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The beetle genus Pharaxonotha Reitter (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Pharaxonothinae) is found in the cones of cycad genera in the New World, including species of Ceratozamia Brongn., Dioon Lindl., Microcycas (Miq.) A.DC and Zamia L. Its presence and diversity are analyzed for the 17 species of Zamia known to occur in Panama. Nine species are recognized, and five new species are described: Pharaxonotha clarkorum Pakaluk, P. confusa Pakaluk, P. fortunensis Tang, Skelley and Taylor new species, P. holzmani Tang, Skelley and Taylor new species, P. kirschii Reitter, P. manicatae Tang, Skelley and Taylor new species, P. panamensis Tang, Skelley and Taylor new species, P. pseudoparasitica Tang, Skelley and Taylor new species, and P. taylori Skelley and Tang. A key to species of Pharaxonotha in Panama is presented.
ZooBank registration. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C054B0D4-FD00-4AE7-BBA7-C75A12368561
Previously described subgenera of Dacne Latreille, 1797 (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) show character states and combinations implying closer relationships with genera other than with Dacne, suggesting “Dacne” is not monophyletic. These characters are briefly discussed along with the genera sharing the characters. To improve the current classification, the subgenera of Dacne are raised to generic status as: Afrodacne Delkeskamp, 1954, Ameridacne Skelley, 2009, and Xenodacne Boyle, 1956. A checklist of all species included in these genera is presented, updating generic combinations as needed.
ZooBank registration. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C5C4BC4D-3403-46D3-BE64-E06F687D1562
The New World genus Mycotretus Lacordaire, 1842 (Erotylidae: Erotylinae: Tritomini) is the second most speciose genus within Erotylidae and is found mainly in the Neotropical region. Currently, the genus includes 231 available names, of which 204 are valid. Accurate species identification is hampered by the lack of taxonomic revisions, identification keys or an illustrated catalogue for Mycotretus. To correct this problem and to allow further studies, the objective in this paper is to provide an illustrated catalogue for Mycotretus and propose some taxonomic acts promoting taxonomic stability within the genus. The present catalogue is the result of more than six years of morphological studies and careful comparisons of specimens, including research in several scientific collections throughout America and Europe, searching for identified specimens and types of available names of Mycotretus. The historical literature was examined and all available names listed in the catalogue of Blackwelder (1945) are included here, along with updated information from the catalogue of Alvarenga (1994). Our main results are: (i) examination of types of 216 former available names within Mycotretus, including 74 types previously not examined or not located by Alvarenga (1994); (ii) lectotype designations for 143 available names of Mycotretus; (iii) proposal of 41 new synonyms and three new combinations; (iv) the number of valid species of Mycotretus is reduced from 204 to 174; (v) plates providing images (most of them types) of specimens representing most available names within Mycotretus. The present work is the first major step towards a nomenclatural stability that will allow further revisionary and phylogenetic studies on Mycotretus.
The beetle genus Pharaxonotha Reitter (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Pharaxonothinae) is found in the cones of cycad genera in the New World, including species of Dioon Lindl., Ceratozamia Brongn., Microcycas (Miq.) A.DC and Zamia L. In this paper nine new species found in Dioon are described by Skelley, Tang and Pérez-Farrera: Pharaxonotha bicolor, P. dimorpha, P. fawcettae, P. gigantea, P. novoai, P. occidentalis, P. sclerotiza, P. woodruffi, P. vovidesi. A key to described species of Pharaxonotha inhabiting Dioon is presented, along with an account of Pharaxonotha kirschii Reitter for comparison.
A new species of Termitodius Wasmann (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae: Rhyparini) is described from Colombia, Termitodius woodruffi Skelley, Clavijo-Bustos, and Keller, new species. This species is both extant and abundantly preserved in copal. The genus Termitodius is reviewed with a key and brief accounts to all species.
