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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Photography-Based Taxonomy Is Inadequate, Unnecessary, And Potentially Harmful For Biological Sciences, Luis M. P. Ceríaco, Eliécer E. Gutiérrez, Alain Dubois, Rafael O. De Sá, Et Al. Nov 2016

Photography-Based Taxonomy Is Inadequate, Unnecessary, And Potentially Harmful For Biological Sciences, Luis M. P. Ceríaco, Eliécer E. Gutiérrez, Alain Dubois, Rafael O. De Sá, Et Al.

Biology Faculty Publications

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per …


A New Species Of Psalidognathus Gray, 1831 From Peru (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Prioninae), Taketsune Noguchi, Antonio Santos-Silva Oct 2016

A New Species Of Psalidognathus Gray, 1831 From Peru (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Prioninae), Taketsune Noguchi, Antonio Santos-Silva

Insecta Mundi

Psalidognathus antonkozlovi (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Prioninae), a new species from Peru, is described and illustrated. The new species is included in a previous key.

Currently, Psalidognathus Gray, 1831 encompasses 10 species distributed from Costa Rica to northern South America (Monné 2016). The species can be included in two groups: the “modestus” group, species without a spine at the apex of the basal antennomeres; and the “friendii” group, species with a spine at the apex of the basal antennomeres. Santos-Silva and Komiya (2012) published a provisional study of the species of the “modestus” group, considering seven species in it. The key to …


Phylogeny, Systematics And Biogeography Of Short-Tailed Opossums (Didelphidae: Monodelphis), Silvia E. Pavan Sep 2016

Phylogeny, Systematics And Biogeography Of Short-Tailed Opossums (Didelphidae: Monodelphis), Silvia E. Pavan

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Short-tailed opossums (genus Monodelphis) comprise the most species-rich genus of New World marsupials, with 25 currently recognized species. Monodelphis comprise small, terrestrial species collectively widespread in South America, which makes the group potentially informative about biogeographic processes that have shaped the continental fauna. The genus exhibits striking variation in several phenotypic characters, notably pelage coloration, behavior, and reproductive strategies. This diversity is unique among Neotropical marsupials, and makes the group particularly interesting to investigate the evolution and the adaptive significance of phenotypic trait variation. Despite this potential, missing knowledge on phylogeny and basic taxonomy precludes broader studies on evolution …


Taxonomic Supplement (2001 To 2015) To The Catalogue Of New Zealand Carabidae (Insecta: Coleoptera), André Larochelle, Marie-Claude Larivière Sep 2016

Taxonomic Supplement (2001 To 2015) To The Catalogue Of New Zealand Carabidae (Insecta: Coleoptera), André Larochelle, Marie-Claude Larivière

Insecta Mundi

A supplement to the “Carabidae (Insecta: Coleoptera): catalogue” published by Larochelle and Larivière (2001; Fauna of New Zealand 43), is provided. A total of 99 genera and 547 species and subspecies belonging to 21 tribes and 8 subfamilies of Carabidae (including Cicindelini and Rhysodini), is recorded for New Zealand. Endemism is high, with 93% of the species and subspecies as well as 62% of the genera recorded from this country only. Changes to the 2001 catalogue are documented. The synonymy and type locality of taxa described between 2001 and 2015 are also provided.


Provisional Revision Of The Genus Epimelitta Bates, 1870 And Associated Genera, With A Brief Synopsis Of The Genus Acorethra Bates, 1873 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae), Robin O.S. Clarke Sep 2016

Provisional Revision Of The Genus Epimelitta Bates, 1870 And Associated Genera, With A Brief Synopsis Of The Genus Acorethra Bates, 1873 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae), Robin O.S. Clarke

Insecta Mundi

Abstract. Epimelitta Bates, 1870 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) is redescribed with two species: Epimelitta scoparia (Klug, 1825) and Epimelitta rufiventris Bates, 1870; Epimelitta meliponica Bates, 1870 syn. nov. and Epimelitta acutipennis Fisher, 1947 syn. nov. are considered junior synonyms of E. scoparia. Exepimelitta gen. nov. is described with five species: Exepimelitta mimica (Bates, 1873), Ex. nigerrima (Bates, 1892), Ex. consobrina (Melzer, 1931) (= Epimelitta nigerrima var. flavipubescens Fisher, 1947, syn. nov.), Ex. lestradei (Peñaherrera-Leiva and Tavakilian, 2003) and Ex. windsori sp. nov. Charisia Champion, 1892 is revalidated and redescribed with six species: Charisia euphrosyne (Newman, 1840), C. mneme (Newman, 1841), …


