Towards computable taxonomic knowledge: Leveraging nanopublications for sharing new synonyms in the Madagascan genus Helictopleurus (Coleoptera, Scarabaeinae).

Background: Numerous taxonomic studies have focused on the dung beetle genus Helictopleurus d'Orbigny, 1915, endemic to Madagascar. However, this genus stilll needs a thorough revision. Semantic technologies, such as nanopublications, hold the potential to enhance taxonomy by transforming how data are published and analysed. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of nanopublications in establishing synonyms within the genus Helictopleurus. New information: In this study, we identify four new synonyms within Helictopleurus: H.rudicollis (Fairmaire, 1898) = H.hypocrita Balthasar, 1941 syn. nov.; H.vadoni Lebis, 1960 = H.perpunctatus Balthasar, 1963 syn. nov.; H.halffteri Balthasar, 1964 = H.dorbignyi Montreuil, 2005 syn. nov.; H.clouei (Harold, 1869) = H.gibbicollis (Fairmaire, 1895) syn. nov. Helictopleurus may have a significantly larger number of synonyms than currently known, indicating potentially inaccurate estimates about its recent extinction.We also publish the newly-established synonyms as nanopublications, which are machine-readable data snippets accessible online. Additionally, we explore the utility of nanopublications in taxonomy and demonstrate their practical use with an example query for data extraction.

Investigation on novel chitin and chitosan from dung beetle Heteronitis castelnaui (Harold, 1865) and its potential application for organic dyes removal from aqueous solution.

Chitosan, a natural polysaccharide, has attracted considerable attention as an environmentally friendly and highly efficient adsorbent for dye removal. It is usually produced by deacetylation or partial deacetylation of chitin. However, conventional sources of chitin and chitosan are limited, prompting the need for alternative sources with improved adsorption capabilities. Herein, this study focuses on exploring a novel chitin and chitosan source derived from the dung beetle and evaluates its potential for organic dye removal from aqueous solutions. The research involves the extraction and characterization of chitin and chitosan from dung beetle Heteronitis castelnaui (Harold, 1865) using various analytical techniques, including SEM, FT-IR, TGA, XRD, NMR, deacetylation degree and elemental analysis. The chitosan obtained was used for the formation of hydrogels with sodium alginate via cross-linking with calcium chloride. And then the prepared hydrogels were evaluated for its adsorption capacity through batch adsorption experiments using methylene blue as a model pollutant. The adsorption capacity for methylene blue was 1294.3 mg/g at room temperature with solution pH = 12, MB concentration of 1800 mg/L. Furthermore, the kinetics of the adsorption process were analyzed using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models to understand the rate of adsorption. The maximum adsorption capacities were determined using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. This study provides valuable insights for the development of sustainable dye adsorption technologies, specifically investigating a novel chitosan source derived from the dung beetle.

New data on trophic associations of dung beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) and lemurs (Primates, Lemuroidea) in Madagascar revealed by metabarcoding.

Resource use and diet specialisation of Madagascan dung beetles have been little studied especially concerning the possible associations between specific dung beetle and lemur species. Pilot studies have demonstrated that amplicon sequencing is a promising tool for the lemur inventories. In the present contribution, we report the results of the gut content analysis of three endemic Madagascan dung beetles species: Helictopleurusclouei (Harold), Epilissusapotolamproides (Lebis) and Nanosdubitatus (Lebis). Amplicon metagenomics revealed trophic associations of these species with Eulemursanfordi (Archbold), Eu.fulvus (É.Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire) and Cheirogaleuscrossleyi (Grandidier), respectively. The reads of other mammal species, revealed by the analysis, including putative contaminations, are discussed.

Amplicon metagenomics of dung beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) as a proxy for lemur (Primates, Lemuroidea) studies in Madagascar.

Dung beetles (Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) are among the most cost-effective and informative biodiversity indicator groups, conveying rich information about the status of habitats and faunas of an area. Yet their use for monitoring the mammal species, that are the main providers of the food for the dung beetles, has only recently been recognized. In the present work, we studied the diet of four endemic Madagascan dung beetles (Helictopleurusfissicollis (Fairmaire), H.giganteus (Harold), Nanosagaboides (Boucomont), and Epilissussplendidus Fairmaire) using high-throughput sequencing and amplicon metagenomics. For all beetle species, the ⅔-¾ of reads belonged to humans, suggesting that human feces are the main source of food for the beetles in the examined areas. The second most abundant were the reads of the cattle (Bostaurus Linnaeus). We also found lower but significant number of reads of six lemur species belonging to three genera. Our sampling localities agree well with the known ranges of these lemur species. The amplicon metagenomics method proved a promising tool for the lemur inventories in Madagascar.

