Basal polyphagan beetles in mid-Cretaceous amber from Myanmar: biogeographic implications and long-term morphological stasis.

The origin and early evolutionary history of polyphagan beetles have been largely based on evidence from the derived and diverse 'core Polyphaga', whereas little is known about the species-poor basal polyphagan lineages, which include Scirtoidea (Clambidae, Decliniidae, Eucinetidae, and Scirtidae) and Derodontidae. Here, we report two new species Acalyptomerus thayerae sp. nov. and Sphaerothorax uenoi sp. nov., both belonging to extant genera of Clambidae, from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. Acalyptomerus thayerae has a close affinity to A. herbertfranzi, a species currently occurring in Mesoamerica and northern South America. Sphaerothorax uenoi is closely related to extant species of Sphaerothorax, which are usually collected in forests of Nothofagus of Australia, Chile, and New Zealand. The discovery of two Cretaceous species from northern Myanmar indicates that both genera had lengthy evolutionary histories, originated at least by the earliest Cenomanian, and were probably more widespread than at present. Remarkable morphological similarities between fossil and living species suggest that both genera changed little over long periods of geological time. The long-term persistence of similar mesic microhabitats such as leaf litter may account for the 99 Myr morphological stasis in Acalyptomerus and Sphaerothorax. Additionally, the extinct staphylinoid family Ptismidae is proposed as a new synonym of Clambidae, and its only included species Ptisma zasukhae is placed as incertae sedis within Clambidae.

Whirling in the late Permian: ancestral Gyrinidae show early radiation of beetles before Permian-Triassic mass extinction.

BACKGROUND: Gyrinidae are a charismatic group of highly specialized beetles, adapted for a unique lifestyle of swimming on the water surface. They prey on drowning insects and other small arthropods caught in the surface film. Studies based on morphological and molecular data suggest that gyrinids were the first branch splitting off in Adephaga, the second largest suborder of beetles. Despite its basal position within this lineage and a very peculiar morphology, earliest Gyrinidae were recorded not earlier than from the Upper Triassic. RESULTS: Tunguskagyrus. with the single species Tunguskagyrus planus is described from Late Permian deposits of the Anakit area in Middle Siberia. The genus is assigned to the stemgroup of Gyrinidae, thus shifting back the minimum age of this taxon considerably: Tunguskagyrus demonstrates 250 million years of evolutionary stability for a very specialized lifestyle, with a number of key apomorphies characteristic for these epineuston predators and scavengers, but also with some preserved ancestral features not found in extant members of the family. It also implies that major splitting events in this suborder and in crown group Coleoptera had already occurred in the Permian. Gyrinidae and especially aquatic groups of Dytiscoidea flourished in the Mesozoic (for example Coptoclavidae and Dytiscidae) and most survive until the present day, despite the dramatic "Great Dying" - Permian-Triassic mass extinction, which took place shortly (in geological terms) after the time when Tunguskagyrus lived. CONCLUSIONS: Tunguskagyrus confirms a Permian origin of Adephaga, which was recently suggested by phylogenetic "tip-dating" analysis including both fossil and Recent gyrinids. This also confirms that main splitting events leading to the "modern" lineages of beetles took place before the Permian-Triassic mass extinction. Tunguskagyrus shows that Gyrinidae became adapted to swimming on the water surface long before Mesozoic invasions of the aquatic environment took place (Dytiscoidea). The Permian origin of Gyrinidae is consistent with a placement of this highly derived family as the sister group of all remaining adephagan groups, as suggested based on morphological features of larvae and adults and recent analyses of molecular data.

Antillipeltis, a new genus of Antillean Trogossitidae (Coleoptera: Cleroidea) with a key to the Cleroidea.

