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Chalepides pantanalensis Ratcliffe & Seidel is described as a new species from the Pantanal region in Brazil. A description, diagnosis for distinguishing the species, illustrations, and a distribution map are provided. The new species is morphologically compared with C. howdenorum Joly & Escalona and C. osunai Joly & Escalona.

The eight species of dynastine scarab beetles that occur in Chile are reviewed. Keys, descriptions, geographic distributions, monthly adult activity, notes on natural history, illustrations, and distribution maps are provided for all species. The erroneous records of 16 dynastine species reported from Chile are reviewed and clarified. The monotypic genus Chiliphileurus Endrodi, 1977 is reduced to junior synonymy with Eophileurus Arrow, 1908, and its only species, Chiliphileurus tuberculatus Endrodi, 1977, follows as a new junior synonym of the Asian Eophileurus cingalensis Arrow, 1908.

Cyclocephala vulcanorum is described as a new species from the Refugio Los Volcanes in Santa Cruz de la Sierra Department in Bolivia. A description, a diagnosis separating the new species from similar species, illustrations, and a distribution map are provided.

Megasoma lecontei Hardy is the most rarely collected of all species of Megasoma Kirby, and the female remained undescribed. A description and illustrations of the female of M. lecontei are provided for the first time based on several specimens from near Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico. A revised key to the Megasoma species occurring in Baja California Sur, Mexico is presented.

Fil: Ibarra-Polesel, Mario Gabriel. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura; Argentina. Fil: Ratcliffe, Brett C. University of Nebraska. Systematics Research Collections; U.S.A. Fil: Neita-Moreno, Jhon. Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt. Colecciones Biológicas-Entomología. Claustro de San Agustín; Colombia. The enigmatic genus Stenocrates Burmeister has 52 species that are widely distributed from Mexico to Argentina, but mainly in South America. In the present study, the larva of the third instar and pupa of Stenocrates agricola Dechambre & Hardy, 2004 are described and illustrated based on specimens from Argentina, this being the first description of immatures for the genus. The adult is also redescribed, significantly expanding the number of characters and providing information on the natural history of this species. In addition, 28 species of Cyclocephalini and 20 species of Pentodontini are morphologically compared, emphasizing the most useful larval characters used among these beetles. Stenocrates agricola shows frequent and common characters of Pentodontini species but scarce (and even absent) characters typical of Cyclocephalini species, including some considered diagnostic for this tribe. Accordingly we consider that the tribal position of Stenocrates remains controversial and more study is needed to clarify the tribal status of Stenocrates. We believe that larval morphology provides important information in systematics studies that can clarify tribal relationships within the Dynastinae.

The adult scarab beetle fauna of the canopy in a lowland tropical rainforest in southern Venezuela was observed and collected by means of a 42-m-tall tower crane for a complete year. This first census of an entire Amazonian canopy scarab community was embedded within the interdisciplinary research project “Towards an understanding of the structure and function of a Neotropical rainforest ecosystem with special reference to its canopy” organized by the Austrian Academy of Science. The Scarabaeidae represented one of the most species-rich beetle families in the canopy of the crane plot and were therefore selected for a detailed analysis of host-use patterns. Thirty-three species of Scarabaeidae with 399 individuals were recorded, including two species represented by singletons. Subfamilies abundant in the canopy were the Rutelinae, Dynastinae, and Melolonthinae. Species were diurnal or nocturnal flower visitors restricted in their occurrence to their host trees during the flowering season. The scarab beetles remained commonly on one host tree species throughout the entire flowering period and switched to another host tree species only after depletion of food resources. Some species fed on extrafloral nectar but feeding on fruits and leaves was uncommon in the observed species. Most species showed a broad host range, often with abundant species recorded on several host trees. Seven species were found exclusively on one tree species. The co-occurrence of up to five congeneric species sharing the same host trees and diet was conspicuous. With this study, it could be shown how species of Scarabaeidae track available food resources within the canopy of a tropical rainforest.

A new species of Peruvian Ancognatha Erichson, 1847 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Cyclocephalini) is described. A description, diagnosis, distribution, and illustrations of the new species are provided. Locality records and distribution maps for Ancognatha species occurring in Peru are given.

A new species of Stenocrates Burmeister, 1847 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Cyclocephalini) from Peru is described: Stenocrates lissothorax Ratcliffe and Figueroa.Adescription, diagnosis, distribution, and illustrations of the new species are provided. This represents the 52nd species in the genus, and the 15th species known from Peru.

