Luciano Diotti’s scientific contributions

The Po Plain (Northern Italy) is one of the most urbanized areas in Europe. In such a territory, where ecosystem degradation reached critical levels and the agricultural matrix is prevailingly intensive, small fragments of hilly oak-hornbeam forests still persist. Examples of well preserved forests of the Po Plain are those of the Monte Netto Regional Park that represents irreplaceable refuges for both sedentary and migratory species. In this paper we present a preliminary list of Coleoptera inhabiting the Park collected during 10 years of field surveys using several sampling techniques (hand netting, beating tray, sight-collecting and collecting under bark; water nets; litter reducers, light traps; aerial sweet-bait trap; cross-vane panel trap, pitfall traps, Malaise traps, window traps, and walking transects). Specific samplings were also made in tree hollows and by car-netting. To date we have identified 834 species belonging to 531 genera and 71 families (several specimens and some families are still undetermined). Among all the species identified, 31 were non-native while 202 were included in the Red List of Italian saproxylic beetles, 12 of which were in threatened category. The high beetle richness and the presence of many endangered species recorded during this survey, emphasises the conservation value of Monte Netto. Moreover, the discovery of species linked to old and stable forest systems, such as Osmoderma eremita, Oxylaemus cylindricus, Pycnomerus terebrans or Xylotrechus antilope suggests how, despite their small size and the fact that they are surrounded by agricultural land, the remaining forest patches of Monte Netto still possess a fair level of naturalness, especially in the internal areas of the larger plots. Future targeted research, also intended to cover other parts of Monte Netto, could increase our present knowledge; however, and at least in the number of families, we do not expect a substantial increase in species richness.

Two new species of the weevil genus Rhamphus from Italy are herein described: R. bavierai n. sp. (Sicily) and R. hampsicora n. sp. (Sardinia). Both are morphologically and from a molecular perspective close to R. oxyacanthae (Marsham, 1802) and R. monzinii Pesarini & Diotti, 2012. Aside from a diagnostic description and a synoptic key, distribution data and notes on the host plants of the four species are reported. Whereas R. monzinii can be distinguished by several morphological characters, the other three species are morphologically very similar to each other and separable only by the combination of a few subtle characters. On the contrary, a preliminary molecular study revealed substantial divergences of mtCOI from 6.2 to 14.9% between the species, confirming the importance of an integrative taxonomy.

The species belonging to the weevil genus Rhinocyllus are studied. A new species, Rhinocyllus alpinus sp. nov. living on the inflorescences of Cirsium alsophilum (Pollini) Soldano (Asteraceae), is described from the central Italian Alps. A new subgenus, Rhinolarinus subgen. nov., is created for this new species. The following new synonymy is proposed: Curculio inquilinus Gyllenhal, 1827 syn. nov. of Rhinocyllus conicus (Froelich, 1792). Lectotypes for Curculio inquilinus Gyllenhal, 1827, Rhinocyllus olivieri Gyllenhal, 1835 and Rhinocyllus oblongus Capiomont, 1873 are designated. Due to lack of type specimens and information subsequently to its description, Rhinocyllus turkestanicus Desbrochers des Loges, 1900 is considered as species incertae sedis. Keys to the subgenera and to the species of Rhinocyllus s. str. are provided and taxonomical differences are illustrated.Key words: Rhinocyllus, Rhinolarinus, new subgenus, new species, Cirsium, Italy

Viene qui descritta di Piemonte la nuova specie Rhamphus monzinii, prossima a R. pulicarius e R. oxyacanthae, e più simile a quest’ultimo, ma distinta comunque da entrambi per la foggia ben diversa dei genitali ♂♂. La nuova specie sembrerebbe legata, al pari di R. pulicarius, a Salicacee e Betulacee.

Abstract - First record for Europe of the rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel (Coleoptera, Curculionoidea, Erirhinidae). Recently many adult female specimens of Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel, 1952 were collected in Western Lombardy (Northern Italy) both ibernant under Calluna vulgarìs L. (January-March) and then moving on grasses and sedges, mainly on Carex acutiformis Ehrh. (April), near rice fields. This species, which is now recorded for the first time for Europe, is an important pest of rice, Oryza sativa L., in North America, but is also known from Mexico and Cuba; moreover partenogenetìc populations have been introduced into Japan, North and South Korea, and China, where it is now seriously damaging rice cultivations. The adult of L. oryzophilus can be identified as follows: medium-sized (length 3.3-3.7 mm rostrum included), elongate-oval; integument reddish brown, densely clothed with contiguous to imbricated scales and waterproof coating; on dorsum scales usually light brown at side and dark brown medially; rostrum thick, with scrobes in lateral view oblique; antennae with funicle 6-segmented and with first segment of club glabrous; midtibiae bladelike, with evenly strongly curved outer margin and with dense elongate swimming hairs on inner and outer margins. In Europe these characters allow to distinguish this taxon from other species of Erirhinidae as well as from Bagous Germar, 1817, an aquatic genus of Curculionidae which shares L. oryzophilus in the general habitus. Besides, some notes on know biology of the species are reported.

Riassunto - Vengono forniti alcuni caratteri utili per l'identificazione e la separazione dai ta- xa più affini di Lissorhoptrus LeConte, 1876, genere recentemente introdotto in Italia con la specie L. oryzophilus Kuschel, 1952 del Nord America, e di Siraton Hustache, 1934, genere dell'Isola d'Elba su cui non erano state più riportate notizie dopo la sua descrizione. Inoltre è proposta la sinonimia di Lostianus Desbrochers, 1900 con Echinocnemus Schönherr, 1843 (n. sin.). Abstract - Notes on Lissorhoptrus, an American weevil genus introduced into Italy, and on Los- tianus and Siraton, two Italian "endemic" genera (Coleoptera Erirhinidae). Characters useful to the identification of Lissorhoptrus LeConte, 1876, an American genus re- cently introduced into Italy with the species L. oryzophilus Kuschel, 1952, and of Siraton Hustache, 1934, a little known genus from the Elba Isle, are reported. Moreover, Lostianus Des- brochers, 1900 is newly synonymized with Echinocnemus Schönherr, 1843 (n. syn.).