A new Potamobates Champion species (Heteroptera: Gerridae) from Ecuador with new distribution records for P. williamsi

Potamobates sumaco new species is described from the Ecuadorian Amazon. Male and female genitalia differentiate P. sumaco from a similar parapatric species, P. williamsi Hungerford. Phylogenetic analysis indicates P. sumaco is closely related to the species of the P. tridentatus group which includes P. williamsi. A distribution map and revised key to Potamobates species are provided.Se describe Potamobates sumaco nueva especies del Amazonas Ecuatoriano. Los genitales del macho y la hembra distinguen P. sumaco de la especie mas cercana P. williamsi Hungerford. El analisis filogenetico indica que P. sumaco partenece al grupo P. tridentatus. Se incluye un mapa de la distribucion y una clave modificada para la identificacion de las especies de Pomatombates

Ciidae of Michigan (Insecta: Coleoptera)

The family Ciidae Leach, 1819, occurs worldwide with approximately 720 species. In the United States there are 84 species in 13 genera. Given their relatively small size (~0.5 to 6 mm) and cryptic habitats, feeding in decaying fungi, recent regional fauna studies are lacking including the northeastern United States. To alleviate this gap in knowledge, in part, we review and identify 2,123 undetermined specimens collected in Michigan. We provide new state records for four species: Ceracis pecki Lawrence 1971, Cis americanus Mannerheim, 1852, Cis submicans Abeille de Perrin, 1874, Dolicocis manitoba Dury, 1919 which increases the total for Michigan to 25 species and update records for Michigan counties. In addition, we provide a modified key to Michigan species

A taxonomic revision of Camptocerus Dejean (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

The Neotropical ambrosia beetle genus Camptocerus Dejean was revised. Monophyly of the genus was tested using 66 morphological characters in a cladistic analysis. Camptocerus was recovered as monophyletic and 31 species were recognized. Six new synonyms were discovered: C. auricomus Blandford 1896 (= C. striatulus Hagedorn 1905), C. inoblitus (Schedl) 1939 (= C. morio (Schedl) 1952), C. niger (Fabricius) 1801 (= C. tectus Eggers 1943), C. opacicollis (Eggers) 1929 (= C. infidelis Wood 1969; = C. uniseriatus Schedl 1972), C. suturalis (Fabricius) 1801 (= C. cinctus Chapuis 1869). Two species were removed from synonymy: C. charpentierae Schedl and C. hirtipennis Schedl. Twelve new species of Camptocerus were described: C. coccoformus (Brazil, Ecuador), C. distinctus (Ecuador), C. doleae (Ecuador), C. igniculus (Brazil), C. mallopterus (Ecuador), C. noel (widely distributed across Amazonia), C. petrovi (Ecuador), C. pilifrons (Ecuador), C. pseudoangustior (widely distributed across Amazonia), C. satyrus (Brazil), C. unicornus (Brazil) and C. zucca (Ecuador). Lectotypes are here designated for the following species: Camptocerus auricomus Blandford, Camptocerus squammiger Chapuis, Hylesinus gibbus Fabricius, Hylesinus suturalis Fabricius, Hylesinus fasciatus Fabricius. A key, diagnosis, distribution, host records and images were provided for each species

Molecular phylogeny and taxonomic review of Premnobiini Browne, 1962 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

The taxonomy of Premnobiini is reviewed in the context a molecular phylogeny including species of Ipini, Dryocoeotini, and Xyleborini. DNA data from COI, 16S, 28S, and CAD (~ 2640 characters) were generated for 79 species and phylogenies were reconstructed using parsimony and Bayesian methods under different nucleotide sequence alignment parameters. The topologies of these phylogenies were in general agreement. Ipini was monophyletic along with all genera except Acathotomicus. Premnobiini was nested within Ipini and consisted of two clades, which associated with Premnobius and Premnophilus. These results justified taxonomic changes. Premnophilus was resurrected as a valid genus and Premnobiini was considered a sub-tribe of Ipini

