Performance of tree-building methods using a morphological dataset and a well-supported Hexapoda phylogeny.

Recently, many studies have addressed the performance of phylogenetic tree-building methods (maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference), focusing primarily on simulated data. However, for discrete morphological data, there is no consensus yet on which methods recover the phylogeny with better performance. To address this lack of consensus, we investigate the performance of different methods using an empirical dataset for hexapods as a model. As an empirical test of performance, we applied normalized indices to effectively measure accuracy (normalized Robinson-Foulds metric, nRF) and precision, which are measured via resolution, one minus Colless' consensus fork index (1-CFI). Additionally, to further explore phylogenetic accuracy and support measures, we calculated other statistics, such as the true positive rate (statistical power) and the false positive rate (type I error), and constructed receiver operating characteristic plots to visualize the relationship between these statistics. We applied the normalized indices to the reconstructed trees from the reanalyses of an empirical discrete morphological dataset from extant Hexapoda using a well-supported phylogenomic tree as a reference. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference applying the k-state Markov (Mk) model (without or with a discrete gamma distribution) performed better, showing higher precision (resolution). Additionally, our results suggest that most available tree topology tests are reliable estimators of the performance measures applied in this study. Thus, we suggest that likelihood-based methods and tree topology tests should be used more often in phylogenetic tree studies based on discrete morphological characters. Our study provides a fair indication that morphological datasets have robust phylogenetic signal.

Two New Species of Dihammaphora (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Rhopalophorini), with Taxonomical and Geographical Notes for the Genus.

Dihammaphora Chevrolat (Arc Nat 1:50-54, 1859) is one of the most diverse genera of Rhopalophorini, with 46 species. It is characterized mainly by species with antennae short and subserrated, with 10 or 11 antennomeres, prothorax cylindrical, and elytra punctuated. In this study, two new species of Dihammaphora are described and illustrated, new records are provided to 11 species, and taxonomic notes are given to six species of the genus. We examined 55 specimens and identified 16 species of the genus Dihammaphora, including Dihammaphora aurea sp. nov. from Honduras, and Dihammaphora cruzi sp. nov. from Brazil. The number of species of Dihammaphora is increased to 48, two of them in Central America, resulting in seven species for this region. In Brazil, 24 species are now recognized, being the country with the largest number of species of the genus. This study shows that there is still a deficit of knowledge about the diversity and distribution of Dihammaphora.

Pygidiapion De Sousa amp; Mermudes, a new genus of Apioninae (Brentidae: Apioninae: Apionini) associated with Fabaceae from Brazil, with the description of a new species and transfer of Apion zikani Heller, 1922.

The genus Pygidiapion De Sousa Mermudes gen. n., described and illustrated here, includes two species from Brazil: the type-species Pygidiapion zeppelinii De Sousa Mermudes sp. n. (type-locality: João Pessoa, Paraiba state), which develops in flower buds of Pterocarpus violaceus Vogel (Fabaceae); and Pygidiapion zikani (Heller, 1922) comb. n. (from Apion) (type-locality: Passa Quatro, Minas Gerais state), which develops in flower buds of Dalbergia foliolosa Benth. (Fabaceae). Pygidiapion is defined by the following set of characters: rostrum of males with two elongate longitudinal and punctate latero-ventral sulci; hind wings with small radial window; hypomeral lobes divided by median suture and sternellum distinctly exposed; meso- and metatibiae mucronate; pygidium of the apionine incomplete type; and tegminal plate fused with basal piece. Pygidiapion zeppelinii is diagnosed by: meso- and metatibiae mucronate; pygidium distinctly modified, with deep transverse dorsal sulcus, medially deeper and rounded, and proximal marginal rim angulate (apical flange), corresponding to the distal margin, which is emarginate; tegminal plate fused to basal piece, apical portion of parameroid lobes weakly notched medially, each side of suprafenestral plate with five macrochaetae, fenestral width 1.25 times length, separated by about 3.2 times fenestral width, linea arquata visible, prostegium protruding medially, tegminal apodeme 0.76 as long as basal piece, with apex narrow and rounded. Pygidiapion zikani is distinguished from P. zeppelinii by smaller size; head, rostrum and antennae brownish; scutellum subquadrate; and by association with Dalbergia spp. (Fabaceae). Association principally with the papilionoid group of Fabaceae suggest allocation of the new taxon to the subtribe Oxystomatina.

Description of immatures of Stolas aenea (Olivier, 1790) and Stolas nudicollis (Boheman, 1850) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Mesomphaliini).

Immature stages of Stolas aenea and S. nudicollis are described based on specimens collected in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Descriptions including chaetotaxy, illustrations and photographs (including SEM images) are given for eggs, first and last instar stages. New host plant records are presented for both species. This is the first detailed description for any species in the genus Stolas. Morphological comparisons with other Mesomphaliini species are provided.