Three new species of the South American genus Stenocrates Burmeister, 1847 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Cyclocephalini) are described: Stenocrates serendipitus Ratcliffe, new species and Stenocrates mimeomus Ratcliffe, new species, both from Amazonian Peru, and Stenocrates hastatus Ratcliffe, new species from southeastern Brazil. Descriptions, diagnoses, distributions, and illustrations of the parameres of the new species are provided. Stenocrates inpai Ratcliffe, 1978, is placed in new junior synonymy with Stenocrates popei Endrodi, 1971, based upon the examination of additional specimens. A revised, annotated catalog of Stenocrates species is provided.

Three new country records of scarabaeoid beetles from Pakistan are reported for the first time based upon recent collecting: Dorcus curvidens Hope (Lucanidae: Dorcinae), Heteronychus annulatus Bates (Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae), and Rhomborrhina microcephala Westwood (Scarbaeidae: Cetoniinae).

A new species of the Palaeophileurus Kolbe (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Phileurini) is described from Colombia, Ecuador, and Guyana along with supporting illustrations and a diagnosis. A checklist of Palaeophileurus species is included with a new country record for Colombia of Palaeophileurus proximus Dechambre.

Ratcliffe, Brett C., Tirant, Stephane Le (2017): A New Species of Golofa Hope, 1837 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae) from Peru. The Coleopterists Bulletin 71 (4): 781-785, DOI: 10.1649/0010-065X-71.4.781, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1649/0010-065x-71.4.781

The following new scarab beetles are described from South America: Cyclocephala dupuisi Ratcliffe, new species, from Bolivia and Stenocrates caiporae Ratcliffe, new species, from Brazil (both Cyclocephalini); Hiekeianus halophilus Ratcliffe, new species, from Peru, Neoryctes similis Ratcliffe, new species, from Ecuador, and Adelaeus anachoretus Ratcliffe, new genus and new species, from the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador (all Pentodontini); and Hemiphileurus cornutus Ratcliffe, new species, from Colombia (Phileurini). Each new taxon is provided with a description, supporting illustrations, a diagnosis to distinguish it from similar taxa, and distribution. A revised key to the genera of New World Pentodontini is provided to include Adelaeus.

Piscoperus paracanicola Ratcliffe and Giraldo, a new genus and new species of pentodontine scarab from Peru, is described and illustrated. A revised key to the 29 genera of New World Pentodontini is provided.

The six genera of Agaocephalini in Colombia are distinguished in a dichotomous key and illustrated. Lycomedes enigmaticus Neita-Moreno and Ratcliffe, new species, is described and differentiated by character comparisons with other previously known Colombian species. Lycomedes lydiaeArnaud, 2012 is proposed as a new junior synonym of Lycomedes reichei Breme, 1844.

Orizabus australis Ratcliffe and Solis is described as a new species from Costa Rica. It resembles Orizabus hondurensis Ratcliffe and Cave from Honduras and is distinguished from that species. Species of Orizabus Fairmaire are known from the central United States to Honduras, but O. australis represents the first known occurrence for the genus in Costa Rica where it represents the southernmost occurrence of the genus. A revised key to the genera of Pentodontini of Costa Rica is provided, and O. australis is incorported into emended couplets of previously published keys to males and females of Orizabus species.

Here we describe the association of Enema pan (F., 1775) (Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Oryctini) with bamboo plants in the genus Guadua Kunth (Poaceae: Bambuseae) in a lowland rainforest in southeastern Peru. Mounds at the base of Guadua stems and underground tunnels over one meter long are constructed by adults. Males were found inside these tunnels and in mounds at the base of bamboo stems where they shred and feed on bamboo sap. Males were observed perching at the top of opened mounds only at night, waving their antennae. This study provides the first description of the burrows of E. pan and its association with bamboo plants in southwestern Amazonia.

A new species of Palaeophileurus Kolbe is described from Peru, with supporting illustrations and diagnosis. An annotated checklist of the species of the genus Palaeophileurus is included. Palaeophileurus sclateri (Bates, 1887) is reported as a new country record for Peru.

The larva of Homophileurus integer (Burmeister, 1847) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Phileurini) is described for the first time and accompanied by notes on its biology based on specimens from Suriname. An updated key to the known third-stage larvae of American Phileurini is provided.

The five species of Phileurus Latreille with quadridentate protibiae are reviewed and placed in a key for identification. One new species, Phileurus zonianis Ratcliffe, from Panama is described and illustrated.

Hemiphileurus panamanius Ratcliffe and Curoe, new species, is described from Panama, with supporting illustrations, a diagnosis, and distribution. A revised key to the 11 species of Hemiphileurus Kolbe occurring in Panama is provided.

