A molecular phylogeny of Alpine subterranean Trechini (Coleoptera: Carabidae).

BACKGROUND: The Alpine region harbours one of the most diverse subterranean faunas in the world, with many species showing extreme morphological modifications. The ground beetles of tribe Trechini (Coleoptera, Carabidae) are among the best studied and widespread groups with abundance of troglobionts, but their origin and evolution is largely unknown. RESULTS: We sequenced 3.4 Kb of mitochondrial (cox1, rrnL, trnL, nad1) and nuclear (SSU, LSU) genes of 207 specimens of 173 mostly Alpine species, including examples of all subterranean genera but two plus a representation of epigean taxa. We applied Bayesian methods and maximum likelihood to reconstruct the topology and to estimate divergence times using a priori rates obtained for a related ground beetle genus. We found three main clades of late Eocene-early Oligocene origin: (1) the genus Doderotrechus and relatives; (2) the genus Trechus sensu lato, with most anisotopic subterranean genera, including the Pyrenean lineage and taxa from the Dinaric Alps; and (3) the genus Duvalius sensu lato, diversifying during the late Miocene and including all subterranean isotopic taxa. Most of the subterranean genera had an independent origin and were related to epigean taxa of the same geographical area, but there were three large monophyletic clades of exclusively subterranean species: the Pyrenean lineage, a lineage including subterranean taxa from the eastern Alps and the Dinarides, and the genus Anophthalmus from the northeastern Alps. Many lineages have developed similar phenotypes independently, showing extensive morphological convergence or parallelism. CONCLUSIONS: The Alpine Trechini do not form a homogeneous fauna, in contrast with the Pyrenees, and show a complex scenario of multiple colonisations of the subterranean environment at different geological periods and through different processes. Examples go from populations of an epigean widespread species going underground with little morphological modifications to ancient, geographically widespread lineages of exclusively subterranean species likely to have diversified once fully adapted to the subterranean environment.

Biodiversity in tropical rainforests: Calleida Dejean, 1825 at the BIOLAT Biological Station, Rio Manu, Peru, with descriptions of seven new species (ColeopteraCarabidae, Lebiini). Part 1.

A monographic contribution is presented on the species of the genus Calleida Dejean, 1825 at the BIOLAT Biological Station, Rio Manu, Pakitza, Peru, sampled by Terry Erwin and his co-workers. The following seven new species are described: C. solitaria sp. nov., C. manuensis sp. nov., C. anomala sp. nov., C. demathani sp. nov. (type locality: Peru, Tarapoto, but sampled also at Rio Manu), C. erwini sp. nov., C. marginithorax sp. nov., and C. maxima sp. nov. Relationships of each species are discussed, and a preliminary survey is presented of the genus Calleida in Peru.

Additions to the lists of publications of Terry Erwin, taxa described by him and named after him after 2015.

A paper on the occasion of the 75th birthday of Terry Lee Erwin (1940-2020), an outstanding biologist and founding Editor-in-Chief of ZooKeys, was published in 2015 and contained complete lists of Erwin's publications, patronyms (taxa named after him) and new taxa published by him. The present paper aims to complement these lists with all new information published after 2015, including the papers in the present special issue of ZooKeys dedicated to the blessed memory of Terry Lee Erwin.

On a new synonymy in genus Laemostenus concerning a species from Iran (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Sphodrini).

In 2018 the authors A. Casale D.W. Wrase described Laemostenus (Arabosphodrus) laserae as new for science from South Iran (Province of Hormozgan) in Annales de la Société entomologique de France (N.S.), 54 (4), 309-317. This paper was also published online on 31 July 2018 (datum already confirmed by ZooBank on 15 July 2018) (http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0962027A-E245-41B3-80F3-F8C32B8D3D44), and as printed copy in this international widespread journal with date of publication "May-July 2018". The description was based on a long series of specimens collected in 2015.

Revision of the Oriental species of Calleida Latreille (sensu lato). Part 1: Introduction, groups of species, and species of six species groups (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Lebiini).

This revision focuses on the genus Calleida Latreille, 1824 (in the widest sense) in the Oriental Region, previously treated as genus or subgenus Callidiola Jeannel, 1949. In the present contribution, as first part of a series of revisions of the Asiatic Calleida species, we define nine species groups including all known Asiatic species, based on external features and morphological characters of male and female genitalia. A key for the identification of all nine species groups is provided, along with diagnostic characters, included species, geographical distribution, and brief discussion on monophyly and relationships for each species group. In particular, the present contribution deals with species of six small species groups, including eleven species in total, for which keys to all known species, descriptions, distribution maps, habitus images and genitalia illustrations are provided.Five new species are described: Calleida gressittiana Casale Shi, sp. n. (type locality: Kinabalu, Sabah, Borneo), Calleida puncticollis Shi Casale, sp. n. (type locality: Zigui, Hubei), Calleida jelineki Casale Shi, sp. n. (type locality: Coimbatore, India), Calleida viet Casale Shi, sp. n. (type locality: Vung Tau, Vietnam), Calleida borneensis Shi Casale, sp. n. (type locality: Sabah, Borneo). Lectotypes for five taxa are designated. One synonymy is newly proposed: Calleida lieftincki Louwerens junior synonym of Calleida corporaali Andrewes, syn. nov.

