264,035 research outputs found
Workshop di progettazione: Meta Matera Sassi / Towards Matera Sassi
No full textIl workshop “Meta Matera Sassi” riflette sulla città che si è riconfigurata intorno alle vicende del suo centro storico nell’intento di operare su due fronti:
— la connessione con la rete di mobilità territoriale e la qualificazione di una fruizione plurale del paesaggio urbano dei Sassi; — l’accessibilità e l’inclusività di quanto costituisce il cuore di Matera, nel confronto con la necessità di regolare i flussi per valorizzare l’esperienza culturale e turistica nel rispetto di un centro storico tanto unico quanto fragile. I temi si rapportano alle condizioni topografiche e morfologiche specifiche di una città che è espressione della sua stessa materia. Nei suoi caratteri essa racconta come quel suo difetto di modernità nel processo di infrastrutturazione possa oggi esprimere un modello si sostenibilità da rileggere e reinterpretare in un rapporto privilegiato tra natura e artificio. Le fasi conoscitive e di proposta del workshop mirano pertanto a:
— una rilettura sistemica di un centro urbano antico, che si innerva nella roccia e si articola tra scavo e costruzione, gestione delle acque e della luce, coltivazione e qualificazione degli spazi aperti, in una configurazione infrastrutturale del suolo che determina un rapporto con il paesaggio di straordinario equilibrio; — una riqualificazione architettonica e urbana di luoghi di soglia che introducono all’alterità dei Sassi, ma soprattutto ne tutelano caratteri e valori patrimoniali nella prospettiva di un turismo sostenibile. I luoghi di approfondimento e di intervento sono individuati lungo i margini del centro storico di Matera, per estendersi fino alla Civita e agli estremi lembi nord e sud dei Sassi Barisano e Caveoso. A questi si relazionano specifici itinerari che intercettano architetture e spazi aperti di particolare interesse per la comprensione dei diversi sistemi urbani. Nell’ambito dello studio progettuale a scala territoriale, al workshop è stata assegnata un’ulteriore area di studio: la stazione di Ferrandina Scalo, che nella sua posizione periferica rappresenta un luogo importante nell’azione di potenziamento delle connessioni con il territorio e la rete ferroviaria nazionale
SASSI and the MSC: How effective have they been with reaching consumers in Cape Town and raising their awareness
No full textThe 'sustainable seafood movement' is over 20 years old, and has made use of numerous methods in an attempt to educate consumers about seafood. In South Africa, there are two such campaigns: the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and the Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative (SASSI). This study aimed to investigate the awareness of consumers at major retail outlets in Cape Town of these initiatives, and to link awareness with seafood consumption behaviour. It used face-to-face surveys, which were conducted at all times of the week in outlets of three major supermarket chains located at five middle-class shopping centres. Aspects investigated included consumers': recognition of the MSC and SASSI; preferred seafood species; production method(s); and favoured sources of seafood. The data were analysed by means of chi-squared (χ2) analysis. The MSC label was recognised by slightly over a tenth of the consumers and SASSI by just less than half. Overall it was found that shoppers were more concerned about the quality and value for money, than the type, sustainability and size of their seafood. Consumers who shopped at the retail outlets which have a working relationship with SASSI did not show a higher awareness of SASSI. Even the consumers who were the most aware of SASSI and/or the MSC, and indicated that they considered sustainability a factor when making seafood choices, still favoured species from fisheries the sustainability of which is classified as problematic. The results point to raised awareness, yet unchanged purchasing behaviour
Metallactus sekerkai Sassi 2015
No full text<i>Metallactus sekerkai</i> Sassi, 2015 <p>(Figs 15; 32)</p> <p> <i>Metallactus sekerkai</i> Sassi, 2015: 704.</p> <p> <i>Types.</i> HOLOTYPE: ♂, glued, aedeagus glued on the same card bearing the specimen // “ Bolivia, Santa Cruz dpt., Florida pr. 1050-1150m Refugio Los Volcanes 18°06.3’ S 63°26.0’ W beating of vegetation L. Sekerka lgt. 10-14 xii 2011 ” [white label, printed] // “ <i>Metallactus sekerkai</i> <b>sp. nov</b> <b>.</b> HOLOTYPUS D. Sassi des.” [red label, printed] // (NMPC). PARATYPES: 2♂ 2♀, same data as the holotype, all provided with additional label: “ <i>Metallactus sekerkai</i> <b>sp. nov</b> <b>.</b> PARATYPUS D. Sassi des.” [red label, printed] // (NHMP, LSPC, DSPC).</p> <p> <i>Type locality.</i> Refugio Los Volcanes (Florida Province, Santa Cruz Dept., Bolivia).</p> <p> <i>Distribution</i>. Bolivia.</p> <p> <i>Further material examined</i>. BOLIVIA: Achira Santa Cruz rd to Floripondo 1900m Leg. Bonaso Morris & Wappes (2, NHMP); Achira Santa Cruz Dept. Florida Prov. 1999m 25.xi.2013 Leg. A. S. Konstantinov (1, USNMNH); Samaipata Santa Cruz Dept. Florida Prov. 1662m 30.xi.2013 Leg. A. S. Konstantinov (2, USNMNH).</p> <p> <i>Diagnosis</i>. A <i>Metallactus</i> of medium-large size. The species belongs to the subgroup with longitudinal dorsal color pattern. It resembles <i>M. albivittis</i> because of the dorsal overall light hue in which only yellow and reddish are present wereas black or dark brown patches are totally lacking. However, <i>M. albivittis</i> shows two longitudinal reddish lines on elytron (only one, much larger in <i>M. sekerkai</i>). Besides, <i>M. albivittis</i> has narrower, less transverse pronotum with stronger and closer punctuation. Median lobe of aedeagus is different as well.</p> <p> <i>Description of male</i>. Habitus in Fig. 15 a–b (HT). BL = 5.1–5.5 mm, BW = 2.9–3.2 mm, PL = 1.7–1.9 mm, PW = 2.6–2.8 mm. Interocular distance 9.1–9.8% of BL.</p> <p>Head yellow with reddish patches on vertex, insertion of antennae and lower part of clypeus. Vertex rather convex, sparsely and rather shallowly punctured with scattered, short setae. Frontoclypeal area coarsely punctured, generally more densely arranged along inner ocular rim. Mid-cranial suture long, very distinctly impressed so that surrounding surface looks slightly swollen. Antennae black, only apex of first five antennomeres yellowish.</p> <p>Pronotum yellow with two longitudinal reddish band, slightly angulate on inner rim, extending from apical to basal margin. Pronotal shape tronco-conical, rather lengthened. Sides only slightly arcuate, so that lateral margin are completely visible from above. Posterolateral impressions obliterated so that posterior margin not salient behind them. Surface regularly convex with punctation well impressed and sparse above all on sides.</p> <p>Scutellum dark yellow to red toward apex, bald, distinctly raised, with apex subtruncate.