Insecta Mundi
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492
491
Four new species of the genus Polyphylla Harris (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) from the southwestern United States and Baja California, Mexico, are described and illustrated: Polyphylla anivallis, P. koso, P. morroensis, and P. socorriana. Two nomenclatural changes are proposed: Polyphylla ratcliffei Young is placed into synonymy with P. avittata Hardy and Andrews, new synonymy; P. uteana Tanner is removed from synonymy and reinstated as a valid species, reinstated status. The females of P. monahansensis Hardy and Andrews and P. stellata Young are described and illustrated. New distributional records and ecological associations are amended for P. avittata Hardy and Andrews, P. cavifrons LeConte, P. concurrens Casey, P. crinita LeConte, P. diffracta Casey, P. mescalerensis Young, P. petitii (Guérin-Méneville), and P. rugosipennis Casey. A checklist of the “Western Clade” species of Polyphylla, north of Mexico, is included.
490
Recent shifts in US policies towards Cuba suggest a relaxation or lifting of the embargo may occur in the near future. With the prospects of open travel and trade with Cuba come concerns over the introduction of agricultural pests. In an effort to assess these concerns the distribution-based introduction risk of pests listed in the 2015 Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey’s (CAPS) list of priority pests of economic and environmental importance is reviewed. Of the 59 pests on the CAPS priority pest list, 20 have been recorded in the literature as being present in the Caribbean Basin, South America and Central America. For these 20 New World pests a commodity and distribution-based risk rating was assigned to describe their potential for introduction through the Cuba-Florida pest pathway. The highest rating was given to the six listed pests currently reported as being present in Cuba, and potential for introduction and subsequent impact of these six pests on Florida agriculture is discussed. In addition to the pests found on the 2015 CAPS priority pest list, information regarding pests of concern in the family Tephritidae and the Old World bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), is also included, as is a description of the Cuban plant health and regulatory structure.
The significance of plant-pest introductions between Cuba and Florida is discussed, with an emphasis on proactive engagement in research and collaboration to address these issues.
489
Chionaspis acer (Takagi and Kawai) and Chionaspis wistariae Cooley, occurring respectively on Acer and Wisteria plants, are newly reported in the Korean fauna of armored scales (Hemiptera: Diaspididae). The characters of these species are briefl y redescribed with illustrative photographs and information on distribution and hosts. A dichotomous key to species of Chionaspis Signoret in Korea is provided for correct species identifi cation.
488
Two Neoibidionini from Bolivia are described as new: Neocompsa schneppi sp. nov. and Tropidion nancyae sp. nov. The new species are compared to closely related species and previous keys by Martins and Galileo (2007, 2009) are modifi ed to include them. Illustrations of dorsal, ventral and lateral habitus, as well as head structures are included for both species. Comments are also included on color and pattern variation of each species.
487
New records of Myrmeleontidae from Paraguay are presented: Dimares elegans (Perty, 1833), Glenurus croesus Banks, 1922, Glenurus penningtoni (Navás, 1918a) and Vella fallax (Rambur, 1842). The total number of species now recorded from the country is fourteen among 11 genera. Specimens of Dimares elegans from east (Cerrado) and west (Chaco) of the Paraguay River are phenotypically distinct; those west of the Paraguay River are assigned to the form “lepida” Navás, 1912. More research is required to understand the taxonomic limits in this genus.
