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A new false click beetle species of Cenomana Otto, 2019 embedded in mid‐Cretaceous (Cenomanian, ca. 99 Ma) amber of Myanmar is described: C. annieae sp. nov.; this new species can be differentiated from its congeners based on the shape of antennal flagellomeres, antennae extending to the base of elytra at rested position, robust habitus, rugose surfaces, elytra with apical fifth narrowing posteriorly, relatively shorter elytra and flat surface of elytra, with interstices only slightly elevated. Morphological studies reveal that C. annieae possesses a primitive form of protibiae, with two apical spurs, indicating that Cenomana may represent an early stage of evolution of Eucnemidae. In addition, we performed taxonomic diversity analyses of Burmite Eucnemidae at generic level including all the documented eucnemids in Burmese amber, highlighting the first attempt to estimate the palaeobiodiversity of Eucnemidae. Despite the potential bias due to the incomplete sampling data, our results reveal that current studies have sampled 67.5% eucnemid genera in Burmese amber biota and show an increase of sample coverage after the inclusion of C. annieae. The sample coverage also suggests that our knowledge of paleobiodiversity of Mesozoic false click beetles remains insufficient and more works are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of the click-beetle genus Selatosomus Stephens, S. heliisp. nov. and S. zenghuaesp. nov., are described from Sichuan Province, China. Habitus and diagnostic characters of the new species are illustrated. A key to the Selatosomus species from Sichuan Province is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drilini are soft-bodied predatory click beetles with incompletely metamorphosed females. Approximately 150 described species are distributed in the Afrotropical, Palaearctic and Oriental realms, with the highest diversity known from sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, we describe Namibdrilus albertalleni gen. et sp. nov. from Namibia which brings the total number of genera in Drilini to 16. The discovery of this unique taxon sheds new light on the diversity and evolution of the enigmatic paedomorphic beetle lineage and is interesting for several reasons. This new species is the only known representative of Drilini that has unidentate mandibles and lacks a hook on the dorsal part of the aedeagal median lobe, two of the few characters heretofore used for the unambiguous identification of members of this group. Furthermore, based on its morphology it belongs to a group of genera (Drilus clade) which heretofore contained only taxa from the Palaearctic Realm. We provide an updated diagnosis of the tribe Drilini, as well as an updated diagnosis and an identification key for the genera of the Drilus clade based on adult males. Further, we explain how to easily recognize adult Drilini from similar-looking soft-bodied elateroids like Elateridae: Omalisinae, Rhagophthalmidae, and Lampyridae: Ototretinae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Xacoxoxotlani chiapensis Ferreira new genus and new species, the second genus of the lampyrid subfamily Chespiritoinae is described from Chiapas, Mexico. The new taxon is diagnosed, illustrated and compared with Chespirito Ferreira, Keller and Branham, 2020. An updated diagnosis of the subfamily Chespiritoinae is provided along with a new identification key and distribution map for the genera and species within this subfamily.

Vision plays a vital biological role in organisms, which depends on the visual pigment molecules (opsin plus chromophore). The expansion or reduction of spectral channels in the organisms is determined by distinct opsin classes and copy numbers resulting from duplication or loss. Within Coleoptera, the superfamily Elateroidea exhibits a great diversity of morphological and physiological characteristics, such as bioluminescence, making this group an important model for opsin studies. While molecular and physiological studies have been conducted in Lampyridae and Elateridae, other families remain unexplored. Here, we reused transcriptome datasets from Elateroidea species, including members of Elateridae, Lampyridae, Phengodidae, Rhagophthalmidae, Cantharidae, and Lycidae, to detect the diversity of putative opsin genes in this superfamily. In addition, we tested the signature of sites under positive selection in both ultraviolet (UV)‐ and long‐wavelength (LW)‐opsin classes. Although the visual system in Elateroidea is considered simple, we observed events of duplication in LW‐ and UV‐opsin, as well as the absence of UV‐opsin in distinct families, such as larval Phengodidae individuals. We detected different copies of LW‐opsins that were highly expressed in the eyes of distinct tribes of fireflies, indicating the possible selection of each copy during the evolution of the sexual mating to avoid spectrum overlapping. In Elateridae, we found that the bioluminescent species had a distinct LW‐opsin copy compared with the non‐bioluminescent species, suggesting events of duplication and loss. The signature of positive selection showed only one residue associated with the chromophore binding site in the Elateroidea, which may produce a bathochromic shift in the wavelength absorption spectra in this family. Overall, this study brings important content and fills gaps regarding opsin evolution in Elateroidea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhagophthalmus Motschulsky, 1854 is the most speciose genus in Rhagophthalmidae, distributed in the region encompassing South, East, and Southeast Asia. Here, we describe R. nanus sp. nov. from the Houaphanh Province of eastern Laos, which represents the smallest known species in Rhagophthalmus and one of the smallest in Rhagophthalmidae. We compare it with the morphologically similar and geographically close congeners and provide a preliminary identification key to adult males of Rhagophthalmus species from mainland Southeast Asia. Additionally, we discuss the morphology and variability of male genitalia within Rhagophthalmus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new flightless species of Lacon Laporte, 1838 are described from Yunnan, China: L. taotie sp. n. and L. yejiei sp. n. Key to the known species of flightless Lacon from China is also provided. Additional notes on the bionomics and morphology of recently described L. habashanensis Platia, Mertlik et Dušánek, 2023, including characters of previously unknown female, are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the large number of species in the group Coleoptera (beetles), it is usually relatively easy to identify an adult beetle as such due to certain common characteristics. Among beetle larvae, however, there is