Fusarium kuroshium is the primary fungal symbiont of an ambrosia beetle, Euwallacea fornicatus, and can kill mango tree in Japan.

This study identifies fungi associated with Euwallacea fornicatus and determines whether these fungal species play the role of primary symbiont. E. fornicatus adults that emerged from the branches of infested trees in Okinawa main island, Japan, were collected and used to isolate fungi. Fusarium kuroshium and Penicillium citrinum were the most dominant fungal associates of females and males, respectively. F. kuroshium was much more frequently isolated from the head, including mycangia (fungus-carrying organs), of females than any other body parts. We inoculated healthy mango saplings with F. kuroshium or F. decemcellulare, both of which were symbionts of E. fornicatus females infesting mango trees. F. kuroshium decreased leaf stomatal conductance and rate of xylem sap-conduction area and increased length and area of xylem discoloration of the saplings, thereby weakening and killing some. These results suggest that F. kuroshium, a mycangial fungus of E. fornicatus, inhibits water flow in mango trees. This study is the first to report that F. kuroshium causes wilt disease in mango trees and that it is a primary fungal symbiont of E. fornicatus.

 Tricosauniseriata, a new species of xyleborine ambrosia beetle from Thailand (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae, Xyleborini).

A new species, Tricosauniseriatasp. nov., is described here. A list of Tricosa species found in Thailand with distributions and an updated key to Tricosa are also provided.

Multi-gene phylogeny of North American clear-winged moths (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae): a foundation for future evolutionary study of a speciose mimicry complex.

Sesiids are a diverse group of predominantly diurnal moths, many of which are Batesian mimics of Hymenoptera. However, their diversity and relationships are poorly understood. A multi-gene phylogenetic analysis of 48 North American sesiid species confirmed the traditional taxonomic tribal ranks, demonstrated the paraphyly of Carmenta and Synanthedon with respect to several other genera and ultimately provided minimal phylogenetic resolution within and between North American and European groups. Character support from each gene suggested inconsistency between the phylogenetic signal of the CAD gene and that of the other four genes. However, removal of CAD from subsequent phylogenetic analyses did not substantially change the initial phylogenetic results or return Carmenta and Synanthedon as reciprocally monophyletic, suggesting that it was not impacting the overall phylogenetic signal. The lack of resolution using genes that are typically informative at the species level for other lepidopterans suggests a surprisingly rapid radiation of species in Carmenta/Synanthedon. This group also exhibits a wide range of mimicry strategies and hostplant usage, which could be fertile ground for future study.

Ecuadorian Coptoborus beetles harbor Fusarium and Graphium fungi previously associated with Euwallacea ambrosia beetles.

Ambrosia beetles from the scolytine tribe Xyleborini (Curculionidae) are important to the decomposition of woody plant material on every continent except Antarctica. These insects farm fungi on the walls of tunnels they build inside recently dead trees and rely on the fungi for nutrition during all stages of their lives. Such ambrosia fungi rely on the beetles to provide appropriate substrates and environmental conditions for growth. A small minority of xyleborine ambrosia beetle-fungal partnerships cause significant damage to healthy trees. The xyleborine beetle Coptoborus ochromactonus vectors a Fusarium (Hypocreales) fungus that is lethal to balsa (Ochroma pyramidale (Malvaceae)) trees in Ecuador. Although this pathogenic fungus and its associated beetle are not known to be established in the United States, several other non-native ambrosia beetle species are vectors of destructive plant diseases in this country. This fact and the acceleration of trade between South America and the United States demonstrate the importance of understanding fungal plant pathogens before they escape their native ranges. Here we identify the fungi accompanying Coptoborus ambrosia beetles collected in Ecuador. Classification based ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS) sequences revealed the most prevalent fungi associated with Coptoborus are Fusarium sp. and Graphium sp. (Microascales: Microascaceae), which have been confirmed as ambrosia fungi for xyleborine ambrosia beetles, and Clonostsachys sp. (Hypocreales), which is a diverse genus found abundantly in soils and associated with plants. Phylogenetic analyses of the Fusarium strains based on ITS, translation elongation factor (EF1-α), and two subunits of the DNA-directed RNA polymerase II (RPB1 and RPB2) identified them as Fusarium sp. AF-9 in the Ambrosia Fusarium Clade (AFC). This Fusarium species was previously associated with a few xyleborine ambrosia beetles, most notably the species complex Euwallacea fornicatus (Eichhoff 1868) (Curculionidae: Scolytinae: Xyleborini). Examination of ITS and EF1-α sequences showed a close affinity between the Graphium isolated from Coptoborus spp. and other xyleborine-associated Graphium as well as the soil fungus Graphium basitruncatum. This characterization of ambrosia fungi through DNA sequencing confirms the identity of a putative plant pathogen spread by Coptoborus beetles and expands the documented range of Fusarium and Graphium ambrosia fungi.

One hundred eighteen taxonomic changes among Xyleborine ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae).

