Three new species of Paragnorimus Becker from Central America (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Trichiini) with a redefinition of the genus

Three new species of Paragnorimus Becker are described: Paragnorimus atratus n. sp. from Guatemala, P. hondurensis n. sp. from Honduras and Nicaragua, and P. howdeni n. sp. from Guatemala. Based on the overlapping characters of these new species, the genus Peltotrichius Howden is placed in synonymy with Paragnorimus. Paragnorimus is given a broader definition to encompass the new species and the two species formerly placed in the genus Peltotrichius

South American Melolonthinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) classification and nomenclature: some problems and solutions

Classificatory changes are made for some taxa of New World Melolonthinae based on the examination of specimens (including type specimens) and a reevaluation of some of the characters used to justify previous classification decisions. Blepharotoma angustata (Blanchard) (new combination) is transferred from the genus Aplodema Blanchard. The Neotropical members of the genus Heteronyx Guérin-Méneville are transferred to the genus Blepharotoma resulting in the following new combinations: Blepharotoma boliviana (Moser), Blepharotoma corumbana (Moser), Blepharotoma cuyabana (Moser), Blepharotoma heynei (Moser), and Blepharotoma schencklingi (Moser). The genus Blepharotoma is transferred from the tribe Liparetrini to the tribe Sericoidini. The genus Aplodema and the junior synonym Haplodema Harold are transferred from the tribe Liparetrini to the tribe Sericoidini and synonymized with the genus Sericoides Guérin-Méneville. Sericoides magellanica (Blanchard) (new combination) is transferred from the genus Aplodema and placed as a senior synonym of Apterodema acuticollis Fairmaire (new synonymy). Ampliodactylus (new genus) is described for two southern South American species: Ampliodactylus marmoratus (Curtis) (new combination) and Ampliodactylus vestitus (Philippi) (new combination). The genus Chremastodus Solier is placed in synonymy with the genus Macrodactylus Dejean (Macrodactylini) and Chremastodus pubescens Solier is placed as a junior synonym of Macrodactylus chilensis Solier (new synonymy). Macrodactylus crassipes Philippi and Macrodactylus nigrinus Philippi are placed as junior synonyms of Macrodactylus farinosus Philippi (new synonymies). The genus Astaenosiagum Martínez is placed in synonymy with the genus Pristerophora Harold (Macrodactylini). Pristerophora longipes (Philippi) (new combination) is transferred from the genus Astaenosiagum and Schizochelus ursulus Philippi is placed as a junior synonym of this species (new synonymy). Pristerophora paulseni (new species) is described. Pristerophora picipennis (Solier) is placed as a senior synonym of Schizochelus breviventris Philippi (new synonymy) and Schizochelus serratus Philippi (new synonymy). Pusiodactylus (new genus) is described for two southern South American species: Pusiodactylus mondacai (new species) and Pusiodactylus flavipennis (Philippi) (new combination). The genus Paulosawaya Martínez and D'Andretta is placed in synonymy with the genus Clavipalpus Laporte (Macrodactylini) resulting in the new combination Clavipalpus ornatissima (Martínez and D'Andretta). The following replacement names are proposed for three junior secondary homonyms the genus Plectris LePeletier and Serville: Plectris evansi (new name) for Plectris cinerascens Moser (junior secondary homonym of Plectris cinerascens (Blanchard)), Plectris katovichi (new name) for Plectris bonariensis Frey (junior secondary homonym of Plectris bonariensis (Bruch)), and Plectris tacoma (new name) for Plectris comata (Blanchard) (junior secondary homonym of Plectris comata (Blanchard))

Performance of Hollow Load Process Challenge Devices (HLPCDs) for the determination of air removal and steam penetration in porous load steam sterilization processes: Part 1 – The evolution of HLPCDs in standards and a review of the current supporting published evidence

Steam sterilization Process Challenge Devices (PCDs) are devices which present a defined challenge to a sterilization process. In part one of a two part series the authors review the published literature covering studies evaluating the removal of air and penetration of steam into hollow tubular devices and then discuss the relevance of the material in support of the current custom and practice of utilising simple tubular PCDs (Hollow Load Process Challenge Devices HLPCDs) as a means of monitoring production loads for adequacy of air removal and steam penetration. This review places such data in the context of the evolution of HLPCDs in the standards for small and large porous load steam sterilizers. With regard to the apparent acceptance of the HLPCD in EN 867-5 into custom and practice for batch monitoring the literature suggests this may be misleading. The literature review concludes that there is an urgent need for an International Standard which describes how a HLPCD can be developed and tested against real medical devices in a range of sterilization processes representing current state of the art in full load conditions

Book Review: \u3ci\u3eInsecta Coleoptra Chironidae\u3c/i\u3e (Huchet, J.-B. 2003)

The Fauna of Madagascar series has been around for almost 50 years. In that time authors have published on a variety of taxa that occur on this remarkable island. Throughout the history of the series there has been a heavy emphasis on beetles. The latest volume by Jean-Bernard Huchet is no exception. Huchet is an expert on Chironidae (or Chironinae depending on which scarab classification scheme you ascribe to). He is in the process of giving a much-needed taxonomic overhaul to the group. Chironidae are odd-looking scarabs that occur in Africa, Asia (mainly India), and Madagascar and are allied taxonomically with Aphodiinae