486
Cyrea Gordon and Canepari (121 species) and Tiphysa Mulsant (2 species) are discussed, species are described, illustrations are provided, and a key to all recognized species is included. New synonyms recognized are:
Hyperaspis arrowi var. darwini Brèthes = Cyrea arrowi (Brèthes); Hyperaspis trivittata Weise, Hyperaspis mundula Weise = Cyrea emiliae (Mulsant); Cleothera scapulata Mulsant, Cleothera mercabilis Mulsant, Hyperaspis iheringi Weise = Cyrea flavoguttata (Mulsant); Cleothera gracilis Mulsant = Cyrea hexastigma (Mulsant); Cleothera triacantha Mulsant = Cyrea novemsignata (Herbst); Cleothera distinguenda Mulsant = Cyrea ormanceayi (Mulsant); Cleothera sexnotata Brèthes = Cyrea quinquenotata (Mulsant); Cleothera schaufussi Vogel and Hyperaspis adelaida Gorham = Cyrea tessulata (Mulsant). A total of 76 new species of Cyrea are described: Cyrea agnes, C. allison, C.alma, C. annette, C. arlene, C. audrey, C. beatrice, C. bernice, C. bessie, C. brittany, C. carla, C. charlene, C. claudia, C. colleen, C. constance, C. courtney, C. dana, C. dolores, C. dora, C. eileen, C. ella, elsie, erica, georgia, gertrude, gina, glenda, heidi, holly, ida, jackie, jeanne, jeannette, jessie, jo, C. joy, C. june, C. katie, C. kristen, C. laurie, C. lillie, C. lucille, C. lucy, C. lydia, C. marcia, C. marian, C. marion, C. marlene, C. mattie, C. maureen, C. maxine, C. melanie, C. melinda, C. minnie, C. natalia, C. nellie, C. pearl, C. pseudospinalis, C. renee, C. roberta, C. rosemary, C. samantha, C. stacy, C. stella, C. sue, C. tamara, C. tanya, C. tara, C. terry, C. vanessa, C. vera, C. vicki, C. viola, C. vivian, C. willie, C. wilma, C. yolanda, C.
yvonne. Lectotypes here designated for C. collaris, C. compta, C. distinguenda, C. exclamationis, C. fasciata, C. ferruginiceps, C. flavoguttata, C. iheringi, C. languida, C. maculosa, C. melaneura, C. mundula, C. noticollis, C. novemsignata, C. ormanceayi, C. ornaticolis, C. quinquenotata, C. renifera, C. schaufussi, C. sexguttata, C. spinalis, C. tessulata, C. trepida, C. triacantha
485
The Bermuda grass scale Odonaspis ruthae Kotinsky, 1915 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Diaspididae) is reported for the first time in Colombia. The scale insect was collected in two localities, in northwestern and southwestern Colombia. This is the first record of the tribe Odonaspidini in Colombia. Aspects of the distribution and biology of the species are discussed. A key to separate the species of Odonaspis recorded in the Neotropical region is provided.
0484
0483
0482
0481
0480
Crypticerya brasiliensis (Hempel) and Crypticerya genistae (Hempel) (Hemiptera: Monophlebidae:
Iceryini) are herein reported for the fi rst time in Colombia. The above two species and Crypticerya multicicatrices Kondo and Unruh and Crypticerya zeteki (Cockerell) are briefl y diagnosed based on the adult females. The presence of C. zeteki in Colombia is confi rmed and a key to the adult females of species of the tribe Iceryini reported in Colombia is provided.
0479
0478
Cedar Point Biological Station (CPBS) is located in the mixed grass prairie of the central Great Plains, at the transition between the subregions known as the “tall grass” and “short grass” prairies. Adding to the habitat diversity, there are wetlands and riparian habitats associated with the North Platte River and the edge of the Sandhills region of north central Nebraska. This concurrence of habitats supports a diverse small mammal community. The purpose of this paper is to assemble all published information on ectoparasites associated with small mammals (Insectivora, Rodentia) of southwestern Nebraska, and to report the results of an intensive survey carried out by students of the Parasitology fi eld course during two summers at CPBS. In 2012 and 2013, 27 species of mammal-associated arthropods were collected, including fi ve species of sucking lice (Anoplura), a chewing louse (Ischnocera), six species of fl eas (Siphonaptera), thirteen species of mesostigmatic mites (Laelapidae, Macronyssidae, Macrochelidae), and two species of metastigmatic ticks (Ixodidae). These specimens were brushed from the pelage of 11 species of small mammals that were captured in a variety of habitats around CPBS. The arthropod
list includes 17 new records for the State of Nebraska. This collection is housed in the Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology (HWML), University of Nebraska State Museum, at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and serves as a taxonomic base for our continued efforts to establish a long-term catalog of parasites associated with small mammals in southwestern Nebraska.