Antillipeltis gen. nov. is described based on the following six new extant species and two new fossil species from Hispaniola and Puerto Rico: A. alleni sp. nov. (Dominican Republic, Miocene), A. darlingtoni sp. nov. (Haiti), A. iviei sp. nov. (Dominican Republic, Miocene), A. maculata sp. nov. (Dominican Republic), A. minuta sp. nov. (Dominican Republic), A. nitida sp. nov. (Puerto Rico), A. portoricensis sp. nov. (Puerto Rico), and A. pubescens sp. nov. (Dominican Republic). The genus is placed in Cleroidea, as currently delimited, based on the presence of a distinctive type of aedeagus occurring primarily in this superfamily, plus a combination of features excluding it from other cucujiform superfamilies. Within Cleroidea, the genus is tenatively placed in the family Trogossitidae and subfamily Lophocaterinae, but it differs from all other Trogossitidae in the presence of ventral membranous lobes with adhesive setae on tarsomeres 1-4 and in a combination of 9-segmented antennae, weak 3-segmented antennal club consisting of slightly elongate antenomeres, lack of postcoxal processes on the pronotal hypomera, and unique leg modifications. A key is provided for major groups of Cleroidea and all described genera of Peltinae and Lophocaterinae, with the exception of Rentoniini, based in part on the literature and in part on dissections of adult males. Antillipeltis is one of three endemic West Indian genera of Coleoptera that is both extant and known from Dominican amber.

Globorentonium, a new genus of rentoniine Trogossitidae (Coleoptera: Cleroidea) from Australia and Brazil.

A new genus of Rentoniini, Globorentonium gen. n., is described including three new species: G globulum sp. n. (type species) from Tasmania, Victoria, ACT and southern New South Wales; G lescheni sp. n. from northern New South Wales and G plaumanni sp. n. from southern Brazil. The new genus is compared with other known genera of Rentoniinae, and a key to world genera is provided.

Lycomimus, a new genus of Australian Ptilodactylidae (Coleoptera: Byrrhoidea).

A new genus of Ptilodactylidae, Lycomimus gen. n., based on L. bejsaki sp. n. from northern New South Wales and southern Queensland, Australia, is described. The genus is compared with other known ptilodactylid genera, and a key is provided to the genera occurring in Australia.

Loranthophila, a new genus of Australian Lyctinae (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) associated with Mistletoe.

Loranthophila gen. n. is described, based on Minthea acanthacollis (Carter & Zeck), and comparisons are made between this genus and other members of the bostrichid subfamily Lyctinae.

The Australian Byrrhinae (Coleoptera: Byrrhidae) with descriptions of new genera and species.

The generic classification of the Australian Byrrhinae is revised and the following new genera are described: Notolioon gen. n., Nothochaetes gen. n., Idiothrix gen. n., Akidomorychus gen. n., Brachybyrrhulus gen. n. and Pseudomorychus gen. n. A key is provided for the genera of Australian Byrrhidae. The following new combinations are proposed: Notolioon atronitens (Lea 1920) comb. n., N. bryophagus (Lea 1907) comb. n., N. carissimus (Lea 1907). comb. n., N. dives (Lea 1907) comb. n., N. gemmatus (Lea 1920) comb. n., N. globosus (Wilson 1921) comb. n., N. griffithi (Lea 1907) comb. n., N. maculatipes (Lea 1920) comb. n., N. multicolor (Lea 1907) comb. n., N. nodipennis (Lea 1920) comb. n., N. simplicicornis (Lea 1907) comb. n., N. viridinitens (Lea (1920). comb. n., Nothochaetes fasciculatus (Lea 1920) comb. n., Idiothrix carinaticeps (Lea 1920) comb. n., Akidomorychus comatus (Oke 1932) comb. n., A. polychromus (Lea 1920) comb. n., A. raucus (Blackburn 1891) comb. n., A. venustus (Wilson 1921) comb. n., Brachybyrrhulus discicollis (Lea 1920) comb. n., Pseudomorychus torrensensis (Blackburn 1889) comb. n., P. mixtus (Lea 1907) comb. n. The following new species are described: Notolioon cardamine sp. n., Nothochaetes howensis sp. n. and Brachybyrrhulus malleecola sp. n. 

