CURCULIO An International Newsletter for Curculionoidea Research Volume 48 March 2004 Featured Researcher CONTENTS Featured Researcher ............................. 1 José Ricardo Miras Mermudes Editorial Comments ............................ 2 Museu de Zoologia Research Activities ............................. 4 Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil Past Specialists: Dietz .......................... 5 Paris Museum Report .......................... 7 ICE Brisbane 2004 .............................. 8 Bulletin Board ................................... 9 Recent Publications ................................ 10 Directory of Researchers ....................... 13 Academic Background Bachelor of Science, Universidade Santa Cecília (UNISANTA), Santos-SP, Brazil - 1994 Master of Science, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba-PR, Brazil: "Comparative morphology of Neotro- pical genera of Cleomenini Lacordaire, 1869 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Cerambycinae)" - 1999 Doctor of Philosophy, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba-PR, Brazil: "Revision and cladistic analy- sis of Ptychoderes Schoenherr, 1823 (Coleoptera, Anthri- bidae, Anthribinae, Ptychoderini)" - 2003 Postdoctoral Researcher and Curatorial Assistant at the Museum of Zoology, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil: "Revision, cladistic analysis and biogeography of Ptychoderini (Coleoptera, Anthribidae, Anthribinae)" - (José Ricardo Miras Mermudes at the Museu de Zoologia) 2003 to present sil" by A. M. da Costa Lima. In the process he motivates his Research Interests students to learn the main families of beetles, and to find a Systematics, classification, nomenclature, evolution, and bio- group of interest for future research. I believe that this ap- geography of Anthribidae; with a geographical emphasis on proach works as a test, as he might be convinced that the the Neotropical region. students will always choose Cerambycidae. But in my case it was different - when I saw a Ptychoderes, it was love at first My interest in Coleoptera and Anthribidae began during my sight. apprenticeship with Dr. Ubirajara Martins at the Museum of In the course of my studies, Dr. Martins encouraged me to Zoology of the University of São Paulo. Dr. Martins, a researcher begin with a bibliographical search, and I was asked to contact specializing in Cerambycidae, prefers to introduce his students Dr. Sergio Vanin for further assistance. However, the choice to to the Coleoptera through immediate experience of the Mu- specialize in entomology at the Federal University of Paraná seum collection, supplemented by the books "Insetos do Bra- (continued page 2) CURCULIO - An International Newsletter for Curculionoidea Research (founded in 1975) - is published each year in March and September, and can be downloaded in Adobe PDF format at www.coleopsoc.org/nwslttrs.shtml Editor - Nico M. Franz. Department of Entomology, Comstock Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. Email: [email protected] CURCULIO 48 March 2004 of many of Dietz's newly described species seems to reflect Editorial Comments his remarkable talent for taxonomy. As usual we also have updates on the research activities of Welcome to another CURCULIO with weevil-related news our colleagues. In addition, Charles O'Brien reports on a chal- from around the globe. This is the second recent issue featur- lenging yet rewarding experience at the Muséum national ing an up-and-coming researcher from Brazil - José Ricardo d'Histoire naturelle in Paris. On the "Bulletin Board," the Eu- Miras Mermudes. Together with Fabio Gaiger (Volume 44) and ropean CURCULIO Institute is announcing week-long meet- Roberta de Melo Valente (to appear in Volume 49), we seem to ings and excursions into the Western Carpathian Mountains have a soccer-like Brazilian dominance so far. However, this is (Poland). Shortly afterwards, some of us will convene at the just a reflection of who has been willing to step into the spot- XXII International Congress of Entomology in Australia for light. There have to be more institutions around the world where the Phytophaga Symposium (see also Volume 47). A program promising systematists can specialize on weevils. of 12 presentations is now available (page 8). Look for the next For the first time we are fortunate to have Horace Burke con- CURCULIO for a thorough report on the proceedings, as well tribute a piece to the new series "Notable Weevil Specialists of as related activities and outcomes. the Past" (page 5). As you all know Dr. Burke initiated CURCU- Last not least, many thanks to everyone who contributed to LIO with Wayne Clark in the mid 1970s. His current article re- the current issue - we need you! I will continue to look out for views the productive (if short) career of William George Dietz, more