Michele Tedeschi’s scientific contributions

The southern African species of the genus Rhamphus Clairville, 1798, is herein revised for the first time. Fourteen species are recognized, 13 of which are new to science. The single known species was Rhamphus namibicus Korotyaev, 1994 (Namibia), whereas the new species are R. carinatus sp. nov. (South Africa: Limpopo; Zimbabwe), R. densepunctatus sp. nov. (South Africa: Western Cape), R. gigas sp. nov. (Zambia), R. glaber sp. nov. (South Africa: Mpumalanga), R. globipennis sp. nov. (South Africa: Mpumalanga, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Western Cape), R. hispidulus sp. nov. (South Africa: Eastern Cape), R. indifferens sp. nov. (South Africa: Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape), R. levipennis sp. nov. (South Africa: Mpumalanga; Zimbabwe), R. longitarsis sp. nov. (Southern Namibia; South Africa: Northern Cape), R. obesulus sp. nov. (South Africa: Eastern Cape), R. pilosulus sp. nov. (South Africa: Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal; Zimbabwe), R. scaber sp. nov. (South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape), R. squamidorsum sp. nov. (South Africa: Eastern Cape, Western Cape). Based on morphological characters, the species are separated into four informal groups. In considering possible relationships between these species and those from other regions, host-plant associations are also discussed.

An annotated catalogue of Coleoptera Curculionoidea of “Monte Grappa” Biosphere Reserve is presented. The 528 species surveyed, divided into 7 families and 283 genera and subgenera, include the 265 species already known, plus the 263 are reported for the first time for the area. Faunistic, chorological and ecological information is given for all the species together with 1.015 illustrations of distinctive species, collecting techniques and selected habitats. In addition the database of 20.000 specimens collected can be found at: doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7497691

This is the preview of the volume dedicated to the Curculionoidea beetles of the Man and Biosphere Reserve (MaB) of Monte Grappa (NE-Italy). The book, edited by World Biodiversity Association, will be officially released the 24th of February 2023.