The adult and larva of Typhloelmis Barr, a new genus of eyeless, stygobiontic elmid from springs in west-central Texas, and the adults of three new species, Typhloelmis caroline Barr, Typhloelmis finegan Barr, and Typhloelmis sanfelipe Barr, are described, diagnosed, and illustrated. Taxonomic couplets are provided for the insertion of the new genus into existing adult elmid generic keys, and an adult key to the species of Typhloelmis is included. Stygobiontic elmids are reviewed, and the uniqueness of Typhloelmis is discussed. Typhloelmis is the first stygobiontic elmid genus reported from the Nearctic ecozone and is the seventh described worldwide. It is only the second elmid genus known to be anophthalmic (completely eyeless). The Edwards-Trinity Aquifer and the spring habitat in which the genus and species occur are described in detail, and potential threats are discussed.

Clerid microhabitat affinities are discussed, and species associated with Acacia pennatula (Schltdl. & Cham.) Benth. (Fabaceae) in Mexico are listed. Nine species of Cleridae are recorded for the first time from the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, and several of these are figured.

The genus Orchestomerus Dietz contains four species in the USA: O. wickhami Dietz, O. eisemani Yoshitake and Anderson, new species, O. marionis (Fall), resurrected species and new combination, and O. whiteheadi Colonnelli. Orchestomerus ulkei Dietz, previously considered the valid name for O. marionis, is a new junior subjective synonym of Auleutes epilobii (Paykull), which in turn makes Platymeristes Dietz a new junior synonym of Auleutes Dietz. Diagnostic features of Orchestomerus, illustrations of the four species, and a key to separate them are presented. Orchestomerus species are associated with Vitaceae: Cissus trifoliata (l.) L. for O. wickhami in Texas; Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch. for O. eisemani in Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, and North Carolina, Vitis sp. for O. marionis in Georgia and Missouri, and Vitis arizonica Engelm. for O. whiteheadi in Arizona.

A comprehensive revision of the genus Hoplopyga Thomson, 1880 is presented. Eighteen species are redescribed, and two new species are described. A key for identification, distribution maps, and images of the 20 species are provided. Hoplopyga ruteri Antoine is removed from the genus and placed in junior synonymy with Macrocranius similis Schürhoff. Lectotypes are designated for Hoplopyga brasiliensis (Gory and Percheron), Hoplopyga corumbana Schürhoff, and Hoplopyga multipunctata (Gory and Percheron). The following new synonymies are established: Hoplopyga lucidiventris (Thomson) is Hoplopyga foeda (Schaum); Hoplopyga spurca (Janson) is Hoplopyga liturata (Olivier); Hoplopyga monacha (Gory and Percheron) and Hoplopyga rubida (Gory and Percheron) are Hoplopyga singularis (Gory and Percheron). Hoplopyga pseudomiliaris Shaughney and Ratcliffe from Guatemala and Hoplopyga riparia Shaughney and Ratcliffe from Peru and Brazil are described as new species.

Intensive sampling in Rawdhat Khorim National Park located in the central part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia yielded additional new country records of Curculionoidea. Twelve species of Curculionidae and one of Nanophyidae are reported for the first time from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

We present results of a comparison between the Winkler (Moczarski) eclector and the Berlese-Tullgren funnel methods for extracting forest litter-dwelling Coleoptera from sifted substrates, with a focus on relevance for taxonomic studies. A review of the history and methodologies of leaf litter arthropod extraction is provided. Repeated, timed trials were performed to compare the relative effectiveness of the two methods using litter samples from various sites across the southern United States. Extraction rates for Winkler and Berlese funnels were evaluated based on temporal and taxonomic criteria by comparing accumulations of Coleoptera specimens and species at timed intervals. In addition, Curculionidae, Staphylinidae, and “rare” species were targeted and evaluated separately. No clear differences in extraction efficiency, either temporally or taxonomically, between Winklers and Berleses were detected. But contrary to current extraction practices, extraction patterns for both Winklers and Berleses suggested that intervals at the beginning of trials (3–24 hrs) and later in the trials (60–144 hrs) are most productive. The typical 24-48-hr run duration currently used in most studies fails to recover a substantial fraction of the total abundance contained in samples. An extraction protocol for litter-dwelling Coleoptera is suggested based on these results.