participation and comments on how to improve CURCU- who revised a number of complex North American weevil taxa, LIO. including anthonomines and ceutorhynchs. The long half-life NMF José R. M. Mermudes (continued) the genus Systaltocerus (tribe Gymnognathini). This is where the influence of my previous experience with detailed morpho- (UFPR) in Curitiba postponed my plans to logical analyses, acquired while working conduct research on Anthribidae. At the on Cerambycidae under the supervision UFPR, under the supervision of Dr. Dilma of Dr. Napp, became very evident. For the Solange Napp, I first completed a project first time, such an in-depth study had been on cerambycid morphology to obtain my conducted within the Anthribidae. It in- Master of Science degree. At the same time cluded character analyses pertaining to ex- I continued to learn about other genera of ternal morphology, the mouth pieces, wing Anthribidae. venation, the endosternites, male and fe- Upon finishing my degree I had to con- male terminalia, and the rectal plates. ceive a project for my Ph.D. dissertation, After sending reprints of my first anthri- which is when my entire predisposition to- bid-related publication to Drs. Guillermo wards Anthribidae came up again. The Kuschel, Beverley Holloway, and Elwood project on Ptychoderes that I outlined was Zimmerman, I received praises and encour- selected partly because of the availability agement to further pursue these studies of specimen material in the museum col- on Neotropical Anthribidae. Thus I became lections of Brazil. Dr. Napp wisely required the first Brazilian researcher to focus on me to have Dr. Vanin as a co-advisor. The this family. entire revisionary project of the genus took This detailed approach to morphology four years, and was accompanied by oth- was also used to revise Ptychoderes as ers studies that are either completed or still part of my dissertation project, and is now going on. All of this was only possible applied to the entire tribe Ptychoderini. I thanks to the orientation and incentive of am convinced that thorough descriptions my two main advisors, and also due to and analyses of morphological attributes, many other curators and researchers of involving specimen dissections, will con- anthribids and weevils who have provided tinue to provide the core information for continuous support and friendship. future phylogenetic studies. My first published results on Anthribi- Systaltocerus platyrhinus, dae presented a careful redescription of photo by J. R. M. Mermudes (continued page 3) 2 CURCULIO 48 March 2004 José R. M. Mermudes (end) Mermudes, J. R. M. 1998. Nova espécie de Dihammaphora. Iheringia - Série Zoologia 85: 97-100. The results of my Mermudes, J. R. M. 2002. Systaltocerus platyrhinus Labram & dissertation project Imhoff, 1840: redescrições e considerações sobre a sinonímia are still being pre- com Homalorhamphus vestitus Haedo Rossi & Viana, 1957 pared for publica- (Coleoptera, Anthribidae, Anthribinae). Revista Brasileira de tion. Here is an Entomologia 46: 579-590. overview: the Neo- Mermudes, J. R. M. 2003. Unanthribus, um novo gênero Neo- tropical genus Pty- tropical de Ptychoderini Jekel, 1855 (Coleoptera, Anthribidae, choderes is re- Anthribinae). Revista Brasileira de Entomologia 47: 239-244. vised; the genus Mermudes, J. R. M., and M. A. Monné. 1999. Aleiphaquilon and fifteen species Martins, 1970 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Callidiopini): de- are redescribed. scrições e chave para identificação. Iheringia - Série Zoologia Two new species 87: 81-86. have been describ- Mermudes, J. R. M., and M. L. Monné. 2001. Descrição de larva ed and published e pupa de Acanthoderes (Psapharochrus) melanosticta recently in 2004 White, 1855 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae, Acantho- (see listing of pub- derini). Revista Brasileira de Entomologia 45: 331-334. lications). A key to Mermudes, J. R. M., and D. S. Napp. 1999. Taxonomic studies the species and on Compsocerini and tribal reassigment of Stenochariergus maps of their geo- Giesbert & Hovore (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Cerambyci- graphical distribu- nae). Coleopterists Bulletin 53: 80-86. tions are provided. Mermudes, J. R. M., and D. S. Napp. 2000. Review of the genus Ptychoderes elongatus, The cladistic analy- Haenkea Tippmann (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Cerambyci- photo by J. R. M. Mermudes sis of a total of 24 nae, Cleomenini). Coleopterists Bulletin 54: 511-519. taxa and 53 characters - derived from analyses of the body Mermudes, J. R. M., and D. S. Napp. 2001. Review and transfer vestiture, external morphology, wing venation, male and female to Heteropsini of the genus Eupempelus Bates (Coleoptera, terminalia, and the rectal loop - resulted in a single cladogram Cerambycidae). Revista Brasileira de Zoologia