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

Awar awar (Ficus septica)

Awar-awar or Hauli tree or barabar or sirih popar or tobo tobo ( Ficus septica ) is species of plants in Moraceae, trees grow in bushes or in neglected places and sap contained in roots, twigs, leaves and fruit is used to treat poisoning and digestive problems. F. septica is usually 1-5 m high, although in the forest it can be up to 25 m. Round, hollow and bare branches. Roots, twigs, leaves and fruit will emit a yellow sap and sticky if injured. The base of the leaves is large and spiky, arranged alternately or face to face with a stem length of 2.5-5 cm. Large leaf blade, round egg, 9-30x9-16 cm, rounded base and blunt narrow tip, flat-edged, upper side dark green with 6-12 secondary bones pale white. Fruit paired, single or clustered up to 4 items, short-stemmed, at the base has 3 protective leaves, light green or gray green and 1.5 cm in diameter. F. septica is food for 22 animal species including wasps, bats, birds, monkeys and mice as well as seed dispersing vectors. A...

Mexican ruellia (Ruellia simplex)

Mexican ruellia ( Ruellia simplex ) is a species of plant in the Acanthaceae, an evergreen perennial, 1 meter tall, forming a colony of stalks with lance-shaped leaves. The leaves are narrowly elongated, 6-30 cm long, 1-2 cm wide, a main vein in the middle with many small pinnate veins. The flowers are metallic blue to purple, trumpet-shaped with a corolla 5.1 cm wide, 6 cm long, five-lobed. There is a dwarf variety that is only 30 cm tall. This plant is used to treat itching, coughs and diabetes. Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Tracheophyta Subphylum: Angiospermae Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Lamiales Family: Acanthaceae Subfamily: Acanthoideae Tribe: Ruellieae Subtribe: Ruelliinae Genus: Ruellia Species: Ruellia simplex

Three new species of Huntsman spider (Pseudopoda Jäger 2000) from Qizimeishan National Nature Reserve

NEWS - A spider survey in Qizimeishan National Nature Reserve in Xuan’en County, southwest Hubei Province, adjacent to the northeastern edge of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, discovered three new species: arc huntsman spider ( Pseudopoda arcuata ♀), Qizimeishan huntsman spider ( Pseudopoda qizimeishanensis ♂ ♀) and Mian Wei huntsman spider ( Pseudopoda weimiani ♂ ♀). The reserve covers a total area of 345.5 km2 and the highest peak is about 2010 meters. It mainly protects the central subtropical mountain evergreen broadleaf forest and subalpine sphagnum swamp wetland area. The reserve is rich in wildlife resources and has been listed as a key biodiversity area in the China Biodiversity Conservation Action Plan. Pseudopoda Jäger 2000 is the largest genus of the Sparassidae Bertkau 1872 with 256 species. Currently, 155 species of Pseudopoda are known in China. This genus is a small to large spider that lives mainly in leaf litter and less frequently in plants. P. arcuata derives its spe...

Dlium