First record of Megischus brunneus Cresson, 1865 (Hymenoptera: Stephanidae) from Hispaniola, the Antilles

The occurrence of Megischus brunneus Cresson (Hymenoptera: Stephanidae) is recorded for the first time from Hispaniola, the Antilles. The species was previously known from southern Florida and Cuba. This finding further demonstrates the similarities between the Cuban and Hispaniolan biota.Se registra por primera vez la presencia de Megischus brunneus Cresson (Hymenoptera: Stephanidae) para la Hispaniola. Esta especie se conocía anteriormente del sur de la Florida y Cuba. Este hallazgo constituye otro ejemplo de las similaridades de la biota cubana e hispaniolana

The bees of Greater Puerto Rico (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila)

The bee fauna of the Greater Puerto Rico area was studied. A review of the previous relevant studies is presented. An annotated catalog and information about the origin and distributional patterns are also provided. Thirty-nine species of bees occur in Puerto Rico and adjacent islands. This fauna is composed of four elements: exclusive Puerto Rican endemics (26.5%); Antillean endemics occurring on multiple islands (76.5%); continental species that have also colonized the Antilles (23.5%); and species introduced through human activity (12.8%). The bee fauna was both low in its diversity and showed the highest level of disharmony in relation to other faunas of the Greater Antilles. A lectotype is here designated for Agapostemon krugii Wolcott, 1936

Vespidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) of Puerto Rico, West Indies

The vespid fauna of Greater Puerto Rico is reviewed (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Three new species are described, Ancistrocerus isla Carpenter, Euodynerus jeitita Carpenter and Genaro, and Omicron aridum Carpenter and Genaro. Polistes crinitus americanus (Fabricius, 1775) and P. crinitus multicolor (Olivier, 1792) are both reduced to synonyms of nominotypical P. crinitus (Felton, 1765), revised status; Zeta abdominale hispaniolae (Bequaert and Salt, 1931) and Zeta abdominale ornatum (de Saussure, 1855) are both reduced to synonyms of nominotypical Zeta abdominale (Drury, 1770), revised status; and Zethus rufinodus monensis Bohart and Stange, 1965, and Zethus rufinodus virginicus Bohart and Stange, 1965, are both reduced to synonyms of nominotypical Zethus rufinodus (Latreille, 1806), revised status. Parancistrocerus obliquus (Cresson, 1865) is newly recorded from Puerto Rico. The presence of Pachodynerus guadulpensis (de Saussure, 1853) in Puerto Rico is confirmed. An analysis of the composition of the Puerto Rican vespid fauna is presented.Se revisa la fauna de avispas de Puerto Rico e islas adyacentes (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Se describen tres ESPECIES NUEVAS: Ancistrocerus isla Carpenter, Euodynerus jeitita Carpenter y Genaro, y Omicron aridum Carpenter y Genaro. Polistes crinitus americanus (Fabricius, 1775) y P. crinitus multicolor (Olivier, 1792) son reducidas a nombres sinónimos de la especie nominotipica P. crinitus (Felton, 1765), ESTADO REVISADO; Zeta abdominale hispaniolae (Bequaert and Salt, 1931) y Zeta abdominale ornatum (de Saussure, 1855) son reducidas a sinonimia de la especie nominotipica Zeta abdominale (Drury, 1770), ESTADO REVISADO; Zethus rufinodus monensis Bohart y Stange, 1965, y Zethus rufinodus virginicus Bohart y Stange, 1965, son reducidas a nombres sinónimos de la especie nominotipica Zethus rufinodus (Latreille, 1806), ESTADO REVISADO. Parancistrocerus obliquus (Cresson, 1865) se registra nuevamente para Puerto Rico. Se confirma la presencia de Pachodynerus guadulpensis (de Saussure, 1853) en Puerto Rico. Se analiza la composición de la fauna de véspidos de Puerto Rico

Primer registro de Trypoxylon mexicanum para la Hispaniola,Antillas Mayores (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Crabronidae)

