Checklist of Hydrophiloidea of Turkey (Coleoptera: Polyphaga)

The superfamily Hydrophiloidea of Turkey is catalogued. A total of 23 genera and 161 valid species and subspecies are recorded of which six species (3.7%) are recorded as endemic. Forty-eight species and two subspecies are from the family Helophoridae, three species are from the family Georissidae, seven species are from the family Hydrochidae, two species are from the family Spercheidae and 95 species and four subspecies are from the family Hydrophilidae. Distributions of these species within Turkey are given according to the 81 administrative divisions of the country. The catalogue is based on examination of the primary literature and also includes some records from specimens examined in collections. Taxa are arranged hierarchically under the categories of family, subfamily, tribe, subtribe (where recognized), genus, subgenus (where recognized), species and subspecies (where recognized).     

Natural history of the African riverine tiger beetle Chaetodera regalis (Dejean) (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae)

The tiger beetle Chaetodera regalis (Dejean) (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) is widely distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa. We studied activity patterns, ecological interactions, and behaviour of this species along four major rivers in Kruger National Park, South Africa. During the dry season, small numbers of adult beetles are found on sand bars along perennial rivers. In the rainy season, adults are found in large numbers on a broad spectrum of substrates (including clays, coarse and fine sands and gravels, and black organic soils) and geomorphological features (sand flats, mud flats, sand bars, beaches, riverbanks, and dry and wet sandy streambeds) in riverine areas. Predatory, defensive, thermoregulatory, and reproductive behaviours are described. This species may prove to be a useful indicator of the health of African riverine systems: adults are abundant in high-quality riverine areas; adults and larvae may be adversely affected by human activities; and adults are easily detected, even by novice surveyors.     

粪食性金龟子对家畜粪的分解作用研究

初步分析了在试验条件和自然状况下马（牛）粪的水分丢失和化学成分变化的特点以及与粪食性金龟子的关系．结果表明．试验条件下，无金龟子作用时，马粪的自然失水随时间成线性变化；在金龟子的作用下，失水减慢．特别是试验中使用12头虫的情况下．失水速度的减慢更加明显；试验条件下．经金龟子作用的马粪水浸液中的有机质含量有减少的趋势，灰分含量未减少，即金龟子可能主要取食马粪中的有机质；在自然情况下，马（牛）粪分解过程中化学元素的含量损失有两种情况，一种是含量损失由未分解阶段到半分解阶段较大．另一种是含量损失在由半分解阶段到分解阶段时较大，单位重量粪中灰分的含量随分解时间变化不大，但由新鲜粪便到完全分解灰分肯定是减少的．在粪的分解过程中，有机质的损失快于灰分．     

New contribution to the study of chromosomes of the European Cryptocephalinae (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae)

Summary The chromosomes of three species ofPachybrachis and nine ofCryptocephalus chrysomelids were analyzed. The male meiotic bivalent formula ofP. azureus Suffr.,P. catalonicus Burl. andP. petitpierrei Daccordi is 7^II+Xy_r.Cryptocephalus sexmaculatus Ol. andC. vittula Suffr. have 13^II+Xy_p,C. bipunctatus L. 14^II+Xy_r,C. ochroleucus Steph. andC. ocellatus Drap. 14^II+Xy_p,C. crassus 01. 15^II+Xy_r,C. sulphureus 01. 15^II+Xy_p, the same number as inC. fulvus Goeze with 2n=32 chromosomes, whileC. primarius Har. has 19^II+Xy_p. The modal chromosome number inCryptocephalus is 2n=30 (about 60% of spp.), and most species are characterized their small chromosomes. The low variation found in the karyotypes of Cryptocephalinae along with their possible interrelationships with allied chrysomelid subfamilies are also discussed.     

"华南虎"照片的摄像测量研究

2007年10月,华南虎照片一经公布,即引起各方关注。"挺虎派"和"打虎派"都极力从各个角度证明照片中华南虎的真伪,但采用的大都是定性分析方法。本文采用摄像测量方法,对照片中的华南虎进行了三维测量和重建,并进行了华南虎照与年画虎的相似度分析、虎照的细节变化分析等方面的研究。由于虎照之间的拍摄位置和角度变化不大,老虎部分的分辨率较低并存在模糊,用常规摄像测量方法难以重建三维结果。本文针对虎照实际情况,采用整体解算相机系统参数、局部重建老虎的方法,得到了满足精度要求的结果。结果表明,重建老虎不同部位的测量点均基本位于一个与像面基本平行的平面上。模拟场景实验证实了该重建方法正确可信。同时,根据平面物体的成像模型对虎照与年画虎进行了仿射校正和对比分析,表明照片虎与年画虎主纹理的骨架、轮廓基本重合,相似率为0.9986,满足平面变换条件。对眼部存在的差异也进行了分析。     

The ninth brachypterous Onthophagus Latreille (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) of the world: a new species from Mexico

A new brachypterous species of Onthophagus from Mexico, belonging to the New World chevrolati species group, is described and illustrated. Illustrations of the male and female dorsal habitus, and genitalia are provided. The relationships with other brachypterous species that occur in Guerrero (Mexico) are discussed. Placement of the new species in the chevrolati group key is provided. Additionally, new locality records for O. inflaticollis Bates are provided.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:747118CE-6A93-401A-8625-5A75479980AD