Four new species and new synonymy in Stenocerus Schoenherr, 1826 (Coleoptera, Anthribidae, Anthribinae, Stenocerini).

Three new species from Brazil, Stenocerus christus sp. nov. (Rio de Janeiro, Corcovado), Stenocerus fratris sp. nov. (Espírito Santo, Santa Maria de Jetibá) and Stenocerus mesosternalius sp. nov. (Espírito Santo, Alegre, Fazenda Jerusalem), and a new species from Peru, Stenocerus similis sp. nov. (Mariscau, Juanjuí), are described and illustrated. Stenocerus paraguayensis Jordan, 1895 syn. nov. is proposed as a junior synonym of S. fulvitarsis (Germar, 1824). A key to all species of the genus Stenocerus is provided.

Checklist, new species and new records of Cerambycidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) from Chapada Diamantina, Bahia state, Brazil.

A checklist of Cerambycidae from three Brazilian localities of the Chapada Diamantina mountain range (Catolés, Piatã and Mucugê) is provided. These three localities are considered of great biological importance. A total of 38 species were collected, belonging to 29 genera, 18 tribes and two subfamilies. Ten new records for the state of Bahia are presented, and a new species, Desmiphora (Desmiphora) iwasarai (Desmiphorini, Lamiinae), is described and illustrated.

Taxonomy of Hylotribus Jekel (Coleoptera: Anthribidae, Anthribinae): new synonymies, combinations and type designations.

The type material of six species of Anthribidae from Chile and one from Peru, originally described as Stenocerus Schoenherr and Stenorrhynchus Philippi & Philippi and later transferred to Hylotribus Jekel, was reexamined. These species are Stenocerus asperatus Blanchard, 1851, Stenocerus aspis Erichson, 1847, Stenocerus posticalis Philippi & Philippi, 1864, Stenocerus quadratipennis Germain, 1854, Stenorrhynchus quadrinotatus Philippi & Philippi, 1864, and Stenocerus tuberculosus Blanchard, 1851. Lectotype designations were made for Hylotribus asperatus, Hylotribus quadratipennis, and Hylotribus tuberculosus. New synonyms were established as follows: Hylotribus signatipes (Blanchard, 1851) = H. quadratipennis (Germain, 1854) syn. n., = H. quadrinotatus (Philippi & Philippi, 1864) syn. n., Hylotribus asperatus (Blanchard, 1851) = H. posticalis (Philippi & Philippi, 1864) syn. n.. While, Hylotribus aspis (Erichson, 1847) from Peru was transferred to Piesocorynus Dejean, 1834 and a new combination and synonymy proposed, Piesocorynus aspis (Erichson, 1847) n. comb. = Piesocorynus gracilicornis (Jekel, 1855) syn. n. The genus Hylotribus is defined with five species from Chile and six from Brazil, and the Chilean species are redescribed with illustrations. A new key to all species is included.

Systematic review of the firefly genus Scissicauda (Coleoptera, Lampyridae, Amydetinae) from Brazil.

The Amydetinae genus Scissicauda McDermott, 1964 is reviewed and redescribed. We describe Scissicauda balena sp. n. from Brazil as new, and provide illustrations of the structural features and a key to species of both sexes.

Description of the immature stages of Pentacomia (Mesochila) smaragdula Dejean 1825) (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Cicindelinae), with notes on the species distribution.

The Atlantic Rainforest is one of the most threatened biomes of the world, with only 11-12 % of its original cover. The Cicindelinae are present in this biome with a relatively high diversity, but data of their immature forms are few. On the basis of six larvae and four pupae of Pentacomia (Mesochila) smaragdula we describe and illustrate the third larval instar of the larva and the pupa of this species. Notes on the species distribution are also given.

A new genus and two new species of Araecerini from high elevation in the Andes with a synopsis of the tribe in South America (Coleoptera, Anthribidae, Choraginae).

A new genus and two new species in the tribe Araecerini are described from South America. The new genus and species Aurigeripilus andinus gen. nov. et sp. nov. from high elevation (2930 m) from Colombia (PNN Chingaza Bosque Palacio) is described and characterized by a conspicuous antebasal carina of the pronotum. Neoxenus corrugatus sp. nov. is also described from Ecuador (Napo, Baeza). Illustrations are provided of both species. An overview with diagnostic characteres of South America genera of the tribe Araecerini Lacordaire is presented.

Two new species of Conognatha Eschscholtz, 1829 (Coleoptera, Buprestidae, Stigmoderini) from Southeast and South Brazilian regions with distributional notes.

