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Diversity
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Diversity and Ecology of Coleoptera
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Diversity and Ecology of Coleoptera

A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Diversity".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 February 2023) | Viewed by 14563

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Andrey Frolov

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 199034 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
Interests: Systematics; morphology; biogeography; Coleoptera; Scarabaeoidea; Palaearctics; Afrotropics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The order Coleoptera, the beetles, is the largest group of animals with more than 400000 described species. The outstanding diversity of beetles determines the important role they play in most types of terrestrial ecosystems, including anthropogenic ones. Coleoptera includes species from all major trophic groups - saprophages, phytophages, and predators. Some of the major agricultural pest belong to beetles. The evolutionary success of Coleoptera is based on a number of adaptations, but a complete understanding of them is still lacking. The most prominent feature of the adult Coleoptera is the transformation of the anterior wings into rigid structures, elytra, that protect the flying wings and the upper side of the abdomen from mechanical damage. This feature facilitated the beetle colonization of otherwise inaccessible, dense substrates. At the same time, beetles differ from all the other largest orders of insects by the widespread reduction or complete loss of flying wings. To assess the degree of evolutionary success of Coleoptera and to understand its prerequisites, it is necessary to improve the classification of this group on the basis of a comprehensive morphological, phylogenetic, ecological, and biogeographical studies.

For this Special Issue, we invite manuscripts that focus on taxonomic, ecological, and conservation aspects of Coleoptera research based on recent and fossil taxa of all geographical regions.

Dr. Andrey Frolov
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diversity is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  •  insects
  •  taxonomy
  •  phylogeny
  •  morphology
  •  ecology
  •  biogeography
  •  nature conservation

