Faunistic and taxonomic updates on the Tenebrionidae of Malta (Coleoptera)

In the present work, original data is provided for two species of Alleculinae (Tenebrionidae) which were previously omitted from recent works related to this family. The old record of Isomira nitidula is found to be incorrect and should refer to I. melanophthalma. The record of Odocnemis exaratus must be attributed to a different species. Original data is also provided for a new record, Lyphia tetraphylla and for some other previously recorded species. Clamoris crenatus, Stenosis elongata and S. sardoa are excluded from the tenebrionid fauna of Malta whereas the record of Sepidium tricuspidatum tomentosum and Gunarus parvulus requires validation. An alien species, Zophobas opacus, is also recorded but its establishment in Malta cannot be confirmed. A check-list of the 61 species of Tenebrionidae known from Malta is also providedpeer-reviewe

A summary of the endemic beetle genera of the West Indies (Insecta: Coleoptera); bioindicators of the evolutionary richness of this Neotropical archipelago

The Caribbean Islands (or the West Indies) are recognized as one of the leading global biodiversity hot spots. This is based on data on species, genus, and family diversity for vascular plants and non-marine vertebrates. This paper presents data on genus level endemicity for the most speciose (but less well publicised) group of terrestrial animals: the beetles, with 205 genera (in 25 families) now recognized as being endemic (restricted) to the West Indies. The predominant families with endemic genera are Cerambycidae (41), Chrysomelidae (28), Curculionidae (26), and Staphylinidae (25). This high level of beetle generic endemicity can be extrapolated to suggest that a total of about 700 genera of all insects could be endemic to the West Indies. This far surpasses the total of 269 endemic genera of all plants and non-marine vertebrates, and reinforces the biodiversity richness of the insect fauna of the West Indies.Las islas del Caribe (o Indias Occidentales) son reconocidas como uno de los principales hotspots de la biodiversidad global. Esto se basa en datos sobre la diversidad de especies, géneros y familias de plantas vasculares y vertebrados no-marinos. Este trabajo presenta datos sobre la endemicidad a nivel genérico para el más especioso (pero menos popularizado) grupo de animales terrestres: los escarabajos, con 205 géneros (en 25 familias) reconocidos al presente como endémicos (restringidos) a las Indias Occidentales. Las familias predominantes en géneros endémicos son Cerambycidae (41), Chrysomelidae (28), Curculionidae (26) y Staphylinidae (25). Este alto nivel de endemicidad genérica en los escarabajos puede extrapolarse a sugerir que alrededor de 700 géneros pudieran ser endémicos entre todos los insectos de las Indias Occidentales. Esto sobrepasa ampliamente el total de 269 géneros endémicos de plantas y vertebrados no-marinos y refuerza la riqueza en biodiversidad de la fauna de insectos en las Indias Occidentales

The Andes mountain range uplift as a vicariant event in the Pimeliinae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in southern South America

The Andes mountain range extends over 8500 km along the Pacific coast of South America. Its medium altitude is 3500 m, reaching more than 6000 m at different latitudes. The uplift of the Andes  split arid habitats creating very diverse ecosystems on both sides. The distribution of the Pimeliinae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) south of parallel 15º South is analysed, where the Andean mountain range separates xeric habitats both eastward and westward. The genera of Pimeliinae show four distribution patterns: endemic taxa east of the Andes, endemic taxa west of the Andes, taxa widely distributed on both sides of the Andes, and taxa inhabiting high altitudes in the Andes. Known phylogenies of genera and species of Pimeliinae are examined in terms of the Andean mountain uplift creating a vicariant event. A biogeographical track exhibited by certain genera of Pimeliinae connecting central Chile and southern Argentina is examined.La vaste étendue des Andes couvre plus que 8500 km le long de la côte pacifique de l’Amérique du sud. L’altitude moyenne est de 3500 m mais elle dépasse plus que 6000 m avec des écosystemes très variés des deux côtés. La distribution des Pimeliinae (Coleoptera : Tenebrionidae) est examinée au sud du 15eme parallèlle où la formation des Andes a séparé des habitats désertiques à la fois vers l’est et vers l’ouest. Les genres de Pimeliinae montrent quatre modèles de distribution : espèces endémiques à l’ouest des Andes ; espèces endémiques à l’est des Andes ; espèces largement répandues les deux côtés des Andes et espèces habitant les hautes altitudes des Andes. La phylogénie connue de certaines espèces et genres est examinée pour événement vicariant à la suite de la formation des montagnes andines. Un chemin biogeographique démontré par quelques genres de Pimeliinae liant le Chile central et l’Argentine du sud est analysé.Fil: Flores, Gustavo Ernesto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; ArgentinaFil: Pizarro Araya, Jaime. Universidad de La Serena; Chil

A List of the Tenebrionidae of Michigan (Coleoptera)

The family Tenebrionidae, the darkling beetles, containing more than 14,000 species, is found primarily in the tropics and arid regions. As would therefore be expected, Michigan\u27s cool, moist environment is not attractive to very many tenebrionids. This list contains 50 identified species and six previously recorded species that were not confirmed by me

