Description of a new species of Epicauta Dejean, 1834 from Mexico with a review of the Epicauta cupraeola species group (Coleoptera, Meloidae)

[EN] We describe a morphologically remarkable new species of the Epicauta cupraeola species group from the highlands of the State of Nayarit, Mexico. The external appearance of Epicauta cora sp. nov., is similar to that of Epicauta rufipennis and Epicauta diana, but it is distinct from both species based on male antennae structure, shape and pilosity of the head and pronotum, color of pronotal pilosity, and male fore-tarsal structure. The nine species integrating now the E. cupraeola species group have been revised. This study of 323 specimens, including diverse type material, confirms the synonymy of Cantharis rufescens with Epicauta basimacula first proposed by Pinto (1991), and reports new geographic records for Mexican taxa. The species of the E. cupraeola group are included in a key and illustrated photographically, including type specimens of five taxa. A phylogenetic re-analysis of the E. cupraeola species group results in the placement of the new species as sister to E. rufipennis, which together form a sister clade to the remaining species of the E. cupraeola group.[ES] Se describe una especie nueva, morfológicamente singular, del grupo de especies de Epicauta cupraeola de las zonas altas del Estado de Nayarit, México. La apariencia externa de Epicauta cora sp. nov., es similar a la de Epicauta rufipennis y Epicauta diana, pero difiere de ambas en la estructura de las antenas del macho, forma y pilosidad de la cabeza y pronoto, y estructura de las tibias anteriores del macho. Se revisan las nueve especies incluidas ahora en el grupo de especies de E. cupraeola. Este estudio que incluye 323 especímenes, entre ellos material tipo diverso, confirma la sinonimia de Cantharis rufescens con Epicauta basimacula propuesta por Pinto (1991), y aporta nuevos registros geográficos para las especies de México. Se presenta una clave para las especies del grupo de E. cupraeola y se ilustran fotográficamente, incluyendo ejemplares tipo de cinco taxones. Un nuevo análisis filogenético del grupo de E. cupraeola indica que la especie nueva se sitúa como grupo hermano de E. rufipennis, de forma que juntas constituyen el clado hermano de las demás especies del grupo.This work was supported by grant CGL2010-15786 from the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (Spain).Peer reviewe

A new species of Meloe linnaeus, 1758 from southwestern Morocco included in the M. (eurymeloe) rugosus Marsham, 1802 species group (Coleoptera: Meloidae)

Recibido/Received: 05/08/2014; Aceptado/Accepted: 26/01/2015; Publicado en línea/Published online: 18/03/2015[ES] Las colecciones científicas del Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC, Madrid) albergan un extenso material entomológico recogido en Marruecos a principios del siglo XX por el insigne naturalista M. Martínez de la Escalera. El estudio morfológico del material del género Meloe Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera: Meloidae) revela la existencia de poblaciones morfológicamente diferenciadas en las regiones costeras de Essaouira e Ifni. Estas poblaciones se encuadran en el grupo de Meloe rugosus Marsham, 1802 dentro del subgénero Eurymeloe Reitter, 1911. Sus características diferenciales y constantes respecto al resto de las especies norteafricanas y europeas del grupo, permiten tratar a este conjunto de poblaciones como una entidad taxonómicamente independiente que se describe aquí, Meloe baamarani n. sp. Esta especie nueva se caracteriza por presentar la coloración del cuerpo y apéndices negra, de aspecto mate; pilosidad negra, corta; cabeza ancha y de sienes ampliamente redondeadas, sin surco longitudinal medio; antenas largas, con los artejos III a VIII más largos que anchos, subcilíndricos; pronoto transverso, con los lados netamente convergentes hacia atrás, sin surco mediano; punteado de cabeza y pronoto denso; edeago estrecho, lóbulo medio largo y robusto, sinuado dorsalmente, con los dientes ventrales próximos al ápice. En la región occidental del noroeste africano M. baamarani puede confundirse únicamente con Meloe mediterraneus Müller, 1925, especie con la que comparte un aspecto general similar, pero de la que se diferencia por numerosos caracteres morfológicos, entre los que se incluyen la microrreticulación del tegumento, la ausencia de surco medio en la cabeza, la morfología y macroescultura del pronoto, y la configuración de la genitalia masculina.[EN] The scientific collections of the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC, Madrid) hold an extense set of entomological materials collected in Morocco along the first decades of the XXth century by the preeminent naturalist M. Martínez de la Escalera. Morphological studies of the specimens of the genus Meloe Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera: Meloidae) reveals the existence of populations morphologically differentiated along the coastal regions of Essaouira and Ifni. These populations are included within the Meloe rugosus Marsham, 1802 species group in the subgenus Eurymeloe Reitter, 1911. Their differential traits with respect to all other North African and European species of the Meloe rugosus species group are constant, and permit considering these populations as a taxonomic independent unit described herein, Meloe baamarani n. sp. This new species is characterized by having a black, opaque, general coloration all over the body and appendages; black short vestiture; broad head with broadly rounded temples, without median longitudinal groove; long antennae, with segments III to VIII subcylindrical and longer than wide; pronotum transverse, with convergent sides toward the base, without median groove; head and pronotum punctuation dense; aedeagus narrow, median lobe wide and strong, dorsally sinuous, with ventral hooks close to the apex. Meloe baamarani can be only confused on the western regions of northern Africa with Meloe mediterraneus Müller, 1925. This species shares a general appearance with M. baamarani, but differs in many morphological traits. Among those, tegument micro-reticulation, absence of median groove along the head, pronotum morphology and macrosculpture, and configuration of the male genitalia, are included.Parte de los muestreos y la infraestructura básica para la realización de este trabajo ha sido aportada por el proyecto CGL2010–15786 (Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología, España).La visita a la colección del MNHN de París ha sido realizada gracias al apoyo del Proyecto SYNTHESYS (http://www.synthesys.info/) financiado por la “European Community Research Infrastructure Action” dentro del programa FP7 “Capacities”.Peer reviewe

