Habitat Specificity and Variation of Coleopteran Assemblages Between Habitats in a Southern African (Swaziland) Agricultural Landscape

Assessment of Coleopteran diversity and abundance was carried out in the lowveld region of Swaziland by pitfall trapping in five distinct habitats. Additionally, the study was to ascertain if any of the families collected illustrated habitat fidelity. 18 coleopteran families, comprising 2903 individuals were collected, with an additional 29 unidentified specimens, totalling 2932 beetles. Numerically, the top five families were the Scarabaeidae (2425), Carabidae (211), Tenebrionidae (149), Nitidulidae (37) and Curculionidae (22). 66.6% of all specimens collected were harboured within the pine windbreak while the lowest number (2.6%) was collected from the mature citrus orchard. The highest proportion (77%) of scarabaeid beetles collected occurred within the pine windbreak. Habitat specificity was illustrated by one family, Meloidae, which was found only in the young orchard. Community analysis was further carried out to ascertain distribution patterns of the dominant coleopteran families. Three scarabaeid species were found only in the pine windbreak while three carabid species occurred only in the indigenous savanna. Significant differences between habitats were observed in the number of beetles collected while no significant differences were observed in terms of the number of families observed in each habitat (p<0.05). Results indicate that conservation of the various habitat patches within the mosaic studied could facilitate conservation of whole communities rather than individual species thus facilitating effective conservation of the agricultural landscape.     

An urgent need for sustainable thinking in agriculture – An Indian scenario

This article emphasizes on the present urgent need to think in “Holistic Dimensions” to achieve a sustainable agro-ecosystem. In this respect, the complex network of dynamic interactions in the agro-ecosystem soil at spatiotemporal dimensions holds crucial importance. It reflects the inherent tendency of dynamic ecosystems to achieve a more efficient state successively through improved interactions. The short-sighted and inefficient agro-management during Green Revolution decades has been detrimental to these interactions in agricultural soils, which is widely evident by its boomerang effects (i.e. declining efficiency, productivity and multi-functionality). It jeopardized the internal regulation in our agro-ecosystem's functioning by erosion of efficiency building interactions among biotic and abiotic components. Therefore, a bottom-up as well as top-down approach in the soil management is required to restore and sustain the unaccounted but indispensible ecological subsidies for sustainable agriculture and development, globally. We propose a “commercial ecological agriculture” which should be an amalgamation of sustainable agricultural practices and supported by a progressive co-ordination among all the stakeholders via participatory learning and adaptation with time. It should be least-disturbing, resilience-building, resource (i.e. energy and nutrient) use efficient, site-specific, labor and skill-intensive, low-input, diversified and integrated, and intimately harmonized with nature. It may potentially provide us agricultural sustainability with time in real sense. It would be primarily based on management of interactions indirectly through identification of integrative variables as surrogate, which may help to achieve internal regulation or self-reliance in agroecosystems. Further, it would be helpful to eliminate the widening socio-economic divide and in mitigation of global change in environment (i.e. air, water and soil) and climate. Additionally, it would improve and restore the multifaceted potential of soil, thus quality and productivity, through improved internal regulation on resource-use efficiency.     

Notes about morphological features of the Western Hemisphere subtribe Ardistomina, and revision of genus Semiardistomis Kult (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Scaritinae, Clivinini)

