Monitoring Arthropods in maize and pasture fields in São Miguel and São Jorge Islands: IPM-Popillia Project

Background

The dataset presented here is an achievement of the H2020 European project "Integrated Pest Management of the Invasive Japanese Beetle, Popilliajaponica (IPM-Popillia)". This project addresses the challenge of a new risk to plant health in Europe, the invasion of the Japanese beetle, Popilliajaponica (Newman, 1838) (Coleoptera, Rutelidae) and provides an environmentally friendly IPM Toolbox to control the expanding pest populations across Europe. This study aims to present the records of terrestrial arthropod diversity with a special focus on four groups belonging to Carabids and Staphylinid beetles (Coleoptera), Opiliones and Anisolabididae (Dermaptera), collected with the potential to be used as biocontrol agents against P.japonica in future Integrated Pest Management programmes. A thorough sampling programme was conducted in maize and pasture fields in two Islands of the Azores (São Miguel and São Jorge) in the summer of 2022.

New information

We provided an inventory of the arthropods recorded in two Azorean agroecosystems (maize and pasture fields) from São Miguel and São Jorge Islands. A total of ten maize and ten pasture fields were sampled and a total of 360 pitfall traps were installed, 216 in São Miguel and 144 in São Jorge, for seven consecutive days in August and September of 2022.We collected 18559 specimens belonging to the phylum Arthropoda, four classes, twelve orders, twenty-six families and forty morphospecies (two identified at the family level as carabid and Staphylinid larvae and 38 identified at the species level). We identified 38 taxa at the species level (n = 18281). Of the 38 identified taxa, 18 species were predators, 15 were plant feeders and five were omnivores. The 18 predators belong to the following families: 10 species were Carabidae, two Staphylinidae, one Anisolabididae, one Chrysopidae, one Leiobunidae, one Nabidae, one Phalangiidae and one Scathophagidae. Concerning the origin of the predators, we recorded five native species: two Carabidae, one Leiobunidae, one Scathophagidae and one Nabidae. The other 13 predator species were introduced or indeterminate.

New records of rove-beetles (Insecta, Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) for Azores Islands (Portugal)

The data we present consist of an updated checklist of the Azorean Staphylinidae (Insecta, Coleoptera), by compiling new identified records of three recent published studies about Azorean arthropods. In general, the records were obtained from different standardised sampling campaigns and from non-standardised observations. The presented records were collected between July 1999 and September 2020, in five islands of the Azores Archipelago: Flores, Graciosa, Terceira, São Miguel and Santa Maria. The samples include records collected in several habitat types, such as native, mixed and exotic forests, pasturelands and agricultural areas (maize fields, orchards, citrus areas and vineyards). This inventory represents the most updated checklist and knowledge about Staphylinidae in Azores and new information includes one new exotic rove-beetle for the Azores (Thecturotatenuissima Casey, 1893) and seven new islands records.

A new species of Metopiellus (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae) from the northern Colombian Amazon

The genus Metopiellus (Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae) is confirmed in Colombia with the description of Metopiellusguanano sp. nov. from the northern Amazon. Major diagnostic characters, a distributional map, and ecological data are given. Finally, a previous taxonomic key to Metopiellus is updated to include the new species.

Dermatitis linearis outbreak associated with Paederus balcanicus in Austria

Background

Dermatitis linearis is a toxic skin lesion caused by contact with certain beetles of the genus Paederus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Dermatitis linearis outbreaks have been described mainly in tropical and subtropical regions, but so far not in Central Europe, and are considered an emerging public health concern potentially associated with climate change.

Material and methods

Following diagnosis of dermatitis linearis in a cluster of six adults and one child with reported exposure to beetles with morphological characteristics of Paederus species at a recreational public open-air bath at Lake Neusiedl (Illmitz, Burgenland, Austria), we performed on-site inspection and installed light and pitfall traps. Collected beetle specimens of the genus Paederus were classified using morphological characteristics and DNA barcoding.

Results

A total of 32 Paederus beetles were collected using an aspirator (n = 2) and light traps (n = 30). No individuals of the genus Paederus were captured with the pitfall traps. Morphological analyses identified them as members of the Paederus balcanicus species, which was confirmed by genetic specification of four arbitrarily chosen individuals. Dermatitis linearis lesions were treated with topical steroids and healed but partly leaving scars and hyperpigmentation, over the course of a few weeks in all affected persons.

Conclusion

We report for the first time (a) an outbreak of dermatitis linearis associated with exposure to autochthonous Paederus species in Austria, and (b) that contact to the species Paederus balcanicus may cause dermatitis linearis in humans. Adequate measures should be taken to prevent dermatitis linearis outbreaks in areas with resident Paederus occurrence.

Integrative taxonomy of coastal Cafiusbistriatus (Erichson) species complex (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae)

A systematic review of the marine littoral Cafiusbistriatus (Erichson) along the eastern Pacific and the western Atlantic coasts including the Caribbean Sea is presented based on morphological and molecular (COI and 28S) characters. Specimens of the Cafiusbistriatus species complex [C.bistriatus, C.rufifrons Bierig, and C.sulcicollis (LeConte)] are similar to each other, including the form and structure of the aedeagus, and they can be treated as cryptic species. Detailed micromorphological characters (SEM) and molecular analyses support the validity of these three species. Intraspecific genetic divergence of COI using uncorrected p-distance among individuals of Cafiusbistriatus ranged from 0% to 1.56%, while interspecific divergence among three species ranged from 4.90% to 14.59%. All three species were each supported as a single lineage using COI and 28S on both parsimony and maximum likelihood trees. Morphological characters among C.bistriatus, C.rufifrons, and C.sulcicollis are compared. Cafiusbistriatusfulgens Frank is synonymized under C.bistriatus and Cafiusbistriatus is redescribed with illustrations of diagnostic characters.

