Two new species are described in the rare, enigmatic wedge-beetle genus Pterydrias Reitter (Ripidiinae: Eorhipidiini): Pterydrias cattieni Falin and Engel, new species, from Cát Tiên National Park, southern Vietnam; and P. pondolandensis Falin and Engel, new species, from Pondoland, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The new species are distinguished from their congeners, and a revised key to the species is presented. Comments are made concerning the diversity and biogeography of Pterydrias and other ripidiines and previous hypotheses as to eorhipidiine hosts, and some notable abdominal structures are highlighted.

The eastern Nearctic pselaphine genus Custotychus Park and Wagner consisting of 14 species is revised, with ten new species being proposed: C. carloritaorum Chandler and Geromini new species, C. cavei Chandler and Geromini new species, C. chickasaw Chandler and Geromini new species, C. leei Chandler and Geromini new species, C. lobatus Chandler and Geromini new species, C. natchez Chandler and Geromini new species, C. rothorum Chandler and Geromini new species, C. spinosus Chandler and Geromini new species, C. turnbowi Chandler and Geromini new species, and C. watrousi Chandler and Geromini new species. Tychus spiculifer Casey is placed as a junior synonym of T. verticalis Casey, new synonymy. A diagnostic key and figures are provided for identification of the species.

Two new species of the Neotropical tribe Acratini are described: Parateramocerus rondonianus Mantilleri, new species, from Brazil and Teramocerus pachyodon Mantilleri, new species, from Panama and Costa Rica. Both are illustrated. New country records are given for two species of the genus Teramocerus Schönherr: Teramocerus suturalis (Lund) from Panama and Teramocerus pulchriformis Mantilleri from Ecuador.

Mark-recapture population estimates require the use of permanent marks that do not alter the survival or behavior of marked individuals. A number of marks have been developed to monitor populations of the federally endangered American burying beetle, Nicrophorus americanus Olivier. Surveys that employ marks are needed to determine population size and monitor population trends, which are required information to support recovery of this insect. However, studies have revealed problems with mark retention or damage to tested individuals associated with permanent marks. Currently used permanent marking techniques involve making a hole or removing a wedge from an ABB elytron. In this study, we tested the efficacy of elytron branding using a surgical cauterizer. The cauterizer was used to ablate one of the orange maculations on the elytron of four species of Nicrophorus Fabricius. We found that the marking technique was rapid compared with other techniques, permanent, and easily interpreted. American burying beetles are large, which allowed up to two brands to be applied per maculation, leading to the possibility of applying more than 40,000 unique marks to track individuals. Although untested in this study, branding is likely usable for permanent non-disruptive marks of other beetle species with maculation patterns on the elytra.

This paper presents trends in abundance of adults of Cicindela dorsalis dorsalis Say at all known sites along the Chesapeake Bay shoreline from the 1980s and 1990s through 2014 and provides evidence for causes of these trends. This subspecies was listed as Threatened by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1990 because of its extirpation from nearly all of its range north of Maryland and the lack of protection of Chesapeake Bay sites. Adult numbers were estimated during the period of peak abundance using the visual index count method at all known sites. Overall, we found large declines at the western shoreline sites in Virginia and one of two in Maryland and an increase in numbers at Virginia eastern shore sites. Numbers at five Calvert County sites peaked at 6,000 to over 11,000 from 1988 to 1992, but declined to less than 800 adults at one remaining site since 2004. Numbers at the two Maryland Eastern Shore sites, Janes and Cedar Islands, peaked in 2002 at 6,094 at Janes Island and over 2,464 at Cedar Island. From 2009 to 2014, numbers increased progressively to 1,893 at Cedar Island while decreasing at Janes Island to 723. The first two comprehensive surveys of Virginia's western Chesapeake Bay shoreline found over 26,000 adult C. dorsalis dorsalis in 1998 and over 33,000 in 2001 at over 60 sites. These numbers declined to less than 10,000 adults at 34 sites in 2014. By contrast, numbers along Virginia's eastern shoreline increased from a total of 32,143 adults at 35 sites in 1999 to 46,082 at 30 sites in 2009. Observations at these sites over the years provid evidence that the primary causes of declines are shoreline recession from storms, other erosional events and sea level rise, and the addition of shoreline erosion control structures. Human activity and natural enemies were also considered to be important limiting factors at some sites.Much additional study is needed to more conclusively demonstrate the causative factors.

Lawrence Saylor was a preeminent scarab beetle taxonomist during the 1930s and 1940s who produced a large and significant body of taxonomic work in a relatively short period of time. We know very little about him due, in some measure, to the fact that insect taxonomy was a sideline to his many other professional employments. A review of Saylor's life is provided here based upon new information recently acquired as well as a brief review of his scientific publications.

Egg hatch and early instars of Dasytes (Mesodasytes) vulgaris Nakane are described in detail for the first time, and their growth process is compared with that of the related subfamily Malachiinae. The foetomorphic larvae of malachiine species are discussed and compared.

Three new species of Disteniinae are described: Novantinoe payettei Santos-Silva and Le Tirant, from Nicaragua; Novantinoe noguerai Santos-Silva and Le Tirant, from Mexico; and Elytrimitatrix (Grossifemora) curoei Santos-Silva and Le Tirant, from Mexico. The two new species of Novantinoe Santos-Silva and Hovore are included in a previously published key. Photographs of the paratypes of Novantinoe cristinae Santos-Silva and Hovore, 2007, Elytrimitatrix (Grossifemora) hondurenha Santos-Silva and Hovore, 2008, and Elytrimitatrix (Grossifemora) guatemalana Santos-Silva and Hovore, 2008, and the male and female of Elytrimitatrix (Grossifemora) irregularis (Linsley, 1935) are provided. Notes on Elytrimitatrix (Grossifemora) lineatopora are presented.

