Beetles (Coleoptera) of Peru: A Survey of the Families. Nitidulidae

Abstract

Diversity in Peru: 4 subfamilies, 22 genera, 63 species. Recognition: This family may be recognized by the following combination of adult characters: maxilla lacking galea; antennae typically 11-segmented, with terminal three antennomeres forming a club; antennal insertions moderately to broadly separated; subocular antennal grooves on ventral surface of head present; procoxae transverse with exposed trochantins; prosternum transverse with intercoxal process extending between procoxal cavities, procoxae always separated; mesoventral procoxal rests present; typically five visible abdominal ventrites present; metendosternite stalk present; metasternum with discrimen present; and tarsal formula 5-5-5. Habitat: Several recent comprehensive reviews of Nitidulidae biology are available (Jelinek et al., 2010; Cline, 2005; Audisio et al., 2000; Audisio, 1993). Overall, nitidulid beetles exhibit a diverse set of life history strategies, including: fungivory, saprophagy, phytophagy, pollination activities, facultative predation, necrophagy, frugivory, and inquilinism with social insects. Nitidulids may be collected using a variety of directed (sweeping and beating vegetation/inflorescences, sifting leaf litter, searching under bark and various fungal substrates, as well as in nests of social Hymenoptera) and passive techniques (flight intercept traps, pitfall traps, malaise traps, and mercury vapor or black lights at night). Large numbers of nitidulids can typically be found in palm inflorescences (e.g., Mytrops and related genera); baited fruit or molasses traps (Carpophilus, Colopterus, Brachypeplus, Amphicrossus, Lobiopa, and Cryptarcha), and sifting leaf litter (Stelidota). Notes: Nitidulidae have long been confused with numerous other families of Cucujoidea. In particular, members of Cybocephalidae, Kateretidae, Monotomidae, Cryptophagidae, Biphyllidae, Smicripidae, and Erotylidae have been attributed to Nitidulidae. Recent and upcoming work on the New World Kateretidae (Cline and Audisio, 2010, and unpubl. data) will help improve the diagnostic capabilities for Nitidulidae. A recent treatment of Nitidulidae higher level phylogenetics formally elevated Cybocephalidae to family status and provided an extensive list of adult and larval characters to differentiate this group from Nitidulidae (Cline et al., 2014). Invasive species such as Urophorus humeralis (F.), Epuraea luteola Erichson, and Carpophilus hemipterus (L.) likely occur in the country as they have been transported around the world in various agricultural commodities, in conjunction with several other alien species more or less recently introduced into Peru (Carrasco, 1986; Leschen and Marris, 2005; EPPO, 2010). However, there are no existing records for