</p> <p>Elytron yellow with two large longitudinal reddish bands extended from base toward apex, in continuity with that ones on pronotum. Bands are sligthly concave on outer sides, tapered posteriorly and not reaching apex. Suture narrowly darkened. Elytral outline parallel-sided, lengthened, weakly flattened on disc. Postscutellar area regularly even, namely, not raised in shape of tubercle. Humeral callus scarcely prominent, impunctate. Surface moderately shiny with punctation fairly impressed, arranged in quite regular rows, slightly less impressed towards apex, rows are barely recognizable on periscutellar area and behind humera; Intervals flat.</p> <p>Pygidium yellow, rather lustrous, covered with sparse shallow punctures and whitish semi-erect setae.</p> <p>Inferior parts of thorax totally reddish. Hypomera coarsely and sparsely punctured, bare. Mesoepimera and mesoepisterna almost bare with shallow punctures. Metaepisterna and metasternum with irregular punctation and wrinkles, bearing sparse setae. Prosternal process coarsely punctured with long setae and raised, short, pointed triangular apex. Abdominal ventrites reddish with large marginal yellow band, sparsely, minutely punctured and with sparse, whitish setae. Legs reddish with apex of tibiae and tarsi black.</p> <p>Median depression on fifth abdominal ventrite shallow but well delimited from rest of ventrite surface. Posterior margin of fifth abdominal ventrite visibly notched. Median lobe of aedeagus (Fig. 15 c–e) cylindrical with apex scarcely separated from the rest of aedeagus, short, blunt. In lateral view apex faintly bent ventrally. Hairy dents scarcely impressed, rather lengthened, barely delimited but bordered below by a shallow depression, bearing rather long, dense, straight setae. Aedeagal ventral surface clearly swollen in lateral view, with a couple of shallow depression just below hairy dents, delimiting a faint and short median carina. Endophallus (Fig. 15f) with sclerite I robust, stout, with denticle apparent, blunt, forwardly directed and perceptibly sticking out laterally. Dorsal spicule well developed, slightly swollen, obtuse. Sclerite II well developed, abruptly bent at base and gradually tapered towards apex. Arch of sclerite III slender, scarcely raised. Apex of sclerite III straight and gradually pointed, slightly expanded on its proximal half, so that the sclerite looks like the head of a grebe. Branches of sclerite IV shorter than sclerite III in the folded-up structure, straight and relatively slender at basal half but distally broadened in a large, saddle-like, asymmetrical, microdenticulate apex. Surface of branches perceptibly rugose.</p> <p>Female. BL = 5.9–6.7 mm, BW = 3.5–3.8 mm, PL = 1.7–2.1 mm, PW = 2.0– 3.3 mm. Interocular distance 12.1–13.6 % of BL.</p> <p>Fifth abdominal ventrite in females with a deep, slightly transverse pit. Bottom of pit bald, matt, impunctate. Vasculum of spermatheca (Fig. 15g) scarcely pigmented with proximal branch faintly bent at base, long distal branch gradually tapered in a moderately pointed apex, slightly bent downwards. Ampulla not pigmented, lengthened, sticking out from basal rim of proximal branch, therefore not shifted on dorsal side of vasculum. Duct insertion and sperm gland insertion perceptibly distinct. Duct uniform in size, slender, coiled with coils rather thick, rather regularly arranged. Distal not coiled portion of duct long, minutely winding. Insertion on bursa copulatrix lengthened, S-shaped, barely swollen, moderately pigmented.</p>Published as part of <i>Sassi, Davide, 2019, Revision of the Metallactus hamifer species-group (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae), pp. 201-245 in Zootaxa 4657 (2)</i> on pages 236-238, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4657.2.1, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/3763876">http://zenodo.org/record/3763876</a>
A Hidden Water-Harvesting System: The Sassi de Matera
No full textThe water-harvesting system of the ancient Sassi di Matera, in the Basilicata region of southern Italy, represents a clever way of living with water in an arid climate. The terrain, with its soft rocks (Calcarenite di Gravina), provided the foundation for the water-harvesting system that shaped the cave dwellings of Sassi physically, socially and culturally. People caught, guided and stored water in private and public spaces, mostly underground, ensuring its availability for all. In 1993 UNESCO declared the cave village a World Heritage Site. Unfortunately, the water-harvesting system of Sassi di Matera is no longer functioning. Its historic ingenuity is not as visible as the system deserves and its cultural and social values are almost forgotten. Using layered visual analysis – the illustrative method – knowledge can be collected and communicated in drawings to get insight regarding more resilient, circular, and people-related approaches (Bobbink, Chourairi and Di Nicola 2022). This article and the included drawings focus on the water system’s value, from which we can learn today.Landscape Architectur
Gianni Sassi e l'Arci
No full textGianni Sassi è stato un grafico milanese molto attivo negli anni Sessanta e Settanta. Qui è descritto il suo rapporto con l'associazione Arci e i manifesti da lui realizzati per l'associazione.Gianni Sassi has been a Milan based graphic designer very active in the Sixties and the Seventies. The relationship between Sassi and the Italian Association ARCI, together with posters designed by Sassi for ARCI, is described
Pachybrachis holerorum Montagna & Sassi, new species
No full textPachybrachis holerorum Montagna & Sassi, new species (figure 3) Material examined. Holotype. Male, deposited in MSNM. Original label: Emilia-Romagna, Parma, Passo del Pellizzone, 1000 m, 8.VI. 2011, Montagna & Sassi leg., 44 ° 40 ' 48.84 "N 9 ° 44 ' 42.66 " E [white label, printed] / Pachybrachis holerorum n. sp. holotypus Montagna & Sassi des. [red, printed]. DNA extracted to perform the amplification through PCRs of the genes: cox 1, rbcL and trnL. Paratypes. 46 specimens: Emilia-Romagna, Parma, Passo del Pellizzone, 1000 m, Montagna & Sassi leg., 44 ° 40 ' 48.84 "N 9 ° 44 ' 42.66 " E [white labels, printed], 8 ♂ and 19 ♀, DNA extracted from 4 ♂ (gene cox 1) and 2 ♀ (genes: cox 1, rbcL and trnL); Lombardia, PV, dint. Brallo di Pregola, Cima Colletta, 1366 m, 16. VI. 2011, Sassi leg., 44 ° 42 ' 37.59 "N 9 ° 15 ' 36.55 "E [white labels, printed], 3 ♂ and 1 ♀; Em. Romagna, MO, Nirano, Salse di Nirano, 30.V. 2007, D. Sassi leg. [white label, handwritten], 1 ♂ and 2 ♀; LOMB. Emilia, Lago di Trebecco, 11.6. 1997, leg. D. Sassi, [white label, printed], 2 ♂; Lombardia, PV, R, de' Giorgi, 16.6. 