An ongoing study of the ambrosia beetle tribe Xyleborini has resulted in numerous taxonomic changes mostly representing new generic/species combinations which remove species from the once all-encompassing Xyleborus Eichhoff, 1864 to other genera based on revised taxonomic concepts. These changes are here listed. Terminalinus Hopkins, 1915 is removed from synonymy with Cyclorhipidion Hagedorn, 1912 and reinstated as a valid genus. Five species are removed from synonymy and reinstated as valid species: Amasa brevipennis (Schedl, 1971), Amasa fulgens (Schedl, 1975), Ambrosiophilus immitatrix (Schedl, 1975), Ambrosiophilus semirufus (Schedl, 1959), Microperus leprosulus (Schedl, 1936). The following 97 new or restored combinations are proposed: Ambrosiophilus bispinosulus (Schedl, 1961) comb. nov., Ambrosiophilus compressus (Lea, 1894) comb. nov., Ambrosiophilus latecompressus (Schedl, 1936) comb. nov., Ambrosiophilus pertortuosus (Schedl, 1942) comb. nov., Ambrosiophilus tomicoides (Eggers, 1923) comb. nov., Ambrosiophilus tortuosus (Schedl, 1942) comb. nov., Euwallacea obliquecauda (Motschulsky, 1863) comb. nov., all from Ambrosiodmus Hopkins, 1915; Coptodryas decepta (Schedl, 1979) comb. nov., Microperus pusillus (Eggers, 1927) comb. nov., both from Arixyleborus Hopkins, 1915; Coptodryas pseudopunctula (Schedl, 1942) comb. nov., from Cnestus Sampson, 1911; Microperus abbreviatus (Schedl, 1942) comb. nov., Microperus amphicauda (Browne, 1986) comb. nov., Microperus borneensis (Browne, 1986) comb. nov., Microperus comptus (Sampson, 1919) comb. nov., Microperus gorontalosus (Schedl, 1939) comb. nov., Microperus pullus (Schedl, 1952) comb. nov., Microperus tenellus (Schedl, 1959) comb. nov., Microperus vafer Schedl, 1957 comb. nov., all from Coptodryas Hopkins, 1915; Ambrosiophilus pityogenes (Schedl, 1936) comb. nov., Arixyleborus scapularis (Schedl, 1942) comb. nov., Beaverium dihingicum (Wood, 1992) comb. nov., Beaverium rufonitidus (Schedl, 1951) comb. nov., Coptodryas brevior (Eggers) comb. nov., Terminalinus dipterocarpi Hopkins, 1915 comb. res., Terminalinus sexspinatus (Schedl, 1935) comb. nov., Terminalinus terminaliae (Hopkins, 1915) comb. res., Truncaudum leverensis (Browne, 1986) comb. nov., all from Cyclorhipidion Hagedorn, 1912; Planiculus kororensis (Wood, 1960) comb. nov., Planiculus loricatus (Schedl, 1933) comb. nov., Planiculus murudensis (Browne, 1965) comb. nov., all from Euwallacea Reitter, 1915; Terminalinus anisopterae (Browne, 1983) comb. nov., Terminalinus indigens (Schedl, 1955) comb. nov., Terminalinus macropterus (Schedl, 1935) comb. nov., Terminalinus major (Stebbing, 1909) comb. nov., Terminalinus pilifer (Eggers, 1923) comb. nov., Terminalinus posticepilosus (Schedl, 1951) comb. res., Terminalinus pseudopilifer (Schedl, 1936) comb. nov., Terminalinus sulcinoides (Schedl, 1974) comb. nov., all from Fortiborus Hulcr & Cognato, 2010; Microperus micrographus (Schedl, 1958) comb. nov., Microperus truncatipennis (Schedl, 1961) comb. nov., both from Xyleborinus Reitter, 1913; Ambrosiophilus immitatrix (Schedl, 1975) comb. nov., Ambrosiophilus semirufus (Schedl, 1959) comb. nov., Arixyleborus crenulatus (Eggers, 1920) comb. nov., Arixyleborus strombosiopsis (Schedl, 1957) comb. nov., Beaverium batoensis (Eggers, 1923) comb. nov., Beaverium calvus (Schedl, 1942) comb. nov., Beaverium obstipus (Schedl, 1935) comb. nov., Beaverium rufus (Schedl, 1951) comb. nov., Coptodryas cuneola (Eggers, 1927) comb. nov., Cyclorhipidion amanicum (Hagedorn, 1910) comb. nov., Cyclorhipidion impar (Eggers, 1927) comb. nov., Cyclorhipidion inaequale (Schedl, 1934) comb. nov., Cyclorhipidion kajangensis (Schedl, 1942) comb. nov., Cyclorhipidion obiensis (Browne, 1980) comb. nov., Cyclorhipidion obtusatum (Schedl, 1972) comb. nov., Cyclorhipidion perpunctatum (Schedl, 1971) comb. nov., Cyclorhipidion repositum (Schedl) comb. nov., Cyclorhipidion separandum (Schedl, 1971) comb. nov., Debus abscissus (Browne, 1974) comb. nov., Debus amplexicauda (Hagedorn, 1910) comb. nov., Debus armillatus (Schedl, 1933) comb. nov., Debus balbalanus (Eggers 1927) comb. nov., Debus blandus (Schedl, 1954) comb. nov., Debus cavatus (Browne, 1980) comb. nov., Debus cylindromorphus (Eggers, 1927) comb. nov., Debus dentatus (Blandford, 1895) comb. nov., Debus excavus (Schedl, 1964) comb. nov., Debus fischeri (Hagedorn, 1908) comb. nov., Debus hatanakai (Browne, 1983) comb. nov., Debus insitivus (Schedl, 1959) comb. nov., Debus persimilis (Eggers, 1927) comb. nov., Debus subdentatus (Browne, 1974) comb. nov., Debus trispinatus (Browne, 1981) comb. nov., Diuncus taxicornis (Schedl, 1971) comb. nov., Euwallacea agathis (Browne, 1984) comb. nov., Euwallacea assimilis (Eggers, 1927) comb. nov., Euwallacea bryanti (Sampson, 1919) comb. nov., Euwallacea latecarinatus (Schedl, 1936) comb. nov., Euwallacea pseudorudis (Schedl, 1951) comb. nov., Euwallacea semipolitus (Schedl, 1951) comb. nov., Euwallacea temetiuicus (Beeson, 1935) comb. nov., Immanus duploarmatus (Browne, 1962) comb. nov., Leptoxyleborus sublinearis (Eggers, 1940) comb. nov., Peridryocoetes pinguis (Browne, 1983) (Dryocoetini) comb. nov., Stictodex halli (Schedl, 1954) comb. nov., Stictodex rimulosus (Schedl, 1959) comb. nov., Terminalinus granurum (Browne, 1980) comb. nov., Terminalinus indonesianus (Browne, 1984) comb. nov., Terminalinus moluccanus (Browne, 1985) comb. nov., Terminalinus pseudomajor (Schedl, 1951) comb. nov., Terminalinus sublongus (Eggers, 1927) comb. nov., Terminalinus takeharai (Browne) comb. nov., Terminalinus xanthophyllus (Schedl, 1942) comb. res., Tricosa abberrans (Schedl, 1959) comb. nov., Xenoxylebora truncatula (Schedl, 1957) comb. nov., Xyleborinus figuratus (Schedl, 1959) comb. nov., Xylosandrus cancellatus (Eggers, 1936) comb. nov., all from Xyleborus. Fifteen new synonyms are proposed: Anisandrus ursulus (Eggers, 1923)(= Xyleborus lativentris Schedl, 1942 syn. nov.); Cyclorhipidion amanicus (Hagedorn, 1910)(= Xyleborus jongaensis Schedl, 1941 syn. nov.); Cyclorhipidion bodoanum (Reitter, 1913) (= Xyleborus takinoyensis Murayama, 1953 syn. nov.); Cyclorhipidion pelliculosum (Eichhoff, 1878) (= Xyleborus okinosenensis Murayama, 1961 syn. nov.); Cyclorhipidion repositum (Schedl, 1942) (= Xyleborus pruinosulus Browne, 1979 syn. nov.); Debus persimilis (Eggers, 1927) (= Xyleborus subdolosus Schedl, 1942c syn. nov.); Debus robustipennis (Schedl, 1954) (= Xyleborus interponens Schedl, 1954 syn. nov.); Euwallacea destruens (Blandford, 1896) (= Xyleborus procerior Schedl, 1942 syn. nov.); Euwallacea nigrosetosus (Schedl, 1939) (= Xyleborus nigripennis Schedl, 1951 syn. nov.); Euwallacea siporanus (Hagedorn, 1910) (= Xyleborus perakensis Schedl, 1942 syn. nov.); Microperus quercicola (Eggers, 1926) (= Xyleborus semistriatus Schedl, 1971 syn. nov.); Stictodex dimidiatus (Eggers, 1927) (= Xyleborus spicatus Browne, 1986 syn. nov.); Stictodex halli (Schedl, 1954) (= Xyleborus cuspidus Schedl, 1975 syn. nov.); Terminalinus Hopkins, 1915 (= Fortiborus Hulcr & Cognato 2010 syn. nov.); Terminalinus moluccanus (Browne, 1985) (= Xyleborus teminabani Browne, 1986 syn. nov.).

