Search

The three genera and four species of Larainae (Elmidae) previously described from Australia are reviewed, and one new genus and seven new species are described: Australara glaisterigen. et sp. nov., Ovolara lawrenceisp. nov., Ovolara monteithisp. nov., Stetholus carinatussp. nov., Stetholus longipennissp. nov., Stetholus metatibialissp. nov., and Stetholus woronorasp. nov. A lectotype is designated for Hydora laticeps (Carter & Zeck), and the first new collection records of the species are reported since its description in 1932. The occurrence in Australia of Potamophilinus papuanus Satô, described from Papua New Guinea, is reported. A key to the species, photographic images of the external morphology and male genitalia, distribution maps, and habitat and behavioral information, when known, are provided for all twelve species of Australian Larainae.

A third species of Amazonopsis Barr, 2018, Amazonopsis cerdani Barr and Cerdan, new species (Coleoptera: Elmidae), is herein described from French Guiana. One female paratype of Amazonopsis theranyi Barr from Peru is tentatively reassigned to A. cerdani as a non-paratype. Photographic images of the male and female habitus, and the male genitalia, are provided, as is a distribution map and a key to the species. Amazonopsis cerdani differs from A. theranyi from Peru and Amazonopsis camachoi Barr from Venezuela by the presence of prominent spines on protarsomeres 1–4 of males, among other characters. The habitat of this species is small, shallow, lowland streams with sandy-silty substrates and low flow. Specimens were collected from unconsolidated leaf litter in depositional areas, and from stick and leaf packs lodged in the current. Genetic analysis conducted on three specimens from two localities, a male and two females, showed that they are conspecific.

Four new species of MacrelmisMotschulsky, 1860 are described from the southwestern United States and northern Mexico: Macrelmis harleyi Barr, new species from Arizona, Macrelmis mexicana Barr, new species from Mexico, Macrelmis shepardi Barr, new species from Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico, and Macrelmis texangusta Barr, new species from Texas and Mexico. Photographic images illustrate the external morphology and male genitalia of the new species, as well as that of Macrelmis shoemakei (Brown, 1971), Macrelmis moesta (Horn, 1870), and Macrelmis texana (Schaeffer, 1911), which occur in the same geographic region. The genitalia of M. moesta and M. texana are described and illustrated for the first time. A key to the 14 known species of Macrelmis occurring in the southwestern United States and Mexico is provided, accompanied by line illustrations of the genitalia of the remaining seven Mexican species not included in the species treatments. Also included are geographic distribution maps for the seven species that are discussed in this article.

The history and original concept of Parygrus Erichson, 1847, is reviewed, the genus is redescribed, and the status of the type species, P. erichsoni Waterhouse, 1876, is clarified. The four original species are reviewed, with photographs provided for the type specimens of P. angustatus Grouvelle, 1896, P. elateroides Grouvelle, 1896, and P. erichsoni, and a non-type of P. parallelus (Grouvelle, 1890). The holotype of P. parallelus is apparently missing. The female holotype of P. erichsoni is redescribed. An associated male P. erichsoni specimen is compared with the holotype and the male genitalia are described and illustrated. General descriptions and provisional diagnoses are given for P. angustatus, P. elateroides and P. parallelus. Five new species (P. guarani new species, P. lengua new species, P. maya new species, P. quechua new species, P. zamuco new species) are proposed, illustrated, and their geographic distributions mapped. For the first time, the male genitalia of Parygrus species are described and illustrated. A provisional key to the species and an updated key to the Neotropical genera of Dryopidae are provided.

Platyparnus gen. n. is erected to include three species of Helichus Erichson, 1847, from the Guianas of northern South America. Proposed taxonomic reassignments are Platyparnus bollowi (Hinton, 193...

Amazonopsisgen. n.is described to includeA.theranyisp. n.from Peru, Venezuela and French Guiana, andA.camachoisp. n.from Venezuela. The descriptions are accompanied by figures illustrating the male and female habitus ofA.theranyi, the male habitus ofA.camachoi, and male genitalia of both species.Amazonopsistheranyiexhibits pronounced secondary sexual dimorphism which likewise may be a characteristic of the genus.Amazonopsismales have modified protarsal and mesotarsal claws, a pair of small spines on the anterior prosternum, and a pair of ventrally directed processes on the posterior metaventrite. Females ofA.theranyidisplay a pair of unique, oval perforations in the cuticle of the pronotum and have unmodified claws; females ofA.camachoiare unknown. Descriptions are furnished of the stream habitats and microhabitats where the study specimens were collected.

