Mycetophilous beetle diversity along an altitudinal gradient in the central region of Chiapas, Mexico

Los hongos son parte de la dieta de larvas y adultos del orden Coleoptera; sin embargo, es un recurso que con poca frecuencia se utiliza como atrayente para la recolección de estos insectos. En este trabajo se analizaron los ensamblajes de escarabajos micetófilos en cuatro localidades ubicadas a lo largo de un gradiente altitudinal de la región central de Chiapas, México. Para el muestreo de escarabajos se utilizaron trampas de caída cebadas con el cuerpo fructífero del hongo Agaricus bisporus previamente fermentado. En total se capturaron 208 individuos que integran 27 especies de las familias Scarabaeidae (Scarabaeinae), Silphidae y Staphylinidae. La diversidad de especies fue baja en comparación con otros atrayentes utilizados para el muestreo de estos grupos de insectos, no obstante, se obtuvo una alta representatividad de especies. De manera general, la diversidad está relacionada con el incremento de la altitud, pero la respuesta fue diferente entre familias. Scarabaeinae estuvo mejor representada en los sitios de menor altitud, caso contrario ocurrió con Staphylinidae que predominó en los sitios de mayor altitud, esto permitió diferenciar tres comunidades de escarabajos a lo largo del gradiente (Dβ = 2.77). A pesar de la baja prevalencia de especies y sus abundancias, estos resultados indican que este tipo de atrayentes pueden ser utilizados por diversas especies y es probable que funcionen como una fuente alterna que permite segregar la competencia por la demanda y la repartición de alimento cuando los recursos preferidos son escasos. Ofrecer un número diverso de recursos alimentarios potenciales, permitiría establecer el espectro trófico de las especies de forma más realista y objetiva. Por lo tanto, este tipo de atrayentes pueden ser utilizados para la captura de escarabajos en los inventarios de biodiversidad permitiendo obtener resultados más precisos sobre la diversidad local de insectos.Fungi are part of the diet of larvae and adults of the order Coleoptera; however, it is a resource that is infrequently used as an attractant for the collection of these insects. In this work, mycetophilous beetle assemblages were analyzed in four localities located along an altitudinal gradient in the central region of Chiapas, Mexico. Pitfall traps baited with the fruiting body of the fungus Agaricus bisporus previously fermented were used for beetle sampling. A total of 208 individuals comprising 27 species of the families Scarabaeidae (Scarabaeinae), Silphidae, and Staphylinidae were captured. Species diversity was low compared to other attractants used for sampling these insect groups, however, a high representativeness of species was obtained. In general, diversity is related to increasing altitude, but the response was different among families. Scarabaeinae was better represented in the lower altitude sites, the opposite case occurred with Staphylinidae that predominated in the higher altitude sites, this allowed differentiation of three beetle communities along the gradient (Dβ = 2.77). Despite the low prevalence of species and their abundances, these results indicate that these types of attractants can be used by diverse species and are likely to function as an alternate source to segregate demand competition and food partition when preferred resources are scarce. Offering a diverse number of potential food resources would allow to establish the trophic spectrum of species in a more realistic and objective way. Therefore, this type of attractant can be used to capture beetles in biodiversity inventories allowing to obtain more accurate results on local insect diversity

Primer reporte de Phengodes (Phengodella) leonilae Zaragoza-Caballero y Wittmer, 1986 (Coleoptera: Phengodidae) en Quintana Roo, México

Phengodes (Phengodella) leonilae Zaragoza-Caballero & Wittmer, 1986 (Coleoptera: Phengodidae) is recorded for first time in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. In total, 10 specimens deposited in the Entomological Collection of El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (Chiapas, Mexico) were reviewed. The specimens were collected in the municipalities of Cozumel and Othón P. Blanco, in different months between 1997 and 2018.Se registra por primera vez a Phengodes (Phengodella) leonilae Zaragoza-Caballero y Wittmer, 1986 (Coleoptera: Phengodidae) en el estado de Quintana Roo, México; lo que supone el primer registro de la familia Phengodidae para el estado. En total se revisaron 10 ejemplares depositados en la Colección Entomológica de El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (Chiapas, México). Los ejemplares se recolectaron en los municipios de Cozumel y Othón P. Blanco, en diferentes meses entre los años 1997 y 2018

Variation in dung beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) assemblages in a tropical forest remnant from a Mexican National Park

