Phylogeography of Falagoniamexicana Sharp, 1883 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae).

Falagoniamexicana is an aleocharine distributed from northern Mexico to Guatemala and El Salvador. It is associated with Attamexicana ants and lives within their piles of waste or external debris. The phylogeography and historical demography of 18 populations from Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador were studied. The data set encompasses a 472 bp fragment of the COI. Results suggest that F.mexicana was originated during Middle Pliocene (ca. 0.5 Mya), starting its diversification at the Upper Pleistocene and Holocene. Populations were recovered forming at least four main lineages, with a significant phylogeographic structure. Evidence of contemporary restricted gene flow was found among populations. The historical demography suggests that the geographic structure is due to recent physical barriers (e.g., Isthmus of Tehuantepec) rather than ancient geological events. Also, recent geological and volcanic events in the east of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt and the Sierra Madre Oriental might be responsible for the restricted gene flow among populations. Skyline-plot analyses suggested that a demographic expansion event took place at the end of the Late Quaternary glacial-interglacial cycles.

Variación temporal en la distribución geográfica y ecológica de Amazona finschi (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae) / Temporal variation in ecological and geographical distribution of Amazona finschi (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae)

Resumen: El loro corona lila (Amazona finschi), es una especie endémica de las tierras bajas de la costa del Pacífico mexicano y está considerada en peligro. Sin embargo, ha sido documentado que la especie presenta migraciones estacionales y altitudinales a lo largo de su rango geográfico, lo que sugiere que su distribución ecológica y temporal permanece incierta. Se modeló la distribución potencial del loro corona lila considerando sus dos principales periodos de actividad: reproductiva y no reproductiva. Para desarrollar modelos de nicho ecológico, se usaron 428 presencias históricas de bases de datos de libre acceso en internet, que fueron combinados con cinco coberturas ambientales: tres climáticas y dos topográficas para cada periodo, mediante el algoritmo de Maxent. Posteriormente transferimos cada modelo estacional al resto de los meses para analizar si los movimientos estacionales de la especie estaban dirigidos por el clima. Se evaluaron las diferencias en las variables ecológicas entre estaciones mediante el uso de una prueba de "t". Analizamos mediante la superposición de los mapas, la correspondencia geográfica entre la distribución de loro y la de los recursos (plantas), usados por la especie. Se encontró una marcada estacionalidad en la distribución del loro corona lila. La especie presenta una mayor amplitud ecológica en términos de temperatura mínima durante la temporada reproductiva, pero una notable reducción en lo que se refiere a la precipitación. La distribución de los recursos de anidación y alimentación corresponde en gran medida con la distribución del loro corona lila. En el centro del rango de distribución de la especie existe un área donde se presentan las condiciones de las que la especie hace uso en ambas temporadas y en los periodos de transición entre estas. Finalmente, además de las implicaciones en la conservación de la especie, nuestros resultados acerca de la variación estacional en la distribución geográfica y ecológica del loro corona lila, son importantes para la comprensión de la distribución de otras especies, particularmente aquellas que se encuentran asociadas con ambientes altamente estacionales.

Abstract: The lilac-crowned parrot (Amazona finschi) is an endemic species restricted to lowlands of the Mexican Pacific coast and is currently considered as endangered. It has been documented that it shows altitudinal and seasonal migrations along its distributional range, suggesting that its ecological and temporal distribution is still uncertain. We modeled the potential distribution of the A. finschi considering the two main activity seasons for the species: reproductive and non-reproductive. We used 428 historical occurrences (1882-2014), obtained from open access databases, combined with five environmental layers: three climatic and two topographic for each season, to perform ecological niche models using Maxent. We then transferred each model to the rest of the months to analyze the seasonal movements guided by climate. Differences in ecological variables between seasons were evaluated using a t-test. The geographic correspondence among the parrot distribution and the resources (plants) distributions were analyzed by superimposing maps. A marked seasonality in the distribution of A. finschi was observed. Ecologically, the species displays greater amplitude during the breeding seasons in terms of minimum temperature, but a noticeable reduction as far as precipitation is concerned. The distribution of food and nesting resources largely corresponds to the distribution of this parrot. There is a wide area in the center of the geographical distribution in which the species finds conditions that meet both periods of activity, as well as transition conditions between these periods. Finally, our results on the seasonal variation in the geographical and ecological distribution of this species, possess a strong ecological meaning in the understanding of other species distribution, particularly those associated with highly seasonal environments, and definitively will contribute to the conservation of this species. Rev. Biol. Trop. 65 (3): 1194-1207. Epub 2017 September 01.

Macrozoque hoplandrioides (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), a new genus and species of false Lomechusini from México.

Macrozoque hoplandrioides n. gen. and n. sp. (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), is described based on specimens recently collected from the Chimalapas forest in Mexico. The systematic position of Macrozoque is discussed and is proviosionally placed in the false Lomechusini clade. A distribution map, keys and illustrations are provided.

A new genus and species of Placusini from a high mountain in Mexico.

A new genus and species are described from the Cofre de Perote volcano, in the state of Veracruz, Mexico. Although the new genus is very similar to Placusa, it presents tergite VIII completely modified to form a horn, in both females and males, in addition to other differences in mouthparts. A map and illustrations are provided, as well as an identification key to the genera of Placusini. No morphological characters are apparent to separate Kirtusa Pace from Euvira Sharp in our genus key. The specimens of the new genus were collected using Lindgren and cross traps baited with a mix of semiochemicals: ipsenol, ipsdienol and lanierone.

Two new species of Myrmedonota Cameron (Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae) from Mexico.

Two new species of Myrmedonota are described from Mexico. Illustrations and a distribution map are provided, as are keys to identify Myrmedonota known from the Nearctic and Neotropics. Specimens were collected by means of mercury vapor light traps or flight interception traps.

Tortricid moths reared from the invasive weed Mexican palo verde, Parkinsonia aculeata, with comments on their host specificity, biology, geographic distribution, and systematics.

As part of efforts to identify native herbivores of Mexican palo verde, Parkinsonia aculeata L. (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae), as potential biological control agents against this invasive weed in Australia, ten species of Tortricidae (Lepidoptera) were reared from Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Venezuela: Amorbia concavana (Zeller), Platynota rostrana (Walker), Platynota helianthes (Meyrick), Platynota stultana Walsingham (all Tortricinae: Sparganothini), Rudenia leguminana (Busck), Cochylis sp. (both Tortricinae: Cochylini), Ofatulena duodecemstriata (Walsingham), O. luminosa Heinrich, Ofatulena sp. (all Olethreutinae: Grapholitini), and Crocidosema lantana Busck (Olethreutinae: Eucosmini). Significant geographic range extensions are provided for O. duodecemstriata and R. leguminana. These are the first documented records of P. aculeata as a host plant for all but O. luminosa. The four species of Sparganothini are polyphagous; in contrast, the two Cochylini and three Grapholitini likely are specialists on Leguminosae. Ofatulena luminosa is possibly host specific on P. aculeata. Host trials with Rudenia leguminana also provide some evidence of specificity, in contrast to historical rearing records. To examine the possibility that R. leguminana is a complex of species, two data sets of molecular markers were examined: (1) a combined data set of two mitochondrial markers (a 781-basepair region of cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) and a 685-basepair region of cytochrome c oxidase II) and one nuclear marker (a 531-basepair region of the 28S domain 2); and (2) the 650-basepair "barcode" region of COI. Analyses of both data sets strongly suggest that individuals examined in this study belong to more than one species.