Presencia de Nacerdes (Xanthochroa) raymondi (Mulsant & Godart, 1860) (Coleoptera, Oedemeridae) en el Magreb occidental (Norte de África)

We report the presence of an established population of Nacerdes (Xanthochroa) raymondi in the Autonomous City of Ceuta (Spain, northern tip of the Tingitanian Peninsula). This new record confirms the presence of N. (X.) raymondi in western Maghreb after more than half a century without data. The presence of N. (X.) raymondi in Ceuta extends its North African known range to the northwest, filling the distributional gap between the Algerian and the southern Iberian populations, and supporting the veracity of two old dubious northern Moroccan records (Rif and Middle Atlas). The specimens observed were attracted to lights at night, in different occasions during July and August. Morphological traits of the collected specimens are similar to those shown by Iberian specimens, confirming its identity with N. (X.) raymondi raymondi (Mulsant & Godart, 1860).Se informa de la presencia de una población establecida de Nacerdes (Xanthochroa) raymondi en la Ciudad Autónoma de Ceuta (España, extremo septentrional de la península Tingitana). Este nuevo registro confirma la presencia de N. (X.) raymondi en el Magreb occidental, tras más de medio siglo sin datos al respecto. La presencia de N. (X.) raymondi en Ceuta extiende su distribución norteafricana hacia el noroeste, completando el vacío de registros entre las poblaciones argelinas e ibéricas, y apoya la veracidad de dos antiguas citas normarroquíes dudosas (Rif y Atlas Medio). Los ejemplares estudiados fueron atraídos por luces artificiales durante la noche, en diferentes ocasiones a lo largo de los meses de julio y agosto. Los rasgos morfológicos de los ejemplares ceutíes son similares a los de los ejemplares ibéricos examinados por lo que se confirma su identidad con N. (X.) raymondi raymondi (Mulsant & Godart, 1860)

Kinematic study of planetary nebulae in NGC 6822

By measuring precise radial velocities of planetary nebulae (which belong to the intermediate age population), H II regions, and A-type supergiant stars (which are members of the young population) in NGC 6822, we aim to determine if both types of population share the kinematics of the disk of H I found in this galaxy. Spectroscopic data for four planetary nebulae were obtained with the high spectral resolution spectrograph Magellan Inamori Kyocera Echelle (MIKE) on the Magellan telescope at Las Campanas Observatory. Data for other three PNe and one H II region were obtained from the SPM Catalog of Extragalactic Planetary Nebulae which employed the Manchester Echelle Spectrometer attached to the 2.1m telescope at the Observatorio Astron\'omico Nacional, M\'exico. In the wavelength calibrated spectra, the heliocentric radial velocities were measured with a precision better than 5-6 km s$^{-1}$. Data for three additional H II regions and a couple of A-type supergiant stars were collected from the literature. The heliocentric radial velocities of the different objects were compared to the velocities of the H i disk at the same position. From the analysis of radial velocities it is found that H II regions and A-type supergiants do share the kinematics of the H I disk at the same position, as expected for these young objects. On the contrary, planetary nebula velocities differ significantly from that of the H I at the same position. The kinematics of planetary nebulae is independent from the young population kinematics and it is closer to the behavior shown by carbon stars, which are intermediate-age members of the stellar spheroid existing in this galaxy. Our results are confirming that there are at least two very different kinematical systems in NGC 6822

