A Checklist of the Beetles of Cuba with Data on Distributions and ...
A Checklist of the Beetles of Cuba with Data on Distributions and ...
A Checklist of the Beetles of Cuba with Data on Distributions and ...
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2<br />
Arthropods <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Florida <strong>and</strong> Neighboring L<strong>and</strong> Areas, Vol. 18<br />
The first <str<strong>on</strong>g>Cuba</str<strong>on</strong>g>n nati<strong>on</strong>al park, Parque Naci<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Pico Cristal, was established in 1930, <strong>and</strong> <strong>on</strong>ly five<br />
more had been established by 1959. Then, nine<br />
additi<strong>on</strong>al nati<strong>on</strong>al parks were established under<br />
Public Law 239 in 1959. The first attempt to classify<br />
<strong>and</strong> preserve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country’s remaining natural<br />
forests was that <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Samek (1968). Later, Miller<br />
(1974) provided <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> basis for establishing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present<br />
system <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> protected areas. To insure adequate representati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all natural l<strong>and</strong>scapes, geographers<br />
<strong>and</strong> biologists evaluated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir protected status.<br />
These efforts resulted in a law establishing a Nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
System <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Protected Areas, which now has<br />
more than 200 protected areas that cover 12% <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country. However, <strong>on</strong>ly 1-2% <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country is<br />
strictly protected <strong>and</strong> some reserves appear to be<br />
too small to effectively preserve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> biota <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y c<strong>on</strong>tain.<br />
It is estimated that <str<strong>on</strong>g>Cuba</str<strong>on</strong>g> now has about two<br />
milli<strong>on</strong> ha <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> forests, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which 1.7 milli<strong>on</strong> ha (85%)<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sist <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> natural forests <strong>and</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remainder is forestry<br />
plantati<strong>on</strong>s. Of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se forested l<strong>and</strong>s, nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
parks cover 5.1%, wildlife c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> areas are<br />
24.3%, watershed protecti<strong>on</strong> areas are 17.0%,<br />
coastal protecti<strong>on</strong> areas are 18.2%, producti<strong>on</strong> forests<br />
are 32.7%, <strong>and</strong> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r categories are 2.7%<br />
(Santana 1991, Cuevas <strong>and</strong> García 1982).<br />
The purposes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this checklist <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Cuba</str<strong>on</strong>g>n beetles<br />
are several. It may be used to help evaluate possible<br />
pest status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> beetles moving into <strong>and</strong> out <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Cuba</str<strong>on</strong>g> through human activities. The advantages<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this are evident. Some beetles are pests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> agricultural,<br />
horticultural, <strong>and</strong> forest plants; some are<br />
pests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> stored agricultural products, or are destructive<br />
to man-made structures; <strong>and</strong> some are actual<br />
or potential vectors <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> diseases <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> livestock, crops,<br />
<strong>and</strong> humans. To unify informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se makes<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> data more accessible <strong>and</strong> useful to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> benefit<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> human society. However, most beetles (as is also<br />
true for almost all insects) have little or no direct<br />
impact <strong>on</strong> human activities. These species comprise<br />
most <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> richness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> vibrant natural communities<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> isl<strong>and</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Cuba</str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />
This list may help to stimulate <strong>and</strong> encourage<br />
additi<strong>on</strong>al research activity in summarizing<br />
biodiversity informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> beetles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Cuba</str<strong>on</strong>g>. All<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> species <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Cuba</str<strong>on</strong>g>n insects have been shaped <strong>and</strong><br />
formed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> biological <strong>and</strong> physical processes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
evoluti<strong>on</strong> by natural selecti<strong>on</strong>. The geographic distributi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> species <str<strong>on</strong>g>with</str<strong>on</strong>g>in <strong>and</strong> bey<strong>on</strong>d <str<strong>on</strong>g>Cuba</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
