9 research outputs found
Meteorological factors, air pollutants, and emergency department visits for otitis media: a time series study
No full textP>Otitis media (OM) is a very common disease in children, which results in a significant economic burden to the healthcare system for hospital-based outpatient departments, emergency departments (EDs), unscheduled medical examinations, and antibiotic prescriptions. The aim of this retrospective observational study is to investigate the association between climate variables, air pollutants, and OM visits observed in the 2007-2010 period at the ED of Cuneo, Italy. Measures of meteorological parameters (temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind) and outdoor air pollutants (particulate matter, ozone, nitrous dioxide) were analyzed at two statistical stages and in several specific steps (crude and adjusted models) according to Poisson's regression. Response variables included daily examinations for age groups 0-3, 0-6, and 0-18. Control variables included upper respiratory infections (URI), flu (FLU), and several calendar factors. A statistical procedure was implemented to capture any delayed effects. Results show a moderate association for temperature (T), age 0-3, and 0-6 with P < 0.05, as well as nitrous dioxide (NO2) with P < 0.005 at age 0-18. Results of subsequent models point out to URI as an important control variable. No statistical association was observed for other pollutants and meteorological variables. The dose-response models (DLNM-final stage) implemented separately on a daily and hourly basis point out to an association between temperature (daily model) and RR 1.44 at age 0-3, CI 1.11-1.88 (lag time 0-1 days) and RR 1.43, CI 1.05-1.94 (lag time 0-3 days). The hourly model confirms a specific dose-response effect for T with RR 1.20, CI 1.04-1.38 (lag time range from 0 to 11 to 0-15 h) and for NO2 with RR 1.03, CI 1.01-1.05 (lag time range from 0 to 8 to 0-15 h). These results support the hypothesis that the clinical context of URI may be an important risk factor in the onset of OM diagnosed at ED level. The study highlights the relevance of URI as a control variable to be included in the statistical analysis in association with meteorological factors and air pollutants. The study also points out to a moderate association of OM with low temperatures and NO2, with specific risk factors for this variable early in life. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings, particularly with respect to air pollutants in larger urban environments
Pterorthochaetes insularis Gestro 1899
No full textPterorthochaetes insularis Gestro, 1899 (Fig. 3A) Known distribution: Indonesia, Philippines (Paulian 1978), Nepal (Ballerio 1999), West Malaysia (Kelantan) (Grebennikov et al. 2005). New material examined: West Malaysia, Perak, 25 km NE of Ipoh, Banjaran Titi Wangsa Mounts, Gunung Korbu, 1400–1800 mt., 11–31.I.1999, leg. P. Cechovsky (ABCB). Remarks. First record for Perak and Selangor. Based on unpublished data of the senior author, P. insularis is a quite common species with a wide distribution, spanning from Nepal to Borneo, with a strong geographical morphological variation, whose taxonomic meaning still needs to be evaluated.Published as part of Ballerio, Alberto & Maruyama, Munetoshi, 2010, The Ceratocanthinae of Ulu Gombak: high species richness at a single site, with descriptions of three new species and an annotated checklist of the Ceratocanthinae of Western Malaysia and Singapore (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea, Hybosoridae), pp. 77-104 in ZooKeys 34 (34) on page 94, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.34.268, http://zenodo.org/record/57660
Meteorosensitivity in a group of patients affected by multiple sclerosis and hospitalized in a rehabilitation facility : an observational study
No full textBackground: In the recent decades, the relationship between psycho-physical disorders and weather conditions has taken on an increased scientific solidity. Furthermore, it is known to every clinician that healthcare practice has an important role in the management of psycho-physical disorders of patients affected by multiple sclerosis. Given that meteorosensitivity is related to the psycho-physical feebleness, this study is an attempt to clarify if treatments in a non-acute care rehabilitation centre can reduce the meteorosensitivity in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Methods: In the spring 2014, 42 patients with MS, at Fondazione Don Gnocchi Santa Maria Nascente Centre (Milan, Italy), were observed by two evaluations (initial and final). The initial evaluation was the administration of METEO-Q, a questionnaire able to quantify the meteorosensitivity degree of the subjects, and Beck Depression Inventory-II, mainly. For each patient, passed one month, the final evaluation was carried out with the same modalities.
Results: A statistically significant difference was found between initial and final meteorosensitivity degree (P=0.01), with better scores in final evaluations for most of the subjects. The correlation between Beck Depression Inventory-II and meteorosensitivity degree resulted significant and positive (R=0.377; P=0.001) and it confirms the link between psycho-physical feebleness and meteorosensitivity. Finally, no significant correlation emerged between initial meteorosensitivity degree and body mass index (R=0.187; P=0.236).
