We provide highlights of our interactions with Roy A. Crowson and John F. Lawrence and their wives Betty Crowson and Rachel Lawrence. Spanning three to four decades, we comment on Roy and John's professional influence upon our lives as coleopterists and feature moments with these remarkable people whose conviviality extended to our inclusion into their homes and their way of life.

Since the late 20^th century, John F. Lawrence has been a pre-eminent driving force in the modernization of phylogenetic and taxonomic research on Coleoptera. His encyclopedic knowledge of morphology, biology, and relationships of adults and immatures has helped him produce several treatments of the order, most of them collaborative, including novel interactive electronic keys to families and subfamilies. From the 1960s onward, his research and its impact on understanding beetles expanded steadily. His Ph.D. focused on the small family Ciidae, but his search to place ciids taxonomically among beetles ultimately expanded his scope to all Coleoptera. He published on all or nearly all families, including discovering and describing new family-group taxa in 15 families and many new genera and species. John showed early that phylogenetic systematics is essential to understanding evolutionary relationships among beetles and placing ‘mystery’ taxa. Among John’s major impacts are: introducing phylogenetics into beetle research; promoting study of larvae in phylogenetics and taxonomy; clearly synthesizing masses of data to illuminate beetle evolution and classification; processing and identifying extensive collections, making quantities of well-identified material available for further study; mentoring and collaborating with many researchers; and helping train and inspire academic generations of new coleopterists who are doing the same.

To date, members of Baeocera have not yet been recorded from Myanmar. In the present paper 16 species of the genus are reported that country, including the following five described as new: B. lawrencei sp. nov., B. montismae sp. nov., B. montistaung sp. nov., B. schillhammeri sp. nov., and B. schuhi sp. nov. Records are given for the remaining 11 species, one of them known by a single female specimen is left unnamed. A key to the species of Baeocera of Myanmar is provided.

Mesozoic fossils play a crucial role in filling gaps in the evolutionary history of beetles. They provide insights into early evolution and morphological diversification that cannot be obtained through other data sources. A new genus and species of Scarabaeoidea, Crassiungula lawrencei gen. et sp. nov., is described from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber. This fossil exhibits a unique combination of morphological traits that precludes its assignment to any currently recognized scarabaeoid family. The most striking features of Crassiungula are its highly modified mesotarsus and mesopretarsal claws: tarsomeres 1–4 are short and flattened; tarsomere 5 has a ventral hook-like projection; and the pretarsal claws are asymmetrical, with a multisetose empodium. The discovery of Crassiungula highlights the morphological diversity and evolutionary complexity of Cretaceous scarabaeoids. Further discoveries of better-preserved specimens may help refine its phylogenetic placement and deepen our understanding of the evolutionary history of Scarabaeoidea.

The families Clambidae and Eucinetidae of Clamboidea are basal groups of Polyphaga, which are rarely recorded from China. During the investigations of insect diversity at the Haizhu Wetland in Guangdong, specimens of Acalyptomerus (Clambidae) and Eucinetus (Eucinetidae) were collected, and these genera are recorded from China for the first time. Acalyptomerus lawrencei sp. nov. is described as new for science, and Eucinetus tamil Vit, 1977 is redescribed.

Females of many species of Scirtidae bear excitators – concave structures, often surrounded by modified setae. They are usually located on the elytra, but rarely also on the pronotum. Excitators are areas with openings of secretory glands. The present study is the first comprehensive and richly illustrated overview of these unusual structures in Scirtidae. The first histological study of elytra with excitators confirm that gland tissue is involved. The excitators of Scirtidae are compared to similar structures in other insects, with special emphasis on Coleoptera.

Larvae in the family Dryopidae are poorly known, and their ecology and life histories need further research. Elmomorphus brevicornis Sharp, 1888, which is distributed in Japan and Korea, is the only species of Elmomorphus Sharp for which larvae are known. In this study, we investigated the larval morphology and life history of E. brevicornis in the San'in region of Honshu, Japan. The larval morphology of E. brevicornis was almost identical to that of other Dryopidae larvae, closely resembling that of Dryops. The first- and second-instar larvae lacked spiracles, but from the third instar onward, spiracles were present on the side of the mesothorax and abdominal tergites I–VII and on the dorsolateral surface of tergite VIII. Oviposition occurred within plant root tissue in water, wherein hatched larvae lived until the second instar. A few third-instar larvae were collected from water and were presumed to be migrating to the soil. The largest larvae observed in the field had a prothorax width of approximately 0.7 mm and were estimated to be at the 11^th instar.

The distinctive, Lycid-mimicking click-beetle genus Rousia Calder, 1996 (Coleoptera: Elateridae) is endemic to Australia. In our study, Rousia is revised, and two species, including one new species, R. lawrencei sp. nov., are recognised within this genus. Descriptions of the colouration and morphology of the genus and its included species are provided together with a key to species. The illustrations of the diagnostic morphological characters and a distribution map are added.

