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We carried out a quantitative assessment of the consumption of herbaceous plants by Opatrum sabulosum (Linnaeus, 1761) – a highly significant agricultural pest species. We researched the feeding preferences of this pest species with respect to 33 uncultivated and 22 cultivated plant species. This species of darkling beetle feeds on many uncultivated plant species, including those with hairy leaves and bitter milky sap, such as Scabiosa ucrainca (5.21 mg/specimen/24 hours), Euphorbia virgata (3.45), Solanum nigrum (3.32), Centauria scabiosa (2.47), Lamium album (2.41), Aristolochia clematitis (1.76), Chenopodium album (1.73), Arctium lappa (1.51), Asperula odorata (1.20). A high rate of leaf consumption is also characteristic for cultivated species, for example, Perilla nankinensis (5.05 mg/specimen/24 hours), Lycopersicon esculentum (3.75), Tropaeolum majus (3.29), Nicotiana tabacum (2.66), Rumex acetosa (1.96), Beta vulgaris (1.27). Opatrum sabulosum is capable of feeding on plants which are poisonous to cattle. This species of darkling beetle consumes 95.5% of the cultivated and 48.5% of the uncultivated herbaceous plants researched.

Helibatus morio Mulsant & Rey, 1859 Material examined. 33 4 ��, "Zambesi", "Helibates morio Mls, Gebien det. 1939 " (MIZ); 13 "Zambesi", "Holub", "Helibates morio Mls, Gebien det. 1939 " (MIZ); 13 "Museum Paris, Afrique Du Sud, R. Ellenberger 1927 " (MNHN); 13 1 �� "Potgietersrust, Transvaal, 14.IV. 1933, J.S. Taylor", "Pres. by Comm. Inst. Ent. B.M. 1981 - 315 ", "under stone" (TMNH); 23 1 �� "S. Afr., N.Cape, Mafeking, 27.11.1965 " (TMNH); 1 �� "Caffraria"; 2 �� (MIZ), "Caffraria, [...]""Helibates morio Mls, Gebien det. 1939 " (MNHN), 13 1 �� "Ventersdorp, W. Transvaal, XI. 1963, L. Schulze" (TMNH); 13 "Tim's Hope, Wolkberge, E.Tvl., XI. 1970, L. Schulze & A. Strydom" (TMNH); 1 �� "Mariepskop, II. 67, L. Schulze, D. Goode, [...]" (TMNH); 23 3 �� " 4 m S of Mata Mata, Kalahari Nat. Park, V. 1969, L. Schulze & R. Jones" (TMNH); 13 1 �� "Piena Ars Riv., Dam, Tvl, (16 mi NE Pretoria), 25.IX. 71, Bornemissza & Insley", " 434 " (TMNH); 1 �� "Kalahari Gemsbok Nat. Park, at Twee Rivieren, V. 69., L. Schulze + R. Jones" (TMNH); 23 3 �� "Kalahari Gemsbok Nat. Park, 24 km N/- of Twee Rivieren, V. 69., L. Schulze + R. Jones" (TMNH); 1 �� "Origstad, NE-Transvaal, IV/ 62 Leleup" (TMNH); 13 "S.Afr., Transvaal, Middelburg, 1960, 25.10, C.M. de Jager" (TMNH); 13 "S.Afr., E. Transvl., Buffelsvlei, nr. Lydenburg" (TMNH); 1 �� "S. Africa, Holub", "Sharp Coll., 1905 - 313 " (TMNH); 1 �� " 10 m S of Warrenton, Kimberley dist., XI. 1963. L. Schulze" (TMNH); 13 "Lydenburg, Distr. 1896, P. A. Krantz", " 128 " (TMNH); 231 �� "Z.A. 93, Leydenburg D., Orhigstad", "Humus, III- 1962 ", "N. Leleup leg." (TMNH); 33 2 �� "S.Afr., Cape Prov., Kimberley, 28.44 S ��� 24.46 E ", " 4.11.1979; E-Y: 1670, hard red sand, leg. Endr��dy-Younga" (TMNH)., Published as part of Iwan, Dariusz & Schimrosczyk, David, 2013, A second species of the genus Helibatus Mulsant & Rey, 1859 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrina), pp. 569-575 in Zootaxa 3626 (4) on page 570, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3626.4.10, http://zenodo.org/record/220807

Helibatus banaszkiewiczae sp. nov. Etymology. This new species is named in honor of the late Margaret Banaszkiewicz - our colleague and excellent young specialist of Tenebrionidae who passed away in 2010. Type material. Holotype: 13 "Marble Hall, V. 1962, TV., Rorke" (TMNH). Paratypes: 2 �� "Marble Hall, V. 1962, TV., Rorke" (TMNH). Distribution. Republic of South Africa (Limpopo Province). Diagnosis. The species differs from H. morio in the structure of the metaventral process (simple, not toothlike), cf. Figs. 10 and 9; punctation on the pronotal disc (punctures fine, never confluent), cf. Figs. 6 and 5; and the structure of the elytron (intervals almost flat, not convex, and striae never in form of sulci), cf. Figs. 8 and 7. Description. Body length