Trypoxylon (Trypargilum) mexicanum (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) pertenece al grupo albitarse, el cual incluye a las especies mayores del género. Su distribución nativa abarca América Central, desde México hasta Panamá. En este trabajo se menciona por primera vez para la Hispaniola, Antillas. Es difícil imaginarse una especie conspicua como esta sin haber sido detectada anteriormente por algún naturalista o especialista en himenópteros aculeatos, por lo que considero un arribo reciente a la isla. Esta especie pudo haber llegado a través del comercio con América Central, ya que los nidos, hechos de barro, pueden transportar fácilmente los inmaduros, que emergen posteriormente y se dispersan después de su arribo. T. mexicanum, al menos está establecido en República Dominicana, con distribución amplia y poblaciones grandes. Esto demuestra el éxito ecológico de una población recientemente establecida en la isla, posiblemente debido al la falta de enemigos naturales y otros factores limitantes. Las hembras fueron observadas en charcos de agua, en los caminos, donde recogieron barro para construir los nidos tubulares. Las celdillas de crianza fueron provisionadas exclusivamente con varias especies de arañas de la familia Araneidae. La araña endémica, Eustala bisetosa Bryant fue además utilizada como presa. Se proveen otros datos sobre la historia natural.Trypoxylon (Trypargilum) mexicanum (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) belongs to the albitarse group, which includes the larger species of the genus. Its native distribution extends throughout Central America from Mexico to Panama. Here it is reported for the first time from Hispaniola, West Indies. Because it is difficult to envisage such a conspicuous species having eluded capture any naturalist or aculeate specialist previously, I consider that it has recently arrived on the island. It may have arrived due to the trade with Central America, since the nests, made of mud, can easily transport the immatures that subsequently emerge and disperse after their arrival on the island. T. mexicanum is established at least in the Dominican Republic, with a wide distribution and large populations. This demonstrates the ecological success of a recently established population on the island, perhaps due to escape from natural enemies and an absence of other limiting factors. The females were observed at puddles of water on the roads where they pick up mud with which they construct their tubular nests. Brood cells were provisioned exclusively with several species of spiders of Araneidae. An endemic spider, Eustala bisetosa Bryant was also used as prey. Other data about natural history is also provided

First record of \u3ci\u3eXysma dominicum\u3c/i\u3e Antropov, 1995 (Hymenoptera: Pemphredonidae) in Puerto Rico, the Antilles, and notes on the nesting behavior

Xysma dominicum Antropov (Hymenoptera: Pemphredonidae) is recorded for the first time in Puerto Rico. It was found nesting in vertical banks in dry forest habitat in Guánica, Ponce. Notes about the nesting behavior are presented. The female, previously unknown, is described and illustrated. Se registra por primera vez a Xysma dominicum Antropov (Hymenoptera: Pemphredonidae) para Puerto Rico. La especie fue encontrada nidificando en paredes verticales, en el bosque seco de Guánica, Ponce. Se presentan notas sobre la conducta de nidificación. Se describe e ilustra a la hembra, previamente desconocida

Origins, composition and distribution of the bees of Cuba (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila)

The origins of the Cuban bee fauna are reviewed. This fauna began to form 40 million years ago during the Proto Antilles period, through ancestors that arrived in successive invasions from adjacent continental areas. The composition of the Antillean fauna has evolved continuously over millions of years until the present time. The native bee fauna of Cuba is represented by 89 species, contained in 29 genera and 4 families. The number of genera represented per family is as follows: Colletidae (3), Halictidae (8), Megachilidae (4), and Apidae (14). The Cuban apifauna contains four principal groups with distinct biogeographic histories: endemic species of Cuba (43.8%); endemic species of the Antilles shared among multiple islands (33.1%); continental species whose distribution includes the Antilles (16.8%); and species introduced through human activity (6.3%). An analysis of the distributions of Cuban bee species reveals that areas of highest species endemism coincide with the main mountainous nuclei of the East, Center and West. These were: the Sierra Maestra mountain range (with 25 species), Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa (15), the Mountain range of Guaniguanico (14) and the Massif of Guamuaya (14). The distribution of the bees in the Cuban Archipelago was not uniform, possibly due to the ecological conditions of the respective habitats, the diversity and presence of specific food plants, and interspecific competition. The endemism of bees in Greater Antilles is considered high keeping in mind the mobility of the group, as observed not only in Cuba (43.8%) but also Jamaica (50%), Hispaniola (45.6%), and in Puerto Rico and adjacent islands (26.5 %)

Upper Bound on the Hadronic Light-by-Light Contribution to the Muon g-2

There are indications that hadronic loops in some electroweak observables are almost saturated by parton level effects. Taking this as the hypothesis for this work, we propose a genuine parton level estimate of the hadronic light-by-light contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, a_mu (LBL,had). Our quark mass definitions and values are motivated in detail, and the simplicity of our approach allows for a transparent error estimate. For infinitely heavy quarks our treatment is exact, while for asymptotically small quark masses a_mu (LBL,had) is overestimated. Interpolating, this suggests quoting an upper bound. We obtain a_mu (LBL,had) < 1.59 10^-9 (95% CL).Comment: 4 pages; 2 references added, some changes in text; final versio

A new species of Pharaxonotha (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) : probable pollinator of the endangered Cuban cycad, Microcycas calocoma (Zamiaceae)

The new species Pharaxonotha esperanzae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea: Erotylidae: Pharaxonothinae) is described. It feeds on the pollen of the endangered Cuban cycad Microcycas calocoma (Miq.) A. DC. and breeds in its male cones. Its potential role as a pollinator of Microcycas is discussed.Se describe la especie nueva: Pharaxonotha esperanzae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea: Erotylidae: Pharaxonothinae). Ésta se alimenta del polen del cicadal cubano amenazado Microcycas calocoma (Miq.) A.DC y se reproduce en su cono masculino. Se discute su papel potencial como agente polinizador