Pseudacanthus alani, a New Species of Mesoamerican Bess Beetles (Coleoptera: Passalidae) of Oaxaca, Mexico and Nomenclatural Notes for the Genus.

A new species, Pseudacanthus alani n. sp., is described from cloud forest in Oaxaca, Mexico. This species is similar to Pseudacanthus junctistriatus Kuwert 1891 in size, shape of antennal lamella, and the absence of pubescence on abdominal terga, but has larger internal tubercles, an apex of central tubercle that is not free, glabrous elytral humerus, pubescent mesepisternum and mesepimeron and mesosternal scar, and male sexual characters. Photographs are provided of the head, male and female genitalia, and plectrum. Additionally, a taxonomic key to species of Pseudacanthus Kaup 1869 is provided, complemented with photographs of diagnostic characters. Finally, we propose two junior synonyms: Pseudacanthus solidus (Arrow 1907) n. syn. of Pseudacanthus junctistriatus and Pseudacanthus truquii Kuwert 1891 n. syn. of Pseudacanthus mexicanus (Truqui 1857).

A New Species of Vindex Kaup (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Passalidae: Passalinae: Proculini) from Oaxaca, Mexico.

Vindex chimalapensis Ariza-Marín, Reyes-Castillo, Moctezuma & Sánchez-Huerta, a new species, is described from the cloud forest in Oaxaca, México. Vindex chimalapensis is like V. sculptilis Bates in the form of lateral elytral punctures and glabrous epipleura, but has dorsal punctures in the pronotum and the form of the aedeagus differs on the basal piece. Male genitalia, female genitalia, and head are shown in photographs. Vindex chimalapensis is the only species known from this genus with dorsal punctures on the pronotum. Ecology, distribution, and biogeography of Vindex and the Mountain Mesoamerican distribution pattern are discussed, with emphasis on V. chimalapensis.

Passalidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) of the Biogeographical Province of Chocó and the West Andean Region of Colombia, with the Description of Two New Species.

We present a synopsis of the Passalidae of the Chocó biogeographical province and the western slopes of the Western Andean range of Colombia as a result of field collections, examination of entomological collections, and review of the literature. We record a total of 41 species, provide an identification key, and, for the 39 species for which we were able to examine specimens, include a diagnosis and collecting data. Two new species of Passalus (Pertinax) are described and illustrated. The species of this region compose 42% of the passalid species known for Colombia. The richness of species and the high degree of endemism (34%) indicate the faunistic importance of this area, which is closely related to the fauna of lowland Central America.

Passipassalus brevicornis n. sp.: a New Passalidae (Coleoptera) from Brazilian Amazonian, with a Key to the Species of Passipassalus Reyes-Castillo & Fonseca.

Passipassalus brevicornis n. sp. is described from two specimens from Tefé and Coari, Amazonas, Brazil. This species represents the fifth species recognized of Passipassalus and differs from the other species of the genus mainly by having an apex of central tubercle of median frontal structure not free, frontal fossae with some scarce setae, metasternal fossae with scarce setae, humeri fully pubescent, and marginal groove over anterior ventral edge of femur I marked and complete. Additionally, a key to the species of Passipassalus is given.