\u3ci\u3eArdoinia\u3c/i\u3e Nom. Nov., A Replacement Name for the Genus \u3ci\u3eOrghidania\u3c/i\u3e Ardoin, 1977 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) Non Capuse, 1971

A replacement name Ardoinia is proposed for the genus Orghidania Ardoin, 1977 in the family Tenebrionidae

Population ecology of Phaleria acuminata (Coleoptera : Tenebrionidae) from sandy beaches in the Maltese Islands

Populations of the beetle Phaleria acuminata fromfour beaches on the Maltese Islands were sampled for six consecutive seasons to investigate changes in population size, sex ratio, reproductive state and distribution on the shore. The populations on all the beaches showed a small decrease in numbers from spring to summer and a pronounced drop from summer to autumn, with a dramatic increase between winter and spring. Male to female sex ratio varied between 1:1 and 1:1.5. Females of all reproductive stages occurred throughout the year. There were little seasonal differences in distribution of beetles in the wet and dry zones.peer-reviewe

An Asian darkling beetle, Ceropria induta (Wiedemann), established in Florida (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Specimen records for an adventive darkling beetle, Ceropria induta (Wiedemann) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae; Diaperinae) show that this Asian insect has become established in southern Florida, USA. Illustrations and a diagnosis of the beetle are provided, with notes on habitats and possible polyporaceous hosts, and the genus is incorporated into a key to the related North American taxa

Towards a revision of the South American genus Praocis Eschscholtz (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae), with estimation of the diversity of each subgenus

A review of the subgenera of the South American genus Praocis Eschscholtz (Pimeliinae: Praociini) is presented. Praocis comprises 77 species and 8 subspecies arranged in nine subgenera distributed in arid lands from Central Peru and Bolivia to the Southern part of Patagonia in Chile and Argentina. For each subgenus of Praocis: Praocis Eschscholtz, Mesopraocis Flores & Pizarro-Araya, subgen. n., Anthrasomus Guérin-Méneville, Filotarsus Gay & Solier, Postpraocis Flores & Pizarro-Araya, subgen. n., Hemipraocis Flores & Pizarro-Araya, subgen. n., Orthogonoderes Gay & Solier, Praonoda Flores & Pizarro-Araya, subgen. n., and Praocida Flores & Pizarro-Araya, subgen. n., we present a diagnosis using new and constant characters of adult morphology such as clypeal configuration, length and proportion of antennomeres 9, 10 and 11, arrangement of apical tomentose sensory patches on antennomeres 10 and 11, anterior margin of prosternum, lateral margin of elytron, ventral surface of profemora, and shape of protibiae. An identification key for the nine subgenera of Praocis is presented. Type species are designated for the five new subgenera; for Mesopraocis: Praocis calderana Kulzer, for Postpraocis: Praocis pentachorda Burmeister, for Hemipraocis: Praocis sellata Berg, for Praonoda: Praocis bicarinata Burmeister, for Praocida: Praocis zischkai Kulzer, and for the previously described subgenus Orthogonoderes: Praocis subreticulata Gay & Solier. The current number of species and the estimated number of species to be described are presented. The distribution ranges of the subgenera, including new records from collections and recent expeditions, are given. Habitat preferences and a discussion of the biogeography of the genus are also presented.Fil: Flores, Gustavo Ernesto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; ArgentinaFil: Pizarro Araya, Jaime. Universidad de la Serena; Chil

Distribution of \u3ci\u3eStrongylium Crenatum\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in the United States and First Record From Iowa

Strongylium crenatum Mäklin (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) is reported from Iowa for the first time. After discovering that Iowa represented a large range extension for this species, label data were collected to update its range. Numerous insect collections and references were checked and specimens representing 17 states were located

Populational fluctuation and spatial distribution of Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera; Tenebrionidae) in a poultry house, Cascavel, Parana state, Brazil.

Abstract Knowledge of the population fluctuation and spatial distribution of pests is fundamental for establishing an appropriate control method. The population fluctuation and spatial distribution of the Alphitobius diaperinus in a poultry house in Cascavel, in the state of Parana, Brazil, was studied between October, 2001 and October 2002. Larvae and adults of the lesser mealworm were sampled weekly using Arends tube traps (n = 22) for six consecutive flock grow-outs. The temperature of the litter and of the poultry house was measured at the same locations of the tube traps. Beetle numbers increased continuously throughout all the sampling dates (average 5,137 in the first week and 18,494 insects on the sixth week). Significantly greater numbers of larvae were collected than adults (1 to 20 times in 95% of the sampling points). There was no correlation between temperature and the number of larvae and adults collected, therefore no fluctuation was observed during the sampling period. The population growth was correlated to litter re-use. The highest temperatures were observed in deep litter. The spatial distribution of larvae and adults in the poultry house was heterogeneous during the whole period of evaluation. Results suggest that monitoring in poultry houses is necessary prior to adopting and evaluating control measures due to the great variability of the insect distribution in the poultry house. Keywords: lesser mealworm, poultry house, temperature, population dynamicbitstream/item/78871/1/ID-27879.pd