Revision of the Oriental species of Calleida Latreille (sensu lato). Part 2: the C.discoidalis species group (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Lebiini).

The C.discoidalis species group of the genus Calleida Latreille from Asia (in the sense of Casale and Shi 2018) is revised with six species recognized. Four new species are described: C.piligera Shi & Casale, sp. n. (type locality: Taiwan: Siling, 24.65°N, 121.42°E); C.cochinchinae Casale & Shi, sp. n. (type locality: Vietnam: "Cochinchina"); C.yunnanensis Shi & Casale, sp. n. (type locality: Yunnan: Caiyanghe, 22.60°N, 101.12°E); and C.luzonensis Casale & Shi, sp. n. (type locality: Philippines: Nagtipunan, 16.22°N, 121.60°E). C.fukiensis Jedlicka, 1963 is confirmed as an available and valid species name, and C. suensoni Kirschenhofer, 1986 is newly synonymized with it. A phylogenetic analysis of Oriental Calleida species, based on adult morphological characters, is performed. The results show that the monophyly of most species groups in Oriental Calleida is accepted, but the C.discoidalis group appears polyphyletic and comprises three lineages. However, because many species relationships in the cladogram lack significant supporting, presently the C.discoidalis group was remained to use for morphological convenience. Five types of female reproductive tracts were recognized, corresponding to five branches in the cladogram.

Re-establishment of Carabus (Cathoplius) aliai Escalera, 1944 as a separate valid species (Coleoptera, Carabidae).

Carabus (Cathoplius) aliai was described as a separate species by Escalera in 1944 but since the 1950-60s it has been considered as a subspecies of Carabus (Cathoplius) stenocephalus Lucas, 1866. This downgrading was adopted after examining only a few specimens, due to their rarity in collections. In recent years, an important population of this taxon was rediscovered in the Tan-Tan area in southern Morocco. By combining field observations with laboratory breeding experiments including hybridization trials, and through the morphological examination of a representative number of individuals, it is confirmed that Carabusaliai is indeed a valid species. Despite close geographic distribution, the morphological and biological characteristics of Carabusaliai and Carabusstenocephalusifniensis Zarco, 1941, its northern substitutive taxon, are very different. Carabusaliai adults are characterized by a smaller size, a slender silhouette, a more brilliant aspect, a narrower pronotum, a coarser elytral sculpture, longer legs, and a wider and a little more curved apex of the median lobe of the aedeagus. Carabusaliai larvae are also characterized by a much smaller size and the Carabusaliai pupa has a narrower thoracic area and a different chaetotaxy compared to that of Carabusstenocephalusifniensis. Contrary to this, Carabusaliai has a life cycle belonging to the annual univoltine winter semelparous type. Moreover, the duration of its development cycle is shorter. Carabusaliai is a sabulicolous steppe-wandering species with an intensive running activity, while Carabusstenocephalusifniensis is a more sedentary taxon. Crossbreeding experiments showed a marked reproductive isolation between Carabusaliai and Carabusstenocephalusifniensis. When F1 hybrids were crossed with one another, a very high mortality rate during embryonic, larval and pupal development was evident and no vital F2 neo-adults were obtained. Morphological and biological differences, together with the reproductive failure in Carabusaliai × Carabusstenocephalusifniensis hybrids, clearly indicate that Carabusaliai is a separate Cathoplius species that is distributed in an area south of the Anti-Atlas chain, from Plage Blanche (Guelmim) to Lemsid and Bou Kra (south of Laâyoune). Carabusaliai is therefore both a Saharan desert endemic and an Atlantic resident. Moreover, it is the southernmost Carabus species of the western Palaearctic region.

Carabus of Subgenus Cathoplius C.G. Thomson, 1875, with description of their life-way, life-cycle and pre-imaginal morphology (Coleoptera: Carabidae) .