The terrestrial and semi-aquatic invertebrates of intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams

Intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams (IRES), which cease flow and/or dry at some point, are the most abundant waterways on earth, and are found on every continent. They can support a diverse, and often abundant, terrestrial and semi‐aquatic invertebrate (TSAI) fauna, which has been poorly explored due to its position at the fringe between aquatic and terrestrial disciplines. TSAIs can inhabit a variety of habitat types, including the shoreline, the surface of exposed gravel bars, unsaturated gravels, dry riverbeds, riparian zones, and floodplains. Much less is known about the species composition and ecological roles of TSAIs of IRES than their aquatic counterparts, with TSAIs being largely overlooked in conceptual models, legislation, policy, and ecological monitoring. Herein we review the TSAI literature that has increased substantially over the last decade and present conceptual models describing how TSAIs respond to hydrological changes in IRES. Then, we test these models with data collected during wet and dry phases in IRES from Australia and France. These generic models can be utilised by water managers and policy makers, ensuring that both wet and dry phases are considered in the management and protection of IRES. IRES should be viewed as a habitat continuum through time, with taxa from a pool of aquatic, semi‐aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates inhabiting at any hydrological stage. We call for collaboration among terrestrial and aquatic ecologists to explore these invertebrates and ecosystems further.

Soil invertebrates of coniferous forests along a gradient of air pollution (Komi Republic)

Background

The role of soil invertebrates in the cycle of substances, soil-forming processes and the provision of ecosystem services is undeniable. Therefore, soil invertebrates are valuable in bioindication studies. Comprehensive research of soil invertebrates in the production area of Mondi Syktyvkar JSC as the largest pulp and paper enterprise in the European part of Russia was initiated in 2003. A huge amount of data about composition, abundance and structure of soil macro- and mesofauna along an impact gradient was accumulated during the period from 2003 to 2019 years. These data can be used to study local biodiversity, monitor the state of soil invertebrate communities and assess the impact of the pulp and paper industry on the environment.

New information

Datasets here presented include information from a monitoring programme for soil invertebrates that inhabit coniferous forests in the production area of Mondi Syktyvkar JSC (Komi Republic). The assemblages' structure of macrofauna, collembolans and nematodes are described. Information on the number of individuals of springtail species, nematodes genera and macrofauna taxa is given. A total of 11146 sampling events of macrofauna, 6673 sampling events of Collembola, and 2592 sampling events of Nematoda are recorded along a gradient of air pollution from pulp and paper industry emissions.

Temporal variability of the rove beetle (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) community on small vertebrate carrion and its potential use for forensic entomology

Rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) are one of the most important colonizers of vertebrate cadavers. We have previously investigated carrion-associated rove beetle communities across various forests and demonstrated that the study regions are the main drivers of the local rove beetle species pool that is, in turn, able to colonize a carcass. Nevertheless, little is known about their temporal variation in community composition during the decomposition process. The aim of our study has been to analyze the temporal changes of the composition of the rove beetle community and to identify new, potentially useful candidate species for forensic entomological evaluations. We determined 80 rove beetle species that were attracted to 60 piglet cadavers across various forest stands in Germany. Both the abundance and the community composition changed over the decomposition process, independently of the species-specific geographical variation across study regions. In the region Schorfheide-Chorin, species from the genus Philonthus proved to be a suitable group for future forensic entomological investigations. They appeared in markedly high numbers at piglet cadavers from the bloated stage until the advanced decay stage. For the study region Schwäbische Alb, we newly describe the species Omalium septentrionis as a member of the carrion-associated rove beetle fauna. Based on the geographical variation in rove beetle community compositions, we have filtered out several species that might contribute to advances in postmortem interval estimations or other applied fields in forensic entomological contexts.

Trophic level and basal resource use of soil animals are hardly affected by local plant associations in abandoned arable land

Plants provide resources and shape the habitat of soil organisms thereby affecting the composition and functioning of soil communities. Effects of plants on soil communities are largely taxon-dependent, but how different functional groups of herbaceous plants affect trophic niches of individual animal species in soil needs further investigation. Here, we studied the use of basal resources and trophic levels of dominating soil meso- and macrofauna using stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen in arable fallow systems 3 and 14-16 years after abandonment. Animals were sampled from the rhizosphere of three plant species of different functional groups: a legume (Medicaco sativa), a nonlegume herb (Taraxacum officinale), and a grass (Bromus sterilis). We found virtually no consistent effects of plant identity on stable isotope composition of soil animals and on thirteen isotopic metrics that reflect general food-web structure. However, in old fallows, the carbon isotope composition of some predatory macrofauna taxa had shifted closer to that of co-occurring plants, which was particularly evident for Lasius, an aphid-associated ant genus. Trophic levels and trophic-chain lengths in food webs were similar across plant species and fallow ages. Overall, the results suggest that variations in local plant diversity of grassland communities may little affect the basal resources and the trophic level of prey consumed by individual species of meso- and macrofauna belowground. By contrast, successional changes in grassland communities are associated with shifts in the trophic niches of certain species, reflecting establishment of trophic interactions with time, which shapes the functioning and stability of soil food webs.

Influence of Cover Crop Termination on Ground Dwelling Arthropods in Organic Vegetable Systems

A key aspect in cover crop management is termination before the cash crop is planted. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of termination methods on ground-dwelling arthropods. The conventional mechanical termination method-i.e., green manuring by means of a disc harrow-was compared to flattening using a roller crimper. Two different crop systems were investigated for two growing seasons; cauliflower was grown in autumn after the termination of a mixture of cowpea, pearl millet, and radish, and tomato was cropped in spring and summer after the termination of a mixture of barley and vetch. Ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae), rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), and spiders (Araneae) were sampled by means of standard pitfall traps throughout the growing season of both cash crops. The roller crimper increased the overall abundance of ground beetles in the first growing season of both cash crops, whereas in the second year, no significant effect could be detected. Rove beetles were more abundant in plots where the cover crops were terminated by the roller crimper. Finally, green manuring increased the abundance of spiders, especially on the first sampling date after cover crop termination. Albeit different taxa showed different responses, the termination of cover crops by a roller crimper generally increased the abundance of ground dwelling arthropods. Given that most of the sampled species were generalist predators, their increased abundance could possibly improve biological control.

(Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

The hairy rove beetle, Creophilus maxillosus (Linnaeus) (Staphylinidae), is recognized for its use in forensic entomology. However, insufficient developmental data exist for the Central European population of this species. Accordingly, we studied the development of C. maxillosus at ten constant temperatures (10-32.5 °C). Based on these results, linear and nonlinear developmental models were created and validated. We also studied the effect of different homogenous diets (third-instar larvae or puparia of Calliphora sp. Robineau-Desvoidy or Lucilia sp. Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Calliphoridae) or mix of first- and second-instar larvae of Necrodes littoralis (Linnaeus) (Coleoptera: Silphidae)) on the development and mortality of C. maxillosus. Average total development times ranged between 122.21 days at 15 °C and 22.18 days at 30 °C. Beetles reached the adult stage in seven out of ten temperatures (15-30 °C). No beetles reached the adult stage when fed with larvae of N. littoralis; their development times at first and second larval stage were also significantly longer than in other food conditions. When C. maxillosus larvae were fed with blowfly larvae, the highest mortality was observed at the pupal stage, as compared when they were fed with blowfly puparia-at the first larval stage. While validating thermal summation models, the highest age estimation errors were found for beetles bred at 10 and 12.5 °C (between 21 and 43% for all developmental events). Age estimation errors were on average higher for pupation and eclosion than hatching and first and second ecdyses. While validating the models with specimens fed with different diets, the highest errors were recorded for beetles fed with N. littoralis larvae (22% for the first ecdysis and 33% for the second ecdysis) and Lucilia sp. puparia (32% for pupation and 22% for eclosion). Implications for C. maxillosus use in forensic entomology are discussed.

Effects of Strip Tillage in Sugar Beet on Density and Richness of Predatory Arthropods

Strip tillage, in which tillage and seedbed preparation are limited to a narrow band where the subsequent crop is planted, provides many potential agronomic benefits, including reduced fuel and labor costs, reduced erosion, and improved soil tilth. Lower soil disturbance and enhanced water retention associated with strip tillage also may affect density and diversity of predatory arthropods, which have been little studied in sugar beet. We examined the effects of tillage (conventional versus strip) on the predatory epigeal arthropod fauna in sugar beet. Studies were conducted over three growing seasons (2010-2012) in Idaho using both fenced and unfenced pitfall traps to sample arthropods. Unfenced pitfall traps often captured a greater activity density and richness of predators, and showed no bias of higher captures in conventionally tilled plots as has been shown elsewhere. Total density of predators was higher in strip tillage only during 2011. Density and species richness of carabid beetles did not differ between tillage treatments during the course of the study. Density of the other major taxa (staphylinid beetles, spiders, and Opiliones) was higher under strip tillage during some years, especially early in the season, but richness showed little or no relationship with tillage. Predaceous arthropods might be favored by enhanced ground cover, higher humidity, more moderate temperatures, and/or less habitat disturbance associated with strip-tilled plots. The results suggest that certain groups of soil-dwelling predatory arthropods can be favored by strip tillage in sugar beet, which further adds to the benefits of conservation tillage in this system.

Species composition, diversity, and the abundance of arthropods inhabiting burrows of the common hamster (Cricetus cricetus L.)

The is insufficient knowledge of arthropod communities occurring in specific microhabitats. In this study, we characterize the arthropod assemblages inhabiting burrows of the common hamster (Cricetus cricetus L.) and factors that determine their diversity and abundance. We tested the following hypotheses: (1) arthropod assemblages are associated with a particular dominant vegetation occurring in the vicinity of burrows; (2) a correlation exists between fine-scale geographic distances among burrows and assemblage dissimilarity; and (3) the type of trap influences the sampling success of captured arthropods. We found 73 morphospecies belonging to 16 families in 109 burrows, most of which were in the families Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) and Parasitidae (Arachnida: Acari: Mesostigmata). The most abundant families were Staphylinidae, Cryptophagidae (Coleoptera), Parasitidae, and Macrochelidae (Mesostigmata) (78.89%). Among the identified species, we found Aleochara irmgardis (Staphylinidae) and Poecilochirus sexclavatus (Parasitidae) which had not yet been reported in Poland, and several other rare species. Meat-baited traps captured 64.34% more individuals, which were more diverse and species-rich than the non-baited control traps, but the former was more selective for saprophages, necrophages, and coprophages. The burrows located in areas overgrown by triticale (a hybrid of wheat and rye) were inhabited by 69.86% of the identified arthropod species, and these also had the highest abundance (64.07%) in comparison with other habitats. However, differences in sample size biased our results toward and overestimate arthropods associated with this vegetation. This study underlines that the species composition detected in burrows was affected by the methods used and hamster preferences for a specific habitat rather than the geographic proximity of the burrows. More extensive sampling across multiple habitats will be necessary to confirm our findings.

World catalogue of the genus-group names in Elateridae (Insecta, Coleoptera). Part I: Agrypninae, Campyloxeninae, Hemiopinae, Lissominae, Oestodinae, Parablacinae, Physodactylinae, Pityobiinae, Subprotelaterinae, Tetralobinae

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 Agrypninaeincertae sedis. Paradrapetesvillosus Fleutiaux, 1895 is designated as the type species for Paradrapetes Fleutiaux, 1895. Two new genera 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: Elaternobilis 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: Neoabiphiscandezei (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: Neolycoreusalluaudi (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: Legnarufa (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).

Organic vs. organic - soil arthropods as bioindicators of ecological sustainability in greenhouse system experiment under Mediterranean conditions

Organic greenhouse (OGH) production is characterized by different systems and agricultural practices with diverse environmental impact. Soil arthropods are widely used as bioindicators of ecological sustainability in open field studies, while there is a lack of research on organic production for protected systems. This study assessed the soil arthropod abundance and diversity over a 2-year crop rotation in three systems of OGH production in the Mediterranean. The systems under assessment differed in soil fertility management: SUBST - a simplified system of organic production, based on an input substitution approach (use of guano and organic liquid fertilizers), AGROCOM - soil fertility mainly based on compost application and agroecological services crops (ASC) cultivation (tailored use of cover crops) as part of crop rotation, and AGROMAN - animal manure and ASC cultivation as part of crop rotation. Monitoring of soil fauna was performed by using pitfall traps and seven taxa were considered: Carabidae, Staphylinidae, Araneae, Opiliones, Isopoda, Myriapoda, and Collembola. Results demonstrated high potential of ASC cultivation as a technique for beneficial soil arthropod conservation in OGH conditions. SUBST system was dominated by Collembola in all crops, while AGROMAN and AGROCOM had more balanced relative abundance of Isopoda, Staphylinidae, and Aranea. Opiliones and Myriapoda were more affected by season, while Carabidae were poorly represented in the whole monitoring period. Despite the fact that all three production systems are in accordance with the European Union regulation on organic farming, findings of this study displayed significant differences among them and confirmed the suitability of soil arthropods as bioindicators in protected systems of organic farming.

