The uses of Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794)(Diptera: Calliphoridae) in forensic entomology:

Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) occurs on every continent and is closely associated with carrion and decaying material in human environments. Its abilities to find dead bodies and carry pathogens give it a prominence in human affairs that may involve prosecution or litigation, and therefore forensic entomologists. The identification, geographical distribution and biology of the species are reviewed to provide a background for approaches that four branches of forensic entomology (urban, stored-product, medico-criminal and environmental) might take to investigations involving this fly

Firefly genomes illuminate parallel origins of bioluminescence in beetles

Fireflies and their luminous courtships have inspired centuries of scientific study. Today firefly luciferase is widely used in biotechnology, but the evolutionary origin of bioluminescence within beetles remains unclear. To shed light on this long-standing question, we sequenced the genomes of two firefly species that diverged over 100 million-years-ago: the North American Photinus pyralis and Japanese Aquatica lateralis. To compare bioluminescent origins, we also sequenced the genome of a related click beetle, the Caribbean Ignelater luminosus, with bioluminescent biochemistry near-identical to fireflies, but anatomically unique light organs, suggesting the intriguing hypothesis of parallel gains of bioluminescence. Our analyses support independent gains of bioluminescence in fireflies and click beetles, and provide new insights into the genes, chemical defenses, and symbionts that evolved alongside their luminous lifestyle

Systematic status of the Chilean genus \u3ci\u3eCarlota\u3c/i\u3e Arias-Bohart, 2014 (Coleoptera: Elateridae: Agrypninae: Agrypnini)

The click beetle genus Carlota Arias-Bohart (Coleoptera: Elateridae: Agrypninae: Agrypnini) was considered as a junior synonym of Candanius Hayek recently. However, there are deep morphological differences between these genera which justify the validity of Carlota. The morphology of this genus was re-examined in detail and based on the short and shallow antennal grooves, strongly serrate antennae from antennomeres 3 through 10, subquadrate pronotum with four distinct subcircular depressions, and straight prosternal process not bent dorsally, I resurrect the genus Carlota from synonymy

Revision of the elaterid genus Podonema Solier, 1851, from Southern South America (Coleoptera, Elateridae, Pomachiliini)

The redefinition of the Southern South American genus Podonema Solier, 1851 (type species : Podonema impressum Solier, 1851, by monotypy) is presented with new distributional data. Nine species are included : Podonema impressum Solier 1851, P. aluperam n. sp., P. dalcahue n. sp., P. kopihue n. sp., P. maihue n. sp., P. mawida n. sp., P. obscuratum Golbach, 1979, n. stat., P. palmarense n. sp. and P. wiloi n. sp.Révision du genre Podonema Solier, 1851, d'Amérique du Sud méridionale (Coleoptera, Elateridae, Pomachiliini). Le genre Podonema Solier, 1851, du sud de l'Amérique latine (espèce-type Podonema impressum Solier, 1851, par monotypie) est révisé et de nouvelles données sur sa répartition géographique sont apportées. Neuf espèces sont à présent incluses dans le genre : Podonema impressum Solier, 1851, P. aluperam n. sp., P. dalcahue n. sp., P. kopihue n. sp., P. maihue n. sp., P. mawida n. sp., P. obscuratum Golbach, 1979, n. stat., P. palmarense n. sp. et P. wiloi n. sp.Revisión del género Podonema Solier, 1851, del Sur de America del Sur (Coleoptera, Elateridae, Pomachiliini). Se revisa el género sudamericano Podonema Solier, 1851 (especie tipo Podonema impressum Solier, 1851, por monotipo) y se presenta nueva información que incluye 9 especies : Podonema impressum Solier 1851, P. aluperam n. sp., P. dalcahue n. sp., P. kopihue n. sp., P. maihue n. sp., P. mawida n. sp., P. obscuratum Golbach, 1979, n. stat., P. palmarense n. sp., P. wiloi n. sp.Arias-Bohart Elizabeth T. Revision of the elaterid genus Podonema Solier, 1851, from Southern South America (Coleoptera, Elateridae, Pomachiliini). In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 115 (1),2010. pp. 35-46

Systematic status of the Chilean genus \u3ci\u3eCarlota\u3c/i\u3e Arias-Bohart, 2014 (Coleoptera: Elateridae: Agrypninae: Agrypnini)

The click beetle genus Carlota Arias-Bohart (Coleoptera: Elateridae: Agrypninae: Agrypnini) was considered as a junior synonym of Candanius Hayek recently. However, there are deep morphological differences between these genera which justify the validity of Carlota. The morphology of this genus was re-examined in detail and based on the short and shallow antennal grooves, strongly serrate antennae from antennomeres 3 through 10, subquadrate pronotum with four distinct subcircular depressions, and straight prosternal process not bent dorsally, I resurrect the genus Carlota from synonymy

Systematic status of the Chilean genus Carlota Arias-Bohart, 2014 (Coleoptera: Elateridae: Agrypninae: Agrypnini)

The click beetle genus Carlota Arias-Bohart (Coleoptera: Elateridae: Agrypninae: Agrypnini) was considered as a junior synonym of Candanius Hayek recently. However, there are deep morphological differences between these genera which justify the validity of Carlota. The morphology of this genus was re-examined in detail and based on the short and shallow antennal grooves, strongly serrate antennae from antennomeres 3 through 10, subquadrate pronotum with four distinct subcircular depressions, and straight prosternal process not bent dorsally, I resurrect the genus Carlota from synonymy

