Nomenclatural clarification on some Southern African monkey beetle genera (Scarabaeidae: Hopliini: Pachycnemina).

After an extensive revision of the literature, we come to the following conclusions concerning the nomenclature of Southern African monkey beetles of the subtribe Pachycnemina: firstly, the current usage of the nominal subgenus Pachycnemula Schein, 1959 for a subgenus taxon different from Pachycnema s. str. Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau Audinet-Serville, 1828 is incorrect since both names share the same type species-Melolontha crassipes Fabricius, 1775-and are therefore objective synonyms. Hence, here we invalidate Pachycnemula and establish the new nominal subgenus Macacoplia Cupello Ribeiro-Costa to denote the subgenus taxon currently known as Pachycnema (Pachycnemula). Secondly, we discuss the different spellings of the nominal genus Lepithrix Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau Audinet-Serville, 1828, which was originally established as Lepitrix but emended to Lepithrix in 1913 by Dalla Torre. Although originally an unjustified emendation, the Lepithrix spelling is currently in prevailing usage and therefore should be deemed a justified emendation according to Article 33.2.3.1 of the current edition of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. That being so, it becomes necessary to acknowledge the homonymy between Lepithrix Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau Audinet-Serville and its junior homonym Lepithrix Neitner, 1857, current junior synonym of Loxoncus Schmidt-Göbel, 1846 (Carabidae: Harpalinae: Harpalini: Stenolophina).

Rearrangements in some species groups of Amblycerus Thunberg, 1815 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) including keys, description of a new species, new host plant and distributional records.

Encompassing 39 species groups, Amblycerus Thunberg, 1815 is the second most diverse genus of seed-beetles in the Americas. Considering that the delimitation of some of the included species-groups is incongruent in the literature, this work tackled one particularly problematic group, the dispar group, which includes species that, depending on the classification scheme, have been classified in two other groups, namely the spondiae and alternatus groups. We recognize six valid species in the dispar group, viz. A. dispar (Sharp, 1885), A. crassipunctatus Ribeiro-Costa, 1999c A. insuturatus (Pic, 1902), A. schwarzi Kingsolver, 1970, A. taeniopygus Ribeiro-Costa, 1999 c, and Amblycerus goianiensis Santos & Ribeiro-Costa, sp. n., and four in the spondiae group, viz. A. spondiae Kingsolver, 1980, A. cuernavacensis Romero, Johnson & Kingsolver, 1996, A. vitis (Schaeffer, 1907) and A. alternatus (Pic, 1954). Three species are excluded from their original groups, namely A. eustrophoides (Schaeffer, 1904), A. serieguttatus (Chevrolat, 1877), from the alternatus group, and A. simulator (Jacquelin DuVal, 1857), from the dispar group, all considered here as incertae sedis. The remaining species of the alternatus group, A. schwarzi and A. alternatus, are transferred to other previously mentioned groups, thus dissolving this group. We provide diagnoses for the 13 species studied, redescribe three species, and describe one new species. Color illustrations of the dorsum and pygidium, drawings of the male genitalia and geographic distribution maps are included. Identification keys are also added for the dispar and spondiae groups. We record new host plants for four Amblycerus species and new localities for five species. The plant taxa Sarcomphalus mistol (Griseb.) Hauenschild, Terminalia corrugata (Ducke) Gere & Boatwr., T. tetraphylla (Aubl.) Gere & Boatwr. and Rhus virens Lindh. ex A. Gray var. choriophylla (Wooton & Standl.) L. D. Benson are first registered here as hosts of Amblycerus. Four new records for Amblycerus, namely Capparis, Neopringlea, Rhus and Sarcomphalus, and two new records at the family level, Capparaceae A. Juss. and Salicaceae Mirb., the latter also being a new record for Bruchinae.

Two new Brazilian species of Neapion Alonso-Zarazaga, 1990 subgenus Neotropion Alonso-Zarazaga, 1990 with a key to South American species (Brentidae: Apioninae).

Two new Brazilian species of the genus Neapion Alonso-Zarazaga, 1990 subgenus Neotropion Alonso-Zarazaga, 1990 (Brentidae: Apioninae) are described and illustrated: Neapion (Neotropion) marquesae sp. n. (Type locality: Brazil, Mato Grosso) and Neapion (Neotropion) diringsi sp. n. (Type locality: Brazil, Amazonas).  Neapion (Neotropion) marquesae sp. n.  has dense, thin vestiture and raised areas on the elytra (recorded for the first time to the South American Apioninae); Neapion (Neotropion) diringsi sp. n. differs by the sparse vestiture and absence of raised areas. In addition to these characters, the vestiture color pattern and male genitalia characters such as the form of penis, length of the 'tuning-fork' shaped sclerite in the internal sac (the largest found in Apioninae) and the form of the tegminal plate are fundamental for the diagnosis of species of this subgenus. We also provide a key to the species of South American Neapion (Neotropion).