Three groups of beetles inhabit cones of cycads (Cycadales) in the northern hemisphere and are believed to be involved in their pollination. The primitive weevil subtribe Allocorynina (Coleoptera: Belidae) is restricted to the New World cycad genera Dioon Lindl. and Zamia L. One group of weevils (Curculionidae), found only in Cycas L., appears to be a relatively recent colonizer of northern hemisphere cycads. Members of the beetle subfamily Pharaxonothinae (Erotylidae) occur in all Asian and New World cycad genera. Phylogenetic trees of these beetles, based on DNA analysis and supported with morphological studies, are compared to patterns of continental drift and cycad phylogenies. Laurasian origins are suggested for these beetle groups with high latitude dispersal for at least one of these groups during periods of global warm climates.
Two species of the early-diverging lineages of Pharaxonotha Reitter (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Pharaxonothinae) are described: Pharaxonotha taylori Skelley and Tang, new species, and Pharaxonotha thomasi Skelley and Tang, new species. A new key to described species of Pharaxonotha, based on previously unused characters, is presented.
Antoinettia, new genus (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Erotylinae: Tritomini), is erected for three species: A. audbala (Skelley), new combination, A. huhnei Skelley, new species, and A. kovariki (Skelley), new combination. A genus complex involving Ischyrus Lacordaire, 1842, and Megischyrus Crotch, 1873, is defined and a preliminary key to neotropical genera of Tritomini with coarsely facetted eyes is presented.
Several taxonomic and nomenclatural issues are reviewed, clarified, and resolved for multiple genera of the Erotylinae (Coleoptera: Erotylidae). Generic-group names discussed: Brachymerus Dejean, 1836, Cypherotylus Crotch, 1873, Cytorea Laporte, 1840, Erotylus Fabricius, 1775, Eudaemonius Lewis, 1887, Eutriplax Lewis,1887, Gibbifer Voet, 1806, Neobarytopus Alvarenga, 1965, Neomorphoides Alvarenga, 1977, Ogcotriplax Heller,1920, Paratritoma Gorham, 1888, Platichna Thomson, 1863, Pseudochrysomela Voet, 1806, Pseudotriplax Heller,1920, Triplax Herbst, 1793, Tritomapara Alvarenga, 1970, Typocephalus Hope,1841, and Xestus Wollaston, 1864. Reviewing these issues resulted in a several nomenclatural actions. Eutriplax Lewis,1887,was found to be an unnecessary replacement name for Eudaemonius Lewis,1887.The genus name is reverted to Eudaemonius,
resulting in one new combination: Eudaemonius quinquepustulatus (Li and Ren, 2006).
The Neotropical Tritomapara Alvarenga,1970,was found to be a new objective synonym of Paratritoma Gorham,1888, which is a synonym of Triplax Herbst,1793,leading to the following eight new combinations:
Triplax atricaudata (Kuhnt,1910),Triplax brasiliensis (Guérin,1946),Triplax bruchi (Kuhnt,1910),Triplax caduca (Gorham,1888),Triplax dimidiata (Gorham,1888),Triplax melanoderes (Kuhnt,1910),Triplax triplacoides
