Fermín M. Alfaro

Epigean Tenebrionids (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) from the Choros Archipelago (Coquimbo Region, Chile)

ABSTRACT: Using pitfall traps, we studied the taxonomic diversity of epigean tenebrionids in the Chores Archipelago, formed by the Choros, Damas and Gaviota Islands, which are part of the Pingüino de Humboldt National Reserve. We identified fourteen species arranged in eight genera and six tribes, of which seven species were common to the archipelago. Five genera are reported for the first time as occurring in insular habitat islands: Psectrascelis Solier, Entomochilus Solier, Diastoleus Solier, Scotobius Germar, and Thinobatis Eschscholtz, Gyriosomus granulipennis Pizarro-Araya and Flores is recorded as endemic to the Choros Island.

Morphological variation on isolated populations of Praocis ( Praocis ) spinolai

Abstract In this study, the morphological variations of four geographically isolated populations of Praocis (Praocis) spinolai Gay & Solier (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in the transitional coastal desert, Chile, were studied. The study was conducted in the coastal area of Punta de Choros and Los Choros-Archipelago, which includes three islands: Choros, Damas, and Gaviota. 113 specimens of the species P. (P.) spinolai belonging to the four locations sampled were collected analyzed with geometric morphometrics techniques to explore the pattern of shape variation on the different isolated environments. The principal component analysis revealed a well-defined pattern of variation between the populations analyzed. Moreover, differences between populations emerged also from the canonical variation analysis and were confirmed by the Procrustes ANOVA. All analyses performed confirmed the existence of a pattern of variation, due to the isolation of the populations and to environmental effects. The islands are subject to more arid pressures than the continent, where there is a more stable environment and the presence of coastal wetlands and the coastal range of mountains act together and enable fog condensation. This study indicates the existence of a clear pattern of variation, which indicates an evolutionary trend among the population examined.

Distribución geográfica de los ortópteros (Insecta: Orthoptera) presentes en las provincias biogeográficas de Atacama y Coquimbo (Chile)

By means of reference material and literature reviews, as well as entomological surveys, we documented the taxonomic composition of the order Orthoptera within the biogeographic provinces of Atacama and Coquimbo, and identifi ed the relationships between the spatial distribution of species and the plant formations described from these provinces. We recorded the presence of 68 species, 37 genera, and 9 families. The most diverse family was Tettigoniidae, followed by Proscopiidae and Acrididae. High species richness was observed in only 4 of the 23 plant formations analyzed. The areas with the highest number of species were

Coleópteros epígeos (Insecta: Coleóptera) asociados a ecotopos dunarios de la cordillera de la costa de Chile

The coastal mountain range of Los Choros (Coquimbo Region) is a natural system with geomorphological characteristics (e.g., dunes, ravines and extensive plains at sea level) which allow for a flora and fauna adapted to arid conditions. These ecosystems are part of Chile�s transitional coastal desert, an area characterized by high arthropod species diversity and endemism. In this work we examine the taxonomic composition and density-activity of the assemblage of epigean coleopterans in the following ecotopes of the coastal range of Los Choros: paleodunes (E1), ravine (E2) and plain (E3). In each of these ecotopes, captures were conducted using pitfall traps, which remained active for three days during August, October, and December of 2007. A total of 361 specimens were captured, representing 21 species distributed in 16 genera and 4 families. The most diverse families were Tenebrionidae and Curculionidae, with 12 and 6 species, respectively, whereas the most abundant were Curculionidae (69.7% of total capture) and Tenebrionidae (31.0%). The most diverse ecotope was the paleodune (14 species), followed by the plain (10 species) and ravine (9 species). The ecotope that contributed the highest number of epigean coleopterans to the capture throughout the study period was the paleodune (75.9%), followed by the plain (14.1%) and ravine (10.0%). The highest number of specimens were captured on October (63.2%), probably explained by the vegetation dynamics of the sites under study. The higher richness and abundance of epigean coleopterans observed in the paleodune ecotope may be related to the characteristics of the substrate, which would provide ideal conditions for the life cycle of these insects. We document the importance of dune ecotopes as arthropod diversity and endemism hotspots in the area. For all of the above reasons, it is necessary to protect and preserve the biota of these ecosystems that are constantly subject to anthropic modification. This work is a contribution to the knowledge of the communities of epigean coleopterans present in the coastal mountain range of the semiarid region of Chile