Conognatha (Pithiscus) coffeatus sp. nov. and Conognatha (Pithiscus) puris sp. nov., both from the Atlantic Rainforest (type locality: Itatiaia, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil), are described and illustrated. They differ from each other mainly by the elytral colour pattern, presence of a short longitudinal groove between the vertex and the frons in C. (P.) puris sp. nov., and differences in frons shape, antennae sensory fields, pronotum and aedeagus. The distribution of C. (P.) gounellei is extended to the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. A modified key to include the new species, as well as illustrations, are presented.

Ybytyramoan, a new genus of fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae, Lampyrinae, Photinini) endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest, with description of three new species.

Here we describe a new Photinina genus with three species endemic to Serra dos Órgãos Mountains in Brazil. Ybytyramoan gen. nov. occurs in high altitudes, from 980m up to 2000m, and has the following unique set of characters: head abruptly depressed at vertex; lanterns not fully developed, somewhat rounded or anteriorly rounded, straight posteriad, with posterolateral rounded projections (billycock-shaped), at the middle of the abdominal sterna VI and VII; abdominal sternum VIII not covered by VII; phallus and parameres apically teethed. We provide illustrations and a key to the three species in this genus: Ybytyramoan praeclarum sp. nov. (type-species), Y. diasi sp. nov., Y. monteirorum sp. nov.

Six new species of Hylotribus Jekel, 1860 from Brazil (Coleoptera, Anthribidae, Anthribinae, Discotenini).

Hylotribus Jekel, 1860 is a distinct genus of South American Anthribidae characterized by a fragmented antebasal pronotal carina, and includes nine species, eight of which are endemic to Chile, and one species from Peru. We here describe and illustrate six new species from the Atlantic Rainforest biome in Brazil based on unidentified material deposited in various collections: Hylotribus fluminensis Queiroz & Mermudes sp. nov. (Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro State); Hylotribus sublimis Queiroz & Mermudes sp. nov. (Campos do Jordão, São Paulo State); Hylotribus plaumanni Queiroz & Mermudes sp. nov. (Seara, Santa Catarina State); Hylotribus frontispeltastes Queiroz & Mermudes sp. nov. (São José do Barreiro, Serra da Bocaina, São Paulo State and Serra do Caraça, Minas Gerais State); Hylotribus gauchus Queiroz & Mermudes sp. nov. (Cambará do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul State); and Hylotribus involucer Queiroz & Mermudes sp. nov. (São José do Barreiro, Serra da Bocaina, São Paulo State). A key is provided to the species of Hylotribus in Brazil.

Systematic review of the firefly genus Amydetes Illiger, 1807 (Coleoptera: Lampyridae), with description of 13 new species.

A systematic review of Amydetes Illiger, 1807, based on examination of the type-material. We fix A. fastigiata Illiger, 1807 as the type-species of the genus; redescribe the genus and six out of eight species; describe 13 new species; and provide illustrations and a key to species. We place A. vigorsi Westwood, 1830 syn. n. and A. gorhami Kuntzen, 1912 syn. n. in synonymy with A. fastigiata; A. suturalis Pic, 1925 syn. n. and A. brasiliensis Pic, 1925 in synonymy with A. apicalis; and A. flavicollis Olivier, 1888 syn. n. in synonymy with A. lucioloides Olivier, 1888. We report the first record of Amydetes from Venezuela and Argentina, and establish more precise distributions of the studied species. We describe the circadian period of A. apicalis (diurnal), A. fastigiata and Amydetes bellorum sp. nov. (nocturnal) and discuss the circadian diversity of the genus. Fronto-clypeus, antenna, labrum, maxillary palpomere, prothorax, mesosternum, lanterns, abdominal segment VIII and terminalia were structures that provided important characters for delimitation and diagnosis of the species.

Memoan ciceroi gen. et sp. nov., a remarkable new firefly genus and species from the Atlantic Rainforest (Coleoptera: Lampyridae).

A species of firefly discovered in a fragile and rapidly disappearing Atlantic Rainforest biome in Brazil does not fit into any of the existing subfamilies nor described generic categories in the Lampyridae and is described here as Memoan ciceroi gen. et sp. nov. and classed as Lampyridae Incertae sedis, as it exhibits features of both the Amydetinae and Lampyrinae. An overview of subfamily arrangements and relevant generic characters is given to support this action. Memoan gen. nov. can be distinguished by its alveolate pronotum and elytra; subserrate antennae, antenommeres II-IX compressed, antennal sockets obliquely inserted on tubercles; labial palp one-segmented and obconic, and by its conspicuous pleuroventral suture.

A new species of Agrilozodes Théry, 1927, new record for A. pygmaeus (Kerremans, 1897) and a key for the genus (Coleoptera, Buprestidae).

