Journal of Insect Biodiversity

The structure of Lauxaniidae (Diptera) communities in San Rossore Natural Park, Italy

MAREK SEMELBAUER, MILAN KOZÁNEK, ANTONIO BELCARI — Wed, 07 May 2025 00:00:00 +1200

Detailed knowledge of species composition of flora and fauna is a key prerequisite for effective biodiversity protection. This study presents results from a two-year research project on flies from the family Lauxaniidae in the San Rossore N.P. biosphere reserve. The collections took place in 2021 and 2022 using Malaise traps in three different habitats—the sandy sea coast (SSC), xerophilous pine forest (XPF), and meso-hygrophilous deciduous forest (MHDF). A total of 2768 individuals from 22 species of Lauxaniidae were captured. Homoneura thalhammeri and Minettia dedecor were observed for the first time in Italy. The most common species was M. plumicornis, making up a third of all captured individuals. The eudominant species included H. notata (MHF), M. plumicornis (XPF, MHF), M. dedecor, M. fasciata and M. longiseta (all XPF). These eudominant species showed flight activity with two peaks, lower in spring and higher in early autumn. The abundance and richness of Lauxaniidae species were significantly higher in forest environments (MHF, XPF) compared to coastal habitats. Species accumulation curves for all three habitats were almost asymptotic, indicating that few additional species would be expected in the studied habitats.

**A new species of the subgenus Coptoderinella Hansen, 1968 (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Lebiinae, Coptodera) from Cameroon**

ALEXANDER ANICHTCHENKO — Wed, 07 May 2025 00:00:00 +1200

During the revision of the genus Coptodera Dejean, 1825, a new species from West Africa, belonging to the previously considered monotypic subgenus Coptoderinella Hansen, 1968 was discovered. The description of Coptodera (Coptoderinella) martinui sp. nov. and a redefined diagnosis of the subgenus are given in this work.

**Review of Indian Oulema (s. str.) species with red pronotum and metallic elytra, with a note on the identity of cereal leaf beetles in India (Chrysomelidae, Criocerinae)**

AKSHAJA SURESH, JAN BEZDĔK, ARPIT CHOPRA, SHASHWAT SOOD, PRATHAPAN DIVAKARAN — Wed, 07 May 2025 00:00:00 +1200

The Indian fauna comprises three species of Oulema (s. str.) with orange pronotum and black or blue elytra: Oulema duftschmidi (Redtenbacher, 1873), O. nigrofrontalis Takizawa and Basu, 1987, and O. rotundicollis (Jacoby, 1908). All three species are redescribed based on the study of the type specimens. The cereal leaf beetle Oulema duftschmidi is newly recorded in India. All published records of O. melanopus (Linnaeus, 1758) in India pertains to O. duftschmidi. Oulema nigrofrontalis Takizawa & Basu, 1987 is reported as a pest of maize for the first time. All three species are illustrated and diagnosed.