The Mythology of Insect-Loving Japan.

Japanese people are perceived to have a relatively more favorable disposition towards insects than individuals from other nations. Given that insects frequently appear in myths from all over the world, I researched Japanese mythology as a potential origin of this positive outlook toward insects. I reviewed the ancient records Kojiki, Nihonshoki, and Fudoki, and found seven cases where insects appear. In all cases, the insects played relatively minor roles. They did not speak, nor were they under the command of gods or emperors. They did not feature as main characters in ancient poetry, and gods/emperors did not take the shape of any insects. In only two instances were insects featured in a positive light. In general, relationships between gods, emperors, and insects are weak in Japanese mythology, and hence mythology does not appear to be the primary source of Japanese affinity for insects.

New record of the genus Typhlocolenis Hoshina, 2008 (Coleoptera, Leiodidae) from South Korea with a key to the species.

This is the first record of the genus Typhlocolenis Hoshina, 2008 (Coleoptera, Leiodidae, Leiodinae, Pseudoliodini) in South Korea. Two new Korean species are described, under the names T. sillaensis sp. nov. and T. jejudoensis sp. nov. As a result of this study, the number of Typhlocolenis species is now five. A key to the species of the genus is provided.

Discovery of a new species of the genus Triarthron Märkel, 1840 (Coleoptera, Leiodidae) with a key to Japanese species of the tribe Sogdini.

In the genus Triarthron (Coleoptera, Leiodidae, Leiodinae), only two species are known to occur in Palearctic and Nearctic regions. In this paper, a new species in Japan, Triarthron itoi Hoshina, sp. nov., is described. This brings the number of species in the genus to three. A key to the Japanese species of the tribe Sogdini is given.

Allopatric color forms of Scaphidium morimotoi Löbl, 1982 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Scaphidiinae) endemic to the Amami Islands, the Ryukyus, Japan.

The shining fungus beetle, Scaphidium amamiense Hoshina & Morimoto, 1999 is synonymized with S. morimotoi Löbl, 1982, based on a review of morphological characters and molecular analysis. This species is endemic to the Amami Islands, the Ryukyus, Japan. An almost completely melanic form (morimotoi in strict) is known only on the island Yoro-shima, where the ordinary form with reddish fasciae on the elytra (previously called amamiense) is absent. The present study suggests that the melanic form on the small island has been fixed by random genetic drift.