Review of the rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) from the Pliocene of Willershausen, Germany.

The rove beetle fauna (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) (excluding the subfamily Silphinae) of the PlioceneofWillershausen (Lower Saxony, North Germany) is reviewed based on the type and other material of previously described or reported taxa, as well as two new specimens. Six subfamilies are represented in the deposit, with two subfamilial assignments considered tentative: Aleocharinae?, Micropeplinae, Oxytelinae, Paederinae, Staphylininae? and Tachyporinae. Pliosyntomium Korge, 1967 syn. nov. is placed as a junior synonym of PaederusFabricius, 1775. The following new combination is established: Paederusschmidti (Korge, 1967) comb. nov. All rove beetle fossils from Willershausen housed in theCollections of theGeoscienceMuseum, University of Gottingen.

A New Subgenus of the Genus Phenolia (Coleoptera, Nitidulidae) from Myanmar Cretaceous Amber with Taxonomic, Phylogenetic and Bionomic Notes on the 'Nitidulid' Group of Families.

A new subgenus, Palaeoronia subgen. nov., is described from the Cretaceous amber of North Myanmar (Kachin State) and assigned to the genus Phenolia. The type species of the new subgenus, Phenolia (Palaeoronia) haoranae subgen. et sp. nov., is characterized by a rather 'archaic' aspect. A discussion of the diagnostic and structure of the Soronia-complex of genera (together with the Phenolia-complex of genera) (Nitidulinae, Nitidulini) is proposed. Reasons for the 'conservatism' of this group during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic are discussed. The position of the Apophisandridae stat. nov. (type genus Apophisandra) and the transfers of the following genera into this family: Cretaretes, Electrumeretes, Furcalabratum, Pelretes, Polliniretes, Protokateretes, Protonitidula, and Scaporetes, from the Kateretidae, Nitidulidae or Cerambycidae are grounded. The relations of the family Parandrexidae (with inclusion of the genus Cretoparacucujus, transferred from Boganiidae with a proposal of the subfamily Cretoparacucujinae subfam.nov.), Martynoposis and Parandrexis are considered. The genus Antirhelus gen. nov. (type species Heterhelus buzina) is assigned to the new subfamily, Antirhelinae subfam. nov. in the family Kateretidae. The fossil records of the 'nitidulid' group of families (Apophisandridae stat. nov., Kateretidae, Nitidulidae, Parandrexidae, Smicripidae and possibly Boganiidae) are reviewed. The relationship of the family Boganiidae, some aspects of pollination and pollinophagy, and also changes in beetle diet in the past are discussed. The lectotype of Parandrixis parvula is designated.

A Cretaceous Chafer Beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) with Exaggerated Hind Legs-Insight from Comparative Functional Morphology into a Possible Spring Movement.

The phenomenon of exaggerated morphological structures has fascinated people for centuries. Beetles of the family Scarabaeidae show many very diverse exaggerated characters, for example, a variety of horns, enlarged mandibles or elongated antennal lamellae. Here, we report a new Mesozoic scarab, Antiqusolidus maculatus gen. et sp. n. from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation (~125 Ma), which has unusually robust and structured hind legs with greatly enlarged spurs and a unique elongated apical process. Based on simulations and finite element analyses, the function of these structures is hypothesized to support springing to aid movement and fighting. Based on available morphological characters, we performed phylogenetic analyses (maximum parsimony) of the main subfamilies and families of Scarabaeoidea. The results support the placement of Antiqusolidus gen. n. as a sister group of Rutelinae within the phytophagous lineage of pleurostict Scarabaeidae. Furthermore, the unusual delicate color marking patterns in the fossil specimens suggest that the new species might have been diurnal and potentially visited the leaves or flowers of Early Cretaceous plants. This morphological and functional study on this extinct scarab species provides new sights into exaggerated structures in Mesozoic insects.

A new species of Ecitonides Wasmann, 1894 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae) from Peru and phylogenetic placement of the genus based on molecular data.

