Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons^™

New Species Of Trachyderini From Mexico And Central America (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae), James E. Wappes, Antonio Santos-Silva

Insecta Mundi

Three new trachyderine species in the subtribe Trachyderina (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Ceram­bycinae: Trachyderini) are described: Entomosterna kovariki Wappes and Santos-Silva, new species, from Belize; Gortonia sumideroensis Wappes and Santos-Silva, new species, from Mexico (Chiapas); and Sphaeno­thecus vandenberghei Wappes and Santos-Silva, new species, from Nicaragua. A new key to Entomosterna species, and a previous Sphaenothecus key by Chemsak and Noguera (1998) is modified to include the new species, with both provided herein.

Redescripción De Eulachnesia Boteroi Monné Y Monné, 2015 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Hemilophini), Sergio Devesa

Insecta Mundi

Eulachnesia boteroi Monné y Monné, 2015 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Hemilophini) es redescrito, ilustrado dorsal, ventral y lateralmente, así como diversos detalles de su morfología. Es realizada la designación de un neotipo y la especie es registrada por primera vez para Ecuador. Adicionalmente, es propuesta una clave para la identificación de las especies del género.

Eulachnesia boteroi Monné and Monné, 2015 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Hemilophini) is redescribed and illustrated dorsally, ventrally and laterally, with several specific details. The designation of a neotype is made and the species is registered for the first time for Ecuador. Additionally, a key is proposed for …

Addendum And Update To Zidek (2020):Catalogue Of Species-Group Names Assigned To Copris Geoffroy, Coptodactyla Burmeister, Litocopris Waterhouse, Microcopris Balthasar, Paracopris Balthasar, Pseudocopris Ferreira, Pseudopedaria Felsche, Sinocopris Ochi, Kon And Bai, And Thyregis Blackburn (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Coprini), Jiri Zidek

Insecta Mundi

The catalogue of species-group names of nine coprine genera (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Coprini), published earlier this year, is updated and revised. Presented are species-group taxa overlooked in compiling the catalogue and new species-group taxa described in 2020, i.e. after the cut-off date of the catalogue.

Validation Of Chrysina Valentini Zubov And Ivshin, 2019 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae) By Morphometric And Cuticular Reflectance Analyses, David C. Robacker, Karen M. Robacker, William C. Warfield

Insecta Mundi

Micromorphometric analyses of genital capsules and comparison of adult cuticular reflectance of two species of Chrysina Kirby (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae) support the status of C. valentini Zubov and Ivshin, 2019 as a valid species. Compared with its closest relative C. optima (Bates, 1888), capsules of C. valentini are proportionately wider at the base of the parameres than those of C. optima, and taper toward the apex more abruptly. Reflectance of C. valentini under natural light appears slightly greenish while C. optima is uniformly reddish. The number of teeth on the protibia and the shape of the mesosternal process, characters …

A Review Of The Nearctic Species Of Fornax Laporte (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae: Macraulacinae: Macraulacini) With Descriptions Of Six New Species, Robert L. Otto

Insecta Mundi

The Nearctic species of Fornax Laporte are reviewed. Three species are redescribed, and six new species are described mainly from southeastern United States. The new species are F. appalachiensis , F. con­vexicollis, F. floridana, F. lucidicollis, F. melsheimeri and F. parallelicollis. A neotype is designated for Hylochares bicolor Melsheimer, with notes on its purpose. Each species is diagnosed and imaged. A new identification key is provided for all known species of Fornax present in the Nearctic region, replacing previous Nearctic species keys of Muona (2000) and Otto (2017).

A New Species Of Oncotophasma Rehn, 1904 (Phasmida: Diapheromeridae) From Colombia, Andres David Murcia, Oscar J. Cadena-Castañeda, Daniela Santos Martins Silva

Insecta Mundi

Abstract. Oncotophasma aurantiaviridiata Murcia, Cadena-Castañeda, and Silva new species (Phasmida: Diapheromeridae) from the Colombian Andes is described. The new species is distinguished by its peculiar coloration, which highlights greenish and orange tones. It is also the first record of the genus for the eastern slope of the Colombian Andes. The previous distribution recorded for the genus is the Chocó biogeographic region from Costa Rica to Colombia, with species being found in the Colombian areas of influence of this biogeographic region, such as the western and central slopes of the Andes.