Revision of the elaterid genus Podonema Solier, 1851, from Southern South America (Coleoptera, Elateridae, Pomachiliini)

The redefinition of the Southern South American genus Podonema Solier, 1851 (type species : Podonema impressum Solier, 1851, by monotypy) is presented with new distributional data. Nine species are included : Podonema impressum Solier 1851, P. aluperam n. sp., P. dalcahue n. sp., P. kopihue n. sp., P. maihue n. sp., P. mawida n. sp., P. obscuratum Golbach, 1979, n. stat., P. palmarense n. sp. and P. wiloi n. sp.Révision du genre Podonema Solier, 1851, d'Amérique du Sud méridionale (Coleoptera, Elateridae, Pomachiliini). Le genre Podonema Solier, 1851, du sud de l'Amérique latine (espèce-type Podonema impressum Solier, 1851, par monotypie) est révisé et de nouvelles données sur sa répartition géographique sont apportées. Neuf espèces sont à présent incluses dans le genre : Podonema impressum Solier, 1851, P. aluperam n. sp., P. dalcahue n. sp., P. kopihue n. sp., P. maihue n. sp., P. mawida n. sp., P. obscuratum Golbach, 1979, n. stat., P. palmarense n. sp. et P. wiloi n. sp.Revisión del género Podonema Solier, 1851, del Sur de America del Sur (Coleoptera, Elateridae, Pomachiliini). Se revisa el género sudamericano Podonema Solier, 1851 (especie tipo Podonema impressum Solier, 1851, por monotipo) y se presenta nueva información que incluye 9 especies : Podonema impressum Solier 1851, P. aluperam n. sp., P. dalcahue n. sp., P. kopihue n. sp., P. maihue n. sp., P. mawida n. sp., P. obscuratum Golbach, 1979, n. stat., P. palmarense n. sp., P. wiloi n. sp.Arias-Bohart Elizabeth T. Revision of the elaterid genus Podonema Solier, 1851, from Southern South America (Coleoptera, Elateridae, Pomachiliini). In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 115 (1),2010. pp. 35-46

Description of Sharon gen. nov. for the Chilean species Asaphes amoenus Philippi, 1861 (Coleoptera: Elateridae)

Sharon gen. nov. is here described to include Asaphes? amoenus Philippi, 1861 comb. nov. from Chile. A redescription of the species is based on the female holotype and material from different geographic locations. Candèze (1891) placed Asaphes amoenus and Parasaphes elegans in the suprageneric group Asaphites. We discuss differences between Sharon gen. nov. and Hemicrepidius Germar, 1839, where Asaphes amoenus was later placed by Blackwelder (1944). Based on morphological characters, Sharon gen. nov. appears to be related to Parasaphes Candèze, 1881, Wynarka Calder, 1986, and Tasmanelater Calder, 1996, all from Australia, suggesting Gondwanan relationships

Why so many apparently rare beetles in Chilean temperate rainforests? ¿Por qué hay tantos coleópteros presuntamente raros en los bosques templados de Chile?

Species abundance curves were calculated from data sets collected by fogging 52 trees in Nothofagus forest (~46000 specimens) and 24 trees in Araucaria forest (~15000 specimens) in Chile. Neither data set fitted the standard species abundance models. Like similar data sets collected from tropical forests, there were too many species represented by single specimens. The proposal that these were vagrants normally found on other tree species was not supported as, unlike tropical forests, Nothofagus forests are not diverse, often consisting of single species stands. Examination of three assumptions of the most parsimonious equilibrium models showed them to be false. Between them the observations of undersampling bias, community disequilibria and combining data from different feeding guilds with different species abundance curves are likely to be sufficient to explain the divergence of data for large speciose beetle communities from the predictions of any of the equilibrium models. Until these three factors can be fully accounted for and residual divergence detected, there is no necessity to propose further, more complex, mechanisms to explain such data sets. Estimated values of alpha and Simpson D were shown to be strongly sample size dependent, affecting their value as estimators of biological diversity.Se calcularon curvas de abundancia de especies a partir de datos obtenidos por medio de nebulización de 52 árboles en bosques de Nothofagus (aproximadamente 46000 ejemplares) y 24 árboles en bosques de Araucaria araucana (aproximadamente 15000 ejemplares) en Chile. Los datos obtenidos no se ajustan a los modelos estándares de abundancia de especies, al igual que los datos obtenidos de bosques tropicales, existen muchas especies representadas por ejemplares únicos. La hipótesis de que los mencionados ejemplares únicos son erráticos y que se encuentran normalmente en otros árboles no fue aceptada, contrario a los bosques tropicales, los bosques de Nothofagus no son diversos y generalmente lo conforman una sola especie. El análisis de tres supuestos a partir de los modelos de equilibrio más parsimoniosos, demostró que dichos modelos son falsos. Entre ellos, las observaciones de muestreo afectadas por sesgo, desequilibrio de la comunidad y la combinación de datos procedentes de distintos estratos alimenticios con diferentes curvas de abundancia de especies, parecen ser suficientes para poder explicar la divergencia de los datos para las comunidades de coleópteros con alto número de especies, a partir del supuesto de cualquier modelo de equilibrio. Hasta que estos tres factores se puedan tomar en cuenta y se pueda detectar divergencia residual, no existe necesidad de proponer mecanismos más complejos para explicar dichos datos. Los valores estimados de alfa y Simson D están estrechamente correlacionados al tamaño de la muestra, lo cual afecta su valor como estimador de la diversidad biológica