Elytral Intervals Research Articles

Description of a new species of Anomala Samouelle, 1819 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae) from the Nanling Mountains (China) and remarks on three related species

Anomala calceuiformis Huang & Lu, sp. nov. is described as a new species based on specimens collected from Mangshan National Nature Reserve, Hunan Province, China. Anomala calceuiformis sp. nov., which has an elongate, red-brown body, a strongly reflected clypeus, and convex elytral intervals, is similar to Anomala fukiensis Machatschke, 1955, Anomala longicarcarata Lin, 2002, and Anomala spatuliformis Lin, 2002. Here we provide a key to these species, describe and diagnose each of them, and compile a distribution map. In addition, the Cytochrome oxidase I (COI) DNA sequence of Anomala calceuiformis sp. nov. is provided. The morphological features that distinguish Anomala calceuiformis sp. nov. from related species are discussed.

Two new species of the subgenus Pleurosticha of the genus Chrysolina (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from the mountains of southern Siberia (Altai and Tyva)

Two new species from the subgenus Pleurosticha of the genus Chrysolina are described from the mountains of southern Siberia (Russia): Ch. reshetnikovi sp. nov. (Republic of Altai) and Ch. borisi sp. nov. (Republic of Tyva). Chrysolina reshetnikovi sp. nov. has a slightly convex body, a blue-green coloration of the upper side, regular puncture rows of the elytra and mostly flat elytral intervals, which distinguish this species from all species of the subgenus, except for Ch. shapkini Mikhailov et Gus’kova, 2013. The main distinguishing features of the male of the new species from Ch. shapkini are the strongly broadened tarsomeres 1–3, the pygidium with an impression along its entire length, the last abdominal sternite with a semicircular depression, and the apex of the aedeagus bent at 90°. Chrysolina borisi sp. nov. has a convex small body, black coloration of the upper side, femora and tibiae, regular puncture rows of the elytra and slightly convex elytral intervals, and the aedeagus near the apex with a narrow protrusion of the lateral side directed toward the aedeagus base.

Okalianecopinata sp. nov. (Insecta, Coleoptera, Elmidae) from Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak (Malaysia).

Okalianecopinatasp. nov., from Sarawak, northwest Borneo, Malaysia, is described and illustrated along with an identification key. The standard barcoding fragment of the mitochondrial gene coding for cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) was used together with morphological characters to delimit the taxonomic boundaries of the two known species, which live in shallow streams flowing through dense primary forests in limestone areas in Pahang (West Malaysia) and Sarawak (East Malaysia). The majority of all examined Okalia are flightless. Morphological distinguishing characters are the length of the granulated fifth elytral interval, the elytral and pronotal punctation, the aedeagal morphology, and the distal portion of the ovipositor.

Definition of the Emmallodera perlifera Species Group (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Scotobiini) from Argentina with Descriptions of Two New Species

The genus Emmallodera Blanchard, 1842 (Tenebrionidae: Scotobiini) is widely distributed in western and southern Argentina and partially in southern Chile, inhabiting the biogeographic provinces Patagonian, Chacoan and Monte. The genus Emmallodera is well characterized within Scotobiini by the presence of a single spine on the profemur of its species, as well as by having pointed terminal antennomeres, and the tarsomeres loosely articulated to each other. Within the genus, E. perlifera Burmeister, 1875 is the largest species and is the only one characterized by the presence of tubercles on elytral intervals. Analysis of the recently collected specimens resulted in discovery of two new species (E. payunia Silvestro and Flores sp. nov. and E. andina Silvestro and Macagno sp. nov.), which share the main diagnostic features of E. perlifera but possess enough differences in elytral configuration and male genitalia to confirm that they are not conspecific. Under a deep morphological revision, it can be concluded that all of the three above-mentioned species constitute a well-characterized species-group inside the genus Emmallodera, while each of these taxa inhabits different biogeographic provinces, i.e.: Emmallodera perlifera (Monte and Chaco), E. payunia Silvestro and Flores sp. nov. (Patagonian) and E. andina Silvestro and Macagno sp. nov. (Puna). This paper includes taxonomic characterization of the group, designation of lectotype for E. perlifera, descriptions of the two new species, habitus photographs, illustrations of genital features and a distribution map.