1990, D. Sassi, 3 ♂ and 6 ♀ [white label, printed]; Em. Romagna, MO, Sassatella, 800 m, 30.V. 2007, D. Sassi leg., [white label, printed], 1 ♂. All paratypes with our label: Pachybrachis holerorum n. sp. paratypus Montagna & Sassi des. [red, printed]. Paratypes in MSNM, DSPC, MMPC, MSPC, MDPC. Etymology. The name is genitive plural of holus, used by the Roman poet Lucilius to indicate leguminous forbs. Description of male. Total length: male = 2.9 ± 0.1 mm. Head yellow except vertex, a median longitudinal stripe with bifurcated apex along frons, antennae sockets, anterior margin of clypeus black. Frons shining, covered with fairly impressed punctation, denser on clypeus and above insertion of antennae, sparser on frons. Antennae filiform, brownish, segments 1–5 partly yellowish. Pronotum black with yellow bands along anterior and lateral borders; anterior band lightly thickened at anterior angles and with short median posteriorly directed vitta; two anteriorly directed yellow lines from basal margin at sides of scutellum, 1.5 times wider than long, regularly curved at sides, with maximum width at about middle; punctation deep, denser at sides, slightly sparser on disc. Scutellum elevated, black, minutely punctate, apically truncate. Elytra coarsely punctured, partially arranged in striae; interstices raised, black with yellow pattern slightly raised from black surface, arranged as follows (spots and vittae may be interrupted or absent): narrow bands and vittae along anterior, lateral and posterior margins; narrow vitta along posterior half of sutural margin; two elongated spots near suture, plus one behind scutellum and one larger, in median position; longitudinal vitta on anterior margin lateral to humeral callus; post-median spot on disc; several smaller spots variously arranged on elytral surface. Epipleura black in posterior half, partly yellow anteriorly, with one or two series of irregularly aligned punctures on edges. Venter black, mesepimera with yellow spot, sometimes indistinct. Abdominal ventrites sparsely punctured and covered with rather sparse, long whitish hairs; ventrite 5 with shallow depression, glabrous. Legs yellow, fore femora blackish along posterior edge; median and hind femora largely darkened along basal half, fore tibiae yellow; meso and metatibiae darkened at apex; tarsi mostly yellow, more or less darkened towards apex. First protarsomere moderately broadened, as wide as apex of tibia. Apex of aedeagal median lobe (figure 4) acute, lateroventrally with row of white hairs, shaft thin and elongated, slightly careened along ventral surface, venter straight in lateral view. Female differs from male in: larger and stouter body (length 3.3 ± 0.1 mm); frons broader and, as result, eyes more separated; generally reduced yellow pattern; first protarsomeres significantly narrower than tibiae apically; rectal apparatus (figure 5 a,b) with two dorsal and one ventral sclerites; dorsal sclerites short and narrow, slightly wider than rectum, transverse connection across dorsal fold not perceptible, so sclerites essentially reduced to the apodemes only; ventral sclerite ribbon-like, evenly pigmented in the middle, with large and rounded apodemes at both ends, wider than rectum; dorsal and ventral sclerotizations of lateral fold present; spermatheca (figure 5 c) sickle-shaped, lightly pigmented, basal part not swollen; base reflexed, with gland and duct insertions well sclerotized, so that it seems bifurcated; duct not coiled, quite short, its insertion on bursa copulatrix not enlarged and only feebly and briefly pigmented. Diagnosis. Pachybrachis of medium-small size, characterized by elytral pattern, with marginal yellow stripe from anterior edge, to and around posterior margin, then along apical half of suture. This stripe interrupted only at humeral callus. Similar elytral marginal stripes are present in P. karamani Weise and P. fimbriolatus Suffrian, with which the new species forms a group, based on morphology. In P. karamani, the elytral yellow spots are generally smaller, and the irregularly distributed small spots that characterize P. holerorum are almost entirely missing. Pachybrachis fimbriolatus is distinguished from the new species by: less transverse and more minutely and densely punctured pronotum, reduced elytral yellow spotting, particularly, postmedian dot nearly always absent. The new species clearly differs from the all Pachybrachis species in the shape of the median lobe of aedeagus (figures 4 and 6). Distribution. The new species is endemic to Northern Apennines, Italy. The type locality is Emilia Romagna, Piacenza Prov., Passo del Pellizzone (also written “Pelizzone”) (44 ° 40 ' 48.84 "N 9 ° 44 ' 42.66 "E). Remarks. The biology of P. holerorum is poorly known. At Passo del Pellizzone it was collected in early June on Lotus herbaceus. This possible host was confirmed by the gut analysis of plant DNA from specimens at this locality. The preference of many species of the genus Pachybrachis for Fabaceae is well known (Jolivet and Hawkeswood 1995). Pachybrachis holerorum is restricted to the north and west Apennines and P. k a r a m a n i is on the Adriatic slopes of North and Central Apennines (Sassi 2006). Molecular and morphological evidence show that Pachybrachis holerorum and P. karamani are recently diverged sister species in adjacent allopatric ranges, suggesting vicariant origin for the two species. We take the opportunity here to designate a lectotype for P. karamani, to fix the identity of this species which is similar to P. holerorum. The syntypic series of P. k a r a m a n i consists of five specimens. We designate a male as lectotype, labelled as follows: Spalato (handwritten, white label) / Typus (printed, red label) / karamani Ws. (handwritten, white label) / Zool. Mus. Berlin (printed, yellow label) / Sintypus (printed, red label) / Pachybrachis karamani Weise, 1893 labelled by MNHUB 2012 (printed, red label). Pachybrachis karamani Weise, 1893 LECTOTYPUS Montagna & Sassi des. (Printed / red label). The remaining paralectotypes are labelled as follows: 2 ♂, 1 ♀: Spalato (handwritten, white label) / Typus (printed, red label) / Zool. Mus. Berlin (printed, yellow label) / Sintypus (printed, red label) / Pachybrachis karamani Weise, 1893 labelled by MNHUB 2012 (printed, red label). Pachybrachis karamani Weise, 1893 PARALECTOTYPUS Montagna & Sassi des. (Printed / red label). Female: Spalato Karam (handwritten, white label) / Karamani det. Burlini 1968 (partly printed, white label) / Zool. Mus. Berlin (printed, yellow label) / Karamani (handwritten, white label) / Typus (printed, red label) / Pachybrachis karamani Weise, 1893 labelled by MNHUB 2012 (printed, red label). Pachybrachis karamani Weise, 1893 PARALECTOTYPUS Montagna & Sassi des. (Printed / red label). Concluding remarks In our study of these Pachybrachis populations, the combination of three different approaches (morphological features of the aedeagus, nucleotide distance values and a method delimiting species based on single-locus molecular data), has provided evidence for a new species and its sister taxon. The results contained in this work strongly confirm the urgent need to increase efforts to uncover the real biodiversity of the European fauna, in particular the Mediterranean region. Acknowledgements We cordially thank Dr. Johannes Frisch and Joachim Willers of the Museum für Naturkunde (Berlin) which give us the opportunity to study the type series of P. k a r a m a n i Weise, 1893. Moreover we thank Dr. Matthias Schöller (Berlin) for the helpful comments, Michele Zilioli of the Museo civico di Storia naturale di Milano for the SEM support, Loris Colacurcio (Bologna) for his precious help during the collecting campaigns, the Editor and two anonymous reviewers for their comments and suggestions to the preliminary version of the manuscript. This work was partially supported by "Accordo di Programma, affermazione in Edolo del Centro di Eccellenza Università della Montagna" MIUR-Università degli Studi di Milano, prot. n. 1293 - 05/08/ 2011.Published as part of Montagna, Matteo, Sassi, Davide & Giorgi, Annamaria, 2013, Pachybrachis holerorum (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae), a new species from the Apennines, Italy, identified by integration of morphological and molecular data, pp. 243-253 in Zootaxa 3741 (2) on pages 248-252, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3741.2.3, http://zenodo.org/record/22264