A Possible Larva of Lepicerus inaequalis Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Myxophaga: Lepiceridae) from Panama.

A larva is described which is presumed to be that of Lepicerus inaequalis Motschulsky based on several probable first instars and one later instar collected a few miles from and in a similar habitat to adult specimens of this species. The association is additionally based on several features also occurring in other known myxophagan larvae. A key is provided comparing these larvae with those of the other three families of Myxophaga.

Integrated phylogenomics and fossil data illuminate the evolution of beetles.

Beetles constitute the most biodiverse animal order with over 380 000 described species and possibly several million more yet unnamed. Recent phylogenomic studies have arrived at considerably incongruent topologies and widely varying estimates of divergence dates for major beetle clades. Here, we use a dataset of 68 single-copy nuclear protein-coding (NPC) genes sampling 129 out of the 193 recognized extant families as well as the first comprehensive set of fully justified fossil calibrations to recover a refined timescale of beetle evolution. Using phylogenetic methods that counter the effects of compositional and rate heterogeneity, we recover a topology congruent with morphological studies, which we use, combined with other recent phylogenomic studies, to propose several formal changes in the classification of Coleoptera: Scirtiformia and Scirtoidea sensu nov., Clambiformia ser. nov. and Clamboidea sensu nov., Rhinorhipiformia ser. nov., Byrrhoidea sensu nov., Dryopoidea stat. res., Nosodendriformia ser. nov. and Staphyliniformia sensu nov., and Erotyloidea stat. nov., Nitiduloidea stat. nov. and Cucujoidea sensu nov., alongside changes below the superfamily level. Our divergence time analyses recovered a late Carboniferous origin of Coleoptera, a late Palaeozoic origin of all modern beetle suborders and a Triassic-Jurassic origin of most extant families, while fundamental divergences within beetle phylogeny did not coincide with the hypothesis of a Cretaceous Terrestrial Revolution.

Eucinetus linskyi, a new replacement name for preoccupied Eucinetus bicolor Lawrence, 2019, non Reitter, 1887 (Insecta: Coleoptera: Eucinetidae).

The species name Eucinetus bicolor Lawrence was proposed by Lawrence (2019, p. 155) for a new coleopteran species from eastern Victoria, Australia. However, this name was already used for the Palaearctic Eucinetus bicolor Reitter (1887, p. 514), currently combined as Nycteus bicolor (Reitter, 1887), and thus the names are primary homonyms according to ICZN Articles 53.3 and 57.2 (International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature 1999). To resolve this primary homonymy, in accordance with ICZN Article 60.3 (International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature 1999), Eucinetus linskyi is here proposed as a replacement name for Eucinetus bicolor Lawrence, 2019, non Reitter. This name is a patronym based on Marek Linský of Bratislava, Slovakia, who called my attention to this homonymy.

Bone mineral density and functional measures in patients with arthrogryposis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with arthrogryposis often report decreased ambulation and physical activity. Given that skeletal mineralisation is responsive to force, we identified the need to characterize bone mineral density and functional measures in this population, and conducted a cross-sectional study to establish a reference for future investigations. METHODS: Thirty consecutive patients aged 5 to 18 years with either the diagnosis of amyoplasia or nonsyndromic arthrogryposis with predominantly lower extremity involvement underwent bone densitometry testing, and lumbar spine Z-scores were calculated against an age and sex-matched control population as is customary in children. Pediatric outcomes data collection instrument (PODCI) and functional independence measure for Children (WeeFIM) assessment forms were completed. Mean Z-scores, PODCI, and WeeFIM scores were calculated. Statistical analysis was performed to compare lumbar spine Z-scores between patients divided by ambulatory status and to correlate WeeFIM and PODCI scores. RESULTS: Mean lumbar spine Z-score was -0.47, with 73% of Z-scores being <0. Mean Z-score among nonambulators or home ambulators was -1.05, as compared to a mean Z-score among limited and unlimited community ambulators of -0.14 with a trend toward significance (P=0.10), and a dose-response relationship between higher bone density and increasing ambulatory function. Mean WeeFIM self-care and mobility quotient scores were 67.5/100 and 70.9/100, respectively. PODCI normative scores were decreased for upper extremity (10/50), transfer/basic mobility (-17/50), and sports/physical function (4/50), but normal in pain/comfort (45/50) and happiness (49/50). A linear relationship was noted between functional ambulation level and WeeFIM quotient and PODCI normative scores. There was good correlation between WeeFIM mobility and PODCI transfers and basic mobility standardised scores (R=0.86). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to measure bone mineral density in children with arthrogryposis, and shows it to be lower than age-matched means, especially in patients with limited ambulation. Objective measures of functional ability (WeeFIM and PODCI) are decreased and demonstrate a linear relationship with ambulatory level. Further investigation is needed to quantify long-term effects of entering adulthood with below average bone mineral density in patients with arthrogryposis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II.