Ecitonides constanceae sp. nov., a new species of the myrmecophilous genus Ecitonides Wasmann, 1894, which is associated with army ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ecitoninae), is described from Peru. The holotype, which is the only known specimen, was collected at light at Los Amigos Biological Station, Madre de Dios department, Peru. The army ant host species is unknown. The new species is distinguished from congeners and an updated key of the species, as well as a checklist of Ecitonides and their associated host ants are provided. Based on the holotype we non-destructively extracted DNA and sequenced two genes which were incorportated into an existing molecular phylogenetic dataset and analysed using Bayesian Inference. Ecitonides is recovered as sister to recently described thermitophilous genus Ruptor ya et al. 2022 and placed in the so-called Medonina and allied taxa clade. Beyond Bayesian Inference phylogenetic analysis and their associated nodal support methods, we also explored the position of the Ecitonides within the posterior sample of trees produced in the Bayesian analyses, which further supported its placement.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Aulacochilus grouvellei Achard, 1923 (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Erotylinae) with a phylogenetic analysis of Cucujoidea.

The complete mitochrondiral genome of Aulacochilus grouvellei Achard, 1923 was sequenced using an Illumina HiSeq platform. It represents the first mitochondrial genome of the subfamily Erotylinae. The mitogenome is a double-stranded circular molecule 15,607 bp in length with 22 transfer RNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and a control region. A Bayesian inference phylogenetic analysis including the new mitochondrial genome and a broad selection of other Cucujoidea recovered four major clades, including a 'Cryptophagidae-Laemophloeidae-Cucujidae' clade, a 'Monotomidae-Nitidulidae' clade, an Erotylidae clade, and a 'Coccinellidae-Silvanidae' clade. The family Erotylidae was recovered closely related to the 'Cryptophagidae-Laemophloeidae-Cucujidae' - 'Monotomidae -Nitidulidae' clade.

Decrease in Carabid Beetles in Grasslands of Northwestern China: Further Evidence of Insect Biodiversity Loss.

Ground-dwelling beetles are important functional components in nutrient-poor grasslands of middle temperate steppe ecosystems in China. Here, we assessed the changes in ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) communities in the grasslands of northwestern China over 12 years to improve the management and conservation of beetles all over the world. The Generalized Additive Model (GAM) was applied to estimate the changes in carabid beetle communities in two regions: a desert steppe (Yanchi region), and a typical steppe and meadow steppe (Guyuan region). During the 12-year investigation, a total of 34 species were captured. We found that species abundance and richness per survey declined by 0.2 and 11.2%, respectively. Precipitation was the main factor affecting the distribution of carabid beetles. A distinct decline in carabid beetle species in the Yanchi region indicated that they may be threatened by less precipitation and loss of habitat, which could be due to climate change. Overall, species richness was stable in the Guyuan region. It is necessary to estimate and monitor the changes in carabid beetle communities in a temperate steppe of northern China and to protect them. Extensive desertification seriously threatens the distribution of carabid beetles. Future research should develop methods to protect carabid beetle communities in temperate steppes in China.

Corrigendum: A new genus and species of Staphylininae rove beetle from the Peruvian Amazon (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae). https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.904.48592.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.904.48592.].

A new genus and species of Staphylininae rove beetle from the Peruvian Amazon (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae).

A new monotypic genus of Staphylininae Latreille, 1802 tribe incertae sedis is proposed based on Amazonothops aslaki gen. et sp. nov. from the Peruvian Amazon. Descriptions and illustrations of the new genus and species are provided. Its systematic placement and phylogenetic significance are discussed.

Systematic and biogeographic review of the Staphylinini rove beetles of Lord Howe Island with description of new species and taxonomic changes (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae).

Lord Howe is an oceanic and relatively young island situated in an area of complex geological and therefore biogeographical processes. The island boasts a large number of endemic species, including many beetles, however, few groups are in an adequate state of systematic knowledge for biogeographic investigation. Recent advances in the systematics of the hyper-diverse rove beetle tribe Staphylinini on a global scale enable us to implement taxonomic changes for species from Lord Howe Island. With the improved systematics we are able to make more accurate biogeographic conclusions and set a framework for further more in-depth exploration of this unique island using rove beetles. Two new species are described: Cheilocolpus olliffisp. n. and Quediopsis howensissp. n. Taxonomic changes for the tribe are implemented resulting in the following new combinations: Cheilocolpus castaneus (Lea, 1925), comb. n., Cheilocolpus kentiae (Lea, 1925), comb. n., Ctenandropus mirus (Lea, 1925), comb. n., and Hesperus dolichoderes (Lea, 1925), comb. n. With the updated state of knowledge, the Staphylinini fauna of Lord Howe Island appears to be mainly derived from lineages on mainland Australia.