The European species of Sarops Nixon, 1942, (= Coelinius partim, sensu Wharton and Austin (1991)) are reviewed. The two existing species, S. rea Nixon and S. popovi Tobias, are compared to a new species, Sarops audax Godfray, sp. nov ., which is described from specimens collected in Norway and Finland. All species are illustrated, and a key is provided to European species and their separation from non-European taxa discussed. DNA sequences from the CO1 barcode locus were obtained from all three species, and the new taxon was found to be 5% divergent from its closest relative, S. rea . The generic status of Sarops within the Coelinius genus group is discussed, particularly its relationship with Polemochartus Schulz, 1911 with which it shares biological attributes.
H. C. J. Godfray (Fri,) studied this question.