New species and new records of Xyleborini from the Oriental region, Japan and Papua New Guinea (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae).

Eighteen xyleborine ambrosia beetles are described and illustrated: Anisandrus proscissus Smith, Beaver, Pham & Cognato sp. nov. (Vietnam), Anisandrus simplex Smith, Beaver & Cognato sp. nov. (Nepal), Arixyleborus belalongi Smith, Beaver & Cognato sp. nov. (Brunei Darussalam), Beaverium brevicaudatus Smith, Beaver & Cognato sp. nov. (Indonesia), Cnestus luculentus Smith, Beaver & Cognato sp. nov. (India), Cyclorhipidion achlys Smith, Beaver, Pham & Cognato sp. nov. (Vietnam), Cyclorhipidion conidentatus Smith, Beaver & Cognato sp. nov. (Indonesia), Cyclorhipidion gladigerum Smith, Beaver & Cognato sp. nov. (Thailand), Cyclorhipidion lapilliferum Smith, Beaver, Pham & Cognato sp. nov. (Vietnam), Cyclorhipidion nepalense Smith, Beaver & Cognato sp. nov. (Nepal), Cyclorhipidion taedulum Smith, Beaver, Pham & Cognato sp. nov. (Vietnam), Cyclorhipidion titorum Smith, Beaver, Pham & Cognato sp. nov. (Vietnam), Euwallacea alastos Smith, Beaver & Cognato sp. nov. (Japan), Leptoxyleborus regina Smith, Beaver & Cognato sp. nov. (Papua New Guinea), Tricosa hipparion Smith, Beaver & Cognato sp. nov. (Malaysia), Xyleborinus acanthopteron Smith, Beaver & Cognato sp. nov. (Thailand), Xyleborinus dumosus Smith, Beaver, Pham & Cognato sp. nov. (Vietnam), Xyleborinus nobuchii Smith, Beaver & Cognato sp. nov. (Japan). New distribution records are reported for 67 Asian species. Cyclorhipidion nemesis Smith & Cognato, described from U. S. A., is reported from Asia (China), its hypothesized native continent, for the first time. Its identity is confirmed with COI and CAD DNA within a phylogenetic analysis including other Cyclorhipidion species.

A revision of the Neotropical genus Coptoborus Hopkins (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae, Xyleborini).