a larger variability of body organisation. In some lineages, specialised larval morphologies are carried on into the adult phase by heterochrony, more exactly paedomorphosis. Such evolutionary events resulted in larviform females, as they occur in some extant representatives of Lycidae (net-winged beetles) and Lampyridae (fireflies). However, such larviform individuals, larvae or paedomorphic females, have been very rarely described in the fossil record until now and were restricted to Cenozoic ambers. Here, we report fossil larviform representatives, resembling larvae of the groups Lampyridae and Lycidae in certain aspects, from 100-million-year-old Myanmar amber. We furthermore discuss the morphological similarities and differences of the three new specimens in relation to extant larviform representatives of the groups and possible relationships of the new fossils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioluminescent beetles of the superfamily Elateroidea (fireflies, fire beetles, glow-worms) are the most speciose group of terrestrial light-producing animals. The evolution of bioluminescence in elateroids is associated with unusual morphological modifications, such as soft-bodiedness and neoteny, but the fragmentary nature of the fossil record discloses little about the origin of these adaptations. We report the discovery of a new bioluminescent elateroid beetle family from the mid-Cretaceous of northern Myanmar (ca 99 Ma), Cretophengodidae fam. nov. Cretophengodes azari gen. et sp. nov. belongs to the bioluminescent lampyroid clade, and would appear to represent a transitional fossil linking the soft-bodied Phengodidae + Rhagophthalmidae clade and hard-bodied elateroids. The fossil male possesses a light organ on the abdomen which presumably served a defensive function, documenting a Cretaceous radiation of bioluminescent beetles coinciding with the diversification of major insectivore groups such as frogs and stem-group birds. The discovery adds a key branch to the elateroid tree of life and sheds light on the evolution of soft-bodiedness and the historical biogeography of elateroid beetles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The click beetles (Elateridae) originated in the Mesozoic and recently form a relatively large family with approximately 10,000 described species worldwide. However, the Mesozoic, and particularly Cretaceous, click beetle fauna remains very poorly known. Here we describe Burmogonus cretaceus gen. et sp. nov. based on a single, relatively well-preserved, specimen from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. This species can be assigned with confidence to the subfamily Elaterinae, and based on the supra-antennal carinae being incomplete across the head and directed to the labrum, the shape of metacoxal plates, and simple tarsi, we tentatively place it in the tribe Elaterini. We discuss the morphology of a new genus and other Elaterinae described from Burmese amber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The genus Malacogaster Bassi, 1834 belongs to the soft-bodied click-beetle tribe Drilini which contain species with a strong sexual dimorphism—while males are fully winged and able to fly, females are wingless and remain larviform. Malacogaster is known from the Mediterranean region, ranging from the Canary Islands and Iberian Peninsula on the west to Sicily and Libya on the east. In this study, we collated for the first time all information on this enigmatic click-beetle genus and all its species. We provide figures for all available name-bearing type specimens, redescribe species, and discuss their morphology, variability, and distribution. Although several species are readily recognizable based on the morphology and coloration, limits of some other species need further investigation including the DNA-based approach. The soft-bodied click-beetle genus Malacogaster Bassi, 1834 from the Mediterranean region has never been taxonomically revised to date. Information on its morphology, intra- and interspecific variability, systematics and distribution is fragmented and most species have not been properly studied since their description. Therefore, in this study we summarize all available information on the genus Malacogaster. Altogether, we recognize 10 valid species from the area including the Canary Islands, Iberian Peninsula, Balearic Islands, northern coast of Africa, Sardinia, and Sicily. Malacogaster ruficollis Dodero, 1925, stat. nov., which was originally described as a variety of M. bassii Lucas, 1870 and later synonymized with it, is considered a separate species. Malacogaster parallelocollis Reitter, 1894, syn. nov. and M. olcesei var. reductus Pic, 1951, syn. nov. are synonymized with M. maculiventris Reitter, 1894. Malacogaster notativentris Pic, 1951, syn. nov. and M. olcesei Pic, 1951, syn. nov. are synonymized with M. passerinii Bassi, 1834. Lectotypes are designated for M. maculiventris Reitter, 1894, M. nigripes heydeni Reitter, 1894, M. parallelocollis Reitter, 1894, M. thoracica Redtenbacher, 1858, M. olcesei Pic, 1951, and M. rubripes Peyerimhoff, 1949 to fix their identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discodon tricolor (Guérin-Méneville, 1832) was thought to be a common species widely distributed in the Atlantic Forests of Brazil, yet showing morphological and chromatic variations. After examination of a large number of specimens from different regions of the Atlantic Forest biome, we found that Discodon tricolor actually represents a complex of many similar and sometimes sympatric species. Thirteen species in this complex are recognised as valid: Discodon tricolor, D. neoteutonum sp. nov., D. vanini sp. nov., D. obscurior Pic, 1906 stat. nov., D. lineaticorne sp. nov., D. aurimaculatum sp. nov., D. marginicolle sp. nov., D. tenuecostatum sp. nov., D. nigrocephalum Pic, 1949, D. tamoio sp. nov., D. viridimontanum sp. nov., D. crassipes Wittmer, 1952, and D. testaceipes Pic, 1930 stat. nov. The species Discodon albonotatum Pic, 1906 is confirmed as a synonym of D. tricolor, while the subspecies D. albonotatum obscurior and D. albonotatum testaceipes are elevated to specific status. The subgenus Acanthodiscodon Wittmer, 1952 is synonymised with Discodon Gorham, 1881. All the species are described and illustrated in detail and an identification key is provided. Despite being chromatically similar, the species show major morphological differences in their aedeagus and antennal structures, suggesting that they do not form a monophyletic clade. A potential mimicry ring involving these species of Discodon as well as other members of Cantharidae, Lampyridae, Cerambycidae and Belidae is discussed. Comments are made on the conservation of these species and their habitats within the Atlantic Forest biome.