Conclusions: This study confirms the possibility of improving meteorosensitivity, probably by rehabilitation too. Future studies could clarify the effects of health care practice on meteorosensitivity
A revision of the genus Clidicus
No full textThis interesting genus of gigantic Scydmaenidae was described by Laporte, comte de Castelnau, in the Ann. Soc. Entom. de France, 1832, p. 396, and based on the first known species Clidicus grandis) the same species has been figured in the Atlas of the Genera des Coléoptères of Lacordaire, tab. 16, fig. 4, and Fairmaire (Ann. Soc. Ent. de France, 1856, p. 317) added some complementary remarks to its description. In 1863 Pascoe (Journ. of Entomology, II, p. 28, plate II, fig. 3) described a second species as Cl. formicarius. A third species, Cl. taphrocephalus, was added by Gestro in 1878 in the Ann. Mus. Civ. Genova (XII, p. 144). The Clidicus Doriae, described by Schaufuss in the Ann. Mus. Civ. Genova, 1884 [(2) I, p. 419], does not differ essentially from formicarius according to Reitter (Wien. Entom. Ztg. 1887, p. 64). Reitter himself described (loco citato) a supposed new species of Clidicus name of Ganglbaueri; under the but this description was founded upon a mistake, corrected by Reitter on p. 303 of the same volume; the species, which Reitter supposed to be Cl. grandis Casteln. proved to be taphrocephalus Gestro, and Ganglbaueri Reitter is certainly grandis of Castelnau, as the latter author has described as grandis a species with triangular, highly bituberculated head.
Nevertheless I think, we must consider Cl. Ganglbaueri not simply synonymous with grandis Cast., because the specimen in the Hofmuseum of Vienna, which Reitter has described as Ganglbaueri, belongs to a form of grandis with smaller, not perfectly rounded thorax, which I find also among the grants-specimens of the Museum of Leyden and which must be considered as a variety of grandis, whose typical form has a larger, perfectly globose thorax. Perhaps it will be proved later, that this difference is only of sexual or individual character; but meanwhile it will be safer to retain Ganglbaueri as a variety of grandis. Finally I found in the collection of the Leyden Museum a specimen named (but not described) as villosulus Vollenh., which is identical wit
Eupholus bhaskarai Grasso 2020, sp. nov.
No full textEupholus bhaskarai sp. nov. (Plate 1: A-B; Figs. 1-4, 9, 11) Holotype (male): [Indonesia], Irian Jaya, Jayapura province, Klaisu, South Gresi, V.2019 local collector, in MGC. Paratypes (5 males, 4 females (one female marked as “allotype”)): same date and location as holotype, in KPC, MGC and STMI. Diagnosis: An Eupholus species with a large, vertical stripe that starts by pronotum and ends at 2/3 of the elytra. Sometimes the stripe appears just visible, because of this, is easy to confuse Eupholus bhaskarai sp. nov. with Eupholus loriae (Gestro, 1902). Description: total length 19.92 mm; pronotum+elytron 14.82 mm. Head dorsal surface covered with green and light blue metallic oval scales, sometimes milky except for glabrous areas located between and laterally behind the eyes. Distance between the eyes 2.12 mm. Rostrum width at the base 1.68 mm, 3.50 mm height, maximum width in front of antennal insertion. Dorsal area densely covered with suboval light green and light blue scales, interspersed with subrecumbent setiform scales; medially with low glabrous costa. Antennal scrobe complete in not dilated pterigo. Apex of the rostrum with suberect yellowish colored setae. Epistome heart-shaped with no ridges and with elongated scales posteriorly, glabrous anteriorly. Antenna with funicle+club 7.43 mm; scape and funicle densely covered with suboval green and light blue scales mixed with witish setae. Funicle slender and elongate. Scape retracted ends at 1/3 of the eye. Funicles covered with whitish setae. Club dark brown. Pronotum base 4.81 mm, 3.68 mm height; characterized in the dorsal part by wide black glabrous median depression, more deep in median area. Two lateral glabrous stripes give way for two subequal areas covered by subrotund light blue and green scales. Scutellum glabrous and almost covered by elytra. Elytron distance between the humeri 6,30 mm, 11,14 mm height. Humeri callosity with rectangular projection; a glabrous ridge continue behind humeral callus to 1/3 of elytron. Almost completely absent apical calluses. Median longitudinal and glabra stripe, large at base and thinner towards the scutellum, likely to connect itself with the one wich starts at base of the pronotum; elytron densely covered with light blue-green circular scales, strial punctures deeply impressed and quite large, with subrotund shape. Thoracic venter densely squamose with green and light blue, round to lanceolate and recumbent scales. Posteriorly, area between forecoxae process glabrous. Legs evenly covered by green light blue round scales on femora and tibiae, scales become blue-violet and interspersed with setae, elongated and lying on the tarsi. Genitalia. Aedeagus (Figs. 1-2) with subparallel sides until apical orifice, then in quite straight line converging to rounded apex. In lateral view somewhat of weakly swollen and quite truncate. Endophallus with symmetrical transfer apparatus as in picture 3. Tegmen with two thin and elongated paramers, barely rounded at apex (Fig. 4). Differential diagnosis: as mentioned E. bhaskarai sp. nov looks relationed to E. loriae (Gestro, 1902) from which often differs by the presence of the large glabrous median and longitudinal stripe on the elytra. A larger and deeper strial punctures, a glabrous elytral suture only up to 2/3 of elytra (E. loriae has all glabrous elytra suture) and a different genitalia as in figs. 1-4 and 5-8 with illustrated tegmen by both species as in figs. 4, 8 make possible to confirm validity of E. bhaskarai sp. nov. It is often possible to observe a glabrous transversal band in apical calluses for E. bhaskarai (as in plate 1: B) and could be easy to think it is barely hinted in apical calluses of E. loriae but this feature is never showed and as Gestro writes for this last species, both the glabrous stripes laterally on pronotum are dispersed with points which has reddish setae inside; instead E. bhaskarai has easy to see black setae in the same place. Distribution: the new species is known from [Indonesia], Irian Jaya, Jayapura province, Klaisu, South Gresi. Etymology: this species is named in honor of Edy Bhaskara (East Java, Indonesia) who helped the author to recognize the new species.Published as part of Grasso, Matteo, 2020, A New Species Of Eupholus Boisduval (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae) From West New Guinea, pp. 1-10 in Munis Entomology & Zoology 15 (1) on pages 3-4, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.376193
The speleological bibliography of Sardinia (Italy).