One of the most invasive species of insects in Europe is the Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773). This species is often observed in anthropogenic areas, especially during autumn and winter when the adults enter buildings and start the overwintering process in large aggregations. On wind farms in intensively used farmland in Poland, H. axyridis uses wind turbines as overwintering sites. We hypothesize that H. axyridis adults are attracted to wind turbines for heat and protection from the wind. We examined H. axyridis aggregations on 33 wind turbines and surrounding areas and measured temperatures on different parts of the turbines. Turbines had a higher temperature than the surrounding areas. The lady beetles mostly occupied the northwestern side of the turbines, which is the side protected from wind. A possible explanation for the beetle's preference for turbines as overwintering sites is the lack of other anthropogenic structures available for overwintering in a homogenous farmland.

Pereskiophaga brasiliensis Anderson, a new genus and new species of Cryptorhynchinae from Brazil (mixed laboratory culture from Santa Catarina and Paraná), is described. The species is associated with Pereskia aculeata Miller (Cactaceae) and is being considered as a biological control agent in South Africa where the cactus is an invasive pest. The genus may be most closely related to Eriocereophaga O'Brien, another monotypic genus associated with cacti.

The Palearctic root weevil Otiorhynchus porcatus (Herbst) (Curculionidae: Entiminae) is recorded for the first time in the United States on Appledore Island, Isles of Shoals, Maine. A summary of other published North American records of this immigrant species is given. Also included are distribution records for 16 other adventive weevils collected on five of the nine islands comprising the Isles of Shoals. These 16 species are Perapion curtirostre (Germar), Cosmobaris scolopacea Germar, Ceutorhynchus erysimi (Fabricius), Ceutorhynchus obstrictus (Marsham), Ceutorhynchus pallidactylus (Marsham), Rhinoncus pericarpius (Linnaeus), Tychius meliloti Stephens, Tychius stephensi Schönherr, Barypeithes pellucidus (Boheman), Otiorhynchus sulcatus (Fabricius), Trachyphloeus bifoveolatus (Beck), Donus zoilus (Scopoli), Hypera meles (Fabricius), Hypera rumicis (Linnaeus), Larinus planus (Fabricius), and Magdalis barbicornis Latreille.

Larval morphology of the monotypic rygmodine genera Anticura Spangler, 1979 from Chile and Cylomissus Broun, 1903 from New Zealand is described, based on field-collected larvae associated with adults and authenticated by CO1 and 18S DNA sequences. General morphology and chaetotaxy of the head capsule is described and illustrated for all three instars of Anticura flinti Spangler, 1979 and the first and third instar of Cylomissus glabratus Broun, 1903. Both genera are similar in larval morphology, sharing several unique larval characters (e.g., bidentate nasale in the first instar, presence of numerous additional setae on parietale in the first instar), which support their close phylogenetic relationship and provides morphological support for the transfer of Anticura to the Rygmodinae. The presence of numerous additional setae on the parietale of all instars and characteristic chaetotaxy of the maxillary stipes are hypothesized as potential larval synapomorphies of the subfamily Rygmodinae. Field observations show that larvae and adults of both genera are aquatic, most frequently collected from moss in the splash zone at the sides of stony streams and small rivers.

Two new species of Calathus Bonelli are described from the Ethiopian Highlands, Ethiopa: Calathus kebedei Novoa, Gañán and Baselga [type locality = Ethiopia, Gojjam, Debre Markos at Danghle, near Robu Gebeya, Mt. Choke, 3,793 m altitude, 10°38′19″ N 37°50′04″ E] and Calathus balli Novoa, Gañán and Baselga [type locality = Ethiopia, Wello, Dessie at Guguftu, near Mt. Amba Farit, 3,600 m altitude, 10°57′31″ N 39°27′49″ E]. Calathus kebedei and C. balli are easily distinguished from all other known species of Ethiopian Calathus by pronotal shape and number and location of elytral setae. Males of both species have singular forms of the median lobe of aedeagus and paramera. The two new species are lapidicolous living in Afroalpine grassland, sometimes at the base of the giant Lobelia rhynchopetalum Hemsley.

Stenelmis hollandi White and Lenat, a new species of riffle beetle (Elmidae), is described from the Little River drainage of North Carolina, within the Cape Fear River basin. It may be separated from similar species by the male genitalia, small size, distinct single testaceous vitta on each elytron that does not overlap the umbone, distinctly dilated fifth tarsomere, and a mesotibial ridge in males. Additionally, it has yellowish palpi, antennae, and tarsi. A photograph of the adult along with a photograph of the male genitalia serve to illustrate the defining characters. The discovery of this undescribed species further demonstrates the excellent water quality and the variety of habitats within the Little River drainage.