A key to American genus Merobruchus Bridwell (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) with descriptions of species and two new host plant records for the subfamily.

Merobruchus Bridwell is placed in the group Merobruchus of Acanthoscelidina (Bruchini) being distinguished from all bruchines mainly by the apical projections in the last abdominal ventrite of females and some males. All 25 species of Merobruchus are distributed in the New World, mainly in the Neotropical Region, feeding on seeds of Mimosoideae (Acacieae, Ingeae and Mimoseae). As well as some other bruchine genera, Merobruchus shows considerable morphological variation both in external and in internal (male genitalia) characters. Moreover, some species are very similar to each other in their colour and distribution pattern of pubescence on the dorsal surface, sometimes making species recognition difficult. Thus, the main objective of this paper is to provide a key including coloured illustrations for Merobruchus species to facilitate the process of identification and to avoid misunderstandings. Images of dorsal habitus, male and female pygidium and male genitalia are provided for all species. In addition, M. machadoi sp. nov. (Holotype male deposited in DZUP: Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul State) is described; M. bicoloripes (Pic) and M. pickeli (Pic) are redescribed; and a new synonymy is proposed: Pseudopachymerus pickeli Pic, 1927 = Pseudopachymerus pickeli var. subnotatus Pic, 1927 syn. nov. Two new host plants are recorded for Bruchinae: Parapiptadenia rigida (Benth.) Brenan (Mimosoideae) and Pterogyne nitens Tul. (Caesalpinioideae).

A contribution to the knowledge of New World Bruchinae (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae): taxonomic revision of Ctenocolum Kingsolver & Whitehead, with description of five new species.

The aim of this contribution was to review the species of Ctenocolum which are mainly distributed in the Neotropical region. The larvae of this genus have a high degree of specificity with the tribe Millettieae feeding mainly on seeds of Lonchocarpus Kunth (Fabaceae, Papilionoideae) and until now we do not know other bruchine consuming seeds of this genus. Here 13 valid species were studied, five new, divided in two groups, as previosly proposed in literature, group podagricus with Ctenocolum aquilus Albuquerque & Ribeiro-Costa sp. nov., C. biolleyi Kingsolver & Whitehead, C. colburni Kingsolver & Whitehead, C. martiale Kingsolver & Whitehead, C. milelo Albuquerque & Ribeiro-Costa sp. nov., C. podagricus (Fabricius), C. punctinotatus Albuquerque & Ribeiro-Costa sp. nov., C. pygospilotos Albuquerque & Ribeiro-Costa sp. nov. and C. triangulatus Albuquerque & Ribeiro-Costa sp. nov.; group tuberculatum with C. acapulcensis Kingsolver & Whitehead, C. janzeni Kingsolver & Whitehead, C. salvini (Sharp) and C. tuberculatum (Motschulsky). A lectotype is designated for Bruchus salvini and Bruchus pictifemur. Moreover, descriptions, redescriptions, diagnoses, key, geographic distribution and host plant records are also included.

A remarkable new species group of green seed beetles from genus Amblycerus Thunberg (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae), with description of a new Brazilian species.

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SUBFAMILY BRUCHINAE (COLEOPTERA: Chrysomelidae) are usually small and inconspicuous, with only a few species drawing the attention. Here we deal with several unusually colored species of Amblycerus Thunberg, 1815, one of the two most diverse bruchine genera in the Western hemisphere. We define the virens group that consists of five species whose bodies are covered with a green vestiture, including one new for science, Amblycerus medialis Ribeiro-Costa, Vieira & Manfio, sp. n. (Type locality: Brazil: Pará, Rondônia). This study also provides redescriptions, diagnoses, comparative notes, illustrations, geographic distribution records and a key to the species in this group.

Seasonal pattern of Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera) in the state of Paraná, southern Brazil / Padrão sazonal de Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera) no estado do Paraná, sul do Brasil

The aim of this paper was to describe the seasonal patterns of Chrysomelidae and of its most abundant species at eight sites in different geomorphological and floristic regions in the state of Paraná, southern Brazil. Samples with Malaise traps, from August 1986 to July 1988 were performed. The Chrysomelidae showed seasonal patterns with the highest abundance in the spring and/or summer at all sites, but with variations in the months of highest captures. Photoperiod was the variable that most influenced the seasonality of Chrysomelidae, and along with temperature and relative humidity, determined most of the seasonal patterns of the family at the different sites. Some dominant species of Chrysomelidae showed different seasonal pattern compared to the family level. A better knowledge of the seasonal distribution patterns of these species will only be possible when their life history, such as host plants and behavior, was better understood.