The Neotropical xyleborine ambrosia beetle genus Coptoborus Hopkins is reviewed. The following 40 Coptoborus species are described: C. amplissimus sp. nov. (Peru), C. asperatus sp. nov. (Ecuador), C. barbicauda sp. nov. (French Guiana), C. bettysmithae sp. nov. (Ecuador), C. brevicauda sp. nov. (Ecuador), C. brigman sp. nov. (Ecuador), C. busoror sp. nov. (Ecuador), C. capillisoror sp. nov. (Brazil), C. chica sp. nov. (Suriname), C. crassisororcula sp. nov. (Peru), C. doliolum sp. nov. (Ecuador), C. erwini sp. nov. (Ecuador), C. furiosa sp. nov. (Ecuador), C. galacatosae sp. nov. (Ecuador), C. hansen sp. nov. (Brazil), C. incomptus sp. nov. (Peru), C. janeway sp. nov. (Peru), C. katniss sp. nov. (Ecuador), C. leeloo sp. nov. (Ecuador), C. leia sp. nov. (Ecuador, Suriname), C. leporinus sp. nov. (Peru), C. martinezae sp. nov. (Ecuador), C. murinus sp. nov. (Ecuador), C. newt sp. nov. (Peru), C. osbornae sp. nov. (Ecuador), C. panosus sp. nov. (French Guiana), C. papillicauda sp. nov. (Suriname), C. pilisoror sp. nov. (Ecuador), C. ripley sp. nov. (Ecuador), C. sagitticauda sp. nov. (Guyana), C. sarahconnor sp. nov. (Brazil), C. scully sp. nov. (Ecuador), C. sicula sp. nov. (Ecuador), C. sororcula sp. nov. (Peru), C. starbuck sp. nov. (Ecuador), C. trinity sp. nov. (Brazil), C. uhura sp. nov. (Peru), C. vasquez sp. nov. (Panama), C. vrataski sp. nov. (Brazil), and C. yar sp. nov. (Ecuador). Seventeen new combinations are given: Coptoborus amazonicus (Petrov, 2020) comb. nov., C. atlanticus (Bright & Torres, 2006) comb. nov., C. bellus Bright & Torres, 2006 comb. nov., C. coartatus (Sampson, 1921) comb. nov., C. crinitulus (Wood, 1974) comb. nov., C. exilis (Schedl, 1934) comb. nov., C. incultus (Wood, 1975) comb. nov., C. magnus (Petrov, 2020) comb. nov., C. micarius (Wood, 1974) comb. nov., C. obtusicornis (Schedl, 1976) comb. nov., C. paurus (Wood, 2007) comb. nov., C. pristis (Wood, 1974) comb. nov., C. pseudotenuis (Schedl, 1936) comb. nov., C. puertoricensis (Bright & Torres, 2006) comb. nov., C. ricini (Eggers, 1932) comb. nov., C. semicostatus (Schedl, 1948) comb. nov., C. tristiculus (Wood, 1975) comb. nov., and C. villosulus (Blandford, 1898) comb. nov. Two new synonyms are proposed: Coptoborus Hopkins, 1915 (= Theoborus Hopkins, 1915 syn. nov.) and Coptoborus villosulus (Blandford, 1898) (= Theoborus theobromae Hopkins, 1915 syn. nov.). Xyleborus neosphenos Schedl, 1976 comb. res. is removed from Coptoborus. The revised genus now contains 77 species and a key to their identification is provided.

Species-rich bark and ambrosia beetle fauna (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) of the Ecuadorian Amazonian Forest Canopy.

Canopy fogging was used to sample the diversity of bark and ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) at two western Amazonian rainforest sites in Ecuador. Sampling was conducted by Dr Terry Erwin and assistants from 1994-2006 and yielded 1158 samples containing 2500 scolytine specimens representing more than 400 morphospecies. Here, we analyze a subset of these data representing two ecological groups: true bark beetles (52 morphospecies) and ambrosia beetles (69 morphospecies). A high percentage of these taxa occurred as singletons and doubletons and their species accumulation curves did not reach an asymptote. Diversity estimates placed the total scolytine species richness for this taxon subset present at the two sites between 260 and 323 species. The α-diversity was remarkably high at each site, while the apparently high ß-diversity was an artifact of undersampling, as shown by a Monte Carlo resampling analysis. This study demonstrates the utility of canopy fogging for the discovery of new scolytine taxa and for approximate diversity assessment, but a substantially greater sampling effort would be needed for conclusive alpha as well as beta diversity estimates.

Patterns of host tree use within a lineage of saproxlic snout-less weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae: Scolytini).

The influence of plants in the diversification of herbivorous insects, specifically those that utilize moribund and dead hosts, is little explored. Host shifts are expected because the effectiveness of toxic secondary chemicals is lessened by decay of dead plants. Feeding on dead plants also releases herbivorous insect lineages from diversifying within a particular plant lineage. Thus, phylogenetic constraints on the herbivorous insect lineage imposed by the host plants are diminished and repeated patterns of species diversification in an association with unrelated host trees is hypothesized (i.e., taxon cycle). Scolytini, a diverse weevil tribe, specialize on many different dead and moribund plant taxa as a source of food. These species and their hosts offer an opportunity to examine the association between dead host plants and the extent of phylogenetic constraints. A phylogeny of the Scolytini was reconstructed with likelihood and Bayesian analyses of DNA sequence data from nuclear (28S, CAD, ArgK) and mitochondrial (COI) genes. Ancestral host usage and geography was reconstructed using likelihood criteria and conservation of host use was tested. Results supported a monophyletic Scolytini, Ceratolepis, Loganius, and a paraphyletic Scolytus, Camptocerus and Cnemonyx. Diversification of the Scolytini generally occurred well after their host taxa diversified and suggests a sequential evolution of host use. In this scenario the beetle imposes little selection pressure on the tree but the tree provides a platform for beetle evolution. Major changes in host tree use occurred during periods of global cooling associated with changes in beetle biogeography. Diversification of beetles occurred on common and widespread hosts and there was likely a single origination of conifer-feeding from angiosperm-feeding species during the early Pliocene and a radiation of beetle species from the Palearctic to the Nearctic. Overall, the observed patterns of Scolytini host use are conserved and are similar to those expected in a taxon pulse diversification. That is, after a host switch to an unrelated tree, the beetles diversify within the host plant lineage. The need to locate an ephemeral food resource, i.e., a dying tree, likely maintains host specificity once a host shift occurs. These findings suggest that characteristics of dead and moribund host plants (e.g. secondary chemicals) influence the diversification of these saproxlic weevils despite the reduction of selection pressures.