Three new species of \u3ci\u3eParagnorimus\u3c/i\u3e Becker from Central America (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Trichiini) with a redefinition of the genus

Three new species of Paragnorimus Becker are described: Paragnorimus atratus n. sp. from Guatemala, P. hondurensis n. sp. from Honduras and Nicaragua, and P. howdeni n. sp. from Guatemala. Based on the overlapping characters of these new species, the genus Peltotrichius Howden is placed in synonymy with Paragnorimus. Paragnorimus is given a broader definition to encompass the new species and the two species formerly placed in the genus Peltotrichius

Corrections to Neotropical \u3ci\u3eRhinaspis\u3c/i\u3e Perty and \u3ci\u3ePlectris\u3c/i\u3e LePeletier and Audinet-Serville (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) classifi cation and nomenclature

The name Melolontha hypocrita Mannerheim, 1829 has been long unused, even though it is the type species of Hyporhiza Dejean, 1833. I examined the only known specimen from the type series and here designate it as the lectotype. Examination of this lectotype reveals that this species is best placed in the genus Rhinaspis Perty, 1830. Consequently, the genus Hyporhiza Dejean, 1833 is confi rmed as a junior synonym of Rhinaspis. Further, the replacement name Rhinaspis fuhrmanni is proposed for Rhinaspis hypocrita (Blanchard, 1850), a new secondary homonym of Rhinaspis hypocrita (Mannerheim, 1829). A homonymy problem was also discovered and corrected for the genus Plectris LePeletier and Serville, 1828. The replacement name Plectris schoolmeestersi is proposed for Plectris paraguayensis Moser, 1924, which is a secondary junior homonym of Plectris paraguayensis (Moser, 1921)

A REVIEW OF THE FAMILY-GROUP NAMES FOR THE SUPERFAMILY SCARABAEOIDEA (COLEOPTERA) WITH CORRECTIONS TO NOMENCLATURE AND A CURRENT CLASSIFICATION

For the first time, all family-group names in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea (Coleoptera) are evaluated using the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature to determine their availability and validity. A total of 383 family-group names were found to be available, and all are reviewed to scrutinize the correct spelling, author, date, nomenclatural availability and validity, and current classification status. Numerous corrections are given to various errors that are commonly perpetuated in the literature. A reversal of precedence is used to preserve the prevailing usage of the following family-group names: Eupariini Schmidt, 1910 (over Ataeniini Harold, 1868); Pachydemini Burmeister, 1855 (over Elaphocerini Blanchard, 1851); Heterosternina Bates, 1888 (over Macropnina Horn, 1866); and Anomalina Streubel, 1839 (over Euchlorina Hope, 1839)

A Monographic Revision of the Genus \u3ci\u3ePlatycoelia\u3c/i\u3e Dejean (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Anoplognathini)

