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.

In search of some type-specimens of Rhamphus [Clairville], 1798 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

During morphological and molecular studies of species of Rhamphus from southern and western Europe, the authors realized that some specimens currently identified as R. pulicarius (Herbst, 1795) and R. oxyacanthae (Marsham, 1802), two widely distributed species in Europe, belonged to different closely related taxa. Therefore, it was necessary to examine type specimens of these and other species considered synonymous or confused with them. It was possible to designate lectotypes for Rhamphus subaeneus Illiger, 1808 and Rhamphus kiesenwetteri Tournier, 1873. However, it was necessary to designate neotypes for: Curculio pulicarius Herbst, 1795, Curculio oxyacanthae Marsham, 1802 and Rhamphus flavicornis [Clairville], 1798. These three neotypes were sequenced for mtCOI and the sequences are now accessible online. Moreover, in accordance with Article 23.9 and the Principle of Priority of the Code, because of confirmed synonymy between R. oxyacanthae and R. flavicornis, the former name is officially proposed as nomen protectum and the latter as nomen oblitum. Detailed information regarding historical entomological collections in the Museum fr Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universitt of Berlin and the Clairville collection in the Naturhistorisches Museum of Basel, relating to our search for relevant type specimens, is provided.

The genus Erechthias Meyrick of Ascension Island, including discovery of a new brachypterous species (Lepidoptera, Tineidae).

One previously named and two new species of the tineid genus Erechthias Meyrick are described and illustrated from the small, remote, mid-Atlantic Ascension Island. With these additions the Lepidoptera fauna of Ascension now totals 38 known species. Little is known regarding the biology of the two new species of Erechthias, and none of the species has been reared from larvae from Ascension. Erechthias minuscula (Walsingham) is a widespread, largely pantropical species first described from the West Indies. Larvae of Erechthias minuscula are known to be scavengers on a wide variety of dead plant material. Erechthias ascensionae,new species, is one of two species of Erechthias now known to be endemic to the island. The other endemic species, Erechthias grayi, new species, is further remarkable in having wing reduction occurring in both sexes. It is one of the few species of Lepidoptera known where this extreme of brachyptery involving both sexes has evolved. The larvae of Erechthias grayi are believed to be lichenivorous, and larval cases suspected to represent this species are illustrated.