[Display omitted] • We describe two new species of poorly known click-beetle genus Sinodima from China. • We report the first known record of a strong sexual dimorphism in tribe Dimini. • We provide an updated generic diagnosis and a species list for Sinodima. ZooBank LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:392A0D37-258B-4662-A318-BA671654E093. Genus Sinodima Kundrata, Sormova & Qiu, 2019 was originally described based on a single species represented by the female holotype. In this study, we examined more than 500 specimens of Sinodima collected using Malaise traps. As a result, we described two new species from China: Sinodima liupanshuiensis sp. nov. and Sinodima nanlingensis sp. nov. The males of this genus are firstly reported and distinctly differentiated from the females by the elongate body and fully developed hind wings. Two new combinations are proposed for species originally described in genus Penia Laporte, 1838: Sinodima elongata (Arimoto, 2023), comb. nov. and Sinodima sucinea (Schimmel, 2001), comb. nov. The newly discovered Sinodima species provide the first report on strong sexual dimorphism in Dimini and highlight an unusual season activity of adults during autumn to early winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new flightless click beetle species, Pseudocsikia choui sp. nov. and Pseudocsikia chanjuan sp. nov., are described and illustrated from Taiwan, China. Their habitus and diagnostic characters are illustrated. The two species most resemble P. formosana, which is endemic to Taiwan, by the strongly protruding pronotal anterior angles accompanied by pits and the shape of aedeagus. They can be all grouped as the P. formosana-species group. A key to the species of the P. formosana-species group and an updated checklist of Chinese Pseudocsikia with supplementary notes on type localities are provided. The discovery of two new species highlights the potential species-richness of the flightless click-beetles on Taiwan Island. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osmoregulation, the physiological regulation of water and ion balance, is vital for the survival of both aquatic and terrestrial insects. In freshwater aquatic insects, such as those within the Lampyridae family, this function is important due to the natural variation of aquatic habitats. Aquaporins play a key role in this process by facilitating the rapid transport of water molecules across cell membranes, maintaining cellular water balance, and adapting to changes in external salinity. In this study, I investigate the genetic diversity and expression levels of aquaporins in Elateroidea, particularly focusing on the Lampyridae family, using transcriptomic data and in silico analyses. The results reveal the diversity of aquaporins and compare gene expression patterns between freshwater aquatic Lampyridae and terrestrial Elateroidea species, such as Lycidae, Phengodidae, and Elateridae. Phylogenetic analyses identify seven distinct clades of aquaporins and uncovered gene duplication events related to the diversification of Elateridae and Lampyridae. A comparative abundance analysis indicated higher aquaporin expression in aquatic fireflies, aligning with the need for efficient osmoregulation in aquatic environments. Additionally, stage-specific expression patterns in Aspisoma lineatum (Neotropical firefly) and Aquatica lateralis (Paleartic firefly) suggest species-specific strategies for coping with osmotic challenges during development. This study provides insights into the evolutionary adaptations of aquaporins in Elateroidea, highlighting their importance in both aquatic and terrestrial insect physiology., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Throscidae is a small family belonging to the polyphagan superfamily Elateroidea. Fossil throscids with a large morphological variety have been discovered from Cretaceous and Cenozoic amber deposits. However, only one of them has been reported from the fossil-rich Cretaceous Burmese amber so far. Here we describe and figure the second throscid beetle in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber (ca. 99 Ma), Trixagosoma guangyuani gen. et sp. nov. The new fossil species has Trixagus-like short mesotarsal grooves and Potergosoma-like prosternum with nonparallel carinae. Our phylogenetic analysis indicates that it represents an early branching lineage of Throscidae. Its short mesotarsal grooves on metaventrite might represent an early evolutionary stage of this structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field surveys utilizing nine collection methods over a 22-year period rendered a total of 112 elateroid species (Coleoptera: Elateroidea) in four families (Cerophytidae Latreille, Elateridae Leach, Eucnemidae Eschscholtz, and Throscidae Laporte). Eleven species are reported for the first time in Virginia. Periods of adult activity, based on dates of capture, are given for each species. Relative abundance is noted for each species based on the number of specimens retained in the pinned collection. Images of seven species, including six new to Virginia, are provided. Two non-native species, Monocrepidius exsul (Sharp) and Dirrhagofarsus modestus (Fleutiaux), were documented from Virginia for the first time. Aeolus pseudothoracicus Lin and Johnson, new name is adopted as a replacement for A. thoracicus (Schaeffer), a junior homonym of A. thoracicus Candèze. Morphological variation is briefly discussed for some species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight years of Malaise trap sampling between 1998 and 2019 at four sites in a national park (George Washington Memorial Parkway) in northern Virginia captured 184 cupedid and lycid specimens. These specimens represent two cupedid species and 16 lycid species. A literature review uncovered two additional species of lycid beetles previously captured in the park that were not documented during this survey. A list of all cupedid and lycid beetle species documented from Virginia is given. Six species of lycid beetles, Calopteron terminale (Say), Eropterus arculus Green, Greenarus thoracicus (Randall), Leptoceletes basalis (LeConte), Lopheros crenatus (Germar), and Punicealis munda (Say) are reported for the first time from the Commonwealth of Virginia. Periods of adult activity, based on dates of capture, are given for each species. Relative abundance is noted for each species based on the number of captures. Images of Punicealis munda and Lopheros crenatus are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • We describe two new species of rarely collected genus Euanoma from Greece and Turkey. • We report the first known record of Euanoma from the mainland north of Peloponnese. • We provide an updated distributional map for all species of Euanoma. Euanoma Reitter, 1889 is the most speciose genus of the click-beetle subfamily Omalisinae. Representatives of Euanoma are known from the Mediterranean, Anatolia, and the Caucasus. In this study, we describe E. rodosensis Packova & Kundrata, sp. nov. from the island of Rhodes, Greece, and E. alanyensis Packova, Kazantsev & Kundrata, sp. nov. from the southern coast of Turkey. Additionally, we provide the first record of E. reitteri (Pic, 1901) from Albania which also represents the first Albanian record of genus Euanoma. The updated distributional map of Euanoma is attached. ZooBank LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2528B39F-FDB3-4FF6-B3EF-C1C50E75FC15. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ovipalpus nigromarginatus sp. nov., es descrita e ilustrada en base a ejemplares provenientes de una única localidad (Lolol, Chile). El macho de O. piceus Fleutiaux, 1910 y el macho y la hembra de O. pubescens Solier, 1851 son ilustrados.

Abstract Lycidae are among the better studied groups in the superfamily Elateroidea, however despite the progress in the taxonomic understanding of the Neotropical fauna, much still remains unknown and undescribed in the region. The description of the new genus Xenolycus gen. nov., from Serra dos Órgãos, a subrange of the Serra do Mar mountain range, in the Atlantic Rainforest in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, contributes to the knowledge of the Neotropical Lycidae fauna. The new genus can be distinguished from all other known Calopterini and Neotropical Lycidae by the combination of a pronotum with a wide, deep and strongly visible longitudinal cell in the disc area, the filiform antennae, the dehiscent elytra with reticulation strongly reduced and bearing only two weakly developed elytral costae and the mouthparts partially reduced, with rudimentary, barely visible mandibles. The type species, Xenolycus costae sp. nov., is illustrated and diagnostic characters and a discussion on the tribal placement of the new genus are provided.

Bioluminescent beetles of the superfamily Elateroidea (fireflies, fire beetles, glow-worms) are the most speciose group of terrestrial light-producing animals. The evolution of bioluminescence in elateroids is associated with unusual morphological modifications, such as soft-bodiedness and neoteny, but the fragmentary nature of the fossil record discloses little about the origin of these adaptations. We report the discovery of a new bioluminescent elateroid beetle family from the mid-Cretaceous of northern Myanmar (ca 99 Ma), Cretophengodidae fam. nov. Cretophengodes azari gen. et sp. nov. belongs to the bioluminescent lampyroid clade, and would appear to represent a transitional fossil linking the soft-bodied Phengodidae + Rhagophthalmidae clade and hard-bodied elateroids. The fossil male possesses a light organ on the abdomen which presumably served a defensive function, documenting a Cretaceous radiation of bioluminescent beetles coinciding with the diversification of major insectivore groups such as frogs and stem-group birds. The discovery adds a key branch to the elateroid tree of life and sheds light on the evolution of soft-bodiedness and the historical biogeography of elateroid beetles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fifteen species of Pectocera Hope, 1842 are recognised from China, of which two are new, i.e. Pectocera attenuator Liu and Jiang sp. nov. and Pectocera truncata Liu and Jiang sp. nov., and one is newly recorded, i.e. Pectocera hige Kishii, 1993. A key to the known species, a checklist, and a distribution map of Chinese Pectocera species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of the genus Elathous Reitter, 1890 from Syria are described and illustrated. Elathous serjillensissp. n. is morphologically similar to another Syrian species, E. ekaterinae Preiss, 2003, from which it differs by the shapes of head, pronotum and male genitalia. Elathous transversalissp. n. can easily be distinguished from its congeners by its pronotum which is distinctly wider than long. The discovery of new Elathous species in the Levant further highlights the importance of this region as a biodiversity hotspot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A second Baltic amber taxon, Retromalisus damzeni, gen. et sp. nov., is discovered in the previously monotypic extinct family Berendtimiridae. The morphological portrait of Berendtimiridae is complemented with the data on the structure of prosternum and abdomen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species, Vetubrachypsectra huchengi Li, Kundrata & Cai sp. nov., is described from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber on the basis of a single adult female. The species is assigned to genus Vetubrachypsectra Qu & Cai based on its serrate antennae, long maxillary palps, presence of tibial spurs, and elytra without clear striae. Vetubrachypsectra huchengi differs distinctly from V. burmitica Qu & Cai, the only other species in the genus, in having the pedicel apically attached to the scape. Some other differences between the female of V. huchengi and the male of V. burmitica include less serrate antennae, a broader pronotal disc, a broader scutellar shield and smaller tibial spurs. However, at least some of these characters can be considered sexually dimorphic.

