The threat of the ambrosia beetle Megaplatypus mutatus (Chapuis) (=Platypus mutatus Chapuis) to world poplar resources

We describe the life cycle of Megaplatypus mutatus (Chapuis) (=Platypus mutatus) and the damage it causes to poplar resources in Argentina. This insect, native to the subtropical and tropical areas of South America, has extended its range into temperate regions, reaching as far south as Neuquén in Argentinean Patagonia. The damage is caused by the adult insects, which bore large gallery systems into living poplars (Populus spp.), willows (Salix spp.) and many other broadleaf species, including important fruit trees species such as apples (Malus spp.), walnuts (Juglans spp.) and avocados (Persea spp.). The galleries degrade the lumber and weaken the tree stems, which often then break during windstorms. A recent introduction of M. mutatus to Italy demonstrates that this insect can be transported long distances between countries, and therefore presents a threat worldwide - particularly to poplar cultivation. We review the taxonomic nomenclature for this pest, provide a summary of the life cycle, hosts and damage and summarize actions taken to reduce the risk of introduction of M. mutatus to Canada.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

The threat of the ambrosia beetle Megaplatypus mutatus (Chapuis) (=Platypus mutatus Chapuis) to world poplar resources

We describe the life cycle of Megaplatypus mutatus (Chapuis) (=Platypus mutatus) and the damage it causes to poplar resources in Argentina. This insect, native to the subtropical and tropical areas of South America, has extended its range into temperate regions, reaching as far south as Neuquén in Argentinean Patagonia. The damage is caused by the adult insects, which bore large gallery systems into living poplars (Populus spp.), willows (Salix spp.) and many other broadleaf species, including important fruit trees species such as apples (Malus spp.), walnuts (Juglans spp.) and avocados (Persea spp.). The galleries degrade the lumber and weaken the tree stems, which often then break during windstorms. A recent introduction of M. mutatus to Italy demonstrates that this insect can be transported long distances between countries, and therefore presents a threat worldwide - particularly to poplar cultivation. We review the taxonomic nomenclature for this pest, provide a summary of the life cycle, hosts and damage and summarize actions taken to reduce the risk of introduction of M. mutatus to Canada.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

A key for the identification of larvae of Anoplophora chinensis, Anoplophora glabripennis and Psacothea hilaris (Coleoptera Cerambycidae Lamiinae) in Europe

Anoplophora chinensis (Förster), A. glabripennis (Motschulsky) and Psacothea hilaris (Pascoe) (Coleoptera Cerambycidae Lamiinae) are longhorned beetles native to the far eastern regions of Asia and were recently accidentally introduced into Europe. The three exotic species are harmful insects to broadleaved plant species, and much attention is being paid to prevent further introductions and spread in the European Union. Severe phytosanitary measures are applied with the aim of eradicating outbreaks of the pests. Crucial for control is rapid identification of the longhorned species during phytosanitary inspections, both in entry ports and in the rest of the territory of the European Union. Taxonomic keys and descriptions of the adult morphology are available in the literature, but there are significant gaps in the taxonomy of larval morphology, and thus molecular analyses are required. During monitoring activities, a practical morphological taxonomic key would be a rapid and useful tool for species identification of the larvae. In the present work, a taxonomic key provided with detailed morphological pictures is proposed for the identification of the larvae of the three exotic species A. chinensis, A. glabripennis and P. hilaris among the closely related species of the native fauna of Europe