Resumen. Se describe a Oncotophasma aurantiaviridiata Murcia, Cadena-Castañeda y …

Selenopidae (Arachnida: Araneae), A New Host Spider Family For The Spider Wasp Tachypompilus Ferrugineus (Say) (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Pompilini), Frank E. Kurczewski, Rick C. West, Sarah C. Crews, N. R. Jenzen-Jones

Insecta Mundi

Four online photographs from Oaxaca, Mexico taken by N. R. Jenzen-Jones and posted on inaturalist.org reveal Selenops sp., probably S. mexicanus Keyserling (Arachnida: Araneae: Selenopidae), as a new host spider species, genus and family for the common and widespread American spider wasp Tachypompilus fer­rugineus (Say) (rusty spider wasp). The wasp transported the immobilized spider up an exterior stucco wall of a house, dorsal side upward, walking backwards for 3 m to her nest in a gap between the wooden planking and stucco wall beneath the roof, while grasping the femur of its right pedipalp with her mandibles.

Description Of The Male Of Euschistus (Euschistus) Baranowskii Eger And Bianchi (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Pentatominae: Carpocorini), Joseph E. Eger Jr.

Insecta Mundi

Euschistus (Euschistus) baranowskii Eger and Bianchi (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Pentatominae: Carpocorini) was described based on a single female specimen. In this paper, I describe the male of the spe­cies, primarily the genitalia, and compare it to other species of Euschistus (Euschistus) Dallas.

Linking Mosquito Surveillance To Dengue Fever Through Bayesian Mechanistic Modeling, Clinton B. Leach, Jennifer A. Hoeting, Kim M. Pepin, Alvaro E. Eiras, Mevin B. Hooten, Colleen T. Webb

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Our ability to effectively prevent the transmission of the dengue virus through targeted control of its vector, Aedes aegypti, depends critically on our understanding of the link between mosquito abundance and human disease risk. Mosquito and clinical surveillance data are widely collected, but linking them requires a modeling framework that accounts for the complex non-linear mechanisms involved in transmission. Most critical are the bottleneck in transmission imposed by mosquito lifespan relative to the virus’ extrinsic incubation period, and the dynamics of human immunity. We developed a differential equation model of dengue transmission and embedded it in a Bayesian hierarchical …

Flowers Are Essential To Maintain High Beetle Diversity (Coleoptera) In A Neotropical Rainforest Canopy, Susan Kirmse, Caroline S. Chaboo

University of Nebraska State Museum: Staff and Affiliates, Publications

Many hypotheses have been proposed to explain the megadiversity of angiosperms and insects. Flowers and their pollinators represent the most common terrestrial mutualistic interaction today and this is thought to have driven the evolution of angiosperms and their visitors. Within the framework of that interaction, this paper develops and tests two new hypotheses: 1) megadiversity of canopy beetles in tropical rainforests is largely based on flower resources, and 2) the majority of adult canopy beetles are adapted to visit flowers. To test hypothesis 1, the beetle fauna associated with 23 canopy tree species (13 families, 45 individuals) in a 1.4 …

The Birds Of The Nebraska Sandhills, Paul A. Johnsgard, Josef Kren

Zea E-Books Collection

This book provides basic information on all the species of birds that have been reliably reported from the Nebraska Sandhills region as of 2020. They include 46 permanent residents, 125 summer breeders, 125 migrants, and 102 rare or accidental species, totaling 398 species. Information on status, migration, and habitats is provided for all but the very rare and accidental species. There are also descriptions of 46 refuges, preserves, and other public-access natural areas in the region and seven suggested birding routes. The text contains more than 90,000 words and over 250 literature references along with more than 20 drawings, 9 …

Genomic Evidence Suggests Further Changes Of Butterfly Names, Jing Zhang, Qian Cong, Jinhui Shen, Pal A. Opler, Nick V. Grishin

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Further genomic sequencing of butterflies by our research group expanding the coverage of species and specimens from different localities, coupled with genome-scale phylogenetic analysis and complemented by phenotypic considerations, suggests a number of changes to the names of butterflies, mostly those recorded from the United States and Canada. Here, we present evidence to support these changes. The changes are intended to make butterfly classification more internally consistent at the genus, subgenus and species levels. That is, considering all available evidence, we attempt to assign similar taxonomic ranks to the clades of comparable genetic differentiation, which on average is correlated with …