The morphology of the Jurassic fossil Archaeolus funestus Lin, 1986, which was previously placed in the extinct click-beetle subfamily Protagrypninae (Coleoptera: Elateridae), is revised based on a re-examination of the type specimen. The validity of Protagrypninae is discussed and further questioned, partly based on the newly observed characters in A. funestus, including the surface sculpture of the mesoventrite. A possible Throscidae affinity of monotypic Archaeolus Lin, 1986, as suggested in a recent study, is further critically reviewed.

In this study we describe a new species of the click-beetle genus Lacon Laporte, 1838 from the relict Hyrcanian forest in northern Iran. Lacon mertliki sp. nov. is morphologically similar to L. lepidopterus (Panzer, 1801) but differs from the latter in the body coloration and pubescence, the shape of pronotum and scutellar shield, and male and female genitalia. We provide brief data on its ecology as well as an identification key to all Lacon species in Iran. Additionally, we synonymize Lacon nadaii Platia & Németh, 2011 with Lacon unicolor (Candèze, 1874).

Lycidae are among the better studied groups in the superfamily Elateroidea, however despite the progress in the taxonomic understanding of the Neotropical fauna, much still remains unknown and undescribed in the region. The description of the new genus Xenolycus gen. nov., from Serra dos Órgãos, a subrange of the Serra do Mar mountain range, in the Atlantic Rainforest in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, contributes to the knowledge of the Neotropical Lycidae fauna. The new genus can be distinguished from all other known Calopterini and Neotropical Lycidae by the combination of a pronotum with a wide, deep and strongly visible longitudinal cell in the disc area, the filiform antennae, the dehiscent elytra with reticulation strongly reduced and bearing only two weakly developed elytral costae and the mouthparts partially reduced, with rudimentary, barely visible mandibles. The type species, Xenolycus costae sp. nov., is illustrated and diagnostic characters and a discussion on the tribal placement of the new genus are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cleicosta, a new genus of Phengodidae containing two new species, C. equatoreana sp. nov., and C. monaguense sp. nov., are described. Additionally, a new combination for Cenophengus breviplumatus Wittmer, 1976 is included. Cleicosta gen. nov., is the thirty-eighth genus assigned to the beetle family Phengodidae in the new world and is also the most morphologically similar to Cenophengus LeConte, 1881. Both genera exhibit clearly separated tentorial pits, vertical frons and simple tarsomeres. In Cleicosta gen. nov., however, the antennal rami are 1.5 times longer than the corresponding antennomere, the pronotum is subquadrate and the elytra are short, reaching the first or second abdominal segment. In addition, it presents an aedeagus with lateral lobes slender, parallel exteriorly, narrowed medially to toothless apex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Neotropical lycid genus Acroleptus Bourgeois, 1886 is revised and illustrations of diagnostic characters, geographic distribution maps and an identification key to the species are presented. Acroleptus chevrolati Bourgeois, 1886 is redescribed and a lectotype and a paralectotype are designated; two new species are described for the genus: Acroleptus alvarengainew species and Acroleptus limainew species. Two Aporrhipis Pascoe, 1887 species are described: Aporrhipis obrieninew species and Aporrhipis millerinew species and a key and geographic distribution map to the species of the genus are provided. Acroleptus costae Ferreira, 2015 is moved to the genus Paracroleptusnew genus, a new genus erected to accommodate Paracroleptus costae (Ferreira, 2015) new combination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cydistinae are a rare monogeneric beetle lineage from Asia with a convoluted history of classification, historically placed in various groups within the series Elateriformia. However, their position has never been rigorously tested. To resolve this long-standing puzzle, we are the first to present sequences of two nuclear and two mitochondrial markers for four species of Cydistinae to determine their phylogenetic position. We included these sequences in two rounds of analyses: one including a broad Elateriformia dataset to test placement at the superfamily/family level, and a second, including a richer, targeted sampling of presumed close relatives. Our results strongly support Cydistinae as sister to Phengodidae in a clade with Rhagophthalmidae. Based on our molecular phylogenetic results and examination of morphological characters, we hereby transfer the formerly unplaced Cydistinae into Phengodidae and provide diagnoses for the newly circumscribed Phengodidae, Cydistinae and Cydistus. Since both Phengodidae and Rhagophthalmidae have bioluminescent larvae and strongly neotenic females, similar features can be hypothesized for Cydistinae. Additionally, Cydistus minor is transferred to the new genus Microcydistus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe and illustrate for the first time morphology of the mature larva and pupa of Ludioctenus cyprius (Baudi di Selve), and provide information on its biology. Additionally, we compare these immature stages with other genera in Ludioctenina, Hemirhipini and Agrypninae and provide the diagnostic characters for L. cyprius. Within Ludioctenina and related genera, larva of this species is distinguished mainly by the distribution of asperite-like setae and a higher number of tubercles on abdominal tergum IX. The pupa has long and strongly sclerotized prolongations on prothorax, bifurcate and sclerotized urogomphi and a dentate gin trap on abdominal segments VI–VII. Ludioctenina larvae are very similar to those of Thoramus , Pherhimius and Hemirhipus