Arthropod assemblages of the Quebrada del Morel private protected area (Atacama Region, Chile)

Abstract The objective of this baseline study was to use pitfall traps to examine the taxonomic composition and abundance of arthropods in the Quebrada del Morel private protected area located in the Atacama Region (Chile). The study area was divided into 10 vegetationally and pedologically contrasting sites: coastal steppe (CS), ravine bottom (RB), dunes with Prosopis flexuosa (PF), sandy-bottomed ravine (SBR), dunes with Skytanthus acutus (SA), coastal range (CR), piedmont with Nolana sp. (PN), inland dunes (ID), steppe with Nolana sp. (EN), and steppe with Atriplex sp. (EA). A total of 2187 specimens were captured, belonging to 73 species in 31 families. Of these 73 species, 26 belonged to Arachnida, and 47 to Insecta. The two dominant orders of the Arachnida assemblage were Solifugae (22.8% of total capture) and Araneae (5.7%). Insecta accounted for 69.1% of the total capture and was dominated by two orders: Coleoptera (33.8%) and Orthoptera (21.9%). The most abundant arthropod families were the solifuge Mummucidae (22.5%), the coleopteran Tenebrionidae (19.4%), and the orthopteran Gryllidae (18.8%). Particularly important among these families was Tenebrionidae which was represented by 18 species and 11 genera. The sites with the highest abundance of tenebrionids were PF (61.9%) and SBR (11.8%). The highest species diversity was observed in SBR (13) and PF (11). The differences in vegetation between the sites were clearly reflected in the numerical contribution of most taxa. This information will help implement compensation actions, develop a reclamation plan, and consolidate a conservation management plan for the Quebrada del Morel private protected area.

A New Insular Record of Germarostes (Germarostes) posticus (Germar) (Coleoptera: Hybosoridae: Ceratocanthinae) for the Chilean Transitional Coastal Desert

The family Hybosoridae currently contains the subfamilies Anaidinae, Hybosorinae, Liparochrinae, Pachyplectrinae, and Ceratocanthinae (Ocampo and Ballerio 2006). The latter includes the genus Germarostes Paulian, 1982 composed of the subgenera Germarostes Paulian, 1982 and Haroldostes Paulian, 1982 with 43 and 35 species, respectively (Ocampo and Ballerio 2005), which are distributed from Canada to Chile (Gutiérrez 1947; Paulian 1982; Ocampo and Ballerio 2005). In Chile, Germarostes is represented only by Germarostes (Germarostes) posticus (Germar, 1843) (Figs. 1–2), a species with a very wide geographic range extending from the Coquimbo Region (Los Vilos) to the Los Ríos Region (Valdivia) of Chile (Paulian 1982), as well as part of Argentina (Neuquén) (Gutiérrez 1947; Howden and Gill 2000; Ballerio and Carpaneto 2009). Within its distribution range, this species encompasses most of the biogeographical provinces of Coquimbo, Santiago (Central Chile subregion), Maule, and the Valdivian rainforest in the Subantartic subregion of the Andean region (Morrone 2006, 2014). This paper documents a new insular record for G. posticus, which is also its northernmost record. It also provides a description of the habitat where the specimens were captured. The specimens were captured in the coastal desert environment of Chañaral Island (Atacama Region) using pitfall traps arranged and installed sensu Cepeda-Pizarro et al. (2005a, b). These traps were active during three days in November 2012 and three days in January 2013. Specimens were preserved in alcohol (70%) until they were processed and mounted. The material is now stored in the collection of the Ecological Entomology Laboratory of the University of La Serena, La Serena, Chile (LEULS). Material Examined. CHILE:AtacamaRegion, Huasco Province, Chañaral Island, (29° 02′ 28.4′′ S 71° 34 ′42.3′′W, 104 m elevation), 15-18-XI-2012, pitfall trap (1 adult). Chañaral Island (29° 02′ 23.7′′ S 71° 34′ 44.0′′ W, 108 m elevation), 15-18-XI2012, pitfall trap (2 adults). Chañaral Island (29° 02′ 23.7′′ S 71° 34′ 44.0′′ W, 108 m elevation), 24-27-I-2013, pitfall trap (2 adults). Chañaral Island has a total surface of 507.3 ha and belongs to the Pingüino de Humboldt National Reserve, located at the limit between the Huasco (Atacama Region) and Elqui (Coquimbo Region) provinces. The reserve was created in 1990 and is administered by the National Forest Corporation (CONAF 1997). This insular ecosystem lies in the Transitional Coastal Desert (25–32° S latitude) ecoregion, characterized by the presence of an arthropod fauna with remarkable species richness (Cepeda-Pizarro et al. 2005a, b; Valdivia et al. 2011;