No full textThe first citation on caves in Sardinia dates back to 1580 when Johannis Francisci Farae mentions some famous caves such as Grotta Verde (Alghero), Grotta San Giovanni (Domusnovas) and the Su Gologone spring (Oliena). Sixty years have to pass before another author, Salvatorem Vitalem Marenses (1639) mentions the Ucca ‘e Bobois cave (Ussassai), and thirty-four years later Jorge Aleo (1673) describes the archaeological cave of Bonaria (Cagliari).
During the XVIIIth century only two authors, Francesco Cetti (1771) and Giuseppe Cossu (1799), mention some minor caves for their faunistic (sea-birds) and geographical interest respectively.
In the XIXth century many travellers discover the Island and give descriptions of the most famous caves, especially the Nettuno cave near Alghero. The most interesting speleological observations and descriptions are given by Alberto La Marmora (1826 and 1860) and Vittorio Angius (1833-1856, in Goffredo Casalis). The first publication on cave dwelling fauna dates back to 1872 when Fairmaire describes the first troglobe species collected by Raffaello Gestro the year before in Su Marmuri cave (Ulassai). Important archaeological excavations and discoveries occur towards the end of the century, Giovanni Spano in Sa Rocca Ulari cave, Borutta (1873), Francesco Orsoni in Sant’Elia and San Bartolomeo caves, Cagliari (1876), Arturo Issel, Leon Gouin and A. Baux in s’Oreri cave, Fluminimaggiore (1884) and Filippo Vivanet at Genna Luas cave, Iglesias (1891). A couple of years later C.J. Forsyth Major starts studying paleontological materials discovered from caves at Capo Caccia (around 1900).
During the next 35 years many papers written by archaeologists, palaeoanthropologists, biologists or geologists recall several caves for their scientific interest, but the first real speleological contribution, containing a list of 94 caves, is given by Carmelo Maxia in 1936. World War II inhibits the development of real speleological activities until the constitution of the first caving associations in the early 50’s (Alghero, Cagliari, Nuoro). In 1955 the National Speleological Congress takes place in Sardinia bringing a strong impulse on caving activities on the Island. The results of these pioneer explorations is resumed in a book written by Antonio Furreddu and Carlo Maxia (1964) that becomes the “bible” for the next generation of Sardinian speleologists.
During the following years results of caving explorations are published in Italian bulletins such as Rassegna Speleologica Italiana (Milan), Grotte (Torino) and Sottoterra (Bologna) until the appearance of Speleologia Sarda, the first caving journal of Sardinia published for 18 years by the Gruppo Speleologico PIO XI of Cagliari (1972-1990).
Other important caving journals are founded in 1974 (Gruttas e Nurras, Gruppo Grotte Nuorese), 1975 (Bollettino del Gruppo Speleologico Sassarese), 1984 (Anthèo, Gruppo Speleo-Archeologico Giovanni Spano) and 1992 (Sardegna Speleologica, Sardinian Federation of Speleologists).
