ARS | Publication request: Redescription of the Hispaniolan ladybird genus Bura Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and justification for its transfer from Coccidulinae to Sticholotidinae

Submitted to: Zootaxa
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: August 17, 2007
Publication Date: September 17, 2007
Citation: Vandenberg, N.J., Perez-Gelabert, D.E. 2007. Redescription of the Hispaniolan ladybird genus Bura Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and justification for its transfer from Coccidulinae to Sticholotidinae. Zootaxa. 1586:39-46.

Interpretive Summary: Lady beetles are important predators of agricultural and forest pests. The present contribution corrects the subfamily placement of the lady beetle genus Bura, native to the island of Hispaniola. Proper classification is important because it provides a predictive framework, allowing scientists to anticipate the habits, behavior, and food preferences of a classified organism even if that particular species is poorly known. This work will provide greater stability to lady beetle classification, and aid agriculturalists, biological control practitioners and ecologists in making important management decisions.

Technical Abstract: In the current work, we discuss the features of Bura (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) that justify its transfer from Coccidulinae to Sticholotidinae, speculate on circumstances that led to its prior misclassification, and highlight current problems in the delineation of the afforementioned lady beetle subfamilies. The Hispaniolan genus Bura Mulsant is removed from Coccidulinae and placed in Sticholotidini (Sticholotidinae). The characteristics which justify this transfer are discussed and an historical review of the classification of the Sticholotidinae is presented. Bura is diagnosed and redescribed, and its affinities to other Sticholotidini are discussed. Illustrations of key generic characters are provided.