Griburius decoratus D. Sassi
No full text<i>Griburius decoratus</i> (Suffrian, 1852) stat. restored <p>(Figs 1c; 5; 12d)</p> <p> <i>Scolochrus decoratus</i> Suffrian 1852: 124 (original description); Suffrian, 1858: 392 (taxonomic notes); Jacoby 1880: 61 (taxonomic notes); Jacoby 1889: 126 (taxonomic notes).</p> <p> <i>Griburius decoratus</i>: Clavareau, 1913: 90 (as syn of <i>G. larvatus</i>, catalogue); Blackwelder, 1946: 640 (as syn. of <i>G. larvatus</i>, catalogue); Niño-Maldonado <i>et al.</i>, 2014: 127 (catalogue).</p> <p> The only critical discussion on the status of <i>G. decoratus</i> subsequent to its description (Suffrian, 1866) is that of Jacoby (1880) who considers the taxon conspecific of <i>G. larvatus</i>, but he strangely uses the epithet <i>decoratus</i> as prevailing on the older <i>larvatus</i>. The synonymy appears without further comments in the subsequent catalogues (Clavareau, 1913 and Blackwelder, 1946) but with the acknowledgement of the priority of the epithet <i>larvatus</i>. In the collections studied by me (for instance BMNH and MNHUB) the two species appear mixed up and in any case with confused determination, and the epithets <i>larvatus</i>, <i>decoratus</i> and <i>spadiceus</i> used in a very imprecise way. Even though the epithet <i>decoratus</i> appears in a recent work (Niño-Maldonado <i>et al.</i>, 2014) correctly referring to the taxon present in Mexico but without any comments or critical discussion, it is considered useful to formally confirm the species status of <i>G. decoratus</i> as a distinct species from <i>G. larvatus</i>.</p> <p> <i>Scolochrus spadiceus</i> Suffrian, 1852: 131 (original description); Suffrian, 1858: 392 (taxonomic notes).</p> <p> <i>Scolochrus decoratus spadiceus</i>: Jacoby 1880: 61 (as subsp. of <i>G. decoratus</i>, taxonomic notes).</p> <p> <i>Griburius spadiceus</i>: Clavareau, 1913: 90 (as syn. of <i>G. larvatus</i>, catalogue); Blackwelder, 1946: 640 (as syn. of <i>G. larvatus</i>, catalogue). <b>Syn. nov.</b></p> <p> <i>Griburius spadiceus</i> was given the status of “variety” by Jacoby (1880), so, strictly speaking, it should have been considered at a subspecific level, but in the following brief discussion, Jacoby seemed to give no weight to this chromatic form. Confirming this, there is the fact that the taxon was no longer mentioned in the <i>supplementum</i> (Jacoby, 1889). However, given the present confusion in the literature among the three epithets <i>larvatus</i>, <i>decoratus</i> and <i>spadiceus</i>, a formal statement of new synonymy is given here to clearly establish the status as a full synonym of <i>G. decoratus</i>.</p> <p> <i>Types.</i> Suffrian did not mention the number of the specimens of <i>Griburius decoratus</i> available for the study, but he gave a long and detailed description of the colour pattern variability and pointed out some features for both males and females, therefore he was able to study a quite high number of specimens. To confirm this, he gave an unusual long (10 items) list of private and public collections as depositories of the available material. He pointed out seven “variants” on the basis of the elytral colour pattern, but he clearly did not give this variation any taxonomic significance because none of those “variants” were given a name, and no described chromatic pattern was linked to a geographic datum. On the other hand, he was convinced he was describing a Mexican species, as he wrote: “From Mexico (Oaxaca) and probably widespread there and not rare, since it is present as the most common species in almost all the collections that I have compared”. The inspection of the collections available at present, allowed to trace down four syntypes in MNHUB (two from Mexico and two from Texas, which is not mentioned in the original description) and three syntypes in BNHM (all of them from Mexico). Unexpectedly, the two specimens from Texas in MNHUB turned out to belong to a different species with respect to the reminders. Since Suffrian stated that his species was a Mexican species, as mentioned above, the name-bearing specimen was chosen accordingly. Consequently, the Texan specimens turned out to belong to a new taxon which is described below (<i>Griburius rileyi</i> n. sp.). It might be objected that, being the locality not mentioned in the description, the specimens should be excluded from the type series. This would be a sensible point, but it should be noticed, on the other hand, that the catalogue number (23993) makes them fully embedded in a long list of material unquestionably seen by Suffrian and used as the basis for the description of several taxa. Moreover, it has already been pointed out (Sassi, 2018) that Suffrian was sometimes not very precise in reporting all the data on the attached labels. Taking all these circumstances into account, the Texan specimens were considered part of the type series.</p> <p> In order to stabilize the epithet, the typification was made as follows. LECTOTYPE (by present designation): ♀, pinned, // “23995” [white label, printed] // “decoratus var Suffr.” [blue label, handwritten] // “ <i>Griburius decoratus</i> (Suffrian, 1852) (<i>Scolochrus decoratus</i>) LECTOTYPUS D. Sassi des.” [red label, printed] // (MNHUB). The label information for this specimen matches the registration data from the old catalogue of the MNHUB (“23995 [Scolochrus decoratus] var. 1. [Mexico]”). PARALECTOTYPES were designated as follows. 1♀, pinned, // “23994” [white label, printed] // “ Scolochrus decoratus var Suffr. Mexico Saubert” [blue label, handwritten] // (MNHUB); 1♁ 1♀, pinned // “23993” [white label, printed] // “ Scolochrus decoratus Suffr. ” [blue label, handwritten] // “10maculatus Reiche Texas Buguet” [white label, handwritten] // “ Scolochrus decoratus var Suffr. Mexico Saubert” [blue label, handwritten] // “ <i>Griburius rileyi</i> sp. nov. PARATYPUS D. Sassi des.” [red label, printed] // (MNHUB); 1♀, pinned, // “ Scolochrus decoratus Suffr Mexico ” [white label, handwritten] // “Named by Suffrian” [white label, handwritten] // “Baly Coll.” [white label, printed] // “Type. Sp. figured.” [white label, printed] // (BMNH); 1♀, pinned, // “ Scolochrus decoratus Suffr Mexico ” [white label, handwritten] // “Named by Suffrian” [White label, handwritten] // “Baly Coll.” [white label, printed] // “Type. Sp. figured.” [white label, printed] // (BMNH); 2♀, pinned, // “Type Suffrian Coll Deyrolle” [white label, handwritten] // “Baly Coll.” [white label, printed] // (BMNH). The label information for the MNHUB paralectotypes matches the registration data from the old catalogue of the MNHUB. All paralectotypes were labelled: // “ <i>Griburius decoratus</i> (Suffrian, 1852) (<i>Scolochrus decoratus</i>) PARALECTOTYPUS D. Sassi des.” [red label, printed] //.