Coyotes, Rick Tischaefer

Wildlife Damage Management Technical Series

The coyote (Canis latrans; Figure 1) is a medium-sized member of the canid family. Once primarily found in western deserts and grasslands, coyotes have expanded their range across North America and into diverse habitats, including urban areas. This expansion occurred during a time of extensive habitat change and efforts by people to suppress coyote populations to prevent damage. Coyotes can cause a variety of conflicts related to agriculture, natural resources, property, and human health and safety. This document highlights a variety of methods for reducing those conflicts. Coyotes are a highly adaptable species and may become habituated to some management …

Exploring A Novel Substrate-Borne Vibratory Signal In The Wolf Spider Schizocosa Floridana, Malcolm F. Rosenthal, Eileen Hebets, Rowan H. Mcginley, Cody Raiza, James Starrett, Lin Yan, Damian O. Elias

Eileen Hebets Publications

Animals communicate using a diversity of signals produced by a wide array of physical structures. Determining how a signal is produced provides key insights into signal evolution. Here, we examine a complex vibratory mating display produced by male Schizocosa floridana wolf spiders. This display contains three discrete substrate-borne acoustic components (known as “thumps”, “taps”, and “chirps”), each of which is anecdotally associated with the movement of a different body part (the pedipalps, legs, and abdomen respectively). In order to determine the method of production, we employ a combination of high-speed video/audio recordings and SEM imaging of possible sound-producing structures. Previous …

Testing The Hypothesized Antipredator Defence Function Of Stridulation In The Spiny Orb-Weaving Spider, Micrathena Gracilis, Tyler B. Corey, Eileen A. Hebets

Eileen Hebets Publications

The observable diversity of antipredator defenses across organisms demonstrates predation’s impact on trait evolution. The functions of many traits that are presumed to have an antipredator function have never been directly tested. The spiny orb-weaving spider, Micrathena gracilis, for example, stridulates when grasped. While stridulation was first hypothesized to be an antipredator defense nearly 50 years ago, no data exist to support this hypothesis. To explore the form and function of M. gracilis stridulation, we first quantified the behavioral and acoustical properties of sound production. Next, using laboratory assays, we directly tested the effect of stridulation on survival with …

Spotted Owls And Forest Fire: Comment, Gavin M. Jones, R. J. Gutiérrez, William M. Block, Peter C. Carlson, Emily J. Comfort, Samuel A. Cushman, Raymond J. Davis, Stephanie A. Eyes, Alan B. Franklin, Joseph L. Ganey, Shaula Hedwall, John J. Keane, Rodd Kelsey, Damon B, Lesmeister, Malcolm P. North, Susan L. Roberts, Jeremy T. Rockweit, Jamie S. Sanderlin, Sarah C. Sawyer, Ben Solvesky, Douglas J. Tempel, Ho Yi Wan, A. Leroy Westerling, Gary C. White, M. Zachariah Peery

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Western North American forest ecosystems are experiencing rapid changes in disturbance regimes because of climate change and land use legacies (Littell et al. 2018). In many of these forests, the accumulation of surface and ladder fuels from a century of fire suppression, coupled with a warming and drying climate, has led to increases in the number of large fires (Westerling 2016) and the proportion of areas burning at higher severity (Safford and Stevens 2017, Singleton et al. 2018). While the annual area burned by fire is still below historical levels (Taylor et al. 2016), some forest types in the west …

First Report Of Brachyplatys Subaeneus (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Plataspidae) In The United States, Joseph E. Eger Jr., Adam J. Pitcher, Susan E. Halbert, Cory Penca, Amanda C. Hodges

Insecta Mundi

Brachyplatys subaeneus (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Plataspidae), is reported from Miami Beach, FL, the first report from the United States. It was noticed first on a photo-sharing site (iNaturalist) providing an example of the importance of these sites for helping to track introduced species. Information on distribution, host plants and potential spread are provided along with photos and taxonomic characters to assist with identification of this recently introduced species.

ZooBank registration. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:332C0E76-9AE9-4069-9240-F55CADC64165

Checklist Of The Caddisfly Family Rhyacophilidae (Insecta: Trichoptera) In India, Tabaraq Ali, Sajad H. Parey, Manpreet S. Pandher, Malkiat S. Saini

Insecta Mundi

The present checklist covers the fauna of the Trichopteran family Rhyacophilidae Stephens, 1836. Based on extensive surveys done during 2003–2019 and previous species records, we find that the family Rhyacophilidae is represented by two genera and 184 species in India. The genus Rhyacophila Pictet contains 165 species in India while the genus Himalopsyche Banks contains 19 described species. The Indian Himalayan region is inhabited by more species than the rest of India.