have been shaped by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir genetic adaptati<strong>on</strong>s to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ecological c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> local envir<strong>on</strong>ments<br />
<strong>and</strong> physiography, <strong>and</strong> human changes to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> l<strong>and</strong>scape.<br />
All <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this is a part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> patrim<strong>on</strong>y <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Cuba</str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />
The history <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> study <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> insects (<strong>and</strong> especially<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> beetles) in <str<strong>on</strong>g>Cuba</str<strong>on</strong>g> is l<strong>on</strong>g <strong>and</strong> rich. The science <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
insect tax<strong>on</strong>omy in <str<strong>on</strong>g>Cuba</str<strong>on</strong>g> is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most highly developed<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any nati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Caribbean. An underst<strong>and</strong>-<br />
ing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> insect fauna is more advanced for <str<strong>on</strong>g>Cuba</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
than for any o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r isl<strong>and</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Caribbean.<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Cuba</str<strong>on</strong>g> is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> natural biological <strong>and</strong> cultural<br />
crossroads <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Caribbean Basin. An underst<strong>and</strong>ing<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dynamics <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> insect movement into <strong>and</strong><br />
out <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Cuba</str<strong>on</strong>g> over evoluti<strong>on</strong>ary <strong>and</strong> historical time<br />
is important for applied biology <strong>and</strong> management<br />
purposes. Knowledge <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> insect pests is important<br />
for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir c<strong>on</strong>trol. Knowledge <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> insects in general is<br />
an important part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cultural heritage <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all<br />
societies, because all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se species are fellow occupants<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> biosphere.<br />
References<br />
Alayo D., P. <strong>and</strong> Hern<strong>and</strong>ez, L.R. 1987. Atlas<br />
de las mariposas diurnas de <str<strong>on</strong>g>Cuba</str<strong>on</strong>g> (Lepidoptera:<br />
Rhopalocera). Editorial Cientifico-Téchnica, La<br />
Havana, <str<strong>on</strong>g>Cuba</str<strong>on</strong>g>. 148 pp.<br />
Cuevas, J.R. <strong>and</strong> García, F. 1982. Los recursos<br />
naturales y su c<strong>on</strong>servación. Editorial Pueblo<br />
y Educación, La Havana, <str<strong>on</strong>g>Cuba</str<strong>on</strong>g>. 44 pp.<br />
Genaro, J. A. <strong>and</strong> Tejuca, A. E. 1999. Datos<br />
cuantitativos, endemismo y estado actual del<br />
c<strong>on</strong>ocimiento de los insectos cubaños. Cucuyo<br />
8: 24-28.<br />
Holman, J. 1974. Los aphidos de <str<strong>on</strong>g>Cuba</str<strong>on</strong>g>. Instituto<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Cuba</str<strong>on</strong>g>no del Libro, La Havana, <str<strong>on</strong>g>Cuba</str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />
López Almirall, A. 1998. Algunas characterísticas<br />
del endemismo en la flora de <str<strong>on</strong>g>Cuba</str<strong>on</strong>g> Oriental.<br />
Pp. 47-82. In Halffter, G. (ed.). La diversidad<br />
biológica de Iberoamerica. Vol. 2. Acta Zooogica<br />
Mexicana, nueva series, volumen especial 1998.<br />
Miller, K. 1974. Manejo y desarrollo integral de<br />
las áreas naturales y culturales. Centro de<br />
Investigaci<strong>on</strong>es y Capacitación Forestal, La<br />
Havana, <str<strong>on</strong>g>Cuba</str<strong>on</strong>g>. 102 pp.<br />
Samek, V. 1968. La protección de la naturaleza<br />
en <str<strong>on</strong>g>Cuba</str<strong>on</strong>g>. Serie Transformación de la<br />
Naturaleza. Academia de Ciencias de <str<strong>on</strong>g>Cuba</str<strong>on</strong>g>, La<br />
Havana, <str<strong>on</strong>g>Cuba</str<strong>on</strong>g>. No. 7. 23 pp.<br />
Santana, C.E. 1991. Native c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> sustainable<br />
development in <str<strong>on</strong>g>Cuba</str<strong>on</strong>g>. C<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong><br />
Biology 5: 13-16.<br />
Smith, E. E. 1954. The forests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Cuba</str<strong>on</strong>g>. Maria<br />
Moors Cabot Foundati<strong>on</strong> Publ. 2, Cambridge<br />
Forest, Petersham, Massachusetts, <strong>and</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Atkins Garden <strong>and</strong> Research Laboratory,<br />
Cienfuegos, <str<strong>on</strong>g>Cuba</str<strong>on</strong>g>. 98 pp.<br />
Vales, M. A., M<strong>on</strong>tes, L. <strong>and</strong> Alayo, R. 1998.<br />
Estado del c<strong>on</strong><strong>on</strong>cimiento de la biodiversidad<br />
en <str<strong>on</strong>g>Cuba</str<strong>on</strong>g>. pp. 239-249. In Halffter, G. (ed.). La<br />
Biodiversidad biológica de Iberoamerica. Acta.<br />
Zool. Mexicana,<br />
Woods, C.A. 1989. Biogeography <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> West<br />
Indies: past, present <strong>and</strong> future. S<strong>and</strong>hill Crane<br />
Press, Gainesville, Florida.