Adelita M. Linzmeier

Fauna de Alticini (Newman) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae) em diferentes estágios sucessionais na Floresta com Araucária do Paraná, Brasil: diversidade e estimativa de riqueza de espécies

Alticini (Newman) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae) fauna in different successional stages in an Araucaria Forest of Parana, Brazil: diversity and estimation of species richness. Members of the Alticini were collected at five locations: an edge, an area of unmanaged Araucaria reforestation, and in three successional stages of Araucaria Forest in the state of Parana. Collecting, using malaise traps, was carried out weekly from September 1999 to August 2001, in Vila Velha State Park, near the city of Ponta Grossa, Parana. Collections included 1,891 specimens of 106 species in the Alticini. The highest richness and the lowest species abundance were in the forest margin. Richness was highest in young, and lowest in older successional stages. The richness estimators indicated a possible increase of seven to 50 Alticini species in Vila Velha. The proportional abundance of Chrysomelidae/Coleoptera decreases with increasing degree of succession, and therefore may serve as an indicator of environmental quality.

Seasonality and temporal structuration of Alticini community (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae) in the Araucaria Forest of Parana, Brazil

Seasonality was studied for Alticini trapped with malaise over a period of two years in the Vila Velha State Park, Parana, Brazil. Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae and Alticini showed seasonal distribution, with the highest abundance during spring and summer months. The abundance peaks of these groups were not synchronized. Of all environmental variables tested, photoperiod had the larger effect on the distributional patterns of Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae and Alticini. Also, Chrysomelidae and Alticini probably are related to the quality and availability of host-plants. When richness was high there was a greater similarity among seasons of different years. However, when richness was not pronounced, seasons showed more similarity within the same year than between years. The Alticini community was seasonally structured and a possible mechanism underlying this pattern is asymmetric competition. Nevertheless, it is necessary to account for indirect interactions (plant-enemy mediated) to better understand how Alticini community is structured.

Spatio-temporal dynamics of Alticini (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) in a fragment of Araucaria Forest in the state of Parana, Brazil.

Alticini fauna from five areas, two with different types of management (Borda and Araucaria) and three with different levels of conservation (Fase 1, Fase 2 and Fase 3), in the Araucaria Forest of the Parana was captured with malaise traps. The material was collected weekly, from September/1999 to August/2001, in the Parque Estadual of Vila Velha, Ponta Grossa. 1,891 individuals of 106 Alticini species were collected with only seven species common to all areas. Despite the proximity between sampling areas, the number of species shared between pairs of areas was low, not reaching 40%, with the Araucaria and Fase 1 areas being the most similar. The community structure of the areas Fase 1 and Fase 2 were most related. Fase 1, in initial stage of succession, showed the largert variation in the abundance and richness from one year to another.

Body size of Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera, Insecta) in areas with different levels of conservation in South Brazil

Abstract Body size is correlated with many species traits such as morphology, physiology, life history and abundance as well; it is one of the most discussed topics in macroecological studies. The aim of this paper was to analyze the body size distribution of Chrysomelidae, caught with Malaise traps during two years in four areas with different levels of conservation in the Araucaria Forest, Paraná, Brazil, determining if body size is a good predictor of abundance, and if body size could be used to indicate environmental quality. Body size was considered the total length of the specimen from the anterior region of head to the apex of abdomen/elytron. Measurements were taken for up to ten specimens of each species for each area and for all specimens of those species represented by fewer than ten individuals. The highest abundance and richness of Chrysomelidae were obtained in the lowest body size classes. This herbivorous group showed a trend toward a decrease in body size with increasing abundance, but body size was not a good predictor of its abundance. There was a trend toward a decrease in body size from the less to the most conserved areas; however, the definition of a pattern in successional areas not seems to be entirely clear.

Comportamento e ciclo de vida de Sennius bondari (Pic) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae) em Senna macranthera (Collad.) Irwin & Barn. (Caesalpinaceae)

Some aspects of the behavior and biology of Sennius bondari (Pic, 1929) are evaluated on the host plant Senna macranthera (Collad.) Irwin & Barn., recorded for the first time. The study was conducted on infested seeds collected in Curitiba, Parana State. Usually eggs were deposited on the seed margin. During larval development, the cotyledons and testa are partially consumed. The pupal chamber is built inside the seed. The life cycle lasted about 140 days, with females depositing eggs from day 8 until 73. Total fecundity was slightly over 47 eggs per female, and 83% of them were viable. Adult and larval/pupal mortality was high at 60%. This may be attributed to low humidity in the lab.

A New Genus of Flea Beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from the South of Brazil

Abstract Deciplatus, a new genus of Monoplatina with two new species (D. jundiaiensis and D. nigritus), from the south of Brazil is described and illustrated. Deciplatus is compared to Ulrica Scherer and Laselva Furth. Use of the name Monoplatina is clarified.

Stevenaltica, a New Genus of Moss and Leaf-Litter Inhabiting Flea Beetles from Bolivia (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini).

Abstract. A new genus, Stevenaltica, with two new species, S. normi and S. erronis, from Bolivia is described and illustrated. It is similar to Exoceras Jacoby. An identification key for all flea beetle genera known to occur in mosses in the Western Hemisphere is provided.

Andersonoplatus, a new, remarkable leaf litter inhabiting genus of Monoplatina (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini)

Abstract Andersonoplatus, a new genus with 16 new species from Venezuela (A. andersoni, A. bechyneorum, A. castaneus, A. flavus, A. jolyi, A. laculata, A. lagunanegra, A. macubaji, A. merga, A. merida, A. microoculus, A. peck, A. rosalesi, A. sanare, A. saviniae) and Panama (A. baru), is described and illustrated. All the specimens were collected in leaf litter by R. Anderson and S. and J. Peck. Andersonoplatus is compared to Andersonaltica Linzmeier & Konstantinov, Apleuraltica Bechyne, Distigmoptera Blake and Ulrica Scherer.

On the taxonomy of the Brazilian flea beetle genus Miritius Bechyné & Bechyné (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini: Monoplatina) with description of two new species

A taxonomic study was performed on the Brazilian genus Miritius Bechyné & Bechyné of Monoplatina, Alticini. Here Miritius and two of its species are redescribed and descriptions for another two new species were provided: Miritius abdominalis Morais & Linzmeier sp. nov. (Mato Grosso, Brazil) and Miritius claudius Morais & Linzmeier sp. nov. (Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil). For the first time characters of the male and female genitalia, illustrations and a key to the Miritius species are presented.