Review of the primitive blister beetle genus Iselma, with a description of the first instar larva (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea: Meloidae)

The genus Iselma, a primitive group of blister beetles from southern Africa, is reviewed. Included are the first description of its first instar larva based on two Namaqualand species (I. flavipennis and I. pallidipennis), partial information on behaviour (sexual and asexual), and a summary of bionomics, with records of host plants, habitat preference, and elevational distribution. Two new species from Namibia (I. piscatrix and I. deserticola) are described, and remarks on the taxonomy of various other species are provided. Two new synonymies are proposed: I. longispina Kaszab, 1952 = I. okiepana Peringuey, 1909, syn. n.; I. namaqua Peringuey, 1909 = I. flavipennis Haag-Rutenberg, 1879, syn. n. A species catalogue, with complete distribution records, is provided.