The previously monotypic genera Endroedianibe Chalumeau and Hispanioryctes Howden and Endrodi from the island of Hispaniola are revised. Endroedianibe xerozoyphius Ratcliffe and Cave, new species, (Pentodontini) and Hispanioryctes paulseni Ratcliffe and Cave, new species, Hispanioryctes rugulopygus Ratcliffe and Cave, new species, and Hispanioryctes sculptilis Ratcliffe and Cave, new species, (Oryctini) from Haiti and the Dominican Republic are described. Supporting illustrations, diagnoses, and keys to the species in each genus are provided. A key to the 11 genera of Dynastinae in Hispaniola is given.

Hemiphileurus elbitae Neita and Ratcliffe, new species, is described from Colombia, with supporting illustrations, a diagnosis, distribution, and observations on biology. Descriptions of the third instar and pupa are also included, along with a key to the known larvae of Hemiphileurus Kolbe species.

Bothynus nyx Ratcliffe, new species, is described from Bolivia with supporting illustrations. A key to the five species of Bothynus Hope known to occur in Bolivia is provided.

The adult female, larva, and pupa of Strategus fascinus Burmeister (Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Oryctini) are described for the first time based on specimens from Colombia. A key to the known third-stage larvae of Strategus species is included. The biology and distribution of S. fascinus, are discussed.

The genus Chalcasthenes Arrow (Dynastinae: Oryctoderini), a scarab beetle genus endemic to the Solomon Islands, is reviewed. Based on examination of type specimens, the genus Strehlia Frey (Rutelinae: Rutelini: Parastasiina) is a new junior synonym of Chalcasthenes. The historical classification of these genera (either in the subfamily Dynastinae or Rutelinae) and character-based criteria for assigning the taxa to the Dynastinae are provided. We discuss character states that support the monophyly of members of the genus Chalcasthenes, comment on the distribution and biogeography of species in the genus and provide a key to species. The genus includes four species: Chalcasthenes divinus Endrodi, Chalcasthenes pulcher Arrow, Chalcasthenes squamigerus Frey new combination and Chalcasthenes styracoceros Jameson and Ratcliffe n. sp. Species hypotheses are corroborated based on evidence from Pleistocene geological reconstructions of the Solomon Islands, geographic variation of bird species in the region, and development in scarab beetles.

Cyclocephala acoma Ratcliffe (Bolivia), C. carlsoni Ratcliffe (French Guiana), C. chera Ratcliffe (Guyana), C. chiquitita Ratcliffe (Ecuador), C. compacta Ratcliffe (Brazil), C. hielkemaorum Ratcliffe (French Guiana), C. melanopoda Ratcliffe (Ecuador), C. monacha Ratcliffe (Colombia), C. perplexa Ratcliffe (Bolivia), and C. saltini Ratcliffe (Peru) are described as new species. A description, diagnosis, and illustrations are provided for each new species.

Megaceras briansaltini Ratcliffe, new species, is described from Peru. A description, diagnosis, and illustrations are provided, and the new species is compared with M. morpheus Burmeister, with which it shares similarities.

Con el objetivo de ampliar el conocimiento de la diversidad de escarabajos en Colombia en áreas hasta ahora poco estudiadas, se caracterizó la fauna de Scarabaeidae (Pleurosticti) de la selva baja del bosque pluvial tropical del Chocó-Biogeográfico colombiano, durante los años 2001-2003. Se seleccionaron cinco sitios de muestreo en ecosistemas con diferentes procesos de intervención (bosque primario, bosque secundario, rastrojo bajo y dos parcelas agroforestales), correspondiente a los municipios de Itsmina, Lloró, Quibdó, Tadó y Unión Panamericana, ubicados entre los 43 y 150 metros de altitud. La captura de los escarabajos se realizó mediante jama, trampas de luz negra, captura manual y carpotrampas modificadas. Igualmente, se exploraron troncos en proceso de descomposición de las especies vegetales como Brosimum utile H.B.K, Lecythis ampla Miers, Pouteria caimito Radlk, Apeiba aspera Aubl., Inga spp., Cedrela odorata L. y Jacaranda hesperi Dugand entre otros. Se colectaron e identificaron un total de 17,840 especímenes pertenecientes a 65 especies, distribuidas en 4 subfamilias, 12 tribus y 38 géneros. La subfamilia con mayor número de especies fue Dynastinae con un total de 26 especies, seguida de Rutelinae con 25, Cetoniinae con 11 y Melolonthinae con 3 especies. De estos Pelidnota chiriquina Bates, Spodochlamys cupreola Bates, Gymnetis pardalis (G & P), Gymnetis vandepolli (Bates), Hoplopyga ocellata (G & P) y Guatemalica hueti (Chevrolat) son nuevos registros para Colombia. Los géneros con mayor riqueza de especies fueron: Cyclocephala Dejean, 1821: C. amazona (Linné), C. carbonaria Arrow, C. melanocephala (Fabricius), C. pardolocarnoi Dechambe y C. fulgurata Burmeister; Anomala Samouelle, 1819: Anomala cincta Say, A. medellina Ohaus, A. undulata Melsheimer; Gymnetis MacLeay, 1819: Gymnetis coturnix (Burmeister), G. stellata (Latreille), G. holosericea (Voet) y Rutela Latreille, 1802: Rutela heraldica Perty, R. pygidialis Ohaus y R. sanguinolenta Waterhouse. Se incluye una clave taxonómica para la identificación de las 65 especies. Se aportan comentarios de la biología y ecología de las especies observadas.