in several characters including the strongly curved dorsal epicranial ridges, lateral edge of head with irregularly distributed setae, anterior corners of frons bilobed, adnasalia long and approximate, mandibles without penicillus, asperite-like setae on thorax and abdomen, urogomphus short, and a lower number of dorsal tubercles on abdominal segment IX. The pupa is also similar to the above mentioned genera, mainly by the long sclerotized pronotal prolongations and bifurcate abdominal prolongations. The remarkable differences among genera currently classified within Hemirhipini in combination with the earlier published molecular phylogenies suggest the non-monophyly of the group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioluminescence, the emission of visible light in a living organism, is an intriguing phenomenon observed in different species and environments. In terrestrial organisms, the bioluminescence is observed mainly in beetles of the Elateroidea superfamily (Coleoptera). Several phylogenetic studies have been used different strategies to propose a scenario for the origin and evolution of the bioluminescence within this group, however some of them showed incongruences, mainly about the relationship of the bioluminescent families. In order to increase the number of molecular markers available for Elateroidea species and to propose a more accurate phylogeny, with high supported topology, we employed the Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) methodology to perform the RNA-Seq analysis of luminescent (Elateridae, Phengodidae, Rhagophthalmidae, and Lampyridae) and non-luminescent (Cantharidae) species of Neotropical beetles. We used the RNA-Seq data to construct a calibrated phylogeny of Elateroidea superfamily using a large number of nuclear molecular markers. The results indicate Lampyridae and Phengodidae/Rhagophthalmidae as sister-groups, suggesting that the bioluminescence evolved later in Elateridae than other families (Lampyridae, Phengodidae, and Rhagophthalmidae), and indicating the Upper Cretaceous as the period for the main diversification of Elateroidea bioluminescent species. Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five species of Scutellathous Kishii, 1955 are recognized from China, of which three are new. Scutellathous habenularis sp. nov., S. nanlingensis sp. nov., and S. quadrata sp. nov. are described and illustrated. A key to species from China, a checklist, and a distribution map are provided. The relationships and comparisons among genera Athous Eschscholtz, 1829, Ohirathous Han & Park, 2012, Parathous Fleutiaux, 1918, and Scutellathous Kishii, 1955 are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sternocampsus coriaceus, sp. nov. is described and illustrated from China. A new combination, Campsosternus castaneus (Jiang & Wang, 1999) is proposed. A key and a checklist of the known species, together with a distribution map of Chinese Sternocampsus species, are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this first part of the World catalogue of genus-group names in Elateridae, a nomenclatural review of the genera belonging to ten subfamilies is provided. All names are given with author name, year, and page of publication, type species, and type fixation. We list 132 valid genera in Agrypninae, 2 in Campyloxeninae, 4 in Hemiopinae, 11 in Lissominae, 2 in Oestodinae, 8 in Parablacinae, 2 in Physodactylinae, 2 in Pityobiinae, 1 in Subprotelaterinae, and 7 in Tetralobinae. Genera Anathesis Candèze, 1865, Antitypus Candèze, 1882, Chrostus Candèze, 1878, Dorygonus Candèze, 1859 (with subgenus Rygodonus Fleutiaux, 1932), and Macromalocera Hope, 1834 are tentatively placed as Agrypninae incertae sedis. Paradrapetes villosus Fleutiaux, 1895 is designated as the type species for Paradrapetes Fleutiaux, 1895. Two new gen-era are proposed based on species previously incorrectly used as type species for Abiphis Fleutiaux, 1926 and Lycoreus Candèze, 1857. These genera are Neoabiphis Kundrata & Bouchard, gen. n. (type species: Elater nobilis Illiger, 1800) and Neolycoreus Kundrata & Bouchard, gen. n. (type species: L. regalis Candèze, 1857), respectively. The following new combinations are proposed for species hitherto included in Abiphis Fleutiaux, 1926: Neoabiphis candezei (Alluaud, 1896), comb. n., N. fairmairei (Fleutiaux, 1903), comb. n., N. goudoti (Fleutiaux, 1942), comb. n., N. insignis (Klug, 1833), comb. n., N. nobilis (Illiger, 1800), comb. n., and N. viettei (Girard, 1966), comb. n. The following new combinations are proposed for species hitherto included in Lycoreus Candèze, 1857: Neolycoreus alluaudi (Candèze, 1900), comb. n., N. corpulentus (Candèze, 1899), comb. n., N. cyclops (Candèze, 1865), comb. n., N. decorsei (Fleutiaux, 1903), comb. n., N. dux (Candèze, 1857), comb. n., N. goudotii (Laporte, 1838), comb. n., N. madagascariensis (Gory, 1832), comb. n., N. oculipennis (Fairmaire, 1903), comb. n., N. orbiculatus (Schwarz, 1901), comb. n., N. regalis (Candèze, 1857), comb. n., N. sicardi (Fleutiaux, 1942), comb. n., N. triangularis (Fleutiaux, 1942), comb. n., N. triocellatus (Laporte, 1838), comb. n., and N. vicinus (Fleutiaux, 1942), comb. n. The following new combinations are proposed for species hitherto incorrectly included in Plectrosternus Lacordaire, 1857: Legna rufa (Lacordaire, 1857), comb. n., L. convexa (Vats, 1991), comb. n., L. coolsi (Schimmel, 1996), comb. n., and L. foveata (Patwardhan & Athalye, 2012), comb. n. This research revealed a nomenclatural problem threatening the stability of the well-established valid genus name Adelocera Latreille, 1829. An application to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature will be necessary in this case to maintain stability. Additionally, we act here as First Revisers (ICZN 1999, Art. 24.2) in giving precedence to Lucarius Gistel, 1848 (Staphylinidae) over Lucarius Gistel, 1848 (Elateridae). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichaline net-winged beetles (Lycidae: Metriorrhynchini) are a diverse group distributed in Australia, Wallacea and Indo-Burma. The phylogenetic relationships of ~120 taxa were recovered by applying maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference using DNA fragments of the cox1, rrnL and nad5 mitochondrial DNA and SSU and LSU ribosomal RNA genes. Divergence times and ancestral ranges were estimated using Bayesian approaches. We identified New Guinea as the ancestral region and estimated the date of dispersal events to continental Australia and Asia. Most Australian trichaline beetles diverged from New Guinean lineages during the Early Miocene to the Middle Miocene, and the fauna east of Lyddeker's Line was established by range expansion from New Guinea to the Moluccas, further on to the Philippines and then to the Greater Sunda Islands and Indo-Burma. A single species dispersed via the Lesser Sunda Islands to continental Asia. Trichaline beetles never crossed Wallace's Line between Sulawesi and Borneo. The dispersal westward started 20 Mya, after the first contact between Australian and Asian cratons, and three dispersal events led to the colonization of Sundaland. High genetic diversity and limited morphological diversification were identified in Oriental Diatrichalus and Microtrichalus, which colonized Indo-Burma during the last 5 Myr. Geographical isolation led to the origin of cryptic genetic diversity in Southeast Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Sinodima gen. nov., a new genus in the click-beetle tribe Dimini Candèze, 1863 from the mountains in Hunan, China, is described and figured here to accommodate S. jenisi sp. nov. The new genus is easily recognizable from all other Dimini by the following combination of characters: short antennomeres II and III; transverse pronotum with inconspicuous anterior angles; arcuate prosternal process; mesoventrite with straight frontal margin and oblique and straight sides; absent hind wings; and absent sclerites or spines in the bursa copulatrix. Additionally, we compare Sinodima gen. nov. with the morphologically similar genera, and discuss the systematic position of this genus within Dimini. www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:91F22A25-E1F1-4EC4-B3EF-5D632B83FDE5 Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • A new genus and species in Dimini is described as Sinodima jenisi gen. et sp. nov. • The new genus is wingless and occurs in the mountains of Hubei Province, China. • This genus is morphologically similar to the Chinese species of Dima and Neodima. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fossil record of click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae) in Cretaceous has been only poorly documented so far. In this study, we describe Burmophysorhinus dusaneki gen. et sp. nov. based on a single, relatively well-preserved, specimen from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. This species represents the fourth species of the subfamily Elaterinae known from the Burmese amber. It is morphologically similar to the recently described Dariuszelater tarnawskii Zhao et al. 2022, with which it shares the complete frontal carina, strongly developed proximal portion of metacoxal plates, tibiae with strongly developed spurs, and long first tarsomeres. Based on this combination of characters, we tentatively place both taxa in the tribe Physorhinini. One of the principal characters usually used for the definition of Physorhinini is the presence of ventral lobe on each tarsomere III. Since this is not present in both fossil taxa, only further discoveries of Mesozoic Physorhinini may help to elucidate if they originally have had simple tarsi and only later during their evolution acquired ventrally lobate tarsomere III, or if they have both simple and lobate tarsomeres III already during their early diversification. The current concept of Physorhinini, as well as of all other tribes in Elaterinae, should be re-evaluated using more lines of evidence. Additionally, we added the identification key to the Elaterinae from Burmese amber. • Description of a new genus and species of click beetles from Burmese amber. • First Mesozoic fossil record of Elaterinae: Physorhinini. • Transfer of Dariuszelater Zhao et al. (2022) into Elaterinae: Physorhinini. • Discussion on the evolution of morphological characters in Physorhinini. • Identification key to the Elaterinae from Burmese amber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The collection of type specimens belonging to the superfamilies Scarabaeoidea, Buprestoidea, Byrrhoidea, Elateroidea, Cleroidea, Cucujoidea, Tenebrionoidea (except Tenebrionidae family), Chrysomeloidea and Curculionoidea (Coleoptera) hosted in the Natural Sciences Museum of Barcelona, Spain The type collection of the superfamilies Scarabaeoidea, Buprestoidea, Byrrhoidea, Elateroidea, Cleroidea, Cucujoidea, Tenebrionoidea (except Tenebrionidae family), Chrysomeloidea and Curculionoidea (Coleoptera) deposited in the Natural Sciences Museum of Barcelona, Spain, has been organised, revised and documented. It contains 533 type specimens belonging to 170 different taxa. Of note is the considerable number of species of different families described by Francesc Español, and specimens from the Curculionidae family described by Manuel González. In this paper we provide all the available information related to these type specimens, giving the following information for each taxon, species and subspecies: the original and current taxonomic status, original citation of type materials, exact transcription of original labels, and preservation condition of specimens. Moreover, the differences between original descriptions and labels are discussed. When a taxonomic change has occurred, the references that examine these changes are included at the end of the taxa description.

