On Rembus (Colpodes) brunneus MacLeay (Coleoptera: Carabidae,Platynini): redescription and relationships

The use of the generic name Colpodes MacLeay, 1825, is reviewed, along with characteristics previously attributed to the genus by various authors of Carabidae. The single known specimen of the type species, Rembus (Colpodes) brunneus MacLeay, is designated as lectotype, redescribed and figured. Based on comprehensive character analysis, including external anatomical, male genitalic, and female genitalic and reproductive tract characters, application of the generic-level name Colpodes is restricted to a clade of Javanese species also including Colpodes brittoni Louwerens and C. latus Louwerens. In order to further nomenclatural stability within Platynini, Colpodes should best be considered a subgeneric component of an expanded genus Platynus Bonelli, 1810.     

Redescription of adult and larva of Colasposoma sellatum Baly (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Eumolpinae): a pest of sweet potato in Australia

The genus Colasposoma Laporte is shown to be represented in Australia by a single species, C. sellatum Baly (= C. barbatum Harold, syn. conf.; = C. regulare Jacoby, syn. nov.). The adult and larva are described and lectotypes designated for C. sellatum and C. regulare. Colasposoma sellatum is recorded from the Northern Territory, northern Queensland and New Guinea. This species is a pest of Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato) in northern Queensland, where the adults damage stems and foliage and larvae may cause considerable damage to tubers. Its pest status is assessed and control measures discussed.     

Introduced and exported American Scolytidae (Coleoptera)

Fourteen North, Central, and South American Scolytidae have reached areas outside of America, namely Hawaii (5), Australia (3), Southeast Asia (2), Africa (7), Europe (1), and worldwide (1). The 44 species introduced into North and Central America have originated in South America (10), Southeast Asia (15), Africa (14), or Europe (7). Four North and Central American species have extended their ranges into new territory within this region. Most of the species that breed in the bole or roots of their host were imported more than a half century ago; those imported since 1950 breed mostly in seeds, pods, dry fruits, or small branches. Forty - five of the 62 species apparently can reproduce by means of facultative arrhenotokic parthenogenesis.     

Bionomics,behaviour and immature stages of Pelecotoma fennica (Paykull) (Coleoptera: Rhipiphoridae)

Ptilinus fuscus (Anobiidae) was confirmed as the host species of Pelecotoma fennica (Rhipiphoridae, Pelecotominae). Females of Pelecotoma oviposit into the wood infested by the host larvae. First-instar larvae are elongate, unsclerotized, very different from the triungulinid larvae known in other rhipiphorids. They search actively for the host larvae in the wood; no phoresy is involved in the life cycle. The first-instar larvae temporarily paralyse the host larva and enter its body, overwintering (some perhaps more than once) as an endoparasite. In the spring of the year of emergence, the endoparasite engorges enormously (without moulting) and develops a special sclerotized caudal structure which is then used for perforation of the host's integument. The larva undergoes a further four ectoparasitic instars. The fifth (i.e. fourth ectoparasitic) instar differs considerably from the preceding three, and is capable of boring through the wood to prepare the emergence gallery for the adult. Pupation occurs in the wood. The rate of parasitization may locally far exceed 50%. Superparasitization by the first-instar larvae is possible, but usually only 1 larva survives to the ectoparasitic stage. Larval morphology of Pelecotoma is described and illustrated. Additional data on bionomics and larval morphology are also presented for the genus Metoecus (Rhipiphorinae). Comparing the biology and larval morphology of Pelecotoma with other Rhipiphoridae, it is assumed that ancestral rhipiphorids may have been xylophilous Tenebrionoidea with predaceous or omnivorous larvae, and that the ‘triungulinid’ larvae and phoretic habits may not belong to the groundplan of the family Rhipiphoridae. The widespread opinion considering Rhipiphoridae closely related to the family Mordellidae is questioned.     

Revision of the genus Mimopodabrus Wittmer (Coleoptera,Cantharidae)

The genus Mimopodabrus Wittmer is reviewed, and the genus diagnosis is re-described. Three new species are described, M. multidentatus sp. nov. (Guangdong, China), M. variabilis sp. nov. (Yunnan, China) and M. diversefoveolatus sp. nov. (Lao Cai, Vietnam), with illustrations of habitus, antennae and aedeagus. A species is transferred from Micropodabrus to this genus, M. bicoloriceps (Wittmer, 1989 Wittmer, W. 1989. 42. Beitrag zur Kenntnis der indo-malaiischen Cantharidae und Malachiidae (Coleoptera). Entomol Basil., 13: 209–237.  [Google Scholar]) comb. nov. A species is synonymized, M. bicoloriceps (Wittmer, 1989 Wittmer, W. 1989. 42. Beitrag zur Kenntnis der indo-malaiischen Cantharidae und Malachiidae (Coleoptera). Entomol Basil., 13: 209–237.  [Google Scholar]) comb. nov.?=?M. bicoloriceps Wittmer, 1997 syn. nov. and the definition of M. yunnanus (Wittmer, 1993 Wittmer, W. 1993. Zur Kenntnis der palaearktischen und indo-malaiischen Cantharidae (Coleoptera). Entomol Basil., 16: 203–253.  [Google Scholar]) is restricted. A key to all known species of this genus is provided.     

