Gustavo E. Flores

An evaluation of methods for modelling distribution of Patagonian insects

Varios estudios han mostrado que el desempeno de los modelos de distribucion puede variar dependiendo de la especie modelizada, el area de estudio o el numero de localidades de presencia utilizadas, sugiriendo que es necesario evaluar cual es la mejor tecnica de modelizacion en cada situacion concreta. En este estudio evaluamos distintas tecnicas de modelizacion para la distribucion de los insectos patagonicos. Hemos aplicado ocho de los metodos mas ampliamente usados (redes neuronales, BIOCLIM, arboles de clasificacion y regresion, DOMAIN, Modelos Aditivos Generalizados, GARP, Modelos Lineares Generalizados y Maxent) a los datos de distribucion de diez especies de insectos patagonicos, comparando su efectividad mediante cinco medidas diferentes. Para evitar el problema de la carencia de datos de ausencia fiables con los que evaluar los modelos, hemos utilizado pseudoausencias seleccionadas al azar fuera de un area poligonal definida por taxonomos expertos. Nuestros analisis muestran diferencias significativas entre los distintos metodos de modelizacion dependiendo de la medida de validacion utilizada. Maxent es el metodo que ofrece mejores resultados para cuatro de las cinco medidas de validacion utilizadas, aunque su precision no difiere de la obtenida con redes neuronales. Cuando se examina la efectividad para cada una de las especies, Maxent resulto tambien uno de los metodos mas fiables, especialmente en el caso de aquellas especies con un pequeno numero de localidades. En conjunto, este estudio identifica cuatro grupos de tecnicas de modelizacion. El de mayor fiabilidad seria el compuesto por Maxent y las redes neuronales, seguido de cerca por DOMAIN. El tercer grupo incluiria GARP, GAM, GLM y CART, mientras que el cuarto estaria formado por BIOCLIM. Aunque estos resultados pueden permitir obtener mejores predicciones de distribucion con capacidad para ser utilizadas en la planificacion de reservas, es necesario ser cauto en su utilizacion debido a la naturaleza provisional de estas simulaciones.

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.

CLADISTIC AND BIOGEOGRAPHIC ANALYSES OF THE NEOTROPICAL GENUS EPIPEDONOTA SOLIER (COLEOPTERA: TENEBRIONIDAE), WITH CONSERVATION CONSIDERATIONS

Abstract The tenebrionid genus Epipedonota (Pimeliinae: Nycteliini) consists of 23 species from southern South America. A cladistic analysis of the species of Epipedonota is conducted suggesting that this genus forms a monophyletic group defined by synapomorphies from external morphology and male genitalia. A cladistic biogeographic analysis of 14 areas of endemism in southern South America is performed using seven taxa inhabiting this area. Subtree analysis to these taxon-area cladograms leads to 84 general area cladograms. A consensus tree is presented to show the common vicariant events from all cladograms. The proposed vicariant events which split the ancestral biota are the uplift of the Andean mountain range and resulting ecological and climatic change as well as marine transgressions. The status of area conservation for Epipedonota is examined using the phylogenetic information. Illustrations of external morphology, internal skeletal anatomy and genitalic features, cladograms, and a map with the areas of endemism are included.

Delimitation of biogeographic districts in central Patagonia (southern South America), based on beetle distributional patterns (Coleoptera: Carabidae and Tenebrionidae)

Based on distributional patterns of 93 beetle species belonging to the families Carabidae and Tenebrionidae, we identified three generalized tracks within the Central Patagonia biogeographic province, located in southern South America. These generalized tracks are considered natural biogeographic units, and herein treated as districts: (1) Payunia district: in the northwestern corner of the Central Patagonia biogeographic province, in southern Mendoza and northern Neuquen provinces in Argentina; (2) Central district: including the greatest part of the biogeographic province, extending from southern Rio Negro to central Santa Cruz province in Argentina; and (3) Fuegian district: extending from southern Santa Cruz province in Argentina to northern Tierra del Fuego, in Argentina and Chile. Notably, these districts coincide with three geological basins: the Payunia district with the Neuquen basin, the Central district with the San Jorge basin, and the Fuegian district with the Magellanes basin.