The Meat-Farming Ants: Predatory Mutualism Between Melissotarsus Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) And Armored Scale Insects (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), Scott A. Schneider Jul 2016

The Meat-Farming Ants: Predatory Mutualism Between Melissotarsus Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) And Armored Scale Insects (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), Scott A. Schneider

Doctoral Dissertations

Ant agricultural mutualisms are common, well studied, and receive attention from scientific and public spheres due to shared similarities with human agriculture (i.e. ant/fungus ‘crop farming’ and ant/insect ‘dairy farming’). They also serve as important model systems for studying many facets of mutualism. This study reveals that the repertoire of ant agriculture may also include ‘meat farming’. Predatory mutualisms occur between Melissotarsus ants and various species of armored scale insects. This dissertation employs a multi-disciplinary approach to investigate the evolutionary history and nature of ant/diaspidid mutualisms. Chapter 1 reviews the current state of knowledge regarding species composition of these associations …


Description Of Mesocriconema Ericaceum N. Sp. (Nematoda: Criconematidae) And Notes On Other Nematode Species Discovered In An Ericaceous Heath Bald Community In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Usa, Thomas O. Powers, Peter Mullin, Rebecca Higgins, Timothy Harris, Kirsten S. Powers Jun 2016

Description Of Mesocriconema Ericaceum N. Sp. (Nematoda: Criconematidae) And Notes On Other Nematode Species Discovered In An Ericaceous Heath Bald Community In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Usa, Thomas O. Powers, Peter Mullin, Rebecca Higgins, Timothy Harris, Kirsten S. Powers

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

A new species of Mesocriconema and a unique assemblage of plant-parasitic nematodes was discovered in a heath bald atop Brushy Mountain in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Mesocriconema ericaceum n. sp., a species with males, superficially resembles M. xenoplax. DNA barcoding with the mitochondrial COI gene provided evidence of the new species as a distinct lineage. SEM revealed significant variability in arrangement of labial submedian lobes, plates, and anterior and posterior annuli. Three other nematodes in the family Criconematidae were characterized from the heath bald. Ogma seymouri, when analyzed by statistical parsimony, established connections with isolates from north-eastern Atlantic …


Trox Paulseni (Coleoptera: Trogidae), A New Species From Nebraska And Kansas, Usa, Brett C. Ratcliffe May 2016

Trox Paulseni (Coleoptera: Trogidae), A New Species From Nebraska And Kansas, Usa, Brett C. Ratcliffe

Insecta Mundi

Trox paulseni Ratcliffe, new species (Coleoptera: Trogidae), is described from Nebraska and Kansas, USA. A description, diagnosis to separate it from Trox hamatus Robinson (its closest congener), distribution, and illustrations are provided.


First Record Of The Beetle Family Throscidae (Insecta: Coleoptera), A New Species Of I>Aulonothroscus Horn, And New Species Records To The Fauna Of Peru / Primer Registro De La Familia De Escarabajos Throscidae (Insecta: Coleoptera), Una Nueva Especie De Aulonothroscus Horn Y Tres Nuevos Registros De Especies Para La Fauna De Perú, Paul J. Johnson, Caroline S. Chaboo Jan 2016

First Record Of The Beetle Family Throscidae (Insecta: Coleoptera), A New Species Of I>Aulonothroscus Horn, And New Species Records To The Fauna Of Peru / Primer Registro De La Familia De Escarabajos Throscidae (Insecta: Coleoptera), Una Nueva Especie De Aulonothroscus Horn Y Tres Nuevos Registros De Especies Para La Fauna De Perú, Paul J. Johnson, Caroline S. Chaboo

Publications of UNSM Staff and Affiliates

The beetle family Throscidae is documented from Peru for the first time, based on specimens collected in the regions of Cajamarca, Junín, Loreto and Madre de Dios. Aulonothroscus tambopata new species is descri­bed from Madre de Dios. Also, three additional species of Aulonothroscus are reported from Peru for the first time – A. alvarengai Cobos new country record, A. freudi Cobos new country record, and A. oculatissimus Cobos new country record. A key separating these four species is given. This report is part of the “Beetles of Peru” project.