Comparisons of structural features (principally mouthparts, elytral-abdominal locking mechanism, and female genitalia) of the ardistomine genera (Aspidoglossa Putzeys, Ardistomis Putzeys, and Semiardistomis Kult) with those features of members of the subtribe Clivinina (Clivina Latreille, Oxydrepanus Putzeys, Schizogenius Putzeys,Ancus Putzeys, Nyctosyles Putzeys, and Obadius Burmeister) confirm the taxonomic validity of the subtribe Ardistomina. Based on morphological features, the ardistomine genera are postulated to be related as follows: [Aspidoglossa [Ardistomis + Semiardistomis]]. Knowledge of this subtribe is further extended by taxonomic treatment of the genus Semiardistomis Kult. Of the 30 valid names of Semiardistomis previously recognized, four were proposed as variety names, and are listed as junior synonyms: Ardistomis labialis picipes Bates, 1881, Ardistomis labialis nanus Bates, 1881, and Ardistomis labialis dilatatus Bates, 1881; and Ardistomis pallipes caerulea Putzeys, 1846. Eight names, treated as specific epithets, are junior synonyms, as follows: Ardistomis (Semiardistomis) balthasari Kult, 1950 = Semiardistomis glabratus (Putzeys, 1866); Ardistomis (Semiardistomis) emdeni Kult, 1950 = Semiardistomis deletus (Putzeys, 1846); Ardistomis aenea Putzeys, 1866, Ardistomis (Semiardistomis) brittoni Kult, 1950, and Ardistomis (Semiardistomis) marani Kult, 1950 = Semiardistomis flavipes (Dejean, 1831); Ardistomis tuspanensis Putzeys, 1846 = Semiardistomis labialis (Chaudoir, 1837); Ardistomis (Semiardistomis) vlastae Kult, 1950 = Semiardistomis subglabra (van Emden, 1949); and Ardistomis striga Putzeys, 1866 = Semiardistomis pallipes (Dejean, 1831). Two new species described are Semiardistomis exspectatussp. n.(type locality PERU, Madre de Dios, Rio Manu, 11°56'47"S, 071°17'00"W), and Semiardistomis majorsp. n. (type locality PERU, Loreto, Rio Samiria, 05°12'S, 75°20'W). The 20 species of Semiardistomis are arranged intwo species-groups here proposed: the puncticollis group, including 12 species; and labialis group, including eight species. The species recognized are keyed, described or redescribed, and notes are provided about their Geographical distribution, habitat and activity. Distribution maps show known geographical ranges, from which are inferred patterns of speciation from a center of radiation in northern South America of both lineages.     

中国婪步甲属三新种记述：鞘翅目：步甲科

本文记述中国步甲科婪步甲属Ｈａｒｐａｌｕｓ Ｌａｔｒｅｉｌｌｅ新种３个,栖草婪步甲Ｈ．ｈｙｐｏｇｅｎｏｍｙｓｉｓ ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．,澄江婪步甲Ｈ．ｃｈｅｎｇｊｉａｎｇｅｎｓｉｓ ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．,银川婪步甲Ｈ．ｙｉｎｃｈｕａｎｅｎｓｉｓ ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．。     

绒蛛步甲属记述及一新种描述(鞘翅目:步甲科)

绒蛛步甲属Ａｐｏｔｏｍｕｓ Ｉｌｌｉｇｅｒ已记录１４种,其中一种分布于我国。本文记述产于海南省琼山市的一新种,模式标本保存在华南农业大学昆虫标本室。黑绒蛛步甲Ａｐｏｔｏｍｕｓ ａｔｒｉｐｅｎｎｉｓ Ｍｏｔｃｈｕｌｓｋｙ,１８５８。分布 中国湖北;印度,锡金,孟加拉国及东南亚。琼绒蛛步甲,新种Ａｐｏｔｏｍｕｓ ｑｉｏｎｇｓｈａｎｅｎｓｉｓ ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．,雌虫：体长３．８ｍｍ,宽１．６ｍｍ。雄虫不说     

Microsculpture in UK ground beetles: Are there patterns?

Cuticular microsculpture “cells” were measured on 78 species of UK ground beetles. The data were analyzed to establish whether the type of microsculpture could be linked to ground beetle size (length) or ecological preferences. Larger species tended towards isodiametric patterns, while more of the smaller species showed a transverse or effaced pattern. There was no indication that preferences for dry or moist habitat were linked to microsculpture type, which had been suggested in the literature.     

Ground beetles of the Ukraine (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

A review of the ground beetles of the Ukrainian fauna is given. Almost 750 species from 117 genera of Carabidae are known to occur in the Ukraine. Approximately 450 species of ground beetles are registered in the Carpathian region. No less than 300 species of ground beetles are found in the forest zone. Approximately 400 species of Carabidae present in the forest-steppe zone are relatively similar in species composition to those in the forest territories. Some 450 species of Carabidae are inhabitants of the steppe zone. Representatives of many other regions of heterogeneous biotopes such as forest, semi desert, intrazonal, etc. can be found in the steppe areas. The fauna of Carabidae (ca. 100 species) of the lowlands of southern Ukraine (sandy biotopes), situated mostly in the Kherson region, is very peculiar. The fauna of the Crimean mountains contains about 300 species. Conservation measures for the Carabidae are discussed.     