Blennidus (Agraphoderus) abramalagae Allegro & Giachino 2011

<i>Blennidus</i> (<i>Agraphoderus</i>) <i>abramalagae</i> Allegro & Giachino, 2011 <p>(Figs. 13, 51, 89)</p> <p> <i>Blennidus abramalagae</i> Allegro & Giachino, 2011a: 301</p> <p> <b>Type locality.</b> Peru, Cuzco, Abra Malaga, m 4400.</p> <p> <b>Examined material.</b> HT ♂ (CGi); 2 PTT ♂ and 4 PTT ♀ (CAl, CGi, CSc) (complete TS).</p> <p> <b>Note.</b> This species belongs to the <i>Blennidus jelskii</i> (Tschitschérine, 1897) group, which includes 5 species distributed in the Andes of southern Peru and distinguished by the distinctive morphology of their aedeagus (Allegro & Giachino 2011a).</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> <i>Blennidus abramalagae</i> is only recorded from the Andean district of Cuzco (southern Peru).</p> <p> <b>Habitat.</b> The collecting site of the known specimens (TS) is an Andean grassland at 4,200–4,400 m a.s.l.</p>Published as part of <i>Allegro, Gianni & Giachino, Pier Mauro, 2015, Annotated checklist of the Blennidus subgenus Agraphoderus species from Peru with description of B. bombonensis n. sp. and synonymic notes (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Pterostichinae), pp. 1-48 in Zootaxa 4000 (1)</i> on page 5, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4000.1.1, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/289219">http://zenodo.org/record/289219</a&gt

Blennidus (Agraphoderus) nigritulus Straneo 1993

<i>Blennidus</i> (<i>Agraphoderus</i>) <i>nigritulus</i> (Straneo, 1993) <p>(Figs. 32, 70, 106)</p> <p> <i>Ogmopleura nigritula</i> Straneo, 1993: 383</p> <p> <i>Blennidus nigritulus</i> (Straneo, 1993): Lorenz, 2005a: 263 <i>Blennidus nigritulus</i> (Straneo, 1993): Lorenz, 2005b: 681 <i>Blennidus nigritulus</i> (Straneo, 1993): Giachino & Allegro, 2011: 23</p> <p> <b>Type locality.</b> The ♂ HT is labelled, in Straneo’s own hand, “loc. 14”, which likely means, by analogy with all other specimens of TS and according to Straneo (1993), “ Perou, 30 km S Cerro de Pasco, 4150 m ”.</p> <p> <b>Examined material.</b> HT ♂ (CMa at MRSN); 4 PTT ♂ and 3 PTT ♀ (CMa, CSt); 1 ♂ (CMa). One PT ♂ in CMa actually belongs to <i>B. curtatus</i>. One specimen of <i>B. nigritulus</i> is included in the TS of <i>angularis</i> Straneo, 1985 (= <i>B. rectangulus</i> <b>syn. nov.</b>) (CMa) and 6 others in the TS of <i>B. rectangulus</i> (Straneo, 1993) (CMa, CSt).</p> <p> <b>Note.</b> This species is mainly distinguished by the distinctive morphology of aedeagus, as it is very similar in external morphology to a few species from central Peru (<i>B. rectangulus</i>, <i>B. euphaenops</i>, <i>B. vereshaginae</i>, etc.). An aedeagus of <i>B. nigritulus</i> is attached on separate cards by two specimens of <i>B. inca</i> (CMa, CSt), due to an evident label inversion.</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> All the recorded specimens are from the same area (30 Km South of Cerro de Pasco), which is probably a border area between Depts. Pasco and Junin.</p> <p> <b>Habitat.</b> The altitude data reported on the labels (4,150 m a.s.l.) suggest a preference of this species for the Andean grassland.</p>Published as part of <i>Allegro, Gianni & Giachino, Pier Mauro, 2015, Annotated checklist of the Blennidus subgenus Agraphoderus species from Peru with description of B. bombonensis n. sp. and synonymic notes (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Pterostichinae), pp. 1-48 in Zootaxa 4000 (1)</i> on page 13, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4000.1.1, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/289219">http://zenodo.org/record/289219</a&gt