Systematic revision and redefinition of the Neotropical genus Epipedonota Solier (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), with descriptions of eight new species

The tenebrionid genus Epipedonota Solier (Pimeliinae: Nycteliini), distributed in the eastern Andes from southern Bolivia to the southern Patagonia in Argentina and Chile, is revised and redefined on the basis of characters of external and internal morphology and male and female genitalia. This article includes a redescription of the genus, redescriptions or descriptions of each of its 23 species, an identification key, habitus photographs of the most representative species, drawings of genital features and metendosternites, and distribution maps. Epipedonota comprises 23 species, out of which eight are described as new: E. microplicatissima Flores & Vidal, E. boliviana Flores & Vidal, E. jujuyensis Flores & Vidal, E. tucumana Flores & Vidal, E. interandina Vidal & Flores, E. sanjuanina Flores & Vidal, E. cordobensis Flores & Vidal and E. mendocina Flores & Vidal. Other valid species of the genus are: Epipedonota tricostata Burmeister, E. elegantula Kulzer, E. willinki Kulzer, E. lata Waterhouse, E. subplana Gebien, E. plicatissima Kulzer, E. sublineata Berg, E. intercostata Berg, E. laevisulcata Fairmaire, E. microdera Burmeister, E. reticulata (Blanchard), E. nitida (Philippi & Philippi) stat. rev., E. cristallisata (Lacordaire) stat. rev., E. ebenina (Lacordaire) and E. senex (Lacordaire) stat. rev. New synonymies are: Epipedonota erythropus Lacordaire under E. ebenina (Lacordaire), E. monilis (Lacordaire) under E. ebenina (Lacordaire), E. bonariensis Waterhouse under E. cristallisata (Lacordaire), E. margineplicata Curtis under E. cristallisata (Lacordaire), E. affinis Waterhouse under E. senex (Lacordaire), E. biramosa Berg under E. nitida (Philippi & Philippi), E. angusta Burmeister under E. microdera Burmeister, and Psectrascelis nycteloides Pena under E. sublineata Berg. Lectotypes are designated for Callyntra nitida Philippi & Philippi, Epipedonota biramosa Berg, E. intercostata Berg, E. sublineata Berg, E. lata Waterhouse, E. affinis Waterhouse, E. bonariensis Waterhouse, E. margineplicata Curtis, E. subplana Fairmaire, E. laevisulcata Fairmaire, E. tricostata Burmeister, E. microdera Burmeister, and E. angusta Burmeister.

TWO NEW SPECIES OF GYRIOSOMUS GUÉRIN-MÉNEVILLE FROM THE CHILEAN COASTAL DESERT (COLEOPTERA: TENEBRIONIDAE: NYCTELIINI)

Abstract Two new species from the Chilean coastal desert, Gyriosomus granulipennis and Gyriosomus multigranulosus (Pimeliinae: Nycteliini), are described and included in the most recent key for the genus. Distributional and habitat records, habitus photographs, and illustrations of the pronotum and prosternum for these two new species are included.

Systematic revision and cladistic analysis of the Neotropical genera Mitragenius Solier, Auladera Solier and Patagonogenius gen. n. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

The genera Mitragenius, Auladera and Patagonogenius gen. n. (Pimeliinae: Nycteliini), distributed in Argentina and central Chile, are revised and a cladistic analysis including 20 species is conducted. The cladistic sequence revealed that former Mitragenius is polyphyletic, requiring removal of seven species to a new genus, described herein as Patagonogenius. Mitragenius comprises nine species: M. tristis Kulzer, M. costatus Kulzer, M. araneiformis Curtis, M. coarcticollis Fairmaire, M. nudus Berg, M. hirtulus Kulzer, M. planicollis sp. n., M. obscuratus Pena and M. dejeanii Solier. Auladera includes four species: A. crenicosta (Guerin), A. andicola (Lacordaire), A. rugicollis (Philippi & Philippi) stat. rev. andA. atronitens Kulzer. Patagonogenius comprises seven species: P. breviangulus (Kulzer) comb. n., P. gentilii (Pena) comb. n., P. quadricollis (Fairmaire) comb. n. (type species), P. collaris (Kulzer) comb. n., P. acutangulus (Kulzer) comb. n., P. kulzeri (Marcuzzi) comb. n. and P. elegans (Pena) comb. n. Mitragenius pusillus Marcuzzi is synonymized with Patagonogenius collaris (Kulzer) and Auladera andicola rugicollis (Philippi & Philippi) is elevated to species status. The paper includes a cladogram, a discussion of the phylogeny of the three genera, redescriptions or descriptions of the three genera and of their 20 species, four dichotomous keys, habitus photographs, drawings of genitalic features and distribution maps.

