The effects of insect repellent on initial Dipteran colonization of decomposing pig remains.

Numerous factors influence insect colonization and development on decomposing remains and can influence postmortem interval (PMI) estimations when insects are used in investigations of suspicious deaths. This study aimed to determine whether insect repellent influences insect colonization of decomposing remains. Pig feet were divided into 4 groups: a control not sprayed with repellent, 40% DEET repellent, 98% DEET repellent, and lemon eucalyptus repellent. The feet were placed in containers, and insect visitation was observed over the course of 3 days, then insects were collected at the end of the third day. This was repeated twice a month from April through November 2022. The analysis focused on the order Diptera. Pairwise comparison determined that there was a significant delay in visitation time for remains with 98% DEET compared to remains with no repellent and 40% DEET. There were significantly fewer adult Diptera collected and more remains with no larvae or eggs present among remains treated with 98% DEET. It was concluded that low concentrations of DEET and lemon eucalyptus repellent did not delay colonization, but that high concentrations of DEET delayed visitation, reduced the number of adult flies collected from the remains, and reduced the likelihood of collecting eggs or larvae from the remains. This contributes to the understanding of factors that can influence insect colonization and development that allow for more accurate PMI estimations by suggesting that insect repellent does not need to be accounted for in PMI estimation, but a high concentration of DEET can deter insects in the short term.

Contribution to the knowledge of the genus Omineus Lewis, 1895 in Taiwan, with description of two new species (Coleoptera, Mycteridae, Eurypinae).

The fauna of Mycteridae Blanchard, 1845 in Taiwan is small, with only two documented species. In the present paper, two new species of Omineus Lewis, 1895 are described: O. taiwanensis sp. nov. and O. chuangae sp. nov., highlighting the potential diversity of this family in Taiwan. New species descriptions are supplemented with photographs and illustrations of habitus and salient structures of both sexes. A key for the identification of Omineus species in Taiwan is provided.

Review of the Nearctic genus Wilcoxia James (Diptera: Asilidae: Stenopogoninae), with descriptions of three new species.

The robber fly genus Wilcoxia is revised based on external morphological features of adults. For each species the following is provided: type specimen information, diagnostic features, description, natural history including associated prey data, and geographical distribution (derived from georeferenced localities for both examined specimens and literature records). A key to adults of Wilcoxia, supplemented with photographs of habitus and selected morphological features, is included. The genus comprises eight species, distributed primarily in the southwestern United States. Three new species are described: W. apache (type locality: New Mexico, Quay County, Apache Canyon), W. flavipennis (type locality: Arizona, Pima County, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument), and W. forbesi (type locality: New Mexico, Doña Ana County, 1 mi. NW Tortugas Mt.). There appear to be two reasonably well-defined species groups (cinerea and martinorum groups, with four species in each), based on structural features, seasonality and natural history. Identified prey items (for W. apache, W. forbesi and W. martinorum) include representatives from Hemiptera (eight families), Coleoptera (one family), Hymenoptera (five families) and Diptera (10 families). A discussion on the structural heterogeneity of Wilcoxia and a history of its classification are provided.

Faunistic review of Tetratomidae and Melandryidae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea) in Lithuania with an annotated checklist of the species.

This paper presents the first faunistic review of species composition and distribution of Tetratomidae and Melandryidae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea) in Lithuania. An annotated checklist of the species is given. The peculiarities of some morphological structures of Dircaea australis, Phloiotrya subtilis, Orchesia fusiformis, O. micans and Zilora cf. obscura are briefly reviewed and illustrated. Information on five species of Tetratomidae and twenty-two species of Melandryidae is given, including faunistic data, prior records, general distribution, and notes on frequency, ecology and morphological peculiarities of some species. Eustrophus dermestoides (Tetratomidae), Phloiotrya rufipes, Hypulus bifasciatus and Phryganophilus ruficollis (Melandryidae) known from previous literature records are excluded from the Lithuanian fauna due to suspect data on their occurrence in the country. Phloiotrya subtilis and Orchesia fusiformis are recorded from Lithuania for the first time. The presence of Tetratoma fungorum and Abdera flexuosa in the Lithuanian fauna was confirmed by actual faunistic data, which were previously absent. Four species of Tetratomidae and 19 species of Melandryidae are confidently included in the Lithuanian fauna, corresponding to 50% of the total European fauna of both families excluding regional endemics.

Waidelotinae, a new subfamily of Pyrochroidae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea) from Baltic amber of the Sambian peninsula and the interpretation of Sambian amber stratigraphy, age and location.