According to current taxonomy, Subgenus Cathoplius C.G. Thomson, 1875, within the Genus Carabus Linnaeus, 1758 (in the broad sense), includes two species: C. (Cathoplius) asperatus (Dejean, 1826), monotypic with a northern distribution, and the southern polytypic substitutive species C. (Cathoplius) stenocephalus Lucas, 1866. The authors describe the life-way, life-cycle and pre-imaginal characters of the taxa currently ascribed to Subgenus Cathoplius, with details never provided before. Cathoplius are ground beetles adapted to live in arid environments and extreme habitats such as sub-desert areas. All of them are strictly helicophagous, both during the pre-imaginal stages and as adults, and are localized in a narrow fringe along the Atlantic coast of northwestern Africa. Several data and observations on the eco-ethology of the different taxa, obtained both in field and in laboratory, are reported. The life-cycle of Cathoplius belongs to the winter breeding type, with an extremely high fecundity rate concentrated in a very short period of time, that has no similarity to any other Carabus species. Eggs, larvae and pupae of the different species and subspecies of Cathoplius are described and illustrated. Larval characters clearly place Subgenus Cathoplius into the lineage of Neocarabi, confirming it as a monophyletic and homogeneous assemblage. Hybridization trials between some taxa led to a reduced survival rate of the progeny, thus confirming their specific or subspecific differentiation as proposed by classical taxonomy. Furthermore, hybridization results suggest that C. (Cathoplius) stenocephalus aliai could be considered as a distinct species. Notes about the origin, biogeography and phylogeny of Cathoplius are also provided.

Italian natural history museums on the verge of collapse?

The Italian natural history museums are facing a critical situation, due to the progressive loss of scientific relevance, decreasing economic investments, and scarcity of personnel. This is extremely alarming, especially for ensuring the long-term preservation of the precious collections they host. Moreover, a commitment in fieldwork to increase scientific collections and concurrent taxonomic research are rarely considered priorities, while most of the activities are addressed to public events with political payoffs, such as exhibits, didactic meetings, expositions, and talks. This is possibly due to the absence of a national museum that would have better steered research activities and overall concepts for collection management. We here propose that Italian natural history museums collaborate to instate a "metamuseum", by establishing a reciprocal interaction network aimed at sharing budgetary and technical resources, which would assure better coordination of common long-term goals and scientific activities.

Calleida desenderi, new species from Ecuador (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Lebiinae).

Calleida desenderi Casale, sp. n., is described from Ecuador, Napo Province, surroundings of San Rafael. The new taxon is mostly characterized by the head and appendages rufous, the disc of elytra with marked metallic green reflection, the median lobe of aedeagus ring-like, and the endophallus with a long, twisted flagellum. A key for identification of the closer Neotropical species described so far is also provided.

Two new Typhloreicheia species from Sardinia and their biogeographical significance (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Scaritinae).

Typhloreicheia monachasp. n. and Typhloreicheia ilianaesp. n. are described from two caves of Central-Eastern Sardinia (Nuoro province): the Bue Marino cave and the Nurra 'e Pradu cave, respectively. Both caves are located in the part of the island where many highly specialised subterranean carabid beetles are localised. Typhloreicheia monacha is apparently related to two other species of the same area, i.e. Typhloreicheia onnisi Casale & Magrini, 2004 and Typhloreicheia elegans (Dodero, 1916); Typhloreicheia ilianae is closely related to Typhloreicheia henroti Jeannel, 1957, known from a cave near Dorgali. Relationships and diagnostic features among these taxa are discussed and illustrated, and a key for identification of the specialised subterranean Typhloreicheia species of Sardinia is provided. The hypothesis of adaptive radiation of Reicheiina species in Sardinia, recently proposed by the senior author of this contribution, is further elaborated in light of new data.

Forty years of carabid beetle research in Europe - from taxonomy, biology, ecology and population studies to bioindication, habitat assessment and conservation.

'Carabidologists do it all' (Niemelä 1996a) is a phrase with which most European carabidologists are familiar. Indeed, during the last half a century, professional and amateur entomologists have contributed enormously to our understanding of the basic biology of carabid beetles. The success of the field is in no small part due to regular European Carabidologists' Meetings, which started in 1969 in Wijster, the Netherlands, with the 14th meeting again held in the Netherlands in 2009, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the first meeting and 50 years of long-term research in the Dwingelderveld. This paper offers a subjective summary of some of the major developments in carabidology since the 1960s. Taxonomy of the family Carabidae is now reasonably established, and the application of modern taxonomic tools has brought up several surprises like elsewhere in the animal kingdom. Progress has been made on the ultimate and proximate factors of seasonality and timing of reproduction, which only exceptionally show non-seasonality. Triggers can be linked to evolutionary events and plausibly explained by the "taxon cycle" theory. Fairly little is still known about certain feeding preferences, including granivory and ants, as well as unique life history strategies, such as ectoparasitism and predation on higher taxa. The study of carabids has been instrumental in developing metapopulation theory (even if it was termed differently). Dispersal is one of the areas intensively studied, and results show an intricate interaction between walking and flying as the major mechanisms. The ecological study of carabids is still hampered by some unresolved questions about sampling and data evaluation. It is recognised that knowledge is uneven, especially concerning larvae and species in tropical areas. By their abundance and wide distribution, carabid beetles can be useful in population studies, bioindication, conservation biology and landscape ecology. Indeed, 40 years of carabidological research have provided so much data and insights, that among insects - and arguably most other terrestrial organisms - carabid beetles are one of the most worthwhile model groups for biological studies.