Entomological Expeditions Research Articles

A comprehensive analysis of Morales Agacino entomological expeditions in Spanish Sahara 1941-1946, with an updated checklist of collection sites and collected insect species (Insecta Polyneoptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera Carabidae and Tenebrionidae)

From 1941 to 1946, E. Morales Agacino (Estación Fitopatológica del INIA, Almería), accompanied by J. Mateu Sanpere (naturalist, seconded to the Spanish Sahara), J. Giner Marí (Instituto Español de Entomología, Madrid) and F. Español Coll (Museo de Zoología, Barcelona), explored the ex-Spanish Sahara (from Cap Juby to Cap Blanc) according to a standardised protocol. Collected specimens and types of newly described taxa were deposited in the museums of Madrid and Barcelona and the results of the surveys published in the journal EOS. In total, 356 species and subspecies of Polyneoptera, Coleoptera and Hymenoptera have been collected. This large-scale entomological survey is presently little considered, mainly because the published locality names are no more in use and difficult to georeference. We have reconstructed the routes of the eight missions carried out by Morales Agacino, Giner Marí and Mateu Sanpere using old maps of the Spanish Sahara (1949) and recent maps of southern Morocco. 134 collection sites have been identified, listed with old and actual toponyms, geographical coordinates and elements of topographical descriptions. Lists of the species collected during these expeditions for the Insecta Orthoptera, Blattodea, Mantodea, Dermaptera, Phasmatodea, Coleoptera (Carabidae Latreille, 1802 and Tenebrionidae Latreille, 1802), and Hymenoptera (Sphecidae Latreille, 1802, Crabronidae Latreille, 1802, Pompilidae Latreille, 1805, Bradynobaenidae Saussure, 1892 and Mutillidae Latreille, 1802) are given. The scientific value of these data for taxonomy and conservation is illustrated for the Orthoptera Acridomorpha: within the Dericorythidae Jacobson & Bianchi, 1905, the type locality of Bolivaremia domenechi Morales Agacino, 1949 is identified and described; and the synonymy of Pamphagulus mateui Morales Agacino, 1949 and Pamphagulus vicinus Ramme, 1931 is reanalysed using distributional data. Examples of acridomorph Saharan and Mediterranean indicator species are given, using their separate distributions in the local west-east climate continuum. The coherence of the surveys carried out by Morales Agacino and his collaborators provide a most valuable reference inventory for the characterization of the Sahara fauna and its transformations since 1950; its use will be facilitated by the proposed up-date of geographical data.

Tettigoniidae (Insecta: Orthoptera) collected in tropical forests of Zambia, Cameroon, Gabon and São Tomé during the entomological expeditions of African Natural History Research Trust

Summary The present study is based on a significant sample of Orthoptera, mainly Tettigonoidea, collected by the African Natural History Research Trust in four African countries; a total of 109 taxa was found, of which 32 were in Zambia, 37 in Cameroon, 76 in Gabon and only four in the island of São Tomé. The complete list of species is annotated and commented. Sixteen species (45.7%) were previously unrecorded in Zambia, five (13.5%) in Cameroon, 52 (67.5%) in Gabon, while all the species found at São Tomé were already known from that island. It is evident that Zambia and Gabon are countries unexplored from the orthopterological point of view, in particular because many unrecorded species in these countries are widespread in tropical Africa. The list of the species contains 11 new species; in the present paper six new species are described (Horatosphaga hemporum n. sp., Eulioptera richardsmithi n. sp., Dioncomena takanoi n. sp., Eurycorypha klausgerhardi n. sp., Arantia (Arantia) marginata n. sp., Tetraconcha fusca n. sp.), while one species of Leiodontocercus was already described and the description of the others is in progress within the revision of the genus Eurycorypha. Overall, collected material from Zambia contained four new species (12.5%), that from Gabon seven new species (9.2%), of which one is common to Gabon and Cameroon. Based on the results presented here, the orthopterofauna of Gabon is particularly rich and additional sampling will result in the discovery of further unknown species. Interestingly, Desaulcya pictipennis from Gabon was known only from the type material described 113 years before in Cameroon, and Rhinodera spinifrons also from Gabon was known only from the type described 64 years before in Cameroon.