A New Species Of Parorectis Spaeth From The North-Central United States, With Notes On Prothoracic And Head Morphology Of The Genus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Cassidini), Edward G. Riley

Insecta Mundi

A new species of tortoise beetle from the north-central United States, Parorectis arenaria new species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Cassidini), is described and illustrated. Comparative remarks and a key are provided to distinguish the new species from the three other species comprising the genus. Adults and larvae of the new species feed on Physalis L. (Solanaceae). The circum-foraminal ridge and antennal groove of the prothorax are described in detail. The pars stridens (file) of the stridulatory apparatus on the male cranium of the new species is illustrated. The pars stridens is present only in males of Parorectis Spaeth species. A patch …

Additional Type Designations For Fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) Of The Biologia Centrali Americana Housed In The Natural History Museum, London, Gavin J. Martin, Natalie A. Saxton

Insecta Mundi

Firefly (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) taxonomy has undergone numerous changes over the past 100 years. In order to help provide stability to the group, types for several of the Lampyridae of the Biologia Centrali Americana were determined or designated in early 2019. Here we provide treatments for the remaining Lampyridae and determine the holotype specimens for four species and designate lectotype specimens for 33 species.

ZooBank registration. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1EBF8DAB-3EC5-4671-9E15-C3D2213E3164

The Genus Ochodaeus In Italy: Taxonomy And Distribution (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Ochodaeidae), Stefano Ziani

Insecta Mundi

The author provides a taxonomic, nomenclatural and distributional review of the genus Ochodaeus Dejean, 1821 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Ochodaeidae) in Italy. All Italian populations have been confirmed to belong to a single species, O. chrysomeloides (Schrank, 1781). After the study of a syntype, O. cychramoides Reitter, 1892, formerly considered an Italian endemic, is confirmed to be a junior synonym of O. chrysomeloides. Type material of O. chrysomeloides is believed to be destroyed, therefore a neotype is here designated and deposited at the Natural History Museum of Vienna, Austria. A lectotype is here designated for O. cychramoides and deposited in the Hungarian …

Dos Nuevas Especies De Gorgojos Que Barrenan Los Frutos De Palma De Chontaduro De Los Géneros Parisoschoenus Y Cylindrocerus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Baridinae) De La Costa Pacífica De Colombia, Luis Miguel Constantino, Luis Carlos Pardo-Locarno

Insecta Mundi

Actualmente existen dos especies de gorgojos (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) que barrenan los frutos de la palma de chontaduro Bactris gasipaes Kunth en Colombia y que ocasionan pérdidas de hasta el 100% de la producción. Palmelampius heinrichi O’Brien es la principal plaga del cultivo en toda la costa pacífica y en vastas regiones de la amazonia y el piedemonte llanero. En este trabajo se describe una nueva especie del género Parisoschoenus Faust, P. bactrisae Constantino y Pardo-Locarno que ocurre simpátricamente con P. heinrichi en la costa pacífica de Colombia causando un daño similar y que se diferencia de la especie anterior por …

First Record For Cypherotylus Dromedarius (Lacordaire) (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) From Panama, Brian J. Armitage, Alonso Santos Murgas

Insecta Mundi

Cypherotylus dromedarius (Lacordaire, 1842) (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) was described from French Guiana. Information about its current distribution is scattered throughout the literature and the internet. Specimens of this species were recently observed and photographed in the Boquete area, Chiriqui Province, Panama, and constitute a new record for the country of this species. Subsequently, we located two specimens deposited in the National Reference Collection of the G. B. Fairchild Museum of Invertebrates, University of Panama, from the same locality in Chiriqui Province. We summarize the distribution of this species from scattered sources and provide five new records.

Cypherotylus dromedarius (Lacordaire, 1842) (Coleoptera: …

A New Central American Genus Of Pleasing Fungus Beetles (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) From The Ischyrus-Megischyrus Complex, Paul E. Skelley

Insecta Mundi

Antoinettia, new genus (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Erotylinae: Tritomini), is erected for three species: A. audbala (Skelley), new combination, A. huhnei Skelley, new species, and A. kovariki (Skelley), new combination. A genus complex involving Ischyrus Lacordaire, 1842, and Megischyrus Crotch, 1873, is defined and a preliminary key to neotropical genera of Tritomini with coarsely facetted eyes is presented.

