Alpine Entomology

Alpine Entomology 8: 121-130 DOI: 10.3897/alpento.8.127794 Authors: Peter Huemer Abstract: A new species of concealer moths (Oecophoridae), Denisia cryptica sp. nov., is described from specimens collected in the south-western Alps (Italy, France). It differs from similar congeneric taxa of the Denisia stipella species-group by a combined pattern of colour and markings of the forewing upperside, the colour of the head, particularly the yellow second segment of the labial palpi, and by highly divergent DNA barcode (cytochrome c-oxidase subunit 1) sequences. Male and female genitalia are like several other species, with only subtle diagnostic characters. Adult and partially genitalia of D. cryptica sp. nov. and the closest European species are shown for comparison. Finally, a complete checklist of European species of Denisia is added. HTML XML PDF

Alpine Entomology 8: 87-119 DOI: 10.3897/alpento.8.124813 Authors: Vivien Cosandey, Yannick Chittaro, Andreas Sanchez Abstract: An updated checklist of the Swiss species of Hydradephaga (Dytiscidae, Gyrinidae, Haliplidae, Hygrobiidae, Noteridae) is presented and briefly discussed. A total of 139 species is retained as part of the Swiss fauna, while 53 species, which have been recorded in Switzerland in the past, are excluded from this list, either due to insufficient documentation or because their records were based on misidentified material. In contrast to previous works, the present study also provides, for the first time, distribution maps through an online map server for all Hydradephaga species in Switzerland, based on over 43,000 occurrences obtained from specimens held in museums and private collections, as well as literature data. The occurrences of the rarest species of Switzerland, as well as data on species erroneously cited in Switzerland, are presented and discussed. HTML XML PDF

Alpine Entomology 8: 81-86 DOI: 10.3897/alpento.8.117862 Authors: Gaël Pétremand, Jaroslav Bosák Abstract: Records of Choerades mouchai Hradský, 1985, are reported from Switzerland. These are the first records of the species published since its description and extend its known range to include the Alps. Previously, it was known only from parts of the Carpathian Mountain chain in Slovakia and Romania. A redescription of the male is provided, accompanied by photographs of diagnostic features, including the terminalia, and images of the entire insect. A table listing morphological differences between the males of Ch. mouchai, Ch. femorata and Ch. marginata is presented. The Choerades fauna of Switzerland is discussed, as is the information available about the ecology of Ch. mouchai. HTML XML PDF

Alpine Entomology 8: 65-79 DOI: 10.3897/alpento.8.118039 Authors: Matthieu Aubert, Andreas Müller, Christophe Praz Abstract: A new osmiine bee species, Hoplitis (Hoplitis) onosmaevae sp. nov. (Megachilidae), is described. So far, this species is exclusively known from the Mercantour National Park in the southwestern French Alps and from mountainous ranges in Turkey and northern Iraq, two areas separated by at least 2000 km. Phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial and nuclear genes revealed that H. onosmaevae is closely related to H. adunca (Panzer, 1798), H. benoisti (Alfken, 1935) and H. manicata (Morice, 1901). Hoplitis onosmaevae is presumably narrowly oligolectic and harvests pollen only on flowers of Onosma L. (Boraginaceae). It has a particularly long proboscis, which is probably an adaptation to collect nectar from the long-tubed flowers of this plant genus. The females collect pollen by buzzing the Onosma flowers, a rare behavior in megachilid bees. The species nests in insect burrows in dead wood, similar to H. adunca and H. manicata but unlike other closely related representatives of the subgenus Hoplitis, suggesting a single origin of nesting in dead wood and hollow stems in this lineage. In France, H. onosmaevae inhabits alpine steppe-like habitats close to forests and appears to be extremely local, since only two populations are currently known. The conservation status of this extremely rare bee species in Europe is discussed. HTML XML PDF

Alpine Entomology 8: 51-64 DOI: 10.3897/alpento.8.116799 Authors: Mickaël Blanc, Stève Breitenmoser, Céline Rochet Abstract: Une liste des Cerophytidae, Elateridae, Eucnemidae et Throscidae du bassin genevois est présentée avec quelques commentaires et annotations. Le présent travail est basé sur des prospections de terrain ciblées, sur une analyse critique de la littérature et des recherches dans les collections muséales et privées. Une espèce de Cerophytidae, 102 espèces d’Elateridae, 14 espèces d’Eucnemidae et 9 espèces de Throscidae sont recensées dans le bassin genevois. 13 espèces insuffisamment documentées (Elateridae) sont à considérer comme douteuses et sont donc répertoriées séparément. Enfin, 9 espèces (8 Elateridae et 1 Throscidae) potentiellement présentes dans le bassin genevois mais pour l’heure non recensées, sont également mentionnées et discutées. Les résultats montrent que du point de vue patrimonial, 44 espèces saproxyliques sont de grande valeur, car rares et/ou exigeantes envers leur habitat. HTML XML PDF