Since 1995 all bibliographical data on Sardinian caves are inserted in a database (Access) and thanks to the collaboration with four cavers (Guido Bartolo, Giuseppe Grafitti, Mauro Mucedda and Mauro Villani) this database is integrated and completed comprising everything published in the interval 1580-2003
Callytron Gistel 1848
No full textGenus Callytron Gistel, 1848 Callyton andersoni (Gestro, 1889) New record for Hong Kong. This species has only recently been discovered in China from Yunnan province (Wu & Shook 2007) and is new to the Hong Kong fauna. Specimens determined by J. Wiesner. Material: Sight record W.T., 21.v.05; Sight record W.T., 31.v.05; 1 ex. W.T., 28.v.09 (JWPC); 2 exx., W.T., 28.v.09 (JWPC); 1 ex. W.T., 30.v.09. Biology: Imago found only in May. To date this species has only been found on Lantau island in barren hill areas and is possibly associated with areas where fire has recently destroyed the ground vegetation 1 to 3 years prior. This species is fully winged and readily flies. Callytron inspeculare inspeculare (Horn, 1904) Horn (1904) described this species, from Hong Kong and Shanghai specimens as a subspecies of C. nivicinctum. Also listed as occurring in Hong Kong by Horn (1930), Hori & Cassola (1989), Wiesner (1992), Hua (2002), Puchkov & Matalin (2003) and Shook & Wiesner 2006. This species is very similar to C. nivicinctum (Chevrolat, 1845), but is supposed to be associated with reed beds (Shook, pers. comm.). See Hori & Cassola (1989) for identification. Callytron nivicinctum (Chevrolat, 1845) Another species Chevrolat described from the environs of Macao. First recorded in Hong Kong under this name by Bates (1866) and a year later by Redtenbacher (1867) under the name Cincindela niveo-cincta. It is quite probable that this is the species alluded to by Bowring in his letter to Westwood referring to the Cicindellidae of Hong Kong, and is quoted by Westwood (1853) ".... while one at least would appear to move about at night. The species last alluded to is a remarkably elegant insect, closely allied to C. gyllenhalii, the male being distinguished by a large metallic plate on each elytron, and is very rare, as during a residence of six years in China I have met with but a single pair; the female flew into my room at night, in the spring of 1842, and the male was taken in the early part of the present year, at dusk. Its nocturnal habits will no doubt account for its coming so seldom under notice.". Also listed as occurring in Hong Kong by Chaudoir (1865), Schilder (1911), Horn (1930), Hill (1982) [though as a caption to a photograph of Heptodonta posticalis White 1844], Wiesner (1992), Chen et al. (2002), Puchkov & Matalin (2003) and Shook & Wiesner (2006). Material: Ƌ ♀ Hong Kong, Lantau, Pui O, 20.iv.06; Sight record Ƌ and ♀ W.T.L., 27.iv. 15; Sight record W.T.L., 28.iv.08; Sight record W.T.L., 28.iv. 15; 1 ex.Ƌ W.T.L., 30.iv. 14; Sight record W.T.L., 30.iv. 15; Sight record Ƌ & ♀ W.T.L., 4.v. 15, the male apparently feeding on fresh Gecko faeces (common around the light trap), which it constantly turned in between the mandibles, holding on with maxillary and probably also the labial palps; Sight record W.T.L., 6.v.08; Sight record W.T.L., 7.v. 15; Sight record W.T.L., 7.v.08; ♀ + 1 ex. W.T.L., 7.v.07 (1 ex., GSPC); Sight record W.T.L., 8.v.08; Sight record W.T.L., 9.v.08; Sight record W.T.L., 10.v.08; Ƌ & ♀ Sight record W.T.L., 12.v. 15; Ƌ W.T.L., 12.v. 11; Sight record (abundant on water line in marsh) Hong Kong, Lantau, Pui O, 14.v.05; 2 Ƌ 2 ♀ Hong Kong, Lantau, Shap Long, 14.v.07 (Ƌ & ♀ GSPC Ƌ & ♀ JWPC); Ƌ W.T.L., 14.v. 12; Ƌ W.T.L., 16.v.07 (GSPC); sight record Hong Kong, Lantau, Shui Hau, 16.v.05, sandy and marshy sea shore; ♀ W.T.L., 17.v.07 (JWPC); Sight record W.T.L., 18.v. 15; Sight record W.T.L., 19.v. 15; ♀ W.T.L., 20.v.. 12; Sight record W.T.L., 21.v. 15; Sight record W.T.L., 22.v.08; sight record W.T.L., 23.v.08; Sight record Ƌ & ♀ Hong Kong, Lantau, Luk Tei Tong, 23.v.07; Sight record Hong Kong, Lantau, Luk Tei Tong, 23.v.07 (abundant in mangroves and Reed beds); Ƌ & ♀ Hong Kong, Lantau, Luk Tei Tong, 24.v.07; Sight record W.T.L., 24.v.07; Sight record Hong Kong, Lantau, Pui O, 25.v.07 (common); Ƌ W.T.L., 25.v.. 12.; Sight record W.T.L., 28.v.08; Sight record W.T.L., 29.v.08; ♀ May 2011 W.T.L.; Sight record Hong Kong, Lantau, Tai O, 2.vi.07; Sight record Hong Kong, Lantau, Tung Chung, 2.vi.07; Sight record Hong Kong, Lantau, Shui Hau 6.vi.06; Sight record Hong Kong, Lantau, Shui Hau, 14.vi. 15, 6 seen on muddy beach, close to the mangroves; Ƌ W.T.L., June 2011; sight record W.T.L., 8.vii.08; ♀ W.T.L., 18.vii.07; ♀ W.T.L., 22.vi.. 12.;Sight record ♀ W.T.L., 7.vii. 12; Sight record ♀ W.T.L., 10.vii. 14; Sight record ♀ W.T.L., 11.vii. 15; Sight record W.T.L., 15.vii. 14; Sight record ♀ W.T.L., 24.vii. 15; Sight record Ƌ W.T.L., 24.vii. 15; ♀ W.T.L., 27.vii. 15; Sight record W.T.L., 28.vii. 15; Sight record W.T.L., 31.vii.08; Sight record W.T.L., 1.viii.08; Sight record W.T.L., 5.viii.08; Sight record Ƌ W.T.L., 9.viii. 14; Sight record W.T.L., Ƌ & ♀ 13.viii. 15; Sight record W.T.L., 20.viii. 13; Sight record W.T.L., 28.viii. 14; Sight record W.T.L., 29.viii. 14; Sight record W.T.L., 24.viii.08; Sight record W.T.L., 27.viii.08; Sight record W.T.L., 31.viii.08; Sight record