ABSTRACT
Malagasy Epilachnini are one of the least studied groups of the herbivorous ladybird beetles. Most of the species were described in the 19th and 20th centuries and their position within the modern classification has never been examined. Here we provide results of detailed study of two species Epilachna hovana Sicard, 1907 and Peralda quadriguttata, Sicard, 1909 which are proposed to be transferred to the genus Merma Weise (comb. nov.). Detailed morphological analysis, photographs of male and female genitalia and a key to species are also provided.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera , Animals , Female , MaleABSTRACT
Coccinellidae (Coleoptera), commonly known as ladybirds or ladybugs, are a highly diversified family comprising nearly 6000 described species (Vandenberg 2002) distributed in 2 subfamilies and 24 tribes (Seago et al. 2011). The genus Nephus Mulsant, 1846, present worldwide, is currently placed in the vast Coccidulini tribe (Seago et al. 2011). There are different classifications for Nephus: Gordon (1976, 1985) considered five Nephus subgenera (Depressoscymnus Gordon, Nephus Mulsant, Scymnobius Casey, Sidis Mulsant, and Turboscymnus Gordon), while Fürsch (1987) considered nine Nephus subgenera, and later (Fürsch 1996) excluded Diomus Mulsant, 1850 as subgenus, leaving Bipunctatus Fürsch, 1987, Depressoscymnus Gordon, 1976, Geminosipho Fürsch, 1987, Nephus Mulsant, 1846, Parascymnus Chapin, 1965, Scymnobius Casey, 1899, Sidis Mulsant, 1850 and Turboscymnus Gordon, 1976. Gordon and González (2002) elevated Scymnobius to genus.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera , AnimalsABSTRACT
We report here a new species belonging to Nephus (Nephus) Mulsant. Nephus (Nephus) apoloniasp. nov. was collected in the Reunion Island (Mascarene Archipelago, Indian Ocean). We describe this new species and redescribe and illustrate three other Nephus species already known from Reunion: Nephus (Nephus) oblongosignatus Mulsant, 1850, Nephus (Geminosipho) reunioni (Fürsch, 1974) and Nephus (Nephus) voeltzkowi Weise, 1910. Furthermore, we present a phylogenetic tree for these four species and calculate the genetic distances between them, using high-throughput DNA sequencing of the mitochondrial genome. The similar external morphology of N. apolonia sp. nov. and N. voeltzkowi very probably explains why individuals from the first species have been mistakenly identified as the latter and were not recognized as different until now. Other than external and genitalia traits, the present study provides molecular evidence confirming these are indeed two different species.
ABSTRACT
The subgenus Sidonis Mulsant, 1850 is elevated to generic status and two new species from Brazil are described and illustrated: Sidonis bira sp. nov. and Sidonis biguttata sp. nov. New geographic distribution records are provided. In addition, lectotypes of Sidonis consanguinea (Mulsant, 1850) and S. guttata (Sicard, 1912) are designated. Illustrations of diagnostic characters from five of six species of the genus, comments on the differences from similar species and a key to all recognized taxa are included.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera , Animal Distribution , Animals , BrazilABSTRACT
Three new species of Menoscelis Mulsant, 1850 from French Guiana are described: Menoscelis angeloi sp. nov. (Holotype male deposited in MNHN: Point de vue du Bélvédère de Saül, 09.IX.2011, SEAG col.), M. cordata sp. nov. (Holotype female deposited in MNHN: Réserve Naturelle des Nouragues-Saut Pararé 04º02'N, 52º41'W, 08.IX.2009, SEAG col.) and M. flava sp. nov. (Holotype female deposited in MNHN: Montagne des Chevaux 04º44'56"N, 02º26'28"W, 14.I.2012, SLAM, SEAG col.). The male of M. insignis Mulsant is described, and an identification key to the species of Menoscelis is included. New geographic distribution records, maps and a checklist of the species are also provided.
