Review of the genus Ceresium Newman, 1842 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) in Fiji

A taxonomic review of the genus Ceresium (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) found within the Fiji Islands is presented. A total of 17 species is treated. Full morphological descriptions and comparative images of each species are included, along with a dichotomous key for their identification

Nesobasis rito sp. nov. (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae), a new species of forest damselfly from Vanua Levu, Fiji

Nesobasis rito sp. nov. (Holotype ♂, Fiji, Vanua Levu, Drawa, 31 v 2018, A. Rivas-Torres leg.) from the comosa group is here described, illustrated, diagnosed, and compared with morphologically close species of the genus. Nesobasis rito can be distinguished from its related congeners by the shape of the caudal appendages and the ligula. The most similar species are N. comosa and N. heteroneura, which, like N. rito, have the caudal appendages covered by dense setae (especially the first species), but the shape differs clearly in lateral view, with N. rito having longer and more slender appendages, and a basal tooth clearly seen in dorsal view, absent in other members of the comosa group. The specific status of the collected specimens is also supported by the results of genetic analyses, where N. rito appears as a well-supported monophyletic clade. Nesobasis rito also has a distinct distribution from its most similar congeners: it is found on Vanua Levu, while N. comosa is found on Viti Levu and the closely related N. heteroneura is found on Viti Levu and Ovalau. All species of this group are found in streams with native forest riparian vegetation on their respective islands

New Fijian Callidiopini (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Two new species of Callidiopini (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae) are described from Fiji: Ceresium tuberculatum Waqa & Lingafelter, n. sp. (type locality: Fiji, Gau Islands) and Laniferus grandis Waqa & Lingafelter, n. sp. (Type locality: Fiji, Viti Levu Island)

Diversity and distribution of forest canopy Coleoptera on eastern Viti Levu, Fiji Islands

In Fiji, few systematic studies have been conducted that describe insect distributions, especially with respect to ecological gradients (e.g., habitat type, climate, altitude, and seasonality) that are known to influence their diversity and distribution. In this study, canopy coleopteran assemblages within undisturbed forest in eastern Viti Levu, Fiji, were intensively surveyed over a range of geographical locations and altitudes, namely lowland Nakobalevu (200–400 m), upland Waisoi (400–600 m) and cloud montane forest Monasavu (600–1000 m). Dominant beetle families sampled from the canopy included Curculionidae, Chrysomelidae and Staphylinidae. Multidimensional scaling revealed a division in the canopy beetle assemblages between lowland forest (<400 m), upland forest (400–600 m) and cloud montane forests (600–1 000 m). We tentatively conclude that diversity was highest at mid-to-high altitudes represented at Monasavu. Direct Gradient Analysis (RDA) indicated that 49% of data variability was explained by two axes that represented altitude and seasonality respectively

Distribution of Long-horn Beetles (Cerambycidae: Coleoptera) Within the Fijian Archipelago

Long-horn beetles (Family: Cerambycidae) in Fiji consist of 124 described species within 45 genera, of which 110 (88.7%) species are considered endemic. Despite their conservation value, ecological significance and cultural importance, little scientific research has been conducted on the taxonomy or ecology of Cerambycidae in Fiji. This biogeographical study surveyed Cerambycidae by Malaise trapping on ten Fijian Islands. A total of 438 individuals and 44 species of Cerambycidae were recorded. Thirty three of the species collected are endemic to Fiji; three other species are native and eight species are new records for Fiji and/or new species. Twenty seven species were recorded from only one island and 20 species were recorded only as singletons. There was an expected significant relationship between the number of species collected on an island and the number of sampling events. The highest number of species, 23, was recorded on the largest island, Viti Levu, followed by Gau with 13 species and Vanua Levu and Kadavu with 12 species each. There was a positive relationship between species richness and island size but this was lost if the effect of sample number was taken into account. The results indicate that the species-area relationship may hold for Fijian Cerambycidae, but additional collecting events, over more of the annual cycle, and involving multiple collecting methods may be required to fully catalogue the current Fijian fauna