Adam Slipinski

Three new genera of Indo-Australian Dermestidae (Coleoptera) and their phylogenetic significance

Three new genera are described, providing valuable new information on the phylogeny and biogeography of the family Dermestidae: Derbyana, gen. nov., containing only D. matthewsi, sp. nov. from north-western Australia; Orphilodes, gen. nov., with three Australian species, O. australis, sp. nov. (type of the genus), O. minor, sp. nov. and O. malleecola, sp. nov.; and Trichodryas, gen. nov., with one described species, T. esoterica sp. nov., from the Malay Peninsula and undescribed species from the Sulu Archipelago, Sabah, Kalimantan and Java. A cladistic analysis is included based on a matrix consisting of the three new genera, exemplar genera representing all major groups of Dermestidae and outgroup exemplars from the families Eucinetidae, Derodontidae, Nosodendridae, Endecatomidae and Bostrichidae. Based on the results, a new supergeneric classification is proposed and compared with those in other recent works on Dermestidae and related groups. Recognised subfamilies and tribes include Orphilinae, Attageninnae, Thorictinae, Dermestinae (Marioutini and Dermestini), Megatominae and Trinodinae (Thylodriini and Trinodini). Trichelodini is suppressed and Hexanodes Blair is removed from synonymy with Trichelodes Carter. Keys are given to adults and larvae of the subfamilies of Dermestidae and the genera of Orphilinae, Dermestinae and Trinodinae.

Revision of the Australian Coccinellidae (Coleoptera). Genus Diomus Mulsant. Part 1

Abstract. The first paper dealing with revision of the Australian members of cosmopolitan genus Diomus Mulsant treats 30 species, mostly with distinct colour pattern, that can be identified using external characters. Nomenclatural history, diagnoses, illustrations and distribution are provided for each species. Fifteen new species are described: Diomus ancorus sp. nov., D. bimaculatus sp. nov., D. brookfieldi sp. nov., D. capital sp. nov., D. kuranda sp. nov., D. kosciuszko sp. nov., D. millaamillaa sp. nov., D. marmorosus sp. nov., D. ningning sp. nov., D. reidi sp. nov., D. storeyi sp. nov., D. tinaroo sp. nov., D. torres sp. nov., D. weiri sp. nov., D. zborowskii sp. nov.. The following new synonyms are proposed: Diomus sphragitis (Weise, 1885) = Scymnus trilobus Lea, 1902 = Scymnus indistinctus Lea, 1902; Diomus sydneyensis (Blackburn, 1892) = Scymnus mimicus Lea, 1902 = Scymnus pectoralis Lea, 1902 (new synonyms). Scymnus australis Blackburn, 1889 is transferred to Diomus (new combination). Lectotypes are designated for the following taxa: Diomus rusticus Weise, 1859; Scymnus australis Blackburn, 1889; S. corticalis Lea, 1908; S. cucullifer Blackburn, 1892; S. ementitor Blackburn, 1895; S. flavifrons Blackburn, 1889; S. flavolaterus Lea, 1926; S. indistinctus Lea, 1902; S. jocosus Blackburn, 1892; S. kamerungensis Blackburn, 1895; S. meyricki Blackburn, 1889; S. mimicus Lea, 1902; S. notescens Blackburn, 1889; S. pectoralis Lea, 1902; S. (D.) pumilio Weise, 1885; S. (D.) scapularis Weise, 1885; S. striatus Lea, 1902; S. sydneyensis Blackburn, 1892; S. tenebricosus Boheman, 1859 and S. trilobus Lea, 1902.

Fauna Europaea: Coleoptera 2 (excl. series Elateriformia, Scarabaeiformia, Staphyliniformia and superfamily Curculionoidea)

Abstract Fauna Europaea provides a public web-service with an index of scientific names (including synonyms) of all living European land and freshwater animals, their geographical distribution at country level (up to the Urals, excluding the Caucasus region), and some additional information. The Fauna Europaea project covers about 230,000 taxonomic names, including 130,000 accepted species and 14,000 accepted subspecies, which is much more than the originally projected number of 100,000 species. This represents a huge effort by more than 400 contributing specialists throughout Europe and is a unique (standard) reference suitable for many users in science, government, industry, nature conservation and education. Coleoptera represent a huge assemblage of holometabolous insects, including as a whole more than 200 recognized families and some 400,000 described species worldwide. Basic information is summarized on their biology, ecology, economic relevance, and estimated number of undescribed species worldwide. Little less than 30,000 species are listed from Europe. The Coleoptera 2 section of the Fauna Europaea database (Archostemata, Myxophaga, Adephaga and Polyphaga excl. the series Elateriformia, Scarabaeiformia, Staphyliniformia and the superfamily Curculionoidea) encompasses 80 families (according to the previously accepted family-level systematic framework) and approximately 13,000 species. Tabulations included a complete list of the families dealt with, the number of species in each, the names of all involved specialists, and, when possible, an estimate of the gaps in terms of total number of species at an European level. A list of some recent useful references is appended. Most families included in the Coleoptera 2 Section have been updated in the most recent release of the Fauna Europaea index, or are ready to be updated as soon as the FaEu data management environment completes its migration from Zoological Museum Amsterdam to Berlin Museum für Naturkunde.

