Abstract: Tricorynus herbarius (Coleoptera: Ptinidae) is known as the “book beetle”, which causes deterioration in libraries in many countries of America. Given the lack of existing information about the biological characteristics of the species and, taking into account its existence in different storage areas of the National University of La Plata (Buenos Aires, Argentina), a first study was carried out to know aspects of its biology such as life time by state and stage of development under controlled conditions, food preferences and behavioral observations, essential when designing appropriate preventive or curative conservation strategies for populations that are considered detrimental to heritage value materials.

Resumen: La especie Tricorynus herbarius (Coleoptera: Ptinidae), conocida como el “escarabajo de los libros”, causa deterioro en bibliotecas de numerosos países de América. Dada la falta de información existente acerca de las características biológicas de la especie y, teniendo en cuenta su existencia en distintos espacios de guarda de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata (Buenos Aires, Argentina), se realizó un primer estudio para conocer aspectos de su biología tales como el tiempo de vida por estado y estadio de desarrollo en condiciones controladas, preferencias alimenticias y observaciones de comportamiento, fundamentales al momento de diseñar estrategias apropiadas de conservación preventiva y/o curativa de las poblaciones que se consideren perjudiciales para materiales de valor patrimonial.

Abstract Epigeic coleopteran species are linked by complex trophic webs and implicated in several ecosystem services for agriculture. Although there are reports of ground-dwelling Coleopterans inhabiting main extensive agroecosystems, their assemblages in horticultural crops in Argentina have been little explored. We examined the community structure of epigeal Coleoptera assemblages of Curculionidae, Carabidae, Staphylinidae and Coccinellidae species, in lettuce and tomato crops located in Northern Buenos Aires province, over a 3-year sampling period (2010 to 2013) by using pit-fall traps. Crop species and cycles, and phytosanitary measures (conventional and organic farming), were main factors considered as influencing the insect species composition, abundance and seasonal occurrence in the assemblages. Seventy coleopteran species were identified. The curculionids Ceutorhynchini sp. and Phyrdenus muriceus (Germar), the carabid Scarithes anthracinus Dejean, the coccinelid Eriopis connexa (Germar) and the staphylinids Aleochara sp. and Aleochara obscurus Bernhauer are the most common species in lettuce and tomato crops in the region studied. Especially the carabids, staphylinids and E. connexa are known act as natural enemies of several pests in the agroecosystems studied. Coleopteran assemblages found in lettuce differed from those associated to tomato crops, being the cropping season the main factor that influenced the community structure.

The confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum Jaquelin Du Val, 1868, is a common pest insect known for attacking and infesting stored flour and grain. Biodegradable and ecologically natural products such as essential oils are emerging candidates for replacement of usually applied chemical pesticides. This work reported the chemical composition and effects caused by young and mature leaves essential oils (EOs) from Eucalyptus globulus Labill. against T. confusum. For both oils, no significant differences between yields were observed, being 1,8-cineole the main common constituent. Mature leaves extracts were rich in oxygenated mono- and sesquiterpenes, whereas young leaves showed greater content of non-oxygenated compounds. Bioassay was performed using EOs and 1,8-cineole solutions at different concentrations and time intervals. Adult mortality increased according to concentration and exposure time; young leaves extracts exhibited the greater effectiveness, highest mortalities (31.67%) at the minor time (2 h). At the lowest concentrations, 1,8-cineole solutions and mature leaves EOs did not achieve 100% mortality even when the bioassay was concluded (12 h), while at major doses no insects were alive. These results suggested that young and mature EOs from E. globulus constitute an alternative natural product to the control of T. confusum, since young leaves extracts, rich in monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, may be potential eligible candidates considering their noticeable insecticidal effects at low applied concentrations and short times of exposure.

The blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum L. (Ericaceae), is a shrub native to the northern Hemisphere introduced in Argentina, where it occupies small cultivated areas mainly in the provinces of Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos and Tucumán. At present, little is known about insects associated with this crop in Argentina. The aim of this study was to identify the species of Chrysomelidae present in blueberry crops in different regions of Argentina, and to present new chrysomelids-blueberry associations. Identification diagnosis, geographical distribution, association with other plants and aspects of their biology is given for each species. Seven species of crop-damaging Chrysomelidae were recorded in blueberry crops of Buenos Aires and Entre Rios. They belong to the subfamilies Galerucinae: Diabrotica speciosa (Germar), Disonychodes exclamationis (Boheman), Caeporis stigmula Germar, and Cacoscelis melanoptera Germar; Eumolpinae: Percolaspis varia (Lefèvre), and Spintherophyta semiaurata (Klug); and Cryptocephalinae: Lexiphanes coenobita Suffrian.

El arándano, Vaccinium corymbosum L. (Ericaceae), es un arbusto nativo del hemisferio Norte, que fue introducido en la Argentina donde ocupa pequeñas áreas cultivadas, principalmente en las provincias de Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos y Tucumán. Hasta la actualidad, se conoce poco sobre los insectos asociados con este cultivo. El objetivo de este trabajo es relevar las especies de crisomélidos presentes en los cultivos de arándano de diferentes regiones, y aportar nuevas asociaciones crisomélidos-arándano para la Argentina. Para cada especie registrada, se brinda la diagnosis para su reconocimiento, su distribución geográfica, la asociación con otras plantas y algunos aspectos de su biología. Se registraron siete especies de Chrysomelidae que utilizan el arándano como recurso alimenticio en las provincias de Buenos Aires y Entre Ríos: subfamilia Galerucinae: Diabrotica speciosa (Germar), Disonychodes exclamationis (Boheman), Caeporis stigmula Germar, Cacoscelis melanoptera Germar; subfamilia Eumolpinae: Percolaspis varia (Lefèvre) y Spintherophyta semiaurata (Klug); y subfamilia Cryptocephalinae: Lexiphanes coenobita Suffrian.