A new species of the genus Urumaelmis Sat, and the first record of the genus from China (Coleoptera: Elmidae).

The genus Urumaelmis Sat, 1963 is recorded for the first time from China. A new species, Urumaelmis yunnanensis sp. nov. is described from Yunnan, China. The new species can be distinguished from U. uenoi uenoi (Nomura, 1961) and U. u. tokarana (Sat, 1963) by its larger body size, and by the carina on elytral interval VI which extends nearly from base to apex; and from U. flammea Nakajima Kamite, 2020 also by its black body color, the median groove of pronotum not reaching the base, pointed anterior pronotal angles, and by the absence of parameres. The habitus, and aedeagus photos, and line drawings of the male genitalia are provided.

About Notiophilus Duméril, 1806 (Coleoptera, Carabidae): Species delineation and phylogeny using DNA barcodes

The genus Notiophilus Duméril, 1806 is a distinctive taxon of small, diurnal and morphologically similar beetles exhibiting large eyes and widened second elytral intervals. In this study we analysed the effectiveness of DNA barcodes to discriminate 67 specimens that represent 8 species of Notiophilus from Central Europe. Interspecific K2P distances below 2.2% were found for N.biguttatus (Fabricius, 1779) and N.quadripunctatus Dejean, 1826, whereas intraspecific distances with values > 2.2% were revealed for N.rufipes Curtis, 1829. An additional phylogenetic analysis of all available species revealed a close relationship of N.directus Casey, 1920, N.semistriatus Say, 1823, N.simulator Fall, 1906 and N.sylvaticus Dejean, 1831, possibly indicating a radiation of these species in North America. Low support values of most other nodes, however, do not allow additional phylogenetic conclusions.

A new genus of the tribe Ceutorhynchini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Baltic amber

A new genus, Baltocoeliodes gen. n. (type species: B. sontagae sp. n.) is described and illustrated from Eocene Baltic amber. Baltocoeliodes is close to Coeliodinus Dieckmann, 1972 but differs by having the femora with a large tooth, robust elytra, and elytral intervals with rasp-like granules. It differs from the genus Brevicoeliodes Korotyaev, 1997 by the short apical comb of setae on the protibiae, the long and curved rostrum, femora with a large tooth, and elytral intervals with rasp-like granules.

Description of Kumatoeides gen. nov. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Eumolpinae) from New Caledonia

In this article, I describe a new endemic genus of New Caledonian Eumolpinae, Kumatoeides gen. nov. (tribe Eumolpini), and eight new species currently conforming the genus: K. anomala sp. nov., K. aulacia sp. nov. (generic type), K. leptalei sp. nov., K. megale sp. nov., K. metallica sp. nov., K. millei sp. nov., K. tarsalis sp. nov. and K. wanati sp. nov. Some easily recognizable defining traits of this new genus of fairly small species (2.23-3.20 mm) are the glabrous dorsum, aligned punctures on elytra in eight regular striae plus short scutellar and a subhumeral striae, convex elytral intervals, and the enlarged and elongate first pro- and mesotarsomeres of males. One species originally described in the genus Montrouzierella Jolivet, Verma et Mille is transferred to the new genus as Kumatoeides costata (Jolivet, Verma et Mille) nov. comb. A preliminary phylogenetic analysis using partial cox1 and rrnS mtDNA sequences of five species of Kumatoeides gen. nov. together with a representative sample of species of Eumolpinae from New Caledonia supports the monophyly of the genus and the existence of two main groups as recognized based on morphological traits. However, data are not conclusive about the relationship of the new genus with other New Caledonian lineages, although suggest a closest relationship with some unidentified species most similar to some representatives of the genus Samuelsonia Jolivet, Verma et Mille but with morphological similarities with Kumatoeides gen. nov., including dilated male protarsomeres, similar antennomere proportions and tendency to aligned rows of punctures on elytra, at least apically.

On the identity of a U.S. intercepted Conotrachelus Dejean (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) with avocado (Persea americana).

