Rediscovery of a lost semi-aquatic Leaf Beetle in the Hula Valley, Israel (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Donaciinae).

Between 1951-1958, most of the Hula Lake and its surrounding swamps in the Upper Jordan River (Rift) Valley of Israel were drained with the supposed purposes to eliminate malaria and to reclaim land for agriculture; both reasons later proved to be unnecessary decisions. With the paucity of biological knowledge of the Hula region, especially its aquatic invertebrates, accurate assessment of the environmental damage from this drainage is still being realized. Based on natural history museum collection specimen records, the pre-drainage presence of some aquatic insect species has been verified. Among these was Donaciabicolora, a member of a semi-aquatic subfamily (Donaciinae) of Leaf Beetles (Chrysomelidae) and whose Israeli populations were thought to have gone extinct because of the drainage of the Hula and other locations. Recently this species was rediscovered in two populations. However, the molecular identification of two of these recently collected specimens from one population revealed that the identity of this species is actually Donaciasimplex. In this work, the re-discovery of this species is detailed, and its conservation importance discussed.

Types of Cuyabasa Bechyné, Palmaraltica Bechyné and Rhynchasphaera Bechyné (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini: Oedionychina) of the Naturhistorisches Museum, Basel, with keys to species and descriptions of genitalia, and new combinations for species transferred to the oedionychine genus Walterianella Bechyné.

Jan Bechyné described several genera within the species-rich subtribe Oedionychina Chapuis, 1875. A large part of his collection is housed at the Naturhistorisches Museum Basel - Georg Frey holdings (NMB). Images of type specimens of the following species are provided: Cuyabasa chiquitoensis Bechyné, 1959, Cuyabasa gastrophysoides Bechyné, 1959, Cuyabasa minor (Bechyné, 1955), Palmaraltica heteronycha Bechyné, 1959, Rhynchasphaera basisticta Bechyné, 1958, Rhynchasphaera latipleura Bechyné, 1956 and Rhynchasphaera orophila Bechyné, 1955. Additionally, photographs of Palmaraltica yepezi Bechyné & Bechyné, 1969 and Palmaraltica tomentosa (Jacoby, 1880), comb. nov. are provided. Keys to species of the treated genera are provided, as well as notes on taxonomy and distribution. Lastly, the following new combinations are established: Palmaraltica tomentosa (Jacoby, 1880), Walterianella basimaculata (Jacoby, 1905), Walterianella dimidiaticornis (Jacoby, 1905), Walterianella discolor (Jacoby, 1886), Walterianella illigeri (Jacoby, 1886), Walterianella jansoni (Jacoby, 1886), Walterianella marginicollis (Jacoby, 1885), Walterianella montana (Jacoby, 1886) and Walterianella pavonina (Jacoby, 1892), all comb. nov.

A paradox indeed: description of genitalia and clarification of the subtribal classification of Pachyonychis paradoxus Clark and Pachyonychus paradoxus Melsheimer (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini).

Pachyonychis paradoxus Clark, 1860 and Pachyonychus paradoxus Melsheimer, 1847 are two species of Alticini whose strikingly similar names have led to significant confusion in the past. Recent study of American Oedionychina Chapuis, 1875 raised doubts about the validity of the subtribal placement of Pachyonychis Clark. Although general characteristics put this genus in Oedionychina, other features, especially the unusual shape of the pronotum, suggested that this monotypic genus would belong in Monoplatina Chapuis, 1875 instead. To collect evidence for the validity of its current placement, we compared external and genitalic morphology of both species to other members of Monoplatina and Oedionychina. Here we present images and descriptions of female genitalia for both species and male genitalia of Pachyonychus paradoxus Melsheimer, to our knowledge the first of their kind, and we conclude that the evidence supports the current subtribal placement of these two genera. Lectotypes are designated for both Pachyonychis paradoxus Clark and Pachyonychus paradoxus Melsheimer.

Recent advances in the knowledge of Mexican Alticinae (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae).

