Micranops lacustris

A comprehensive taxonomic reassessment of the beetle species Micranops lacustris reveals its widespread distribution across northern sub-Saharan Africa, extending from Gambia and Senegal in the west to regions near Lake Victoria in Uganda. The study confirms new records for Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Gambia, Senegal, and South Sudan, while synonymizing Scopaeus fragilis under M. lacustris based on morphological analysis of type specimens. Researchers examined authentic syntypes from multiple collections, including those from the Field Museum of Natural History (Chicago) and the Natural History Museum (London), to validate taxonomic decisions. The species is characterized by its light brown to medium brown coloration, macropterous morphology, and distinct aedeagal structures in males. Collected using light traps, M. lacustris demonstrates flight capability, contributing to its broad geographic range.

Frisch, J. (2025). Micranops lacustris. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.18483370