BackgroundThe multimillion-dollar avocado industry is threatened by a number of serious insect pests, including at least seven species of Curculionidae. Of these, three Conotrachelus species are known to develop and feed on avocados: Conotrachelus aguacatae Barber, Conotrachelus perseae Barber and C. serpentinus (Klug); the first two are of economic importance. Recently, a series of unrecognised Conotrachelus was intercepted with avocado and other commodities by the USDA at various southern U.S. ports of entry. The species most closely resembled the U.S. native Conotrachelus posticatus Boheman. Given the threat posed by certain species of Conotrachelus to avocado, the identity and biology of intercepted unknown Conotrachelus species becomes a matter of much concern for regulators due to the potential risk posed by non-native species to local agriculture. This study aims to determine the identity, which in turn may shed light on the biology and native distribution, of possible new non-U.S.-native weevils and provide the tools necessary to distinguish amongst phenotypically similar native species.New informationAmongst the unknown Conotrachelus weevils intercepted with avocados at certain U.S. ports of entry is Conotrachelus lobatus Champion. This poorly known species resembles a commonly collected, phenotypically variable indigenous U.S. species, Conotrachelus posticatus, which, on occasion, is also intercepted with avocado. Conotrachelus lobatus has been collected, since the early 1900s until today, along a narrow corridor in the southwest Mexican states of Michoacan, Jalisco and Nayarit. Specimen label data in natural history collections suggests the presence of this species in large numbers in early July in the avocado growing region of Mexico and, based on notes from former curators, appears to breed in acorns of the Mexican endemic oak species Quercus obtusata. The interception of C. posticatus and C. lobatus wth avocado does not imply strict biological association, however it reveals an important pattern of a non-native species' potential for introduction and its potential vector. Understanding all aspects of an organism's biology will better equip growers, as well as regulators, with effective and well-informed management strategies. Characters are imaged and discussed in order to help distinguish some Conotrachelus species belonging to Conotrachelus group II designated by Schoof (1942). Some characters of particular importance are the shape of the metauncus; shape of the lateral margin of the elytra and presence/absence of costate first and second elytral intervals. This study includes high-resolution images of seven Conotrachelus species, including the known avocado pests C. aguacatae and C. perseae, as well as the first images of C. lobatus, C. scoparius Champion and C. squamifrons Champion. The latter three species are not USA natives and were not included in Schoof's work. This study also confirms the important role played by natural history collections in anchoring the species' name through the study of types, which allows for the linking of biological and distribution data over time. Lectotypes are herein designated for C. lobatus and C. squamifrons.

Purealus beckelorum, a new genus and species of cleonine weevil from western Texas and eastern New Mexico (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Lixinae, Cleonini)

The new genus Purealus Anderson (type species, Purealusbeckelorumgen n. et sp. n., type locality: McKenzie Lake, Gaines County, Texas) is described to accommodate a new species of cleonine weevil from western Texas and eastern New Mexico. Habitus images and images of taxonomically significant structures are presented. Purealus appears to be unique within Cleonini in the distinctly tumescent and asperate base of elytral interval 3, and widely separated procoxae, two characters apparently not shared with any other world Cleonini. The species cannot be placed in either Apleurus or Scaphomorphus due to a combination of characters in part shared by each genus and the lack of characters used to define the monophyly of each genus. Coding of the character states and addition to the analysis presented in a recent comprehensive analysis of world Cleonini did not provide any significant information on phylogenetic affinities. No information on plant associations is available; most specimens have been collected walking on the ground in winter months in arid habitats.

First records of weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Quaternary Colombian copal

Three new weevil species, Stenommatus copalicus sp. nov. (Curculionidae: Dryophthorinae), Conotrachelus dysaethrius sp. nov. and Cydianerus eukrinus sp. nov. are described and figured from Quaternary Colombian copal. Keys to recent and fossil species of New World Stenommatus, recent and fossil species of Conotrachelus with broken carinae of the 2nd and 5th elytral intervals and a body size greater than 7.0 mm, and recent and fossil species of New World Cydianerus, are provided. These are the first records of Curculionidae from Colombian copal and the first records of the genera Stenommatus and Cydianerus in Colombia.