(Crotch,1876), and Triplax vivida (Gorham,1888). Erotylus tibialis Duponchel, 1825, is recognized as the valid type species for Brachymerus Dejean 1836, which moves the name Brachymerus to a different genus-group taxon and renders Neomorphoides Alvarenga, 1977, a new synonym. This revalidates Neobarytopus Alvarenga, 1965, as originally proposed. These genus-group names are presently subgenera in Iphiclus Dejean, 1836, and the move creates 23 new combinations in Iphiclus(Brachymerus) Dejean, 1836: I. (B.) amazonus (Crotch, 1876), I. (B.) atriventris (Mader,1943), I. (B.) bicolor(Lacordaire,1842), I. (B.) clavicornis (Olivier,1792), I. (B.) columbiae (Crotch,1876), I. (B.) costaricensis (Mader,1943), I. (B.) disconigrum (Mader,1942), I. (B.) dorsonotatus (Lacordaire, 1842), I. (B.) fulviventris (Gorham,1888), I. (B.) humeropictus (Mader,1943), I. (B.) lateripunctatus (Crotch,1876), I. (B.) melanopus (Gorham,1888), I. (B.) neglectus (Guérin,1956), I. (B.) nigritarsis (Mader,1942), I. (B.) nigriventris (Crotch, 1876), I. (B.) nigropectus (Mader,1942), I. (B.) posticenigrum (Mader,1942), I. (B.) pyrrhocephalus (Erichson,1847), I. (B.) rubripennis (Lacordaire,1842), I. (B.) signaticollis (Kuhnt,1910), I. (B.) simplex (Lacordaire,1842), I. (B.) spilotus (Gorham,1888), I. (B.) tibialis (Duponchel,1825); and, 75 new combinations in Iphiclus (Neobarytopus) Alvarenga, 1965: I. (N.) adustus (Duponchel,1825), I. (N.) alboniger (Guérin,1956), I. (N.) amictus (Erichson,1847), I. (N.) andicola (Kirsch,1867), I. (N.) assequens (Mader,1942), I. (N.) bajulus (Lacordaire,1842), I. (N.) batesi (Gorham, 1889),I. (N.) bellulus (Lacordaire,1842), I. (N.) bicinctus (Olivier,1807), I. (N.) bistrifoliatus (Gorham,1889), I. (N.) bizonatus (Crotch,1876), I. (N.) bremei (Guérin-Méneville,1841), I. (N.) brongniarti (Lacordaire,1842), I. (N.) brunneostriolatus (Kuhnt, 1910), I. (N.) cerasinus (Lacordaire,1842), I. (N.) conformis (Lacordaire,1842), I. (N.)distinctus (Duponchel, 1825), I. (N.) divisus (Guérin,1956), I. (N.) dorsalis (Olivier,1792), I. (N.) eburneus (Crotch,1876), I. (N.) elegans (Mader,1942), I. (N.) epipleuralis (Crotch,1876), I. (N.) erichsoni (Lacordaire,1842), I. (N.) flavofasciatus (Duponchel,1825), I. (N.) flavosignatus (Duponchel,1825), I. (N.) fragmentatus (Gorham,1888), I.(N.) friedei (Mader,1938), I. (N.) geometra (Lacordaire,1842), I. (N.) hebriacus (Lacordaire,1842), I. (N.) hexastictus (Crotch,1876), I. (N.) incas (Gorham,1889), I. (N.) iris (Guérin,1956), I. (N.) jacinthoi (Alvarenga,1977), I.(N.) laceratus (Mader,1938), I. (N.) lugens (Lacordaire,1842), I. (N.) lunaris (Guérin,1956), I. (N.) luteozonatus (Crotch, 1876), I. (N.) miles (Mader,1942), I. (N.) mirus (Mader,1942), I. (N.) musicalis (Lacordaire,1842), I. (N.) neophyta (Lacordaire, 1842), I. (N.) nigripennis (Demay,1838), I. (N.) nigropictus (Lacordaire,1842), I. (N.) nigrofasciatus (Mader,1942), I. (N.) nitidulus (Oliver,1807), I. (N.) obsoletesignatus (Crotch, 1876), I. (N.) octoguttatus (Olivier,1807), I. (N.) octopustulatus (Guérin,1956), I. (N.) odyneroides (Crotch, 1876), I. (N.) ornatus (Kuhnt,1909), I. (N.) pantherinus (Kuhnt, 1909), I. (N.) pauper (Guérin,1956), I. (N.) peraffinis (Crotch,1876), I. (N.) perplexus (Mader,1942), I. (N.) peruvianus (Mader,1942), I. (N.) planipennis (Kuhnt,1909), I. (N.) puncticollis (Kirsch,1876), I. (N.) quadrifasciatus (Kirsch,1865), I. (N.) quinquefasciatus (Lacordaire,1842), I. (N.) ramosus (Olivier,1807), I. (N.) regularis (Erichson, 1848), I. (N.) rhomboidalis (Guérin,1956), I. (N.) rufipennis (Panzer,1798), I. (N.) salamandra (Erichson,1847), I. (N.) spectabilis (Lacordaire,1842), I. (N.) stramineus (Lacordaire,1842), I. (N.) subsanguineus (Crotch,1876), I. (N.) superbus (Mader,1942), I. (N.) tigrinatus (Guérin,1956), I. (N.) tricinctus (Duponchel,1825), I. (N.) trifasciatus (Olivier,1807), I. (N.) tripartitus (Lacordaire,1842), I. (N.) ucayalensis (Gorham,1889), I. (N.) venezuelae (Crotch, 1876), I. (N.) westwoodi (Guérin-Méneville,1841).