</p> <p> Regarding <i>Griburius spadiceus</i>, a female specimen housed in MNHUB matches the information in the original description and can be considered as belonging to the type series. In order to stabilize the epithet, the typification was made as follows. LECTOTYPE (by present designation): ♀, pinned, // “23996” [white label, printed] // “ Scolochrus spadiceus Suffr Mosquito Mull” [blue label, handwritten] // “ <i>Griburius spadiceus</i> (Suffrian, 1852) (<i>Scolochrus spadiceus</i>) LECTOTYPUS D. Sassi des.” [red label, printed] // “ <i>Griburius decoratus</i> (Suffrian, 1852) D. Sassi det. 2015” [white label, printed] // (MNHUB). The label information for this specimen matches the registration data from the old catalogue of the MNHUB (“23996 – spadiceus Suffr. * 1. Mosquito, Mull.”).</p> <p> <i> <i>Type locality.</i> G. decoratus</i> : “ Mexico ”. <i>G. spadiceus</i>: “ Mosquito Coast ” (Honduras-Nicaragua).</p> <p> <i>Additional material examined</i>. <b>BELIZE</b>: <b>Cayo:</b> Blancaneaux Lodge Chiquebul Road at Privassion Creek 7.VII.1981 (1, USNMNH); <b>Stann Creek</b>: Stann Creek Valley Melinda V–VI.1976 (1, TAMU); <b>Toledo</b>: 2 mi SW Punta Gorda 16.VIII.1978 (1, BMNH); Ruinas Lubaantun 6.VIII.1988 (ERPC). <b>GUATEMALA</b>: <b>Alta Vera Paz</b>: Lanquin 2–5.VI.1948 (5, FIMU); Panzós (1, USNMNH). <b>HONDURAS</b>: <b>Atlantida</b>: Playas de Peru 28.V.1993 (1, FSCA); <b>Cortés</b>: Villanueva Bufalo 11.VIII.2022 (1, GBIF). <b>MEXICO</b>: “ Mexico ” (18, MNHUB & ZMUC & HNHMB & NHMP & MSNG & USMNHN); “Mexico” coll. Kraatz & coll. Haag (4, SDEI); “Mexico Müller” (3, SDEI). <b>CAMPECHE</b>: Chicanna Ruins 6 mi W Xpujil 27.VII.1980 ’ (1, TAMU). <b>CHIAPAS</b>: 8.4 mi N Ocozocoautla 2900 ft 16.VIII.1967 (5, TAMU); 4 mi NE Pichucalco 14.VI.1965 (1, TAMU); 2 mi N Tapilula 16.VI.1965 (3, TAMU); 31 km E La Trinitaria 4800 ft 14.VIII.1967 (1, TAMU); Palenque 22.VI.2011 (1, MSPC); Ruins at Palenque 26.VI.1959 (2, AMNH); 2.4 km NNW Ojo de Agua 7.VI.2011 (DSPC); 18 km N Ocosinga 24.VI.1987 (1, TAMU); Simojovel VI.1989 & 10.VII.1990 & 8.VI.1991 (9, ERPC). <b>HIDALGO</b>: 3 mi W Hidl. & S.L.P. border on 85 25.V.1979 (1 (ERPC); Chapulhuacan 20.V.1952 (3, AMNH). <b>JALISCO</b>: 28 mi E Guadalajara 15.VIII.1962 (3, CNCI). <b>NUEVO LEON</b>: Linares 1.VII.1973 taken at light (1, TAMU); 27 km W Linares 22.VIII.1977 light (1, TAMU); 15 mi W Linares 2.VII.1973 (1, TAMU). <b>OAXACA</b>: “ Oaxaca ” (2, CNCI & USNMHN); Mathias Romero 12.VII.1992 (1, NHMB); Mathias Romero 10.VII.1957 (1, CNCI); Chiltepec 17.VIII.1998 (11, MSPC); Temascal 30.VI.1964 (2, BYU); Valle Nacional 11.VIII.1989 (ERPC). <b>PUEBLA</b>: Pozo Tlaxcalaltongo 12.VII.1970 (2, CNIABM); Necaxa [uncertain because difficult to decipher] (1, USNMNH). <b>QUINTANA ROO</b>: 10 mi N Chetumal 18.V.1985 (2, ERPC); Cancun 10.VIII.1990 (3, ERPC); 1–5 km S Cancun at light 3.VI.2009 (1, BYU); Nuevo Xcan 6.VI.1959 (1, AMNH); Chetumal-Caldevitas 6.VI.1994 (2, MDPC & NHMP). <b>SAN LUIS POTOSÍ</b>: Tamazunchale 18–22.VI.1941 (6, FIMU); 35 mi N Tamazunchale 30.VII.1960 (2, CNCI); 8 mi N Tamazunchale 700’ 24.VII.1882 (ERPC); Huichihuayan 20 mi N Tamazunchale 19.V.1952 (1, AMNH); Huichihuayan 8.VIII.1967 (1, TAMU); Xilitla 1800’ 24.VII.1954 (1, CNCI); 2 mi E Xilitla 22.VI.1970 (2, TAMU); 3.4 mi W Xilitla 23.VIII.1974 (1, TAMU); 4 mi NE Xilitla 2500’ 26.V.1974 (2, ERPC); 5 mi NE Ciudad del Maiz 4500 ft 22.VIII.1954 (1, CNCI); Valles 26.VI.1940 & 18.V.1952 (5, FIMU & AMNH); 17 mi N Valles 7.VII.1966 (1, TAMU); 20 mi W Valles 2.VIII.1971 (1, BYU); Axtla 23.VI.1941 (1, FIMU); El Salto Falls 2000–2500 ft 8.VIII.1963 (1, FSCA); El Salto Falls 25.V.1979 (1, ERPC); El Salto 5.VI.1965 (3, TAMU); El Salto de Agua 28.VII.1960 (1, CNCI); 1 mi E El Naranjo 7.VIII.1967 (1, TAMU); 6 mi S Matalpa 7.VII.1966 (1, TAMU); Picolco 21.V.1952 (2, AMNH). <b>TABASCO</b>: La Cantalpa 30.IV.1973 (1, USNMNH); 30 mi W Cardenas 4.VII.1971 (7, TAMU); Campo Exp. CSAT 20 km W Cardenas 23.VII.1980 (2, TAMU); Teapa 29.VI.1964 (2, AMNH). <b>TAMAULIPAS</b>: Bocatoma 7 km SSE Gomez Farias 19.V.1979 & 4.VI.1982 (15, FSCA & TAMU & ERPC); Ets. Biol. Los Cedros Gomes Farias 350 m 26.VII.1993 (1, TAMU); 5 mi N Llera 4.VI.1965 (1, TAMU); 6 mi N Manuel 25.VIII.1974 (1, TAMU); 18.6 mi S Tampico 13.VIII.1972 (1, TAMU); Antiguo Morelos 1400ft 20.VII.1954 (1, CNCI). <b>VERACRUZ</b>: Veracruz (5, TAMU & NHMP & AMNH); Veracruz 3.VII.1941 (3, FIMU); Veracruz VIII.1959 & VII.1965 (7, USNMHN); 26 mi E Huatusco 29.VI.1991 (2, FSCA); Fortin 30.V.1986 (1, FSCA); Fortin 25.VII.1956 (1, AMNH); Catemaco 22.VIII.1967 (1, TAMU); 1.6 mi S Catemaco 8.VI.1965 (1, TAMU); 16.5 mi S Catemaco 17.VI.1985 (12, FSCA); 2–7 mi S Catemaco 31.VIII.1980 (2, BYU); Lake Catemaco 3.VII.1959 & 4.VI.1963 (3, AMNH & FSCA); Playa Azul Lake Catemaco 7.VII.1957 (2, FIMU); env. El Salto de Eyipantla 15 kn S San Andres Tuxtla 15.VI.1985 (19, FSCA); San Andres de Tuxtla 15.VII.1966 (1, TAMU); 2.8 mi SE Tebanca E of Catemaco 17.VI.1985 (1, FSCA); 1.5 mi NE Tatahuicapan 25.VI.1985 (4, FSCA); Cerro Gordo ca 3000 ft alt 3.VII.1941 (5, FIMU); Puente Nacional 3.VII.1941 (1, FIMU); 9.5 mi NE El Tropico 26.VI.1985: Mendoza 1300m 22.VII.1983 (1, MNHUB); Los Mongos 9.VII.1974 (1, TAMU); Mpio Puente nacional El Crucero nr Puente nacional 13.VI.1997 (1, TAMU); Puente nacional 17.VII.1960 (1, CNCI); 12 mi NW Amate 1.VII.1971 (2, TAMU); 3 mi N Huatusco 29.VI.1971 (1, TAMU); 14 mi W Conejos 30.VI.1971 (5, TAMU); 5 km W Conejos 30.VI.1971 (1, TAMU); 4 mi NE Minatitlan 11.VI.1965 (3, TAMU); Lerdo de Tejada 29.VIII.1962 (1, TAMU); 7 mi NE Mata Espino 1.VII.1971 (3, TAMU); 3 mi W Cardena 4.VII.1971 (2, TAMU); 20 mi SE Jalapa 30.VIII.1980 (1, BYU); 6 mi SW Coatzacoalcos 21.VII.1967 (1, TAMU); 5 mi W Palma Sola 28.VII.1974 (2, TAMU); Tierra Blanca 28.VII.1941 (1, CNCI); 17 mi N Acayucan 11.VI.1965 (1, TAMU); San Juan de la Punta 18.VII.1941 (2, FIMU); Córdoba 11.VII.1936 (1, FIMU); Cordova [sic.] [Córdoba] (1, SDEI); Hueyapan 8.VII.1957 (FIMU); Tamascal 19.VII.1980 (2, TAMU); Tolome nr Rinconada 27.VII.1955 (2, AMNH); Rinconada 2000 ft alt. 29.VI.1941 (FIMU); El Tajin Ruins 10 mi S Poza Rica (2, FSCA); Vega de Alatorre 28.VI.1971 (1, TAMU); 5 mi NW Lerdo de Tejada 10.VI.1965 (1, TAMU); 2 mi E Tula 10.VI.1965 (1, TAMU); Atoyac 25.VI.1982 (4, BYU); Plan del Rio 2500 ft alt. 6.VII.1957 (1, FIMU); Orizaba (1, NHMP); Xalapa (2, FIMU); Hwy 150 2 mi E Cuitlahuac 3.VIII.1965 (9, ERPC); Tierra Blanca (1, AMNH). <b>YUCATÁN</b>: Piste 8.VI.1959 (2, AMNH); Piste 8.VI.1959 (2, AMNH); 17 km N Piste 16.VI.1990 (1, TAMU); 10 kn S Piste 14.VI.1991 UV light (1, FSCA); Chuminopolis 12 VII.1952 & 4.VIII.1952 & 6.VIII.1964 (5, AMNH); Tixkokob (1, 5.VII.1952 (1, AMNH); Tixkokob 5.VII.1952 (1, AMNH); Dolores Otero 13.VII.1952 (2, AMNH); Cordeleira Mayapan 29.VI – 2.VII.1952 (5, AMNH); Cordeleira Mayapan 3.VIII.1952 (1, AMNH); Acanceh 31.VII.1952 (1, AMNH); Temax (6, SDEI); Chitzin Itza 13.VI.1993 (1, TAMU); Chichen Itza 20.VII.1952 (1, AMNH); Chichen Itza 18.V.1987 (1, ERPC); Chichen Itza (2, FIMU); 6–10 km W Valladolid 2.VIII.1990 (2, BYU); Merida 29.VII.1964 (2, USNMNH).</p> <p> <i>Additional data from literature</i>. Tamaulipas (Niño-Maldonado <i>et al.