The Cañón del Sumidero National Park (PNCS) is a priority area for conservation, but there are few studies on its fauna, which evidences the need for further basic studies to produce adequate knowledge on its biodiversity. This study aimed to determine dung beetle assemblages temporal distribution, trophic preference, and daily activity patterns. We conducted samplings using baited pitfall traps in a PNCS tropical sub deciduous forest remnant, during the dry and rainy seasons between 2014 and 2015. We captured a total of 863 individuals of 20 species, 12 genera, and five tribes of Scarabaeinae. Estimators suggest that we obtained high faunistic representation (> 80%), but species richness is low compared to other regional studies. The community was characterized by a high number of rare species and few dominant species. We captured the greatest richness and abundance during rainy months, however, species composition between seasons did not differ significantly. Trophic preference was mainly generalist and we considered only four species as specialists to tapir dung. We observed a clear segregation between activity hours. Nevertheless, we determined only nine species as specialists (six nocturnal and three diurnal) and two others had generalist habits. The low diversity we found could be influenced by the constant pressure of the urban area and non-native species within the park, which alter the dung beetle assemblages. However, performing samplings for longer periods and using a wider range of resources would help us obtain more robust results and better understand species distribution patterns

Presence of Dichotomius (dichotomius) centralis (Harold) in Mexico and a New State Record for Dichotomius amplicollis (Harold) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)

Chamé-Vázquez, Eduardo Rafael (2020): Presence of Dichotomius (dichotomius) centralis (Harold) in Mexico and a New State Record for Dichotomius amplicollis (Harold) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 74 (2): 384-387, DOI: 10.1649/0010-065X-74.2.384, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1649/0010-065x-74.2.38

Nuevos registros de distribución de Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) para Chiapas/New distributional records of Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) from Chiapas

Five new distributional records are presented. Birandra (Yvesandra) angulicollis (Bates 1879), Parandra (Tavandra) polita Say 1835, Derobrachus procerus Thomson 1860, Chlorida festiva (Linnaeus 1758) and Carneades grandis (Thomson 1860) are reported for the first time from Chiapas

Onthophagus tacanensis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae), a new species from Chiapas, Mexico

Chamé-Vázquez, Eduardo Rafael, Sánchez-Hernández, Gibrán (2022): Onthophagus tacanensis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae), a new species from Chiapas, Mexico. Zootaxa 5182 (2): 196-200, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5182.2.

Current status of dung beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) diversity and conservation in Natural Protected Areas in Chiapas (Mexico)

Natural Protected Areas (NPAs) are consider adequate tools for biodiversity conservation. Currently in Mexico there are 182 federal NPAs classified according to their management objectives. Chiapas is the Mexican state with the highest number of decreed NPAs and also allocates one of the largest territorial extensions for its protection. Unlike other taxa, and despite their proven ability to respond to ecosystem changes, the study of dung beetles within Mexican NPAs has been underestimated, as they are not considered as a priority group within their management and conservation programs. Based on the review of information available in publications and database on dung beetles, a list of 112 species and seven subspecies recorded in 16 of the 19 federal NPAs established in Chiapas is presented. The species recorded by each NPA show a significant correlation with the number of publications, but a low percentage of them correspond to studies with systematic samplings and most of the species reported in several of the NPAs come from sporadic records, which prevents the study of several basic and applied aspects of dung beetles in the region. Therefore, studies that extensively analyze the communities of arthropod groups, such as the Scarabaeinae, are necessary to understand their response to changes in the ecosystem at local and regional scale. It is advisable that these insects be included in the previous justifying studies for the designation or establishment of NPAs and, in turn, considered in the biological monitoring programs of these areas for their capacity as a bioindicator group

Addenda and corrigenda: Gutiérrez N, Toledo-Hernández VH, Noguera FA (2020) Four new species of Phrynidius Lacordaire (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae) from Mexico with an identification key for the genus. ZooKeys 1000: 45–57. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1000.56757

After describing Phrynidius jonesi Gutiérrez, Toledo & Noguera, 2020 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae), the authors had the opportunity to study a conspecific individual of this species and recognize that the holotype had been erroneously determined as a male when in fact it was a female. Here, we rectify this error and provide morphological information for the identification of both sexes. Additionally, we record Phrynidius armatus Linsley, 1933 from Chiapas, Mexico. Finally, we document P. cristinae Gutiérrez et al. 2020 feeding on a fungus, which represents the first record for any species of the genus Phrynidius with this adult feeding habit