The present study updates previously published biodiversity/faunistics of the flea beetles of Mexico published by the author after examination of 6132 specimens from 8 institutional collections. The following 9 genera were selected as indicators of the effects of known diversity only through examination of museum specimens (i.e., "indoor collecting"): Alagoasa Bechyné; Asphaera Chevrolat; Capraita Bechyné; Disonycha Chevrolat; Kuschelina Bechyné; Omophoita Chevrolat; Prasona Baly; Systena Chevrolat; and Walterianella Bechyné. From the specimens examined in these genera from the 8 collections, there were 394 new records for Mexican states of the 287 new species records representing 47% new records of the species recorded from those states. Total new state records 287 from 80 species. States with most new records: Chiapas (32); Nayarit (27); Sinaloa (24). 80 spp. (47%) with new state records. Systena oberthuri Baly is reported from Mexico for the first time. The current total of Alticinae in Mexico is 90 genera/626 species. The difficulties of the generic boundaries between Systena and Prasona, Alagoasa and Kuschelina; as well as the specific boundaries between A. jacobiana and A. decemguttatus and the specific level pattern variation in Disonycha glabrata and Alagoasa decemguttatus are discussed. Kuschelina semipurpurea, formerly placed in Alagoasa, is placed is considered as a new combination.

Diversity of Alticinae in Oaxaca, Mexico: A preliminary study (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae).

This is a preliminary study of the diversity of the Flea Beetles (Alticinae) of the Mexican state of Oaxaca based on fieldwork by the author in 1991, 1997, and 2010, the literature, and specimens in several institutional collections. The number of genera and species for Mexico as well as for Oaxaca increased significantly from previous studies. There are now 625 species in 90 genera recorded from Mexico with 275 species in 68 genera recorded from Oaxaca. There are 113 species known only from the state of Oaxaca and another 38 species known only from Oaxaca and the surrounding states. Oaxaca has a relatively high diversity as well as a high percentage of endemism. This study also demonstrates the effects of how even a small amount of fieldwork together with extracting specimen data from institutional collections can significantly increase the total faunistic and diversity knowledge of an area. A complete list of the genera and species known from Oaxaca is included.

ResumenEste es un estudio preliminar de la diversidad de los Escarabajos Pulga (Alticinae) del estado mexicano de Oaxaca basado en el trabajo de campo por el autor en 1991, 1997, y 2010, la revisión de la literatura y el estudio de varios especímenes en colecciones institucionales. El número de géneros y especies para México y para Oaxaca aumentó significativamente a partir de estudios anteriores. En la actualidad hay 625 especies en 90 géneros registrados para México con 275 especies en 68 géneros registrados de Oaxaca. Hay 113 especies conocidas sólo del estado de Oaxaca, y otras 38 especies conocidas sólo de Oaxaca y los estados circundantes. Oaxaca tiene una diversidad relativamente alta, así como un alto porcentaje de endemismo. Este estudio también demuestra como una pequeña cantidad de trabajo de campo junto con la extracción de datos de especímenes de colecciones institucionales pueden aumentar significativamente el conocimiento sobre la fauna total y la diversidad biológica de una región. Se incluye una lista completa de los géneros y especies conocidas de Oaxaca.

Biochemical and evolutionary aspects of arthropod predation on ferns.

The widely held assumption that very few arthropods feed on ferns was questioned following field observations of arthropod damage on ferns in the state of Veracruz, Mexico. The extent and type of damage was recorded and it was found that in a measured locality, ferns were no less attacked than the angiospermous flora. As chemistry and arthropod host relationships have been shown to be so closely intertwined, plants collected in the field were analysed for both condensed tannins and cyanogenic glycosides, compounds known to be effective deterrents in temperate climates. Although all ferns tested contained tannins these did not appear to inhibit predation. Cyanogenic glycosides were present in only 3% of the fern species analysed, and it is, therefore, unlikely that they play a significant role as defensive compounds in the ferns examined.A literature search revealed a large number of ferns cited as being arthropod hosts. Approximately 420 named species of arthropods have been recorded, the majority of which are from the orders Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, and Hemiptera. Both evolutionary primitive (sawflies) and advanced (moths) arthropods are reported to be present on ferns suggesting possible coevolution of arthropods and ferns both before and after the radiation of angiosperms.