</i>, 2014). The ambiguous type locality of <i>G. spadiceus</i> could indicate its presence in Nicaragua, but this country record remains unconfirmed.</p> <p> <i>Distribution.</i> Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua?, Mexico (new to Belize, Guatemala).</p> <p> <i>Diagnosis</i>. Very similar to <i>G. rileyi</i> and <i>G. larvatus</i>, this species is distinguished from both by the greater extension of the dorsal black pattern. In particular, the two spots on the disc of the pronotum tend to be angular, and almost always touch the anterior margin and, sometimes, also the posterior one. The tendency of the elytral spots to fuse is more developed than in the two species mentioned above, and therefore the pattern with two dark transverse bands, one basal and one postmedian, is very common. The examination of the aedeagal median lobe allows a more reliable identification: in ventral view, in <i>G. decoratus</i> the apex is shorter, its sides forming almost right angles with the profile of the aedeagal tube. In <i>G. rileyi</i> and <i>G. larvatus</i> the sides of the apex form a much more open angle.</p> <p> <i>Description of male.</i> BL = 3.9–4.8 mm, BW = 2.4–3.0 mm, PL = 1.4–1.9 mm, PW = 2.3–2.8 mm. Interocular distance 2.6–4.2 % of BL.</p> <p>Head (Fig. 5d) yellow with vertex, surface between upper lobes of eyes and insertion of antennae black. Labrum yellow. Vertex matt, sparsely and shallowly punctured with very short, recumbent, whitish setae. Surface of frontoclypeal area matt as well, with sparse, weakly impressed punctation and scattered setae. Longer setae only between antennal insertions. Mid-cranial suture well detectable on lower part of vertex and between upper lobes of eyes. Upper lobes of eyes close to each other along midline, but always separated by distinct strip of frons space. Ocular lines narrow, marked by row of punctures, strictly adhering to ocular rim up to ocular canthus. Ocular canthus large not differentiated in punctation and setosity from the remainder of frontoclypeal surface. Antennae (Fig. 5m) with antennomeres 1–2 yellow, 3–11 progressively darkened; antennomeres 3–5 bright, subcylindrical; antennomeres 6–11, dull, more flattened and more diffusedly setose.</p> <p>Pronotum yellow with two large, angulate black spots extended from anterior margin up to posterior half of disc. Sometimes such spots reaching posterior margin. Pronotal shape roughly elliptical, moderately transverse, perceptibly flattened on disc. Lateral margins narrow, not visible from above, regularly curved so that maximum width nearly at middle. Surface moderately shiny with scattered, fine punctation at middle of disc. Punctures coarser and more deeply impressed along sides and in proximity of posterolateral impressions. Posterolateral impressions well distinguishable and obliquely arranged, marked by some strong punctures at bottom of depression. Pronotal posterior margin thickened along posterolateral impressions.</p> <p>Scutellum yellow, sometimes vaguely tinged with brownish at center, subtriangular with apex shortly truncated. Surface minutely and sparsely punctured, with scarce, very short setae.</p> <p>Elytron usually yellow with large subrectangular black band along basal margin, occupying whole anterior fourth, leaving free only postscutellar area. Second transverse, slightly sinuous black band extended between midline and apical clivus. Further black spot, rising from latter, extended along suture, broadened onward and generally meeting the anterior black band. Suture along apical clivus narrowly black. Quite frequently black design less developed, with transversal bands fractioned into separate, roughly rounded spots, giving 4 + 1 + 3 pattern on total area of two elytra. More rarely, part of those spots missing or very small. Epipleuron yellow. Elytral outline short with sides almost straight and convergent posteriorly. Lateral margins narrow, simultaneously visible from above only along posterior half. Elytral surface slightly flattened on disc, moderately shiny with well-impressed punctation arranged in almost regular rows, distinct up to posterior clivus. Intervals flat. Postscutellar area fairly raised. Humeral callus prominent, impunctate. Epipleuron smooth, impunctate, with convex surface.</p> <p>Pygidium totally yellow. Surface matt, covered with close shallow punctures and appressed, pale setae.</p> <p>Ventral parts of thorax black usually with yellow spot on metasternum. Prosternal process spotted with yellow as well. Abdominal ventrites 1–4 black with yellow margins. Fifth abdominal ventrite almost completely yellow. Hypomera, mesepimera and mesepisterna almost bare, shiny, with scattered punctures. Remainder of ventral surface of thorax matt, covered with rather dense, short, regularly distributed setae and fine, shallow punctures. Prosternal process large, with sides almost straight between anterior coxae, then converging in large, round apex; surface anteriorly almost flat, then slightly concave toward apex, covered with coarse, shallow punctures and sparse, long, semi-erect setae. Legs totally light yellow.</p> <p>Median depression on fifth abdominal ventrite very shallow and hardly detectable, but with fewer setae and punctures than remainder of ventrite surface.Ventrite posterior margin very feebly notched. Median lobe of aedeagus (Fig. 5g –k) with apex bluntly terminated in almost straight line, with median short, acute denticle. Ventral outline marked with low, straight carina along nearly whole aedeagal shaft. Setose depressions narrow, shallow laterally, with surface covered by small punctures and long arcuate setae.</p> <p> <i>Female</i>. Habitus in Fig. 5a–b (LT). BL = 5.0– 5.8 mm, BW = 3.3–3.8 mm,
Metallactus geiseri Sassi 2022, sp. nov.
No full text<i>Metallactus geiseri</i> Sassi sp. nov. <p>(Figs 9; 19)</p> <p>http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: C4EB5B59-F38A-4EBF-8FEB-990F6970501D</p> <p> <i>Types.</i> HOLOTYPE: ♂, body, aedeagus and detached abdomen glued on the same card, // “ Brazil: Mato Grosso Cuiabá, Recanto do Siriema 15°35´31´´S 56°01´33´´W ca. 180 m, 26.II.2020, sweeping & hand collecting” [white label, printed] // “A. A. Mota, M. V. L. Barclay, J. P. Cristóvão, M. F. Geiser & A. Gonzáles-Alvarado leg., BMNH{E} 2020-32” [white label, printed] // “ Griburius cf. multicolor (Jac.) det. M. Geiser 2020” [white label, partly handwritten] // “ <i>Metallactus geiseri</i> sp. nov. HOLOTYPUS D. Sassi des.” [red label, printed] // (CEMT). PARATYPES (7 males and 7 females): 1♂, same data of the holotype; 1♂ 1♀ // “ Brazil: Mato Grosso Cuiabá, Recanto do Siriema 15°35´31´´S 56°01´33´´W ca. 180 m, 16.II.2020 ” [white label, printed] // “A.A. Mota, J. P. Cristóvão & M. G. Geiser leg., sweeping. BMNH{E} 2020-32” [white label, printed] //; 1♂ 1♀ // “ Brazil: Mato Grosso Cuiabá, Recanto do Siriema 15°35´32´´S 56°01´36´´W sweeping, 09.II.2021 ” BMNH{E} 2021-89” [white label, printed] //; 3♂ 1♀ // “ Brazil: Mato Grosso Cuiabá UFMT campus 17-20.II.2020, ca. 170 m, 15°36´33´´S 56°04´05´´W, sweeping & hand collecting” [white label, printed] // “A.A. Mota, M. F. Geiser, A. Bach, L. Coradini, & D. F. Rodriguez leg.” // “BMNH{E} 2020-32” [white label, printed] //; 1♂ 4♀ // “ Brazil: Mato Grosso Cuiabá UFMT Campus 15°36´33´´S 56°04´04´´W ca. 170 m, 18-27.IX.2018, M. Geiser & J. Cristóvão leg., sweeping & hand collecting” [white label, printed] // “BMNH {E} 2018-179” [white label, printed] //. Paratypes are housed in CEMT, BMNH and DSPC. All paratypes provided with additional label: // “ <i>Metallactus geiseri</i> sp. nov. PARATYPUS D. Sassi des.” [red label, printed] //.