A new species of Amphimallon Latreille, 1825 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) from continental Greece.

Amphimallon alexandri Uliana Montreuil, new species, is described from continental Greece, near Volos. The species has diurnal activity and is close to A. arianae (Fairmaire, 1879), A. krali Montreuil, 2002, and A. spartanum (Brenske, 1884), but is well characterized and easily distinguished from all of them by several morphological characters. Detailed comparative illustrations of the main diagnostic traits of the new species and the most similar one (A. krali) are provided. After reviewing the available information, Amphimallon atrum is removed from the Greek fauna.

Investigation on dung beetle's (Heliocopris Hope, 1838) chitosan valorisation for hydrogel 3D printing.

Biopolymers and their derivatives are materials with increasing interest for industry and especially for sustainable engineering development. Among such kind of materials, carbohydrate polymer like highly deacetylated chitin (chitosan) is widely used for a wide range of applications, including material and biomedical developments. The majority of industrially produced chitosan is based on chitin extracted from crustacean exoskeleton. However, with increase of interest on this material, chitosan's production will rapidly become insufficient and other species should be investigated as new sources of chitosan. In the present work, we focus on the preparation of chitosan from giant dung beetles (Genus Heliocopris, Hope, 1838). This genus was chosen to show the possibility to take animals that develop and leave near dejection and valuate them for material applications. This work includes all the chitosan extraction procedures, chitosan characterisation IR, SEM, NMR, ash content, and deacetylation degree. Finally, the prepared carbohydrate polymer is used to form hydrogel. The prepared gel has been characterised and used for 3D printing, to show the compatibility of extracted chitosan with biomaterial application.

A new species of Cheironitis van Lansberge, 1875 from Jordan (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Onitini).

BACKGROUND: The genus Cheironitis van Lansberge, 1875, currently contains 23 species from the Old World. During a survey for dung beetles in Jordan, specimens of an undescribed species were collected at the historical site of Petra. NEW INFORMATION: A new species of Cheironitis (C.petraensis sp. n.) is described from the historical site of Petra, Jordan, illustrated and compared with its most closely related species. This new species is reminiscent of the African species of Cheironitis living in savannahs and could represent a relictual species of the mid-Holocene climatic optimum.

Genome sequencing reveals extraordinary cephalic horns in the Madagascan dung beetle genus Helictopleurus (Coleoptera, Scarabaeinae): insight from a revision of fungicola species group.

In this study, we test and corroborate the phylogenetic position of Heterosyphus within Helictopleurus using mitogenomes and nuclear loci. Our recent samplings revealed that males of the former Heterosyphus sicardi Paulian, 1975 (today under Helictopleurus d'Orbigny, 1915) have extraordinary bilateral clypeal horns which are exclusive within the genus. We provide a taxonomic review of the fungicola species group of Helictopleurus and discuss the systematic position of H. sicardi within the group. The male phenotype of H. sicardi is described and photographs of the body and genitalia of the members of the fungicola group are given, as well as a diagnostic key to species of the group. Helictopleurus fungicola peyrierasi is considered to be a distinct species within the genus (H. peyrierasi stat. rest.). Helictopleurus pluristriatus d'Orbigny, 1915 syn. nov. is established as a junior synonym of H. fungicola (Fairmaire, 1899).

Extinct before discovered? Epactoidesgiganteus sp. nov. (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae), the first native dung beetle to Réunion island.