连唇步甲属记述及一新种描述(鞘翅目,步甲科,壶步甲族)

简要记述了步甲科中国特有属连唇步甲属Sofota Jedlieka 之鉴别特征及地理分布情况,本属原记载2种,即台湾连唇步甲S.chujoi Jedlicka(产于台湾省)和黑连唇步甲S.nigrum Tian et Chen(产于广东省).本文描述采自广东省北部的1新种:南岭连唇步甲S.nanlingense sp.nov.,并提供本属分种检索表.     

广东省车八岭自然保护区连唇步甲属一新种记述(鞘翅目：步甲科)

记述采自中国广东始兴车八岭国家级自然保护区连唇步甲属Ｓｏｆｏｔａ１新种：黑连唇步甲Ｓｏｆｏｔａ ｎｉｇｒｕｍ,ｓｐ．ｍｏｖ．。模式标本保存在华南农业大学昆虫标本室。     

Phylogenetic analysis of thoracic structures of Carabidae (Coleoptera: Adephaga)

Thoracic structures of adult carabids were examined and analyzed phylogenetically. Geadephaga excl. Trachypachini are considered as a monohyletic unit based on correlated synapomorphic features of the posterior metathoracic region: the metepimeron is parallel-sided and at right angle to the body axis; the metacoxae do not project beyond the lateral margin of the preepisterum. Gehriniini are nor related to Trachypaciini. The metriine-paussine lineage is characterized as monopkyletic by exceptionally long and fairly broad metepimera. The presence of an elytral flange is considered a snapomorphy of Paussinae. The monophyly of Paussinae excluding My-stropomus is sugesred cy extended elytral epipleura, which cover large parts of the metepimera, and by the parallel body outline. The monohyly of Anisochaeta is not supported by conclusive synapomorphic features of the thorax. Cychrini, Carabini, Nebriini, Opistiini, and Notiohi lini seem to form a monophyletic unit, as suggested by the concealed external lamella of the metepimeron. Cicindelinae, Elaphrini, Loricerini, Migadopini, Rhysodini, and Caraboidea Limbata are considered as a monophletic unit based on the following correlated synapomor-phies: meso ‘sternum’ strongl modiled, hexagonal groove reduced, procoxal cavities closed, aex of prosternal process-redced. Caraboidea Limbata (Jeannel 1941–42) excl. Scrobifera are cgaracterized as a monophyletic group by lobate rnetepimera, and conjunct mesocoxal cavities. Caraboidea Limbata excl. Scrobifera and Stylifera (Jeannel 1941–42 are characterized by narrow meseimera. Masoreimorphi, Callistomorphi, Lebiomorphi and Pseudornorphinae are characterizei by biperforate procoxal cavities. It is quite likely that biperforate procoxal cavities are also a groundplan feature of Brachininae.     

Conservation genetics of three flightless beetle species in southern California

Regional scale conservation decisions can be aided by information on the distribution of intraspecific diversity, especially the extent to which patterns are common to multiple species. We compare patterns of intraspecific mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) variation among three flightless beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Nyctoporis carinata LeConte; Staphylinidae: Sepedophilus castaneus (Horn); Carabidae: Calathus ruficollis Dejean) in the southern part of the California Floristic Province biodiversity hotspot. All species exhibit moderate to high levels of total variation, ranging from 2% to 10% (maximum uncorrected distance). Most populations of all species exhibit unique haplotypes, but few populations’ haplotypes constitute exclusive clades. Many adjacent pairs of populations show indications of some, though limited, genetic connectedness, due either to gene flow or ancestral polymorphism. However, in most cases this diminishes sharply over greater distances. By both statistical and phylogenetic measures, Sierra Nevadan populations are highly distinct from those in the coast and transverse ranges. Among the latter, the eastern transverse ranges are generally most unique and isolated, with diversity in the western parts of these ranges showing fewer barriers. Otherwise, few measures agree on areas of highest conservation value, and overall patterns tend to be species-specific.