November 3, 2009
Demonstrating in a humourous way how hard it is to stop being a professor, Dr. Ramos showed Deborah how to improve space management while reorganizing the butterfly holdings. Soon the discussion switched to host plants, speciation, and biogeography.

Demonstrating in a humourous way how hard it is to stop being a professor, Dr. Ramos showed Deborah how to improve space management while reorganizing the butterfly holdings. Soon the discussion switched to host plants, speciation, and biogeography.

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On Tuesday we were visited by Dr. Stuart J. Ramos, Puerto Rican entomologist, biogeographer, and butterfly specialist who maintains ties to the University and its insect collection. Dr. Ramos is always prepared to share his vast knowledge on the natural history of Puerto Rican insects.

On Tuesday we were visited by Dr. Stuart J. Ramos, Puerto Rican entomologist, biogeographer, and butterfly specialist who maintains ties to the University and its insect collection. Dr. Ramos is always prepared to share his vast knowledge on the natural history of Puerto Rican insects.

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October 30, 2009
Student lab meeting on Thursday afternoon. Oh yes, and Lynn Margulis stopped by too.

Student lab meeting on Thursday afternoon. Oh yes, and Lynn Margulis stopped by too.

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October 28, 2009

Adding New Taxa to the Specify 6 Taxon Tree

In many cases the genera and species we are adding to Specify 6 are not included in the original Taxon Tree. Hernán has prepared a simple, step-by-step document that shows how a set of new taxa can be imported into the database.

1. See the step-by-step instructions here.

2. Download the Excel template for importing taxon names here.

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October 26, 2009

Our new Symbol DS 6708 Scanner.

Our new Symbol DS 6708 Scanner.

Here is UPRM-INVCOL specimen # 96.

Here is UPRM-INVCOL specimen # 96.

The scanner reads in the number...

The scanner reads in the number...

...and we can see the record in Specify!

...and we can see the record in Specify!

UPRM-INVCOL 96 = Surinam Cockroach!

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We also have two wooden, old school slide cabinets, each with a capacity for 3000 microscope slides. Lots of space of bug dissections…

We also have two wooden, old school slide cabinets, each with a capacity for 3000 microscope slides. Lots of space of bug dissections…

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We have a new Leica M50 stereomicroscope in the lab. Two new graduate students - Augusto Montoya and Andrés Vélez - will likely initiate their studies at UPRM in January. This equipment will allow more students to conduct high quality studies of insect morphology.

We have a new Leica M50 stereomicroscope in the lab. Two new graduate students - Augusto Montoya and Andrés Vélez - will likely initiate their studies at UPRM in January. This equipment will allow more students to conduct high quality studies of insect morphology.

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October 21, 2009

These are a series of Microptics images showing 5 new species of the weevil genus Apotomoderes Dejean (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae). Nico is presently revising the genus, which was previously known to have only a single species from Hispaniola.

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October 4, 2009
We quickly collected four species of broad-nosed weevils, including specimens of a relatively rare new species “near” Artipus Sahlberg 1823 (taxonomists who work with complex groups tend to love the non-committal “near”). An illustrous group of weevils!

We quickly collected four species of broad-nosed weevils, including specimens of a relatively rare new species “near” Artipus Sahlberg 1823 (taxonomists who work with complex groups tend to love the non-committal “near”). An illustrous group of weevils!

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An example of broad-nosed weevil feeding damage on the local vegetation.

An example of broad-nosed weevil feeding damage on the local vegetation.

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Zamira caught a specimen of Danaus plexippus portoricensis (Clark 1941), a Puerto Rican non-migratory subspecies (see Ramos 1982) of the famous monarch butterfly.

Zamira caught a specimen of Danaus plexippus portoricensis (Clark 1941), a Puerto Rican non-migratory subspecies (see Ramos 1982) of the famous monarch butterfly.

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Our last collecting site presented a stark contrast with the mountainous, lush and humid habitats of Carite. While returning to Mayagüez we stopped near the “Holiday Inn” on the coast just west of Ponce, in order to sample broad-noased weevils in this very dry, shrubby habitat.

Our last collecting site presented a stark contrast with the mountainous, lush and humid habitats of Carite. While returning to Mayagüez we stopped near the “Holiday Inn” on the coast just west of Ponce, in order to sample broad-noased weevils in this very dry, shrubby habitat.

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Near the Charco Azul parking lot we “examined” a tree log and collected about 12 specimens of this bess beetle species, presumably Spasalus crenatus (Macleay 1819), the only known species from Puerto Rico. We still need to confirm this…check out Ivie & Gillogly’s Passalidae of the West Indies site to learn more about these fascinating beetles.

Near the Charco Azul parking lot we “examined” a tree log and collected about 12 specimens of this bess beetle species, presumably Spasalus crenatus (Macleay 1819), the only known species from Puerto Rico. We still need to confirm this…check out Ivie & Gillogly’s Passalidae of the West Indies site to learn more about these fascinating beetles.

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Charco Azul, located at km 17.8 on Route 184 which cuts right through the Carite State Forest, is apparently an excellent habitat for higher elevation streams (ca. 650 m here). The streams were loaded with dragonflies and hundreds of whirlygig beetles. The next time we visit will we sample the aquatic insects thoroughly.

Charco Azul, located at km 17.8 on Route 184 which cuts right through the Carite State Forest, is apparently an excellent habitat for higher elevation streams (ca. 650 m here). The streams were loaded with dragonflies and hundreds of whirlygig beetles. The next time we visit will we sample the aquatic insects thoroughly.

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A mating pair of walking sticks and a cicada were caught. Puerto Rico’s highest elevation habitats tend to sustain a rather diverse insect fauna. For instance, in our experience the Cerro de Punta is one of the most productive collecting sites on the island, especially with regards to weevils in the subfamilies Cryptorhynchinae and Molytine. Carite was no exception - the collecting was taxonomically interesting and productive.

A mating pair of walking sticks and a cicada were caught. Puerto Rico’s highest elevation habitats tend to sustain a rather diverse insect fauna. For instance, in our experience the Cerro de Punta is one of the most productive collecting sites on the island, especially with regards to weevils in the subfamilies Cryptorhynchinae and Molytine. Carite was no exception - the collecting was taxonomically interesting and productive.

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