The Woodlouse Hunter Occurs in Michigan (Araneae: Dysderidae: \u3ci\u3eDysdera Crocata\u3c/i\u3e C.l. Koch 1838)

We document the occurrence of the spider, Dysdera crocata C.L. Koch, in Michigan. Specimens have been collected from Bay, Branch, Ingham, Kent, Livingston, Macomb, Montcalm, Muskegon, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne Counties between 1975-2013

Ciidae of Michigan (Insecta: Coleoptera)

The family Ciidae Leach, 1819, occurs worldwide with approximately 720 species. In the United States there are 84 species in 13 genera. Given their relatively small size (~0.5 to 6 mm) and cryptic habitats, feeding in decaying fungi, recent regional fauna studies are lacking including the northeastern United States. To alleviate this gap in knowledge, in part, we review and identify 2,123 undetermined specimens collected in Michigan. We provide new state records for four species: Ceracis pecki Lawrence 1971, Cis americanus Mannerheim, 1852, Cis submicans Abeille de Perrin, 1874, Dolicocis manitoba Dury, 1919 which increases the total for Michigan to 25 species and update records for Michigan counties. In addition, we provide a modified key to Michigan species

Occurrence of the Ambrosia Beetle Xyleborinus exiguus (Walker) (Curculionidae: Scolytinae: Xyleborini) on the Island of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, USA

We report the first record of an ambrosia beetle, Xyleborinus exiguus (Walker 1859) (Curculionidae: Scolytinae: Xyleborini) in the USA found on the island of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi

New Reports of Exotic and Native Ambrosia and Bark Beetle Species (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) From Ohio

In a 2007 survey of ambrosia and bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) along a transect in northeastern Ohio, we collected six exotic and three native species not previously reported from the state. These species include the exotic ambrosia beetles Ambrosiodmus rubricollis (Eichhoff), Dryoxylon onoharaensum (Murayama), Euwallacea validus (Eichhoff), Xyleborus californicus Wood, Xyleborus pelliculosusEichhoff, and Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky). The native ambrosia beetle Corthylus columbianus Hopkins, and the native bark beetles Dryocoetes autographus (Ratzeburg) and Hylastes tenuis Eichhoff are also reported from Ohio for the first time. Our study suggests a northward range expansion for five of the six exotic species including, X. crassiusculus, which is an important pest of nursery and orchard crops in the southeastern United States

Species Boundaries and Host Range of Tortoise Mites (Uropodoidea) Phoretic on Bark Beetles (Scolytinae), Using Morphometric and Molecular Markers

Understanding the ecology and evolutionary history of symbionts and their hosts requires accurate taxonomic knowledge, including clear species boundaries and phylogenies. Tortoise mites (Mesostigmata: Uropodoidea) are among the most diverse arthropod associates of bark beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae), but their taxonomy and host associations are largely unstudied. We tested the hypotheses that (1) morphologically defined species are supported by molecular data, and that (2) bark beetle uropodoids with a broad host range comprise cryptic species. To do so, we assessed the species boundaries of uropodoid mites collected from 51 host species, across 11 countries and 103 sites, using morphometric data as well as partial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA (28S). Overall, morphologically defined species were confirmed by molecular datasets, with a few exceptions. Twenty-ni

A highly-resolved food web for insect seed predators in a species-rich tropical forest

The top-down and indirect effects of insects on plant communities depend on patterns of host use, which are often poorly documented, particularly in species-rich tropical forests. At Barro Colorado Island, Panama, we compiled the first food web quantifying trophic interactions between the majority of co-occurring woody plant species and their internally-feeding insect seed predators. Our study is based on more than 200,000 fruits representing 478 plant species, associated with 369 insect species. Insect host-specificity was remarkably high: only 20% of seed predator species were associated with more than one plant species, while each tree species experienced seed predation from a median of two insect species. Phylogeny, but not plant traits, explained patterns of seed predator attack. These data suggest that seed predators are unlikely to mediate indirect interactions such as apparent competition between plant species, but are consistent with their proposed contribution to maintaining plant diversity via the Janzen-Connell mechanism