0477
Two new species of the mexicanus group of Vaejovis C.L. Koch are described from the Madrean pine-oak forests of the Sierra Madre Occidental in the state of Durango, Mexico. These species, Vaejovis sierrae sp. nov. and Vaejovis mcwesti sp. nov., are distinguished from each other and the only other species of the mexicanus group known from this mountain range, Vaejovis montanus Graham and Bryson, by morphometrics, carinal development of the pedipalps, granulation of the metasoma, and body size. A key to the species of the mexicanus group from
the Sierra Madre Occidental is provided.
0476
0475
0474
Descriptions and illustrations of the fi fth instar and prepupal larval stages of Stethon pectorosus LeConte, 1866 (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae: Eucneminae: Mesogenini) are provided. These are the fi rst larval descriptions for the genus Stethon LeConte within the subfamily Eucneminae in the Nearctic region. Biological information is provided and comparison with larval morphology of other Eucnemidae is briefl y discussed.
0473
Nuevo género y especie de Rutelini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae) de los Andes peruanos
(2016)
Peruquime nov. gen., is established for P. arequipensis nov. sp., a peculiar Scarabaeidae species discovered at high altitude in the Andes Mountains of southern Peru. The new genus and species is externally similar to some representatives of the subfamily Melolonthinae; however, important morphological characters place it within Rutelinae. Diagnostic characters, observations on the habitat, natural history and distribution of the new species are given. A distribution map, adult photographs and illustrations of some diagnostic features are included.
0472
Fourteen new species of faronine pselaphines in the genus Sonoma Casey are described: S. agitator (California); S. cardiac (Oregon); S. carltoni (Oregon); S. cataloochee (North Carolina); S. caterinoi (California); S. chandleri (California); S. cobra (California); S. colberti (California); S. maryae (Oregon); S. quellazaire (Oregon); S. rossellinae (California); S. stewarti (California); S. twaini (California); and S. virgo (California, Oregon). Thirteen are from western North America and one from the eastern U.S. These species bring the total diversity of the genus to 57 species—40 from western North America and 17 from the eastern U.S. A key to, and updated distributions for, all western species are provided.
0471
Notes on some species of Myzomorphus Sallé, 1850 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Prioninae, Anacolini)
(2016)
Notes on the type of Myzomorphus quadripunctatus (Gray, 1831) are provided, and a lectotype is designated for the species. The holotype male of M. poultoni Lameere, 1912, along with a second male, are fi gured for the fi rst time, and compared with M. gounellei Lameere, 1912. Notes on Myzomorphus amabilis (Tippmann, 1960) and a key to known males of Myzomorphus are also provided.
0470
A new Iranian, probably pholeophilous species of the scarabaeine genus Onthophagus Latreille, 1802, O. roessneri n. sp., is described, illustrated, and its placement in the semicornis group within the subgenus Palaeonthophagus Zunino, 1979 is discussed. A key to the species of the group is presented.
0469
0468
Pyroghatsiana, a new genus of pyrochroine Pyrochroidae is described from the Southern Ghats of the Indian continental southern tip. The only known specimen is a female, Pyroghatsiana madurensis (Pic), new combination, originally placed in Dendroides Latreille, and subsequently transferred to Pseudodendroides Blair. Several striking differences including the dorsal interocular width between the compound eyes, shape and length of the third antennal segment, and shape of the pronotum preclude placement of Pyroghatsiana in either Dendroides, Pseudodendroides, or any other existing pyrochroine genus.
