomus rufus, Tenebrionidae, Melyridae, Norway
Stefan Olberg, Natural History Museum, Department of Zoology, University of Oslo. P.O.Box 1172
Blindern, NO-0318 Oslo, Norway.
Anthocomus rufus (Herbst, 1784)
The first specimens of Anthocomus rufus (Figure
2) (family Melyridae) were found in Norway at
AK Bærum: Oksenøya (EIS 28) Aug. 2003, leg.
J. Pedersen, coll. NHM and S. Olberg. Three
specimens were sweep-netted on Phragmites
communis. Two additional specimens were sweepnetted
at the same locality in Sept. 2005, leg. L.O.
Hansen, coll. NHM. AK Oslo: Heggholmen (EIS
28) 1 Sept. 2005. 1 specimen leg. and coll. S.
Olberg. Sweep-netted on a meadow. Ø Hvaler:
Kirkøy (EIS 12) 12 Sept. 2003. 1 specimen leg.
and coll. S. Ligaard. TEY Skien: Børsesjø (EIS
18) 19 Aug. – 10 Sept. 2004. 7 specimens in
malaise-trap, leg. K.M. Olsen, coll. NHM and S.
Olberg.
A. rufus is a widespread species in southern parts of
Sweden (Lundberg 1995) and there are reports of
an expansion or at least an increase in the Swedish
populations during the last couple of years. Such
an expansion in our neighbouring country could
have lead to an invasion in south-eastern Norway.
An invasion or at least an expansion in Norway is
supported by the fact that A. rufus was found at
three localities situated far from each other within
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