Two new species of cavernicolous trechine beetles are described from the limestone caves in southwestern China, Shilinotrechus intricatus Huang and Tian, new species (Da Dong cave, Yiliang County, Yunnan Province) and Sichuanotrechus dakangensis Huang and Tian, new species (Zhaojia Dong cave, Jiangyou City, Sichuan Province). Occurrence of Sichuanotrechus albidraconis Uéno, 2006 is reported for the first time from the Shuimen Dong cave, Jiangyou City, Sichuan Province. Distribution maps of the two genera Shilinotrechus Uéno, 2003 and Sichuanotrechus Deuve, 2005 are provided.

Carinodula chiapanensis Bares and Ivie, new species, is described from the Sierra Madre de Chiapas, Mexico. It is diagnosed and illustrated, distinguished from its only congener, Carinodula campbelli Gordon, Pakaluk, and Ślipiński, by details of the prothorax, first ventrite, and genitalia. The definition of the genus is expanded to accommodate the new species. The first example of sexual dimorphism in the tribe Carinodulini is described — the presence of a patch of dense setae on ventrite I of the male.

Parasites are ubiquitous among insects and well-studied, but knowledge of their full range of host effects is not complete, especially concerning their impact on physical performance of hosts. The horned passalus beetle, Odontotaenius disjunctus (Illiger), in the USA is frequently parasitized by Chondronema passali Leidy, a nematode that can number in the thousands within the hemocoel. We performed an experiment that examined the effects of this parasite on a key performance metric, lifting strength, which should be important during fighting. We assessed beetle lifting strength using a vertically-mounted force gauge, as well as their body mass. At the end of the experiment, we dissected the beetles to determine parasite status and gender. The average beetle (1–2 g each) lifted between 300 and 400 g during the trials. Though the final sample size of non-parasitized beetles was small (n = 8), our results showed parasitized beetles tended to lift 17% less weight than non-parasitized beetles, and this effect approached significance ( p = 0.0766). Beetles tended to lift the most during their first trial, which is relevant information for other researchers who employ performance trials. Also of note was that beetles lost 11% of their body mass during the first week of captivity, which may stem from initial stress or the loss of their accumulated frass supply, which they ingest to obtain endosymbiotic gut microbes. Finally, we were surprised to discover that parasitized beetles lost less mass during captivity than did non-parasitized beetles, which is a result that deserves further study.

The cypress weevil, Eudociminus mannerheimii (Boheman, 1836), is reported from northwestern Arkansas (new state record). The suspected host in this area is eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana L.), which represents a new host record. Additional new host records from arborvitae (Thuja L.) in North Carolina are reported. A brief redescription of the adult that expands upon the original description and photographs are included. Although cypress weevils are not generally considered pestiferous, a case of landscape trees likely killed by this species is included.

Five new state and province records for species of the genus Pytho Latreille in the USA and Canada are reported. Specimens for the new Indiana record were collected live under pine bark. The remaining four new state or province records were the result of gathering museum specimen or personal collection data to supplement knowledge of the known distribution of the genus Pytho.

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 Endrödi, 1971, based upon the examination of additional specimens. A revised, annotated catalog of Stenocrates species is provided.

Xylophagous buprestid (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) and cerambycid beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) associated with common fig or “higuera”, Ficus carica L. (Moraceae), were studied in small orchards from Morelos, Mexico. Three species of Buprestidae and 11 species of Cerambycidae were identified. The cerambycids Eutrichillus comus Bates and Neoptychodes trilineatus (L.) were the most prevalent and abundant species reared from the sampled orchards. Ficus carica is recorded for the first time as a host for the buprestids Acmaeodera rustica Fischer, Chrysobothris analis LeConte, and Chrysobothris distincta Gory and the cerambycids Anelaphus piceum (Chemsak), E. comus, Lagocheirus obsoletus obsoletus Thomson, Sphaenothecus trilineatus Dupont, and Stenosphenus rufipes Bates. The role of xylophagous insects in the phytosanitary conditions of this fruit crop is discussed.

