Global diversity of water beetles (Coleoptera) in freshwater

The global diversity of True Water Beetles, False Water Beetles and Phytophilous Water Beetles (sensu Jäch, 1998a. In Jäch &; Ji (eds), Water Beetles of China, Vol. II. Zoologisch-Botanische Gesellschaft in Österreich and Wiener Coleopterologenverein, Wien: 25–42.) is assessed. Facultative Water Beetles, Parasitic Water Beetles and Shore Beetles (sensu Jäch, 1998a. In Jäch &; Ji (eds), Water Beetles of China, Vol. II. Zoologisch-Botanische Gesellschaft in Österreich and Wiener Coleopterologenverein, Wien: 25–42.) are here classified as “paraquatic” and are thus not included in the assessment. It is estimated that about 18,000 species of aquatic Coleoptera are roaming the earth at present. About 12,600 (70%) of these are already described (deadline: October 2005). About 30 beetle families have aquatic representatives, and in 25 of these families at least 50% of the species are to be considered as aquatic. Six families are supposed to include 1,000 or more aquatic species: Dytiscidae (3,908 described species/5,000 estimated), Hydraenidae (1,380/2,500), Hydrophilidae (1,800/2,320), Elmidae (1,330/1,850), Scirtidae (900/1,700) and Gyrinidae (750/1,000). Scirtidae and Hydraenidae are regarded as the least explored families, the number of described species in each of these two families probably will be almost doubled in the future. The Palearctic (ca. 3,350 described species/ca. 3,900 estimated), the Neotropical (2,510/3,900) and the Afrotropical Region (2,700/3,750) harbour almost the same number of water beetle species, followed by the Oriental (2,200/3,580) and the Australian/Pacific Realm (1,340/2,100). The Nearctic (1,420/1,550) is by far the poorest region in terms of water beetle diversity.     

Multiple-chromosome sex systems in the darkling beetles Blaps gigas and Blaps gibba (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae)

We have studied mitotic and meiotic chromosomes in the males of two species of Blaps: B. gigas and B. gibba. Karyological characteristics such as the occurrence of a multivalent configuration at diakinesis and two types of metaphase-II spreads support the notion that multiple-chromosome sex systems involving five chromosomes in B. gigas and eight chromosomes in B. gibba have developed in these species. Results obtained by means of silver staining and C-banding techniques suggest that the complex sex systems occurring in B. gigas and B. gibba may have originated from exchanges of terminal ribosomal genes among the Y chromosome and some autosomes.     

Chemotaxonomic investigations on the cuticular lipids of beetles

The cuticular lipids of nine species of beetles (Coleoptera) belonging to different superfamilies were analysed and found to consist of aliphatic hydrocarbons: n-alkanes, 2-, 3-, and other monomethylalkanes as well as dimethylalkanes and alkenes. The hydrocarbon pattern is qualitatively constant at the family level but varies from family to family and thus may be of use in the taxonomy of the insects.     

A comparison of three methods to survey saproxylic beetles in hollow oaks

One of the most endangered assemblages of species in Europe is insectsassociated with old trees. For that reason there is a need of developing methodsto survey this fauna. This study aims at comparing three methods – windowtrapping, pitfall trapping and wood mould sampling – to assess speciesrichness and composition of the saproxylic beetle fauna in living, hollow oaks.We have used these methods at the same site, and to a large extent in the sametrees. Useful information was obtained from all methods, but they partiallytarget different assemblages of species. Window trapping collected the highestnumber of species. Pitfall trapping collected beetles associated with treehollows which rarely are collected by window traps and therefore it isprofitable to combine these two methods. As wood mould sampling is the cheapestmethod to use, indicator species should preferably be chosen among specieswhich are efficiently collected with this method.     

A scanning electron microscope study of tarsal adhesive setae in the Coleoptera

Scanning electron micrographs of the tarsal adhesive setae of 84 species of beetle are described. These show a vast range of setal structure and distribution.     

