Taxonomic notes on the genus Afghanicenus Heyrovsk, 1941 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), with the first record of Afghanicenus nuristanicus (Heyrovsk, 1936) from Pakistan.

Afghanicenus nuristanicus (Heyrovsk, 1936) is hereby newly recorded from Pakistan based on a specimen collected at the beginning of the 20th century and preserved in the collection of the Natural History Museum, London. High quality colour images of the type material (a male syntype of Purpuricenus nuristanicus and a female syntype of P. nuristanicus f. bisignata) are presented for the first time. Some literature information on the genus Afghanicenus Heyrovsk, 1941 is summarised, and taxonomic problems are highlighted and further discussed.

Review of the genus Xenicotela Bates, 1884 (Cerambycidae, Lamiinae, Lamiini).

The species of the genus Xenicotela Bates, 1884 are reviewed. One new species, Xenicotelamuchenisp. nov., is described from Yunnan, China. Monochamusbinigricollis Breuning, 1965 and Monochamusvilliersi Breuning, 1960 are transferred to Xenicotela as follows: Xenicotelavilliersi (Breuning, 1960) comb. nov. and Xenicotelabinigricollis (Breuning, 1965) comb. nov.Xenicoteladistincta (Gahan, 1888) is newly reported from Myanmar and Xenicotelabinigricollis is excluded from the fauna of China. All species are redescribed and illustrated. A key to the known Xenicotela species is provided.

The genome sequence of a ground beetle, Leistus spinibarbis (Fabricius, 1775).

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Leistus spinibarbis (a ground beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Carabidae). The genome sequence is 235.1 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 23 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.82 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 23,576 protein coding genes.

The collection of the genus Mispila Pascoe, 1864 housed in the Natural History Museum, London (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae).

Data on the collection of the genus Mispila Pascoe, 1864 (Lamiinae, Pteropliini) deposited in the Natural History Museum, London are presented. Mispila (s. str.) auguralis Pascoe, 1878 is removed from synonymy with Mispila (s. str.) venosaPascoe, 1864 and considered as a subspecies: Mispila (s. str.) venosa auguralis Pascoe, 1878 stat. rev.. Lectotypes are designated for Mispila (s. str.) obscura Gahan, 1890 and Mispila (Dryusa) flexuosa (Pascoe, 1864). The variation of Mispila venosa venosa Pascoe, 1864 is shown. A total of 20 valid species/subspecies are listed.

The genome sequence of a darkling beetle, Lagria hirta (Linnaeus, 1758).

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Lagria hirta (darkling beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Tenebrionidae). The genome sequence is 336.8 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 12 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X and Y sex chromosomes. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.12 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 12,850protein coding genes.

The genome sequence of a ground beetle, Pterostichus niger (Schaller, 1783).

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Pterostichus niger (a ground beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Carabidae). The genome sequence is 674.1 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 19 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 17.16 kilobases in length.

The collection of the genus Epepeotes Pascoe, 1866 housed in the Natural History Museum, London (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae).

Data on the collection of the genus Epepeotes Pascoe, 1866 deposited in the Natural History Museum, London are presented. A total of 23 species/subspecies, including type specimens of 18 names, of them 13 valid, are recorded. Epepeotesuncinatuslineatopunctatus Breuning, 1960 is restored to subspecies-level status. Lectotypes are designated for Epepeotesuncinatusuncinatus Gahan, 1888 and Epepeotesandamanicus Gahan, 1893. Epepeotesluscusluscus (Fabricius, 1787) is newly recorded in Cambodia and Singapore, and Epepeotesuncinatusuncinatus Gahan, 1888 is newly recorded in Bangladesh. Images of the type and other significant specimens are provided for 23 taxa, mainly for the first time.

Climate shapes the spatiotemporal variation in color morph diversity and composition across the distribution range of Chrysomela lapponica leaf beetle.

Color polymorphism offers rich opportunities for studying the eco-evolutionary mechanisms that drive the adaptations of local populations to heterogeneous and changing environments. We explored the color morph diversity and composition in a Chrysomela lapponica leaf beetle across its entire distribution range to test the hypothesis that environmental and climatic variables shape spatiotemporal variation in the phenotypic structure of a polymorphic species. We obtained information on 13 617 specimens of this beetle from museums, private collections, and websites. These specimens (collected from 1830-2020) originated from 959 localities spanning 33° latitude, 178° longitude, and 4200 m altitude. We classified the beetles into five color morphs and searched for environmental factors that could explain the variation in the level of polymorphism (quantified by the Shannon diversity index) and in the relative frequencies of individual color morphs. The highest level of polymorphism was found at high latitudes and altitudes. The color morphs differed in their climatic requirements; composition of colour morphs was independent of the geographic distance that separated populations but changed with collection year, longitude, mean July temperature and between-year temperature fluctuations. The proportion of melanic beetles, in line with the thermal melanism hypothesis, increased with increasing latitude and altitude and decreased with increasing climate seasonality. Melanic morph frequencies also declined during the past century, but only at high latitudes and altitudes where recent climate warming was especially strong. The observed patterns suggest that color polymorphism is especially advantageous for populations inhabiting unpredictable environments, presumably due to the different climatic requirements of coexisting color morphs.