Se documenta por primera vez la familia de …


Two New Eburiini From Mexico (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Cerambycinae), Stéphane Le Tirant, Antonio Santos-Silva Jan 2016

Two New Eburiini From Mexico (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Cerambycinae), Stéphane Le Tirant, Antonio Santos-Silva

Insecta Mundi

Two new species of Eburiini (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Cerambycinae) are described from Mexico (Guerrero): Susuacanga boteroi; and Eburia (Eburia) girouxae. Both are included in previous keys.


A New Eupromerini Galileo And Martins, 1995, From French Guiana (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae), Pierre -Henri Dalens Jan 2016

A New Eupromerini Galileo And Martins, 1995, From French Guiana (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae), Pierre -Henri Dalens

Insecta Mundi

Eupromera pascali sp. nov. (Coleoptera, Lamiinae) is described from French Guiana. The species is illustrated and compared to close species. A key for species of Eupromera is updated.


Current Disposition Of Earwigflies, Merope Tuber Newman And Austromerope Poultoni Killington (Mecoptera: Meropeidae), In The Florida State Collection Of Arthropods, James C. Dunford, Louis A. Somma, David Serrano Jan 2016

Current Disposition Of Earwigflies, Merope Tuber Newman And Austromerope Poultoni Killington (Mecoptera: Meropeidae), In The Florida State Collection Of Arthropods, James C. Dunford, Louis A. Somma, David Serrano

Insecta Mundi

We provide the current holdings of Meropeidae in the Florida State Collection of Arthropods (FSCA). To date, FSCA holds a well-curated collection of extant meropeids representing 17 U.S. states and Western Australia (n = 316 Merope tuber Newman, five Austromerope poultoni Killington). Merope tuber records from Vermont, Texas, and South Carolina are published here for the first time. A total of 298 pinned M. tuber and four pinned A. poultoni; six M. tuber specimens preserved in 95% ethanol; and 12 M. tuber and one A. poultoni sputter-coated with gold-palladium for SEM are available for researchers interested in studying this unique …


Two New Vaejovis C.L. Koch 1836 From Highlands Of The Sierra Madre Occidental, Durango, Mexico (Scorpiones, Vaejovidae), W. David Sissom, Matthew R. Graham, Taylor G. Donaldson, Robert W. Bryson Jan 2016

Two New Vaejovis C.L. Koch 1836 From Highlands Of The Sierra Madre Occidental, Durango, Mexico (Scorpiones, Vaejovidae), W. David Sissom, Matthew R. Graham, Taylor G. Donaldson, Robert W. Bryson

Insecta Mundi

Two new species of the mexicanus group of Vaejovis C.L. Koch are described from the Madrean pine-oak forests of the Sierra Madre Occidental in the state of Durango, Mexico. These species, Vaejovis sierrae sp. nov. and Vaejovis mcwesti sp. nov., are distinguished from each other and the only other species of the mexicanus group known from this mountain range, Vaejovis montanus Graham and Bryson, by morphometrics, carinal development of the pedipalps, granulation of the metasoma, and body size. A key to the species of the mexicanus group from the Sierra Madre Occidental is provided.


New Species Of Neocompsa And Tropidion From Bolivia (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae: Neoibidionini), James E. Wappes, Antonio Santos-Silva Jan 2016

New Species Of Neocompsa And Tropidion From Bolivia (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae: Neoibidionini), James E. Wappes, Antonio Santos-Silva

Insecta Mundi

Two Neoibidionini from Bolivia are described as new: Neocompsa schneppi sp. nov. and Tropidion

nancyae sp. nov. The new species are compared to closely related species and previous keys by Martins and Galileo

(2007, 2009) are modifi ed to include them. Illustrations of dorsal, ventral and lateral habitus, as well as head

structures are included for both species. Comments are also included on color and pattern variation of each species.


