The non-pest Australasian fungivore Cis bilamellatus Wood (Coleoptera: Ciidae) in northern Europe: spread dynamics, invasion success and ecological impact

Cis occamy sp. nov, the first representative of the Cis bilamellatus species-group (Coleoptera, Ciidae) in the Neotropical region

Cis occamy sp. nov. is described based on specimens collected at six localities within the Atlantic Forest of the South and Southeast Regions of Brazil. It is the first Neotropical species of the Cis bilamellatus species-group, an aggregate of Cis species in which males have a single plate on both the anterocephalic and anterior pronotal edges, females have a pronotum usually widest near the posterior edge and gradually narrowing anteriorly, and both sexes have dual elytral vestiture. Cis occamy sp. nov. is morphologically similar to the Australian Cis australis Blackburn and Cis walkeri Blair, but differs from both in the sparser pronotal punctation and vestiture, and in the males with anterocephalic edge broadly emarginate apically (barely emarginate in C. australis and not emarginate in C. walkeri) and the tegmen subparallel-sided for most of its length (conspicuously sinuous in C. australis and C. walkeri). Available data on host fungi and geographical distribution of the new species are also provided.

Two invaders instead of one: the true identity of species under the name Ceracis cucullatus (Coleoptera: Ciidae)

The Neotropical obligate fungivorous beetle Ceracis cucullatus (Mellié) has attracted attention of coleopterists due to the increasing number of records of populations in Africa. Although its disjunct populations have been interpreted as a cohesive taxonomic unity, previous comparisons between African and Neotropical specimens revealed differences in their external morphology, causing uncertainty about the true unity of the species. Here, we compare the external morphology of specimens named Cer. cucullatus from several localities of the Neotropical, Palearctic, Afrotropical, Afrotemperate and Oriental regions. As results, we reverse three previous junior synonymies of Cer. cucullatus, proposing Cer. lamellatus (Pic) and Cer. tabellifer (Mellié), both reinstated status and new combinations, as separate species. We also propose Enn. bilamellatum Pic as a new synonym of Cer. tabellifer. In face of these taxonomic changes, we identify Cer. tabellifer as the actual invasive species on African lands, instead of Cer. cucullatus as was previously accepted. Then, through historical records gathered from scientific collections and literature, and through examination of recently collected specimens from South Africa and Brazil, we provide data on host fungi and geographic distribution of Cer. tabellifer. Based on these data, we discuss possible explanations to the successful invasion of Cer. tabellifer in Africa and elsewhere and its potential threat to native faunas of ciids. This study helps to fulfil an old gap in the literature on biological invasions, with considerably more studies on predatory species, disease vectors or potential pests of agricultural crops, than on non-pest fungivorous organisms.