W.T.L., 1.ix.08; sight record Ƌ W.T.L., 3.ix. 13; Sight record ♀ W.T.L., 5.xi. 14; sight record ♀ W.T.L., 7.ix. 13; sight record W.T.L., 11.ix. 13. Biology: Imago found April to October. It can be abundant in marshy areas close to mangroves (with which it is associated) even muddy shorelines at high tide can have huge densities of this species. See notes under C. inspeculare. They are often attracted to lights, even a distance from mangroves. Observed mating 25.v. 14 W.T.L., a female was observed feeding on Nematoceran diptera (W.T.L., 15 July 2014); the cuticle was not eaten but was observed to be compressed by the palps, being discarded after about 20 min. On two other instances females were observed carrying and apparently feeding on dead males of the species. The author also observed one individual apparently feeding on Gecko faeces, which brings up the question of whether this species is predominantly a scavenger, as in all the hours it has been observed at light traps, it has never been observed to attack anything. It readily flies, though it often hides behind objects to escape danger.Published as part of Aston, Paul, 2016, Catalogue and Bibliography of the Hong Kong Carabidae Latreille, 1802 (Coleoptera: Adephaga), with notes on the historic boundaries of Hong Kong as related to zoological collections, pp. 201-257 in Zootaxa 4121 (3) on page 208, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4121.3.1, http://zenodo.org/record/26500
Lamprima Latreille 1804
No full textLamprima Latreille, 1804 Lamprima Latreille, 1804a: 150. Type species. Lethrus aeneus Fabricius, 1792, by monotypy. Neolamprima Gestro, 1875: 997; Nagel 1922: 16 (synonymy). Type species. Neolamprima adolphinae Gestro, 1875, by monotypy. Description. Length. Male 13–60 mm (usually 20–45 mm) including mandibles, mandibles 10–38% of overall length (Figs 1–14); female 13–27 mm including mandibles, mandibles 5–9% of overall length (Figs 15–20). Dorsal surface without scales or visible setae; venter setose, setae simple. Head. Male without dorsal tubercles on head, anterior of head concave or truncate (Figs 21–32); genae welldeveloped anterior to eyes but not laterally expanded, at most slightly anteriorly angulate in males; female head not narrowed compared with male; temples short but slightly angulate, shallowly grooved or notched to accommodate anterior angles of pronotum; head deeply inserted into pronotum which almost reaches eyes (Figs 33–44); eyes undivided, reniform, with shallowly concave anterior and posterior margins, the anteroventral margin sharp and linear, forming the outer edge of the antennal groove; antennae not geniculate, with 10 antennomeres, with 3 antennomere club, the club antennomeres entirely densely setose and often closely appressed; antennomere 7 cupuliform, with thin lateral lobe and 6 slightly asymmetric (male) or with thin lobe (female); male mandibles as long as or longer than head and usually densely internally setose in male (not L. imberbis); male mandible without basal dorsal tooth; each female mandible with only one dorsal cusp, with large strongly incurved basal ventral tooth, overlapping at tips; penultimate labial palpomere angulate on inner margin in male, not angulate in female; labium broad, approximately one third width of head; mentum solid and punctate, apex truncate; pregula flat; lateroventral grooves present between eyes and sides of buccal cavity for retention of scape. Thorax. Pronotum (Figs 1–44) convex with angulate (most males) to rounded sides, broadest slightly posterior to middle, without prominent anterior or posterior angles; anterior of pronotum broadly margined; middle of prosternal process concealed between procoxae, apex flat. Scutellum almost equilateral triangular. Elytra nonstriate but may have irregular, shallow grooves, with scattered shallow simple concave punctures, surface of interspaces smooth and shiny to dull and wrinkled but always with finely microreticulate microsculpture, usually slightly granulose in males (Figs 54–57). Elytral humeri not spined. Elytral epipleurae hidden from above, transversely strigose. Hindwings fully developed. Anterior field of mesoscutum strongly and closely punctate; scutellum semicircular to heart shaped; mesanepisternum with sparse, large punctures; posterior half mesepimeron, visible parts of metanepisternum, metepimeron and sides of metaventrite with dense, small punctures (partly coalescent, interspaces less than diameters) and setae; mesoventral process almost parallel-sided to junction with metaventrite, abruptly elevated anterior to this (Figs 58–61); metanepisternum with elevated lobe at anterior angle locking into small depression on elytral epipleuron. Profemur without anterior ridge; male protibia (Figs 62–75) with expanded blade- or fan-like flat spur, except L. imberbis with narrowly elongate, triangular, curved spur; female protibial spur narrowly elongate triangular; male protibia without secondary teeth between major teeth; female protibia without subsidiary teeth between large teeth on outer edge; male metatibia without setose excavation on inner edge, usually with spines on outer edge; tarsal empodium prominent, with paired divergent thin tufts of apical setae. Abdomen. Ventrites not laterally ridged and without