The third instar larvae of Megasoma pachecoi Cartwright, M. punctulatus Hardy, M. thersites LeConte, M. vogti Cartwright, M. cedrosa Hardy, M. elephas (F.), M. actaeon (L.), and M. occidentalis Bolivar y Pieltain, Jimenez-Asua, and Martinez are described. Preliminary diagnosis for the larvae of Megasoma species from North and Central America and a key to eight species are presented. Comparative, brief descriptions of first and second instar larvae of M. elephas, M. thersites, M. pachecoi, and M. cedrosa, and a detailed description of the male pupa of M. elephas, are also included. Diagnostic structures of immatures are illustrated. Notes on the habits, biology, and distribution of the eight species are reviewed.

The following new species of Hemiphileurus are described: H. cavei Ratcliffe from Honduras and H. dechambrei Ratcliffe from Guatemala. A diagnosis is given for each species, and the parameres are illustrated for these and similar species.

The eight species in the genus Palaeophileurus are reviewed, including the description of two new species from Peru: P. carbo Ratcliffe and P. erebus Ratcliffe. The diagnostic male parameres for all species are illustrated, and a distribution map is provided.

Two new species of Cyclocephala from Central America are described and diagnosed: C. abrelata Ratcliffe and Cave from northern Honduras and C. melolonthida Ratcliffe and Cave from southern El Salvador.

The following new species of Hemiphileurus are described: H. bispinosus Ratcliffe from Brazil, H. deslislesi Ratcliffe from Colombia, H. quadridentatus Ratcliffe from Guatemala, and H. warneri Ratcliffe from Mexico. The parameres of H. rugulosus Endrodi (Venezuela and Colombia) are illustrated to enable easier identification of this species, and H. kahni Dupuis and Dechambre is redescribed and recorded from Brazil for the first time. Diagnostic illustrations of the male parameres are provided for the above taxa. A checklist for all the species in the genus is given.

A brief review of the taxonomy and natural history of the New World Oryctini is provided. An updated and annotated checklist of the Oryctini of the Neotropical and Nearctic realms is included. This now includes 14 genera, 133 extant species, and two extinct species. Tehuacania porioni Dechambre, 2009 (Oryctini) is reduced to synonymy with Barutus hartmanni Ratcliffe, 2003 (Pentodontini).

THE SCARABAEIDAE is a large, cosmopolitan family of beetles. In North America there are approximately 1,500 species found in 15 subfamilies. Scarab beetles in Nebraska number 196 species (13% of the North American fauna). Those species arc found in 12 subfamilies as follows: Aphodiinae (50), Scarabaeinae (18), Geotrupinae (11), Ochodaeinae (3), Ceratocanthinae (1), Troginae (21), Melolonthinae (55), Rutelinae (11), Dynastinae (9), Cetoniinae (13), Trichiinae (3), and Valginae (1). During my recent study of this group, three new species of arenicolous Aphodius were discovered, and 31 species (16% of the scarabs in the state) were recorded for the first time from Nebraska. I believe that additional species, especially Aphodiinae inhabiting rodent burrows, may be found in the future.

Ratcliffe, Brett C., Hardy, Martin (2005): Collagenus dasysternus, A New Genus And Species Of Dynastinae From Eastern Venezuela With A Key To The New World Genera Of Pentodontini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 59 (1): 143-150, DOI: 10.1649/0010-065x(2005)059[0143:cdanga]2.0.co;2

Oryctoantiquus borealis Ratcliffe and Smith is described as a new genus and new species of fossil dynastine Scarabaeidae from West Branch Creek of the Middle Eocene Clarno Formation (44.6–46.8 Ma) of north-central Oregon, U.S.A. This specimen is the oldest specimen attributable to the subfamily Dynastinae and the largest fossil in the family Scarabaeidae.

The larva and pupa of Homophileurus tricuspis Prell (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Phileurini) are described for the first time based on specimens from Colombia. A key to the known third-stage larvae of New World Phileurini species is provided. Notes on the natural history and distribution of H. tricuspis in Colombia are also included.

Ratcliffe, Brett C. (2010): Gorditus rotundus, a new genus and species of Pentodontini from Cuba (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae). Zootaxa 2683: 56-60, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.199376