Waidelotus hoffeinsorum gen. et sp. nov. is described from Eocene Baltic amber and assigned to Waidelotinae subfam. nov. within family Pyrochroidae (Coleoptera). The new subfamily differs from the other subfamilies by the following combination of features: penultimate tarsomere of all tarsi deeply bilobed, antepenultimate tarsomere of each pro- and mesothoracic tarsus slightly bilobed, antepenultimate tarsomere of metathoracic tarsi slightly widened apically; pronotum laterally margined in basal half; eyes emarginate; pretarsal claws appendiculate; prosternal intercoxal process incompletely separating prothoracic coxae; pronotum with fine posterior submarginal groove; head without distinct constriction behind eyes; posterior pronotal pits absent; and elytral pubescence homogenous. It is the only authentic species of Pyrochroidae (Coleoptera) from Baltic amber, pending final placement of Palaeopyrochroa crowsoni Abdullah, 1965. Additionally, the available data on stratigraphy of amber-bearing strata on the Sambian peninsula, and the age and location of Eocene amberiferous forests are discussed. A middle Eocene (mostly Bartonian) age is interpreted for the extinct Central European resin-producing forests resulting in the Sambian amber deposits.

Two new fossil representatives of Eurypinae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea: Mycteridae) from Eocene Baltic amber and placement of Neopolypria nigra Abdullah, 1964.

Two new species of Eurypinae (Coleoptera: Mycteridae) are described from Eocene Baltic amber from the Kaliningrad Region, Russia: Glesoconomorphus nachzehrer gen. et sp. nov. and Omineus febribilis sp. nov. The first new fossil taxon displays affinity to recent members of the Neotropical Conomorphus-Stilpnonotus lineage, and the second species was placed into the present-day eastern and southeastern Asian genus Omineus Lewis. The fossil Neopolypria nigra Abdullah, 1964 (Baltic amber) is moved from Mycteridae and placed as incertae sedis within Tenebrionoidea Latreille, 1802.

Review of the Nearctic (north of Mexico) species of Elacatis Pascoe (Coleoptera: Salpingidae: Othniinae).

The North American (north of Mexico) species of Elacatis were revised, based on external and genitalic structures of adults. Seven species are recognized, though the historical inclusion of E. fasciatus Bland among Nearctic species is very likely based on an erroneous collecting locality. Two new species are described, with type localities (counties only) in parentheses: E. larsoni (Nebraska: Box Butte County) and E. stephani (Arizona: Cochise County). The following new synonym is proposed: Othnius umbrosus LeConte 1861 = Othnius lugubris Horn 1868; therefore, only E. umbrosus (LeConte) is associated with dead/dying conifers in western North America. Larval E. umbrosus are thought to be xylophagous, while adults are very likely predaceous. Elacatis senecionis (Champion) and E. immaculatus (Champion) are recorded from north of Mexico for the first time. A lectotype is designated for Elacatis longicornis Horn. A key to the seven species in Canada and the United States is provided, supplemented with photographic images of habiti and selected structural features. Maps of known distributions, based on geo-referenced locality lists, are provided.

Revision of Thisiomorphus Pic (Coleoptera: Mycteridae: Eurypinae) with descriptions of eleven new species from Central and South America and a key to genera of Neotropical Eurypinae.

The Neotropical eurypine genus Thisiomorphus is revised, based on external structural features of adults. Twelve species are recognized, including the following eleven new species (type areas in parentheses): T. festivus (Panama, Colón Prov.), T. osaensis (Costa Rica, Puntarenas Prov.), T. davidsoni (Brazil, Chapada), T. inaequalis (Ecuador, Napo Prov.), T. caeruleus (Panama, Panamá Prov.), T. brasiliensis (Brazil, Amazonas), T. solisi (Costa Rica, Guanacaste Prov.), T. andrewsi (Panama, Chiriquí Prov.), T. bolivianus (Bolivia, Santa Cruz Dept.), T. curticornis (Ecuador, Sucumbíos Prov.), and T. convergens (Brazil, Pará). A key to the 13 described eurypine genera of Central and South American is provided, along with a key to species of Thisiomorphus. The keys are supplemented with images of habitus and selected structural features, and maps of known distributions are provided.

Revision of the Nearctic species of the genus Iphthiminus Spilman (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae).

Nearctic species of Iphthiminus Spilman (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) are revised by examining external morphological structures and genital characters. Of the six Nearctic species, only three are considered valid: Iphthiminus serratus (Mannerheim 1843), I. opacus (Leconte 1866), and I. lewisii (Horn 1870). Photographs are taken to highlight structures and a key is created to identify the species. Three names are synonymized: (senior synonym in brackets) I. sublaevis (Bland 1865) [=Nyctobates sublaevis (Bland 1865)], I. salebrosus (Casey 1924) [=Iphthimus salebrosus (Casey 1924)] are synonymized under I. serratus (Mannerheim 1843) [=Nyctobates serratus (Mannerheim 1843)], and I. laevissimus (Casey 1890 [=Iphthimus laevissimus (Casey 1890)] is synonymized under Iphthiminus lewisii (Horn 1870) [=Iphthimus lewisii (Horn 1870)]. Lectotypes are designated for Iphthimus serratus lewisii Horn 1870 and Iphthimus opacus LeConte 1866.