The Australian Lymexylidae (Coleoptera: Tenerionoidea) with one new genus and two genera new to Australia.

The generic classification of Lymexylidae is reexamined, particularly with reference to the Australian fauna. The transfer of the Madagascar genus and species Alcestoma serropalpoides Fairmaire (1895) from Melandryidae to Lymexylidae, proposed by Nikitsky in Nikitsky et al. (1998), is confirmed and the genus is considered to be a senior synonym of Protomelittomma Wheeler (1986), syn. n. The occurrence of the genus Alcestoma in Australia is noted and a new species, Alcestoma queenslandicum, sp. n. is described from northern Queensland. The genus Arractocetus Kurosawa (1985) is also recorded for the first time from Australia, but the species is not described. A new genus, Leptonetron, gen. n., is described, based on the type species Atractocerus victoriensis Blackburn, 1891, which is considered to be a senior synonym of Atractocerus tasmaniensis Lea, 1917, syn. n. A key is provided for the Australian genera and species of Lymexylidae and the evolution of the family is briefly discussed.

The extant species of the genus Omma Newman and description of Beutelius gen. nov. (Coleoptera: Archostemata: Ommatidae: Ommatinae).

The genus Omma Newman (type species Omma stanleyi Newman) is revised and redefined based on extant species, with examination of additional fossil species. As a result, only the species O. stanleyi Newman is retained in Omma and a new genus, Beutelius gen. nov. (type species Omma mastersi MacLeay), is described to accommodate the remaining Australian species: B. mastersi (MacLeay), comb. nov., B. sagitta (Neboiss), comb. nov. and B. rutherfordi (Lawrence), comb. nov. A new species, Beutelius reidi sp. nov., is described from Melville Range Nature Reserve in New South Wales, Australia. Diagnoses and new records for extant Ommatinae, including the male of B. sagitta and female of B. mastersi, are provided, as well as a key to extant genera and species.

Phylogeny of the Thylacosterninae (Coleoptera, Elateridae).

The phylogeny of the Elateridae subfamily Thylacosterninae was studied using morphological characters and mitochondrial 16S rDNA sequences. Five monophyletic groups were recovered: the Asian Cussolenis, the American Pterotarsus, Balgus and Thylacosternus, and the African "Cussolenis", which is described here as Lumumbaia new genus Muona & Vahtera (type-species Cussolenis attenuatus Fleutiaux, 1925). The following new combinations are made: Lumumbaia africanus (Fleutiaux, 1897) [Soleniscus], Lumumbaia praeustus (Fleutiaux, 1926) [Cussolenis], Lumumbaia nigripes (Fleutiaux, 1926) [Cussolenis], Lumumbaia robustus (Fleutiaux, 1925) [Cussolenis], Lumumbaia attenuatus (Fleutiaux, 1925) [Cussolenis] and Lumumbaia notabilis (Fleutiaux, 1926) [Cussolenis]. A key to the genera of the subfamily is provided. The data were efficient in recovering generic limits within the group. At species level the mitochondrial 16S rDNA data seemed to work unpredictably, either agreeing or not with traditional species-level limits based on male genitalia and body structure. The evolution of bioluminescence is optimized as a feature originating in the ancestors of clicking elateroids. © The Willi Hennig Society 2009.