Sobre la distribución geográfica de Scarabaeus (Scarabaeus) aegyptiacus Stolfa, 1938 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae): primer registro para el Sáhara Atlántico (suroeste de Marruecos)

Scarabaeus aegyptiacus is a species widely distributed from the Arabian Peninsula to Morocco, occupying mainly arid and desert regions. Despite its wide geographic range, the number of known localities is very low (ten locations) and its populations seem apparently fragmented and spaced. During a recent field survey in southwestern Morocco, we found a population of S. aegyptiacus in a rocky steppe (hamada) near Msied (Tan-Tan province, Guelmin-Smara region), which constitutes the first record from Atlantic Sahara and extends about 1000 km to the southwest its known distribution. The specimens were found in a water cistern (“matfiya” in the local language), infrastructure that acts as a deadly trap for many animals, especially reptiles, amphibians and epigean arthropods, whose negative effect on invertebrate communities has not yet been evaluated. Chorological information of the species is synthesized and data on the habitat are provided.Scarabaeus aegyptiacus es una especie ampliamente distribuida desde la Península Arábiga hasta Marruecos, ocupando ambientes áridos y desérticos. A pesar de su amplio rango de distribución, el número de localidades precisas conocidas es muy escaso (diez localidades) y sus poblaciones se encuentran aparentemente fragmentadas y muy distanciadas entre sí. Durante muestreos recientes en el suroeste de Marruecos, hemos hallado una población de S. aegyptiacus en una estepa pedregosa (hamada) en las cercanías de Msied (provincia de Tan-Tan, región de Guelmín-Smara), que constituye el primer registro para el Sáhara Atlántico y amplía unos 1000 km hacia el suroeste su área de distribución conocida. Los individuos estudiados fueron hallados en el interior de un aljibe (“matfiya” en lengua local), infraestructura que actúa como trampa mortal para numerosos animales, especialmente anfibios, reptiles y artrópodos epígeos, cuyo impacto negativo sobre las comunidades de invertebrados no ha sido evaluado. Se sintetiza la información corológica disponible y se aportan datos sobre el hábitat de la especie

A biogeochemical model for North and Northwest Iberia: some applications

The Coastal and Ocean modeling group at the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) has a broad experience in hydrodynamic modeling with ROMS in the area of West and North Iberia. Our main task consists of providing insight on the coastal and ocean dynamics in support to the intense IEO ecosystem and fisheries research in the area. The NW coast of Iberia is characterized by high levels of primary production that result from relatively frequent and intense inputs of nutrients caused by upwelling, especially in spring and summer. Primary production sustains wealthy fisheries and aquaculture industries, which constitute a prime economic activity in the region. As a first approach to understand the ecosystem variability in the area we focused on the spring bloom. A high resolution (~3 km) configuration of the ROMS physical model with atmospheric forcing coming from the regional agency Meteogalicia (http://www.meteogalicia.es), which has shown to represent the main features of the shelf and slope circulation in the area, was run coupled to the Fasham-type Fennel biogeochemical model (N2PZD2). Any biogeochemical model aimed at providing a reliable representation of the dynamics of a certain area should be tuned according to its characteristics. In an upwelling system, the composition of phytoplankton varies from the beginning to the end of the bloom. When nutrients and irradiance are high, diatoms are the dominant group, whereas flagellates become more important when upwelling relaxes and, consequently, nutrients and light intensity decrease. In the NW Iberian coast, it has been found that Chaetoceros socialis is the dominant diatom species during the spring bloom (Bode et al, 1996, 1998). For this reason, we have decided to use parameters that are characteristic of plankton at the spring bloom. In particular, the parameters of Chaetoceros socialis have been considered for the unique phytoplankton class of the model. We will show comparisons of the model results for 2006 and 2007 with observations at weekly and daily time scales (MODIS chlorophyll-a images, in situ observations from the “Instituto Español de Oceanografía” Pelacus cruises). The spring bloom is reasonably reproduced in the NW and N coasts in time, space and intensity. The variability between the primary production in 2006 and 2007 can be related to the oceanographic conditions thanks to the use of a numerical model. The results are promising and encourage us to move forward to increase the complexity of our models and broaden their range of application. We will show some examples of the use of the IEO models to get some insight on sardine recruitment variability and harmful algal bloom prediction