O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever os padrões de sazonalidade de Chrysomelidae e de suas espécies dominantes, capturadas em oito locais de diferentes regiões geomorfológicas e florísticas do estado do Paraná, sul do Brasil. As coletas foram realizadas com armadilha Malaise de agosto/1986 a julho/1988. Chrysomelidae apresentou padrão sazonal com picos de abundância na primavera e/ou verão em todos os locais, mas com variações quanto aos meses de maior captura. O fotoperíodo foi a variável com maior influência na sazonalidade de Chrysomelidae e juntamente com a temperatura e umidade relativa, determinaram a maioria dos padrões sazonais da família nos diferentes locais. Algumas das espécies dominantes de Chrysomelidae apresentaram padrão sazonal distinto do observado para a família. O entendimento dos padrões de distribuição das espécies de Chrysomelidae somente será possível quando informações sobre a história de vida, como plantas hospedeiras e comportamento, forem melhor esclarecidas.

Review of the largest species group of the New World seed beetle genus Sennius Bridwell (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), with host plant associations.

Sennius Bridwell is a New World genus of Bruchinae. Most species are placed in eight groups. In this study the species of the S. abbreviatus group are reviewed based on characters of the external morphology and the male genitalia. The group includes 14 species, two of which are new: Sennius abbreviatus (Say, 1824), S. bondari (Pic, 1929), S. durangensis Johnson & Kingsolver, 1973, S. lawrencei Johnson, 1977, S. lebasi (Fåhraeus, 1839), S. leucostauros Johnson & Kingsolver, 1973, S. lojaensis (Pic, 1933), S. medialis (Sharp, 1885), S. nappi Ribeiro-Costa & Reynaud, 1998, S. rufomaculatus (Motschulsky, 1874), S. transversesignatus (Fåhraeus, 1839), S. trinotaticollis (Pic, 1930), S. vivi sp. nov. and S. flinte sp. nov. The S. abbreviatus group differs from other groups by the pattern of sclerites and the shape of the internal sac of the male genitalia, and has three subgroups, defined here. The lectotype of S. lebasi is designated. New host plant records are presented for S. lojaensis and S. transversesignatus, and new distribution records for S. lawrencei, S. lojaensis and S. trinotaticollis. 

Spatio-temporal dynamics of Alticini (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) in a fragment of Araucaria Forest in the state of Parana, Brazil / Dinâmica espaço-temporal de Alticini (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) em um fragmento de Floresta com Araucária no Paraná, Brasil

Alticini fauna from five areas, two with different types of management (Borda and Araucaria) and three with different levels of conservation (Fase 1, Fase 2 and Fase 3), in the Araucaria Forest of the Parana was captured with malaise traps. The material was collected weekly, from September/1999 to August/2001, in the Parque Estadual of Vila Velha, Ponta Grossa. 1,891 individuals of 106 Alticini species were collected with only seven species common to all areas. Despite the proximity between sampling areas, the number of species shared between pairs of areas was low, not reaching 40 percent, with the Araucaria and Fase 1 areas being the most similar. The community structure of the areas Fase 1 and Fase 2 were most related. Fase 1, in initial stage of succession, showed the largert variation in the abundance and richness from one year to another.

A fauna de Alticini foi inventariada em cinco áreas, duas com diferentes tipos de manejo (Borda e Araucária) e três em diferentes níveis de conservação (Fase 1, Fase 2 e Fase 3), na Floresta com Araucária do Paraná. Os insetos foram coletados semanalmente, com o uso de armadilha malaise, de setembro/1999 a agosto/2001. No total foram coletados 1.891 exemplares de Alticini pertencentes a 106 espécies das quais apenas sete foram comuns a todas as áreas. Apesar da proximidade entre as áreas o número de espécies compartilhadas foi baixo, não atingindo 40 por cento, com as áreas Araucária e Fase 1 sendo as mais similares. A estrutura das comunidades das áreas Fase 1 e Fase 2 mostraramse mais relacionadas. A área Fase 1, em estágio inicial de sucessão, apresentou a maior variação, tanto na abundância quanto na riqueza, de um ano para outro.

