A new species of Halorhynchus from Madagascar (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Cossoninae, Onycholipini).

Halorhynchusremii Chamorro & Steiner, sp. nov. is described from Madagascar. This new species is the third known species of the genus and the first for Africa. Halorhynchusremii is compared to other psammophilous, anophthalmous onycholipine cossonines. Transoceanic dispersal between Australia and Madagascar and sand burrowing adaptation are briefly discussed. A key to the species is provided.

First phylogenetic analysis of Dryophthorinae (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) based on structural alignment of ribosomal DNA reveals Cenozoic diversification.

Dryophthorinae is an economically important, ecologically distinct, and ubiquitous monophyletic group of pantropical weevils with more than 1,200 species in 153 genera. This study provides the first comprehensive phylogeny of the group with the aim to provide insights into the process and timing of diversification of phytophagous insects, inform classification and facilitate predictions. The taxon sampling is the most extensive to date and includes representatives of all five dryophthorine tribes and all but one subtribe. The phylogeny is based on secondary structural alignment of 18S and 28S rRNA totaling 3,764 nucleotides analyzed under Bayesian and maximum likelihood inference. We used a fossil-calibrated relaxed clock model with two approaches, node-dating and fossilized birth-death models, to estimate divergence times for the subfamily. All tribes except the species-rich Rhynchophorini were found to be monophyletic, but higher support is required to ascertain the paraphyly of Rhynchophorini with more confidence. Nephius is closely related to Dryophthorini and Stromboscerini, and there is strong evidence for paraphyly of Sphenophorina. We find a large gap between the divergence of Dryophthorinae from their sister group Platypodinae in the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary and the diversification of extant species in the Cenozoic, highlighting the role of coevolution with angiosperms in this group.

On the identity of a U.S. intercepted Conotrachelus Dejean (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) with avocado (Persea americana).

BACKGROUND: The multimillion-dollar avocado industry is threatened by a number of serious insect pests, including at least seven species of Curculionidae. Of these, three Conotrachelus species are known to develop and feed on avocados: Conotrachelus aguacatae Barber, Conotrachelus perseae Barber and C. serpentinus (Klug); the first two are of economic importance. Recently, a series of unrecognised Conotrachelus was intercepted with avocado and other commodities by the USDA at various southern U.S. ports of entry. The species most closely resembled the U.S. native Conotrachelus posticatus Boheman. Given the threat posed by certain species of Conotrachelus to avocado, the identity and biology of intercepted unknown Conotrachelus species becomes a matter of much concern for regulators due to the potential risk posed by non-native species to local agriculture. This study aims to determine the identity, which in turn may shed light on the biology and native distribution, of possible new non-U.S.-native weevils and provide the tools necessary to distinguish amongst phenotypically similar native species. NEW INFORMATION: Amongst the unknown Conotrachelus weevils intercepted with avocados at certain U.S. ports of entry is Conotrachelus lobatus Champion. This poorly known species resembles a commonly collected, phenotypically variable indigenous U.S. species, Conotrachelus posticatus, which, on occasion, is also intercepted with avocado. Conotrachelus lobatus has been collected, since the early 1900s until today, along a narrow corridor in the southwest Mexican states of Michoacan, Jalisco and Nayarit. Specimen label data in natural history collections suggests the presence of this species in large numbers in early July in the avocado growing region of Mexico and, based on notes from former curators, appears to breed in acorns of the Mexican endemic oak species Quercus obtusata. The interception of C. posticatus and C. lobatus wth avocado does not imply strict biological association, however it reveals an important pattern of a non-native species' potential for introduction and its potential vector. Understanding all aspects of an organism's biology will better equip growers, as well as regulators, with effective and well-informed management strategies. Characters are imaged and discussed in order to help distinguish some Conotrachelus species belonging to Conotrachelus group II designated by Schoof (1942). Some characters of particular importance are the shape of the metauncus; shape of the lateral margin of the elytra and presence/absence of costate first and second elytral intervals. This study includes high-resolution images of seven Conotrachelus species, including the known avocado pests C. aguacatae and C. perseae, as well as the first images of C. lobatus, C. scoparius Champion and C. squamifrons Champion. The latter three species are not USA natives and were not included in Schoof's work. This study also confirms the important role played by natural history collections in anchoring the species' name through the study of types, which allows for the linking of biological and distribution data over time. Lectotypes are herein designated for C. lobatus and C. squamifrons.

A comprehensive guide to the Argentinian case-bearer beetle fauna (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Camptosomata).

Knowledge of Argentinian Camptosomata has largely remained static for the last 60 years since the last publication by Francisco de Asis Monrós in the 1950's. One hundred and ninety Camptosomata species (182 Cryptocephalinae and 8 Lamprosomatinae) in 31 genera are recorded herein from Argentina. Illustrated diagnostic keys to the subfamilies, tribes, subtribes and genera of Argentinian Camptosomata, plus species checklists and illustrations for all genera of camptosomatan beetles cited for each political region of Argentina are provided. General notes on the taxonomy and distribution, as well as basic statistics, are also included. This study provides basic information about the Camptosomata fauna in Argentina that will facilitate in the accurate generic-level identification of this group and aid subsequent taxonomic revisions, and phylogenetic, ecological, and biogeographic studies. This information will also facilitate faunistic comparisons between neighboring countries. Two nomenclatural acts are proposed: Temnodachrys (Temnodachrys) argentina (Guérin, 1952), comb. n., and Metallactus bivitticollis (Jacoby, 1907), comb. n. The following are new records for Argentina: Stegnocephala xanthopyga (Suffrian, 1863) and Lamprosoma azureum Germar, 1824. Currently, the most diverse camptosomate tribe in Argentina is Clytrini, with almost twice the number of species of Cryptocephalini. New records for Argentina are predicted.

Six new species of Agrilus Curtis, 1825 (Coleoptera, Buprestidae, Agrilinae) from the Oriental Region related to the emerald ash borer, A. planipennis Fairmaire, 1888 and synonymy of Sarawakita Obenberger, 1924.

Six new species of Agrilus Curtis, 1825 with affinities to the emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, 1888, are described from the Oriental Region: Agrilus crepuscularissp. n. (Malaysia); Agrilus pseudolubopetrisp. n. (Laos); Agrilus sapphirinussp. n.(Laos); Agrilus seramensissp. n.(Indonesia); Agrilus spineussp. n. (Malaysia); and Agrilus tomentipennissp. n. (Laos). The genus Sarawakita Obenberger, 1924 syn. nov. is considered a junior synonym of Agrilus.

Cachiporrini, a remarkable new tribe of Lamprosomatinae (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) from South America.

A new genus and species of Lamprosomatinae, Cachiporra extremaglobosa Chamorro & Konstantinov, is described from Brazil. A new tribe, Cachiporrini, is proposed. The first phylogenetic analysis of Lamprosomatinae based on adult morphological caharacters is conducted. Comparisons are made among lamprosomatine tribes and genera. A key to tribes is provided.