Cleide Costa

Evolutionary chromosomal differentiation among four species of Conoderus Eschscholtz, 1829 (Coleoptera, Elateridae, Agrypninae, Conoderini) detected by standard staining, C-banding, silver nitrate impregnation, and CMA3/DA/DAPI staining

The speciose Brazilian Elateridae fauna is characterized by high karyotypic diversity, including one species (Chalcolepidius zonatus Eschscholtz, 1829) with the lowest diploid number within any Coleoptera order. Cytogenetic analysis of Conoderus dimidiatus Germar, 1839, C. scalaris (Germar, 1824,) C. ternarius Germar, 1839, and C. stigmosus Germar, 1839 by standard and differential staining was performed with the aim of establishing mechanisms of karyotypic differentiation in these species. Conoderus dimidiatus, C. scalaris, and C. ternarius have diploid numbers of 2n(♂) = 17 and 2n(♀) = 18, and a X0/XX sex determination system, similar to that encountered in the majority of Conoderini species. The karyotype of C. stigmosus was characterized by a diploid number of 2n=16 and a neoXY/neoXX sex determination system that was highly differentiated from other species of the genus. Some features of the mitotic and meiotic chromosomes suggest an autosome/ancestral X chromosome fusion as the cause of the neoXY system origin in C. stigmosus. C-banding and silver impregnation techniques showed that the four Conoderus species possess similar chromosomal characteristics to those registered in most Polyphaga species, including pericentromeric C band and autosomal NORs. Triple staining techniques including CMA3/DA/DAPI also provided useful information for differentiating these Conoderus species. These techniques revealed unique GC-rich heterochromatin associated with NORs in C. scalaris and C. stigmosus and CMA3-heteromorphism in C. scalaris and C. ternarius.

Coleoptera Larval Fauna Associated with Termite Nests (Isoptera) with Emphasis on the “Bioluminescent Termite Nests” from Central Brazil

Beetle larvae that inhabit termite nests present modifications that allow them to cohabitate with the termites. Some are physogastric and bear special glands and different setae all over their bodies, whereas others are not physogastric. Both kinds of larvae may be termite predators. Some species usually live in the nest cabbage pan, feeding on organic matter, mushrooms, and excrements or eating the nest walls and sometimes causing the nest to be destroyed. Other species live in superficial galleries of the nest and feed on preys that live outside. However, all interactions between these inquilines beetles and their termite hosts are very complex and still little understood. Emphasis was done to the bioluminescent termite nests from Central Brazil and for this reason general aspects of the bioluminescence related to the elaterid fireflies were also given. The adaptations to live in nest environment and functional categories of association of all beetle larvae we have studied, including those not bioluminescent, to termite nests are discussed in this work.

Systematics and cladistic analysis of Cerophytidae (Elateroidea: Coleoptera)

Abstract.  The elateroid family Cerophytidae, originally based on Cerophytum Latreille, is characterized and revised. Detailed morphological studies of adults and a cladistic analysis permitted the recognition of three well‐defined lineages: one in the Holarctic Region, and the other two in the Neotropical Region, each one distributed from southern Mexico to South America. The resulting cladogram for these genera is ((Cerophytum) (Brachycerophytum, Phytocerum)). Cerophytum includes four species: C. elateroides (Latreille) (type species, southern and central Europe), C. convexicolle (LeConte) (western U.S.A.), C. japonicum Sasaji (Japan) and C. pulsator (Haldeman) (eastern U.S.A.). Brachycerophytum gen.n. contains two Neotropical species: B. fuscicorne (Bonvouloir) comb.n. (type species, Mexico to Colombia) and B. sinchona sp.n. (Peru and Bolivia). Phytocerum gen.n. includes fifteen species: P. golbachi sp.n. (type species, Argentina), P. alleni sp.n. (Costa Rica, Nicaragua), P. belloi sp.n. (Brazil), P. birai sp.n. (Brazil), P. boliviense (Golbach) comb.n. (Bolivia), P. burakowskii sp.n. (Trinidad), P. cayennense (Bonvouloir) comb.n. (Mexico, French Guyana, Brazil), P. distinguendum (Soares & Peracchi) comb.n. (Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina), P. serraticorne sp.n. (Guatemala), P. golbachi sp.n. (Argentina), P. ingens sp.n. (Brazil), P. inpa sp.n. (Brazil), P. minutum (Golbach) comb.n. (Argentina), P. simonkai sp.n. (Trinidad), P. trinidadense (Golbach) comb.n. (Trinidad) and P. zikani (Soares & Peracchi) comb.n. (Brazil). Diagnoses for the genera, redescriptions and descriptions for the species, as well as keys to genera and species, are provided. The larva of C. elateroides is redescribed.

Pyrearinus termitilluminans, sp.n., with description of the immature stages (Coleoptera, Elateridae, Pyrophorini)

Pyrearinus termitilluminans, sp.n., type-locality: Brazil, Goias, Parque Nacional das Emas, is described based on larvae, pupa and adults collected from nests of Cornitermes sp.

Mechanisms of karyotype differentiation in Cassidinae sensu lato (Coleoptera, Polyphaga, Chrysomelidae) based on seven species of the Brazilian fauna and an overview of the cytogenetic data.