Specialized proteinine rove beetles shed light on insect-fungal associations in the Cretaceous

Insects and fungi have a long history of association in shared habitats. Fungus-feeding, or mycophagy, is remarkably widespread in beetles (Coleoptera) and appears to be a primitive feeding habit that preceded feeding on plant tissues. Numerous Mesozoic beetles belonging to extant fungus-associated families are known, but direct fossil evidence elucidating mycophagy in insects has remained elusive. Here, we report a remarkable genus and species, Vetuproteinus cretaceus gen. et sp. nov., belonging to a new tribe (Vetuproteinini trib. nov.) of the extant rove beetle subfamily Proteininae (Staphylinidae) in Mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. The mouthparts of this beetle have a markedly enlarged protruding galea bearing an apparent spore brush, a specialized structure we infer was used to scrape spores off surfaces and direct them into the mouth, as in multiple modern spore-feeding beetles. Considering the long evolutionary history of Fungi, the Mid-Cretaceous beetles likely fed on ancient Basidiomycota and/or Ascomycota fungi or spore-producing organisms such as slime moulds (Myxomycetes). The discovery of the first Mesozoic proteinine illustrates the antiquity of the subfamily, and suggests that ancestral Proteininae were already diverse and widespread in Pangaea before the supercontinent broke up.

First record of Thecturota tenuissima Casey from Canada (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae)

Thecturota tenuissima Casey, is reported for the first time from Canada, based on records from Ontario and Quebec. It was originally described from Rhode Island, USA, and no other records of this species in North America were published since that time. The specimens from Canada were captured by car netting. We provide here a redescription of this species and never before published images of habitus, tergite, and sternite VIII of both sexes, median lobe of aedeagus and spermatheca. The features distinguishing T. tenuissima from T. capito Casey (=pusio (Casey)), the only other species reported in Canada, are provided and illustrated.

Notes on the Stenus cirrus group of Zhejiang, East China, with descriptions of two new species (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae)

Two new Stenus species of the cirrus group collected from Zhejiang Province, East China, are described, S. wuyanlingus Liu, Tang & Luo, sp. n., S. yuyimingi Liu, Tang & Luo, sp. n. and a new distributional locality for S. ovalis Tang, Li & Zhao, 2005 was discovered. The diagnostic characters of the new species are illustrated, and a key to species of the group from Zhejiang Province is provided.

Deep-Time Convergence in Rove Beetle Symbionts of Army Ants

Recent adaptive radiations provide striking examples of convergence [1-4], but the predictability of evolution over much deeper timescales is controversial, with a scarcity of ancient clades exhibiting repetitive patterns of phenotypic evolution [5, 6]. Army ants are ecologically dominant arthropod predators of the world's tropics, with large nomadic colonies housing diverse communities of socially parasitic myrmecophiles [7]. Remarkable among these are many species of rove beetle (Staphylinidae) that exhibit ant-mimicking "myrmecoid" body forms and are behaviorally accepted into their aggressive hosts' societies: emigrating with colonies and inhabiting temporary nest bivouacs, grooming and feeding with workers, but also consuming the brood [8-11]. Here, we demonstrate that myrmecoid rove beetles are strongly polyphyletic, with this adaptive morphological and behavioral syndrome having evolved at least 12 times during the evolution of a single staphylinid subfamily, Aleocharinae. Each independent myrmecoid clade is restricted to one zoogeographic region and highly host specific on a single army ant genus. Dating estimates reveal that myrmecoid clades are separated by substantial phylogenetic distances-as much as 105 million years. All such groups arose in parallel during the Cenozoic, when army ants diversified into modern genera [12] and rose to ecological dominance [13, 14]. This work uncovers a rare example of an ancient system of complex morphological and behavioral convergence, with replicate beetle lineages following a predictable phenotypic trajectory during their parasitic adaptation to host colonies.

Ecology and population structure of a tree wound-infecting fungus in a native South African forest environment

Ceratocystis tsitsikammensis was first isolated from bark harvesting wounds on two indigenous tree species in the Afromontane forests of the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Inoculation studies indicated that it is a potential pathogen of native Rapanea melanophloeos trees. In this study, we investigated the distribution, ecology and biology of C. tsitsikammensis in the Garden Route National Park of South Africa. Isolates were obtained from wounds on R. melanophloeos, three non-native hosts as well as from nitidulid and staphylinid beetles visiting wounds on these trees. The genetic diversity and population biology of the fungus was examined using microsatellite markers. Its mating strategy was also determined by amplifying its mating type genes and the fungus was shown to be homothallic. Despite the homothallic nature of the fungus, high levels of random mating and absence of genetic structure was found in the investigated population, suggesting a strong effect of gene flow, probably linked to insect dispersal. The gene diversity of C. tsitsikammensis was similar to that of a related fungus, Ceratocystis albifundus, that is known to be native in Africa. This, together with the fact that C. tsitiskamensis is not known elsewhere, within or outside South Africa, suggests that it is native and endemic to the Cape Afromontane region.

A new species of Iotarphia Cameron (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae) from Tasmanian seacoasts, Australia

Iotarphiarufobrunnea Lee & Ahn, sp. n. is described from Tasmania. The new species is compared with another species of the genus, Iotarphiaaustralis Cameron. A description, habitus photograph and illustrations of the diagnostic characters are provided.

Genetic variability of two ecomorphological forms of Stenus Latreille, 1797 in Iran, with notes on the infrageneric classification of the genus (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Steninae)

In this study, the genetic diversity of Iranian populations of two widespread Stenus species representing two ecomorphological forms, the "open living species" Stenus erythrocnemus Eppelsheim, 1884 and the "stratobiont" Stenus callidus Baudi di Selve, 1848, is presented using data from a fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene. We evaluate the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I haplotypes and the intraspecific genetic distance of these two species. Our results reveal a very low diversity of COI sequences in Stenus erythrocnemus in contrast to Stenus callidus. Moreover, the COI based phylogeny of a selection of Iranian Stenus support the monophyly of some species groups of Stenus proposed by Puthz (2008) and contradicts the traditional infrageneric classification.

