• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.229-239
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• 2017

The South Korean hermit beetle has previously been identified as Osmoderma opicum, which is distributed in Japan. Because of its rarity, this species is classified as an endangered species. To date, however, the identity of this species in South Korea has not been conclusively confirmed. To assess the taxonomic status of the hermit beetle occurring in South Korea, we performed a comparative study with the beetle's Eurasian congeners, based on morphological examination and molecular analysis using COI gene sequences. The results clearly showed that the South Korean hermit beetle is identical to Osmoderma caeleste, which has been described from the Russian Far East. Therefore, we suggest that the taxonomic identity of the South Korean hermit beetle is O. caeleste.