We describe a new species of dung beetle, Epactoidesgiganteus sp. nov., from a single female specimen allegedly collected in the 19th century on Réunion island and recently found at the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris. This species differs from other species of Epactoides by larger size and a set of other distinctive morphological characters. Epactoidesgiganteus sp. nov. is the first native dung beetle (Scarabaeinae) of Réunion, and its discovery expands the known area of distribution of the genus Epactoides, which was hitherto believed to be endemic to Madagascar. Like other taxa from Madagascar and peripheral islands (e.g., Comoro, Seychelles, Mascarenes), E.giganteus sp. nov. may have reached Réunion by over-water dispersal. Given the rapid loss of biodiversity on Réunion island and the fact that no additional specimens were re-collected over the last two centuries, it is very likely that E.giganteus sp. nov. has gone extinct. However, we have unconfirmed evidence that the holotype of E.giganteus sp. nov. might be a mislabeled specimen from Madagascar, which would refute the presence of native dung beetles on Réunion. We discuss both hypotheses about the specimen origin and assess the systematic position of E.giganteus sp. nov. by examining most of the described species of Madagascan Epactoides. Additionally, we provide a brief overview of the dung beetle fauna of Mascarene Archipelago.

Three parallel radiations of Canthonini dung beetles in Madagascar.

Madagascar has an exceptionally large fauna of more than 250 species of endemic dung beetles. Based on molecular phylogenies, the species descend from eight independent overseas colonisations, of which four have given rise to big radiations. Here, we analyse the tribe Canthonini with three parallel radiations following the respective colonisations at 64-44 Mya (Arachnodes-Epilissus, 101 species), 30-19 Mya (Epactoides, 37 species), and 24-15 Mya (Apotolamprus-Nanos, 61 species). All three radiations have taken place in forests, but there are also substantial differences between them. The oldest radiation exhibits the greatest ecological diversification, including monophyletic groups of primate and cattle dung specialists and multiple shifts to arboreal foraging. Analysis of pairs of sister species suggests allopatric speciation in the oldest and the youngest, apparently non-adaptive, radiations, whereas in Epactoides closely related species have diverged ecologically and have largely overlapping geographical ranges, suggestive of adaptive radiation in parapatry or regional sympatry.

The genus Haplidia Hope in Lebanon (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Rhizotrogini).

New data are given for some species of the genus Haplidia Hope, 1837 belonging to Lebanese fauna or recorded from Lebanon. Haplidia petrovitzi Baraud, 1988, and H. chaifensis Kraatz, 1882, are recorded for the first time from Lebanon. Haplidia endroedii Baraud, 1988 and H. baudii Kraatz, 1892, are removed from the Lebanese fauna. After type examination, Haplidia fissa Burmeister, 1855, is recognized as belonging to the genus Medeotrogus Keith, 2001, and the species recorded under this name from Lebanon is described and named Haplidia karlaeschneiderae Sehnal, Montreuil Uliana, new species. Haplidia villosicollis Kraatz, 1882, is recorded for the first time from Jordan, and H. joannis Baraud, 1988, from Israel. Correctness of the name Haplidia versus Aplidia is also established.

A review of the Malagasy species of the genus Trigonochilus Brenske (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Adoretini) with description of a new species.

Africa and Madagascar have a large and diverse fauna of the chafers of the ruteline beetle tribe Adoretini (Ohaus 1912, 1918). Many nominal taxa from Madagascar are still poorly known and many new ones were described recently (Akhmetova Montreuil 2010; Montreuil 2010, 2013; Montreuil Frolov 2014; Frolov Montreuil 2018). One of the poorly known Adoretini taxa is the genus Trigonochilus Brenske, 1896. Trigonochilus was proposed to accommodate the East-African species T. coriaceus Brenske, 1896, based on the enlarged and curved metatibiae and a short, spur-like process of the labrum (Brenske 1896). Arrow (1901) noted that the enlarged metatibiae of this species (described from a single male) is a secondary sexual character and added another species to this genus, T. politus Arrow, 1901, from Angola. These species were revised by Krikken (1979). Fairmaire (1903) described Adoretus oedipus from Madagascar (without any precise locality) and noted its enlarged metatibia and the shape of the labrum similar to that in Trigonostonum Burmeister, 1844. Fairmaire was apparently unaware of the Brenske's and Arrow's works as he did not discuss the possible affinities of A. oedipus with Trigonochilus species. Ohaus (1912) moved A. oedipus to Trigonochilus after examination of the type series but he did not discuss the characters of the species in detail as well as its distribution on the island. Therefore, the genus Trigonochilus Brenske comprised three species described so far, two from Africa and one from Madagascar.