The works of Voet (1766–1778,1806) do not follow binominal nomenclature and are therefore unavailable by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, Article 11.4.Thus, Voet’s (1806) generic names “Pseudochrysomela” and “Gibbifer”, and the species names proposed in each, are unavailable. Removing them from nomenclatural considerations resulted in the following nomenclatural acts: the resurrection of Erotylus rufipennis Panzer,1798, now Iphiclus (Neobarytopus) rufipennis (Panzer) new combination; the proposal of a new name, Iphiclus (Brachymerus) fabricii Skelley for Erotylus rufipennis Fabricius, 1801, not Erotylus rufipennis Panzer, 1798; new combinations for the two species, Cypherotylus adrianae (Alvarenga, 1976) and Cypherotylus borgmeieri (Alvarenga, 1976); and revalidated status for the five species names, Erotylus variegatus Fabricius,
1781, Barytopus gronovii (Herbst, 1783), Prepopharus notatus (Olivier, 1792), Iphiclus (Iphiclus) sedecimguttatus (Olivier, 1792), and Cypherotylus duponcheli Arrow, 1937.
Glaresis franki Keller and Skelley new species and Glaresis thomasi Keller and Skelley new species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Glaresidae) are described and illustrated. They represent the first record of the family for the West Indies. Both species are placed into the phoenicis species group. A key to the two West Indies species is presented.
We honor the life and accomplishments of Michael C. Thomas with a short narrative of his professional life along with appendices listing his scientific artwork, bibliography and patronyms. This paper is the first of a Festschrift with contributed remembrances and separate papers honoring him with additional patronyms.
Dyslexia Skelley and Gasca-Álvarez, new genus (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Erotylinae: Erotylini), is described and illustrated. The genus is comprised of four new species, all described by Skelley and Gasca-Álvarez: D. belamyi, D. dathomirria, D. pulcricolor, and D. tomasi. The unique broad head structures of this genus are characterized and compared with other genera. Problems associated with the taxonomy of Erotylini are discussed.
An unusual eye malformation observed in Trichiotinus rufobrunneus (Casey) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Trichiini), is described and illustrated. The functionality of the ectopic compound eye is discussed. According to label data, larval association with oak rotten log habitats is reported.
New insights into the genus Stenotothorax Schmidt (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae: Aphodiini) allowed for an influx of new materials from many new localities, and the realization that the genus needs revision. In this work, newly discovered characters used to distinguish species are defined. Stenotothorax lanei (Saylor) is redescribed. Diagnosis and new distributional data are presented for S. lanei, S. mcpeaki Gordon and Skelley, S. washtucna (Robinson) and S. woodleyi Gordon. Seven new species are described from the northwestern United States: S. lahontanensis, S. niviviator, S.odontomonteus, S. schneppi, S. smilodon, S. winnemucca, and S. wintoni. All new species are illustrated and compared with presumed closest relatives.
A systematic redefinition of the species belonging to the genus Geomyphilus Gordon and Skelley, 2007 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of Mexico and neighboring countries is presented. The new species G. tuzincola of Mexico is described and figured. The new combination Coelotrachelus macgregori (Islas, 1955) is proposed.
Plesioclytus morrisi Wappes and Skelley new species (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) from the Ohoopee dune system in central Georgia is described with comments on the biology of the new species. The taxonomic placement of Plesioclytus Giesbert in the tribe Clytini is questioned as key characters are found to differ from the current characters used to define the tribe in the New World, resulting in its transfer to the newly erected Plesioclytini Wappes and Skelley new tribe, defined herein. Habitat photos for the new species and habitus photos for it and P. relictus Giesbert are provided.