New jewel beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) and similar beetles from the Cretaceous and Early Paleogene of Asia

A new genus and two new species of jewel beetles are described, Andakhudukia ponomarenkoi gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous of Mongolia and Metabuprestium ustkivdense sp. nov. from the lowermost Paleogene of the Amur Region. In addition, four new monotypic genera that share some features with jewel beetles are described: Cretoelaterium kazanovense gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous of Eastern Transbaikalia and Cretopoena gratshevi gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous of Mongolia have been referred to the families Elateridae and Eucnemidae; Cretofalselaterium baiankhongoricum gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous of Mongolia and Cretogermen turonicum gen. et sp. nov. from the Upper Cretaceous of Kazakhstan have been erected for isolated elytra and placed in Coleoptera incertae sedis.     

New species of bark beetles from the Rovno amber (Insecta: Coleoptera: Scolytidae)

Two new species of bark beetles are described from the Late Eocene Rovno amber. Xylechinus mozolevskae sp. nov. (Hylesininae: Tomicini) is the first fossil representative of this genus, differing from recent species in having large triangular scales along the suture. Taphramites rovnoensis sp. nov. (Scolytinae: Dryocoetini) differs from the closest species, T. gnathotrichus from Baltic amber, in the presence of short thin hairs on the elytra.     

Ultraviolet reflectance mediates pollinator visitation in Mimulus guttatus

Floral colors are widely believed to be an adaptation to attract pollinators. Recently, our understanding of floral reflectance has broadened to include colors that are beyond the spectrum that human eyes can perceive (such as ultraviolet (UV) reflectance), yet we still know relatively little about which plant species reflect UV light or its effectiveness in attracting pollinators. We investigated the effect of UV reflectance in Mimulus guttatus in a number of different populations in British Columbia, Canada. We found that M. guttatus had distinct regions of the corolla where UV light was reflected and absorbed. When we manipulated the degree of contrast between the reflection and absorption area, we found that pollinator visitation was severely disrupted, in terms of frequency and foraging patterns observed. Despite the bright yellow (bee‐green) coloration and visible nectar guides in M. guttatus, we conclude that UV reflectance is critical in pollinator attraction.     

Ability of stress‐related volatiles to attract and induce attacks by Xylosandrus germanus and other ambrosia beetles

• 1 Xylosandrus germanus typically colonizes physiologically‐stressed deciduous hosts but it is increasingly being recognized as a key pest of ornamental nursery stock. We tested the attractiveness of common plant stress‐related volatiles to ambrosia beetles occupying the nursery agroecosystem, as well as their ability to induce attacks on selected trees. Experiments were conducted in Ohio, U.S.A.
• 2 Stress volatile attractiveness was first assessed by positioning traps baited with acetaldehyde, acetone, ethanol and methanol in ornamental nurseries. Cumulative trap counts confirmed that ethanol was the most attractive stress‐related volatile to X. germanus. Methanol‐baited traps were slightly attractive to X. germanus, whereas traps baited with acetaldehyde and acetone were not attractive to any ambrosia beetle.
• 3 A series of tree injection experiments were also conducted to determine the ability of these volatiles to induce attacks by ambrosia beetles under field conditions. Injection of ethanol into Magnolia virginiana induced the largest number of attacks, whereas injection of acetaldehyde induced more attacks than methanol or acetone. Xylosandrus germanus was the most predominant species emerging from M. virginiana injected with each of the stress‐related volatiles. No attacks by wood‐boring beetles were observed on water injected or uninjected control trees.
• 4 Solid‐phase microextraction–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry confirmed the emission of acetaldehyde, acetone, ethanol and methanol after their injection into M. virginiana.
• 5 Xylosandrus germanus has an efficient olfactory‐based mechanism for differentiating among host volatile cues. Injecting select trees with stress‐related volatiles, particularly ethanol, shows promise as a trap tree strategy for X. germanus and other ambrosia beetles.