Dead ant walking: a myrmecophilous beetle predator uses parasitoid host location cues to selectively prey on parasitized ants

Myrmecophiles (i.e. organisms that associate with ants) use a variety of ecological niches and employ different strategies to survive encounters with ants. Because ants are typically excellent defenders, myrmecophiles may choose moments of weakness to take advantage of their ant associates. This hypothesis was studied in the rove beetle, Myrmedonota xipe, which associates with Azteca sericeasur ants in the presence of parasitoid flies. A combination of laboratory and field experiments show that M. xipe beetles selectively locate and prey upon parasitized ants. These parasitized ants are less aggressive towards beetles than healthy ants, allowing beetles to eat the parasitized ants alive without interruption. Moreover, behavioural assays and chemical analysis reveal that M. xipe are attracted to the ant's alarm pheromone, the same secretion used by the phorid fly parasitoids in host location. This strategy allows beetles access to an abundant but otherwise inaccessible resource, as A. sericeasur ants are typically highly aggressive. These results are the first, to our knowledge, to demonstrate a predator sharing cues with a parasitoid to gain access to an otherwise unavailable prey item. Furthermore, this work highlights the importance of studying ant-myrmecophile interactions beyond just their pairwise context.

Twelve new species and fifty-three new provincial distribution records of Aleocharinae rove beetles of Saskatchewan, Canada (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae)

One hundred twenty species of aleocharine beetles (Staphylinidae) are recognized in the province of Saskatchewan. Sixty-five new provincial records, including twelve new species and one new North American record, are presented. Oligotainflata (Mannerheim), a Palearctic species, is newly recorded for North America. The following twelve species are described as new to science: Acrotonapseudopygmaea Klimaszewski & Larson, sp. n., Agaricomorphapulchra Klimaszewski & Larson, sp. n. (new genus record for Canadian fauna), Aleocharaelisabethae Klimaszewski & Larson, sp. n., Atheta (Dimetrota) larsonae Klimaszewski & Larson, sp. n., Atheta (Microdota) pseudopittionii Klimaszewski & Larson, sp. n., Atheta (Microdota) spermathecorum Klimaszewski & Larson, sp. n., Atheta (sensu lato) richardsoni Klimaszewski & Larson, sp. n., Brachyusasaskatchewanae Klimaszewski & Larson, sp. n., Dochmonotalangori Klimaszewski & Larson, sp. n., Dochmonotasimulans Klimaszewski & Larson, sp. n., Dochmonotawebsteri Klimaszewski & Larson, sp. n., and Oxypodadomestica Klimaszewski & Larson, sp. n. Colour images of habitus and black and white images of the median lobe of the aedeagus, spermatheca, and tergite and sternite VIII are presented for all new species, Oligotainflata Mannerheim and Dochmonotarudiventris (Eppelsheim). A new synonymy is established: Tetralinafilitarsus Casey, syn. n. = Tetralinahelenae Casey, now placed in the genus Brachyusa Mulsant & Rey.

Two new species and new provincial records of aleocharine rove beetles from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae)

Two new species, Atheta pseudovestita Klimaszewski & Langor, sp. n., Silusa prettyae Klimaszewski & Langor, sp. n., are described, and 16 new provincial records, including one new country record, of aleocharine beetles are presented for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Diagnostics, images of habitus and genital structures, distribution, bionomics information and new locality data are provided for the newly recorded species. A new checklist with 189 species of aleocharines recorded from the province is presented.

Further contributions to the staphylinid fauna of New Brunswick, Canada, and the USA, with descriptions of two new Proteinus species (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae)

This paper treats the discovery of new species and new records of Staphylinidae from the subfamilies Omaliinae, Proteininae, Tachyporinae, Oxytelinae, Scydmaeninae, Steninae, Euaesthetinae, Pseudopsinae, Paederinae, and Staphylininae for the province of New Brunswick and other provinces of Canada, and the USA. We report here two species new to science, three new North American records, nine new Canadian records, two new USA records, and 50 new provincial records. The following are the species new to science: Proteinushughesi Webster & Davies, sp. n. and Proteinussweeneyi Webster & Klimaszewski, sp. n. (Proteininae). Sepedophilusimmaculatus (Stephens) and Carpelimuserichsoni (Sharp), Carpelimusmundus (Sharp) are newly recorded from North America. New Canadian records are as follows: Carpelimusdifficilis (Casey), Carpelimusgracilis (Mannerheim), Carpelimuslacustris (Notman), Carpelimusprobus (Casey), Carpelimuspusillus (Gravenhorst), Carpelimusrivularis (Motschulsky), Carpelimusspretus (Casey), Carpelimusweissi (Notman) (Oxytelinae), and Edaphuslederi Eppelsheim (Euaesthetinae). This is the first record of the genus Edaphus for Canada. Blediusbasalis LeConte and Carpelimusobesus (Kiesenwetter) (Oxytelinae) are removed from the faunal list of New Brunswick. Proteinusacadiensis Klimaszewski and Proteinuspseudothomasi Klimaszewski are newly recorded from the USA and several provinces of Canada. Habitat data from New Brunswick are provided for most of the species treated in this contribution.

A new species and additional records of Lobrathium Mulsant & Rey (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Paederinae) from South China

Material of the genus Lobrathium Mulsant & Rey, 1878 from the Chinese provinces Fujian, Hunan, Sichuan, Guangdong and Guangxi is examined. Six species are identified, four of them described previously and two undescribed. Lobrathium kedian Peng & Li, sp. n. (Guangxi: Shiwangda Shan) is described and illustrated. One probably undescribed species remains unnamed. The female sexual characters of Lobrathium flexum Assing, 2014 are described and illustrated for the first time. The genus is now represented in mainland China by 43 species.

A new species of Anomognathus and new Canadian and provincial records of aleocharine rove beetles from Alberta, Canada (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae)

A new species, Anomognathusathabascensis Klimaszewski, Hammond & Langor, sp. n., and nine new provincial records including one new country record of aleocharine beetles are presented for the province of Alberta. Diagnostics, images of habitus and genital structures, distribution, natural history information and new locality data are provided for the newly recorded species. A checklist for all recorded aleocharines from Alberta is updated.