ZooBank registration. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7CF5D30C-C46E-4135-A188-B53B0A77B34E

Using Dna Barcoding For Identification Of Some Psyllids (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) Intercepted At South Korea Ports-Of-Entry, Soo-Jung Suh, Deuk-Soo Choi

Insecta Mundi

Quick and accurate identification of intercepted psyllids (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) is an essential requirement for effective pest management and phytosanitary procedures. However, due to lack of morphological characters in the immature stages that can be used to distinguish species, other molecular methods, such as DNA barcoding are proving to be useful. The current study was to designed to generate comprehensive information on the identification of all developmental stages of eight species of psyllids intercepted on consignments of infested fresh cut flowers at the ports of entry in South Korea using DNA barcoding. It is considered that DNA barcoding is a reliable …

Anthropogenic Change On The Distribution Of Marine Megafauna And Their Prey, Baylie Fadool

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Anthropogenic change is impacting the distribution and survival of marine megafauna and their prey. Humans are changing every aspect of the marine environment, with effects reaching as large as changing the composition of marine environments to directly overexploiting species through the fishing industry. The role that marine megafauna play in balancing ecosystems, including as top apex predators, leads to detrimental results in the absences and population declines of these species. Migrations and declines due to threats on marine apex predator species will alter their environments by causing mesopredator release and changes in community structure, which is often associated with reduced …

Loci Associated With Antibody Response In Feral Swine (Sus Scrofa) Infected With Brucella Suis, Courtney F. Pierce, Vienna R. Brown, Steven C. Olsen, Paola Boggiatto, Kerri Pedersen, Ryan S. Miller, Scott E. Speidel, Timothy J. Smyser

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Feral swine (Sus scrofa) are a destructive invasive species widespread throughout the United States that disrupt ecosystems, damage crops, and carry pathogens of concern for the health of domestic stock and humans including Brucella suis—the causative organism for swine brucellosis. In domestic swine, brucellosis results in reproductive failure due to abortions and infertility. Contact with infected feral swine poses spillover risks to domestic pigs as well as humans, companion animals, wildlife, and other livestock. Genetic factors influence the outcome of infectious diseases; therefore, genome wide association studies (GWAS) of differential immune responses among feral swine can provide …

A New Species Of Diolcus Mayr (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Scutelleridae: Pachycorinae) With A Reexamination Of The Subfamily And Generic Placement Of Nesogenes Boscii (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Scutelleridae: Elvisurinae Or Pachycorinae), Joseph E. Eger Jr.

Insecta Mundi

Diolcus thomasi Eger new species (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Scutelleridae: Pachycorinae), is de­scribed from Cayman Brac and Little Cayman Island and compared to D. chrysorrhoeus (Fabricius), its closest congener. Nesogenes boscii (Fabricius) is removed from the Elvisurinae and placed in the Pachycorinae. The relationship of N. boscii to D. thomasi and D. chrysorrhoeus is discussed.

Diolcus Mayr (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Scutelleridae: Pachycorinae) currently contains six valid species: D. cassi­doides (Walker) from Hispaniola, D. chrysorrhoeus (Fabricius) from the southeastern US and Texas, D. disjunctus Barber from Puerto Rico, D. irroratus (Fabricius) from Florida and many of …

A Review Of Avian Influenza A Virus Associations In Synanthropic Birds, Susan A. Shriner, J. Jeffrey Root

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Avian influenza A viruses (IAV) have received significant attention due to the threat they pose to human, livestock, and wildlife health. In this review, we focus on what is known about IAV dynamics in less common avian species that may play a role in trafficking IAVs to poultry operations. Specifically, we focus on synanthropic bird species. Synanthropic species, otherwise known as peridomestic, are species that are ecologically associated with humans and anthropogenically modified landscapes, such as agricultural and urban areas. Aquatic birds such as waterfowl and shorebirds are the species most commonly associated with avian IAVs, and are generally considered …

The Endangered California Condor (Gymnogyps Californianus) Population Is Exposed To Local Haemosporidian Parasites, M. Andreína Pacheco, Chris N. Parish, Timothy J. Hauck, Roberto F. Aguilar, Ananias A. Escalante

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Library Materials

The endangered California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) is the largest New World Vulture in North America. Despite recovery program success in saving the species from extinction, condors remain compromised by lead poisoning and limited genetic diversity. The latter makes this species especially vulnerable to infectious diseases. Thus, taking advantage of the program of blood lead testing in Arizona, condor blood samples from 2008 to 2018 were screened for haemosporidian parasites using a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol that targets the parasite mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Plasmodium homopolare (Family Plasmodiidae, Order Haemosporida, Phylum Apicomplexa), was detected in condors captured …