Coleopterans associated with plants that form phytotelmata in subtropical and temperate Argentina, South America

CAMPOS, RAÚL ERNESTO; FERNÁNDEZ LILIANA A.

JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE

UNIV ARIZONA

Año: 2010

1536-2442

A list of the most common plants that form phytotelmata and their associated coleopterans (aquatic, semi-aquatic and terrestrial) from the northeastern subtropical and temperate area of Argentina, South America with biological and behavioral observations is presented in this study. Species of Poaceae (n = 3), Bromeliaceae (5), Apiaceae (6), Araceae (2), Urticaceae (1), Marantaceae (1), Arecaceae (1), Dipsacaceae (1) and Cyperaceae (1) were identified as phytotelmata. Aquatic species of Scirtidae (2), Dytiscidae (2), and Hydrophilidae (4), semi-aquatic Chelonariidae (2), and terrestrial species of Carabidae (3), Staphylinidae (5), Histeridae (1), Elateridae (1), Cantharidae (1), Cleridae (1), Tenebrionidae (1), Meloidae (1), Anthicidae (1), Chrysomelidae (3), Curculionidae (7) and Apionidae (1) were identified from six species of Eryngium L. (Apiaceae), two species of Guadua Kunth (Poaceae), Aechmea distichantha Lemaire (Bromeliaceae), and from fallen leaves of Euterpe edulis Mart. (Arecaceae) from the temperate and subtropical area. The highest species richness was recorded in Eryngium phytotelmata. Fifteen species of beetles inhabit Eryngium cabrerae Pontiroli, 11 in E. horridum Malme, 7 in E. stenophyllum Urb., 4 in E. aff. serra Cham. & Schltdl., 3 in E. elegans Cham. & Schltdl., 2 in E. eburneum Decne and E. pandanifolium Cham. & Schltdl. From bamboo, 6 species of coleopterans were collected from Guadua trinii (Nees) Nees ex Ruprecht and 4 from G. chacoensis (Rojas) Londoño & Peterson. Three species of aquatic coleopterans were recorded from A. distichantha and only one from E. edulis.