Pachymesia Westwood (1849) and Incisosilis Pic, 1908 are small Neotropical genera of Silinae distinguished by subtle morphological differences in males. They include, respectively, two species and four species and one subspecies recorded from the Atlantic Forest of Brazil and Guatemala. Here, both genera are revised and Incisosilis is regarded as a new synonym of Pachymesia, new combinations are proposed, the subspecies is elevated to species rank, and nine species are described as new, comprising 16 valid species in total: Pachymesia incisa Westwood, 1849, P. testaceicornis Pic, 1908, P. latipennis (Pic, 1908) comb. nov., P. distinctithorax (Pic, 1908) comb. nov., P. pallida (Pic, 1912) comb. nov., P. subacuminata (Pic, 1912) comb. nov., P. subopaca (Pic, 1913) comb. nov., P. inspinosa sp. nov., P. terminalis sp. nov., P. laeta sp. nov., P. constricticornis sp. nov., P. singulariventris sp. nov., P. emarginata sp. nov., P. lawrencei sp. nov., P. fuscohumeralis sp. nov. and P. laranjensis sp. nov. The genus is recorded for the first time in Argentina (Misiones province) and the unreliable record from Guatemala is corrected to Espírito Santo state in Brazil based on the study of additional specimens. All the species are described and illustrated; photographs and drawings are given for all the species and their diagnostic features; the wing and genitalia of males and females of Pachymesia are illustrated for the first time. The morphology of the genital segments and genitalia of males are reinterpretated and a new terminology for the structures is proposed. The unusual morphology of the abdomens of males and females is suggested as having a role in the reversed copulatory courtship displayed by some Silinae. Pachymesia is broadly distributed in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil and Argentina though unevenly sampled through this biome, suggesting the diversity of the genus is still far from being fully known.

Available Cretaceous inclusions of Dermestidae and the Jurassic impression fossil of Paradermestes jurassicus Deng, Ślipiński, Ren and Pang, 2017 were investigated, and their morphological characters were scored in the matrix along with all critical recent taxa. Phylogenetic parsimony analysis was used to evaluate the relationship of the fossils, leading to taxonomic changes. Cretodermestini Deng, Ślipiński, Ren and Pang, 2017, is raised to Cterodermestinae stat. nov. Nothattagenus Li and Cai, 2022 gen. rev. is removed from the synonymy of Ranolus Blair, 1929, and Attagenus secundus Deng, Ślipiński, Ren and Pang, 2017 is transferred to Nothattagenus as N. secundus (Deng, Ślipiński, Ren and Pang, 2017) comb. nov. The first Cretaceous species of Dermestes Linnaeus, D. lawrencei sp. nov., is described from Cretaceous Kachin amber. Aethriostoma turonianensis Perris and Háva, 2016, is removed from Attageninae to Megatominae and provisionally classified as Megatoma turonianensis (Perris and Háva, 2016) comb. nov.

We tested the monophyly of Ceracis Mellié, 1849 based on a phylogenetic analysis of morphological characters. Ceracis was confirmed to be polyphyletic, with the furcifer-group and several Ceracis-like lineages recognized as separate clades. We describe seven new genera: Abebaeocis gen. nov., Alcecis gen. nov., Anartioscelos gen. nov., Atomocis gen. nov., Gyraleosomus gen. nov., Insolitocis gen. nov., and Lipedanicis gen. nov.; and twelve new species: Abebaeocis phiaronotus sp. nov., Anartioscelos aptenus sp. nov., Anartioscelos involucris sp. nov., Anartioscelos lawrencei sp. nov., Atomocis carinatus sp. nov., Atomocis melanus sp. nov., Gyraleosomus boliviensis sp. nov., Insolitocis panamensis sp. nov., Lipedanicis adelphus sp. nov., Lipedanicis agastor sp. nov., Lipedanicis epamphoterus sp. nov. and Lipedanicis geminus sp. nov. The following new combinations are proposed, based on species excluded from Ceracis: Abebaeocis taurulus (Jacquelin-Duval, 1857) comb. nov., Alcecis particularis (Pic, 1922) comb. nov., Anartioscelos bifurcus (Gorham, 1898) comb. nov., and Anartioscelos laticornis (Pic, 1922) comb. nov. Anartioscelos hoseri (Makhan, Saeizad et Hawkeswood, 2013) comb. nov. is proposed for a species currently placed in Falsocis Pic, 1916. Lectotypes are designated for Ceracis bifurcus Gorham, 1898, Ceracis bison Reitter, 1878, Ceracis laticornis Pic, 1922, Ceracis particularis Pic, 1922 and Ennearthron taurulus Jacquelin-Duval, 1857. We redescribe species and provide identification keys when necessary, and discuss the morphological affinities of the new genera within Ciidae.