Two new species of Cyanopenthe Nikitsky from Taiwan (Coleoptera, Tetratomidae, Penthinae).

Two new species of Cyanopenthe Nikitsky, 1998 are described from Taiwan, under the names of Cyanopenthe taiwana sp. nov. and Cyanopenthe leei sp. nov., representing the first documented occurrence of the genus in Taiwan. Descriptions of both species, including the first description of males of Cyanopenthe, are supplemented with photos of habitus, antennae and abdomens of females, and illustrations of pronotum, genitalia of both sexes and abdominal ventrite V of females. Additionally, for Cyanopenthe metallica (Champion, 1916), photos of habitus and antenna of the holotype, supplementary description and illustrations of genitalia and abdominal ventrite V of females are provided. A key for the identification of Cyanopenthe species is given.

Field-based evaluation of biopesticide impacts on native biodiversity: malagasy coleoptera and anti-locust entomopathogenic fungi.

A community of 225 species of Coleoptera was used as a surrogate to evaluate nontarget effects of entomopathogenic fungi under development as biopesticides for use against the Malagasy migratory locust Locusta migratoria capito Saussure (Orthoptera: Acrididae). Evaluation of a standard chemical treatment of fenitrothion + esfenvalerate, two indigenous isolates of Metarhiziumflavoviride Gams & Roszsypol (SP3 and SP9), and an indigenous isolate of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (SP16) against an untreated control in a replicated field trial in southern Madagascar showed that one of the isolates of M. flavoviride (SP3) and fenitrothion + esfenvalerate had distinct effects on nontarget beetle communities that were similar to each other. The other two isolates had no detectable effects compared with the untreated control. Based on an evaluation of the species affected, the similar effects of SP3 and the chemical pesticide are hypothesized to be the result of a perturbation of predator-prey relationships, with a distinct tendency to be manifested via predators. The data indicate that use of SP9 and SP16 would have minimal detrimental effects on the biodiversity of nontarget beetles, but that SP3 needs further testing.

Beetles (Coleoptera) of Peru: A Survey of the Families. Pythidae Solier, 1834 / Escarabajos (Coleoptera) de Peru: Un muestreo de las familias. Pythidae Solier, 1834

The diversity of the family Pythidae (Coleoptera) is summarized for Peru. One genus (Ischyomius Chevrolat) and two species are recorded. Comments are given on classification and distribution of the family, as well as known biology and natural history, the latter based primarily on larval stages. Based on label data from previously examined specimens and from newly collected material, species of Ischyomius appear to be closely associated with several monocot plant families within order Zingerberales. Ischyomius singularis Chevrolat is recorded from Huánuco and Lima, while I. bicolor Champion is known from Loreto and Madre de Dios; specific collection localities are given.

La diversidad de la familia Pythidae (Coleoptera) se resume para Perú. Se registra un género (Ischyomius Chevrolat) y dos especies. Los comentarios se dan sobre la clasificación y distribución de la familia, así como la biología conocida y la historia natural, esto último basado principalmente en etapas larvarias. Basándose en datos de etiquetas de especímenes previamente examinados y de material recién recolectado, las especies de Ischyomius parecen estar estrechamente asociadas con varias familias de plantas monocotiledóneas dentro del orden Zingerberales. Ischyomius singularis Chevrolat se registra para Huánuco y Lima, mientras I. bicolor Champion es conocido para Loreto y Madre de Dios; se dan localidades de recolección específicas.

Review of the Eustrophinae (Coleoptera, Tetratomidae) of America north of Mexico.

The Nearctic fauna (north of Mexico) of Eustrophinae is reviewed, and consists of the following five genera and 12 species: Pseudoholostrophus (Pseudoholostrophus) impressicollis (LeConte), Pseudoholostrophus (Holostrophinus) discolor (Horn), Holostrophus bifasciatus (Say), Eustrophus tomentosus Say, Eustrophopsis confinis (LeConte), Eustrophopsis bicolor (Fabricius), Eustrophopsis brunneimarginatus (Dury), Eustrophopsis indistinctus (LeConte), Eustrophopsis arizonensis (Horn), Eustrophopsis ornatus (Van Dyke), Eustrophopsis crowdyisp. n., and Synstrophus repandus (Horn). A lectotype is designated for Eustrophus brunneimarginatus Dury. A key is given to separate genera and species, supplemented with illustrations of relevant features, including aedeagi of all Nearctic species of Eustrophopsis. Detailed distribution (including Mexican records) and natural history data are provided.