The process of taxonomic description and validation of names under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (Fourth Edition) is central to providing the anchor by which present and future seekers of knowledge attach and subsequently retrieve information about species and their phylogenetic associations. Since Linnaeus (1758), 4,400 ± 363 species of insects have been described per year. If 25 to 30% of all species are beetles, and some 400,000 are estimated to be described to date, even taking the lower end of reasonable estimates at 8 to 10 million species of insects total, we still have more than 2 million beetle species yet to describe. At the current pace of some 3,154 beetle species described per year (1978 to present: BIOSIS, Zoological Record), we could “finish” the job in the year 3056 using the present system. While traditional descriptions published in widely circulated journals has been the mainstay of taxonomy and served the science well, we are entering a phase that might be called crisis management in taxonomy. This results from recent higher demands on taxonomists due to a general recognition that biodiversity is disappearing at an alarming rate, the so-called Sixth Extinction Crisis, and a reduced number of practicing descriptive taxonomists. Therefore, a new description paradigm that provides for rapid validation of new taxonomic names is paramount to plans for national biodiversity surveys. This new paradigm is elaborated and examples are given for both traditional and projected methods of species descriptions and rapid publication with additional extensive use of the Internet and server system to store and transmit more complete details and images.

P. J. Darlington, Jr., 1971

full page charges borne by the author.

A new genus and new species of Lachnophorini and 2 new species of Lebiini from Costa Rican are described (type localities in parentheses): Quammenis spectabilis, n. gen., n. sp. (type locality: COSTA RICA: Heredia Province, Estacíon Magsasay, Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo, 200m, LN264600,531100); Lebia (Chelonodema) inbio, n. sp. (type locality: Guanacaste Province, Estacíon Pitilla, 9 km S Santa Cecilia, 700 m, LN329950,380450 #4355); Agra yola, n. sp. (type locality: Guanacaste Province, Estacíon Pitilla, 9 km S Santa Cecilia, 700 m, LN329650,378600 #4600).

publication supported by Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad.

Eleven species of Platycrepidius Candèze (Agrypninae, Platycrepidiini) are recorded from Costa Rica, including seven previously undescribed species. Newly described species are: P. alajuelensis new species, P. bosque new species, P. costaricensis new species, P. decimnotatus new species, P. duodecimnotatus new species, P. monteverde new species, and P. tico new species. New country records for Costa Rica include P. boucardi (Sallé), P. eburatus (Champion), P. grandini (Candèze), and P. partitus (Champion); P. grandini is recorded from Panama for the first time.

publication supported by Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad.

The genus Leiopsammodius Rakovic is reviewed for America north of Mexico. Three new species are described and a key is provided to the four currently known species; Leiopsammodius acei, new species from coastal North and South Carolina, L. ocmulgeei, new species from Georgia, and L. deyrupi, new species and L. malkini (Cartwright) both from Florida.

Publication funded in part by the Patricia Vaurie bequest.

New taxa and changes in nomenclature are provided in the genera Acmaeodera Eschscholtz, Chrysobothris Eschscholtz, and Agrilus Curtis. Acmaeodera mariposa Horn is discussed as a polytypic species, with A. dohrni Horn given subspecific status therein. Acmaeodera plagiaticauda Horn is treated in detail, with A. verecunda Barr and A. postica Fall considered as synonyms, the latter synonymy necessitating erection of A. rubrocuprea, new species. Also described is A. constrictinotum, new species. Agrilus parvus Saunders and C. purpureovittata become polytypic with the description of A. p. californicus, new subspecies and C. p. cercocarpi, new subspecies. These taxa are discussed in detail, the latter requiring modification of the most current key to the genus in North America.

Publication funded in part by the Patricia Vaurie bequest.

In the New World genus Eudiagogus Schoenherr (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), E. stenosoma O'Brien and Kovarik, new species, from northern Argentina is described. A revised key, illustrations, and distributions are included for the three South American species of Eudiagogus.