Notes On Some Species Of Myzomorphus Sallé, 1850 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Prioninae, Anacolini), Amoret Spooner, Antonio Santos-Silva Jan 2016

Notes On Some Species Of Myzomorphus Sallé, 1850 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Prioninae, Anacolini), Amoret Spooner, Antonio Santos-Silva

Insecta Mundi

Notes on the type of Myzomorphus quadripunctatus (Gray, 1831) are provided, and a lectotype is designated for the species. The holotype male of M. poultoni Lameere, 1912, along with a second male, are figured for the first time, and compared with M. gounellei Lameere, 1912. Notes on Myzomorphus amabilis (Tippmann, 1960) and a key to known males of Myzomorphus are also provided.


A New Species Of Paradiscopus Schwarzer (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Acanthoderini) From Costa Rica, Josef Vlasak Jan 2016

A New Species Of Paradiscopus Schwarzer (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Acanthoderini) From Costa Rica, Josef Vlasak

Insecta Mundi

Paradiscopus monteverdensis Vlasak, new species (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is described from Costa Rica. The new species is illustrated and a key is provided to Paradiscopus species


A New Species Of Octotapnia Galileo And Martins, 1992 From French Guiana (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae), Pierre-Henri Dalens Jan 2016

A New Species Of Octotapnia Galileo And Martins, 1992 From French Guiana (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae), Pierre-Henri Dalens

Insecta Mundi

Octotapnia persona sp. nov. (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae) is described from French Guiana and illustrated. The key for species of Octotapnia is updated.


Classification, Natural History, And Evolution Of The Subfamily Peloniinae Opitz (Coleoptera: Cleroidea: Cleridae). Part Vi. New Taxonomic Placement For Pelonium Sexpunctatum Kirsch, Weston Opitz Jan 2016

Classification, Natural History, And Evolution Of The Subfamily Peloniinae Opitz (Coleoptera: Cleroidea: Cleridae). Part Vi. New Taxonomic Placement For Pelonium Sexpunctatum Kirsch, Weston Opitz

Insecta Mundi

Pelonium sexpunctatum Kirsch (Coleoptera: Cleroidea: Cleridae) is transferred to Diutius Opitz where it is closely allied to Diutius gallerucoides Spinola.

Pelonium sexpunctatum Kirsch (Coleoptera: Cleroidea: Cleridae) es transferido al

género Diutius Opitz dónde es cecado a Diutius gallerucoides Spinola.


Nueva Especie De Kessleria Nowicki, 1864 Para Chile Central (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) Asociada A Maytenus Boaria Molina (Celastraceae), Danilo E. Cepeda Jan 2016

Nueva Especie De Kessleria Nowicki, 1864 Para Chile Central (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) Asociada A Maytenus Boaria Molina (Celastraceae), Danilo E. Cepeda

Insecta Mundi

The description of a new species of Kessleria (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) is presented, based on male

and female specimens obtained from laboratory rearing of material collected on their host, Maytenus boaria, of

the central region of Chile.

Se describe una nueva especie del género Kessleria (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) para Chile central,

en base a ejemplares macho y hembra, obtenidos de crianza de laboratorio de su hospedero, Maytenus boaria, de

la región central de Chile.


Five New Species Of Dipropus Germar (Coleoptera: Elateridae) From West-Central North America, And A Lectotype Designation For Elater Soleatus Say, Paul J. Johnson Jan 2016

Five New Species Of Dipropus Germar (Coleoptera: Elateridae) From West-Central North America, And A Lectotype Designation For Elater Soleatus Say, Paul J. Johnson

Insecta Mundi

The species of Dipropus Germar (Coleoptera: Elateridae) of the west-central region of North America are taxonomically reviewed. Historical records of D. approximatus (Candèze), D. ferreus (LeConte), D. simplex (LeConte) and D. soleatus (Say) in the region are based on misidentifi cations. Dipropus pericu new species is described from Baja California Sur. Dipropus reinae new species, D. sonora new species and D. yaqui new species are described from southern Arizona, New Mexico and Sonora. Dipropus warneri new species is described from Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Dipropus sus (Candèze) is reported from Morelos, Sonora and Sinaloa as new state records …