A review of the Madagascan species of the genus Cestradoretus Ohaus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Adoretini).

The genus Cestradoretus Ohaus, 1912 was erected by Ohaus (1912) to accommodate a Madagascan Adoretini species, C. tenuirostris Ohaus, 1912. This genus is characterized by the adults having the apex of the labrum with a long, fine, acute process curved downwards. In the addition to the above mentioned paper, Ohaus (1912) also described C. acomys Ohaus, 1912 from Tanzania, and later moved Adoretus tarsatus Klug, 1855, described from Mozambique, to Cestradoretus (Ohaus 1916).  Later, Machatschke (1965) described two species from Africa, C. freyi Machatschke, 1965 from Botswana and C. minusculus Machatschke, 1965 from Somalia, and Frey (1976) described C. clypealis Frey, 1976 from Somalia. Thus, Cestradoretus included six species, one from Madagascar and five from Africa.

A review of Hybalus Dejean from Tunisia (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Orphninae) with description of a new species.

The scarab beetles of the subfamily Orphninae Erichson are the most diverse in the tropics (Paulian 1948; Frolov 2012). Yet there are two genera occurring in the Palearctic Region, Hybalus Dejean, 1833 and Chaetonyx Schaum, 1862. Of them, the former is rather speciose and comprises 37 species distributed mostly in the Atlas Mountains of North Africa (Baraud 1991; López-Colón 2006; López Colón Bahillo de la Puebla 2014; Bezdek 2016). Adult Hybalus are all apterous and most of the species have rather restricted ranges or are known from single localities. The beetles are similar externally and only a few species have distinctive features of the head or anterior legs in males; the most important and, in majority of species, the only reliable character to differentiate species is the shape of the parameres (Petrovitz 1964; Baraud 1991).

Micro- and nanoscopic observations of sexual dimorphisms in Mecynorhina polyphemus confluens (Kraatz, 1890) (Coleoptera, Cetoniidae, Goliathini) and consequences for surface wettability.

In the animal kingdom, macroscopic variations in size, color, and even hairiness are frequently observed between male and female, making the sex of various species easy to discern. In the case of insects, similar variances also exist. While direct observation is a quick and efficient way to differentiate between sexes, there are also variations which are unseen to the naked eye and occur on a micro- or nanoscopic scale. Sometimes, these micro/nanoscopic variations can lead to significant variations in surface properties as a function of sex. Such is the case for the Mecynorhina polyphemus confluens (Kraatz, 1890). In this work, we characterize these micro- and nanoscale differences, and describe their impact on the surface properties (e.g. wettability). It is found that water interacts quite differently with the surface of the cuticle of Mecynorhina polyphenus confluens, depending on the specimen sex. On a female, water spreads readily across the elytra indicating hydrophilic behavior. However, on the surface of the male elytra, strong hydrophobicity is observed. Microscopic observations reveal differences in microscale surface morphology across the male and female cuticle. These observations contribute to a better, global understanding of the wettability behavior observed on M. polyphemus confluens.

A contribution to the revision of Adorodocia Brenske (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Adoretini): a new peculiar species from Ankaratra, Madagascar.

The recently revised genus Adorodocia Brenske, 1893 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Adoretini), comprises 17 species, one of them represented by two subspecies (Montreuil Frolov 2014). This genus forms, together with Paradorodocia Machatschke, 1957 (four species: Montreuil 2010), and Metadorodocia Machatschke, 1957 (two species: Akhmetova Montreuil 2010), the subtribe Adorodociina Ohaus, 1912, endemic to Madagascar (Ohaus 1912). Representatives of this subtribe are characterized by a strong prominent prosternal apophyse. In addition, all the species of this subtribe have a rather large body and bear a few strong long hairs on the apical hump of the elytra and more or less strong scale-like setae distributed over the elytra.

Nitrogen removal in valley bottom wetlands: assessment in headwater catchments distributed throughout a large basin.

