Klapperich beetle (Gonioctena klapperichi) and Oberthür beetle (Gonioctena oberthueri) from China

NEWS - Gonioctena Chevrolat, 1836, is currently known from the Palaearctic, Nearctic and Oriental regions. In China it now has 53 species of which about 60% are endemic with the addition of the Klapperich beetle (Gonioctena klapperichi) and Oberthür beetle (Gonioctena oberthueri).

G. klapperichi is similar to G. scutellaris Baly, 1862, and G. melanota Kippenberg, 2010, but can be distinguished by the long oval aedeagus (vs. the apical 1/3 of the aedeagus is very slender in G. scutellaris and the apical 1/3 is tapering to blunt in G. melanota). G. oberthueri can be easily distinguished from the other species by its unique coloration, slightly elongated antennae VII-XI and the shape of the male genitalia.

Hee-Wook Cho of the Nakdonggang National Institute of Biological Resources in Sangju, named Klapperichi after the German entomologist Johann Friedrich Klapperich, who collected specimens in Fujian. Oberthueri is named after the French entomologist René Oberthür who obtained the type specimen from a missionary in Kangding, Sichuan.

Gonioctena is one of the most diverse genera of the subfamily Chrysomelinae, with 9 subgenera. The main features of the other genera are the middle and hind tibiae each with an angled subapical projection, appendicular tarsal claws, elytral epipleura visible in lateral view, well-developed hind wings and a procoxal cavity opening posteriorly.

Original research

Cho H-W (2024). Two new species of the genus Gonioctena Chevrolat, 1836 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) from China. Biodiversity Data Journal 12: e132778, DOI:10.3897/BDJ.12.e132778

Dlium theDlium

A deep-sea isopod Bathyopsurus nybelini adapted to feed submerged Sargassum algae

NEWS - Incredible footage shows a marine species, Bathyopsurus nybelini , feeding on something that sinks from the ocean’s surface. Researchers using the submersible Alvin found the isopod swimming 3.7 miles down using its paddle-like legs to catch an unexpected food source: Sargassum. Researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), the University of Montana, SUNY Geneseo, Willamette University and the University of Rhode Island found the algae sinking, while the isopod waited and adapted specifically to find and feed on the sinking nutrient source. The Sargassum lives on the surface for photosynthesis. The discovery of a deep-sea animal that relies on food that sinks from the waters miles above underscores the close relationship between the surface and the deep. “It’s fascinating to see this beautiful animal actively interacting with sargassum, so deep in the ocean. This isopod is extremely rare; only a handful of specimens were collected during the groundbreaking Swedis...

Pink poui (Tabebuia rosea)

Pink poui ( Tabebuia rosea ) is a species of plant in the Bignoniaceae, a small neotropical tree, growing up to 30 meters tall and up to 100 cm in diameter. It has layered and irregular branches, with gray to brown bark and vertical fissures. The leaves are compound, finger-shaped, five-petaled, length up to 33 cm, width up to 15 cm and long stalk up to 9 cm. The flowers are large, bright red or purple or white, fan-shaped, up to 9 cm long, up to 8 cm wide. The fruit capsule is slender and up to 35 cm long. The fruit dries and dehisces, producing anemochorous seeds with hyaline membrane wings. TAXON Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Tracheophyta Subphylum: Angiospermae Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Lamiales Family: Bignoniaceae Genus: Tabebuia Gomes ex DC. in Biblioth. Universelle Genève, n.s., 17: 130 (1838) Species: Tabebuia rosea (Bertol.) DC. in Prodr. 9: 215 (1845) HOMOTYPIC SYNONYMS Couralia rosea (Bertol.) Donn.Sm. in Bot. Gaz. 20: 9 (1895) Sparattosperma roseum (Bertol.) Miers in Proc....

Blue pea (Clitoria ternatea)

Blue pea ( Clitoria ternatea ) is a species of plant in the Fabaceae family. It is a climbing herb with compound leaves, 5-7 leaflets, up to 12 cm long. The leaflets are oval to round, up to 4 cm long and 3 cm wide, and green. The flowers are blue and white, up to 5 cm long and 3.5 cm wide. The pods are up to 11 cm long and 1 cm wide. TAXON Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Tracheophyta Subphylum: Angiospermae Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Subfamily: Faboideae Tribe: Phaseoleae Subtribe: Clitoriinae Genus: Clitoria L. in Sp. Pl.: 753 (1753) Species: Clitoria ternatea L. in Sp. Pl.: 753 (1753) HOMOTYPIC SYNONYMS Clitoria spectabilis Salisb. in Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton: 336 (1796) Nauchea ternatea (L.) J.-T.Descourt. in Mém. Soc. Linn. Paris 4: 8 (1826) Ternatea ternatea (L.) Kuntze in Revis. Gen. Pl. 3(2): 72 (1898) Ternatea vulgaris Kunth in F.W.H.von Humboldt, A.J.A.Bonpland & C.S.Kunth, Nov. Gen. Sp. 6: 415 (1824) HETEROTYPIC SYNONYMS Clitoria albiflora Matte...

Dlium