A monograph of the Xyleborini (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) of the Indochinese Peninsula (except Malaysia) and China.

The Southeast Asian xyleborine ambrosia beetle fauna is reviewed for the first time. Thirty-four genera and 315 species are reviewed, illustrated, and keyed to genera and species. Sixty-three new species are described: Amasa cycloxyster sp. nov., Amasa galeoderma sp. nov., Amasa gibbosa sp. nov., Amasa lini sp. nov., Amasa tropidacron sp. nov., Amasa youlii sp. nov., Ambrosiophilus caliginestris sp. nov., Ambrosiophilus indicus sp. nov., Ambrosiophilus lannaensis sp. nov., Ambrosiophilus papilliferus sp. nov., Ambrosiophilus wantaneeae sp. nov., Anisandrus achaete sp. nov., Anisandrus auco sp. nov., Anisandrus auratipilus sp. nov., Anisandrus congruens sp. nov., Anisandrus cryphaloides sp. nov., Anisandrus feronia sp. nov., Anisandrus hera sp. nov., Anisandrus paragogus sp. nov., Anisandrus sinivali sp. nov., Anisandrus venustus sp. nov., Anisandrus xuannu sp. nov., Arixyleborus crassior sp. nov., Arixyleborus phiaoacensis sp. nov., Arixyleborus setosus sp. nov., Arixyleborus silvanus sp. nov., Arixyleborus sittichayai sp. nov., Arixyleborus titanus sp. nov., Coptodryas amydra sp. nov., Coptodryas carinata sp. nov., Coptodryas inornata sp. nov., Cyclorhipidion amasoides sp. nov., Cyclorhipidion amputatum sp. nov., Cyclorhipidion denticauda sp. nov., Cyclorhipidion muticum sp. nov., Cyclorhipidion obesulum sp. nov., Cyclorhipidion petrosum sp. nov., Cyclorhipidion truncaudinum sp. nov., Cyclorhipidion xeniolum sp. nov., Euwallacea geminus sp. nov., Euwallacea neptis sp. nov., Euwallacea subalpinus sp. nov., Euwallacea testudinatus sp. nov., Heteroborips fastigatus sp. nov., Heteroborips indicus sp. nov., Microperus latesalebrinus sp. nov., Microperus minax sp. nov., Microperus sagmatus sp. nov., Streptocranus petilus sp. nov., Truncaudum bullatum sp. nov., Xyleborinus cuneatus sp. nov., Xyleborinus disgregus sp. nov., Xyleborinus echinopterus sp. nov., Xyleborinus ephialtodes sp. nov., Xyleborinus huifenyinae sp. nov., Xyleborinus jianghuansuni sp. nov., Xyleborinus thaiphami sp. nov., Xyleborinus tritus sp. nov., Xyleborus opacus sp. nov., Xyleborus sunisae sp. nov., Xyleborus yunnanensis sp. nov., Xylosandrus bellinsulanus sp. nov., Xylosandrus spinifer sp. nov.. Thirteen new combinations are given: Ambrosiophilus consimilis (Eggers) comb. nov., Anisandrus carinensis (Eggers) comb. nov., Anisandrus cristatus (Hagedorn) comb. nov., Anisandrus klapperichi (Schedl) comb. nov., Anisandrus percristatus (Eggers) comb. nov., Arixyleborus resecans (Eggers) comb. nov., Cyclorhipidion armiger (Schedl) comb. nov., Debus quadrispinus (Motschulsky) comb. nov., Heteroborips tristis (Eggers) comb. nov., Leptoxyleborus machili (Niisima) comb. nov., Microperus cruralis (Schedl) comb. nov., Planiculus shiva (Maiti & Saha) comb. nov., Xylosandrus formosae (Wood) comb. nov. Twenty-four new synonyms are proposed: Ambrosiophilus osumiensis (Murayama, 1934) (= Xyleborus nodulosus Eggers, 1941 syn. nov.); Ambrosiophilus subnepotulus (Eggers, 1930) (= Xyleborus cristatuloides Schedl, 1971 syn. nov.); Ambrosiophilus sulcatus (Eggers, 1930) (= Xyleborus sinensis Eggers, 1941 syn. nov.; = Xyleborus sulcatulus Eggers, 1939 syn. nov.); Anisandrus hirtus (Hagedorn, 1904) (= Xyleborus hirtipes Schedl, 1969 syn. nov.); Cnestus protensus (Eggers, 1930) (= Cnestus rostratus Schedl, 1977 syn. nov.); Cyclorhipidion bodoanum (Reitter, 1913) (= Xyleborus misatoensis Nobuchi, 1981 syn. nov.); Cyclorhipidion distinguendum (Eggers, 1930) (= Xyleborus fukiensis Eggers, 1941 syn. nov.; = Xyleborus ganshoensis Murayama, 1952 syn. nov.); Cyclorhipidion inarmatum (Eggers, 1923) (= Xyleborus vagans Schedl, 1977 syn. nov.); Debus quadrispinus (Motschulsky, 1863) (= Xyleborus fallax Eichhoff, 1878 syn. nov.); Euwallacea gravelyi (Wichmann, 1914) (= Xyleborus barbatomorphus Schedl, 1951 syn. nov.); Euwallacea perbrevis (Schedl, 1951) (= Xyleborus molestulus Wood, 1975 syn. nov.; Euwallacea semirudis (Blandford, 1896) (= Xyleborus neohybridus Schedl, 1942 syn. nov.); Euwallacea sibsagaricus (Eggers, 1930) (= Xyleborus tonkinensis Schedl, 1934 syn. nov.); Euwallacea velatus (Sampson, 1913) (= Xyleborus rudis Eggers, 1930 syn. nov.); Microperus kadoyamaensis (Murayama, 1934) (= Xyleborus pubipennis Schedl, 1974 syn. nov.; =Xyleborus denseseriatus Eggers, 1941 syn. nov.); Stictodex dimidiatus (Eggers, 1927) (=Xyleborus dorsosulcatus Beeson, 1930 syn. nov.); Webbia trigintispinata Sampson, 1922 (= Webbia mucronatus Eggers, 1927 syn. nov.); Xyleborinus artestriatus (Eichhoff, 1878) (= Xyelborus angustior [sic] Eggers, 1925 syn. nov.; = Xyleborus undatus Schedl, 1974 syn. nov.); Xyleborinus exiguus (Walker, 1859) (= Xyleborus diversus Schedl, 1954 syn. nov.); Xyleborus muticus Blandford, 1894 (= Xyleborus conditus Schedl, 1971 syn. nov.; = Xyleborus lignographus Schedl, 1953 syn. nov.). Seven species are removed from synonymy and reinstated as valid species: Anisandrus cristatus (Hagedorn, 1908), Cyclorhipidion tenuigraphum (Schedl, 1953), Diuncus ciliatoformis (Schedl, 1953), Euwallacea gravelyi (Wichmann, 1914), Euwallacea semirudis (Blandford, 1896), Microperus fulvulus (Schedl, 1942), Xyleborinus subspinosus (Eggers, 1930).