basal transverse grooves. Male genitalia (Figs 76–88; unique male of L. imberbis undissected). Phallobase fusiform or spindle-shaped and uniformly sclerotised, with the apical margins rounded laterally and with V-shaped excavations dorsally (shallower) and ventrally (deeper); apical half of dorsal surface with at least a few small raised spicules, which may form irregular oblique ridges. Parameres about 2/5 length phallobase, symmetrical, with preapical setal tuft on ventral surface and incurved pointed tip; ventral inner edge of parameres soft, irregularly ridged, with the surface either inflated towards the penis or collapsed laterally, depending on preservation of the specimen; penis symmetrical, in two visible parts: basal 2/3 darkly sclerotised, rigid and narrowly conical between parameres, obliquely ridged at base; apical third thinly sclerotised and usually translucent, as a thin straight cylinder; endophallus, if everted, of similar width to apex of penis but soft and flexible, apically contracting to long, thin flagellum. Female genitalia (Figs 89–94; L. imberbis unknown). Tergite IX with acute to broadly rounded translucent apex; pleurite IX and sternite IX well developed as elongate sclerites; hemisternites flat and apical halves elongate rectangular with truncate apices, gonostyli flat, inverted-trapezoidal in shape, inserted on middle of membranous apex of hemisternites; spermathecal duct coiled and convoluted, spermatheca sclerotised, variable in shape from tear-drop to hook; spermathecal gland smaller than spermatheca, glandular duct longer than spermatheca. Larval diagnosis. The following diagnosis is based on published descriptions of L. aurata larvae (Alderson 1975 [as L. varians]; Lawrence 1981). The larva is similar to the lamprimine Phalacrognathus W.J. Macleay, 1885 (Wood et al. 1996). Head: antenna with 3 antennomeres; second antennomere without setae or sensory spots, apex slightly produced beyond base of third antennomere, the latter elongate but much smaller than second. Left mandible without incisor teeth between 2–3 apical teeth and mola; epipharynx trapezoidal, with dense, long setae on apical margin and dense, short setae on sides, apex of median area with transverse row of 6 short, blunt pegs and row of 4 circular sensilla proximal to this, epitorma absent. Legs without distal claw, last 3 segments short and broad and densely setose; tibiotarsus reduced to an ovate lobe, length equal to width at base; mesocoxal stridulatory file (pars stridens) with a single line of about 50 quadrate to slightly transverse dense ridges, granulose towards base, and placed in a field of minute granules; metatrochanteral stridulatory file (plectrum) a single line of 45–60 closely placed transverse ridges or granules, increasing in size from base to apex. Anal area of abdomen with two adjacent pear-shaped and minutely but densely setose lobes, without ovate pads, their bases subtending about 90° in ventral view, separated from 10th segment by a dorsal lobe, which is triangular, glabrous and unsculptured; 10th abdominal segment not foreshortened dorsally, ventral apex triangularly excavate, raster confined to apical quarter, consisting of dense, minute, inwardly-directed setae. Ecology and natural history. The following notes mostly concern the common and widespread species L. aurata (Fearn 1996, 2015, 2016) and the Lord Howe endemic L. insularis (Reid 2004). Lamprima adults are commonly diurnal and are often found on flowers, where they may mate. Adult males snip off the apical shoots of living plant material to provide sap flows. They have been recorded feeding on many genera, both native and exotic, listed by family as follows: Asparagaceae: Lomandra; Asteraceae: Ozothamnus; Casuarinaceae: Casuarina; Fabaceae: Acacia, Virgilia; Malvaceae: Lavatera; Myrtaceae: Eucalyptus, Leptospermum, Melaleuca; Pinaceae: Pinus; Proteaceae: Banksia; Rhamnaceae: Alphitonia; Rosaceae: Photinia, Prunus; Salicaceae: Populus (Fearn 1996, 2015; Hangay & de Keyzer 2017). Feeding by the males of Lamprima with elongated mandibles (most L. adolphinae and some L. aurata) has not been described. Female mandibles are apparently non-functional, therefore females fly to the male feeding sites to lap up sap released by males. Feeding sites are used for male-male aggression and for copulation. Fearn (1996) noticed a 3: 1 male to female sex ratio in the field, which is corroborated by the male biased material of most species in collections. Olliff (1889) noted that male L. insularis were much more common than females. In contrast, the material available for L. insularis has a roughly 1:1 sex ratio, but were mostly collected by breaking open logs, so does not represent typical field activity of the species. Adults will also feed on soft fruits (Hangay & de Keyzer 2017). Oviposition is usually underground, the females tunnelling into soil around partly buried decaying wood. There is a great variety of larval host genera, including exotics: Araucariaceae: Araucaria; Arecaceae: Howea; Casuarinaceae: Allocasuarina, Casuarina; Celastraceae: Elaeodendron; Fabaceae: Acacia; Lauraceae: Cryptocarya; Myrtaceae: Eucalyptus, Syzygium; Oleaceae: Olea; Salicaceae: Salix (Fearn 1996; Reid 2004; Hangay & de Keyzer 2017). Lamprima aurata larvae are