ca. 9.6 ���11.0 mm [holotype���11.0 mm] (Fig. 15). Body surface shining, dark brown, legs and antennae brown. Pronotum length/breadth ratio ca. 0.64, elytra length/breadth ratio ca. 1.24���1.27, length ratio elytra/pronotum ca. 2.00��� 2.03, breadth ratio elytra/pronotum ca. 1.02���1.03. Genae protruding outwards, slightly wider than eyes. Clypeus on same level as frons, distinctly emarginate (ratio of length of clypeus/depth of emargination ca. 2.08). Head covered with tubercles, more elongate on frons than on clypeus (Fig. 1). Antennae (Fig. 3) ��� ratio of length/width of 2���11 antennomeres as follow: 0.6 / 0.8; 0.8 / 0.8; 0.6 / 0.8; 0.6 / 0.8; 0.6 / 0.9; 0.6 / 1.1; 0.7 / 1.4; 0.6 / 1.4; 0.7 / 1.3; 0.9 / 1.2; antennomeres 7���11 widened, transverse. Lateral margins of mentum together with medial carina form sharp apical spike. Lateral wings of mentum small,visible. Terminal maxillary palpomere moderately widened, securiform (Fig. 2). Pronotum transverse, widest in middle, regularly narrowed to posterior angle. Posterior angles obtusely rectangular. Pronotal disc regularly convex, with distinct and roundish punctures on disc, gradually replaced by elongate tubercles on sides. Pronotal border interrupted in middle of anterior and basal margins. Border of lateral margins entire and very narrow (breadth ratio border/base of 3 rd antennomere ca. 0.29). Pronotal base straight, protruding medially slightly beyond level of posterior angles. Lateral gutters of pronotum narrow, bare, without punctures or tubercles (Fig. 6). Anterior margin of prosternum bordered. Prosternal process subparallel covered with roundish tubercles and numerous, long, gold-yellow setae. Border of prosternal process disappearing at apex (Fig. 4). Pronotal hypomera covered with elongated tubercles. Border in form of bare stripe, without punctures or tubercles. Elytra widest in middle. Elytron with 9 striae. Punctures on striae larger than on intervals. Intervals on disc weakly convex, almost flat; intervals distinctly sparsly punctate, apex and lateral sides of elytra with fine tubercles. Elytral base bordered, humeri rectangular, not protruding outwards (Fig. 8). Wings absent. Epipleuron flat, strongly widened at level of 5 th abdominal ventrite. Abdominal ventrites distinctly transverse (Fig. 13); apical parts of ventrites 2���5 with regularly distributed, small tubercles, replaced by large punctures towards base; 1 st visible abdominal ventrite covered only with small tubercles; last abdominal ventrite flat (Fig. 11). Metaventrite covered with long, gold-yellow setae. Metaventral process simple, without denticulation. Process of 1 st abdominal ventrite in males projecting forward beyond metaventrite apical margin (Fig. 10). Legs non-dimorphic (Fig. 12 A���C)., Published as part of Iwan, Dariusz & Schimrosczyk, David, 2013, A second species of the genus Helibatus Mulsant & Rey, 1859 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrina), pp. 569-575 in Zootaxa 3626 (4) on page 571, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3626.4.10, http://zenodo.org/record/220807

Genus Helibatus Mulsant & Rey, 1859 Helibatus Mulsant & Rey, 1859: 100.���Mulsant & Rey 1860: 8; Seidlitz 1894: 410; Gebien 1938 a: 93; 1938 b: 395; Koch 1963: 30; Iwan 2001: 352; Iwan 2004: 739; Iwan & Schimrosczyk 2009: 264. Type species: Helibatus morio Mulsant & Rey, 1859, by monotypy. Diagnostic characters. Body length: 8.7���11.8 mm. Pronotum length/breadth ratio 0.64���0.67, elytra length/ breadth ratio 1.26���1.33, length ratio elytra/pronotum 1.90���2.07, breadth ratio elytra/pronotum 1.01���1.03. Clypeus with deep emargination (ratio of length of clypeus/depth of emargination 2.00��� 2.08). Head and clypeus covered with tubercles, on the frons more elongate than on the clypeus. Genal canthus narrower to slightly wider than eyes. Distal antennomeres 7���11 widened, transverse. Mentum triangular with a pointed spike. Lateral parts of mentum small but visible. Terminal maxillary palpomere moderately