Two new genera of Oriental xyleborine ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera, Curculionidae: Scolytinae).

As part of an ongoing revision of the Southeast Asian fauna two distinct species groups were identified and hypothesized as new genera. These species groups were monophyletic as evidenced by a Bayesian analysis of DNA sequences from four genes for 181 xyleborine taxa augmented by 18 species newly included in this phylogenetic analysis. The species groups and newly discovered species demonstrated unique combinations of diagnostic characters and levels of DNA sequence difference commensurable to other xyleborine taxa. Hence, two new genera and three new species were described: Fraudatrix gen. n., Tricosa gen. n., Tricosa cattienensis sp. n., T. indochinensis sp. n., T. jacula sp. n.. The following new combinations are proposed: Fraudatrix cuneiformis (Schedl, 1958) (Xyleborus) comb. n., Fraudatrix melas (Eggers, 1927) comb. n., F. pileatula (Schedl, 1975) (Xyleborus) comb. n., F. simplex (Browne, 1949), (Cryptoxyleborus) comb. n., Tricosa mangoensis (Schedl, 1942) (Xyleborus) comb. n., T. metacuneola (Eggers, 1940) (Xyleborus) comb. n. Keys to the females of the species included in the new genera are presented. Diagnostic characters are given for the genera and species, and the distribution and biology of each taxon is discussed. The addition of these new genera increases the number of recognized genera of Xyleborini to 41.

Effects of Climate and Host Age on Flight Activity, Infestation Percentage, and Intensity by Coptoborus ochromactonus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in Commercial Balsa Plantations of Ecuador.

Coptoborus ochromactonus (Smith and Cognato) is one of the most common and important pests of balsa, Ochroma pyramidale (Cav. Ex Lam. Urb.), an economic pillar of the wood industry in Ecuador. Commercial balsa plantations have been expanded from humid to dry climate areas to limit insect damage, but basic knowledge is still lacking on the interaction of C. ochromactonus activity with variation in climate and plantation age. We investigated the effects of climate and host age on the seasonal flight activity of C. ochromactonus and its infestation rate and intensity, as well as the effect of age and individual infestation intensity on balsa dieback. Experiments were conducted in 1-, 2-, and 3-yr-old commercial balsa plantations located in areas of humid or dry climates. Seasonal flight activity (monitored with baited traps) differed between study sites and seasons. Increased flight activity was significantly correlated with higher relative humidity, higher mean temperature, and reduced precipitation during the dry season in the humid site and with increased mean and minimum temperature and increased precipitation during the rainy season in the dry site. Infestation rates by C. ochromactonus significantly increased with plantation age, especially in the humid site. Intensity of individual infestations (measured as number of successful insect entry holes per tree) was significantly influenced by both climate and plantation age, and it was particularly severe on 3-yr-old trees in the dry site. Percentage of foliage loss significantly increased with infestation intensity. Overall, our results can be relevant for devising preventive measures and suitable management strategies for this emerging pest in Ecuadorian wood plantations.

Reassessment of the Species in the Euwallacea Fornicatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) Complex after the Rediscovery of the "Lost" Type Specimen.

Ambrosia beetles of the Euwallacea fornicatus (Eichhoff, 1868) species complex are emerging tree pests, responsible for significant damage to orchards and ecosystems around the world. The species complex comprises seven described species, all of which are nearly identical. Given that the morphology-defined species boundaries have been ambiguous, historically, there has been much disagreement on species validity, which was compounded by the presumed loss of the type series of E. fornicatus. The species complex was recently reviewed using morphometrics to associate the type specimens to the clades delineated with molecular data under the assumption of the lost type series. We rediscovered a syntype of Xyleborus fornicatus, and reevaluated the species in the complex using morphometrics. We propose the following taxonomic changes to the species complex: Euwallacea fornicatus (=E. tapatapaoensis (Schedl, 1951); = E. whitfordiodendrus (Schedl, 1942)) syn. res.); E. fornicatior (Eggers, 1923) (=E. schultzei (Schedl, 1951) syn. nov.); E. kuroshio (Gomez and Hulcr, 2018) and E. perbrevis (Schedl, 1951) stat. res. These taxonomic changes shift the species name associated with the widely used common names for two taxa, namely: Euwallacea fornicatus should be used for the "Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer", and E. perbrevis for the "Tea Shot Hole Borer clade a". A lectotype is designated for X. fornicatus in order to stabilize the use of the name.

A highly resolved food web for insect seed predators in a species-rich tropical forest.