The type collection of the superfamilies Scarabaeoidea, Buprestoidea, Byrrhoidea, Elateroidea, Cleroidea, Cucujoidea, Tenebrionoidea (except Tenebrionidae family), Chrysomeloidea and Curculionoidea (Coleoptera) deposited in the Natural Sciences Museum of Barcelona, Spain, has been organised, revised and documented. It contains 533 type specimens belonging to 170 different taxa. Of note is the considerable number of species of different families described by Francesc Español, and specimens from the Curculionidae family described by Manuel González. In this paper we provide all the available information related to these type specimens, giving the following information for each taxon, species and subspecies: the original and current taxonomic status, original citation of type materials, exact transcription of original labels, and preservation condition of specimens. Moreover, the differences between original descriptions and labels are discussed. When a taxonomic change has occurred, the references that examine these changes are included at the end of the taxa description.

Recent molecular studies have suggested that the clicking beetle families Elateridae, Eucnemidae, Throscidae, and Cerophytidae evolved in the Jurassic and diversified in the Cretaceous. These studies paid little attention to fossils, using them only as dating tools. The identification of Elateridae fossils is challenging, as external synapomorphies are not known for this family. Elateridae can be identified only as something not belonging to the other related families, all of which have diagnostic synapomorphies. Most subfamilies and tribes of Elateridae do possess definite diagnostic characters, however, making their identification feasible. We checked the 28 Elateridae described from Chinese Mesozoic deposits. Twelve were Elateridae, seven were Eucnemidae, and one was a Throscidae. Three species could be Eucnemidae, but showed aberrant characters. Five species could not be placed and may not belong to Elateroidea at all. On the basis of these results we suggest that all previously described Elateridae fossils should be re-checked. They should be searched for synapomorphies defining Eucnemidae, Throscidae, and Cerophytidae. If such characters are not present, a click beetle type of fossil can be placed in Elateroidae incertae sedis. The Mesozoic Chinese Elateridae fossils all belong to clades that do not exist today, whereas the Mesozoic Eucnemidae subfamilies are extant ones. This may be the source of the disagreement between Elateridae fossil age and datings based on molecular studies. One new combination was made: Desmatus ponomarenkoi (Chang, Kiretjshuk & Ren, 2009) NEW COMBINATION (= Paradesmatus ponomarenkoi Chang, Kirejtshuk & Ren, 2009).

Insect fossils bear important information about the evolutionary history of the group. The fossil record of Elateridae, a large cosmopolitan beetle family, has been greatly understudied and the available data are often replete with ambiguity and uncertainty. The research of Elateridae evolution cannot be done without solid genus-group name concepts. In this study we provide an updated comprehensive summary of the fossil genera in Elateridae, including their systematic placement and information on the type species, gender, number of species, age range, and relevant bibliography. We list seven valid fossil genera in Agrypninae, one in Cardiophorinae, two in Dendrometrinae, five in Elaterinae, two in Negastriinae, one in Omalisinae, one in Pityobiinae, and 36 in Protagrypninae. Additional 19 genera are tentatively classified as Elateridae incertae sedis, and their placements are discussed. Further, we move genera Babuskaya Martins-Neto & Gallego, 2009, Cardiosyne Martins-Neto & Gallego, 2006, Fengningia Hong, 1984 and Gemelina Martins-Neto & Gallego, 2006 from Elateridae to Coleoptera incertae sedis. We also discuss the genera previously placed in Elateridae, which are currently not included in the family. The data on the fossil generic diversity suggest that Elateridae originated in the Triassic and rapidly diversified and became comparatively abundant through the Jurassic. We call for further research on the fossil Elateridae from various deposits in order to increase our knowledge on the origin, evolution, and palaeodiversity of the group.