Pocket gopher burrows were sampled from 22 counties within Arkansas to determine the associated faunal composition of three major families of Coleoptera (Histeridae, Leiodidae and Scarabaeidae) commonly associated with pocket gopher burrows. We collected eight species of Histeridae, four species of Leiodidae and eight species of Scarabaeidae from the burrows of Geomys breviceps Baird. Three of the Histeridae were new state records, Geomysaprinus goffi Ross, G. rugosifrons (Fall) and Margarinotus felipae (Lewis). All of the Leiodidae were new state records and one Scarabaeidae was a new state record, Dellacasiellus concavus (Say). The most commonly collected scarab beetles were Cryptoscatomaseter haldemani (Horn) and Geomyphilus insolitus (Brown). The most commonly collected hister beetle was Onthophilus kirni Ross. The Leiodidae were infrequently captured.
Henoticonus bouchardi Grouvelle transferred to Trogocryptoides Champion (Coleoptera: Salpingidae)
(2013)
During a revision of the genus Pharaxonotha Reitter, 1875 (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) the study of the type of Henoticonus bouchardi Grouvelle, 1919 (Coleoptera: Erotylidae), considered to belong in Pharaxonotha, was found to be misplaced. Henoticonus bouchardi is transferred to the genus Trogocryptoides Champion, 1924 (Coleoptera: Salpingidae: Prostominiinae), becoming Trogocryptoides bouchardi (Grouvelle), new combination. A lectotype is designated for H. bouchardi to stabilize its identity and nomenclature.
The new genus Neotrichaphodioides and the new species N. woytkowskii from Peru are described. Aphodius caracanus Balthasar, A. ecuadoriensis Petrovitz, A. forsterianus Balthasar, and A. volxemi Harold are redescribed and figured, and transferred into Neotrichaphodioides, all becoming new combinations. New synonymies of Aphodius martinsi Petrovitz with N. caracanus (Balthasar) and Aphodius squamifer Petrovitz with N. volxemi (Harold) are presented. The lectotype of A. volxemi is here designated.
The genus Haroldiataenius Chalumeau, 1981 (Aphodiinae: Eupariini) from southern United States, Mexico, and Central America is revised and nine species are recognized. The subgeneric name Sayloria Chalumeau, 1981 is synonymized with Haroldiataenius (sensu stricto) and Ataenius sabinoi Cartwright, 1974 is synonymized with A. lucanus Horn, 1871. Five species are transferred to Haroldiataenius from the genus Ataenius Harold creating the following new combinations: H. convexus (Robinson), H. griffini (Cartwright), H. lucanus (Horn), H. saramari (Cartwright), and H. semipilosus (Van Dyke). One new species,Haroldiataenius buvexus is described from Texas, USA. A key to species of Haroldiataenius is included and pertinent morphological details are illustrated.
The New World euparine scarab genera Parataenius Balthasar, 1961 and Pseudataenius Brown, 1927 are revised. Ataenius brunneus Schmidt is transferred to the genus Parataenius becoming Parataenius brunneus (Schmidt), new combination. The monospecific genus Ataenioides Petrovitz, 1973, is synonymized with Pseudataenius Brown, 1927, (new synonymy) and the type species, Ataenioides gracilitarsis Petrovitz, is given the new combination Pseudataenius gracilitarsis (Petrovitz). New species of Parataenius are described from southern South America: Parataenius selvae, P. estero, and P. martinezi. Keys for species of both genera are presented and pertinent morphological details are illustrated.
New South American taxa of Odontolochini Stebnicka and Howden (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae)
(2007)
Recently discovered Neotropical taxa belonging in the tribe Odontolochini Stebnicka and Howden (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) are described. New genera are: Amerilochus, type species Amerilochus cinereus, new species; and Stebnickiella, type species Stebnickiella zosterixys, new species. Three additional new species are: Saprolochus lobatus, Saprolochus tridentatus, and Saprositellus kenodontus. Updated keys are presented to the New World genera of Odontolochini as well as keys to species in the genera Saprolochus Stebnicka and Galante and Saprositellus Balthasar. New country records are presented for Saprositellus ariquemes Stebnicka.
