MORPHOBIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GENUS BLAPS (COLEOPTERA: TENEBRIONIDAE) IN THE CENTRAL KYZYLKUM DESERT

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MEDICINE, SCIENCE, AND EDUCATION Volume 02, Issue 10, 2025 213 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MEDICINE, SCIENCE, AND EDUCATION universalpublishings.com MORPHOBIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GENUS BLAPS (COLEOPTERA: TENEBRIONIDAE) IN THE CENTRAL KYZYLKUM DESERT Mahliyo Kamolova PhD Researcher, Navoi State University, Navoi, Uzbekistan ORCID: 0009-0002-0498-1128 E-mail: [email protected] Keywords (English): Blaps, Tenebrionidae, Central Kyzylkum Desert, morphobiological characteristics, xerophilous species, desert ecosystems, zoogeographical distribution The Central Kyzylkum Desert is one of the largest desert regions, characterized by a sharply continental climate, high temperatures, and extreme moisture deficiency. Such harsh environmental conditions are clearly reflected in the morphological and biological adaptations of insect fauna, particularly in species belonging to the family Tenebrionidae (darkling beetles). Representatives of the genus Blaps Fabricius, 1775 constitute an important taxonomic group within the typical xerophilous entomofauna of the Kyzylkum Desert. Species of the genus Blaps are generally medium to large-sized beetles with an elongated body and strong sclerotization; their body coloration is usually dark. The head is relatively large, with small to medium-sized eyes. The antennae are typically filiform or slightly thickened and serve as important sensory organs. The thick cuticle covering the thoracic and abdominal segments plays a significant role in reducing water loss. From a biological perspective, representatives of the genus Blaps are predominantly nocturnal. During daytime, when air temperatures rise sharply in desert conditions, they seek shelter in soil cracks, under stones, or among plant debris. They are characterized by detritophagous and saprophagous feeding habits, consuming decaying plant remains, seeds, and substrates rich in organic matter. Their life cycle involves complete metamorphosis, with larvae developing in the soil and exhibiting high resistance to arid conditions. The systematic position of the genus Blaps is as follows: Order: Coleoptera Linnaeus, 1758 Family: Tenebrionidae Latreille, 1802 Subfamily: Tenebrioninae Latreille, 1802 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MEDICINE, SCIENCE, AND EDUCATION Volume 02, Issue 10, 2025 214 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MEDICINE, SCIENCE, AND EDUCATION universalpublishings.com Tribe: Blaptini Leach, 1815 Genus: Blaps Fabricius, 1775 During field studies conducted across various regions of the Central Kyzylkum Desert between 2023 and 2025, several species of the genus Blaps were recorded. Among them, Blaps deplanata Ménétriés, 1832 and Blaps holconata Fischer von Waldheim, 1844 were the most widely distributed species. Blaps deplanata has been repeatedly recorded in Azerbaijan (Europe) and in Asian regions including Iran, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. This species is primarily distributed in desert and semi-desert areas and is characteristic of the Ancient Mediterranean Province of the Palearctic zoogeographical region. From an ecological standpoint, Blaps deplanata represents a xerophilous zoogeographical complex adapted to sandy and loamy soils, saline areas, and open landscapes with sparse vegetation. The species is most frequently encountered in natural desert habitats with minimal anthropogenic disturbance, indicating its strong association with native desert fauna. The Central Kyzylkum region itself is largely composed of sandy and semi-desert landscapes; nevertheless, it also includes numerous human settlements. As a result of its habitat conditions, B. deplanata has developed a number of morphological and biological adaptations. Its body is distinctly dorsoventrally flattened, facilitating concealment within soil fissures and dense loamy or saline layers, as well as protection from extreme daytime temperatures. The wide and weakly convex elytra significantly reduce water loss and ensure energetic efficiency by abandoning flight. The non-glossy, strongly sclerotized body surface minimizes solar reflection and increases resistance to mechanical stress. The eyes are small, while the filiform antennae are well adapted to nocturnal activity, allowing effective perception of chemical and mechanical signals under low-light conditions. The legs are robust, with particularly well-developed fore and middle legs, enabling efficient movement on dense soil surfaces and penetration into narrow crevices. Adults are mainly active at night, spending the hottest part of the day underground, which helps them avoid sharp fluctuations in temperature and humidity. Blaps deplanata exhibits detritophagous feeding habits. The species is well adapted to efficient utilization of limited resources in desert environments, and the development of larvae within soil layers ensures high tolerance to arid conditions. This complex of morphobiological adaptations is one of the key factors enabling Blaps deplanata to form stable populations and maintain a wide distribution across desert and semi-desert regions. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MEDICINE, SCIENCE, AND EDUCATION Volume 02, Issue 10, 2025 215 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MEDICINE, SCIENCE, AND EDUCATION universalpublishings.com Blaps holconata occurs in several Asian countries, including Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Blaps holconata (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) belongs to the Palearctic zoogeographical region, with its distribution mainly associated with Central Asia and adjacent territories. This species is a representative of xerophilous entomofauna formed within the Turanian zoogeographical province, characterized by desert and semi-desert landscapes. An examination of the morphobiological characteristics of B. holconata indicates clear adaptation to arid, open, and partially rocky desert and semi-desert environments. The elytra are thick and strongly sclerotized, providing resistance to mechanical damage and reflecting the species’ association with stone-covered and hard-substrate microhabitats. Such elytral structure limits moisture loss and helps maintain water balance under arid climatic conditions. The legs are relatively short but very strong, adapted for stable movement across uneven, hard, and rocky surfaces. This trait explains the predominance of the species in compact substrates rather than in loose sandy habitats. The relatively small eyes and well-developed sensory antennae indicate adaptation to a predominantly nocturnal lifestyle. During daytime heat, B. holconata remains under stones or in deeper shelters and becomes active at night, allowing it to avoid extreme temperatures. Within desert ecosystems, representatives of the genus Blaps play an active role in the decomposition of organic matter by fragmenting decaying plant remains, thereby increasing soil biological activity. Their movement through soil cracks and burrows promotes mechanical mixing of the soil, improves aeration, and facilitates moisture penetration into deeper layers. The nocturnal activity and detritophagous feeding behavior of Blaps species ensure the recycling of limited food resources under desert conditions and stimulate microbial activity. Moreover, they represent an important link in desert food chains, serving as prey for reptiles and insectivorous vertebrates. Under the conditions of the Central Kyzylkum Desert, the morphobiological traits of Blaps species demonstrate deep adaptation to extreme desert environments. The body structure, protective integument, activity patterns, and feeding strategies observed in Blaps deplanata and Blaps holconata ensure survival under high temperatures, severe moisture deficiency, and limited food availability. These species are not only xerophilous organisms adapted to desert habitats but also important ecological components involved in organic matter cycling and soil processes. Therefore, the study of Blaps representatives is of significant scientific importance for understanding the formation of entomofauna in the Central Kyzylkum Desert, assessing ecosystem stability, and conserving biological diversity. References INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MEDICINE, SCIENCE, AND EDUCATION Volume 02, Issue 10, 2025 216 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MEDICINE, SCIENCE, AND EDUCATION universalpublishings.com 1. Skopin, N.G. (1964). Darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) of Central Asia. Nauka, Moscow. 2. Medvedev, G.S. (1968). Fauna of the USSR. Coleoptera. Tenebrionidae. Vol. 19. 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