     

New species of scarabaeoid beetles from the family Glaresidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) from the Cretaceous of Transbaikalia

A new species from the family Glaresidae, Cretoglaresis ovalis, sp. nov., is described from the Lower Cretaceous site Baisa in Transbaikalia. Improved diagnosis of the genus Cretoglaresis Nikolajev, 2007 is given.     

人文世界里的锹甲

锹甲作为一类观赏昆虫在人文世界里受到长久的关注,文章对人文世界里的锹甲进行回顾：综述不同国家和地区中锹甲的多种称谓;从历史文化角度追溯锹甲学名的由来、锹甲与天牛科学名的关系、欧洲宗教中的锹甲、民间故事与风俗中的锹甲;从艺术欣赏角度介绍锹甲与绘画、锹甲与邮票、锹甲与装饰;着眼与现实生活,对锹甲的综合现状进行评述,并总结锹甲作为物种正面临的问题,呼吁人们在欣赏锹甲的同时,更要关注锹甲的物种多样性保护。     

Sampling the rarest: threatened beetles in boreal forest biodiversity inventories

Presence or absence of threatened species in samples is information that is widely used in designing and implementing conservation actions. We explored the effectiveness of beetle (Coleoptera) inventories and contribution of different sampling methods in revealing occurrences of threatened and near threatened species in boreal forests. The number of species caught using traps in a particular area proved to be a useful indicator of the representativeness of data, the relationship between total number of species and the number of threatened and near threatened species being almost exponential. Samples containing less than 200 trapped species (or 2000 individuals) are almost useless in surveying threatened and near threatened species. The probability of finding such species increases considerably when the number of trapped species exceeds 400. Window traps attached directly on the trunks of dead trees proved to be the most efficient sampling method in trapping threatened beetles, whereas many other standard methods gave relatively poor results. We suggest that the best alternative in surveying threatened species in boreal forests is a combination of intensive direct searching and trunk window traps. Finding threatened beetles with rigorous probability requires very large sample sizes, even if the most effective sampling methods are used. For example, ranking 10 boreal forest areas to be protected according to the occurrence of threatened species with some reliability may require trapping of over 100000 beetle individuals. Collecting and identifying these large samples routinely in conservation actions is not feasible, which means that shortcuts (indicators etc.) are necessary. However, a lot of good-quality inventories with appropriate sampling efforts are needed before these shortcuts can be identified and elaborated. Such inventories are also crucial for the improvement of the classification of threatened species and full assessment on how past forest management has eventually affected the biota.     

A catalogue of Lithuanian beetles (Insecta, Coleoptera)