0467
We provide the current holdings of Meropeidae in the Florida State Collection of Arthropods (FSCA). To date, FSCA holds a well-curated collection of extant meropeids representing 17 U.S. states and Western Australia (n = 316 Merope tuber Newman, fi ve Austromerope poultoni Killington). Merope tuber records from Vermont, Texas, and South Carolina are published here for the fi rst time. A total of 298 pinned M. tuber and four pinned
A. poultoni; six M. tuber specimens preserved in 95% ethanol; and 12 M. tuber and one A. poultoni sputter-coated with gold-palladium for SEM are available for researchers interested in studying this unique family of insects.
0466
Carulaspis juniperi (Bouché) is newly documented as occurring in the Korean fauna of armored scales (Hemiptera: Diaspididae). The characters of this genus and species are redescribed based on specimens collected in Korea. In addition, four species of aphelinids (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) associated with C. juniperi were collected in Korea during the survey. Of these, Aphytis japonicus DeBach and Azim and Encarsia explorata (Silvestri) are recorded for the fi rst time from C. juniperi.
0465
Scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) of avocado, Persea americana Mill. (Lauraceae) were collected in the State of Valle del Cauca, Colombia. The study was conducted for one year, during October 2008–October 2009.
As a result of this study, 34 scale insect species in seven families (Coccidae, Diaspididae, Kerriidae, Margarodidae,
Monophlebidae, Pseudococcidae and Putoidae) were collected. Together with previous records, the number of scale insects collected on avocado in Colombia increased to 44 species and to 137 species worldwide. Species commonly collected on avocado in Colombia include Hemiberlesia cyanophylli (Signoret), Pseudoparlatoria parlatorioides (Comstock) (Diaspididae), Ceroplastes rubens Maskell, Coccus hesperidum L., Protopulvinaria pyriformis (Cockerell), Pulvinaria psidii Maskell, Saissetia neglecta De Lotto (Coccidae) and Ferrisia williamsi Kaydan and Gullan (Pseudococcidae). Twenty-two scale insect species are new records on avocado for Colombia of which nine species are new records worldwide, namely, Lindingaspis rossi (Maskell), Pseudischnaspis bowreyi (Cockerell) (Diaspididae), Pulvinaria psidii Maskell, Saissetia neglecta De Lotto (Coccidae), Ferrisia kondoi Kaydan and Gullan, Pseudococcus jackbeardsleyi Gimpel and Miller, Ps. landoi (Balachowsky) (Pseudococcidae), Eurhizococcus colombianus Jakubski (Margarodidae) and Austrotachardiella colombiana Kondo and Gullan (Kerriidae).
0464
0463
The name Melolontha hypocrita Mannerheim, 1829 has been long unused, even though it is the type species of Hyporhiza Dejean, 1833. I examined the only known specimen from the type series and here designate it as the lectotype. Examination of this lectotype reveals that this species is best placed in the genus Rhinaspis Perty, 1830. Consequently, the genus Hyporhiza Dejean, 1833 is confi rmed as a junior synonym of Rhinaspis. Further, the replacement name Rhinaspis fuhrmanni is proposed for Rhinaspis hypocrita (Blanchard, 1850), a new secondary homonym of Rhinaspis hypocrita (Mannerheim, 1829). A homonymy problem was also discovered and corrected for the genus Plectris LePeletier and Serville, 1828. The replacement name Plectris schoolmeestersi is proposed for Plectris paraguayensis Moser, 1924, which is a secondary junior homonym of Plectris paraguayensis (Moser, 1921).
0462
0461
Epimelitta postimelina Giesbert, 1996 and Odontocera apicula Bates, 1885 are transferred to the new genus Odontomelitta. Epimelitta postimelina, with closed procoxal cavities, cannot remain in Epimelittta Bates, 1870, a genus characterized by open procoxal cavities. The short elytra and tegmen (with caliper-shaped lateral lobes) of the aedeagus of both species excludes them from the genus Odontocera Audinet-Serville, 1833, with long elytra and tegmen (with strap-shaped lateral lobes). Both species are illustrated, and host plant and host flower records provided for O. apicula.