Two monitoring methods for the endangered Comal Springs riffle beetle, Heterelmis comalensis Bosse, Tuff, and Brown, 1988, were evaluated. The first used cotton cloth “lures” lodged within the substrate in close proximity to spring openings. The second evaluated the feasibility of marking H. comalensis with paint. During our evaluation, biofilms grew upon the lures over time, and within two weeks H. comalensis were collected. Numbers of H. comalensis (mean = 23, range = 4–53) collected from lures peaked at 10 weeks and then began to decline as the cotton cloth lures began to decompose. Three other invertebrate species, the riffle beetle Microcylloepus pusillus (LeConte, 1852), the endangered Comal Springs dryopid beetle Stygoparnus comalensis Barr and Spangler, 1992, and the endangered Peck's cave amphipod, Stygobromus pecki (Holsinger, 1967), were also collected from the lures, suggesting that this technique may have broad applicability as a passive monitoring tool for interstitial aquatic endemics and other endangered species. All species, including H. comalensis, were readily quantified, and the technique allowed for specimens to be returned alive to their site of capture.Marking H. comalensis elytra with paint was a feasible technique because marks were retained for up to three months; however, it may be more practical for laboratory experimentation rather than field use because it is timeconsuming and labor intensive. Recapture rates for marked individuals were low in situ, most likely due to unknown factors such as movement, dispersal, and the ratio of individuals marked compared to the population size. Nevertheless, our evaluation suggests that these two techniques in combination may provide a valid means to monitor and evaluate population trends of H. comalensis without negatively affecting the species.

A method to observe the membranous structures of the female genitalia in cerambycid beetles is reported. With this method, the membranous parts of the female genitalia, the vagina and bursa copulatrix, are fixed in the fully inflated condition by petroleum jelly. The technique allows for these structures to be observable and compared in a fixed uniform state. The method might be effective for other insect groups.

The potato ladybird beetle, Henosepilachna vigintioctomaculata Motschulsky, is a common phytophagous pest of many crops worldwide. At present, there are few published studies available on environmentally friendly management of this pest, compared with those on the use of chemical pesticides. The few studies that are available have suggested that the phototactic response of this beetle could be exploited in its management. We studied the phototactic behavior of H. vigintioctomaculata in response to 17 wavelengths of monochromatic lights and 10 illumination intensities of three of these wavelengths. The beetles showed a positively phototactic response to most wavelengths from 340 to 689 nm, except for the blue wavelength (492 nm). In addition, the beetles exhibited varying levels of sensitivity to illumination intensities from 10 to 190 lux under ultraviolet (UV) (340 nm), red (649 nm), green (510 nm), and white light. The general overall pattern of phototactic response rate, from short to long wavelengths, was a U-shaped curve. Thus, the beetles were most sensitive to UV light and red light. The response of the beetles to illumination intensity was correlated with light wavelength; therefore, the phototactic response rate (PRR) to UV light was always higher compared with the PRRs to other light. Our results highlight the positive phototactic behavior of H. vigintioctomaculata to different light wavelengths and illumination intensities. Such behavior could be exploited for noninvasive management using colored lights to control this important agricultural pest.

Silphidae in Mexico, as in other countries, are a broadly studied family of Coleoptera. However, their geographical distribution in this country has been poorly analyzed. The aim of this study was to perform a track analysis of the Mexican species of Silphidae to discuss their distribution patterns. We used bibliographic and new distribution data of 11 Mexican species of Silphidae to construct their individual tracks in maps of biogeographic provinces. The superposition of these tracks allowed detection of generalized tracks, which were compared with previously published distribution patterns to propose hypotheses of primary biogeographic homology. We record Nicrophorus olidus Matthews, 1888 for the first time in Nicaragua and confirm its presence in Honduras. Additionally, three species are new state records for Aguascalientes, and new localities are provided for seven species. We recovered three main distribution patterns. Four species correspond to the Californian Nearctic pattern, followed by the continental Nearctic plus the montane Mexican pattern represented by three species, and the Mesoamerican plus the montane Mexican pattern constituted by two species. Each of the last two species showed a unique distribution. Seven of the 11 Mexican silphid species show Nearctic affinity, three have a Neotropical affinity, and one is endemic to the montane Mexican component. Patterns detected for Mexican silphids have been documented for other families of Coleoptera, thus they can be postulated as hypotheses of biogeographic primary homology. These hypotheses should be tested with other biological groups, and their causes need to be investigated with different historical biogeographical methods.