</p> <p> <i>Etymology.</i> The species is named after Dr. Michael Geiser, Coleoptera curator at The Natural History Museum in London, U.K., who collected specimens of the new species and kindly allowed me to study them.</p> <p> <i>Type locality.</i> Recanto do Siriema (Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil).</p> <p> <i>Distribution</i>. Brazil.</p> <p> <i>Diagnosis</i>. The most similar species to <i>M. geiseri</i> in colouration is <i>M. taeniatellus</i>, and the strong chromatic variability makes the attribution of specimens to one or to the other species problematic based on this characteristic alone; however, on the ventral surface of the aedeagal median lobe, the setose depression on each side in <i>M. geiseri</i> is downwardly sharply delimited from the deep rounded pit, while in <i>M. taeniatellus</i>, the setose depressions and pits are not clearly separated from each other. The longitudinal median carina is also significantly wider at the aedeagal apex in <i>M. geiseri</i> than in <i>M. taeniatellus</i>.</p> <p> <i>Description of male.</i> Habitus in Fig. 9a–b (HT). BL = 3.3–4.1 mm, BW = 1.9–2.4 mm, PL = 1.2–1.4 mm, PW = 1.7–2.1 mm. Interocular distance 4.9–6.1 % of BL.</p> <p>Head black with bell-shaped yellow marking on frons and clypeus. Small sickle-shaped yellow spot along upper margin of eyes. Labrum piceous, slightly lighter on sides. Vertex quite dull with few, scattered setigerous punctures close to eyes margins. Frontoclypeal area with sparse, pale setae above all along eyes rim, and few shallow punctures. Mid-cranial suture short, well impressed. Ocular lines narrow, strictly adhering to ocular rim. Ocular canthus deep, quite densely punctured with short, semi-erect setae. First five antennomeres sublucid, yellowish, 3-5 rod-shaped, 6-11 totally darkened, dull, more flattened, and more diffusely setose (Fig. 9h).</p> <p>Pronotum black with yellow pattern as follows: two large yellow stripes along lateral margins, briefly widened close to anterior margin; linear stripe along median line, sometimes very short or missing, not reaching anterior and posterior margins; little U-shaped spot just in front of scutellum. Sometimes this U-shaped spot almost straightened in narrow transverse band running along central section of posterior margin. Pronotal shape tronco-conical. Lateral margins thin, almost not visible in dorsal view, evenly and mildly curved with maximum width just behind half length. Surface moderately shiny with scattered, very fine, slightly lengthened punctation in central part of disc, rounded and coarser toward sides. Posterolateral impressions shallow but detectable.</p> <p>Scutellum black, moderately raised, trapezoidal, with truncated apex. Surface smooth, with few, tiny, recumbent, whitish setae.</p> <p>Elytron yellow with large black band just behind midline, extended from suture to lateral margin, often broadened at middle in angulate, forwardly directed projection. Suture narrowly black. Epipleuron yellow, narrowly darkened along margin. Elytral outline parallel-sided, very weakly flattened on disc. Lateral margin narrow, in dorsal view visible from apex up to midline. Elytral surface moderately shiny with well impressed punctures arranged in almost regular rows, easily discernible on elytral apex. On lighter area bottom of punctures only slightly darker than interval surface. Intervals flat. Postscutellar area not raised. Humeral callus prominent, impunctate. Epipleuron smooth, impunctate, with mildly convex surface.</p> <p>Pygidium piceous with yellow patches along sides, covered with recumbent whitish setae and sparse shallow punctures.</p> <p>Ventral parts of thorax piceous with first visible abdominal ventrites bordered with yellow. Hypomera, mesoepimera and mesoepisterna almost glabrous, impunctate or with scarce shallow punctures. Metaepisterna, metasternum and abdominal ventrites densely setose. Prosternal process weakly grooved, sparsely punctured with long setae, and slightly raised short triangular apex. Legs yellow to brownish, often with tibial apex and tarsi infuscate.</p> <p>Fifth abdominal ventrite with deep, elliptical, transversally arranged, bald, impunctate median depression. Posterior margin almost straight. Median lobe of aedeagus (Fig. 9c–e) almost square in transverse section, slightly compressed laterally with fairly widened, bluntly triangular apex. Setose depressions deeply impressed, ear-shaped, with setae short and scattered, also distributed along lateral rim of wide, flat, longitudinal carina running across whole ventral surface. Setose depression neatly separated downward by sharp rim from large, deep, elliptical pit. Aedeagal ventral surface convex in lateral view with a large depression at middle.</p> <p>Endophallus (Fig. 9f) with sclerite I weakly sclerotized and pigmented, reduced to flattened fold on edge of membranous part, terminated with small denticle. Dorsal spicule not detectable. Sclerite II well pigmented, in lateral view slightly lengthened with slender process upward directed. Sclerite III sickle-shaped, with rounded arch and very short, blunt, straight apex. Branches of sclerite IV slightly shorter than sclerite III in folded-up structure, regularly arched towards ventral direction, weakly broadened at base. Surface of sclerite IV smooth.</p> <p> <i>Female</i>. BL = 4.3–4.6 mm, BW = 2.6–2.8 mm, PL = 1.5–1.6 mm, PW = 2.3–2.6 mm. Interocular distance 11.6–13.0 % of BL.</p> <p>Females differ in a stouter body and wider interocular distance. The light colour pattern on the head is reduced to a small, subrounded spot at the center of the frontoclypeal area; the lateral pronotal yellow stripes are fairly wide and the remainder of yellow patches on pronotum are missing.</p> <p>The vasculum of the spermatheca (Fig. 9g) is moderately pigmented, S-shaped, slender, with the proximal lobe not swollen. The distal lobe is long, slender, rather straight along the median section, then tapered and bent downward at the apex. The ampulla is scarcely pigmented, sitting just at the basal apex of the vasculum. The duct and sperm gland insertions are perceptibly distinct. The duct is short, quite rigid near the vasculum, forming a series of several turns more than coils, then almost straight, more slender in proximity to the bursa copulatrix. The insertion on the bursa copulatrix is robust, shortly conical, strongly pigmented.</p>Published as part of <i>Sassi, Davide, 2022, Revision of the Metallactus taeniatellus species group (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae), pp. 251-282 in Zootaxa 5125 (3)</i> on pages 273-275, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5125.3.1, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/6443765">http://zenodo.org/record/6443765</a>
Metallactus superbiens D. Sassi 2022, n. comb.