An Illustrated Key to, and Diagnoses of the Species of Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera) Associated with Decaying Carcasses in Argentina

Abstract. In this study we identified adults of Tenebrionidae associated mainly with pig carcasses and human cadavers lying in different arid and semiarid areas of Argentina. This article provides an illustrated key to 29 Tenebrionidae species of the potential forensic importance, accompanied by diagnoses, and habitus photographs of these taxa. The recorded species of darkling beetles belong to four subfamilies: Alleculinae (one species of Alleculini), Diaperinae (two species of Crypticini), Tenebrioninae (15 species, ten belonging to the tribe Scotobiini, three to Opatrini, two to Alphitobiini and one species of Tenebrionini), and Pimeliinae (10 species, three belonging to the tribe Epitragini, two to Evaniosomini, two to Praociini, one species from each of the tribes Trilobocarini, Edrotini and Elenophorini). A new species of Eutelocera Solier (Pimeliinae: Praociini) collected from decomposing pig carcasses is described: E. cadaverina Flores and Zanetti sp. nov. Two species are new records for Argentina: Conibius (Gondwanodilamus) franzi Kaszab and Alphitobius laevigatus (Fabricius); three species for Bolivia: Blapstinus punctulatus Solier, Salax lacordairei Guérin-Ménveille, and Vaniosus profana (Kulzer); and one species for Uruguay: Blapstinus punctulatus Solier. A discussion is presented on the potential forensic importance of some species collected from human cadavers and pig carcasses.

Systematic revision of the Neotropical genus Entomoderes Solier (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

The genus Entomoderes (Pimeliinae: Nycteliini) distributed from southern Bolivia to central Argentina is revised and a cladistic analysis including nine species is conducted. It comprises E. infernalis Burmeister, E. subauratus Burmeister, E. pustulosus Fairmaire, E. satanicus Waterhouse, E. draco Waterhouse, E. borealis Pena, E. erebi (Lacordaire), E. cellulosus Waterhouse, and E. zupay sp. n. The cladistic analysis shows that Entomoderes is a natural group of species characterized by several synapomorphic characters from the external morphology and female genitalia. The species relationships are partially resolved. The paper includes a redescription of the genus, redescriptions or descriptions of its nine species, an identification key, drawings of habitus and genitalic features, distribution maps, trees, and a discussion of the phylogeny and distribution of the genus.

Vicariance events shaping Southern South American insect distributions

The main goal of this study is to use multiple insect phylogenies along with geographical information to test known vicariance hypotheses for Southern South America. We analysed the phylogenies and geographical distributions of seven insect genera endemic to southern South America using Hovenkamps ( ) protocol, which have been in part implemented in software (vicariance inference program). Using this software, we were able to hypothesize 55 traceable vicariance events; among these, we recognized four supported vicariance events (i.e. confirmed by more than a single sister group). The first supported vicariance event consisted of an East/West separation of the faunas in all analysed trees; the second supported vicariance event is a North/South separation of the fauna located East of the Andes; the third supported vicariance event was found in the southernmost fauna located East of the Andes, which separates allopatric Patagonian species in a North/South direction; and finally, the fourth supported vicariance event separates in a North/South direction clades of the Central Chilean fauna located West of the Andes. Our results suggest that these four supported vicariance events could be correlated with the uplifting of the Andes and the marine ingressions that occurred during the Cenozoic that is the estimated age at which these events occurred. Finally, we discuss that current software implementation of Hovenkamps ideas need to be expanded, particularly regarding the automated selection of traceable vicariance events.