Aline Sampaio

In this study, we transfer Grammodesma luridipennis (Baly 1859) to Elytrosphaera Blanchard 1845 and redescribe the species. Elytrosphaera lahtivirtai Bechyně, 1951 is proposed as a new junior synonym of E. luridipennis . Hind wings are documented for the first time in E. luridipennis , making it the only species of Elytrosphaera currently known to be winged. Male and female genitalia are described for the first time. We provide morphological and distributional data for E. luridipennis , including external morphology and wing venation. In addition, we compare the morphology of Grammodesma and Elytrosphaera , highlighting diagnostic characters that distinguish the two genera, and distinguish E. luridipennis from Grammodesma rubroaenea (Stål, 1859), one of the Grammodesma species most similar to E. luridipennis in coloration. We also compare E. luridipennis with Elytrosphaera xanthoptera xanthoptera (Gistel, 1848), highlighting diagnostic differences between these taxa.

Lamprosomatinae comprises ~250 species in 14 genera and four tribes, yet several Neotropical lineages remain poorly defined due to the absence of comprehensive morphological and molecular assessments. This study provides an integrative taxonomic reassessment of the closely related genera Dorisina , Lamprosoma , and Lychnophaes , including the description of two new species from Brazil. External and internal morphological characters of both sexes are documented with light and scanning electron microscopy, and updated biological information is presented, including host plant records, a newly documented parasitoid association, and distributional data. We also include observations on immatures and natural history traits. The first molecular dataset focused on Neotropical Lamprosomatinae is incorporated to evaluate generic limits and test the monophyly of the focal taxa. Our analyses reveal new insights into tribal-level relationships within Cryptocephalinae, supporting Fulcidacini + Pachybrachini and Clytrini + Cryptocephalini, while Mylassini forms a polytomy with the remaining groups. The monophyly of Lychnophaes could not be confirmed, as it is represented only by Lychnophaes imbirucu sp. nov . Conversely, Lamprosoma is recovered as monophyletic, with Lamprosoma cambuci sp. nov . clustering with two additional unidentified congeners. These results corroborate the relationships proposed by Chamorro and Konstantinov based on morphological data and reinforce the synapomorphies established for the tribe.

The first comprehensive taxonomic survey of the leaf beetle fauna (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) of the oceanic volcanic Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Pernambuco State, northeastern Brazil, is presented herein. A total of 17 taxa distributed across five subfamilies (Bruchinae, Cassidinae, Cryptocephalinae, Eumolpinae, and Galerucinae) are recorded, including the description of two new species of seed beetles: Megacerus ibiaiso Santos, Sampaio & Viana, sp. nov., and Sennius binotatus Viana & Ribeiro-Costa, sp. nov. In addition, 11 new distributional records are provided, along with corrections of previously misidentified specimens from the archipelago. For the taxa identified to the species level, information on host plant associations and natural enemies, when available, is included. The study also provides photographs of the external morphology of all taxa and the internal structures of the new species, as well as a map of the beaches and sampling trails.

Third instar larva and pupa of Cnemida leprieuri Arrow, 1899 and third instar larva of Cnemida retusa (Fabricius, 1801) (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Rutelinae) are described and illustrated based on specimens collected within rotten logs in North Brazil. The pupation of C. retusa is discussed. Third instar larvae of both species are compared with the only formerly known larva to the genus: Cnemida intermedia Bates, 1888. Formerly disponible generic keys to the third instar larvae and to pupae of New World Rutelini are updated. A key and a comparative study of chaetotaxy to known third instar larvae of Cnemida are also provided.

A comprehensive catalog is provided for most leaf beetles belonging to the Chrysomelinae subfamily, which are housed in the collections of two institutions in the state of Pará, located in northern Brazil: The Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi (MPEG) and the Universidade do Estado do Pará (UEPA). The catalog includes detailed geographic distribution data for all species, along with new records and photographs (including two paratypes of Cryptostetha pereirai Bechyně, 1958, with descriptions of the aedeagus and spermatheca). Furthermore, information is provided on host plants, parasites, parasitoids, and predators associated with certain species.