Corrective osteotomies and osteosynthesis for supination contracture of the forearm in children.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to present the authors' experience with corrective osteotomies of the forearm for supination contracture in children. METHODS: Fourteen patients with supination contracture of the forearm due to brachial plexus lesion (11), poliomyelitis residuals (2), or Monteggia fracture malunion (1) underwent distal ulnar osteotomy without fixation and subsequent midradial osteotomy with plate fixation to produce a position of greater pronation. A minimum of 6 months' follow-up was required to be included in the series. RESULTS: Ten boys and 4 girls whose mean age was 11 years underwent surgery between 1998 and 2006 to correct a supination contracture. The mean preoperative contracture measured 80 degrees of supination. The final mean postoperative correction was 104 degrees, whereas the final mean position of pronation was 24 degrees. CONCLUSIONS: Distal ulnar and midradial osteotomies are effective in the treatment of supination deformities of the forearm with little risk of complication or need for additional surgery. Radial fixation is important, but ulnar fixation is not required. Both osteotomies must be complete before plate fixation of the radius to realize maximal correction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

New species of Eucinetus and Noteucinetus from Australia (Coleoptera: Scirtoidea: Eucinetidae).

Two new species of Noteucinetus Bullians Leschen and 12 new species of Eucinetus Germar are described from continental Australia and Tasmania. A key is given to the two genera and all described Australian species. The following new species are described: Eucinetus bicolor, sp. nov., Eucinetus bicolorellus, sp. nov., Eucinetus brindabellae, sp. nov., Eucinetus dorrigo, sp. nov., Eucinetus limitaris sp. nov., Eucinetus lorien, sp. nov., Eucinetus minutus, sp. nov., Eucinetus nebulosus, sp. nov., Eucinetus protibialis, sp. nov., Eucinetus similis, sp. nov., Eucinetus tasmaniae, sp. nov., Eucinetus tropicus, sp. nov., Noteucinetus ornatus, sp. nov., and Noteucinetus victoriae, sp. nov.

Australian Nitidulinae: general review with descriptions of new genera and species (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae).

The classification of the subfamily Nitidulinae is reviewed, as it applies to those species occurring within Australia and its territories. Comments are made concerning the currently recognised tribes and generic "complexes" within this subfamily, Australian genera are briefly discussed, with reference to recent and proposed changes in their classification, and several new genera and species are described. The following new taxa are described: Aenigmoronia echinodes, gen. sp. nov., Australycra similis, sp. nov., Austronitidula multimaculata, gen. sp. nov., Cychramus splendidus, sp. nov., Lasiodites howensis, sp. nov. and Temnelytron nigrum, gen. sp. nov. The following synonymy is proposed: Stelidota nigrovaria (Fairmaire, 1849) (= Aethinodes variabile Lea, 1921), syn. nov. The genus Testudoraea Kirejtshuk, 1986, stat. nov., is recognised as a distinct genus, and Perilopsis australis Kirejtshuk, 1990 is considered to be an unnecessary replacement name for Testudoraea flava Kirejtshuk, 1986.

The Australian Ciidae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea): supplement.

