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Forest soil and leaf litter support diverse arthropod mesofauna for which diversity dynamics is challenging to study due to the high number of species and specimens, small body size and limited taxonomic knowledge.Immature stages (larvae) are even harder to identify than adults, as their morphology is largely unknown. Therefore, larvae are often ignored, even though they may form a substantial proportion of specimens collected, are less mobile than adults and their exclusion may provide an incomplete diversity profile.Here, we use Oxford Nanopore DNA barcoding to investigate whether the inclusion of larvae provides a more complete taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity profiles in leaf litter beetles (Coleoptera) from a subtropical forest in Taiwan.Our results indicate that larvae represent up to 38% of beetle specimens per sample, but most of them belong to 2–3 common species. Larvae of most beetle species are rarely collected repeatedly or in multiple specimens, possibly due to special habitat requirements or high seasonality.Taxonomic, phylogenetic and incidence‐based functional diversity measures were not affected by the exclusion of larvae in the Staphylinidae dataset but were strongly biased in all‐beetle dataset, especially when only common or abundant species were considered. Taxonomic beta diversity was not affected by the omission of larvae.Our results indicate that immature stages may be omitted in ecological studies of arthropods in case both adults and larvae co‐occur in the same habitat, and the sites are sampled repeatedly. Caution is needed (1) in groups in which larvae and adults do not inhabit the same environment or strongly differ in biology, (2) when rare species are omitted or (3) when functional diversity is calculated from abundance data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The larval morphology of Crephelochares Kuwert, 1890 and Peltochares Régimbart, 1907 is described in detail based on specimens of C. abnormalis (Sharp, 1890) and P. atropiceus (Régimbart, 1903) collected in Taiwan; the chaetotaxy of the head capsule and head appendages of both genera is described for the first time. Larvae were obtained by laboratory rearing and field collecting; field collected larvae were identified by morphological comparison with those reared in the laboratory. Larval morphology of C. abnormalis corresponds with that of C. nitescens (Fauvel, 1883) except for the serrate margin of the nasale in C. abnormalis. We confirm that Crephelochares does not construct the usual egg case, and report active behaviour of its larvae, possibly indicating they are not ambush predators. Larval morphology of P. atropiceus corresponds with that of P. foveicollis; on the other hand, we conclude that the larvae previously described as Peltochares from Madagascar belong to Tritonus Mulsant, 1844 of the tribe Laccobiini. The egg-carrying behaviour of Peltochares is confirmed. We briefly summarize the state of the knowledge of immature stages of the Acidocerinae, indicating that a special effort in discovering and describing immature stages from northern South America and Brazil is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moss‐inhabiting flea beetles form a very diverse and understudied ecological group of leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) characterized by cryptic lifestyle, loss of flight ability and feeding on mosses as both adults and larvae. We present the first DNA‐based study of the phylogenetic position of moss‐inhabiting flea beetle genera Ivalia Jacoby and Cangshanaltica Konstantinov et al., based on sequences of two mitochondrial and three nuclear genes. We confirm that both genera are members of the monophyletic Chabria group, along with Chabria Jacoby, Parathrylea Duvivier, Chabriosoma Chen and Sutrea Baly. Moss‐inhabiting species form at least three independent lineages within the Chabria group, indicating multiple parallel origin of the association with mosses within the clade. We reveal the monophyly of Cangshanaltica and confirm its separate generic status from Ivalia. Ivalia is revealed as polyphyletic, consisting of at least two unrelated moss‐inhabiting lineages. In contrast, the externally similar moss‐ and leaf‐litter inhabiting genera Mniophila Stephens, Adamastoraltica Biondi et al. and Clavicornaltica Scherer are not closely related to the Chabria group. Our study specifically focused on the moss‐inhabiting flea beetles of Taiwan. We reveal that the Taiwanese fauna is a result of four independent colonizations of the island: one from China (Cangshanaltica) and three from the Philippines (three lineages morphologically assigned to Ivalia). Two of these lineages (Cangshanaltica and the core Ivalia) radiated in Taiwan and gave rise to the majority of modern Taiwanese species. The evolutionary history of Cangshanaltica and its diversification in China are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroscaphidae is a small family of the beetle suborder Myxophaga comprising miniaturised aquatic beetles resembling some staphylinids. Surprisingly little is known about the taxonomy and biology of these beetles. In this study we present novel data based on freshly collected material of Hydroscapha LeConte, 1874, from Taiwan and Hong Kong. Morphology and DNA barcoding revealed two species: Taiwanese endemic H. takahashii Miwa, 1935, and H. shuihau, a new species, so far known only from Lantau Island of Hong Kong. Both species are (re)described, illustrated, and compared to the types of H. hunanensis Pu, 1948. Both species were found in algal mats in ephemeral hygropetric habitats; in two cases adults massed together with immature stages were observed. Larvae and pupae of H. takahashii were studied and illustrated using SEM and light microscopy. Comparisons of immature stages of Hydroscaphidae based on our new data and a detailed review of the literature reveals that principal differences between genera and species can be found in the modifications of the tracheal system both in larvae and pupae. Four larval instars were found in H. takahashii, corresponding to the number of instars known in the myxophagan family Torridincolidae. Based on our observations, we suggest that the minute body size of Hydroscapha may be one of the adaptations for colonising and exploiting ephemeral habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water scavenger beetle genus Coelostoma Brullé, 1835 of Taiwan is reviewed based on freshly collected material and museum specimens. Seven species are recognized, of which one new species, Coelostoma (Lachnocoelostoma) taiwanense sp. nov., is described. Distributional data of C. fallaciosum Orchymont, 1936 and C. stultum (Walker, 1858) are summarized. Coelostoma phallicum Orchymont, 1940, C. wui Orchymont, 1940, C. vitalisi Orchymont, 1923 and C. bhutanicum Jayaswal, 1972 are reported for the fi rst time from Taiwan. Coelostoma vagum Orchymont, 1940 is excluded from Taiwanese fauna pending the rediscovery of vouchers or newly collected specimens. A distribution map and key to Taiwanese species of the genus are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taiwanese species of the genus Laccobius Erichson, 1837 (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae) are reviewed based on newly collected material and published records. Five species classified in two subgenera are recorded for the region, including L. (Glyptolaccobius) politus Gentili, 1979, L. (Microlaccobius) formosus Gentili, 1979, L. (M.) hammondi Gentili, 1984, L. (M.) roseiceps Régimbart, 1903 and a new species from central and southern Taiwan: L. (M.) hoi. sp.nov. Laccobius philipinus Gentili, 2005 is excluded from Taiwanese fauna. We failed to re-collect Laccobius fragilis Nakane, 1966 despite sampling the area from which it was recorded, and its occurrence in Taiwan hence needs re-confirmation. Distribution data of all Taiwanese species is summarized, and a key of Taiwanese Laccobius and photographs of all species are provided.