The monotypic genus Dinahia Bechyně, 1946, endemic to the Atlantic Forest (Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and São Paulo), is reviewed. Dinahia privigna Bechyně, 1946 is redescribed, and, for the first time, the aedeagus and spermatheca of this species are described and illustrated herein. Additionally, a diagnosis for the genus, a nomenclatural history, photographs of both non–type specimens and the syntype, a geographic distribution map, and a discussion of Dinahia and similar genera according to the bibliography (Calligrapha Chevrolat, 1836; Cosmogramma Erichson, 1847; Desmogramma Erichson, 1847; Grammomades Achard, 1923; and Zygogramma Chevrolat, 1836) are provided. This discussion incorporates a comparative table encompassing characters extracted from the antennae, maxillary palps, prosternal, mesoventral, and metaventral processes, V tarsomeres, and claws. Additionally, it includes an illustrated replacement couplet for step 22 in Sampaio & Fonseca's (2023) identification key, both to elucidate Dinahia's differentiations and similarities from these five genera.

Biological invasions pose significant threats to biodiversity, with invasive species spread often facilitated by human activities. Consequently, this research utilized ecological niche modeling (ENM) to overcome this limitation and map the potential suitability of Microtheca ochroloma Stål, 1860 and Microtheca semilaevis Stål, 1860, which have been evaluated as potential insect pests in the Americas, zones for four genera of Brassicaceae, which include globally cultivated species such as Sinapis L., Raphanus L., Eruca Mill., and Brassica L. We utilized multiple methods to forecast the ecological habitat of Microtheca Stål, 1860 species based on distribution data and various environmental indicators. Our models, exhibiting high-performance metrics (TSS ranging from 0.84 to 0.96), revealed extensive environmental suitability for these species across the Americas, including previously unreported regions. The predicted zones overlapped significantly with areas where Brassicaceae crops were grown. Contrary to some previous assertions, our findings suggest that while these Microtheca species are recognized pests on these crops, their consistent widespread damage may be overstated. Nevertheless, their invasive potential could have broad ecological impacts, including biodiversity loss. Our research emphasizes the need for focused sampling in potential distribution zones and underlines the value of integrating ENM in predicting and managing invasive species spread.

In 2000, Cleide Costa published a paper presenting the state of knowledge of the Neotropical Coleopte ra, with a focus on the Brazilian fauna. Twenty-four years later, thanks to the development of the Coleoptera section of the Taxonomic Catalog of the Brazilian Fauna (CTFB - Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil) through the collaboration of 100 coleopterists from all over the globe, we can build on Costa’s work and present an updated overview of the state of knowledge of the beetles from Brazil. There are currently 35,699 species in 4,958 genera and 116 families known to occur in the country, including representatives of all extant suborders and superfamilies. Our data show that the Brazilian beetle fauna is the richest on the planet, concentrating 9% of the world species diversity, with some estimates accounting to up to 15% of the global total. The most diverse family in numbers of genera is Cerambycidae (1,056 genera), while in number of species it is Chrysomelidae (6,079 species). Conotrachelus Dejean, 1835 (Curculionidae) is the most species-rich genus, with 570 species. The French entomologist Maurice Pic is the author who has contributed the most to the naming of species recorded from Brazil, with 1,794 valid names in 36 families, whereas the Brazilians Ubirajara R. Martins and Maria Helena M. Galileo are the only ones among the top-ten authors to have named species in the 21^st century. Currently, approximately 144 new species of Brazilian beetles are described each year, and this average is projected to increase in the next decade to 180 species per year, or about one new Brazilian beetle every two days.

This paper presents a species catalog of leaf beetles of the subfamily Chrysomelinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) deposited in two important Brazilian institutions in the state of Amazonas (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia and Universidade Federal do Amazonas), providing their respective type localities, geographic distributions, as well as illustrations for all listed species (including pictures of the types of Platyphora imperialis (Stål, 1858), Platyphora excellens (Stål, 1859), Platyphora sanguinipennis (Jacoby, 1895), and Platyphora olivenca (Bechyně, 1954)), and new locality records, predators, parasites, parasitoids, and host plant for some species. In addition, we provide the first illustrated key for the genera occurring in Brazil (except Aeneolucentia, Jermaniella, and Pandona).