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

43 pages, 11248 KiB  
Article
Phylogeny of Scissicauda Species, with Eight New Species, including the First Photinini Fireflies with Biflabellate Antennae (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)
by Leandro Felipe Zeballos, André Silva Roza, Lucas Campello-Gonçalves, Stephanie Vaz, Cláudio Ruy Vasconcelos Da Fonseca, Sara Cristina Rivera and Luiz Felipe Lima da Silveira
Diversity 2023, 15(5), 620; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/d15050620 - 02 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1739
Abstract
Photinini is the largest tribe of Lampyrinae fireflies, with over 30 genera and nearly 750 species, and includes taxa where adults may or may not have light organs. A focus on taxa with bioluminescent adults left the taxonomy of dark fireflies in poor [...] Read more.
Photinini is the largest tribe of Lampyrinae fireflies, with over 30 genera and nearly 750 species, and includes taxa where adults may or may not have light organs. A focus on taxa with bioluminescent adults left the taxonomy of dark fireflies in poor condition compared to taxa with lit adults. A recent phylogenetic study based on molecular data supported the transfer of Scissicauda McDermott, 1964—traditionally placed in Amydetinae due to the flabellate antenna of its type species—to Photinini at a branch sided with Pyropyga Motschulsky, 1852 and Pyractonema Solier, 1849. Such placement had never been recovered before in morphology-based studies, and the consequences for the interpretation of character evolution in this lineage are yet to be addressed. Moreover, Scissicauda was previously thought to be endemic to the Atlantic Forest. Here, through phylogenetic analyses of 38 taxa and 108 morphological characters, we (i) expand on the concept of Scissicauda to include S. antennata sp. nov., S. asymmetrica sp. nov., S. aurata sp. nov., S. biflabellata sp. nov., S. gomesi sp. nov., S. jamari sp. nov., S. neyi sp. nov., S. truncata sp. nov., and (ii) transfer Lucidota malleri Pic, 1935 and, therefore, S. malleri comb. nov. We also recover Pyropyga + Pyractonema as sister to Scissicauda + Haplocauda, providing the first morphological evidence for their sisterhood. Noteworthy, the new species S. biflabellata sp. nov. and S. asymmetrica sp. nov. stand out as the first known Photinini species with biflabellate antennae. In addition, our study reports the first Scissicauda species in the Amazon (S. antennata sp. nov., S. aurata sp. nov., S. gomesi sp. nov., S. jamari sp. nov., and S. truncata sp. nov.) and Cerrado biome (S. neyi sp. nov.). Our study highlights the value of continued sampling and phylogenetic analyses of South American fireflies towards a revised classification and deeper understanding of this lineage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Ecology of Coleoptera)
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18 pages, 37371 KiB  
Article
Genus Apterocuris Jacobson, 1901 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in the Subfamily Chrysomelinae with Description of a New Species and Remarks on Significance of Preimaginal Characters
by Yuri E. Mikhailov
Diversity 2023, 15(2), 228; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/d15020228 - 06 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1389
Abstract
For Apterocuris Jacobson, 1901, formerly considered a monotypic genus endemic to South Siberia, a second congener is described from the Central Sikhote-Alin’ Mountains in the Far East of Russia. Apterocuris brinevi sp. n. differs from A. sibirica Jacobson, 1901 in the rather convex [...] Read more.
For Apterocuris Jacobson, 1901, formerly considered a monotypic genus endemic to South Siberia, a second congener is described from the Central Sikhote-Alin’ Mountains in the Far East of Russia. Apterocuris brinevi sp. n. differs from A. sibirica Jacobson, 1901 in the rather convex body, shining smooth dorsum, absence of rectangular projecting basilateral angles of elytra, and only two or three distinct striae of elytral punctures. For Apterocuris sibirica, the pupa is first described, imago redescribed, and the revised distribution is mapped. The place of Apterocuris in the tribe Chrysomelini is discussed and its similarity to the genus Sclerophaedon Weise, 1882 considered. Both genera have pupae with two urogomphi that should place them into the subtribe Entomoscelina, but their adults with open anterior coxal cavities do not fit the subtribe diagnosis. Therefore, re-establishment of the subtribe Sclerophaedonina Steinhausen, 1996 is proposed to place the genera Sclerophaedon, Apterocuris, Colaphellus Weise, 1916 and Colaspidema Laporte, 1833. A triple key to the genera of the tribe Chrysomelini based on the combination of larval, pupal and imaginal characters is presented. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Ecology of Coleoptera)
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17 pages, 4583 KiB  
Article
Diversity of Auger Beetles (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) in the Mid-Cretaceous Forests with Description of Seven New Species
by Andrei A. Legalov and Jiří Háva
Diversity 2022, 14(12), 1114; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/d14121114 - 14 Dec 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1786
Abstract
The diversity and abundance of auger beetles were compared with ecologically similar families of other beetles. It was shown that the ecological niche in dead wood, which in the Paleogene belonged to bark and ambrosia beetles, was occupied by Bostrichidae in the Mesozoic. [...] Read more.
The diversity and abundance of auger beetles were compared with ecologically similar families of other beetles. It was shown that the ecological niche in dead wood, which in the Paleogene belonged to bark and ambrosia beetles, was occupied by Bostrichidae in the Mesozoic. Seven new species, Poinarinius aristovi sp. nov., P. antonkozlovi sp. nov., P. lesnei sp. nov., P. perkovskyi sp. nov., P. zahradniki sp. nov., P. borowskii sp. nov., and P. cretaceus sp. nov. from the subfamily Alitrepaninae of the family Bostrichidae are described from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. The key to the species of the genus Poinarinius Legalov, 2018 is given. The new synonym, Alitrepanum Peng, Jiang, Engel & Wang, 2022, syn. nov. to Poinarinius, was established. A list of the fossil Bostrichidae was compiled. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Ecology of Coleoptera)
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20 pages, 5827 KiB  
Article
A New Genus and Two New Species of Fireflies from South America (Lampyridae: Lampyrinae: Photinini)
by André Silva Roza, José Ricardo Miras Mermudes and Luiz Felipe Lima da Silveira