widened, securiform. Pronotum transverse, widest in the middle, regularly narrowed to the posterior angle. Posterior angles of pronotum rectangular. Pronotal disc regularly convex, with distinct and roundish punctures which evolve gradually to the sides into elongated tubercles. Pronotal border interrupted in the middle of anterior and basal margins. Pronotal base straight, in the middle protruding slightly beyond the level of posterior angles. Border of lateral margins entire and very narrow (breadth ratio border/base of 3 rd antennomere ca. 0.29���0.33). Lateral gutters of pronotum narrow, bare, without punctures and tubercles. Anterior margin of prosternum bordered. Prosternal process subparallel, covered with roundish tubercles and numerous, long, gold-yellow setae. Border of prosternal process disappearing at apex. Pronotal hypomera covered with elongated tubercles. Hypomeral border in form of bare stripe, without punctures and tubercles. Elytra widest in mid length. Elytron with 9 striae. Striae sulcate-lineate or punctate-lineate. Punctures on striae larger than on intervals. Intervals convex or almost flat. Surface of intervals covered by distinct and sparse punctation replaced on apex and lateral sides of elytra with fine tubercles. Elytral base bordered, humeri rectangular, not protruding outwards. Scutellum wide and flat at base. Wings absent. Elytral epipleuron flat and strongly widened at level of 5 th abdominal ventrite. Abdominal ventrites distinctly transverse. Intercoxal process of 1 st abdominal ventrite in males curved downwards, projecting forward beyond metaventrite margin, in females with minute convexity. Apical part of 4 th abdominal ventrite in the middle in males elevated. Metaventrite and mesoventrite covered with oval tubercles and with longer, gold-yellow setae. Metaventral process simple or with denticulation. Legs non-dimorphic. Male and female genitalia presented typical structure of stizopoid Opatrina (Iwan & Schimrosczyk 2007)., Published as part of Iwan, Dariusz & Schimrosczyk, David, 2013, A second species of the genus Helibatus Mulsant & Rey, 1859 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrina), pp. 569-575 in Zootaxa 3626 (4) on page 570, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3626.4.10, http://zenodo.org/record/220807

Helibatus morio Mulsant & Rey, 1859 Material examined. 33 4 Ƥ, "Zambesi", "Helibates morio Mls, Gebien det. 1939 " (MIZ); 13 "Zambesi", "Holub", "Helibates morio Mls, Gebien det. 1939 " (MIZ); 13 "Museum Paris, Afrique Du Sud, R. Ellenberger 1927 " (MNHN); 13 1 Ƥ "Potgietersrust, Transvaal, 14.IV. 1933, J.S. Taylor", "Pres. by Comm. Inst. Ent. B.M. 1981 - 315 ", "under stone" (TMNH); 23 1 Ƥ "S. Afr., N.Cape, Mafeking, 27.11.1965 " (TMNH); 1 Ƥ "Caffraria"; 2 Ƥ (MIZ), "Caffraria, [...]""Helibates morio Mls, Gebien det. 1939 " (MNHN), 13 1 Ƥ "Ventersdorp, W. Transvaal, XI. 1963, L. Schulze" (TMNH); 13 "Tim's Hope, Wolkberge, E.Tvl., XI. 1970, L. Schulze & A. Strydom" (TMNH); 1 Ƥ "Mariepskop, II. 67, L. Schulze, D. Goode, [...]" (TMNH); 23 3 Ƥ " 4 m S of Mata Mata, Kalahari Nat. Park, V. 1969, L. Schulze & R. Jones" (TMNH); 13 1 Ƥ "Piena Ars Riv., Dam, Tvl, (16 mi NE Pretoria), 25.IX. 71, Bornemissza & Insley", " 434 " (TMNH); 1 Ƥ "Kalahari Gemsbok Nat. Park, at Twee Rivieren, V. 69., L. Schulze + R. Jones" (TMNH); 23 3 Ƥ "Kalahari Gemsbok Nat. Park, 24 km N/- of Twee Rivieren, V. 69., L. Schulze + R. Jones" (TMNH); 1 Ƥ "Origstad, NE-Transvaal, IV/ 62 Leleup" (TMNH); 13 "S.Afr., Transvaal, Middelburg, 1960, 25.10, C.M. de Jager" (TMNH); 13 "S.Afr., E. Transvl., Buffelsvlei, nr. Lydenburg" (TMNH); 1 Ƥ "S. Africa, Holub", "Sharp Coll., 1905 - 313 " (TMNH); 1 Ƥ " 10 m S of Warrenton, Kimberley dist., XI. 1963. L. Schulze" (TMNH); 13 "Lydenburg, Distr. 1896, P. A. Krantz", " 128 " (TMNH); 231 Ƥ "Z.A. 93, Leydenburg D., Orhigstad", "Humus, III- 1962 ", "N. Leleup leg." (TMNH); 33 2 Ƥ "S.Afr., Cape Prov., Kimberley, 28.44 S – 24.46 E ", " 4.11.1979; E-Y: 1670, hard red sand, leg. Endrödy-Younga" (TMNH).