Taxonomic study on the genus Xenicotela Bates from China (Cerambycidae, Lamiinae, Lamiini).

A taxonomic review of the Chinese species of the genus Xenicotela Bates, 1884 is presented. A new species, Xenicotelagriseomaculata sp. nov., is described from Chongqing, China, and a new combination, Xenicotelaconvexicollis (Gressitt, 1942) comb. nov., is proposed.

Is it time to describe new species without diagnoses?A comment on Sharkey et al. (2021).

New methods in taxonomy and systematics can influence the overall practice of formally naming and describing biodiversity. DNA barcoding has been controversial since its emergence, but now, large scale species descriptions exclusively based on barcodes have created what can be called a 'new quality of performance. Its limitations are discussed from different perspectives: nomenclature, general pragmatism, and problems of DNA-based species delimitation in the light of the central aim of achieving a robust and stable nomenclature of organisms, essential for all applications of biodiversity research. This issue needs to be addressed to prevent restraining the progress of taxonomy and its ability to contribute to modern science.

The genome sequence of the bishop's mitre shieldbug, Aelia acuminata (Linnaeus, 1758).

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Aelia acuminata (the bishop's mitre shieldbug; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hemiptera; Pentatomidae). The genome sequence is 1,170 megabases in span. The majority of the assembly (99.78%) is scaffolded into 8 chromosomal pseudomolecules, with the X and Y sex chromosome assembled.

Hexacylloepus Hinton, 1940 rises again; 18 new species of a neglected genus (Coleoptera: Byrrhoidea: Elmidae).

The genus Hexacylloepus extends from the Neotropical region to the southwestern United States of America. At present, 25 species are known from 20 countries, with no new species proposed since 1972. In this paper, we describe and illustrate 18 new species (H. barrae; H. calori; H. casariae; H. froehlichi; H. geiseri; H. grandis; H. iassu; H. keitai; H. maierae; H. manauara; H. metapa; H. phalluspilosus; H. shorti; H. taylorae; H. thoracica; H. tibialis; H. ubirajarai; H. zaninii), from eight countries and give the first records of the genus from Suriname and Guyana.

Multidisciplinary investigation of two Egyptian child mummies curated at the University of Tartu Art Museum, Estonia (Late/Graeco-Roman Periods).

Two ancient Egyptian child mummies at the University of Tartu Art Museum (Estonia) were, according to museum records, brought to Estonia by the young Baltic-German scholar Otto Friedrich von Richter, who had travelled in Egypt during the early 19th century. Although some studies of the mummies were conducted, a thorough investigation has never been made. Thus, an interdisciplinary team of experts studied the remains using the most recent analytical methods in order to provide an exhaustive analysis of the remains. The bodies were submitted for osteological and archaeothanatological study, radiological investigation, AMS radiocarbon dating, chemical and textile analyses, 3D modelling, entomological as well as aDNA investigation. Here we synthesize the results of one of the most extensive multidisciplinary analyses of ancient Egyptian child mummies, adding significantly to our knowledge of such examples of ancient funerary practices.

The genus Cylloepus Erichson, 1847 (Coleoptera: Elmidae: Elminae) new species and combinations.

Elmidae is one of the most diverse families of aquatic beetles, with more than 1500 species in 148 genera. Cylloepus is the genus with the most species in Americas, with 52 species and 2 subspecies currently known. The genus is easily recognised by external morphology; body elongate, pronotum with a longitudinal impression on the disc and elytra striate and punctate. In this paper, based on the study of several international reference collections, we propose two new combinations, and describe two new species of Cylloepus (C. bispoi sp. nov. and C. segurae sp. nov.) from Ecuador and Bolivia.

First records of the genera Neocylloepus and Pilielmis (Coleoptera: Elmidae: Elminae) from Venezuela, with the description of Pilielmis shepardi sp. nov.

Neocylloepus Brown, 1970 and Pilielmis Hinton, 1971 are Neotropical genera of riffle beetles, mainly distributed in Central America and the north of South America. These genera are here reported for the first time from Venezuela, and a new species, Pilielmis shepardi sp. nov. is described and illustrated. The type material is housed in Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (MZSP), Natural History Museum, London, UK (BMNH), Museo del Instituto de Zoología Agrícola, Maracay, Venezuela (MIZA), Michael A. Ivie Collection, Bozeman, Montana, USA (MAIC), and National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, USA (USNM).

On the identity of a U.S. intercepted Conotrachelus Dejean (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) with avocado (Persea americana).