Among the subfamilies of Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae sensu lato (s.l.) includes 6000 species distributed in 43 tribes. Approximately 100 of these species were cytogenetically analyzed and most of them presented 2n=18=16+Xy(p), which was smaller than 2n=20=18+Xy(p) considered basal for Polyphaga. However, some groups of species presented maintenance of the basal diploid number and others showed increase in this number. Certain species of the latter group also exhibited variation in the type of sex chromosome system (SCS). Considering the recent taxonomic revision accomplished for the Cassidinae s.l. species, the existence of phylogenetic relationship for some species of this subfamily, the high diversity of species of this group in the Neotropical region, and the low number of Cassidinae s.l. species karyotyped so far, the aim of the present work was to establish the main mechanisms involved in the karyotype evolution of this subfamily through the study of seven species of the Brazilian fauna and overview of the cytogenetic data. The individuals were collected in southeast and south of Brazil. The chromosomal preparations obtained from embryo and testes of adult males were stained with Giemsa solution. The species Agroiconota inedita (2n=42=40+Xy(p)), Charidotella (s.str.) immaculata (2n=22=20+Xy(p)), Charidotella (s.str.) sexpunctata (2n=22=20+Xy(p)), and Stolas chalybaea (2n=24=22+Xy(p)) revealed diploid number higher than that established as basal for Polyphaga and biarmed chromosomes. The karyotype of Cteisella confusa, Deloyala cruciata, and Metriona elatior showed the chromosomal formulae 2n=18=16+Xy(p) considered modal for Cassidinae s.l. and biarmed chromosomes. The seven species exhibited easily identified sex chromosomes due to their size and/or morphology. The analysis of meiotic cells of all the species showed pachytenes with a positively heteropycnotic block probably corresponding to the sex chromosomes; diplotenes with a high number of bivalents with two chiasmata and sex chromosomes in a parachute configuration, and metaphases II that confirmed the chromosomal morphology, the type of SCS, and the regular segregation of all chromosomes. The data regarding to the number and morphology of the chromosomes, their behaviour during meiosis, and type of SCS were inedit for the majority of these species. In relation to the all Cassidinae s.l. species that presented SCS of the Xy(p) type, A. inedita was that with the highest diploid number. Furthermore, this work reported for the first time the cytogenetic information of representatives of the genera Cteisella and Metriona. Taking into account the phylogenetic and cytogenetic data of Cassidinae s.l. species, the karyotype differentiation of this group seems to have occurred from the basal karyotype of Polyphaga by decrease in the chromosome number and subsequent increase in this number. Pericentric inversion, centric fusion and fission seem to have been the main mechanisms that promoted the evolution of the autosomes. However, in the sex chromosome evolution, the mechanisms involved were centric fission and/or chromosomal translocation.

Review of the Family Brachypsectridae (Coleoptera: Elateroidea)

Abstract The monogeneric family Brachypsectridae is redescribed based on adults and larvae, and distribution, biology, and ideas on the phylogenetic relationships are summarized. Presently available data from both adults and larvae support previous conclusions that the family is a basal member of the Elateroidea. The four described species of Brachypsectra LeConte are reviewed. Brachypsectra moronei Branham sp. n. is described from the Dominican amber; larvae of Brachypsectra fulva LeConte, Brachypsectra lampyroides Blair, and an unnamed species from Australia are described; and keys are given to males of all described species and to known larvae. In addition, a lectotype and paratypes are designated for the six recognized syntypes of Brachypsectra lampyroides Blair, 1930.

Larvae of neotropical Coleoptera. X: Mycteridae, Lacconotinae

Larvae of Stilpnonotus postsignatus Fairmaire, 1889 were collected inside a hard log in Peruibe, Sao Paulo, Brazil; reared adults were identified. A description of the larva, pre-pupa and pupa are provided with ilustrations.

New data on the natural history and description of the immatures of Fulgeochlizus bruchi, a bioluminescent beetle from Central Brazil (Elateridae, Pyrophorini)

Larva madura e pupa de Fulgeochlizus bruchi (Candeze, 1896) sao descritas e ilustradas. Padroes de bioluminescencia observados em laboratorio sao descritos. Comentarios e novos dados sobre a larva de primeiro instar e de historia natural sao apresentados. As larvas de primeiro instar diferem das larvas maduras principalmente por sua quetotaxia, que e mais esparsa e mais simetricamente distribuida.

Metapyrophorus pharolim a new genus and species of Pyrophorini (Coleoptera, Elateridae, Agrypninae)

Metapyrophorus, a new monotypic genus, is erected based on M. pharolim, new species from Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. The genus is characterized mainly by its pair of convex pronotal bioluminescent organs, equidistant between the median line and the lateral margin.

Présence insolite de larves et de nymphes de Tetralobus (Coleoptera : Elateridae), dans des termitières mortes de Macrotermes (Isoptera): données sur la morphologie et la bionomie de larves et de nymphes de trois espèces

Résumé Des larves et des nymphes de Tetralobus arbonnieri Girard 2003, de T. gigas (Fabricius 1801) et de T. shuckhardi (Hope 1842), espèces répandues en Côte d’Ivoire et en Guinée, ont été récoltées dans des termitières mortes de Macrotermes. Les principaux caractères de leur morphologie sont décrits et illustrés. Les particularités morphologiques des larves ont probablement une valeur générique, ou permettent, au moins, de constituer des groupes ďespèces. La biologie larvaire de ces espèces reste énigmatique, mais il semble que la tête phragmotique de ces larves ainsi que leurs mandibules falciformes suggèrent qu’elles peuvent être prédatrices ďautres petits insectes et même, à I’occasion, des termites. II semble que leur présence dans la carapace de ces nids de termites est habituelle, et que ceux-ci constituent un milieu très favorable à I’accomplissement de leur cycle post- embryonnaire.