Seasonality and temporal structuration of Alticini community (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae) in the Araucaria Forest of Parana, Brazil / Sazonalidade e estruturação temporal da comunidade de Alticini (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae) na Floresta com Araucária do Paraná, Brasil

Seasonality was studied for Alticini trapped with malaise over a period of two years in the Vila Velha State Park, Parana, Brazil. Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae and Alticini showed seasonal distribution, with the highest abundance during spring and summer months. The abundance peaks of these groups were not synchronized. Of all environmental variables tested, photoperiod had the larger effect on the distributional patterns of Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae and Alticini. Also, Chrysomelidae and Alticini probably are related to the quality and availability of host-plants. When richness was high there was a greater similarity among seasons of different years. However, when richness was not pronounced, seasons showed more similarity within the same year than between years. The Alticini community was seasonally structured and a possible mechanism underlying this pattern is asymmetric competition. Nevertheless, it is necessary to account for indirect interactions (plant-enemy mediated) to better understand how Alticini community is structured.

Foi estudada a sazonalidade de Alticini coletados com armadilha malaise, durante dois anos no Parque Estadual de Vila Velha, Paraná, Brasil. Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae e Alticini apresentaram distribuição sazonal com maior abundância nos meses de primavera-verão, mas os picos de abundância não foram coincidentes. Dentre todas as variáveis ambientais testadas, o fotoperíodo teve maior influência nos padrões de distribuição de Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae e Alticini, sendo que Chrysomelidae e Alticini provavelmente também estão relacionados à disponibilidade e qualidade de suas plantas hospedeiras. Nas estações mais ricas houve maior similaridade entre as estações dos diferentes anos, porém nas estações menos ricas houve maior similaridade dentro do mesmo ano que entre os anos. A comunidade de Alticini mostrou-se sazonalmente estruturada, sendo a competição assimétrica o provável mecanismo atuante. Entretanto, são necessários estudos das interações indiretas (mediadas por plantas-inimigos naturais) para melhor entender como a comunidade de Alticini é estruturada.

Bledius Leach from southern Brazil (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Oxytelinae)

Three species of Bledius Leach, 1819 are recognized from southern Brazil. A new species is described, B. hermani n. sp., from Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul States and B. fernandezi Bernhauer, 1939 is redescribed. The geographical distribution of B. bonariensis Bernhauer, 1912 and B. fernandezi are extended. A key to identification of Bledius from southern Brazil is also provided.

Três espécies de Bledius Leach, 1819 são reconhecidas do sul do Brasil. Uma nova espécie é descrita, B. hermani sp. nov., proveniente dos estados do Paraná e Rio Grande do Sul e B. fernandezi Bernhauer, 1939 é redescrita. A distribuição geográfica de B. bonariensis Bernhauer, 1912 e B. fernandezi são estendidas. Uma chave para identificação de Bledius do sul do Brasil também é apresentada.

Fauna de Alticini (Newman) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae) em diferentes estágios sucessionais na Floresta com Araucária do Paraná, Brasil: diversidade e estimativa de riqueza de espécies / Alticini (Newman) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae) fauna in different successional stages in an Araucaria Forest of Paraná, Brazil: diversity and estimation of species richness

A fauna de Alticini foi levantada em cinco áreas: uma de borda de mata, uma com povoamento de auracária sem manejo e três em diferentes estágios sucessionais, na Floresta com Araucária do Paraná. As coletas foram realizadas com armadilhas malaise, semanalmente, de setembro de 1999 a agosto de 2001, no Parque Estadual de Vila Velha, Ponta Grossa, PR. Foram coletados 1.891 Alticini em 106 espécies. A área de borda apresentou a maior riqueza e a menor abundância. Nas áreas em sucessão, a riqueza aumentou nos estágios iniciais e diminui no estágio mais avancado. As estimativas de riqueza apontam para um aumento de sete a 50 espécies de Alticini em Vila Velha. A proporcão de Chrysomelidae/Coleoptera diminuiu com o aumento do grau de sucessão vegetal das áreas, podendo tal relacão, servir como indicador de qualidade ambiental.

Aspectos biológicos de Zabrotes subfasciatus (Bohemann, 1833) (Coleoptera, Bruchidae) em Phaseolus vulgaris L., cv. Carioca (Fabaceae), sob condições de laboratório / Biological aspects of Zabrotes subfasciatus (Bohemann, 1833) (Coleoptera, Bruchidae) on Phaseolus vulgaris L., cv. Carioca (Fabaceae), under laboratory conditions

Zabrotes subfasciatus is a serious pest of common beans, P. vulgaris L.. In Brazil there are several studies dealing with resistance of bean genotypes to this insect, while other studies have emphasized the utilization of oils and powders from plants to repel their attack. In this paper, fecundity, fertility, pattern of oviposition, life cycle and longevity were evaluated for a Brazilian stock from the Goiás State on P. vulgaris cv. Carioca, at 30°C and 70 percent R.H. The mean fecundity was 38 eggs per female and 73 percent of viability. Egg laying showed an aggregated pattern. Males and females lived an average of 13 and 9 days, respectively. The total life cycle lasted for about 28 days.