0460
The island arc of the Lesser Antilles lies at the eastern margin of the Caribbean Sea in the Western Hemisphere, and stretches from the eastern end of the islands of the Greater Antilles (at the Virgin Islands), south to a position near the continental islands of Trinidad and Tobago at the north eastern corner of South America. The islands are a part of the West Indian Islands biodiversity “hotspot” and have been available for terrestrial colonization for about the past 15 million years. This is a status report on present knowledge of the beetle faunas of these islands, which is composed of 90 families, 1210 genera, and 2612 recognized species. Many additional species are not yet identified, or are unnamed, or remain to be discovered. Reported for the first time from the Lesser Antilles are four families, 49 genera, 105 species, and 1253 new island records. The largest families are Curculionidae (588 species), Staphylinidae (389 species), Chrysomelidae (181 species), Tenebrionidae (142 species), Cerambycidae (138 species), Scarabaeidae (127 species), and Carabidae (126 species). There are differing patterns of species distributions: 154 species are probably introduced by human activities; 985 are endemic species (limited to a single island); 465 are species endemic to more than one island of the Lesser Antilles; 212 are species limited to just islands of the West Indies; and 800 are native (naturally occurring) species which also have part of their distributional range in North, Central, or South America. Most of the widely distributed beetle fauna has probably come from South America by over-water dispersal. There is no compelling evidence for a vicariance origin of any part of the beetle fauna. Earlier colonists have had more time to form endemic genera (18) and endemic species. The more widely distributed species probably represent distributions achieved in and since the Pleistocene.
0459
The primary types of Onciderini Thomson, 1860 of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (MNHN), Paris, are catalogued and illustrated. Data on the original combination, current name, gender, and type locality are verifi ed and presented. There are 139 primary types of Onciderini including 38 in Oncideres Lacordaire, 1830; 17 in Hypsioma Audinet-Serville, 1835; 10 in Hesycha Fairmaire and Germain, 1859; nine in Hypselomus Perty, 1832; and eight each in Eudesmus Audinet-Serville, 1835 and Trestonia Buquet, 1859. Of the 139 primary types, 71 were described by J. Thomson, 34 by H. W. Bates, 13 by the authors of this work, and 11 by J. B. L. Buquet. One neotype and 57 lectotypes are designated. Notes on additional Onciderini types once believed to be deposited at the MNHN are presented. A brief history of the Coleoptera collection at the MNHN is also presented.
0458
0457
In recent years, populations of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae), have increased in rural citrus orchards and urban backyard gardens. In order to fi nd biological control options for D. citri, a search for natural enemies was conducted in the department of Valle del Cauca, Colombia. The collections were carried out in citrus orchards in rural areas and house gardens and street trees in urban areas.
Natural enemies were collected from D. citri found on Citrus spp. and Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack (Rutaceae). A total of 16 species of natural enemies of D. citri distributed in six families in fi ve orders are reported from Colombia.
Herein we provide an updated list of 95 species of arthropod (arachnids and insects) natural enemies of D. citri distributed in nine orders and 23 families recorded worldwide.
0456
0455
A new scarab species of the genus Lycomedes Brème, 1844 is described, totaling fi ve species of the genus reported for Colombia. Lycomedes salazari was collected in an oak forest at the high Andean region of Santurbán in the municipality of California, Santander Department, Colombia. Besides inhabiting the highest altitude known for the genus, L. salazari has affi nities with L. buckleyi Waterhouse, 1880, but differs on the cephalic, thoracic and leg morphologies. Biological notes and an updated key for the adults of the genus are included.
0454
Two new species of Corimbion Martins, 1970 are described from Bolivia: Corimbion kuckartzi and Corimbion ledezmae. A previous key to the South American species of Corimbion (Martins 2009) is herein modified to include the new species. Dorsal, ventral and lateral habitus illustrations, as well as variation in color and dorsal pattern for C. kuckartzi, are also presented.