Barr, Cheryl B. (2016): An Unusual Leafcutter Ant/Scarab Beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Interaction in Panama. The Coleopterists Bulletin 70 (4): 812-813, DOI: 10.1649/0010-065X-70.4.812, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1649/0010-065x-70.4.812

Bryelmis Barr, a new genus of elmid, and three new species, Bryelmis idahoensis Barr, Bryelmis rivularis Barr, and Bryelmis siskiyou Barr, are described from streams and springs in Washington, Oregon, California, and Idaho. Drawings or photographs of the adult habitus and male genitalia of each species, and of the larval habitus of the genus, are included, as well as a key to the adults of the species and revised couplets for insertion into existing adult and larval keys to the Elmidae. The biogeography, habitat, and microhabitat of the species are discussed. Aquatic liverworts are the unusual primary microhabitat of all three species of Bryelmis.

The adult and larva of Typhloelmis Barr, a new genus of eyeless, stygobiontic elmid from springs in west-central Texas, and the adults of three new species, Typhloelmis caroline Barr, Typhloelmis finegan Barr, and Typhloelmis sanfelipe Barr, are described, diagnosed, and illustrated. Taxonomic couplets are provided for the insertion of the new genus into existing adult elmid generic keys, and an adult key to the species of Typhloelmis is included. Stygobiontic elmids are reviewed, and the uniqueness of Typhloelmis is discussed. Typhloelmis is the first stygobiontic elmid genus reported from the Nearctic ecozone and is the seventh described worldwide. It is only the second elmid genus known to be anophthalmic (completely eyeless). The Edwards-Trinity Aquifer and the spring habitat in which the genus and species occur are described in detail, and potential threats are discussed.

Habitat characteristics and seasonal distribution of the riffle beetles Heterelmis comalensis and Microcylloepus pusillus were studied at Comal Springs, Texas, during 1993-1994, to aid in developing sound recommendations for sustaining their natural populations. Comal Springs consists of four major spring outlets and spring-runs. The four spring-runs are dissimilar in size, appearance, canopy and riparian cover, substrate composition, and aquatic macrophyte composition. Habitat conditions associated with the respective populations of riffle beetles, including physical-chemical measurements, water depth, and current velocity, were relatively uniform and varied little among sampling dates and spring-runs. However, the locations of the beetles in the respective spring-runs were not well correlated to current velocity, water depth, or distance from primary spring orifices. Factors such as substrate size and availability and competition are proposed as possibly influencing their respective distributions. Maintaining high-quality spring-flows and protection of the physical habitat of Heterelmis comalensis presently are the only means by which to ensure the survival of this endemic species.

Neoelmis guarani new species is described and illustrated from specimens collected in streams of the Cordillera de los Altos, southeast of Asuncion and near the towns of Piribebuy and Chololo, Paraguay. Males and females of this species exhibit strong secondary sexual dimorphism not found in other known species of Neoelmis . Males have striking modifications of the pro- and mesothoracic legs and bear a pair of ventrally projecting processes on both the mesoventrite and the second abdominal ventrite. Females have the elytra modified with a pair of dorsal projections.

Neoeubria inbionis , new genus and new species, is described from Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama and Ecuador. All life stages are descibed and illustrated, and a key to adults of the Eubriinae genera of the Neotropics is provided. Neoeubria is one of the most basal genera of the Eubriinae.

We present the first comprehensive checklist of Amphipoda in Californian inland waters. Amphipod distributionrecords were based upon a thorough literature review and unpublished data of colleagues, as well as the collectionsof the authors. We report 62 species in 24 genera and 14 families, including 7 new taxa awaiting formal description.Sixteen species are exotic and at least 20 species are subterranean obligates. Endemicity is high: 40% of the nativefauna are limited to a single locale, typically a spring or cave stream, and another 3 species are known from just 2locales each. Conservation status rank revisions are offered in order to update the California Natural Diversity Da-tabase and IUCN Red List. Threats from invasive species are briefly discussed, as well as the use of amphipods as bioindicators.