This preliminary checklist of Aphodiini south of the United States is prepared to provide published data for a future web-based checklist of all New World Aphodiinae. All species names are used in combination with their currently accepted generic name, creating many new combinations. A few genus-species combinations are discussed. New synonymies based on recent studies of type specimens are made: Aphodius azteca Harold = Aphodius multimaculosus Hinton; Aphodius ornatus Schmidt = Aphodius magnopunctatus Hinton; Aphodius caracaensis Petrovitz = Aphodius brasilicola Balthasar; Aphodius guatemalensis Bates = Aphodius striatipennis Petrovitz; Aphodius kuntzeni Schmidt = Aphodius amplinotum Gordon and Howden = Aphodius michiliensis Deloya; Aphodius bimaculosus Schmidt = Aphodius xalapensis Galante et al.; Aphodius caracanus Balthasar = Aphodius martinsi Petrovitz; Aphodius volxemi Harold = Aphodius squamifer Petrovitz.
The genus name Drepanocanthoides Schmidt has recently been applied to Australian and North American taxa, based on generic concepts following separate designations of different type species. Drepanocanthoides, type species Aphodius walshii Horn, is a Nearctic genus that is not congeneric with the Australian members. The new name Ozodius, n. gen., is here proposed for the Australian taxa, with Aphodius neglectus Schmidt designated as the type species. All Australian members of Drepanocanthoides are transferred to Ozodius.
Three distinct tibial types are recognized within the Rhyparini (Scarabaeidae, Aphodiinae). Based on this, generic limits for the species of Termitodius Wasmann are reevaluated, with the Old World members being transferred to Termitodiellus Nakane. The resulting new combinations are: Termitodiellus besucheti (Paulian), Termitodiellus hammondi (Krikken and Huijbregts), Termitodiellus interruptus (Krikken and Huijbregts), Termitodiellus luzonensis (Howden), Termitodiellus monticola (Krikken and Huijbregts). New World members of Termitodius are split into two genera: Termitodius Wasmann and Aschnarhyparus Makhan. Aschnarhyparus soesilae Makhan is here relegated to a junior synonym of Termitodius peregrinus Hinton, new synonymy, with the resulting new combination being Aschnarhyparus peregrinus (Hinton). A full description of Aschnarhyparus is presented, and Termitodiellus and Termitodius are diagnosed.
This article outlines changes in procedures and production policies for the journal Insecta Mundi. Background data and discussions leading to these necessary changes are explained. Updated instructions for authors are presented. A full current version of author instructions will be posted on the latest Center for Systematic Entomology URL.
The genus Geopsammodius Gordon and Pittino is revised. Eight new species are described: G. atlantida (Honduras: Atlantida), G. fuscus (Martin Co. and Palm Beach Co., Florida), G. morrisi (eastern Polk Co., Florida), G. ohoopee (Tattnall Co., Georgia), G. rileyi (coastal Louisiana and Texas), G. subpedalis (northern coastal Gulf of Mexico), G. unsidensis (inland Texas), and G. withlacoochee (Citrus Co. and Hernando Co., Florida), bringing the number of described species to 11. A key and illustrations are provided to aid in identification of taxa.
Two new taxa of Aegialiini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) are described from South America: Argeremazus neuquen Stebnicka and Dellacasa, n.gen, n.sp, and Amerisaprus valdivia Stebnicka and Skelley, n.gen, n.sp. Both genera are presently monotypic. Discussion on the generic status of Caelius Lewis is presented. A key to genera and checklist of aegialiine taxa occurring in the New World are presented.
A new species of Dacne Latreille from Brazil, D. (Dacne) ducke, n. sp., and a new specimen of Dacne brodzinskyi Skelley (amber fossil) show characteristics presently unreported for the genus. Dacne ducke is the first member of the tribe Dacnini to be discovered in South America. A checklist of species and updates to an identification key for all known species are presented.
