New taxonomic insights for Brazilian Syrbatus Reitter (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), including three new species and their mitochondrial genomes.

Here we present a taxonomic treatment for the Brazilian species of Syrbatus (Reitter, 1882), including the description of three new species (Syrbatus moustache Asenjo & Valois sp. nov., Syrbatus obsidian Asenjo & Valois sp. nov. and Syrbatus superciliata Asenjo & Valois sp. nov.) from the Quadrilátero Ferrífero (Minas Gerais, Brazil). In addition, we designated lectotypes for the Brazilian species of species-group 2, Syrbatus centralis (Raffray, 1898), Syrbatus hetschkoi (Reitter, 1888), Syrbatus hiatusus (Reitter, 1888), Syrbatus transversalis (Raffray, 1898), and Syrbatus trinodulus (Schaufuss, 1887), besides recognizing the holotype for Syrbatus brevispinus (Reitter, 1882), Syrbatus bubalus (Raffray, 1898), and Syrbatus grouvellei (Raffray, 1898). The mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of the three new species are presented, for which we present the phylogenetic placement among Staphylinidae with previously published data.

Influence of Quaternary climate change on the potential distribution of Atlantic Forest dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)

ABSTRACT Influence of Quaternary climate change on the potencial distribution of Atlantic Forest dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae). The role of Cenozoic paleoclimatic changes in the distribution of dung beetles species from the Atlantic Forest (AF) remains poorly understood. We used ecological niche modeling under different scenarios (present, 6 ka, 21 ka, and 120 ka) to investigate how climatic oscillations during the Quaternary might have influenced the distribution of species endemic to this region. Models were built for five of the nine dung beetle species of the Dichotomius sericeus group: D. iannuzziae, D. irinus, D. laevicollis, D. schiffleri, and D. sericeus. The models of climatic suitability for D. irinus and D. laevicollis show a similar historical pattern in response to climate change but were divergent from D. iannuzziae, D. schiffleri, and D. sericeus. Dichotomius schiffleri is the species with the smallest area of ​​potencial occurrence. Over time, the species probably remained limited to lowland AF areas on the Brazilian coast and, it is currently found preferentially in Restinga ecosystems along the coast. Regarding the potential distribution models at the present, D. iannuzziae, D. schiffleri, and D. sericeus have potential distributions similar to their realized distribution. This study shows that the historical distribution of the D. sericeus species group has been influenced by paleoclimatic changes that occurred in the AF over the last 120 ka.

The complete mitochondrial genome and description of a new cryptic Brazilian species of Metopiellus Raffray (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae).

Metopiellus Raffray, 1908 is a genus of South American rove beetles typically found in tropical humid forests. Here we describe a new cryptic species from Eastern Amazon, in northern Brazil, Metopiellus crypticus Asenjo sp. nov., and its major morphologic diagnostic features, which were photographed and illustrated. In addition, we bring the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of M. crypticus sp. nov., and its position within the phylogenetic context of the family, including previously available mitogenomes of Staphylinidae species.

Taxonomic revision of Dichotomius (Selenocopris) nisus (Olivier, 1719) and Dichotomius (Selenocopris) superbus (Felsche, 1901)

Abstract Within the subgenus Dichotomius (Selenocopris) Burmeister 1846, D. nisus (Olivier, 1789) and D. superbus (Felsche, 1901) had been historically arranged in the "Nisus" section by Luederwaldt, however, according to the revised classification of the subgenus, the two species now belong to different species groups. In this paper, the taxonomic history concerning the species once included by Luederwaldt in the "Nisus" section is revised and discussed. The following new synonyms are proposed: Pinotus taunayi (Luederwaldt, 1931) as a subjective synonym of D. geminatus (Arrow, 1913), and Pinotus taunayi pilosus (Luederwaldt, 1931) as a subjective synonym of D. nisus. Lectotypes are designated for D. nisus and Pinotus garbei. Redescriptions, diagnoses and updated distribution data are provided for D. nisus and D. superbus. The diagnostic characters of the male genitalia of these species are described and illustrated for the first time.

A taxonomic revision of the genus Scybalocanthon Martínez, 1948 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Deltochilini).