Check-list of Macroheterocera (Insecta, Lepidoptera) collected in 2019 in Mongolia by Russian entomological expeditions

The article provides the list of Macroheterocera (Lepidoptera), collected in Mongolia in two expeditions of Russian entomologists in 2019. The first travel (September 14−24) − Bayan-Ulgii, Khovd, and Gobi-Altai Aimaks; the second travel (June 24 – July 5) − Uvurkhangai, Bayanhongor, and Töw Aimaks. 21 species are indicated for the fauna of Mongolia for the first time: Idaea elongaria (Rambur, 1833) (Geometridae), Orgyia dubia (Tauscher, 1806), Thylacigyna antiquoides (Hübner, 1822), Ivela ochropoda (Eversmann, 1847), Catocala deducta Eversmann, 1843, C. desiderata Staudinger, 1888, C. neglecta Staudinger, 1888, (Püngeler, 1906), Autophila vespertalis (Staudinger, 1896) (Erebidae), Acronicta tridens ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), Caradrina expansa Alphéraky, 1887, C. inopinata Hacker, 2004, Polymixis atossa (Wiltshire, 1941), P. rosinae (Bohatsch, 1908), Dasypolia maria Volynkin, 2012, Pseudohadena argyllostigma (Varga & L.Ronkay, 1991), Ctenoceratoda turpis (Staudinger, 1900), Mythimna l-album (Linnaeus, 1767), M. vitellina (Hübner, 1808), Dichagyris flammatra ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), Agrotis psammocharis Boursin, 1950, Eugnorisma atrabaelbops Varga, 1975 (Noctuidae).

New data on the distribution, biology and ecology of the longhorn beetles from the area of South and East Kazakhstan (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae).

New data on the distribution, biology and ecology of the longhorn beetles occurring in southern and eastern regions of Kazakhstan are presented together with a list of 78 species that were collected during two entomological expeditions conducted in May and June 2017. New localities of some rare taxa endemic to this region of Asia, such as Psilotarsusbrachypterusbrachypterus (Gebler, 1830), Stenocorusminutus (Gebler, 1841) and Dorcadioncrassipescrassipes Ballion, 1878 are given. Exocentrusstierlini Ganglbauer, 1883 is recorded from Kazakhstan for the first time. Moreover, the occurrence of three species: Amarysiusduplicatus Tsherepanov, 1980, Rhopaloscelisunifasciatus Blessig, 1873 and Saperdaalberti Plavilstshikov, 1916, which were recently found in the country, is also confirmed. Furthermore, high-quality photographs of several unique taxa, i.e. Psilotarsusbrachypteruspubiventris (Semenov, 1900), Xylotrechusadspersus (Gebler, 1830), X.alakolensis Karpiński & Szczepański, 2018, Anoplistesgalusoi (Kostin, 1974), A.jacobsoni Baeckmann, 1904 and Obereakostini Danilevsky, 1988 along with images of their habitats and feeding galleries are also presented. New localities of species considered serious pests or invasive, such as Turaniumscabrum (Kraatz, 1882) and Trichoferuscampestris (Faldermann, 1835), respectively, are also given. A new synonymy is proposed: Cerambyxscalaris Linnaeus, 1758 = Cerambyxhieroglyphicus Pallas, 1773, syn. n.

John Gray (1812–1881), Lancashire Cotton-mill Owner: Adventures of a Yachtsman, Artist and Entomologist

The eminent naturalists, Richard Thomas Lowe, Thomas Vernon Wollaston and Hamlet Clark, have long been known to have undertaken expeditions on yachts owned by their rather obscure friend, a mysterious ‘Mr Gray’. Hitherto, very little was known of this man, now confirmed to be John Gray (1812–1881), a wealthy Lancashire cotton-mill owner. He owned three yachts at various times, and belonged to the Royal Mersey Yacht Club of Liverpool and the Royal Yacht Squadron of Cowes, Isle of Wight. A keen yachtsman, artist, and a member of the Entomological Society of London, he became an expert on beetles, of which he formed a scientifically important collection. Although Gray published nothing himself, he assisted in the fieldwork of Lowe and Wollaston in remote Macaronesian archipelagos, and Clark’s entomological expeditions in Spain and Algeria, by putting his yachts at their disposal and helping with beetle-collecting. He also accompanied Clark to Brazil, and Wollaston to St Helena, on passenger-steamers. During these expeditions, he collected spiders from the Cape Verde Islands and Brazil for the arachnologist, John Blackwall. At other times, travelling alone (either on his yacht or on steamships), he gathered insects from the West Indies, the USA and South Africa. Specimens collected by Gray and given to other entomologists, and remnants of his own collection auctioned off in 1883, are in the Bolton Museum, Lancashire; the Manchester Museum; the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow; and the Natural History Museum, London. At least one species of gastropod mollusc, fifteen species of beetles, and two species of spiders are named in Gray’s memory. He was also an enthusiastic water-colourist, but no examples of his paintings have been traced.