0453
New species of anthophilous Cerambycinae (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) are described from Bolivia:
Molorchini, Merionoedopsis zamalloae sp. nov.; Heteropsini, Chrysoprasis azurearegina sp. nov., and C. maryhowardae sp. nov.; Rhopalophorini, Dihammaphora densiserrata sp. nov., D. dilmanappae sp. nov., D. espinotibia sp. nov., D. fosterorum sp. nov., D. paraperforata sp. nov., D. pilcomayoensis sp. nov., and Rhopalophora santacruzensis sp. nov. All species are illustrated and host flower records are provided.
0452
Klugiatragus gen. nov. is described for Epimelitta laticornis (Klug, 1825) because this species has closed procoxal cavities, a crucial diagnostic incompatible with Epimelitta Bates, 1870, which has open procoxal cavities. Both sexes of this species are illustrated.
0451
Information about the range of distribution of Centris (Centris) testacea Lepeletier has not been historically accurate. Range of distribution and identifi cation of the species is clarifi ed. Images of both sexes as well as male terminalia are presented. Centris testacea is a good species, with no synonym names. According to the available information, C. testacea should be considered endemic to the Greater Antillean island of Hispaniola.
0450
The nine Nearctic species of Laemophloeus Dejean (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae) are reviewed, keyed, and illustrated. One species, L. apache Thomas, n. sp., is described as new. Two previously described species are synonymized: L. californicus Casey (= L. biguttatus (Say), n. syn.) and L. woodruffi Thomas (= L. fervidus Casey, n. syn.). A neotype is designated for L. biguttatus (Say), and lectotypes are designated for L. terminalis Casey and L. fervidus Casey. A checklist of the described world species is provided.
0449
This paper updates the knowledge about the occurrence of armored scale insects on tropical fruit trees in Argentina, and Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli (Cooley) is recorded for the fi rst time from Argentina and South America. Herein we present three new associations for the world: Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell) / Musa paradisiaca L.; Hemiberlesia cyanophylli (Signoret) / M. paradisiaca, and Acutaspis paulista (Hempel) / Persea americana Miller, and 10 new associations of armored scale / tropical fruit for Argentina are presented. Acutaspis paulista, Hemiberlesia palmae (Cockerell), Mycetaspis personata (Comstock) and P. cockerelli are cited for the first time on tropical fruits in this country.
0448
A collaborative survey of the scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) found on dracaena and fi cus plants in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam conducted in 2015 identifi ed 49 species of scale insects belonging to 36 genera in six families (25 species on dracaena, 42 species on fi cus). Of the species of scale insects that have been reported on dracaena and fi cus plants in southeastern Asia in the ScaleNet database (Ben-Dov et al. 2015), 32% and 17% were species collected in this survey, respectively. Twenty-three species (47%) of scale insects have been intercepted at Korean ports of entry on imported dracaena and fi cus plants from southeastern Asia from 1996 to 2014 (PIS 2015). Additionally, this list of species collected on these plants from exporting countries could be utilized as a basis for possible preventive measures in quarantine and inspection of traded products.
0447
Ichneumonidae are incredibly diverse, yet there have been few Guatemalan ichneumonid studies. We studied the phenology of 215 specimens of Zagryphus zulaya Gauld (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Tryphoninae), most captured in a light trap and two Malaise traps in a montane (1850m) forest from 2002 to 2014. One of the Malaise traps caught over 95% of the specimens. The results suggest that Z. zulaya is most abundant in May, June, July, and August, the rainy season. Zagryphus vegai Gauld is newly recorded from Guatemala; it was previously known only from Costa Rica. It was found at an altitude of 1850m, though its previous known range was 700m to 1500m.
0446
A new protocol to prepare material of Coccoidea (Insecta: Hemiptera) for observation with scanning electron microscopy is presented. This technique consists of cleaning samples (stored in 96% alcohol) with acetone and xylene, taking them directly to the hydration step, and subsequently dehydrating them in alcohol. Fixation in glutaraldehyde and post-fi xation in osmium tetroxide are omitted. The cleaning of the samples and the correct critical point dryer are very important.