The genus Scybalocanthon Martínez, 1948 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Deltochilini) is revised and now consists of 23 valid species. Eight new species are described: S. acrianus new species, S. adisi new species, S. arnaudi new species, S. chamorroi new species, S. federicoescobari new species, S. haroldi new species, S. martinezi new species, and S. papaxibe new species. Scybalocanthon uniplagiatus (Schmidt, 1922) new combination is placed in the genus for the first time. The following species previously assigned to Scybalocanthon are here placed in the genus Canthon Hoffmannsegg, 1817: Canthon arcabuquensis (Molano Medina, 2010) new combination, Canthon balachowskyi (Martínez Halffter, 1972) new combination, Canthon luctuosus Harold, 1868, Canthon magnus (Molano Parrales, 2015) new combination, and Canthon nigellus Schmidt, 1922. Scybalocanthon imitans (Harold, 1868) is a new junior subjective synonym of S. sexspilotus (Guérin-Méneville, 1855) and S. zischkai Martínez, 1949 is a new junior subjective synonym of S. aereus (Schmidt, 1922). Lectotypes are designated for S. aereus (Schmidt, 1922), S. cyanocephalus (Harold, 1868), S. darlingtoni (Paulian, 1939), S. kaestneri (Balthasar, 1939), S. maculatus (Schmidt, 1920), S. moniliatus (Bates, 1887), S. pinopterus (Kirsch, 1873), S. pygidialis (Schmidt, 1922), S. trimaculatus (Schmidt, 1922), and S. uniplagiatus (Schmidt, 1922). A neotype is designated for S. sexspilotus (Guérin-Méneville, 1855). A detailed literature review, synonymies, diagnosis, key for species identification, illustration of key morphological characters, as well as data of the studied material and geographic distribution are provided for each species.

Giant rhinoceros beetle Golofa claviger (Linnaeus) (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae: Dynastini) is damaging North Brazilian oil palm plantations

ABSTRACT The oil palm is an economically important crop cultivated in the North of Brazil. Damage caused by insects is one of the main causes of reduced productivity for the oil palm. Before this research, only the beetles of the family Curculionidae were considered to be oil palm pests in Brazil. However, for the first time, we report on the damage caused by a giant rhinoceros beetle to oil palm plantations in Pará, Brazil. The beetle was identified as Golofa claviger (Linnaeus, 1771), which has a single record in Brazil (Pará) but is widely distributed in South America. The species occurs in an unprecedentedly high abundance of local specimens. The attacks are concentrated on the central cluster of young palms. Feeding behavior is identified as the main cause of the damage as the beetles use their mouthparts to rip the plant tissues, causing wedge-shaped cuts on young fronds that have not yet unfurled. After an attack, the leaflets of the unfurled fronds are partially destroyed.

A revision of Dichotomius (Homocanthonides) Luederwaldt, 1929 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)

ABSTRACT The monospecific subgenus Dichotomius (Homocanthonides) is revised and its single species, Dichotomius (H.) smaragdinus (Perty, 1830) is redescribed and distinguished from other Dichotomius species. Dichotomius (H.) smaragdinus is a polymorphic species and its distribution comprises the Brazilian Cerrado. For the first time, morphological variation and male genital organ are described and illustrated. We believe that this species might be endangered due to extensive deforestation of Brazilian Cerrado by agricultural and pasture expansion. Thus, we highlight the importance of preserving this very unusual Dichotomius species.

Taxonomic revision of the Dichotomius sericeus (Harold, 1867) species group (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae).

The Dichotomius sericeus species group of the subgenus Luederwaldtinia is reviewed. This group comprises eight species endemic to the South American Atlantic forests, Caatinga and associated areas of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina: Dichotomius sericeus (Harold, 1867); Dichotomius irinus (Harold, 1867); Dichotomius laevicollis (Felsche, 1901); Dichotomius schiffleri Vaz-de-Mello, Gavino Louzada, 2001; Dichotomius guaribensis sp. nov.; Dichotomius gilletti sp. nov; Dichotomius iannuzziae sp. nov; and Dichotomius catimbau sp. nov. Lectotypes are designated for D. sericeus (Harold, 1867), D. irinus (Harold, 1867), D. laevicollis (Felsche, 1901) and D.sericeus var. aterrimus (Luederwaldt, 1929) [here synonymized with D. sericeus]. In this revision each species is analyzed as follows: a detailed literature review, a diagnosis, description, illustrations of key morphological characters, list of material examined and a geographic distribution.

A taxonomic review of the Neotropical genus Hansreia Halffter & Martínez, 1977 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae).

The taxonomy of the genus Hansreia Halffter & Martínez is reviewed. The genus consists of six species, including three new species: H. peugeoti sp. nov., H. grossii sp. nov., H. krinskii sp. nov. Lectotypes are designated for Hansreia affinis (Fabricius 1801), H. oxygona (Perty 1830) [here considered a valid species] and H. coriacea (Schmidt 1922). The species status of H. coriacea is recognized. A detailed literature review, synonymies, description, illustration of key morphological characters as well as data of the studied material and geographic distribution is provided for each species.