The genome sequence of the oak pinhole borer, Platypus cylindrus Fabricius, 1792.

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Platypus cylindrus (the oak pinhole borer; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Curculionidae). The genome sequence is 147.5 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 8 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X and Y sex chromosomes. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 19.29 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 13,468 protein coding genes.

The genome sequence of a soldier beetle, Cantharis flavilabris Fallén, 1807.

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Cantharis flavilabris (soldier beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Cantharidae). The genome sequence is 348.3 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 7 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 17.5 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 22,711 protein coding genes.

The genome sequence of the Judas Tree Seed Beetle, Bruchidius siliquastri Delobel, 2007.

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Bruchidius siliquastri (the Judas tree Seed Beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Chrysomelidae). The genome sequence is 375.6 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 11 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X and Y sex chromosomes. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.81 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 17,940 protein coding genes.

The genome sequence of a click beetle, Melanotus villosus (Geoffroy in Fourcroy, 1785).

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Melanotus villosus (click beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Elateridae). The genome sequence is 803.5 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 10 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.91 kilobases in length.

Taxonomic notes on the collection of the tribe Lamiini (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) housed in the Natural History Museum, London.

In the present paper, the genus Mimomyagrus Breuning, 1970 is synonymized with Combe Thomson, 1864, and Mimomyagruspfanneri Breuning, 1970 is considered a junior synonym of Combebrianus (White, 1858). The female of Arctolamiasinica Bi & Chen, 2022 is described for the first time and this species is reported as new to Myanmar. Type material of Lamiapunctator Fabricius, 1776 [= Anoplophorachinensis (Forster, 1771)], Cerambyxgalloprovincialis Olivier, 1800 [= Monochamusgalloprovincialis (Olivier, 1800)] and Melanaustergranulipennis Breuning, 1938 [= Monochamusguerryi Pic, 1903] are confirmed to be preserved in Natural History Museum, London.

The genome sequence of a false flower beetle, Anaspis maculata (Geoffroy in Fourcroy, 1785).

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Anaspis maculata (false flower beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Scraptiidae). The genome sequence is 757.8 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 8 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.31 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 21,965 protein coding genes.

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 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.

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 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 weevil, Polydrusus cervinus (Linnaeus, 1758).

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Polydrusus cervinus (a weevil; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Curculionidae). The genome sequence is 713.4 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 11 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 18.22 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 23,058 protein coding genes.

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.