0445
Seven species of Drapetes Megerle (Coleoptera: Elateridae) are recognized from northern North America. Drapetes chiricahua new species is described from southeastern Arizona and north-central New Mexico. Drapetes parallelus Van Dyke is a senior homonym of Drapetes paralellus Cobos by variant spelling, and a new synonym of Drapetes cylindricus Fall. Drapetes paralellus Cobos is replaced with Drapetes cobosi new name. Drapetes clarki Bonvouloir is not a North American species and is given a redesignated type locality in Brazil. Drapetes plagiatus (Boheman) is not a California species and is given a redesignated type locality in Panama. New state records are reported for Drapetes exstriatus (Say) from Arkansas, Colorado, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. A key to the species of the region is provided and each species is illustrated.
0444
Pandirodesmus rutherfordi, n. sp., represented by 18 individuals including eight adult males, occurs in secondary forests near Charlotteville and Speyside, Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago. Along with the type and second species, P. disparipes Silvestri, from Guyana and known only from females, the segmental legs of P. rutherfordi alternate between long (anterior pairs) and short (posterior ones), spiracular openings are on straw-like tubules, and ozopores are located on paramedian metatergal spines. These features appear to be adaptations for biotopes of loose sand, detritus, or frass, and 17 specimens, including the six juveniles, exhibit coatings of “sand grains” that are loosely cemented together and to the smooth, translucent, grayish-white exoskeleton. The tubules and spines elevate the spiracles and ozopores above the coating, thereby ensuring that they remain open and functional.
The coating, which provides camoufl age and lends strength and rigidity to the poorly sclerotized exoskeleton, is a subuniform “pavement” that covers the entire animal except the labrum/clypeus, tarsal and antennal apices, prozonae, paraprocts, and the gonopods in males. Ramose/dendritic setae, particularly on narrowly rounded podo-/antennomeres, trap “sand grains,” and the ozopore secretions apparently constitute the “glue” that cements the coating, as evidenced circumstantially by layers of “sand” between the spines on the anterior metaterga, where they are physically closest. The alternating segmental leg lengths, in part due to differing ventrolateral and ventromedial origins, appear to be an adaptation for lateral/sideways motion in which the long (anterior) legs extend laterally and pull the body to the level of the short (posterior) ones, which continue the motion while the anterior legs extend to begin the next stroke. The opposing legs perform the complementary pushing motion a fraction after the long legs initiate the pulling stroke and hence are slightly and purposefully out of sync. An adult male paratype lacks the coating, probably because it had just molted and lacked time to amass it; the juvenile female paratype of P. disparipes also is “naked,” as was, according to Silvestri, the now lost adult female holotype. Until fresh material is collected, coatings cannot be confi rmed for P. disparipes even though it shares the anatomical modifi cations that seem adaptions for such. The minute, triramous gonotelopodites of P. rutherfordi are unlike any known for a chelodesmid, so the current generic placement, in a monotypic tribe in the nominate chelodesmid subfamily, is retained. With species in both South America and the southern Antilles, Pandirodesmus/ini had to exist on both the “proto-Antillean” terrane and the adjoining part of Pangaean Gondwana before the former rifted in the Cretaceous/Paleocene, ~66 million years ago, and P. rutherfordi is a remnant of the former population that became isolated on present-day Tobago when the terrane fragmented. Affi nity between Guyanan and southern Antillean platyrhacid millipeds (Polydesmida: Leptodesmidea) suggest that Pandirodesmus/ini may occur sporadically as far north in the island chain as St. Lucia.
0443
New host and geographic records are given from Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica for Megaplatypus exaratus (Blandford), previously reported only from three localities in Guatemala. Like most Platypodinae it is polyphagous and breeding hosts are reported from fi ve genera in four unrelated families. A redescription and updated diagnosis is included.