The top-down and indirect effects of insects on plant communities depend on patterns of host use, which are often poorly documented, particularly in species-rich tropical forests. At Barro Colorado Island, Panama, we compiled the first food web quantifying trophic interactions between the majority of co-occurring woody plant species and their internally feeding insect seed predators. Our study is based on more than 200 000 fruits representing 478 plant species, associated with 369 insect species. Insect host-specificity was remarkably high: only 20% of seed predator species were associated with more than one plant species, while each tree species experienced seed predation from a median of two insect species. Phylogeny, but not plant traits, explained patterns of seed predator attack. These data suggest that seed predators are unlikely to mediate indirect interactions such as apparent competition between plant species, but are consistent with their proposed contribution to maintaining plant diversity via the Janzen-Connell mechanism.

Bark and Ambrosia Beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) Diversity in Natural and Plantation Forests in Ecuador.

The Scolytinae is highly diversified in tropical forests, but richness and abundance patterns within most Ecuadorian forest habitat types are not yet characterized. In this study, we assessed patterns of variation in Scolytinae richness, abundance, and species composition in a primary and a secondary natural forest, and a commercial balsa plantation in Ecuador. We conducted a 1-yr survey of Scolytinae communities with baited traps and measured associated environmental variables. In total, 18,169 Scolytinae individuals were captured and comprised 85 species, 16 genera, and six tribes. In the natural forests, main indicator species were Xylosandrus morigerus, Xyleborus affinis, Xyleborus sp.02, and Corthylus sp.01, whereas all species of Hypothenemus were indicator species in the balsa plantation. The exotic Premnobius cavipennis (Ipini), Xylosandrus compactus, and Xylosandrus morigerus were indicator species for the natural forests. We provide evidence that commercial balsa plantations provide abundant favorable resources for native and exotic scolytines in Ecuador, and that scolytine communities in natural forest and in plantations are more likely to differ in their species composition than in their cumulated species richness. In all habitats, species composition, abundance, and species richness showed temporal patterns of variation that coincided with seasonal variations in climatic conditions, with highest records during the coldest and driest months in the primary forest and the balsa plantation. We provide new knowledge on the native Ecuadorian scolytine fauna and a foundation for the monitoring for potential scolytine pest species of natural and planted tropical forest ecosystems.

Genetic Variability Among Xyleborus glabratus Populations Native to Southeast Asia (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae: Xyleborini) and the Description of Two Related Species.

The redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff, is native to Southeast Asia, where it specializes on Lauraceae trees. It forms a symbiosis with the ambrosia fungus Raffaelea lauricola T.C. Harr., Fraedrich & Aghayeva, which can act as a pathogen in living host trees. The beetle and fungus were recently introduced into the United States, where they have killed millions of native Lauraceae trees and threaten the avocado industry. These introduced populations have limited genetic variation. In the native range, the fungi are genetically variable, but the native genetic variability of the beetles is unknown. It is important to assess the beetle's native genetic variation because different lineages may vary in the capacity to vector this fungus, which may affect disease etiology. Here, we analyzed genetic variation in several Chinese, Taiwanese, and Vietnamese populations of X. glabratus using mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear DNA (CAD) markers. Phylogenetic analysis revealed nine COI haplotypes and four CAD genotypes. Uncorrected 'p' distance for intrapopulation comparisons ranged from 0 to 0.1 and 0 to 0.013 and interpopulation comparisons ranged from 0.137 to 0.168 and 0.015 to 0.032 for COI and CAD, respectively. Two populations exceeded the range of intraspecific nucleotide differences for both genes. Given that individuals from these populations also exhibited consistent morphological differences, they are described as two new species: Xyleborus insidiosus Cognato & Smith, n. sp. and Xyleborus mysticulus Cognato & Smith, n. sp. Xyleborus glabratus was redescribed and a lectotype was designated to facilitate its recognition in light of these new species. These results indicate that X. glabratus is genetically variable and is related to two morphologically similar species. Whether these new species and X. glabratus lineages associate with different fungal strains is unknown. Given that the biology and host colonization of these new species are unknown, preventing their introduction to other regions is prudent.

Life Cycle and Development of Coptoborus ochromactonus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), a pest of balsa.

Coptoborus ochromactonus Smith and Cognato is a recently described xyleborine ambrosia beetle pest associated with balsa, Ochroma pyramidale (Cav. Ex Lam.) Urb., in Ecuador. This pest has caused significant loss of cultivated balsa in Ecuador, but little is known of its biology and ecology. Based on examination of multiple gallery systems, this study describes the gallery pattern and life cycle of C. ochromactonus and confirms the generic identity of the symbiotic fungus. Females initiated attack, excavating a gallery perpendicular to the bole. The primary tunnel branched into a secondary tunnel at a mean 3.13 mm. This first secondary tunnel was excavated in a horizontal plane between the phloem and xylem for a mean 18.0 mm. Along its length, two tertiary tunnels were constructed on each side, measuring a mean 26.0 and 20.0 mm, respectively. Conidiophores and conidia of an unidentified Fusarium sp. grew on the tunnel walls and were fed upon by the beetle and her progeny. Coptoborus ochromactonus exhibits sexual dimorphism. The female is 2.6 mm long and possesses a round pronotum, whereas the male is 2.2 mm long and has a quadrate pronotum. The developmental stages last a mean 6, 14, 6, 4 and 30 d for egg, larva, pupa, teneral adult, and adult, respectively, when reared at 25°C. Three larval instars were present, with mean head capsule widths of 0.23, 0.31, and 0.42 mm, respectively. In general, the life cycle of C. ochromactonus is similar to those described for other xyleborine ambrosia beetle species.

New synonymy, new combinations and other taxonomic changes in Japanese xyleborine ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae).

