Geographic patterns of (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) species diversity and environmental determinants in China.

Clarifying the geographic patterns of species diversity and the determinant factors can provide essential information for species conservation and management. Stag beetles (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) of are important saproxylic insects and can be used for biomonitoring forests. Most of species are facing conservation concerns due to their limited distribution and fragmented habitats, particularly in China, which has the richest species diversity of this genus. The distribution patterns of species diversity of at large spatial scales remain portly understood. We studied the distribution patterns of and its environmental and geographic determinants in China. Distribution data for 72 species and subspecies were examined. All these species are distributed in southern China except for , which is mainly distributed in north China. The hotspot for in China is southeastern Tibet. Our study indicated that the species richness of in China was shaped by the precipitation of the wettest and driest month, net primary productivity, digital elevation model, and latitude at a large scale. These variables collectively explained 56.2% of the variation in species richness; precipitation contributed the most (44.1%). Our results provide valuable insights to improve the conservation of and can contribute to furthering our understanding of the biogeography of stag beetles in China.