Agrilozodes bellamyi sp. nov. from the Caatinga Biome (type locality: Juazeirinho, Paraíba, Brazil) is described and illustrated. It differs from the other five known species mainly by the moderate longitudinal elevation between the eyes, posterolateral angles of pronotum acute and oblique, mesoepisternum excavated, elytral color pattern and elevation of interestriae 2 and 4. The distribution of A. pygmaeus is extended to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photographs of six species as well as a key to the six species of the genus are provided.

Synopsis of Paxillus MacLeay, 1819 (Coleoptera: Passalidae): distributional records and descriptions of four new species from Brazil.

Paxillus MacLeay, 1819 (Coleoptera: Passalidae) is redescribed, with new distributional records and descriptions of four species from Brazil. Paxillus reyesi new species is characterized by the first antennomere of antennal club reduced, slightly longer than half of the second antennomere; mesosternal scar straight, wide and deep. Paxillus chapadensis new species from the Chapada dos Guimarães (Mato Grosso, Brazil) has prostenal process centrally impressed with an opaque depression; and the scape of the antenna with a subapical dorsal spine, shallow ventral depression, and few erect setae. Paxillus manausensis new species from Manaus (Amazonas, Brazil) has high frontal ridges; mid-frontal tubercles high, acuminate and larger than the internal tubercles; and the central tubercle short. Paxillus uaupesensis new species from Uaupes (Amazonas, Brazil) has the mesosternal scar opaque, elongate and depressed; and the scutellum depressed. Diagnostic redescriptions and illustrations of known species from Brazil, a key to all known species, and a checklist with distributional data are provided.

Morfologia comparada de três espécies de Stenocerus (Coleoptera, Anthribidae, Anthribinae) / Comparative morphology of three species of Stenocerus (Coleoptera, Anthribidae, Anthribinae)

Estudos detalhados da morfologia do exoesqueleto, peças bucais, venação alar, endosternitos, placas esclerotizadas do intestino posterior e genitálias do macho e da fêmea, foram utilizados para aprimorar a sistemática e evolução de antríbideos neotropicais. Nesta abordagem, S. fulvitarsis (espécie-tipo do gênero), S. longulus e S. frontalis foram minuciosamente comparadas, incluindo as redescrições e ilustrações de caracteres nunca antes estudados. Dentre as espécies analisadas, S. frontalis apresenta um distinto padrão mimético com dípteros da família Sarcophagidae. A hipótese desta espécie não pertencer ao gênero se comparada com a espécie-tipo e S. longulus é discutida com base principalmente na posição dos olhos, ausência de carenas laterais, metendosternito com lâminas laterais mais curtas que os braços e hastes medianas do ovipositor estreitas na porção proximal.

Detailed studies of exoskeleton, mouthparts, wing venation, endosternites, retal plates and male and female terminalia, has been used to improve the systematics and evolutionary studies of the Neotropical anthribids. In this approach S. fulvitarsis (type-species of the genus), S. longulus and S. frontalis were carefully compared including descriptions and illustrations of characters never studied. Among the species examined, S. frontalis display a distinct mimetic pattern with flies of the family Sarcophagidae. The hypothesis that this species does not belong in the genus Stenocerus when compared with the type-species and S. longulus is discussed based mainly on position of the eyes, lack of lateral carinae, lamina of metendosternite longer than arms and median rods of ovipositor narrowed in the proximal region.

Lectotype designations for Ptychoderini species (Coleoptera, Anthribidae, Anthribinae) of the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle / Designação de lectótipos de espécies em Ptychoderini (Coleoptera, Anthribidae, Anthribinae) do Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle

Based on a study of the type material housed in the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle Paris, lectotypes are designated for the following species: 1) described by Jekel in 1855 - Ptychoderes columbianus, P. callosus, P. mixtus, P. antiquus, Hypselotropis batesi, Ectatotropis conicollis, and Tropipygus speciosus; 2) described by Thomson in 1858 - Phloeotragus sparsutus. The following species have the type specimens illustrated: Ptychoderes mixtus, lectotype female; P. tricostifrons, holotype male; Hypselotropis speciosa, lectotype male; Phloeotragus sparsutus, lectotype male and paralectotype female.

Com base no estudo do material-tipo depositado no Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, são designados lectótipos para as seguintes espécies: 1) descritas por Jekel in 1855 - Ptychoderes columbianus, P. callosus, P. mixtus, P. antiquus, Hypselotropis batesi, Ectatotropis conicollis, e Tropipygus speciosus; 2) descritas por Thomson in 1858 - Phloeotragus sparsutus. As seguintes espécies têm o material-tipo ilustrado: Ptychoderes mixtus, lectótipo fêmea; P. tricostifrons, holótipo macho; Hypselotropis speciosa, lectótipo macho; Phloeotragus sparsutus, lectótipo macho e paralectótipo fêmea.