No full textMetallactus superbiens (Suffrian, 1866) n. comb. (Figs 7; 17) Scolochrus superbiens Suffrian, 1866: 231. Griburius superbiens Clavareau, 1913: 94 (catalogue); Blackwelder, 1946: 640 (catalogue). Types. Suffrian (1866) did not mention the number of specimens under study but stated that no males were available for the study. He reported a single locality (“S. Arem”) for types housed in “Mus. Baly”, at present in BMNH. Three female syntypes were found in BMNH.A lectotype is here designated as follows: lectotype (by present designation): ♀, pinned, // “981” [white label, handwritten] // “66” [white label, handwritten] // “Santarem” [round, white label, handwritten] // “Baly Coll.” [white label, printed] // “Type Suffr Coll Baly” [white label, handwritten] // “Scolochrus superbiens Suffr Amazons ” [white label, handwritten] // “ Griburius superbiens ( Suffrian, 1866) (Sc olochrus superbiens) LECTOTYPUS D. Sassi des.” [red label, printed] // “ Metallactus superbiens (Suffrian, 1866) D. Sassi det. 2021” [white label, printed] // (BMNH). Paralectotypes: 2 ♀, pinned, // “Santarem” [round, blue label, handwritten // “ Griburius superbiens (Suffrian, 1866) (S colochrus superbiens) PARALECTOTYPUS D. Sassi des.” [red label, printed] // “ Metallactus superbiens (Suffrian, 1866) D. Sassi det. 2021” [white label, printed] // (BMNH). Type locality. Santarém (Pará, Brazil). Additional material examined. BRAZIL: Amazon Bates Riv. Tapyos (1, BMNH); Santarem (1, BMNH); Amazon River Parà, 1995.04 Marajó Island (1, DSPC); Natal, Rio Grande do Norte F. Monrós Collection 1959 (2, US-NMNH). FRENCH GUIANA: Gourdonville X.1914 R. Benoist (1, MNHN). Distribution. Brazil, French Guiana (new). Diagnosis. The species was described as belonging to the genus Scolochrus (now Griburius), but the shape of the male genitalia, the morphology of the pronotal process, the ocular distance and the overall outline clearly suggest a transfer to the genus Metallactus. In the studied specimens the pronotal colour pattern is rather uniform (Fig. 7 a-b), except for a male from Marajó Island, in which the longitudinal median stripe is almost obliterated. A similar chromatic arrangement on the pronotum is observed in some specimens of M. geiseri and M. uncinatus, but the light colouration on the elytron is usually more extensive (M. geiseri) or differently arranged (M. uncinatus). The comparison of the aedeagal median lobe enables one to determine specimens of these species without any difficulty. Description of male. BL = 3.3–3.9 mm, BW = 2.0– 2.3 mm, PL = 1.2–1.4 mm, PW = 1.8–2.2 mm. Interocular distance 3.0–5.1 % of BL. Head black with bell-shaped yellow spot on clypeus. Sometimes with small sickle-shaped yellow spot along upper margin of eyes and tiny rounded one at corner of ocular canthus. Labrum brownish. Surface covered with sparse short semi-erect setae and shallow punctation above all on darker patches. Mid-cranial suture fine, barely detectable along vertex and upper part of frons. Ocular lines narrow, strictly adhering to ocular rim, marked by line of punctures that seeps into ocular canthus, whose surface impunctate elsewhere. Ocular canthus deep, acute with few, sparse semi-erect setae. First five antennomeres sublucid, yellowish, 3-5 rod-shaped, the 6-11 totally darkened, dull, flattened and more diffusely setose (Fig. 7h). Pronotum black with two large hooked yellow stripes extending over lateral margins and outer third of anterior margin. Short, linear yellow spot just at center of disc. Transverse crescent-shaped yellow mark along basal margin just in front of scutellum. Pronotal shape tronco-conical, fairly flattened on disc towards base. Lateral margins thin, almost not visible in dorsal view, evenly curved with maximum width just behind middle. Surface shining with scattered, moderately impressed punctation. Posterolateral impressions shallow but detectable. Scutellum black, distinctly raised, finely setose and minutely punctured. Apex truncated in straight line. Elytron black with yellow marking covering inner part of basal margin and extended to periscutellar area. Second crescent-shaped yellow marking on apex. Yellow spot at basal angle, external to humeral callus, extended to epipleuron. In one specimen yellow colour more extensive, and black pattern reduced to small spot on humerus and large angular band on middle part of disc, running from suture to lateral margin. Elytral outline parallel-sided, rather narrow, with sides slightly convergent posteriorly. Elytron disc weakly flattened on posterior part. Lateral margin narrow, in dorsal view barely visible from apex up to midline. Elytral surface weakly shiny, covered with well-impressed punctures arranged in almost regular rows. On lighter area bottom of punctures darker than interval surface. Intervals flat. Postscutellar area mildly raised. Humeral callus prominent, impunctate. Epipleuron smooth, impunctate, rather convex. Pygidium brownish with two linear yellow spots along sides, smooth, matt, covered by sparse shallow minute punctures and appressed setae. Ventral parts of thorax totally dark brownish. Abdominal ventrites dark brown with yellow border along sides. Hypomera shiny, bare, covered with well-impressed punctures on anterior part. Mesoepimera and mesoepisterna polished and bare, impunctate. Rest of ventral surface matt, covered with fine, shallow punctures and short recumbent setae. Prosternal process rather large along basal half, with apparent longitudinal groove, sparsely punctured with, long setae and terminated by blunt, slightly raised, short apex. Legs brownish with lighter distal part of tibiae and tarsi. Apex of mid and posterior femora and anterior coxae with yellow patches. Median depression on fifth abdominal ventrite shallow but fairly delimited from the rest of ventrite surface, shiny, bare and impunctate. Ventrite posterior margin raised, straight. Median lobe of aedeagus (Fig. 7c–e) cylindrical with expanded, well differentiated, lancet-shaped apex, devoid of real denticle but terminated with sharp tip. In lateral view outline slightly depressed in middle. Setose depressions shallow with few setae short and scattered. Endophallus (Fig. 7f) with sclerite I vaguely sickle-shaped, devoid of clear apical denticle. Dorsal spicule not detectable. Sclerite II small, well pigmented, lengthened. Sclerite III forming rather wide arch. Branches of sclerite IV shorter than sclerite III in folded-up structure, distinctly arched towards ventral direction, slender, with blunt apex and surface smooth. Base of sclerite IV broadened. Female. Habitus in Fig. 7a–b (LT). BL = 4.1 mm, BW = 2.4–2.5 mm, PL = 1.3–1.4 mm, PW = 2.2 mm. Interocular distance 9.8–12.2 % of BL. Females differ in a stouter body and wider interocular distance. In one specimen the yellow colour is more extensive, and the black pattern reduced to a small spot on the humerus and a longitudinal stripe along the midline of the elytron, broadened in the rear half to join the lateral margin. The fifth abdominal ventrite in females has a quite large, rounded, impressed pit. The bottom of the pit is glabrous, matt, finely rugulose. The vasculum of the spermatheca (Fig. 7g) is very unusual in the single available specimen being S-shaped with a corkscrew-like appearance. The proximal lobe is moderately pigmented, slightly swollen. The distal lobe is slender, tapered, with the apex slightly bent downward. The ampulla is fairly pigmented, sitting just at the basal apex of the vasculum, shortly conical. The duct and sperm gland insertions are perceptibly distinct. The duct is long, quite rigid near the vasculum, more slender and more delicate towards the bursa copulatrix, forming loose turns both near the vasculum and in proximity to the bursa copulatrix. The insertion on the bursa copulatrix is robust, conical, strongly pigmented. Remarks. The two specimens (one male and one female) from Natal, in Rio Grande do Norte, differ remarkably in some ways. In particular, the pronotum is mostly yellow with an M-shaped black patch on the disc. The elytron is mostly yellow as well, with two longitudinal black stripes extended from the base to apex, the inner one, larger, in the middle of the elytron, the second one along margin. The suture is narrowly black. Additionally, the median lobe of the aedeagus is slightly more regularly convex in lateral view. Nevertheless, I am inclined to consider the specimens as belonging to this species, at least provisionally, based above all on the overall similarity in the shape of the median lobe.Published as part of Sassi, Davide, 2022, Revision of the Metallactus taeniatellus species group (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae), pp. 251-282 in Zootaxa 5125 (3) on pages 268-270, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5125.3.1, http://zenodo.org/record/644376
Villa Sassi : a garden design proposal
No full textExamensarbetet ”Villa Sassi - ett gestaltningsförslag” redogör för tankar och processer under utformningen av det slutliga förslaget till trädgårdens utformning.
Villa Sassi ligger i Lunds norra utpost, och förslaget tar hänsyn till platsen. Huset är ritat av arkitekt Heidi Sassi. De har själva byggt huset. Idag bor de i huset med sin familj.
Arbetet inleddes med diskussioner med Heidi Sassi om hennes visioner för trädgården. Heidi refererade till stora svenska trädgårdsprofiler som Ulla Molin, Sven-Ingvar Andersson, Ulf Nordfjell med flera. För att förstå deras tankar och arbeten har jag lagt mycket tid i Alnarps bibliotek och botaniserat i deras egna texter som jag funnit inte minst i tidskrifter från mitten av 1900-talet. Inspiration härifrån, tillsammans med ett studiebesök i Charlottehaven i Köpenhamn, ligger till grund för gestaltningsförslaget.This thesis ”Villa Sassi – Garden Design” describes thoughts and processes during the making of the garden design.
Villa Sassi is situated in northern Lund, and the design listens to the place. The house is drawn by the architect Heidi Sassi. They have built the house by themselves. Today Heidi lives in the house with her family.
The work started with a discussion with Heidi Sassi about her visions about the garden. Heidi referred to great Swedish garden profiles such as Ulla Molin, Sven-Ingvar Andersson, Ulf Nordfjell and more. To understand how they worked and their thoughts, I have spent a lot of time in the library of Alnarp. I have found their own texts in in for example landscape magazines from the middle of the 2000 century. Inspiration from there, and from a visit to Charlottehaven in Copenhagen, underlies the garden design for Villa Sassi
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