usually in decaying roots and buried timber in Tasmania (Fearn 1996) but they prefer standing timber in northern Queensland rainforest (Wood et al. 1996). Lamprima insularis larvae usually inhabit fallen timber on or above ground level in the subtropical rainforests of Lord Howe Island (Reid 2004). In wetter areas Lamprima larvae may be better able to survive above ground, or less able to survive below ground, but there may be a trade-off between humidity and temperature, as L. aurata avoids cool temperate rainforests in Tasmania (Fearn 1996). In logs and stumps the larvae generally bore upwards. Pupation is in a chamber, usually just beneath the wood surface but sometimes in adjacent soil (Fearn 1996). In Tasmania the entire life cycle is at least three years but it may be 1–2 years in Queensland (Hangay & de Keyzer 2017). In captivity, the life cycle of L. adolphinae is 9–14 months (Levet 2016). There are numerous photographs and several videos of Lamprima species on the Internet (for example: Anonymous 2017a), showing: different colour varieties, mating, fighting between males, feeding, rearing methods, larvae and pupae. In copulation and precopulation the protibial spurs of the males have little function. They may scrape lightly over the pronotum of the female as the prothoracic legs are moved backwards and forwards, but this activity seems erratic and brief. In male-to-male combat, each male uses its mandibles to try to embrace the mandibles of the other, so longer mandibles provide a wider net for the embrace. Once one male has enclosed and squeezed together the mandibles of its rival, it shakes the whole animal quickly to one side to unbalance it, then abruptly to the other side, letting go at the end of this second swing. The rival can be flung a few centimetres (see video by Kan 2016). The elongate mandibles of L. adolphinae allow males to grab wayward appendages of rivals rather than gripping the whole head. In fights, the protibial spurs may be used as braces against the substrate and this activity might be their primary function. The international pet trade is heavily involved in rearing Lamprima species, with goals including production of enlarged mandibles and unusual colour varieties. This may extend the range of variation for each species given here, which is based on field-collected specimens. Lamprima is widespread in Australia (Fig. 95), occupying almost the entire eastern edge of the continent from Cooktown in northern Queensland to Tasmania and most of the south coast from Mallacoota west to Perth, with an 850 km gap at the Nullarbor Plain. Lamprima occurs up to 400 km inland on the mainland. Lamprima also occurs on two oceanic islands, Norfolk and Lord Howe and a single species is widespread on mainland New Guinea (Fig. 95). In New Guinea it occurs up to 2800 m. Conservation. Conservation status and threats are discussed under each species. In general Lamprima species are extremely popular with stag beetle collectors and most species are being, or have been, reared in commercial quantities in eastern Asia and probably Europe and North America. One species, L. imberbis, is of considerable concern as it has not been collected for 100 years. Comparison with other genera of Lampriminae. There are four other genera of Lampriminae, all monotypic. The New Zealand genus Dendroblax White, 1846, is unmistakably different from Lamprima, with a dynastine-shaped body, densely punctate, non-metallic, reddish-brown upper surface, venter with long setae and minimal sexual dimorphism (Holloway 2007). The Australian endemic Homolamprima W.J. Macleay, 1885, is relatively easily distinguished from Lamprima by: mesometaventrite junction anteriorly bilobed; apex prosternal process elevated; male protibia with large narrow spines. Homolamprima is also much flatter than any Lamprima species (Macleay 1885b). The South American genus Streptocerus Fairmaire, 1850, is similar to Homolamprima but differs from it and all other Lampriminae by the antennal club having four antennomeres (Paulsen 2010). Lamprima is morphologically most similar to the northern Australian endemic Phalacrognathus Macleay, 1885, although this is not supported by an analysis of four gene regions (Kim & Farrell 2015). Most species of Lamprima can easily be distinguished from Phalacrognathus by male protibia with spur expanded as a flat blade and female protibia without subsidiary teeth between large teeth on outer margin. In Phalacrognathus, the male protibia has a simple spur (as in female) and the female protibia has small subsidiary teeth present between the large teeth on the outer margin. However, Lamprima imberbis, with unknown female, is unusual in Lamprima for its male mandibles lacking internal setae, male protibiae with narrow spurs and without a setal tuft and elytra broadly explanate. It shares these characters with Phalacrognathus, but differs from that genus by: genae prominent anterior to eyes; eyes anteriorly concave; antennomere 7 with flat lateral lobe; temples prominent and notched to accommodate anterior angles of pronotum; male mandible without basal dorsal tooth; anterior of pronotum broadly margined; middle of prosternal process concealed by procoxae; sides of male elytra not crenulate; male protibia without secondary