Coccinellidae (Coleoptera), commonly known as ladybirds or ladybugs, are a highly diversified fam... more 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.
We report here a new species belonging to Nephus (Nephus) Mulsant. Nephus (Nephus) apoloniasp. no... more 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. apoloniasp. 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.
The Coleoptera type species of Coleção de Entomologia Pe. J. S. Moure, housed in the Zoology Depa... more The Coleoptera type species of Coleção de Entomologia Pe. J. S. Moure, housed in the Zoology Department, Curitiba, Brazil, were examined and listed. This is an important collection in South America and the third largest in Brazil. The type materials of two series of Polyphaga were treated; in Staphyliniformia, the families Leiodidae and Staphylinidae and in Cucujiformia, Coccinellidae and Chrysomelidae. Complete information is given for each type, including the reference of the original description and labels data. A total of 112 types were listed, increasing the number of types, compared to the previous list (Marinoni et al. 1992).
CHRYSOMELA newsletter Research Activities Jose Lencina (Spain), Universidad de Murcia, is studyin... more CHRYSOMELA newsletter Research Activities Jose Lencina (Spain), Universidad de Murcia, is studying systematics and biogeography of Chrysomelidae and the Iberian Peninsula fauna. Matteo Montagna (Italy) completed his degree in AgroEnvironmental Science, University of Milan (2010; Mentors Davide Sassi and Renato Regalin) and is seeking Ph.D. positions. He studies taxonomy, biogeography and molecular systematics of Coleoptera, particularly Chrysomelidae. Current works include an ecological study of Chrysomelidae around lakes in the Alta Brianza (Como/ Lecco, Lombardia), the taxonomy of Italian's species of Galeruca, a Cerambycidae catalogue of Val Camonica, and molecular techniques in Prof. Bandi's lab, Milan. Ghazala Rizvi (Pakistan) studies chrysomelid beetles associated with fruit trees in Pakistan, including Azad Kashmir (northern areas). He is paraticularly interested in Galerucinae, but writes widely on many things including mangroves and ants. Haruki Suenaga (Japan), a s...
Two new species of Menoscelis Mulsant are described, Menoscelis stephani sp. nov. and Menoscelis ... more Two new species of Menoscelis Mulsant are described, Menoscelis stephani sp. nov. and Menoscelis brunella sp. nov. from French Guiana. The female genitalia of Menoscelis saginata Mulsant, 1850 and Menoscelis insignis Mulsant, 1850 are also described. The genus is recorded for the first time from Brazil. The species are illustrated and the key published by Gordon & Canepari (2008) is expanded to include the two new species.
Coccinellidae (Coleoptera), commonly known as ladybirds or ladybugs, are a highly diversified fam... more 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.
We report here a new species belonging to Nephus (Nephus) Mulsant. Nephus (Nephus) apoloniasp. no... more 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. apoloniasp. 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.
The Coleoptera type species of Coleção de Entomologia Pe. J. S. Moure, housed in the Zoology Depa... more The Coleoptera type species of Coleção de Entomologia Pe. J. S. Moure, housed in the Zoology Department, Curitiba, Brazil, were examined and listed. This is an important collection in South America and the third largest in Brazil. The type materials of two series of Polyphaga were treated; in Staphyliniformia, the families Leiodidae and Staphylinidae and in Cucujiformia, Coccinellidae and Chrysomelidae. Complete information is given for each type, including the reference of the original description and labels data. A total of 112 types were listed, increasing the number of types, compared to the previous list (Marinoni et al. 1992).
CHRYSOMELA newsletter Research Activities Jose Lencina (Spain), Universidad de Murcia, is studyin... more CHRYSOMELA newsletter Research Activities Jose Lencina (Spain), Universidad de Murcia, is studying systematics and biogeography of Chrysomelidae and the Iberian Peninsula fauna. Matteo Montagna (Italy) completed his degree in AgroEnvironmental Science, University of Milan (2010; Mentors Davide Sassi and Renato Regalin) and is seeking Ph.D. positions. He studies taxonomy, biogeography and molecular systematics of Coleoptera, particularly Chrysomelidae. Current works include an ecological study of Chrysomelidae around lakes in the Alta Brianza (Como/ Lecco, Lombardia), the taxonomy of Italian's species of Galeruca, a Cerambycidae catalogue of Val Camonica, and molecular techniques in Prof. Bandi's lab, Milan. Ghazala Rizvi (Pakistan) studies chrysomelid beetles associated with fruit trees in Pakistan, including Azad Kashmir (northern areas). He is paraticularly interested in Galerucinae, but writes widely on many things including mangroves and ants. Haruki Suenaga (Japan), a s...
Two new species of Menoscelis Mulsant are described, Menoscelis stephani sp. nov. and Menoscelis ... more Two new species of Menoscelis Mulsant are described, Menoscelis stephani sp. nov. and Menoscelis brunella sp. nov. from French Guiana. The female genitalia of Menoscelis saginata Mulsant, 1850 and Menoscelis insignis Mulsant, 1850 are also described. The genus is recorded for the first time from Brazil. The species are illustrated and the key published by Gordon & Canepari (2008) is expanded to include the two new species.
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