Description of First Instar Larvae of the Subgenus Praocis (Praocis) Eschscholtz, 1829 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Praociini)

Abstract. The subgenus Praocis Eschscholtz, 1829 (Pimeliinae: Praociini) is an endemic group of north-central Chile consisting of 18 flightless species distributed mostly across the Chilean desert and coastal steppe. In this work we describe the morphology and structure of first instar larvae of Praocis (Praocis) spinolai Gay and Solier, 1841, Praocis (Praocis) subaenea Erichson, 1834, and Praocis (Praocis) curta Solier, 1841 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Larvae were obtained by rearing wild-caught male and female individuals under laboratory conditions. The structure and external morphological characters of the larvae were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results show that first instar larvae have morphological adaptations to edaphic environments, such as prothoracic legs for digging, a strongly sclerotized cephalic capsule, and well-developed IX and X abdominal segments (pygidium and pygopods). The interspecific differences in head morphology (cephalic capsule and epicranium), mouthparts (labrum, clypeus and mandibles), and IX and X abdominal segments (pygidium, pygopods, and apical spines) are highlighted.

Distribution and Conservation Status of Gyriosomus granulipennis Pizarro-Araya and Flores, 2004 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

In the last decade, several expeditions were conducted in desert insular ecosystems in the transitional coastal desert of Chile (Alfaro et al. 2009, 2014, 2016). One of the taxonomic contributions of these expeditions is the newly described species Gyriosomus granulipennis Pizarro-Araya and Flores, 2004 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), which was described based on material collected on Choros Island (PizarroAraya and Flores 2004). In this paper, we 1) analyze the distribution and conservation status of G. granulipennis and 2) propose actions to monitor and ensure the preservation of the species’ populations. Our study was conducted on Choros Island, which belongs to the archipelago of Los Choros and located near the northwestern border of Punta de Choros, 114 km north of La Serena (Coquimbo Region, Chile) (Castro and Brignardello 2005) (Fig. 1). The island is part of the Pingüino de Humboldt National Reserve (PHNR), which is under the administration of the National System of Protected Wild Areas (SNASPE by its Spanish acronym) and includes three islands: Choros (322 ha), Damas (56 ha), and Cha~naral (507.3 ha). The reserve is located in the transitional coastal desert of Chile (25–32° S), encompassing the southern limit of the biodiversity hotspot for Chile (Gaston 2000), and possesses a very unique plant diversity and endemicity (Armesto et al. 1993; Cavieres et al. 2002). The island has a Mediterranean-type climate (di Castri and Hajek 1976) with low daily and annual temperature ranges as a result of oceanic influence (Armesto et al. 1993). The mean annual precipitation in the area is ;90 mm; dry and rainy years occur in irregular cycles that are linked to the El Ni~no-Southern Oscillation event (Novoa and Villaseca 1989). To analyze the data about the distribution and conservation status of G. granulipennis, we reviewed the available literature and the list of endangered species of the Chilean Ministry of Environment (Ministerio de Medio Ambiente 2011). The data included literature records from 2002 (Pizarro-Araya and Flores 2004) and 2006 (Alfaro et al. 2009), in addition to records from