This paper presents the first complete and updated list of all 3597 species of beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera) belonging to 92 familiesfound and published in Lithuania until 2011, with comments also provided on the main systematic and nomenclatural changes since the last monographic treatment in two volumes (Pileckis and Monsevičius 1995, 1997). The introductory section provides a general overview of the main features of the territory of Lithuania, the origins and formation of the beetle fauna and their conservation, the faunistic investigations in Lithuania to date revealing the most important stages of the faunistic research process with reference to the most prominent scientists, an overview of their work, and their contribution to Lithuanian coleopteran faunal research.Species recorded in Lithuania by some authors without reliable evidence and requiring further confirmation with new data are presented in a separate list, consisting of 183 species. For the first time, analysis of errors in works of Lithuanian authors concerning data on coleopteran fauna has been conducted and these errors have been corrected. All available published and Internet sources on beetles found in Lithuania have been considered in the current study. Over 630 literature sources on species composition of beetles, their distribution in Lithuania and neighbouring countries, and taxonomic revisions and changes are reviewed and cited. An alphabetical list of these literature sources is presented. After revision of public beetle collections in Lithuania, the authors propose to remove 43 species from the beetle species list of the country on the grounds, that they have been wrongly identified or published by mistake. For reasons of clarity, 19 previously noted but later excluded species are included in the current checklist with comments. Based on faunal data from neighbouring countries, species expected to occur in Lithuania are matnioned. In total 1390 species are attributed to this category and data on their distribution in neighbouring countries is presented. Completion of this study provides evidence that the Lithuanian coleopteran fauna has yet to be completely investigated and it is estimated that approximately 28 % of beetle species remain undiscovered in Lithuania. More than 85% of beetle species expected for Lithuania have been found in the following families: Cerylonidae, Geotrupidae, Haliplidae, Kateridae, Lycidae, Lucanidae, Mycetophagidae, Scarabaeidae and Silphidae. In families with few species such as Alexiidae, Boridae, Byturidae, Dascilidae, Drilidae, Eucinetidae, Lampyridae, Lymexilidae, Megalopodidae, Nemonychidae, Nosodendridae, Noteridae, Orsodacnidae, Pyrochroidae, Pythidae, Psephenidae, Rhysodidae, Sphaeritidae, Sphaeriusidae, Sphindidae, Stenotrahelidae and Trogidae, all possible species have already been discovered. However in some beetle families such as Aderidae, Bothrideridae, Eucnemidae, Laemoploeidae, Mordellidae, Ptiliidae, Scraptidae and Throscidae less than 50% of all possible species are known. At present the beetle species recorded in Lithuania belong to 92 families, with species from 9 other families such as Agyrtidae, Biphylidae, Deradontidae, Mycteridae, Ochodaeidae, Phleophilidae, Phloeostichidae, Prostomidae, Trachypachidae are expected to be found.A bibliography and a index of subfamily and genus levels are provided. The information published in the monograph will serve to further faunistic and distribution research of beetles and will help to avoid confusion in the identificatation of coleopteran fauna of Lithuania.     

Sex and age-specific differences in ultraviolet reflectance of scent marks of bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus)

Scent markings of voles are visible via their ultraviolet reflection. Kestrels, and possibly other diurnal raptors, may use this property when hunting. We performed a laboratory study on bank voles to determine whether UV-reflectance of scent marks differs in relation to sex, age and social status. When reflectance spectra of scent marks were measured with a spectroradiometer, we found UV reflectance to be strongest in mature males. There were no differences between mature females and immature juveniles, nor between sexes in juveniles or mature and immature individuals in females. Moreover, we did not find any difference in UV reflectance between dominant and subordinate mature males. The results of this study support earlier findings that UV sensitive predators may use UV reflectance of scent marks as a prey cue. Consequently, studies on differing vulnerability of voles to avian predators should take into account not only their space use and behaviour but also the UV reflectance of their scent marks. Accepted: 21 August 1999     

金龟子化学通讯与信息化学物质

本文综述了金龟子的化学通讯与信息化学物质研究与应用的新进展,重点评述了丽金龟科和鳃金龟科性信息素的鉴定与化学结构。迄今,已有14种金龟子的性信息素被鉴定,还有一些金龟子的聚集信息素和两性引诱剂被报道。对金龟子性信息素、聚集信息素和引诱剂等信息化学物质的应用也作了概述。     

Distribution of ground-dwelling beetles in fragmented tropical habitats

The conservation of biodiversity is increasingly dependent on human-altered habitats. In a fragmented forest landscape in northern Costa Rica within the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, an area of great conservation importance, we compared the diversity and composition of ground-dwelling beetle communities in five habitat types along a gradient of increasing disturbance: primary forest, logged forest, secondary forest, plantation (Gmelina arborea) and pasture. Using pitfall trapping we captured a total of 1,877 beetles (Coleoptera), comprising 422 morphospecies in 26 families. The plantation sites had the lowest number of species followed by secondary forest and pasture. Multivariate analysis separated the beetle fauna according to land use, and suggested that only the logged forest maintains a similar species assemblage to primary forest. However, each habitat harboured a number of unique species indicating the conservation value of the mosaic of habitats found in fragmented landscapes. Our results suggest that to maintain forest beetle species diversity it is essential that areas of natural forest are conserved. However, other land uses also provide beetle habitats and in fragmented areas active management to maintain a mosaic of land uses will contribute to the conservation of beetle diversity.