VALDES Pavel, Cuba
Abstract (2007 visit)
The ardistomines (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Scaritinae: Clivinini) are a complex formed by three genera, Adistomis Putzeys, Semiardistomis Kult, and Aspidoglossa Putzeys. At present, 54 species are included in Ardistomis, 12 species in Semiardistomis, and 26 in Aspidoglossa. This complex is confined to the Western Hemisphere, ranging on the mainland from Nearctic southeastern USA to Neotropical Argentina and the West Indies. The position of the group inside the Scaritinae is poorly understood and almost nothing has been done about taxonomy, phylogeny, biogeography or bionomics of its members. The type materials of about 80 % of the species described are deposited in European Collections, 32 % in the Putzey’s Collection in Belgium only. Necessarily, a detailed morphologic study of the specimens in Belgian collections is determinant to continue the study of the group in American Collections.
Abstract (2008 visit)
The ardistomines (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Scaritinae: Clivinini) are a complex formed by genera Ardistomis Putzeys, Semiardistomis Kult, and Aspidoglossa Putzeys. At present, 54 species are included in Ardistomis, 12 species in Semiardistomis, and 26 in Aspidoglossa. This complex is confined to the Western Hemisphere, from southeastern USA to Argentina and the West Indies. The position of the group inside the Scaritinae is poorly understood and almost nothing has been done about taxonomy, phylogeny, biogeography or bionomics of its members. Revision of the type material hosted in Europe (about 80% of species) was partially done under GTI 2007 call. To complete this project is necessary the detailed morphologic study of the specimens concerning genus Aspidoglossa as well as general material from other European collections inaccessible at that occasion. The morphologically related genus Oxidrepanus Putzeys with 11 species described is also included.
Abstract (2010 visit)
The ardistomines (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Scaritinae: Clivinini) are a complex formed by genera, Adistomis Putzeys, Semiardistomis Kult, and Aspidoglossa Putzeys. This complex is confined to the Western Hemisphere, from southeastern USA to Argentina and the West Indies. Taxonomy, phylogeny, biogeography or bionomics of its members is poorly understood. This project, partially executed under GTI 2007 and 2008 calls have accumulated a great amount of morphological and distributional data from European collections. Now, the work follows the sense to complete the basic taxonomical studies and to continue working with unidentified material from different collections. Under the necessity to reconstruct the phylogeny in the group and understand their relations within the tribe Clivinini some Neotropical genera has been included. The close relative Oxydrepanus Putzeys and other 5 small genera with an uncertain position near Ardistomines and inside Clivinini: Ancus Putzeys, Climax Putzeys, Pyramis Putzeys, Lachenus Putzeys and Cryptomma Putzeys
Training Location: Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels
Gained capacity for Mr Valdes: Putzey’s collection at RBINS houses about 45 % of the type material. The Belgian GTI provided support to visit other important collection (Paris Museum of Natural History) or to receive loans from other institutions like Oxford Hope’s Collection, British Museum Collection, Canadian Museum of Nature and particular collections from Czech Rep. and Austria. Publications that result directly from the obtained GTI support: a paper describing seven new Neotropical species of the genus Ardistomis Putzeys (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Scaritinae: Clivinini) with notes about classification and a checklist of species names of that genus has been published by the Bulletin of the RBINS. (read it here). A paper on the taxonomic revision of the genus Semiardistomis Kult (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Scaritinae: Clivinini) is in preparation. Mr Valdes recently also secured a scholarship to go and study in the Smithsonian Institute
Gained capacity for Mr Valdes' institution: These publications will be useful not only for taxonomists, also for people interested in Tropical Ecology or Neotropical Zoogeography, inside or outside Cuba. About curatorial benefits, all material involved on this project from different Collections will be adequately identified, labeled and restored if necessary; given to this part of those collections a strong reference significance. This opportunity provides good chances for collections loans and exchange of exemplars (e.g. in 2007 visit were deposited paratypes of Cuban-Mexican Ardistomis quixotei Valdes in 4 European Collections). In Cuba, 3 carabids collections receive direct attention of this author: Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, Instituto de Ecología y Sistemática and Fernando de Zayas particular Collection by means of increasing their number of specimens identified. Capacity gained during training or interchange with Belgian specialists will be reflected in annual workshops organized by this author through the Cuban Zoology Society related with Practical Entomology, Scientific Illustration and Conservation and Restoration of Zoological Collections in tropical conditions.
To read more about Mr Valdes' capacity building visits in his GTI reports (2007, 2008, 2010)
Top: P. Valdes with his RBINS colleague A. Drumont and Pavel sampling in the field; bottom Ardistomis drumonti, a new species dedicated to A. Drumont of the RBINS