A REVISION OF THE GENUS SYNONA POPE, 1989 (COLEOPTERA: COCCINELLIDAE: COCCINELLINI)

Abstract. The genus Synona Pope (1989) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Coccinellini) is revised, with particular reference to the Oriental and Australasian species complex widely identified as S. melanaria (Mulsant, 1850), the type species. It is concluded that the name S. melanaria ought to be applied to the species currently known as S. seminigra (Weise, 1902) and a lectotype is designated for S. melanaria. Synona seminigra (Weise, 1902) is synonymised with S. melanaria (new synonym). Coccinella cassidoides Montrouzier, 1857 (not C. cassidoides Donovan, 1798), and Harmonia anthracina Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1982 are reduced to junior synonyms of S. melanaria (Mulsant, 1850) (new synonyms). Synona melanopepla (Mulsant, 1850), distributed in the Indian subcontinent and hitherto considered as a synonym of S. melanaria, is recognized as a valid species (status revived). Synona rougeti (Mulsant, 1866), Lemnia melanoptera lablokoff-Khnzorian, 1978, and Lemnia (Synia) martini lablokoff-Khnzorian, 1984 are synonymised with S. melanopepla (new synonyms). Three new species are described: S. obscura sp. nov. (India), S. consanguinea sp. nov. (China, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam), S. philippinensis sp. nov. (Philippines). A key to the species is provided, along with biological information wherever available. Coelophora vidua Mulsant, 1850 is synonymised with Coelophora inaequalis (Fabricius, 1775) (new synonym).

Loranthophila, a new genus of Australian Lyctinae (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) associated with Mistletoe

Loranthophila gen. n. is described, based on Minthea acanthacollis (Carter & Zeck), and comparisons are made between this genus and other members of the bostrichid subfamily Lyctinae.

Ruthmuelleria, a new genus of Carinodulini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Microweiseinae) from South Africa.

A new genus of ladybird beetles, Ruthmuelleria, belonging to the pantropical tribe Carinodulini, is described based on a new species R. grootdrifensis from South Africa. The genus is diagnosed by the unique 8-segmented antennae and posteriorly-directed metaventral postcoxal lines. A key to the genera and discussion of diagnostic characters of Carinodulini are also included.

Revision of the Australian Coccinellidae (Coleoptera). GenusDiomusMulsant. Part 2

Abstract. This paper is the second in a series designed to cover taxonomically all Australian species of Diomus Mulsant. Nomenclatural history, diagnoses, digital illustrations and distribution maps are provided for each species. Thirty species are treated in this paper, among those 14 are new: D. bunya sp. nov., D. carbine sp. nov., D. circus sp. nov., D. gingera sp. nov., D. gilvus sp. nov., D. hebes sp. nov., D. kioloa sp. nov., D. leai sp. nov., D. lord sp. nov., D. micrus sp. nov., D. pisinus sp. nov., D. prodigialis sp. nov., D. tasmanicus sp. nov. and D. villus sp. nov. Diomus hypocrtus Weise, 1923 is synonymised with Scymnus mareebensis Blackburn, 1895 syn. nov. Lectotypes are designated for the following taxa to stabilize their taxonomic positions: Diomus hypocrtus Weise, 1923; Scymnus cowleyi Blackburn, 1895; S. elutus Lea, 1902; S. flavifrons var. norfolcensis Lea, 1929; S. frater Lea, 1902; S. impictus Blackburn, 1895; S. inaffectatus Blackburn, 1892; S. insidiosus Blackburn, 1889; S. macrops Lea, 1929; S. maestus Lea, 1926; S. mareebensis Blackburn, 1895; S. obumbratus Blackburn, 1895; S. sublatus Blackburn, 1892; S. triangularis Lea, 1902; S. whittonensis Blackburn, 1892; S. victoriensis Blackburn, 1892 and S. yarrensis Blackburn, 1895.

Revision of the genus Australoneda Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1984 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Coccinellini)

Abstract. The members of the Australian genus Australoneda Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1984 are revised. Seven species from New Guinea and single species from Australia are recognised, described and illustrated. Two new species: A. bielawskii sp. nov. (Irian Java), A. ruitong sp. nov. (Papua New Guinea) are described. A key to the species is also provided.