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This dataset contains data from a field study conducted in 2020 described in the paper "A Comparison of different Malaise trap types" by Uhler et al. (https://doi.org/10.1111/icad.12604 We tested five common types of Malaise traps, three Townes style traps and two Bartak style traps, in terms of captured insect biomass, species richness, and richness of taxonomic and functional groups.The type of Malaise trap greatly affected estimates of insect biomass, species richness and species composition. In particular, trap shape, rather than size dictated both biomass and species richness.In addition, our results suggest that the trap color affects trap catch, with a white-roofed trap attracting more flower visiting taxa, increasing trap catch but also possibly introducing a bias by altering the species composition., The Readme file contains an explanation of all variables of the main dataset used in the analyses and their measurement units. For easy access to all analyses and script outputs, see the attached html file.

Quantifying the spatio-temporal distribution of arthropods in tropical rainforests represents a first step towards scrutinizing the global distribution of biodiversity on Earth. To date most studies have focused on narrow taxonomic groups or lack a design that allows partitioning of the components of diversity. Here, we consider an exceptionally large dataset (113,952 individuals representing 5,858 species), obtained from the San Lorenzo forest in Panama, where the phylogenetic breadth of arthropod taxa was surveyed using 14 protocols targeting the soil, litter, understory, lower and upper canopy habitats, replicated across seasons in 2003 and 2004. This dataset is used to explore the relative influence of horizontal, vertical and seasonal drivers of arthropod distribution in this forest. We considered arthropod abundance, observed and estimated species richness, additive decomposition of species richness, multiplicative partitioning of species diversity, variation in species composition, species turnover and guild structure as components of diversity. At the scale of our study (2km of distance, 40m in height and 400 days), the effects related to the vertical and seasonal dimensions were most important. Most adult arthropods were collected from the soil/litter or the upper canopy and species richness was highest in the canopy. We compared the distribution of arthropods and trees within our study system. Effects related to the seasonal dimension were stronger for arthropods than for trees. We conclude that: (1) models of beta diversity developed for tropical trees are unlikely to be applicable to tropical arthropods; (2) it is imperative that estimates of global biodiversity derived from mass collecting of arthropods in tropical rainforests embrace the strong vertical and seasonal partitioning observed here; and (3) given the high species turnover observed between seasons, global climate change may have severe consequences for rainforest arthropods.

Leptocheiridium gen. n. DIAGNOSIS: Member of Cheiridiidae, subfamily Pycnocheiridiinae. Tegument normally sclerotized, vestitural setae of carapace, tergites and pedipalps strongly broadened, leaf-like. Carapace subtriangular, with one pair of eyes, two distinct transverse furrows, the subbasal one flattened, metazone narrow. Most tergites divided, with unmodified lateral borders. Manducatory process rounded, with two marginal setae. Sternites IV to X divided, XI undivided; anal cone with 2 dorsal and 2 acute ventral setae and located between tergite XI and sternite XI; male genitalia of typical cheiridiid morphology (lateral sacs long, well developed, atrium of ejaculatory canal well developed, median genital sac short), female genitalia consisting of three major cribrate plates, the lateral ones more sclerotized than the larger median one. Pleural membrane striate, partly covered with granula. Chelicera with 5 setae on hand; galea short, distinct apical rami present only in female, subgaleal seta near galea base, rallum with three setae, the distal one with a few fine denticles on anterior margin. Pedipalps coarsely granular, hand nearly parallel-sided; teeth on both fingers mostly acute and contiguous; fixed finger with 8 trichobothria (all situated in basal half of finger), movable finger with 2 trichobothria (b and t); long venom duct present in both fingers. Coxae IV much wider than coxae I. Leg I: femur distinctly longer than patella and with articulation, tarsal segments fused, without visible suture. Leg IV: femur much shorter than patella, suture nearly vertical, tarsal segments fused, without visible suture, no tactile tarsal seta; undivided arolia shorter than smooth claws. TYPE SPECIES: Leptocheiridium pfeiferae sp. n. ETYMOLOGY: The genus name is a combination of Cheiridium with the Greek adjective ���leptos��� (thin, slender), referring to the slender pedipalps. AFFINITIES: Leptocheiridium gen. n. is distinguished from Pycnocheiridium by its slender pedipalps, the distinct transverse furrows on its carapace, the presence of 5 setae on its cheliceral hand, the female galea with 6 apical/subapical rami, and the three sub-equal setae of its rallum (in Pycnocheiridium the anterior seta is distinctly larger: Judson, 1992). REMARKS: As currently defined, the subfamily Cheiridiinae of the Cheiridiidae, is characterized by having a reduced number of trichobothria on fixed (at most 7) and movable (at most 2) chelal fingers, by the fused femur and patella of leg I and the at least partly fused femur+patella of leg IV; coxa of leg IV also in females unmodified, not enlarged; carapace with two distinct transverse furrows, with depressed metazone (except in Apocheiridium), and two eyes; cheliceral hand with 4 setae; first seta of rallum enlarged. The subfamily Pycnocheiridiinae differs from the Cheiridiinae by having femur and patella of leg I well separated and articulated, femur+patella of leg IV with distinct, nearly vertical suture, and eight trichobothria on the fixed chelal finger. Considering these differences, the Pycnocheiridiinae may even deserve familiar rank. The new genus Leptocheiridium gen. n. confirms the main subfamiliar characters, but differs by the following: number of setae on cheliceral hand (4 vs 5) and morphology of rallum (3 setae, the first one not enlarged), which are probably of generic, but not of subfamiliar importance., Published as part of Mahnert, Volker & Schmidl, J��rgen, 2011, First record of the subfamily Pycnocheiridiinae from South America, with the description of Leptocheiridium pfeiferae gen. n., sp. n. (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones: Cheiridiidae), pp. 659-666 in Revue suisse de Zoologie 118 (4) on pages 660-661, DOI: 10.5962/bhl.part.117821, http://zenodo.org/record/6118087, {"references":["JUDSON, M. L. I. 1992. African Chelonethi. Studies on the systematics, biogeography and natural history of African pseudoscorpions (Arachnida). Ph. D. thesis, University of Leeds, v + 183 pp., Figs 2. 1 - 6. 5."]}