BACKGROUND: The multimillion-dollar avocado industry is threatened by a number of serious insect pests, including at least seven species of Curculionidae. Of these, three Conotrachelus species are known to develop and feed on avocados: Conotrachelus aguacatae Barber, Conotrachelus perseae Barber and C. serpentinus (Klug); the first two are of economic importance. Recently, a series of unrecognised Conotrachelus was intercepted with avocado and other commodities by the USDA at various southern U.S. ports of entry. The species most closely resembled the U.S. native Conotrachelus posticatus Boheman. Given the threat posed by certain species of Conotrachelus to avocado, the identity and biology of intercepted unknown Conotrachelus species becomes a matter of much concern for regulators due to the potential risk posed by non-native species to local agriculture. This study aims to determine the identity, which in turn may shed light on the biology and native distribution, of possible new non-U.S.-native weevils and provide the tools necessary to distinguish amongst phenotypically similar native species. NEW INFORMATION: Amongst the unknown Conotrachelus weevils intercepted with avocados at certain U.S. ports of entry is Conotrachelus lobatus Champion. This poorly known species resembles a commonly collected, phenotypically variable indigenous U.S. species, Conotrachelus posticatus, which, on occasion, is also intercepted with avocado. Conotrachelus lobatus has been collected, since the early 1900s until today, along a narrow corridor in the southwest Mexican states of Michoacan, Jalisco and Nayarit. Specimen label data in natural history collections suggests the presence of this species in large numbers in early July in the avocado growing region of Mexico and, based on notes from former curators, appears to breed in acorns of the Mexican endemic oak species Quercus obtusata. The interception of C. posticatus and C. lobatus wth avocado does not imply strict biological association, however it reveals an important pattern of a non-native species' potential for introduction and its potential vector. Understanding all aspects of an organism's biology will better equip growers, as well as regulators, with effective and well-informed management strategies. Characters are imaged and discussed in order to help distinguish some Conotrachelus species belonging to Conotrachelus group II designated by Schoof (1942). Some characters of particular importance are the shape of the metauncus; shape of the lateral margin of the elytra and presence/absence of costate first and second elytral intervals. This study includes high-resolution images of seven Conotrachelus species, including the known avocado pests C. aguacatae and C. perseae, as well as the first images of C. lobatus, C. scoparius Champion and C. squamifrons Champion. The latter three species are not USA natives and were not included in Schoof's work. This study also confirms the important role played by natural history collections in anchoring the species' name through the study of types, which allows for the linking of biological and distribution data over time. Lectotypes are herein designated for C. lobatus and C. squamifrons.

Two new species of Cyanopenthe Nikitsky from Taiwan (Coleoptera, Tetratomidae, Penthinae).

Two new species of Cyanopenthe Nikitsky, 1998 are described from Taiwan, under the names of Cyanopenthe taiwana sp. nov. and Cyanopenthe leei sp. nov., representing the first documented occurrence of the genus in Taiwan. Descriptions of both species, including the first description of males of Cyanopenthe, are supplemented with photos of habitus, antennae and abdomens of females, and illustrations of pronotum, genitalia of both sexes and abdominal ventrite V of females. Additionally, for Cyanopenthe metallica (Champion, 1916), photos of habitus and antenna of the holotype, supplementary description and illustrations of genitalia and abdominal ventrite V of females are provided. A key for the identification of Cyanopenthe species is given.

Towards an Understanding of Molecule Capture by the Antennae of Male Beetles Belonging to the Genus Rhipicera (Coleoptera, Rhipiceridae).

Working on the hypothesis that an important function of the lamellate antennae of adult male beetles belonging to the genus Rhipicera is to detect scent associated with female conspecifics, and using field observations, anatomical models derived from X-ray microcomputed tomography, and scanning electron microscopy, we have investigated the behavioral, morphological, and morphometric factors that may influence molecule capture by these antennae. We found that male beetles fly upwind in a zigzag manner, or face upwind when perching, behavior consistent with an animal that is tracking scent. Furthermore, the ultrastructure of the male and female antennae, like their gross morphology, is sexually dimorphic, with male antennae possessing many more of a particular type of receptor-the sensillum placodeum-than their female counterparts (approximately 30,000 vs. 100 per antenna, respectively). Based on this disparity, we assume that the sensilla placodea on the male antennae are responsible for detecting scent associated with female Rhipicera beetles. Molecule capture by male antennae in their alert, fanned states is likely to be favoured by: (a) male beetles adopting prominent, upright positions on high points when searching for scent; (b) the partitioning of antennae into many small segments; (c) antennal morphometry (height, width, outline area, total surface area, leakiness, and narrow channels); (d) the location of the sensilla placodea where they are most likely to encounter odorant molecules; and (e) well dispersed sensilla placodea. The molecule-capturing ability of male Rhipicera antennae may be similar to that of the pectinate antennae of certain male moths.