Further contributions to the Aleocharinae (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) fauna of New Brunswick and Canada including descriptions of 27 new species

This paper treats the discovery of new species and new records of aleocharine beetles for the province of New Brunswick. We report here 27 species new to science, one new North American record, six new Canadian records, and 29 new provincial records. The following are the new species: Acrotonabrachyoptera Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n., Acrotonasphagnorum Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n., Atheta (Dimetrota) alphacrenuliventris Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n., Atheta (Dimetrota) chartersensis Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n., Atheta (Dimetrota) cranberriensis Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n., Atheta (Dimetrota) bubo Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n., Atheta (Dimetrota) mcalpinei Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n., Atheta (Dimetrota) makepeacei Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n., Atheta (Dimetrota) giguereae Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n., Atheta (Dimetrota) petitcapensis Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n., Atheta (sensu lato) pseudoschistoglossa Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n., Atheta (sensu lato) sphagnicola Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n., Atheta (sensu lato) thujae Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n., Atheta (Pseudota) pseudoklagesi Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n., Philhygraatypicalis Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n., Schistoglossa (Schistoglossa) pelletieri Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n., Thamiaraeacorverae Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n., Thamiaraeaclaydeni Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n., Pleurotobiabourdonae Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n., Pleurotobiabrunswickensis Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n., Agaricomorphavincenti Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n., Gyrophaena (Gyrophaena) aldersonae Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n., Oligotapolyporicola Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n., Oligotasevogle Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n., Hylotacryptica Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n., Oxypodasunpokeana Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n., and Phloeoporagilbertae Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n. The spermatheca of Dinaraeacurtipenis Klimaszewski & Webster, Dinaraealongipenis Klimaszewski & Webster, and Dinaraeasubdepressa (Bernhauer) are illustrated for the first time. Male specimens of Mniusaodelli Klimaszewski & Webster were confirmed and are illustrated. Color habitus images and black and white images of the median lobe of the aedeagus, the spermatheca, and tergite and sternite VIII are provided for all species. New or additional habitat data are provided for most of the species treated in this contribution.

from eastern China (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae)

Pellatianmuensissp. n., a myrmecophile associated with Lasius (Dendrolasius) spathepus Wheeler, 1910 in West Tianmushan Natural Reserve, Zhejiang, is described, illustrated and distinguished from its congeners.

A review of Canadian and Alaskan species of the genera Clusiota Casey and Atheta Thomson, subgenus Microdota Mulsant & Rey (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae)

This paper treats 13 species of the subgenus Microdota Mulsant & Rey of Atheta Thomson and 3 species of the genus Clusiota Casey in Canada and Alaska. We report here 4 species new to science, and 3 new provincial records. The following species are new to science: Atheta (Microdota) curtipenis Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n., Atheta (Microdota) formicaensis Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n., Atheta (Microdota) macesi Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n., and Clusiotagrandipenis Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n. The new provincial records are: Atheta (Microdota) pseudosubtilis Klimaszewski & Langor, new to AB, and Atheta (Microdota) subtilis (Scriba), an adventive Palaearctic species new to North America, first reported in LB and NB. The two Clusiota Casey species are reviewed, and their distribution is revised. A female Clusiotaimpressicollis was discovered in Ontario and is illustrated here for the first time. A key to all Canadian species of the subgenus Microdota and genus Clusiota are provided. Atheta (Microdota) holmbergi Bernhauer and Atheta (Microdota) alesi Klimaszewski & Brunke are transferred here to the subgenus Dimetrota Mulsant & Rey.

Sexual dimorphism and allometry in the sphecophilous rove beetle Triacrus dilatus

The rove beetle Triacrus dilatus is found in the Atlantic forest of South America and lives in the refuse piles of the paper wasp Agelaia vicina. Adults of T. dilatus are among the largest rove beetles, frequently measuring over 3 cm, and exhibit remarkable variation in body size. To examine sexual dimorphism and allometric relationships we measured the length of the left mandible, ocular distance and elytra. We were interested in determining if there are quantifiable differences between sexes, if there are major and minor forms within each sex and if males exhibit mandibular allometry. For all variables, a t-test was run to determine if there were significant differences between the sexes. Linear regressions were run to examine if there were significant relationships between the different measurements. A heterogeneity of slopes test was used to determine if there were significant differences between males and females. Our results indicated that males had significantly larger mandibles and ocular distances than females, but the overall body length was not significantly different between the sexes. Unlike most insects, both sexes showed positive linear allometric relationships for mandible length and head size (as measured by the ocular distance). We found no evidence of major and minor forms in either sex.

Four new species and additional records of Domene and Lathrobium from the Dayao Mountains, southern China

Material of the paederine genera Domene Fauvel, 1873 and Lathrobium Gravenhorst, 1802 from the Dayao Mountains, southern China, is examined. Eight species are identified, three of them described previously and five undescribed. Four species are described and illustrated for the first time: Domenehei Peng & Li, sp. n., Lathrobiumjinxiuense Peng & Li, sp. n., Lathrobiumkuan Peng & Li, sp. n. and Lathrobiumleii Peng & Li, sp. n. One probably undescribed species of Lathrobium remains unnamed.

A new species and additional records of Rugilus Leach from Qinling, China (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Paederinae)

A new species of Rugilus Leach, Rugilus (Rugilus) huanghaoisp. n. from Qinling, Shaanxi Province, China, is described and illustrated. Additional records of seven species from Qinling are reported.

A taxonomic review of Korean species of the AthetaThomsonsubgenusMicrodota Mulsant & Rey, with descriptions of two new species (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae)

A taxonomic review of the AthetaThomsonsubgenusMicrodota Mulsant & Rey in Korea is presented. The subgenus is represented in Korea by 15 species including two new species, Atheta (Microdota) jangtaesanensis Lee & Ahn, sp. n. and Atheta (Microdota) pasniki Lee & Ahn, sp. n. Four species [Atheta (Microdota) kawachiensis Cameron, Atheta (Microdota) muris Sawada, Atheta (Microdota) spiniventris Bernhauer, and Atheta (Microdota) spinula (Sawada)] are new to the Korean Peninsula and two [Atheta (Microdota) formicetorum Bernhauer and Atheta (Microdota) subcrenulata Bernhauer] to South Korea. Two other species [Atheta (Microdota) kobensis Cameron and Atheta (Microdota) scrobicollis (Kraatz)] previously recorded in North Korea had been identified incorrectly. A key, descriptions, habitus photographs and illustrations of the diagnostic features are provided. Species distributions and diversity in East Asia are discussed.

