We analyzed the abundance, distribution and niche overlap of species (Pianka's Ojk index) in tenebrionid beetle communities inhabiting different biotopes in Tyrrhenian and Adriatic sand dunes. The rank abundance distribution of the different species has the form of a geometric series in both communities as predicted by the niche preemption hypothesis for communities in harsh environments. Mean niche overlap values did not deviate significantly from null expectations, which indicates random interspecific interactions. These results, coupled with evidence of species habitat preferences, led us to conclude that the community organization of tenebrionid species inhabiting coastal dunes is determined more by habitat preferences than interspecific competition., Simone Fattorini, Davide Bergamaschi, Cristina Mantoni, Alicia T. R. Acosta, Andrea Di Giulio., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The first instar larva, or triungulin, of Stenodera puncticollis (Chevrolat, 1829) is described. Its characters indicate that Stenodera is the most primitive member of the subfamily Nemognathinae and support the recognition of the monotypic tribe Stenoderini, as previously proposed on the basis of adult morphology. The bionomic information on this genus is summarized, and an annotated catalogue and key to the species based on adults are presented
Paussus favieri Fairmaire is one of only two species of the myrmecophilous carabid tribe Paussini known from Europe.
Larvae are known from only 10 of the 580 paussine species. As in many beetles with considerably modified later instar larvae, the
first instars represent a valuable source of informative characters for taxonomy and phylogenetic analyses (primary chaetotaxy, eggbursters, etc.). Therefore, the discovery of the first instar larva of P. favieri is particularly important, as it represents only the second
species for which this larval stage is known. In this paper we describe the behavior and morphology of the larval first instar of P.
favieri (subtribe Paussina of Paussini) and compare it with that of Arthropterus sp. (subtribe Cerapterina), which is the only other 1st
instar described in the Paussini. Most surprisingly, we found that the 1st instar of P. favieri lacks a prostheca, which was previously
thought to be a synapomorphy of Paussina + Platyrhopalina. Rather, P. favieri has a unique mandibular structure that seems to be
functionally analogous to the protheca. It is a long, broadly lanceolate, distinctly flattened structure apparently homologous to the
medial mandibular seta (MN2*), which arises from an area behind the cutting edge of mandible. We predict that the function of the
protheca and this similar structure in P. favieri are involved in a specialized feeding strategy that may include soliciting trophallaxis
from their host ants. We also report some observations of the first instar hatching from the egg, feeding on liquid and a behaviour we
interpret as a “calling behavior,” all of which were videotaped and posted on the Tree of Life Web Project.