This paper presents a taxonomic revision of the genus Platycoelia Dejean (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Anoplognathini: Platycoeliina). Phylogenetic analyses of all species in the genus were conducted and the biogeography of the genus is discussed. The phylogenetic analysis supports the monophyly of Platycoelia and divides the genus into four major clades. Based on the cladistic analysis, the generic names Callichloris Burmeister, Leucopelaea Bates, and Epicallichloris Gutiérrez are considered synonyms of Platycoelia. Character states supporting monophyletic clades are discussed. Descriptions and keys to all taxa are included. The genus Platycoelia was revised and now includes 62 species, 19 of which are described as new. The new species are: P. aenigma, P. altiplana, P. butleri, P. convexa, P. flavohumeralis, P. furva, P. galerana, P. grandicula, P. hiporum, P. ignota, P. inca, P. insolita, P. interstincta, P. meridensis, P. paucarae, P. peruviana, P. pusilla, P. sandia, P. traceyae. The following species group names are placed in synonymy: P. boliviensis Blanchard (= P. pomacea Erichson), P. brasiliensis Ohaus (= P. pomacea Erichson), P. limbata Ohaus (= P. prasina Erichson), P. nigricauda Bates (= P. parva Kirsch), P. proseni Martinez (= P. burmeisteri Arrow), P. pulchrior Ohaus (= P. chrysotina Ohaus), P. tucumana Ohaus (= P. inflata Ohaus). Lectotypes were selected for the following names: Callichloris baessleri Ohaus, C. bocki Ohaus, C. helleri Ohaus, C. signaticollis Burmeister, Leucopelaea baron is Ohaus, Melolontha flavostriata Latreille, P. abdominalis Ohaus, P. alternans Erichson, P. boliviensis Blanchard, P. burmeisteri Arrow, P. burmeisteri Ohaus, P. chrysotina Ohaus, P. confluens Ohaus, P. flavoscutellata Ohaus, P. forcipalis Ohaus, P. gaujoni Ohaus, P. hirta Ohaus, P. humeralis Bates, P. inflata Ohaus, P. inflata tucumana Ohaus, P. intermedia Ohaus, P. laevis Burmeister, P. limbata Ohaus, P. lutescens Blanchard, P. marginata Burmeister, P. mesosternalis Ohaus, P. nervosa Kirsch, P. nigrocauda Bates, P. nigrosternalis Ohaus, P. occidentalis Ohaus, P. olivacea Blanchard, P. parva Kirsch, P. pomacea Erichson, P. pomacea brasiliensis Ohaus, P. prasina Erichson, P. pulchrior Ohaus, P. puncticollis Ohaus, P. quadrilineata Burmeister, P. rufosignata Ohaus, P. scutellata Guerin-Meneville, P. simplicior Ohaus, P. steinheili Ohaus, P. tschudii Ohaus, P. unguicularis Ohaus, P. valida Burmeister, P. variolosa Ohaus, P. wallisi Ohaus. Neotypes were designated for Callichloris alticola Gutiérrez and Callichloris laelaps Gutiérrez. Resumen. Este trabajo presenta una revision taxonomica del genero Platycoelia Dejean (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Anoplognathini: Platycoeliina). Se realizaron analisis filogeneticos de todas las especies y la biogeografia del genero es discutida. El amilisis filogenetico soporta la monofilia de Platycoelia y divide el genero en dos clados. Basado en el amilisis cladistico, los nombres genericos Callichloris Burmeister, Leucopelaea Bates, y Epicallichloris Gutiérrez son considerados sinonimos de Platycoelia. Los carecteres que dan soporte a los clados son discutidos. Descripciones y claves para los taxa son incluidas. El genero Platycoelia es revisado y ahora incluye 62 especies, 19 de las cuales se describen como nuevas. Las especies nuevas son: P. aenigma, P. altiplana, P. butleri, P. convexa, P. flavohumeralis, P. furva, P. galerana, P. grandicula, P. hiporum, P. ignota, P. inca, P. insolita, P. interstincta, P. meridensis, P. paucarae, P. peruviana, P. pusilla, P. sandia, P. traceyae. Los siguientes nombres especificos son pasados a sinonimia: P. boliviensis Blanchard (= P. pomacea Erichson), P. brasiliensis Ohaus (= P. pomacea Erichson), P. limbata Ohaus (= P. prasina Erichson), P. nigricauda Bates (= P. parva Kirsch), P. proseni Martinez (= P. burmeisteri Arrow), P. pulchrior Ohaus (= P. chrysotina Ohaus), P. tucumana Ohaus (= P. inflata Ohaus). Lectotipos son designados para los siguientes nombres: Callichloris baessleri Ohaus, C. bocki Ohaus, C. helleri Ohaus, C. signaticollis Burmeister, Leucopelaea baron is Ohaus, Melolontha flavostriata Latreille, P. abdominalis Ohaus, P. alternans Erichson, P. boliviensis Blanchard, P. burmeisteri Arrow, P. burmeisteri Ohaus, P. chrysotina Ohaus, P. confluens Ohaus, P. flavoscutellata Ohaus, P. forcipalis Ohaus, P. gaujoni Ohaus, P. hirta Ohaus, P. humeralis Bates, P. inflata Ohaus, P. inflata tucumana Ohaus, P. intermedia Ohaus, P.laevis Burmeister, P.limbata Ohaus, P.lutescens Blanchard, P. marginata Burmeister, P. mesosternalis Ohaus, P. nervosa Kirsch, P. nigrocauda Bates, P. nigrosternalis Ohaus, P. occidentalis Ohaus, P. olivacea Blanchard, P. parva Kirsch, P. pomacea Erichson, P. pomacea brasiliensis Ohaus, P. prasina Erichson, P. pulchrior Ohaus, P. puncticollis Ohaus, P. quadrilineata Burmeister, P. rufosignata Ohaus, P. scutellata Guerin-Meneville, P. simplicior Ohaus, P. steinheili Ohaus, P. tschudii Ohaus, P. unguicularis Ohaus, P. valida Burmeister, P. variolosa Ohaus, P. wallisi Ohaus. N eotipos son designados para Callichloris alticola Gutiérrez y Callichloris laelaps Gutiérrez

Phylogenetic Signal Dissection Identifies the Root of Starfishes

Relationships within the class Asteroidea have remained controversial for almost 100 years and, despite many attempts to resolve this problem using molecular data, no consensus has yet emerged. Using two nuclear genes and a taxon sampling covering the major asteroid clades we show that non-phylogenetic signal created by three factors - Long Branch Attraction, compositional heterogeneity and the use of poorly fitting models of evolution – have confounded accurate estimation of phylogenetic relationships. To overcome the effect of this non-phylogenetic signal we analyse the data using non-homogeneous models, site stripping and the creation of subpartitions aimed to reduce or amplify the systematic error, and calculate Bayes Factor support for a selection of previously suggested topological arrangements of asteroid orders. We show that most of the previous alternative hypotheses are not supported in the most reliable data partitions, including the previously suggested placement of either Forcipulatida or Paxillosida as sister group to the other major branches. The best-supported solution places Velatida as the sister group to other asteroids, and the implications of this finding for the morphological evolution of asteroids are presented