Two new Mexican species of aphodiine Scarabaeidae are described: Ataenius paraperforatus new species (Eupariini), based on specimens of both sexes collected in mesophilous cloud-forest of Xilitla, Queretaro State, Jacala, Hidalgo State, and Totutla, State of Veracruz; and Cephalocyclus stebnickae new species (Aphodiini), based on two male specimens captured in a Pinus-Quercus forest near Teopisca, Chiapas State. Ataenius paraperforatus is compared to A. perforatus Harold. Important taxonomic characteristics of both Ataenius as well of the new Cephalocyclus are illustrated. A key for the identification of the seven known species of Cephalocyclus and comments on the species distribution in Mexico is additionally presented.

The mature larva and pupa of Ocladius dianthi Marshall (Curculionidae: Ocladiinae), from South Africa, are described and illustrated. The phylogenetic value of certain characters is discussed by comparison with those of other taxa of Curculionoidea. It is proposed that the placement of Ocladiinae within the family Curculionidae sensu lato is, in phylogenetic sequence: Ithycerinae, Microcerinae, Brachycerinae, Ocladiinae, Dryophthorinae, Erirhininae, Curculionidae sensu stricto.

Cyclocephala spangleri, new species, is described from the Venezuelan Llanos. A characterization is given to separate it from other related species, and diagnostic characters are illustrated.

Ateuchus floridensis, new species, from Florida is described and illustrated. Its relationship with A. histeroides Weber and A. lecontei (Harold) is discussed. A new key to identify species of Ateuchus occurring north of Mexico is provided.

Biodontocnema brunnea, a new genus and new species of flea beetle (Chrysomelidae: Alticinae) from South Africa is described. This new genus is close to Chaetocnema Stephens, 1831 but it is easily distinguishable mainly by the bidentate apex of its external, dorsal margin of hind tibiae (unidentate in Chaetocnema). Line drawings of male and female genitalia, and SEM photographs of particular morphological aspects of B. brunnea are provided.

Mimonneticus, new genus, type species M. guianae, new species; and Exallancyla, new genus, type species E. tuberculicollis (Aurivillius), new combination; are described from South America. Ancylocerina Thomson is redescribed and a key for the South American genera is added.

Paramblopusa eoa, new species (Type locality: Urup Island, Kuril Islands), is described. Type and paratypes of the new species are designated. Illustrations of diagnostic features are provided. The differences between members of P. eoa Ahn and Maruyama and P. borealis (Casey) are presented.

A new apionine weevil, Coelocephalapion camarae, new species, from Mexico is described and illustrated. The new species closely resembles C. germanum (Sharp) of the C. sordidum species group but combines group characters from the C. decoloratum and C. sordidum species groups. The species is under laboratory culture as a potential biocontrol agent for Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae) in South Africa.

In North America, Helophorus arcticus Brown inhabits the seashore and tidal embayments of the eastern Arctic and because of its distribution is considered to be a halophile. New evidence, including the substrate chemistry of the habitat and the associated fauna and flora at Kuujjuaq, northern Québec, suggests that the designation of H. arcticus as a halophile is incorrect. Fossils of H. arcticus occur in Pleistocene deposits in the mid-latitudes of North America and their distribution along the margin of the Laurentide Icesheet is easier to understand if the species is not a halophile.

The genus Elytrogona Chevrolat is redefined. Stoiba decemmaculata Blake is a junior synonym of E. bulla Boheman, and E. interjecta Boheman is a junior synonym of E. quatuordecimmaculata Latreille, new synonymies. A key to the species of Elytrogona and distributional records are provided. A cladistic analysis is presented using Stoiba swartzii Boheman, S. bruneri Blake, Basipta stolida Boheman (Basiptini) and Asteriza flavicornis Olivier (Asterizini) as outgroups. Results indicated that brachyptery preceeded wing loss. The origin and subsequent radiation of the genus were less clear given the complex geology of the Greater Antilles.

Ideorhipistena occipitalis, new genus, new species, from Bismarck Archipelago (Papua-New Guinea), is described and included in the family Mordellidae. Though definitely fitting within the ground plan of Mordellidae, it superficially resembles Rhipistena Sharp (Rhipiphoridae, subfam. Pelecotominae) as a result of convergence. Ideorhipistena displays characters so far unknown in Mordellidae, including quite protruding occipital margin, strongly developed temples, long prothoracic neck, narrow elytral epipleura, pronotum without anterior and posterior angles, strongly protruding at its hind margin. These justify its position as a distinct genus, in the key to world genera of the tribe Mordellini.