Zagreus bimaculosus Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is naturally found in various agroecosystems in association with striped mealybugs (Pseudococcidae). In this study, the striped mealybug recently found in Brazil, Ferrisia dasylirii (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), and an alternative food commonly used for mass rearing of various coccinellids, eggs of Anagasta kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), were evaluated as diets for the development and reproduction of Z. bimaculosus. The developmental time required from larva to adult was similar (approximately 34 days) in beetles consuming either diet. The survival rate of immature Z. bimaculosus was higher when fed A. kuehniella eggs than when fed F.dasylirii. However, Z. bimaculosus females fed F. dasylirii had approximately five times longer longevity and 30 times more fecundity than those fed A. kuehniella eggs. Since both diets provided for the development of immature stages and adult reproduction of the coccinellid and can be considered as essential food for Z. bimaculosus, both diets can be used in Z. bimaculosus mass rearing.

Three species of the genus Olenecamptus Chevrolat, 1835, O. anogeissi Gardner, 1930, O. indianus (Thomson, 1857), and O. bilobus (Fabricius, 1801), are reported from Chhattisgarh, India, including a new record of Olenecamptus indianus from the Central Indian landscape. Images of general morphology and male genitalia of all three species are provided. A list of the 12 Indian species of the genus, with information on distribution, is given.

The maximum entropy algorithm (MaxEnt) was used to create a model of the suitable environment for the cactus weevil, Cactophagus spinolae (Gyllenhal) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in Mexico and to analyze the climatic factors influencing the weevil's potential distribution and possible impacts on another Cactaceae species. Areas located west of the Transmexican Volcanic Belt, south of the Mexican Plateu, east of the Balsas Basin, and northwest of the Sierra Madre del Sur biogeographical provinces were found to be more suitable for the emergence of the cactus weevil. The climatic variables that determine the distribution of C. spinolae were seasonal temperatures (24.5%) and precipitation of coldest quarter (24.0%). The commercial production areas of edible Opuntia Mill. (prickly pear cactus and barbary fig) and pitahaya in Central Mexico match with the environmental suitability calculated for the cactus weevil.

Rearings from mines in leaves of the perennial terrestrial vine trailing arbutus, Epigaea repens L., in Maryland, Michigan, and New England yielded specimens of the genus Brachys Dejean. Species of this genus in the eastern United States are previously known only as miners in shrubs and trees. Our study describes Brachys howdeni Hespenheide, new species, as well as its mines and biology.

Aegialia (Aegialia) shimeki Lago and Freese, new species, is described from southeastern Iowa. The species is most similar to Aegialia opifex Horn.

An analysis of larval cranial architecture and mandibular geometry supports a hypothesis that larvae of Dytiscus carolinus Aubé, 1838 preferentially feed on active immature vertebrates and invertebrates. Encased caddisfly larvae are probably only coincidental components of its prey regime. Ontogenetic changes in cranial and mandibular morphology are described and interpreted as indications that first instars exploit in situ prey regimes with characteristics different from those exploited during the third and possibly second stadium. Pronounced developmental changes in temporal curvature are indicative of increases in the mass and volume of adductor muscles but without corresponding changes in gear ratios. Intermandibular distances increased at a constant rate, but significant differences between intermandibular distance and head length and width ratios occurred between first and second instars and first and third instars. Significant variation in mandibular morphology and geometry during larval development included changes in proportional mandibular length, midpoint depth, angles of attack, and lateral and medial arcs.

The third instar and pupa of Ontherus sulcator Fabricius are described and illustrated. The immature stages were reared from eggs laid by adults under laboratory conditions. The morphology of the larva and pupa is analyzed based on characters at the generic level and compared with those of other related genera. Larval morphology is also compared with that of Ontherus mexicanus Harold. The larvae of O. sulcator and O. mexicanus share most of the characters proposed for the genus. These species can be distinguished by differences in chaetotaxy of the epipharynx and mandible. The pupa of O. sulcator possesses a system of pupal support projections as occurs in all known scarabeinae pupae. The number and distribution of projections are similar to those of other related genera of Dichotomiini.

The differences between Trichohippopsis Breuning, 1958 and Aprosopus Guérin-Méneville, 1844 are discussed, and a redescription of the former is provided. Previously published figures of Trichohippopsis rufula Breuning, 1958 and Aprosopus gilmouri Breuning, 1962 are discussed. Trichohippopsis barbatulus Martins and Galileo, 2013 is transferred to Aprosopus, Aprosopus gilmouri Breuning, 1962 is transferred to Trichohippopsis, and T. exilis Galileo and Martins, 2006 is considered a junior synonym of Trichohippopsis gilmouri (Breuning), new combination. Trichohippopsis birai Galileo and Santos-Silva, new species, is described from Brazil (Amazonas), and a key to species of the genus is provided.

Dichotomius (Selenocopris) aielloae Nunes, new species from Darien, Panama is described and placed in the Dichotomius (S.) quadraticeps species-group of this subgenus. Diagnosis, illustrations, and distributional and taxonomic remarks are provided. This new species constitutes a new country record of Selenocopris Burmeister in Panama and the first trans-andean record for the subgenus in the Americas.

The previously unknown female of Ischnoscelis hoepfneri (Gory and Percheron) is described and illustrated for the first time based on recently collected material in Morelos, Mexico, new state record. Observations on its copulatory behavior are given, and a key to separate the three known species of the genus is included.