A new species of Loricera Latreille from Eocene Baltic amber (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Loricerinae)

Cai, C., Liu Y. & Huang, D., February 2017. A new species of Loricera Latreille from Eocene Baltic amber (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Loricerinae). Alcheringa xx, xxx-xxx. ISSN 0311-5518.Loricerinae is a small, distinctive subfamily of ground beetles, comprising only one genus Loricera Latreille. Only one fossil species is known to date. Here, we describe a new species, Loricera groehni sp. nov., belonging to Loricera based on a well-preserved adult in Eocene Baltic amber. Loricera groehni is tentatively attributed to the obsoleta group of the subgenus Loricera s.str. based on the relatively long antennomere 3 and punctate elytral interval 7. The discovery of a new species morphologically close to the extant Loricera species from western China and northern India suggests that the obsoleta group was more widespread in the Eocene than it is at present. The distribution pattern of Chinese Loricera is probably relictual. The fossil species, possessing conspicuous stiff setae on the basal antennomeres, was probably a specialized predator of springtails.Chenyang Cai [cycai@nigpas.ac.cn], Key Laboratory of Economic Stratigraphy and Palaeogeography, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, PR China; Ye Liu [liuye198282@126.com], Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, PR China; Diying Huang [dyhuang@nigpas.ac.cn], State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, PR China.

A new species of the genus Nalassus Mulsant (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Helopini) from the Baltic amber

The first Eocene species of the tribe Helopini, Nalassus klebsi sp. nov., from the Baltic amber is described. The new species is included in the nominative subgenus and similar to the extant species N. dermestoides (Illiger) and N. laevioctostriatus (Goeze), from which it differs in the shape of eyes (eyes are considerably less transverse than in living Palearctic species of the genus Nalassus Mulsant), the shape of the pronotum with acute posterior angles (other Palearctic Nalassus have obtuse or straight pronotal angles) as well as convex elytral intervals. Species of the less specialized nominative subgenus are widespread in forests and (partly) alpine landscapes of Europe (eastwards up to the Urals) and eastern Asia.

To attach or not to attach? The effect of carrier surface morphology and topography on attachment of phoretic deutonymphs of Uropoda orbicularis (Acari).

Previous studies on preferences of phoretic deutonymphs of Uropodina for attachment sites have shown that they frequently select smooth and hydrophobic surfaces. The aim of our study was to provide the detailed morphological and topographical characteristics of beetle body surfaces to which deutonymphs frequently attach and to verify how the presence of setae and surface sculpture affects deutonymph attachment. The study was conducted on Uropoda orbicularis (Müller, 1776) and its common beetle carriers: Aphodius prodromus (Brahm, 1790), Aphodius fimetarius (Linnaeus, 1758), Onthophagus nuchicornis (Linnaeus, 1758) and Margarinotus carbonarius (Hoffmann, 1803). Morphology and topography of elytra, femora, propygidia and pygidia of beetles were analysed mainly using SEM methods supported with CLSM and AFM techniques. The hypothesis that deutonymphs may attach to surfaces covered with setae, if seta density is low enough not to disturb mite movement, was tested. The study revealed that deutonymphs attach to surfaces of various types as follows: (i) smooth, (ii) hairy, i.e., covered with setae, (iii) flat and (iv) sculptured. Smooth body parts and body parts covered with setae of low density were most frequently and intensively occupied with deutonymphs. Surfaces of high seta density were avoided by mites. Within elytra of Aphodius beetles, deutonymphs definitely preferred flat surfaces of elytral intervals. On the contrary, densely punctuated propygidium and pygidium in M. carbonarius were heavily infested with deutonymphs. We conclude that carrier surface morphology and topography are important for Uropodina deutonymph attachment, but these two factors cannot fully explain the observed relation.

First record of the genus <i>Pseudopilolabus</i> Legalov, 2003 (Coleoptera: Attelabidae) in Dominican amber

Abstract. A new weevil species (urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2D5E9E4A-A250-4D0A-AF69-CF4753436686), Pseudopilolabus othnius Poinar, Brown and Legalov, sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Attelabidae), is described from Dominican amber. The new species is close to the extant P. viridanus (Gyllenhal, 1839) and P. splendens (Gyllenhal, 1839) but differs by having a bronzed body, narrower and more convex elytral intervals, long antennae reaching the middle of the pronotum, and weakly convex eyes; from P. rugiceps (Voss, 1925) it differs by having a smoother pronotum without transverse rugosity; from P. chiriquensis (Hamilton, 1994) it differs by having indistinctly protuberant humeri and the elytra nearly parallel from the humeri to the midpoint. The fossil weevil is the first record of the tribe Pilolabini (Attelabidae) from the West Indies and the first record of the Attelabidae from any amber source.