An addendum to the revision of the Australian ciid fauna contains descriptions of 17 new species, information on recently described Australian species, addition of one described species new to the fauna, and corrections to the previous revision. Keys are provided to the Australian species of Cis, Notapterocis, Orthocis and Paratrichapus. The following new species are described: Cis apodemus, sp. nov., C. bicolorellus, sp. nov., C. brachytrichus, sp. nov., C. christmasensis, sp. nov.; C. densus, sp. nov., C. depressus, sp. nov., C. howensis, sp. nov., C. incomptus, sp. nov., C. latemarginatus, sp. nov., C. macilentus, sp. nov., C. occidentalis, sp. nov., C. prominens, sp. nov., C. pycnostictus, sp. nov., C. rhaibocerus, sp. nov., Notapterocis acutus, sp. nov., N. nesiotes, sp. nov., and Orthocis inordinatus, sp. nov.. Orthocis flavipennis (Pic) is recorded from Australia for the first time, and the Australian record of O. auriculariae Lawrence (Lawrence, 2016) is considered to be based on misidentified specimens of O. flavipennis. Notes are also included on the recently described Australian species by Souza-Gonçalves Lopes-Andrade (2017): Scolytocis australimontensis and Xylographella frithae, and those described by Souza-Gonçalves et al. (2018): Paratrichapus australis, P. burwelli, P. christmasensis, P. metallonotum and P. peckorum.

Review of the Australian Cyllodini (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Nitidulinae), with descriptions of new taxa, and notes on the genus Macleayania (Nitidulini).

The genera of the nitiduline tribe Cyllodini occurring in Australia are reviewed and a key is provided for their separation. Each genus is discussed, with an emphasis on the Australian fauna, and an hypothesis is given concerning the source of the introduced Camptodes species and its connection with the program for biological control of Opuntia cacti. The specimens identified by Kirejtshuk (2003) as Macleayania amphotiformis (Reitter, 1880b) were found to represent two widely overlapping species later named by Olliff (1886) in the trogossitid genus Ancyrona. The following new genus and species are included: Cyllopallodes, gen. nov., Gymnocychramus bicolor, sp. nov., Pallodes nigroapicalis, sp. nov. The following new combinations and synonymies are also included: Coxollodes loriai (Grouvelle, 1906) (Pallodes) (= Pallodes opacus Grouvelle, 1906, syn. nov.); Cyllodes ruficeps (Reitter, 1880a) (Strongylus) (= Pseudocamptodes blackburni Grouvelle, 1902, syn. nov.; Pseudocamptodes fulviceps Grouvelle, 1906, syn. nov.); Cyllopallodes limbicollis (Reitter, 1880b) (Pallodes), comb. nov.; Pallodes beccarii Grouvelle, 1906 (= Pallodes gestroi Grouvelle, 1906, syn. nov.); Macleayania amphotiformis (Reitter, 1880b) (= Ancyrona amica Olliff, 1886, syn. nov.); Macleayania vesca (Olliff, 1886) (Ancyrona) comb. nov. The lectotypes of Camptodes humeralis (Brullé, 1842), Coxollodes loriai (Grouvelle, 1906), C. opacus (Grouvelle, 1906), Cyllodes fulvipes (Grouvelle, 1906), Pallodes beccarii Grouvelle, 1906, P. gestroi Grouvelle, 1906, and P. misellus Grouvelle, 1906 are designated. Information on and syntype information from Macleayania amica (Olliff, 1886), M. vesca (Olliff, 1886), Cyllodes blackburni (Grouvelle, 1906) and C. rufipes (Reitter, 1880a) are given.

Lepicerus larva still unknown: a correction (Coleoptera: Lepiceridae, Phalacridae).

The larva of Lepicerus inaequalis Motschulsky was described by Lawrence et al. (2013) based on several early instars and one late instar collected among wet leaves and debris near Gamboa, Panama. The identification was based on collection of an adult Lepicerus in a similar habitat nearby and a combination of characters found in other myxophagan immatures but not known in other beetle larvae. We accepted this identification with some reservations, but a misinterpretation of one feature in the original description plus an unexpected new source of evidence makes it likely that our identification was incorrect. The one misinterpreted feature in this larva was the retraction of the ventral mouthparts. Reexamining the larvae, it was found that a pair of tendons extending mesally from the hypostomal rods were misinterpreted as maxillary bases. The mouthparts are definitely protracted, which is expected with long hypostomal rods. The new source of evidence is somewhat complicated, as explained below.