A new species of Lomanoxia Martínez is described from Costa Rica: L. canthonopsis Skelley and Howden. This represents the first member of the genus reported from Central America. The status of the tribe Lomanoxini Stebnicka is evaluated and is here synonymized under Eupariini LePeletier and Serville.
This paper reviews the tribe Melolonthini (Scarabaeidae, Melolonthinae) in the southeastern United States, primarily in the states of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and northern Florida. Four new species are described: Gronocarus inornatus, Hypothyce burnei, Polyphylla donaldsoni, and Polyphylla woodruffi. One new synonymy is made: Gronocarus multispinosus Howden is synonymized under Gronocarus autumnalis Schaeffer.
Description of the previously unknown female is made for Polyphylla brownae Young. New collection records are presented for many species. Comments on natural histories and a key to species (omitting only species of the genus Phyllophaga Harris) in this region are presented.
ThegenusBancousPic, originally described in the Heteromera (Rhysopaussidae) and later transferred to Cucujiformia (incertae sedis), was found to be congeneric with Rhamphidera Skelley (Erotylidae). Bancous is here placed in the family Erotylidae (Erotylinae, Tritomini) and Rhamphidera is moved into synonymy. This synonymy creates two new combinations: Bancous perplexus (Skelley) and Bancous eureka (Skelley). Bancous is redescribed and a lectotype is designated for Bancous irregularis Pic.
The cholevine beetles inhabiting burrows of Geomys and Thomomys pocket gophers (Rodentia: Geomyidae) are reviewed. Catops geomysi n. sp. and Ptomaphagus geomysi n. sp. are described. Both of these species and Ptomaphagus schwarzi Hatch appear to be regular and obligate inhabitants of Geomys burrows b~t are not host specific. Nemadus hornii Hatch, Sciodrepoides watsoni horn ian us (Blanchard), Catops s~mplex Say, Ptomaphagus cavernicola Schwarz, Ptomaphagus consobrinus (LeConte), Ptomaphagus fisus Horn, and Ptomaphagus texanus Horn were less frequently collected and are probably facultative inhabitants of Geomys burrows, as well as nests or dens of other small mammals. Ptomaphagus nevadicus Horn is an inhabitant of ~)Urrows of Thomomys pocket gophers in western North America. A key to the species of Ptomaphagus III the southeastern Gulf Coastal Plain, from non-cave habitats, is provided to aid in their identification.
This paper reports on the scarab beetles collected during a survey of nonparasitic arthopods living in burrows of the southeastern pocket gopher (Geomys pinetus Rafinesque, Geomyidae). Three new species are described: Aphodius bakeri, A. baileyi and A. gambrinus. A key to species of Aphodius occurring in these burrows is presented. Distributional data is provided for species of Aphodius and one species of Euphoria
occurring in this microhabitat. Aspects of life histories of burrow inhabiting insects are speculated upon.
New record for Tesarius Rakovic in South America (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae: Psammodiini)
(2000)
The genus Tesarius Rakovic (1981) is an interesting group of wingless, nearly eyeless (yet probably functionally blind), sand dune-dwelling scarabs. There are presently 5 species in the genus, T. sulcipennis (Lea 1904) from Tasmania and 4 species in western North America. One of these native North American species, T. caelatus (LeConte 1857) has been found in Britain (Johnson 1975). The genus is reviewed by Rakovic (1981, 1984), who provides a key to species.
Aphodius alabama, new species, collected in burrows of the southeastern pocket gopher Geomys pinetus Rafinesque, is described. Aphodius dyspistus Skelley & Woodruff, A. hubbelli S. & W., A. platypleurus S. & W., and A. tanytarsus S. & W., collected with A. alubarna, are all recorded from southeastern Alabama.
Dajoz (1988) recently described Dacne montana from Colorado. In an attempt to identify this species, I have compared the description with specimens of previously described Dacne, including paratypes of Boyle's species and specimens identified by Boyle (1956) in his revision. Dajoz's habitus illustration of Dacne montana is identical to paratypes of Dacne cyclochilus Boyle; the male genitalia match Boyle's drawing of those of D. cyclochilus; and the female genitalia match Boyle's illustration of those of Dacne californica (Horn).