The following 13 new combinations are given: Ambrosiophilus osumiensis (Murayama, 1934), Ancipitis machili (Niisima, 1910), Cyclorhipidion bispinum (Nobuchi, 1981), Cyclorhipidion japonicum (Nobuchi, 1981), Cyclorhipidion laetum (Niisima, 1909), Cyclorhipidion misatoense (Nobuchi, 1981), Cyclorhipidion miyazakiense (Murayama, 1936), Cyclorhipidion okinosenense (Murayama, 1961), Cyclorhipidion takinoyense (Murayama, 1953), Debus defensus (Blandford, 1894), Immanus permarginatus (Schedl, 1933), Microperus calamoides (Murayama, 1934), Microperus quercicola (Eggers, 1926), all originally described in Xyleborus Eichhoff, 1864. The following 24 new synonyms are proposed: Ambrosiophilus atratus (Eichhoff, 1876) (=Xyleborus collis Niisima, 1910 syn. n.); Ambrosiophilus osumiensis (Murayama, 1934) (=Xyleborus metanepotulus Eggers, 1939 syn. n.); Ancipitis machili (Niisima, 1910) (=Xyleborus depressus Eggers, 1923 syn. n.; = Xyleborus kojimai Murayama, 1936 syn. n.); Anisandrus dispar (Fabricius, 1792) (=Xyleborus ishidai Niisima, 1909 syn. n.); Cnestus aterrimus (Eggers, 1927) (=Cnestus maculatus Browne, 1983 syn. n.; = Cnestus murayamai Schedl, 1962 syn. n.; = Cnestus murayamai Browne, 1963 syn. n.; = Tosaxyleborus pallidipennis Murayama, 1950. syn. n.); Cyclorhipidion miyazakiense (Murayama, 1936) (=Xyleborus armipennis Schedl, 1953 syn. n.; = Xyleborus wakayamensis Nobuchi, 1981 syn. n.); Microperus kadoyamaensis (Murayama, 1934) (=Xyleborus nameranus Murayama, 1954 syn. n.); Microperus quercicola (Eggers, 1926) (=Xyleborus izuensis Murayama, 1952 syn. n.); Planiculus bicolor (Blandford, 1894) (=Xyleborus ashuensis Murayama, 1954 syn. n.); Xyleborinus attenuatus (Blandford, 1894) (=Xyleborinus canus Niisima, 1909 syn. n.); Xyleborinus schaufussi (Blandford, 1894) (=Xyleborus kraunhiae Niisima, 1910 syn. n.); Xyleborus festivus Eichhoff, 1876 (=Xyleborus detectus Schedl, 1975a syn. n.; = Xyleborus pinicola Eggers, 1930 syn. n.; = Xyleborus pinivorus Browne, 1980 syn. n.); Xyleborus metacuneolus Eggers, 1940 (= Xyleborus kaimochii Nobuchi, 1981 syn. n.); Xyleborus perforans (Wollaston, 1857) (=Xyleborus shionomisakiensis Murayama, 1951 syn. n.); Xyleborus pfeilii (Ratzeburg, 1837) (=Xyleborus septentrionalis Niisima 1909 syn. n.); Xyleborus seriatus Blandford, 1894 (=Xyleborus todo Kono, 1938 syn. n.); Xylosandrus brevis (Eichhoff, 1877) (=Xyleborus montanus Niisima, 1910 syn. n.). Arixyleborus yakushimanus (Murayama, 1958) is removed from synonymy with A. malayensis (Schedl, 1954). The types of Xyleborus nagaoensis Murayama, 1934, and X. ohtoensis Nobuchi, 1981 were examined and are confirmed to be correctly placed in Xyleborus. Lectotypes are designated for Xyleborus ishidai Niisima, 1909, and Xyleborus septentrionalis Niisima, 1909.

Microclimatic Conditions for Dung Beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Occurrence: Land Use System as a Determining Factor.

Tropical forests account for 7% of the earth's surface harboring more than 50% of the biodiversity on Earth. Unfortunately, deforestation continues at high rates with negative consequences for biodiversity. With the decrease of natural habitats, biodiversity maintenance in areas degraded by human activity is a challenge. In order to maintain biodiversity, both in natural areas and in agro-ecosystems, knowledge of the structure and function of organism communities is important. Dung beetles (Scarabaeidae) play an important role in tropical ecosystems by recycling organic matter. Dung beetle diversity was appraised during 1 yr in an Atlantic forest remnant and five anthropic adjacent vegetation systems. In total, 1,047 individuals were sampled representing 17 species. Scybalocanthon nigriceps was the most abundant (523 individuals: 50%) almost exclusively in forest areas. Ataenius aff. platensis (48 individuals: 4.6%), and Canthon aff. luctuosus (109 individuals: 10.4%) were observed in all areas, while Canthon virens chalybaeus (111 individuals: 10.6%) was limited to anthropic areas. Dung beetle diversity was affected by microclimatic conditions concerning precipitation and air temperature. The greatest abundance and richness was found in the rainy season with a striking reduction in the dry period. The pasture sustained the lowest species diversity and abundance. However, there are clear signs that tree structure and microclimatic conditions similar to forests, as found in agroforestry, can help preserve biodiversity by creating a propitious habitat for native species. This is especially important in the forest regions of the Neotropics where dung beetles exhibit their greatest diversity. As dung beetles greatly depend on mammal feces and carrion, it is suggested that future studies incorporate the occurrence of mammals in investigations of the effects of landscape structure on scarab diversity.

Acanthotomicus suncei, a new sweetgum tree pest in China (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae: Ipini).

A new species of bark beetle, Acanthotomicus suncei Cognato, that kills sweetgum (Liquidambar spp.) is described. The new species is distinguished from the other Acanthotomicus species by the placement of elytral declivital spines on interstriae 2, 4, 6, 8 and the connection of spines 1 and 2 by a tumescence. Notes on the bark beetle's potential damage to sweetgum are given.