Expert takes fresh look, revealing staggering new numbers
November 2011: International Anthicidae specialist Dr Dmitry Telnov, of the Entomological Society of Latvia, Riga, writes about the amazing discovery of 84 new ant-like flower beetles in Wallacea and New Guinea.
During the past 15 years, I have discovered and scientifically described more than 150 species of ant-like flower beetles from various regions of our planet, from Peru to Madagascar and from southern China to Australia .
But I was surprised by the results of a recent revision of these beetles in Indo-Australia. Three expeditions to Halmahera, Seram, Misool and some areas of West Papua proved the diversity of Macratria of this region was previously underestimated.
Twenty-eight species of this genus were previously known from Sulawesi, Lesser Sundas, the Moluccas and New Guinea. Specimen records were available from eight islands of this area.
But now I can describe a further 84 species - all new to science. Data was collected from 23 islands (compared to the eight known until now) for biogeographical analysis.
Surprisingly, only two species are shared with the neighbouring Oriental realm and not a single species is shared with so close Australian mainland. Now 108 Macratria species are known from the study region, 99 per cent being endemic to the region. This makes Indo-Australian transition zone to the main diversity hotspot of Macratria on the planet.
According to my studies, Macratria are most abundant in lowland and lower montane rainforests, but more local endemics are to be found in high and mid-high montane rainforests. In total, only few species are known from more than one island or single mountain ridge. Most of species seems to be strictly locally endemic to geographically little areas.
Results are published in a new book series, Biodiversity, Biogeography And Nature Conservation In Wallacea And New Guinea. The major goal of this book series is to establish a discussion board to give biologists the opportunity to publish results of their studies at one issue series and not split them among hundreds of magazines. To find out more, go to: http://leb.daba.lv/book/ad.pdf
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/ant-beetle.html
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