Diversity 2022, 14(11), 1005; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/d14111005 - 19 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1878
Abstract
Lampyridae taxonomy has traditionally relied on a few characters now deemed to be highly homoplastic, and their classification—especially at the genus level—is yet to be consolidated based on rigorous phylogenetic analyses. Recent studies highlighted the value of genitalic trait variation in the evolution [...] Read more.
Lampyridae taxonomy has traditionally relied on a few characters now deemed to be highly homoplastic, and their classification—especially at the genus level—is yet to be consolidated based on rigorous phylogenetic analyses. Recent studies highlighted the value of genitalic trait variation in the evolution in Lampyridae, particularly for the rich and poorly known South American Photinini fauna. Here, we describe a new genus, with a new species from the Cerrado and another one from the Atlantic Forest. Phylogenetic analyses based on Bayesian and Maximum Parsimony approaches recovered these two species as sister to each other, which we place here in Zoiudo gen. nov. Males of this new lineage of fireflies are overall strikingly similar to Photinus Laporte 1833, but can be readily distinguished by traits heretofore neglected, including the structure of tibial spurs and many genitalic traits. Instead, Zoiudo gen. nov. is strongly supported as sister to Ybytyramoan Silveira and Mermudes, 2014, supported by eight synapomorphies, the most conspicuous being the sternum VIII with lateral margins divergent up to basal 1/5, then convergent posteriorly, and the rudimentary ventral plate of phallus. Our study confirms the value of extensive character and taxon sampling towards a revised classification of Photinini taxa and highlights the need for a continued sampling and protection of South American biomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Ecology of Coleoptera)
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9 pages, 1374 KiB  
Communication
Hypebaeus cooteri sp. nov., the Nemoral Species of Soft-Winged Flower Beetles (Coleoptera, Malachiidae) in North Asia
by Sergei E. Tshernyshev
Diversity 2022, 14(10), 875; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/d14100875 - 17 Oct 2022
Viewed by 1342
Abstract
A new species of soft-winged flower beetle, Hypebaeus cooteri Tshernyshev, sp. nov., external appearance very close to H. flavipes (Fabricius, 1787) but differs in shape of the elytral appendages and dark colouration of apical margin of the elytra is described from the Russian [...] Read more.
A new species of soft-winged flower beetle, Hypebaeus cooteri Tshernyshev, sp. nov., external appearance very close to H. flavipes (Fabricius, 1787) but differs in shape of the elytral appendages and dark colouration of apical margin of the elytra is described from the Russian Far East. Phenomenon of disjunctive distribution of the new species from the main areal of the genus is discussed on the basis of nemoral faunogenesis during the Late Pleistocene and the Middle Holocene in dependence of broad-leaf forest distribution. Oak trees are considered as typical habitat of the genus Hypebaeus Kiesenwetter, 1863 on the basis of field study by Jonathan Cooter in Moccas Park National Nature Reserve on old oak trees in UK. H. flavipes, the nominative species of the genus Hypebaeus, is redescribed from the specimens collected in Great Britain. Illustrations of external appearance and special male characters for both species are provided. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Ecology of Coleoptera)
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19 pages, 3246 KiB  
Article
Review of the Genus Orphnus Macleay, 1819 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Orphninae) from Kenya, with Description of New Species
by Lilia A. Akhmetova and Andrey V. Frolov
Diversity 2022, 14(5), 373; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/d14050373 - 07 May 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2182
Abstract
The Kenyan fauna of the scarab beetle subfamily Orphninae is reviewed for the first time based on representative material. Twelve species of the genus Orphnus MacLeay are recorded from the country, including two that are new to science: O. kenyensis Akhmetova et Frolov, [...] Read more.
The Kenyan fauna of the scarab beetle subfamily Orphninae is reviewed for the first time based on representative material. Twelve species of the genus Orphnus MacLeay are recorded from the country, including two that are new to science: O. kenyensis Akhmetova et Frolov, sp. nov. and O. tanaensis Akhmetova et Frolov, sp. nov. Lectotypes are designated for O. rufithorax Benderitter, O. mombasaensis Benderitter, and O. jeanneli Benderitter. Keys, diagnoses, illustrations of habitus and male genitalia, and distributional record maps are given. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Ecology of Coleoptera)
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27 pages, 4732 KiB  
Article
Review of Mausoleopsis amabilis (Schaum, 1844) (Scarabaeidae, Cetoniinae), with Description of a New Species and a New Subspecies
by Renzo Perissinotto and Gerhard Beinhundner
Diversity 2022, 14(4), 248; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/d14040248 - 28 Mar 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2725
Abstract
The extremely variable and widespread cetoniine species Mausoleopsis amabilis (Schaum, 1844) is reviewed here using analyses of over 1500 specimens and observations across its entire distribution range. As a result, M. a. heterospila (Gerstaecker, 1867) is reinstated as a valid subspecies and a [...] Read more.
The extremely variable and widespread cetoniine species Mausoleopsis amabilis (Schaum, 1844) is reviewed here using analyses of over 1500 specimens and observations across its entire distribution range. As a result, M. a. heterospila (Gerstaecker, 1867) is reinstated as a valid subspecies and a new subspecies, M. a. interrupta ssp. nov., is also erected, in order to account for the geographically distinct populations occurring across East Africa and the eastern lowlands of southern Africa, respectively. Mausoleopsis a. ruteri Antoine, 1989 is confirmed as a valid subspecies for the West African populations, while M. lerui Antoine, 2004 is synonymised with M. a. heterospila, as it appears to represent an extreme variation of that subspecies. On the other hand, a new species, M. gariepena sp. nov., is described from the Gariep Desert and surrounding arid areas of South Africa and Namibia and compared to its sister species, M. amabilis s. l. The new species appears to be an arid habitat specialist, adapted to survive in the driest part of the subcontinent. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Ecology of Coleoptera)
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