The species diversity, chorology, and biogeography of the Steninae MacLeay, 1825 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in Iran is described. , the distribution of the stenine species in Iran is mapped, and their biogeographical relationships are discussed. As far as possible, the species are attributed to the commonly accepted distribution types in the Palaearctic Region after the theory of Pleistocene refuges of the arboreal biota. With the example of the Steninae and Scopaeus Erichson, 1839 (Staphylinidae: Paederinae), a cluster analysis is performed to examine the similarity of commonly accepted geographical units of Iran. The similar biogeographic pattern of the Steninae and Scopaeus reveal the high impact of Mediterranean elements on the fauna of Iran. The Hyrcanian subregion of the Caspian refuge is identified as the most significant center of origin of Stenus in Iran.

In this study, the genetic diversity of Iranian populations of two widespread Stenus species representing two ecomorphological forms, the “open living species” Stenus erythrocnemus Eppelsheim, 1884 and the “stratobiont” Stenus callidus Baudi di Selve, 1848, is presented using data from a fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene. We evaluate the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I haplotypes and the intraspecific genetic distance of these two species. Our results reveal a very low diversity of COI sequences in Stenus erythrocnemus in contrast to Stenus callidus. Moreover, the COI based phylogeny of a selection of Iranian Stenus support the monophyly of some species groups of Stenus proposed by Puthz (2008) and contradicts the traditional infrageneric classification.

In this study, the blister beetles belonging to the Hycleus sexmaculatus species group are revised. Morphological characters are described and figured for each species and keys to both male and female are provided. Hycleus hayki new species from Southwest Iran is described and the following new synonymies are proposed: Mylabris triangulifera ab. reitterioides Mader 1929 = Hycleus bipunctatus (Olivier, 1811) new synonymy; Mylabris triangulifera ab. bushirensis Mader 1929 = Hycleus bipunctatus (Olivier, 1811) new synonymy; Mylabris javeti Marseul, 1870 = Hycleus colligatus (Redtenbacher, 1850) new synonymy; Mylabris javeti umbilicatus Kaszab, 1958 = Hycleus colligatus (Redtenbacher, 1850) new synonymy; Hycleus amrishi Makhan, 2012 = Hycleus cingulatus (Faldermann, 1837) new synonymy. Additional remarks which rectify previous errors in the identification of the species are provided. The taxonomic positions of Zonabris soumacovi Pic, 1930 and Zonabris sialanus Pic, 1929 are also discussed. Phylogenetic relationships of the species, based on a subset of available species inferred from molecular data are proposed, and some morphologically defined subgroups of species are distinguished with the molecular support. The geographic and ecological distributions of all the species are defined, and a detailed list of localities is provided. The ecological information including phenology, elevation and host plants of the species are summarized in a table. Based on literature records, collections and recently collected data, the distribution of the sexmaculatus species and their biogeographic characteristics are discussed.

During recent expeditions in North and Southwest Iran, 10 species of Kateretidae and Nitidulidae (Coleoptera) were found. One species of Kateretidae, Brachyleptus bicoloratus Reitter, 1896, and three nitidulid species, Afrogethes schilskyi (Reitter, 1897), Stachygethes khnzoriani (Kirejtshuk, 1979), and S. nigerrimus (Rosenhauer, 1856) are recorded for the first time for the Iranian fauna (the latter is also a new record for Asia). Thymogethes ahriman (Jelínek, 1981) is herein resurrected to species rank, and two species, Thymogethes kassites sp. nov. and T. khorasanicus sp. nov., are described as new. An updated key to the known Near East and Afghan species of the genus Thymogethes Audisio & Cline, 2009 is also provided. Available and recently collected biological and distributional data, as well as short taxonomic comments, are given for the discussed species.