Butterfly and skipper records from Lebanon (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea)

Eighty-five specimens of 30 papilionoid species have been collected in Lebanon during entomological expeditions launched in 2015 and 2016 by the joint project of the Hungarian Natural History Museum and the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik. Th e collecting sites and events are listed, and the species annotated. With 23 figures.

Revision of the African species of the genus Tinodemus Guillebeau (Coleoptera, Phalacridae). Results of the entomological expeditions of the Museum of Natural History, Berlin to Africa. 76th contribution

Genus Tinodemus Guillebeau, 1894 is redescribed. T. acuminatus sp. n. from Tanzania (?), T. apicalis sp. n. from Kenya, T. bicolor sp. n. from Tanzania, T. distinctus sp. n. from Botswana, Zambia, Burundi and Zimbabwe, T. maruskae sp. n. from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, T. neglectus sp. n. from Zambia, T. obsoletus sp. n. from Kenya, T. obtusus sp. n. from South Africa, T. ovalis sp. n. from Tanzania and Uganda, T. reticulatus sp. n. from South Africa and Tanzania, T. ruficornis sp.n. from Kenya, T. sanderi sp. n. from Guinea, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, T. sculpturatus sp. n. from Guinea, T. secundus sp. n. from Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia and T. snizeki sp. n. from Guinea and Uganda, are described and distinguished from similar species. The species examined are divided into the Tinodemus grouvellei and Tinodemus claviger species groups. The genus Astenulus Guillebeau, 1896 is synonymized with Tinodemus Guillebeau, 1894. Lectotypes of Tinodemus grouvellei Guillebeau, 1894 and Olibrus mesomelas Champion, 1925 are designated and redescribed. Astenulus micropus Guillebeau, 1896, Olibrus claviger Champion, 1925 and O. championi Hetschko, 1929 are redescribed and transferred to the genus Tinodemus. Nesiotus tropicus Scott, 1922, Olibrus mesomelas and O. rubicundus Champion, 1925 are transferred to the genus Tinodemus Stilbus capriviensis Lyubarsky, 1997 is transferred to the genus Podocesus Guillebeau, 1894. Olibrus fuscostriatus Lyubarski, 1997 is shown to be a junior synonym of Tinodemus rubicundus (Champion, 1925). T. rubicundus from Namibia, T. micropus from Reunion, T. claviger from Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe are recorded for the first time. A key to the African species of Tinodemus is presented.

Annotated checklist of weevils from the Papuan region (Coleoptera, Curculionoidea)

The following checklist includes 2,955 species-group names and 553 genus-group names of weevils occurring in the Papuan region. Major islands treated are: Aru, Biak, Bougainville, Manus, Mysol, New Guinea, Salawatti, Trobriand, Waigeo, Woodlark, and Yapen Islands and the islands of the Admiralty, Bismarck, d’Entrecasteaux, and Louisaide Archipelagoes. Maps of the region with historically important collection localities are provided. Entomological expeditions to the region and collections containing significant weevil material are summarized. All available family-group, genusgroup and species-group names are arranged alphabetically for all families of Curculionoidea known from the region. All currently accepted species epithet are annotated with taxonomic references, notes on published distributions, past taxonomic changes, infrasubspecific names, and species-group synonymies. The following nomenclatural changes are proposed: the monotypic genus Neplaxa Casey is a new synonym of Pantoxystus Pascoe; its type species Neplaxa illustratus Casey is a new synonym of Pantoxystus rubricollis (Boisduval). Two subgenera of Neosynaptops, Neosynaptopsis Legalov and Pseudosynaptos Legalov are new synonymies of Euops (Neosynaptops) Voss revised status. Typespecies are designated for 25 genera, changes of rank or status are proposed for 19 taxa, and 88 new combinations are listed in “Nomenclatural changes.”