Blennidus (Agraphoderus) refleximargo Straneo 1993

<i>Blennidus</i> (<i>Agraphoderus</i>) <i>refleximargo</i> (Straneo, 1993) <p>(Figs. 42, 80, 116)</p> <p> <i>Ogmopleura refleximargo</i> Straneo, 1993: 384</p> <p> <i>Blennidus refleximargo</i> (Straneo, 1993): Lorenz, 2005a: 263 <i>Blennidus refleximargo</i> (Straneo, 1993): Lorenz, 2005b: 801</p> <p> <b>Type area.</b> Peru.</p> <p> <b>Examined material.</b> HT ♂ (Oberthür Collection at MNHNP).</p> <p> <b>Note.</b> Species known from the HT specimen only. The name was attributed <i>in litteris</i> by Chaudoir. Easily distinguished from all other species by a wide depression before the hind angles of pronotum.</p>Published as part of <i>Allegro, Gianni & Giachino, Pier Mauro, 2015, Annotated checklist of the Blennidus subgenus Agraphoderus species from Peru with description of B. bombonensis n. sp. and synonymic notes (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Pterostichinae), pp. 1-48 in Zootaxa 4000 (1)</i> on page 16, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4000.1.1, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/289219">http://zenodo.org/record/289219</a&gt

Trechisibus

<i>Trechisibus</i> species from Argentina <p>The following new species are described.</p>Published as part of <i>Allegro, Gianni & Giachino, Pier Mauro, 2016, Nine new Trechisibus species from Peru and Argentina (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae), pp. 49-72 in Zootaxa 4193 (1)</i> on page 61, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4193.1.2, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/166618">http://zenodo.org/record/166618</a&gt

Blennidus (Agraphoderus) procerus Allegro & Giachino 2011

<i>Blennidus</i> (<i>Agraphoderus</i>) <i>procerus</i> Allegro & Giachino, 2011 <p>(Figs. 39, 77, 113)</p> <p> <i>Blennidus procerus</i> Allegro & Giachino, 2011a: 299</p> <p> <b>Type locality.</b> Peru, Cuzco, Abra Lares, m 4400.</p> <p> <b>Examined material.</b> HT ♂ (CGi); 26 PTT ♂ and 15 PTT ♀ (CAl, CCa, CGi, CMo, CMa, MSNM, BMNH, UASM) (complete TS).</p> <p> <b>Note.</b> Species belonging to the ‘ <i>B. jelskii</i> species group’, which includes four other species (<i>B. jelskii</i>, <i>B. abramalagae</i>, <i>B. etontii</i>, <i>B. straneoi</i>) distinguished by the distinctive morphology of aedeagus and restricted to the Andes of southern Peru (Allegro & Giachino, 2011a).</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> At present this species is only recorded from the Andean district of Cuzco (southern Peru).</p> <p> <b>Habitat.</b> According to the altitude data reported on the labels (4,400–4,450 m a.s.l.), <i>Blennidus procerus</i> seems to inhabit the Andean grasslands.</p>Published as part of <i>Allegro, Gianni & Giachino, Pier Mauro, 2015, Annotated checklist of the Blennidus subgenus Agraphoderus species from Peru with description of B. bombonensis n. sp. and synonymic notes (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Pterostichinae), pp. 1-48 in Zootaxa 4000 (1)</i> on page 15, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4000.1.1, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/289219">http://zenodo.org/record/289219</a&gt

Blennidus

<i>Blennidus</i> species <i>incertae sedis</i> <p> <i>B.</i> (<i>Agraphoderus</i>) <i>abditus</i> Giachino & Allegro, 2011 <i>B.</i> (<i>Agraphoderus</i>) <i>aulacostigma</i> (Tschitschérine, 1897) <i>B.</i> (<i>Agraphoderus</i>) <i>egens</i> (Tschitschérine, 1898)</p> <p> <i>B.</i> (<i>Agraphoderus</i>) <i>sublaevis</i> (Straneo, 1993)</p>Published as part of <i>Allegro, Gianni & Giachino, Pier Mauro, 2015, Annotated checklist of the Blennidus subgenus Agraphoderus species from Peru with description of B. bombonensis n. sp. and synonymic notes (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Pterostichinae), pp. 1-48 in Zootaxa 4000 (1)</i> on page 21, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4000.1.1, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/289219">http://zenodo.org/record/289219</a&gt