teeth between major teeth; protibial spur on a lobe. All of these characters are common to other male Lamprima and justify placement of L. imberbis in Lamprima. Included species. The most recent peer-reviewed checklist of Lamprima species (Moore & Cassis 1992) lists seven in Australia (Table 1), of which Lamprima insularis is unique to Lord Howe Island and Lamprima aenea is unique to Norfolk Island. One non-Australian species of Lamprima is known, from New Guinea: L. adolphinae, as catalogued by Benesh (1960). The mainland Australian species listed by Moore & Cassis (1992) are L. aurata, L. imberbis, L. latreillii, L. micardi and L. varians. Lamprima micardi is supposedly endemic to Western Australia and L. varians was described from South Australia. The other species, L. aurata, L. imberbis and L. latreillii, were described from the eastern coastal region of Australia, from northern Queensland to Tasmania. Lamprima Author Date Type Hope in Parry Harold Macleay Boileau Nagel 1930 Benesh Moore & Krajcik This work species rank locality Westwood 1864, 1868 1885a 1913 1960 Cassis 2001 2017 name 1845 1870 1992 L. adolphinae Gestro 1875 NG - - - L. - L. L. - L. L. adolphinae adolphinae adolphinae adolphinae adolphinae L. aenea Fabricius 1792 NI L. aenea L. aenea L. aenea L. aenea L. aenea L. aenea L. aenea L. aenea L. aenea L. aenea L. aenea Fabricius 1802 NI L. L. aenea L. aenea - - - - L. aurata - L. aenea & sensu schreibersi L. aurata Schreibers L. aenea Fabricius 1805 NI & - L. aurata - L. aurata - - L. aurata L. aurata L. aurata L. aenea & sensu NH L. aurata Donovan L. aenea Boisduval 1835 NH - L. L. latreillii L. latreillii - - L. latreillii - L. latreillii L. aurata latreillii L. amplicollis Thomson 1862 SQ - L. L. latreillii L. latreillii - - L. latreillii L. latreillii L. latreillii L. aurata latreillii L. fulgida Thomson 1862 NH - L. - - - - L. latreillii - L. latreillii L. aurata splendens ……continued on the next page Lamprima Author Date Type Hope in Parry Harold Macleay Boileau Nagel 1930 Benesh Moore & Krajcik This work species rank locality Westwood 1864, 1868 1885a 1913 1960 Cassis 2001 2017 name 1845 1870 1992 L. imberbis Carter 1926 NSW - - - - - L. imberbis L. L. L. L. imberbis imberbis imberbis imberbis L. insularis Hope 1845 WA L. micardi - nomen - L. micardi - L. micardi - L. micardi nomen nudum nudum L. insularis W.J. 1885a LHI - - - L. insularis - L. insularis L. L. L. L. Macleay insularis insularis insularis insularis L. insularis Boileau 1913 not - - - - L. micardi - - - - L. aurata given L. krefftii W.J. 1871 CQ - - - L. krefftii - L. latreillii? L. latreillii L. latreillii L. latreillii L. aurata MacLeay L. latreillii W.S. 1819 NSW L. latreillii L. L. latreillii L. latreillii L. latreillii L. latreillii L. latreillii L. latreillii L. latreillii L. aurata Macleay latreillii L. lulua Kriesche 1940 NG - - - - - - adolphinae - L. L. adolphinae adolphinae L. W.J. 1885a NQ - - - L. - L. latreillii L. latreillii L. latreillii L. latreillii L. aurata mandibularis Macleay mandibulari s L. mariae Lea 1910 Tas - - - - - L. aurata L. aurata L. aurata L. aurata L. aurata L. micardi Reiche 1841 WA L. micardi L. L. micardi L. micardi L. micardi L. micardi L. micardi L. micardi L. micardi L. aurata micardi L. minima W.J. 1885a SA - - - L. minima - L. varians L. varians L. varians L. micardi L. aurata Macleay ……continued on the next page Lamprima Author Date Type Hope in Parry Harold Macleay Boileau Nagel 1930 Benesh Moore & Krajcik This work species rank locality Westwood 1864, 1868 1885a 1913 1960 Cassis 2001 2017 name 1845 1870 1992 L. pygmaea W.S. 1819 AUS - L. L. latreillii L. latreillii - - L. latreillii L. latreillii L. latreillii L. aurata MacLeay latreillii L. rutilans Erichson 1842 Tas - L. aurata L. rutilans L. rutilans - L. aurata L. aurata L. aurata L. aurata L. aurata L. viridis Erichson 1842 not - L. aenea L. aenea ? - L. aurata L. aurata L. aenea L. aenea L. aurata given There are good male characters for diagnosing L. aenea, L. adolphinae, L. imberbis and L. insularis. There remain the Lamprima species, excluding L. imberbis, described from mainland Australia and Tasmania. It has already been noted that Matthews (1984) treated L. varians and L. aurata as one species in South Australia (L. aurata) and Moore (1984, 1986) suggested that L. aurata and L. latreillii were variants (“overlapping subspecies”) of one species in southeastern Australia, even though these were originally separated by dorsal punctation and structure of thoracic ventrites (Macleay 1885a). Lamprima micardi in Western Australia and L. varians from South Australia were originally distinguished from eastern Australian Lamprima by their narrower male protibial spurs (Reiche 1841; Burmeister 1847) but the presence of intermediates blurs their distinction. We have examined more than 400 specimens of Lamprima from throughout southern and eastern Australia and conclude that these represent just one species, L. aurata.Published as part of Reid, Chris A. M., Smith, Kindi & Beatson, Max, 2018, Revision of the genus Lamprima Latreille, 1804 (Coleoptera: Lucanidae), pp. 151-202 in Zootaxa 4446 (2) on pages 154-160, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4446.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/145425