New distribution records for Canadian Aleocharinae (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae), and new synonymies for Trichiusa

Fifty-four new Canadian provincial records of aleocharine beetles (Staphylinidae), including three new Canadian records and one new North American record, are presented. Of these, 33 are new provincial records for Saskatchewan, 14 for Alberta, two for British Columbia, three for Manitoba, two for the Northwest Territories and one for the Yukon Territory. The following are new Canadian records: Trichiusapilosa Casey [formerly reported from Nova Scotia and Ontario as Trichiusapostica Casey], Acrotonarecondita (Erichson) and the adventive Palaearctic Athetanigra (Kraatz), which is also a new North American record. Bionomics information and new locality records are provided. The following new synonyms of Trichiusapilosa Casey are established: Trichiusaatra Casey, Trichiusamonticola Casey, Trichiusaparviceps Casey, and Trichiusapostica Casey. The numbers of Aleocharinae remaining to be discovered in Canadian provinces and territories are discussed.

New data on the subgenus Harpopaederus of the genus Paederus (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Paederinae) of mainland China

Paederus (Harpopaederus) xui Peng & Li, sp. n. (Sichuan: Micang Shan) is described. Additional records of five Harpaederus species are reported. All of these species are illustrated.

Review of Canadian species of the genus Mocyta Mulsant & Rey (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae), with the description of a new species and a new synonymy

Six species of the genus Mocyta Mulsant & Rey are reported from Canada: Mocytaamblystegii (Brundin), Mocytabreviuscula (Mäklin), Mocytadiscreta (Casey), Mocytafungi (Gravenhorst), Mocytaluteola (Erichson), and Mocytasphagnorum Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n. New provincial and state records include: Mocytabreviuscula – Saskatchewan and Oregon; Mocytadiscreta – Quebec, Ontario and Saskatchewan; Mocytaluteola – New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Massachusetts and Minnesota; and Mocytafungi – Saskatchewan. Mocytasphagnorum is described from eastern Canada from specimens captured in Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario. Mocytanegligens Mulsant and Rey, a native European species suspected of occurring in Canada, is excluded from the Nearctic fauna based on comparison of European types with similarly coloured Canadian specimens, which are now identified as Mocytaluteola. The European species, Mocytagilvicollis (Scheerpeltz), is synonymized with another European nominal species, Mocytanegligens, based on examination of type material of the two species. Lectotypes are designated for Eurypronotadiscreta Casey, Athetagilvicollis Scheerpeltz, Homalotaluteola Erichson, Colpodotanegligens Mulsant and Rey, Acrotonaprudens Casey and Dolosotaredundans Casey. The latter species is here synonymized with Mocytaluteola. A review of the six Nearctic species is provided, including keys to species and closely related genera, colour habitus images, images of genitalia, biological information and maps of their distributions in Canada.

On the Domene species of China, with descriptions of four new species (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae)

Material of the paederine genus Domene Fauvel, 1873 from China is examined. Nine species were identified, four of them described previously, one unnamed (represented exclusively by females), and four are newly described: Domenecultratasp. n. (Gansu, Hubei, Shaanxi); Domenecuspidatasp. n. (Gansu, Shaanxi, Sichuan); Domenechenaesp. n. (Guangxi); Domenereductasp. n. (Sichuan). A lectotype is designated for Domenereitteri Koch, 1939; a neotype is designated for Domenechenpengi Li, 1990. Domenedersuuzalai Gusarov, 1992 is placed in synonymy with Domenechenpengi. Previous records of two Japanese species from China are most likely based on misidentifications and considered erroneous. Thus, the Domene fauna of China is currently composed of twelve described species. A key to the Domene species of China is provided. The distributions of eleven species are mapped.

Asymmetric hindwing foldings in rove beetles

Foldable wings of insects are the ultimate deployable structures and have attracted the interest of aerospace engineering scientists as well as entomologists. Rove beetles are known to fold their wings in the most sophisticated ways that have right-left asymmetric patterns. However, the specific folding process and the reason for this asymmetry remain unclear. This study reveals how these asymmetric patterns emerge as a result of the folding process of rove beetles. A high-speed camera was used to reveal the details of the wing-folding movement. The results show that these characteristic asymmetrical patterns emerge as a result of simultaneous folding of overlapped wings. The revealed folding mechanisms can achieve not only highly compact wing storage but also immediate deployment. In addition, the right and left crease patterns are interchangeable, and thus each wing internalizes two crease patterns and can be folded in two different ways. This two-way folding gives freedom of choice for the folding direction to a rove beetle. The use of asymmetric patterns and the capability of two-way folding are unique features not found in artificial structures. These features have great potential to extend the design possibilities for all deployable structures, from space structures to articles of daily use.

Two new species of Lobrathium Mulsant & Rey (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Paederinae) from China

Lobrathiumjianqingisp. n. (Guangxi: Shiwanda Shan) and Lobrathiumatanggeisp. n. (Yunnan: Nabanhe) from southwest China are described and illustrated.

Taxonomy of the genus Homalota Mannerheim in Korea (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae)

A taxonomic study of the genus Homalota Mannerheim in Korea is presented. Five species are recognized, one of which, Homalotaserrata (Assing), comb. n. is transferred from Anomognathus Solier. Homalotafraterna (Sharp), Homalotamikado Likovský, Homalotasauteri Bernhauer, and Homalotaserrata are newly added to the Korean fauna. A key, descriptions, and illustrations of the diagnostic characters are provided.

New data on the Paederus biacutus species group from mainland China (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Paederinae)

Paederus jianyueae Peng & Li, sp. n. (Zhejiang: Qingliangfeng) is described and illustrated. Additional records of P. biacutus Li, Zhou & Solodovnikov, 2014 and P. parvidenticulatus Li, Zhou & Solodovnikov, 2014 are reported.

