A new species-group in the flea beetle genus Aphthona Chevrolat is defined and Aphthona yercaudensis Prathapan and Konstantinov, new species, from southern India is described. A key to Aphthona species-groups in the Oriental Region is provided. Herbaceous species of Phyllanthus L. (Euphorbiaceae) are recorded as the host plants of Aphthona bombayensis Scherer.

Pseudopectinosoma Katovich, new genus, from Colombia is described and illustrated, with Pseudopectinosoma mesa Katovich, new species, as the type species. The similarly appearing South American genus Pectinosoma Arrow is redefined for comparative purposes. Pectinosoma elongatum Arrow, the type species, is redescribed in a modern sense, the female is described for the first time, and a new distribution record from Venezuela is noted.

The natural history of Telegeusis texensis Fleenor and Taber is reviewed and summarized. Over 2,500 male specimens of this species have been reported from Malaise, flight intercept, and light traps in the decade following its description, making it the best known species of the family Telegeusidae. Nevertheless, larvae, larval and pupal microhabitats, and adult females remain undiscovered, and adult males are known only as trapping “artifacts.” Hence, only seasonal appearance, flight activity, and the geographic distribution of males have been documented. The paucity of life history biology about this species will likely be remedied only after adult males are detected elsewhere in the habitat than at man-made flight intercept barriers and traps.

Melathra huyenae Franz, new genus and new species, is described to accommodate an enigmatic species of entimine weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae) from southwestern Hispaniola. The new genus is closely related to Apotomoderes Dejean and therefore placed in the tribe Geonemini Gistel, but is distinguished by the following unique suite of features: labial palps 2-segmented; post-epistomal region not depressed; scrobe passing over eye; profemur with a small cuticular tooth; metatibial apex simple; elytral humeri not well-defined; wings reduced; female sternum VIII elliptical; spermatheca with corpus swollen; and aedeagus with groups of setae present in dorsal subapical region, flagellum sclerotized, and with paired anterior, narrowly plicate sclerites. The single constituent species M. huyenae is characterized by a uniformly grey-silver to brown scale coverage which is most conspicuously interrupted by two anteromesally positioned rusty brown spots on the elytra. Melathra huyenae is apparently narrowly endemic to the coastal dry forest habitat of the Jaragua National Park. The host plant associations remain unknown.

The third instar and pupa of Canthon muticus muticus Harold are described and illustrated. The larvae were reared from eggs laid by adults under laboratory conditions. Morphology of the two stages is analyzed based on characters at the generic level. Larval morphology is compared with that of other species of Canthon Hoffmansegg. Species can be distinguished by a combination of head chaetotaxy and stridulatory teeth. The pupae of Canthon vary only by the pronotal projections.

Bothmnotoxenus tishechkini Eldredge, new genus and new species (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae: Lomechusini), is described from the state of Arizona (USA). Habitus photographs, illustrations of diagnostic characters, and a new key to the genera of North American Lomechusini are provided.

Arnaudius Grossi and Bartolozzi, new genus, is described to include Metadorcinus digennaroi Arnaud, Noguchi, and Bomans, Sclerostomus koikei Arnaud, Noguchi, and Bomans, and a third species, Arnaudius bomansi Grossi and Bartolozzi, new species, described here. An identification key is provided for the three species, in addition to a map of their distribution. Comments are made about the generic classification of the stag beetle species with a complex male genital capsule.

Staphylinid beetles were collected from May to December 2007 using several different sampling methods at three sites in Los Mármoles National Park, Hidalgo, Mexico. Two sampling sites were in pine—oak forest and one was in oak forest. In addition, records were included from less structured occasional collecting at other sites in the park. A total of 2,680 specimens belonging to 111 species, representing 91.7% of the 121 species currently known in Hidalgo state, were collected. The highest number of species and specimens were recorded at Las Trancas (Zimapán), followed by Minas Viejas and La Encarnación. These were the three sites where systematic collections were made, using a wide variety of methods. The highest number of staphylinid species was recorded in sifted leaf litter, followed by dung traps and carrion traps. The present contribution can help to identify the taxa inhabiting this protected natural area and aid in understanding the importance of continuing to conserve them.

The reproductive success of the twig girdler Oncideres cingulata (Say) was examined relative to twig morphology of the host tree species used for oviposition. There were significant differences in twig morphology between hosts, in twig length, volume, and surface area. Ovipositing beetles appeared to adjust reproductive efforts to these host differences, as reflected by egg density. Twig length was strongly correlated with the number of eggs laid across all host species, although regression analysis found that a model consisting of twig diameter and surface area best accounted for the total number of eggs per twig. Adult emergence was not related consistently to any aspect of twig morphology across host species. However, emergence rates varied between hosts, ranging from 6.1% from eggs laid on birch (Betula nigra L.), 7.7% from American elm (Ulmus americana L.), 10.0% from pecan (Carya illinoensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch), to 28.2% on honey locust (Gleditisia triacanthos L.).

A field sampling survey of longhorned beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) on Hydrangea arborescens L. and Daucus carota L. was undertaken at LaRue-Pine Hills Research Natural Area, Union Co., Illinois in 1987–1988. Sixteen species (10 genera) were collected, with the lepturine genera Typocerus LeConte and Strangalia Serville being the most common. Three species, Typocerus velutinus (Olivier), Strangalia luteicornis (F.), and Euderces pini Olivier, were considered dominant; they comprised 79.8% of the total adults collected. Six species were observed in copula, with most (94.9%) on H. arborescens and in shade near an oak-hickory forest. New adult host plant records were E. pini on H. arborescens, and Elaphidion mucronatum (Say) and Neoclytus mucronatus (F.) on D. carota. Collections of cerambycids on white flowers of H. arborescens in shade close to larval host sites (an oak-hickory forest) probably accounted for its greater diversity of cerambycid species.

Hybridization zones constitute privileged natural laboratories to study differences among taxa and the processes that originate patterns of geographic variation. In this study, we investigate a hybridization zone between two subspecies of coprophagous beetles, Canthon humectus hidalgoensis Bates and Canthon humectus alvarengai Halffter (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae), in central Mexico. We also describe the variation of four characters — dorsal surface coloration, total length, pronotal granulation, and aedeagal morphology — throughout the hybridization zone, which clearly define the transition among typical localities for both subspecies. We propose that superposition of the area of distribution of both subspecies, as well as the lack of reproduction barriers between different morphs, allow the existence of geographical variation.