Although the reduction of nutrient loading between uplands and streams is sometimes considered evidence of the effect of wetlands acting as buffer zones, the influence of valley bottom wetlands (VBWs) on NO(3)(-) loading has seldom been assessed at the catchment scale. The objective of this study was to quantify the impact of VBWs on NO(3)(-) concentrations in streams in the Brittany region of France. We analyzed the spatial variation in NO(3)-N concentrations in 18 headwater catchments located in a 400-km(2) basin, with varying topographic, climatic, and agricultural intensity conditions. Approximately every 10 d, water was sampled during the high flow season. We investigated the relationships between the mean NO(3)(-) concentration and different characteristics of the catchments: (i) the amount of effective rainfall, i.e., the combined effect of precipitation and actual evapotranspiration on discharge and chemical dilution, (ii) the intensity of farming, i.e., the area used for farming in the catchments and the surplus of the agricultural N budget, and (iii) the relative area of VBWs. Although the first two characteristics were the main factors controlling N concentration variability, a step-by-step regression allowed us to attribute a significant part of the NO(3)(-) concentration decrease to the increase of VBW area in each catchment. For an increase of VBW area from 11 to 16%, the NO(3)-N concentration decreased from 5.3 to 4.2 mg L(-1). Therefore in this basin, VBWs reduced the NO(3)(-) concentrations in streams with sources in agricultural fields by 30%. This work demonstrates the contribution of natural VBWs to NO(3)(-) removal at the catchment scale compared to other sources of variation, which is a current need for integrating water quality criteria into wetland management.

Review of the Madagascan Orphninae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) with a revision of the genus Triodontus Westwood.

The subfamily Orphninae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) is reviewed from Madagascar. A total of four genera and 39 species were found, all being endemic to the island. The following five new species are described: Triodontus ankarafantsikae, Triodontus lemoulti, Triodontus viettei, Triodontus fairmairei, and Triodontus inexpectatus. The following new synonymies are proposed: Orphnus nigrita Brancsik, 1893 is synonym of Triodontus hova (Fairmaire, 1868); Triodontus occidentalis Paulian, 1977 and Orphnus obsoletus Brancsik, 1893 are synonyms of Triodontus nitidulus (Guérin-Méneville, 1844); Triodontus vadoni Paulian, 1977 and Triodontus perrotorum Paulian, 1977 are synonyms of Triodontus owas Westwood, 1852. Lectotypes are designated for the following names: Orphnus nitidulus Guérin-Méneville, 1844 and Orphnidius modestus Benderitter, 1914. Keys, descriptions, illustrations of habitus and male genitalia, and distributional records maps are given for all species.

Taxonomic revision of the genus Callimerus Gorham s. l. (Coleoptera, Cleridae). Part I. latifrons species-group.

The latifrons species-group (=Brachycallimerus sensu Chapin 1924, Corporaal 1950; = flavofasciatus-group sensu Kolibác 1998) of Callimerus Gorham is redefined and revised. Five species are recognized including one new species Callimerus cacuminis Yang & Yang sp. n. (type locality: Yunnan, China). Callimerus flavofasciatus Schenkling, 1902 is newly synonymized with Callimerus latifrons Gorham, 1876. Callimerus trifasciatus Schenkling, 1899a is transferred to the genus Corynommadius Schenkling, 1899a. Callimerus gorhami Corporaal, 1949 and Callimerus pallidus Gorham, 1892 are excluded from the latifrons species-group (their assignment to a species-group will be dealt with in a subsequent paper). A key to species of the latifrons species-group is given and habitus of each type specimen, male terminalia, and other diagnostic characters are illustrated.

New species, new records and new morphological characters of the genus Tillicera Spinola from China (Coleoptera, Cleridae, Clerinae).

Two new species of the genus Tillicera Spinola, 1841 from China are described and illustrated: Tillicera sensibilissp. n. from Yunnan (also from Myanmar, Thailand and Laos) and Tillicera weniisp. n. from Taiwan. Tillicera bibalteata Gorham, 1892, Tillicera hirsuta (Pic, 1926) and Tillicera michaeli Gerstmeier & Bernhard, 2010 are newly recorded from China. Tillicera auratofasciata (Pic, 1927) is newly recorded in some provinces of China. A key to species of the genus from China is provided. Relationships between species are discussed with emphasis on characters of male phallus, female internal reproductive organs and pit-like sensilla in male terminal antennomere, which is discovered in Tillicera for the first time. The present generic definition of Tillicera is discussed as well. Photos of terminalia of the previously known species are also provided for comparison.