Review of Canadian species of the genera Gnathusa Fenyes, Mniusa Mulsant & Rey and Ocyusa Kraatz (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae)

Four species of Gnathusa Fenyes (G. alfacaribou Klimaszewski & Langor, G. caribou Lohse, G. eva Fenyes, and G. tenuicornis Fenyes) occur in the Nearctic and in Canada. Three species of Ocyusa Kraatz (O. asperula Casey, O. californica Bernhauer, O. canadensis Lohse), and three species of Mniusa Mulsant and Ray (M. minutissima (Klimaszewski & Langor), M. yukonensis (Klimaszewski & Godin), and M. odelli Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n.), are known from the Nearctic and all but O. californica occur in Canada. The recently described Gnathusa minutissima Klimaszewski and Langor and Ocyusa yukonensis Klimaszewski and Godin, are transferred here to the genus Mniusa Mulsant & Rey. New provincial and state records are reported for: G. eva (Alberta), G. tenuicornis (Alberta, Oregon, and New Brunswick), O. canadensis (New Brunswick and Newfoundland), M. minutissima (New Brunswick), and M. yukonensis (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and British Columbia). The female of M. yukonensis was discovered and is illustrated for the first time. The genus Mniusa is reported for the first time from Canada and represents the first confirmed generic record for North America. Keys for identification of all Canadian species, images of body and genital structures, maps showing distribution mainly in Canada, and new bionomics data are provided.

jacobsoni Bernhauer (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Paederinae)

Dysanabatium hainanense Peng & Li, sp. n. (Hainan: Wuzhi Shan, Diaoluo Shan) is described and illustrated. Additional records of D. jacobsoni Bernhauer, 1915 are reported. The habitus, the sexual characters, and the distribution of this enormously variable species are illustrated.

The genus Pseudolathra Casey in China: new species and new records (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Paederinae)

Two new species of the genus Pseudolathra Casey from mainland China are described and attributed to their respective species groups, P. cylindratasp. n. from Hubei and Sichuan, and P. superficiariasp. n. from Yunnan. Pseudolathra pulchella (Kraatz, 1859), P. transversiceps Assing, 2013 and P. bipectinata Assing, 2013 from Yunnan are reported from China for the first time. The history of the exploration of the Chinese fauna of Pseudolathra is summarized.

Molecular and microscopic analysis of the gut contents of abundant rove beetle species (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) in the boreal balsam fir forest of Quebec, Canada

Experimental research on beetle responses to removal of logging residues following clearcut harvesting in the boreal balsam fir forest of Quebec revealed several abundant rove beetle (Staphylinidae) species potentially important for long-term monitoring. To understand the trophic affiliations of these species in forest ecosystems, it was necessary to analyze their gut contents. We used microscopic and molecular (DNA) methods to identify the gut contents of the following rove beetles: Atheta capsularis Klimaszewski, Atheta klagesi Bernhauer, Oxypoda grandipennis (Casey), Bryophacis smetanai Campbell, Ischnosoma longicorne (Mäklin), Mycetoporus montanus Luze, Tachinus frigidus Erichson, Tachinus fumipennis (Say), Tachinus quebecensis Robert, and Pseudopsis subulata Herman. We found no apparent arthropod fragments within the guts; however, a number of fungi were identified by DNA sequences, including filamentous fungi and budding yeasts [Ascomycota: Candida derodonti Suh & Blackwell (accession number FJ623605), Candida mesenterica (Geiger) Diddens & Lodder (accession number FM178362), Candida railenensis Ramirez and Gonzáles (accession number JX455763), Candida sophie-reginae Ramirez & González (accession number HQ652073), Candida sp. (accession number AY498864), Pichia delftensis Beech (accession number AY923246), Pichia membranifaciens Hansen (accession number JQ26345), Pichia misumaiensis Y. Sasaki and Tak. Yoshida ex Kurtzman 2000 (accession number U73581), Pichia sp. (accession number AM261630), Cladosporium sp. (accession number KF367501), Acremoniumpsammosporum W. Gams (accession number GU566287), Alternaria sp. (accession number GU584946), Aspergillus versicolor Bubak (accession number AJ937750), and Aspergillusamstelodami (L. Mangin) Thom and Church (accession number HQ728257)]. In addition, two species of bacteria [Bradyrhizobium japonicum (Kirchner) Jordan (accession number BA000040) and Serratia marcescens Bizio accession number CP003942] were found in the guts. These results not only provide evidence of the consumer-resource relations of these beetles but also clarify the relationship between rove beetles, woody debris and fungi. Predominance of yeast-feeding by abundant rove beetles suggests that it may play an important role in their dietary requirements.

Review of Canadian species of the genus Dinaraea Thomson, with descriptions of six new species (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae, Athetini)

Twelve species of the genus Dinaraea Thomson are recognized in the Nearctic region, ten of which occur in Canada, all east of the Rocky Mountains. Six species are herein described as new to science: Dinaraea bicornis Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n.; Dinaraea curtipenis Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n.; Dinaraea longipenis Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n.; Dinaraea quadricornis Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n.; Dinaraea worki Klimaszewski & Jacobs, sp. n.; and Dinaraea piceana Klimaszewski & Jacobs, sp. n. Four formerly described species are confirmed in Canada: Dinaraea angustula (Thomson), Dinaraea backusensis Klimaszewski & Brunke, Dinaraea borealis Lohse, and Dinaraea pacei Klimaszewki & Langor. The previously unknown male of Dinaraea borealis Lohse and female of Dinaraea backusensis are described. All species are illustrated with colour habitus images and black and white images of the median lobe of the aedeagus and spermatheca, and tergite VIII and sternite VIII of both sexes. New habitat and distribution data are presented and a key to all Nearctic species of the genus is provided.

A new species and additional records of Lobrathium Mulsant & Rey (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Paederinae) from China

Lobrathium fuscoguttatumsp. n. (type locality: Guangxi) is described and illustrated. The latest key to the Lobrathium species of mainland China is modified to include the new species. Additional data are provided for six previously described species.

New data on the genus Derops Sharp (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Tachyporinae) from China with description of two new species

Two new Chinese species of Derops are described: Derops hainanussp. n. from Hainan and Derops yunnanussp. n. from Yunnan. Females of Derops punctipennis Schülke and Derops schillhammeri Schülke are described for the first time and new provinces records of Derops smetanai Schülke and Derops dingshanus Watanabe are reported. The key to Chinese species of Derops published by Schülke 2003 is modified to include the new species.