Two new Tarphius species from Macaronesia (Coleoptera,Zopheridae)

Two new species of Tarphius are described: Tarphius desertaensis n. sp. sifted from saxicole lichens on the small islet of Deserta Grande, east of Madeira, and Tarphius jandiensis n. sp. from Fuerteventura, in the Canary Islands, where it lives in the upper parts of the massif of Jandía as a relict of the once more hygrophilous fauna that inhabited the island. Both species are of small size and have a fairly convex body.     

Synonymy of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier), 1790 and R. vulneratus (Panzer), 1798 (Coleoptera,Curculionidae, Rhynchophorinae)

Morphological, molecular-genetic and breeding data were collected to investigate the species status of the Asian palm weevils, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) and R. vulneratus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). These weevils are distinguished by characteristic colouring of the pronota and elytra, but naturally occurring colour intermorphs were observed. Contrary to the literature, quantitative measurements of the concavity of subgenal sutures and of pronotal shape indicated no differences between the two species. Larvae did not differ significantly in labral characteristics. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) banding patterns were identical for nine of 14 primers, indicating that these weevils are very closely related. Sequences of the cytochrome oxidase gene for 201 base pairs read were identical for R. ferrugineus and R. vulneratus, but the congener R. bilineatus differed from them by 10%, suggesting divergence of these lineages about 5?million years ago. Hybrid F1s were obtained from all heterospecific crosses, and one surviving hybrid F1 female produced viable eggs. Previous studies have revealed no pheromonal differences. On the basis of this evidence, R. ferrugineus and R. vulneratus should be considered colour morphs of the same species and be synonymized under the name Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier), with the common name Asian palm weevil.     

Bemerkungen zu der Gattung Triozastus Schedl (Coleoptera,Platypodidae)

Summary

This contribution establishes the characters of the genus Triozastus and the characters distinguishing six of the nine species, and is based on a re-examination of reliably identified material. It is concluded that the six species should not be reduced to subspecies as has been proposed by Schedl and that the synonymy T. propatulus Schedl 1935 = T. handeniensis Nunberg 1960 is correct.

Zunächst möchte ich an dieser Stelle meinen Dank ausprechen dem Department of Entomology in British Museum, speziell Herrn R. T. Thompson, wie auch Herrn P. Basilewsky, Chef der Entomologischen Abteilung in Kön. Museum für Zentral Afrika in Tervuren, für das bereitvillige Ausleihen der nötigen Käfer. Leider zum Bearbeiten der Art Triozastus pertenuis Schedl habe ich kein Material gehabt, weil die Typen nicht zugänglich sind (das Pariser Museum f. Naturkunde antwortet überhaupt nicht, Prof. Schedl leiht nicht die Typen).     

Nomenclatural changes in Scolytidae and Platypodidae (Coleoptera)

New synonymy in Scolytidae includes Cryphalus piceae (Ratzeburg, 1837) (= Cryphalus subdepressus Eggers, 1940), Gnathotrupes longiusculus (Schedl, 1951) (= Gnathotrupes ciliatus Schedl, 1975), Hypothenemus eruditus Westwood (= Stephanoderes communis Schaufuss, 1891). In Platypodidae the new name Platypus abruptifer is proposed as a replacement for the junior homonym Platypus abruptus Browne, 1986; type-species designations are proposed for the genus group names Scutopygus Nunberg, 1966, Pygodolius Nunberg, 1966, Mixopygus Nunberg, 1966, Mesopygus Nunberg, 1966, Asetus Nunberg, 1958, Stenoplatypus Strohmeyer, 1914, Platypinus Schedl, 1939, Platyscapus Schedl, 1939, Treptoplatypus Schedl, 1939, Tesseroplatypus Schedl, 1935; previously unpublished specific synonymy is presented for Crossotarsus externedentatus (Fairmaire, 1849) (= Diapus talurae Stebbing, 1906), Crossotarsus terminatus Chapuis, 1865 (= Crossotarsus nicobaricus Beeson, 1937), Platypus abditus Schedl, 1936 (= Platypus transitus Schedl, 1978), Platypus rugosifrons Schedl, 1933 (= Platypus pretiosus Schedl, 1961), Platypus tiriosensis Reichardt, 1965 (= Platypus schedli Wood, 1966), Treptoplatypus multiporus Schedl, 1968 (= Playtpus fastuosus Schedl, 1969).