A new genus and two new species of Pterostichini from China, with “sphodrine-like” parameres (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

A new genus of Pterostichini, Apophylon Guéorguiev & Sciaky, gen. n. (type species: Apophylon schillhammeri Guéorguiev & Sciaky, sp. n.) is proposed for Apophylon schillhammeri Guéorguiev & Sciaky, sp. n. (type locality: China, SE Guizhou Province, Leishan County, SE Kaili) and Apophylon pangu Guéorguiev & Sciaky, sp. n. (type locality: China, NW Hunan Province, Wulingyuan District, near the town of Wulingyuan). These two species share a unique combination of characters, not known in any other Pterostichini. The new genus can be distinguished by having (1) a left paramere without transverse apophysis; (2) a falcate right paramere, with styloid apex, broadened medial part and subbasal hasp; (3) a median lobe with dorsal ostium; (4) metatarsomeres 1-2 setose on the medioventral surface, in addition to the lateroventral setae; (5) meso- and metatarsomeres 1–4 with two dorsolateral grooves diverging distally; and (6) elytral striae with shining isodiametric microreticulation, which is in contrast to less shining transverse-mesh microreticulation on the elytral intervals.

Two new species of the genus Rhynchitobius Sharp, 1889 (Coleoptera: Rhynchitidae) in Dominican amber

SummaryNew species of rhynchitid weevils, Rhynchitobius tanyrhinus n. sp. and R. xuthocolus n. sp. (Coleoptera: Rhynchitidae) in the tribe Auletini are described from Dominican amber. The former species is characterized by a long rostrum, narrow pronotum and elytra, rugose elytral intervals and distinct elytral striae. The latter species has a short rostrum, wide antennal club, yellow legs, non-rugose elytral intervals and weak elytral striae. The present study describes the first representatives of the family Rhynchitidae from Dominican amber.

New species of the genera Dryophthorus Germ. and Stenommatus Woll. (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) in Dominican amber

A new species of Dryophthorus and two new species of Stenommatus (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) are described from Dominican amber. Dryophthorus microtremus n. sp. is characterised by monochrome dorsal scales, nearly parallel sides of the pronotum, wide elytral intervals and the elytral apex only slightly narrowed. Stenommatus tanyrhinus n. sp. is characterised by an elongate rostrum 4.5 times as long as wide in the middle. S. leptorhinus is characterised by small body size, a thin rostrum 3.0 times as long as wide in the middle, wide striae and a narrow prosternal process. This brings the total number of species of Dryophthorini in Dominican amber to five, which is more than half the number of extant species.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4329D0DA-57BD-4CEA-9464-ABD5D1577FC9

First record of the genus <i>Baris</i> Germar, 1817 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in Dominican amber

Abstract. A new weevil species – Baris grossacavis Poinar and Legalov, sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) – is described from Dominican amber. The new species is close to Baris rubripes Casey, 1892, but differs by possessing large punctures over much of its body, including the pronotum; elytral intervals with rows of narrow scales, and narrow elytral intervals. The fossil is the first record of the subfamily Baridinae from any amber source and the first record from the Miocene.

Definition and review of the lancangjiang species group of the termitophilous genus Orthogonius Macleay, 1825 (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Orthogoniini)

The lancanjiang species group of the termitophilous ground beetle genus Orthogonius Macleay, 1825, is defined and reviewed. This group is characterized by the black and rather elongate body, dense punctation on head and elytra, long and slender appendages, thin fore tibiae, and elytral interval 3 without a subapical setiferous pore. To date, the lancanjiang species group is composed of four species and one subspecies, including three new species and one new subspecies which are described in the present paper: O. macrophthalmus sp. n. (northern Vietnam), O. euthyphallus sp. n. (southern Vietnam), O. euthyphallus bolavenensis ssp. n. (southern Laos) and O. carinatus sp. n. (northern Laos). A distribution map and a key to all species of this group are also provided.