Research Training Program

Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History

PROJECT SUMMARY
1996

Eric J. Hoffmann
The University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Paul J. Spangler, Ph.D.
Supervising Scientist
Department of Botany
"This is the way you really learn scientific techniques- immerse yourself in them. I have learned more from the individual guidance than I would ever have learned in a typical course, and I feel confident that I can effectively present future research to the scientific community."

Description of a new genus and species of neotropical noterid beetle
(Coleoptera: Noteridae)

ABSTRACT
Insects are the most diverse of all organisms on the planet. They have been around for over 400 million years, and have adapted to almost every ecological niche available, including aquatic habitats. The beetle order Coleoptera has many aquatic representatives, and the Noteridae is a particular family of aquatic beetles that has received limited study. A new species of noterid was collected in 1986 and this animal, Novonoterus hystricurus, was the focus of this research study. A descriptive analysis of the beetle was done using Scanning Electron Micrographs (SEM) and dissecting microscopes. Such descriptive work is important not only to add to the known list of species on this planet, but also to assist other scientists in their studies of trends and diversities of life. This study showed that Novonoterus hystricurus is a new genus in addition to being a new species. Furthermore, Novonoterus does not fit the current tribal system of the Noteridae, and it was placed into a new tribe, the Novonoterini. A preliminary analysis was done to see what other noterid genera the new genus Novonoterus is most similar to. This revealed some interesting facts. Primary among these findings is that the entire family Noteridae needs to be restructured in terms of how different genera are grouped into tribes. This lack of appropriate organization is due largely to small early sample sizes and incorrect observations that have been passed on in the literature without confirmation. A revision of the family should be done as well as analysis of the characters used in such a revision. This includes work on over 240 species- well beyond the scope of this project's allotted time.

This research was supported by a grant from the Smithsonian Women's Committee.

Letter of Gratitude