Revision of the African species of the genusTinodemus Guillebeau (Coleoptera, Phalacridae). Results of the entomological expeditions of the Museum of Natural History, Berlin to Africa. 76th contribution

Revision of the African species of the genusTinodemus Guillebeau (Coleoptera, Phalacridae). Results of the entomological expeditions of the Museum of Natural History, Berlin to Africa. 76th contribution

Weitere Untersuchungen zu Diversität und Taxonomie der Samenkäfer‐Gattung Spermophagus SCHOENHERR in der Afrotropischen Region (Chrysomeloidea; Bruchidae, Amblycerinae)

Further Studies of Diversity and Taxonomy of the Seed Beetle Genus Spermophagus SCHOENHERR in the Afrotropical Region (Chrysomeloidea; Bruchidae, Amblycerinae)1069 specimens of the seed beetle genus Spermophagus SCHOENHERR, collected in the Afrotropical region by the entomological expeditions of the Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt‐Universität zu Berlin, the National Museum of Namibia Windhoek, and other museums were studied and the results discussed. A total of 34 species are recorded from 35 different African countries; 22 species are reported for the first time from Namibia. The previously unknown females of six species, for which only the males were known, have been found for the first time and their genitalia are described and depicted. One new synonym is established: Spermophagus hottentotus var. abyssinicus PIC, 1927 = Sp. latithorax BOHEMAN, 1828.

Die entomologischen Afrika‐Expeditionen des Museums für Naturkunde Berlin von 1992 bis 1995 als Grundlage für das Forschungsprojekt „Zur Biodiversität von Insekten in der afrotropischen Region”︁

The Entomological Expeditions of the Museum of Natural History Berlin to Africa from 1992 to 1995 as a Basis for the Project “Biodiversity of Insects in the Afrotropical Region”The Museum of Natural History Berlin initiated the research project “Biodiversity of Insects in the Afrotropical Region” and organized eight entomological expeditions to southern Africa (Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia) in 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995.The paper summarizes the objectives of the research project and lists the investigated insect groups, the specialists from the Museum of Natural History Berlin as well as the national and international partners cooperating in the research project, the travel routes of the eight expeditions and its main localities (locality names, geographical synonyms, coordinates, and short characterizations).Furthermore, the authors intend to draw the attention of the international community of entomologists to the availability of newly collected insect material from important localities of the southern afrotropical region and to invite interested researchers to take part in the study of these specimens.

The Elachistidae of southern Siberia and Central Asia, with descriptions of five new species (Lepidoptera)¹

The Elachistidae material collected during the joint Soviet-Finnish entomological expeditions to the Altai mountains, Baikal region and Tianshan mountains of the previous USSR is listed. Previous literature dealing with the Elachistidae in Central Asia is reviewed. A total of 40 species are dealt with, including descriptions of five new species: Stephensia jalmarella sp. n. (Altai), Elachista baikalica sp. n. (Baikal), E. talgarella sp. n. (southern Kazakhstan), E. esmeralda sp. n. (southern Kazakhstan) and E. filicornella sp. n. (southern Kazakhstan). The previously unknown females of E. bimaculata Parenti, 1981 and Biselachista zonulae Sruoga, 1992 are described.

A New Velia from Arizona with Notes on Other Species (Hemiptera - Veliidae)

For the past three summers Entomological expeditions from the University of Kansas under the field direction of Doctor R. II. Beamer have been made into the southwestern part of the United States. Besides making rich additions to the collections made by Dr. Francis Huntington Snow many years ago, Doctor Beamer and his assistants have added many undescribed insects. One of them is described below:

List of Species of Hymenoptera: Collected in Arizona by the University of Kansas Entomological Expeditions of 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, and 1906

List of Species of Hymenoptera: Collected in Arizona by the University of Kansas Entomological Expeditions of 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, and 1906

List of Coleoptera Collected in New Mexico by the Entomological Expeditions of the University of Kansas

List of Coleoptera Collected in New Mexico by the Entomological Expeditions of the University of Kansas

Some Results of the University of Kansas Entomological Expeditions: To Galveston and Brownsville, Tex., in 1904 and 1905

Some Results of the University of Kansas Entomological Expeditions: To Galveston and Brownsville, Tex., in 1904 and 1905

Some results of the University of Kansas entomological expeditions to Galveston and Brownsvillec Texasc in 1904 and 1905

Some results of the University of Kansas entomological expeditions to Galveston and Brownsvillec Texasc in 1904 and 1905

Some Results of the University of Kansas Entomological Expeditions to Arizona in 1904 and 1905

Some Results of the University of Kansas Entomological Expeditions to Arizona in 1904 and 1905