The type specimens (all current categories) of Chrysomelidae s.l. deposited in this Museum are listed; 125 names are recorded, 85 of them (68 percent) are represented here by name-bearing types ('primary' types), five of them dubious. The family is taken in its broadest sense, including the Bruchinae, Hispinae (along with the former Cassidinae), and other groups sometimes considered as separate families. The specific and subspecific names were alphabetically filed, followed by the generic ones as they were spelled in the original publication, or the generic and specific names in the case of subspecies and varieties. Later combinations and/or current binomina are mentioned insofar as these are known to the authors. Two lists are added: 1. of specimens labelled as types of unavailable names, chiefly those not found in the literature, and supposedly not published, and 2. of specimens labelled as types, but not originally included as such, and published or not after the original description.

Se catalogan los ejemplares típicos, de todas las categorías aceptadas, de Chrysomelidae s.l. conservados en este museo; se registran 125 nombres, 85 de ellos (68 por ciento) representados aquí por tipos portadores de nombres (tipos 'primarios'), cinco de ellos dudosos. La familia se toma en su concepto más amplio, incluyendo a las Bruchinae, las Hispinae (con las anteriores Cassidinae) y otros grupos a veces considerados como familias separadas. Los nombres específicos y subespecíficos fueron ordenados alfabéticamente; a estos siguen los de los géneros, así como se publicaron originalmente, o de los géneros y especies en el caso de las subespecies y variedades. Se mencionan las combinaciones ulteriores y/o los binomios en uso, hasta donde son conocidos por los autores. Se agregan dos listas: 1. de los ejemplares rotulados como tipos, de nombres no disponibles, principalmente aquellos no hallados en la bibliografía, y supuestamente no publicados, y 2. de los ejemplares rotulados como tipos, pero no incluidos originalmente como tales, publicados o no después de la descripción original.

The types of species of Byrrhoidea (Coleoptera) housed in the collection of the División Entomología of Museo de La Plata were examined and listed. They belong to 35 species distributed in the families Dryopidae (1 species, 1 type), Elmidae (4, 9), Limnichidae (29, 47) and Psephenidae (1, 2). The types were described by Pic, Spangler, Spangler & Brown, Spangler & Perkins, Spangler & Santiago, Spilman, and Wooldridge. For each taxon, complete information about categories of types, reference original descriptions, collection data and specimen condition are given.

Se examinaron los ejemplares tipo depositados en la colección de la División Entomología del Museo de La Plata, pertenecientes a diversas especies nominales de Byrrhoidea: Dryopidae (1 especie, 1 ejemplar tipo), Elmidae (4, 9), Limnichidae (29, 47) y Psephenidae (1, 2). El material tipo fue estudiado por los siguientes autores: Pic, Spangler, Spangler & Brown, Spangler & Perkins, Spangler & Santiago, Spilman y Wooldridge. Para cada taxón se indica la publicación original, datos de colección y condición del material.

In samplings carried out in Tucumán (Argentina) Maecolaspis monrosi Bechyné was observed for the first time damaging soybean. This species is a chrysomelid Eumolpinae which belonged to Maecolaspis lebasi group. Species of this group are very hard to recognize because all of them possess similar coloration and elytral punctate. The objective of this paper is the identification of M. monrosi adding new diagnostic characters: mouth parts, alar venation and male and female genitalia. The male of M. monrosi is described for the first time and new host plants are recorded.

En muestreos realizados en Tucumán (Argentina) se observó por primera vez a Maecolaspis monrosi Bechyné dañando cultivos de soja. La especie es un crisomélido eumolpino peteneciente al grupo de Maecolaspis lebasi. Las especies de este grupo son muy difíciles de reconocer reconocer ya que poseen similar coloración y punteado elitral. El objectivo objetivode este trabajo es identificar a M. monrosi agregando nuevos caracteres diagnósticos: piezas bucales, venación alar y genitalia masculina y femenina. Se describe por primera vez al macho de M. monrosi y se aportan nuevos datos de plantas hospedadoras.

Diabrotica speciosa speciosa (Germar) is one of the most widely distributed chrysomelid in crops in Argentina. The morphology of preimaginal stages, life span and reproductive behavior were studied. The development were carried out under controlled conditions. Under these conditions the following population parameters were computed: generation time, reproductive rate, intrinsic rate of increase and an horizontal life table was made.

Diabrotica speciosa speciosa (Germar) es uno de los crisomélidos más ampliamente distribuídos en cultivos de la Argentina. Se estudió la morfología de los estados preimaginales, tabla de vida y el comportamiento reproductivo. El desarrollo se llevó a cabo bajo condiciones controladas de laboratorio. Bajo estas condiciones se establecieron los siguientes parámetros poblacionales: tiempo de desarrollo, tasa reproductiva, tasa de crecimiento intrínseco y se confeccionó una tabla de vida horizontal.