The Australian genera of the tribe Mordellini are reviewed. The revised classification includes 110 described species classified in 15 genera. Four genera are recorded from Australia for the first time: Aelptes Franciscolo, Mordellaria Ermisch, Tolidomordella Ermisch, and Paratomoxioda Ermisch. A key to all the Australian genera in this tribe is provided. Morphological characteristics of each genus are illustrated except for the genus Paramordellaria Ermisch. The male genitalia are described and illustrated in detail, with the taxonomic value of each part discussed. Five new species are described: Parastenomordella renmarkensis sp. nov., Tolidomordella maculosolita sp. nov., Tomoxia lawrencei sp. nov., Paratomoxioda lunaris sp. nov., Tomoxioda atricolor sp. nov. Twenty new combinations are proposed: Aelptes pulverulentus Macleay, 1887 comb. nov., Hoshihananomia ovalisticta (Macleay, 1887) comb. nov., Hoshihananomia stenopyga (Ermisch, 1965) comb. nov., Glipa conspecta (Lea, 1917) comb. nov., Mordellaria calodema (Lea, 1917) comb. nov., Mordellaria caloptera (Lea, 1917) comb. nov., Mordellaria caroli (Lea, 1896) comb. nov., Tolidomordella blanda (Lea, 1917) comb. nov., Zeamordella adipata (Lea, 1917) comb. nov., Zeamordella norfolcensis (Lea, 1917) comb. nov., Zeamordella notatipennis (Lea, 1917) comb. nov., Zeamordella poeciloptera (Lea, 1929) comb. nov., Paratomoxioda auronotata (Lea, 1917) comb. nov., Paratomoxioda masteri (Lea, 1895) comb. nov., Tomoxioda exoleta (Lea, 1917) comb. nov., Tomoxioda flavicans (Waterhouse, 1878) comb. nov., Tomoxioda laticeps (Lea, 1895) comb. nov., Tomoxioda maculicollis (Lea, 1902) comb. nov., Mordellistena flavicans (Macleay, 1887) comb. nov. and Mordellistena obscuripennis (Macleay, 1887) comb. nov., with the last two species transferred to tribe Mordellistenini. The lectotypes of the following species are designated: Mordella ovalisticta Macleay, 1887, Mordella conspecta Lea, 1917, Mordella caloptera Lea, 1917, Mordella waterhousei Lea, 1895, Tomoxia obliquialba Lea, 1925, Mordella auronotata Lea, 1917 and Mordella mastersi Lea, 1895.

Figulus lilliputanus Westwood, 1855 is redefined and the following species described as new, both endemic to northern Queensland: F. golbastoi sp. nov. and F. lawrencei sp. nov. Figulus howei De Lisle, 1967 (revised status) is removed from synonymy with F. nitens Waterhouse, 1874 and recognised as a valid species, endemic to Lord Howe Island.

The genus Istrisia Lewis, 1895 is revised. and a new species, I. lawrencei sp. nov., with strongly developed sexual dimorphism, is described from Laos.

Two new species of Trogossitidae are described from southwestern Pacific Islands: Egolia lawrencei sp. nov. (Lord Howe Island) and Phanodesta lawrencei sp. nov. (Norfolk Island). Egolia lawrencei is the second species known for Egolia Erichson, 1842; its congener, E. variegata Erichson, 1842 from Tasmania, is redescribed. The other Australian species of Phanodesta, P. pudica (Olliff 1889) from Lord Howe Island, is redescribed.

Hadromychus is the only New World genus of the subfamily Danascelinae, endemic to North America, with a single described species – Hadromychus chandleri Bousquet and Leschen. We describe a second species, Hadromychus lawrencei sp. nov. from the western USA and Canada and redescribe H. chandleri. Images of external and internal characters are provided, including the first for female H. chandleri.

Rodatus Mulsant is a ladybird genus endemic to Australia. Currently it is classified within the tribe Coccidulini and can be easily distinguished from other Australian genera of that tribe by its large, broadly securiform terminal maxillary palpomeres, enlarged first antennomere, and setiferous patches on the ventrite 5 in males. Two new species, R. lawrencei sp. nov. from South Australia and R. wiolettae sp. nov. from New South Wales, are here described and illustrated.

Pupal cocoons created or ‘spun’ from self-produced silk material are uncommon in beetles, and none are reliably known in the family Cerambycidae. The common lepturine species Pseudovadonia livida has larvae that are exceptional among known cerambycids in developing in soil infested with the fungus Marasmius oreades and pupating in a ‘parchment-like’ cocoon. It has been proposed previously that the cocoon is created by the mature larva, but no gland or other larval organ is known which could produce such a cocoon. Both microscopic inspection of the cocoon material and DNA sequencing indicate that the cocoon is composed of the hyphae of the associated fungus. The fungus is thought to create the cocoon while actively growing but further research is required to determine whether there may be some cerambycid larval stimulus (e.g., chemical). This is currently the only reported example of a beetle pupal cocoon created by active growth of fungal hyphae.

Annona squamosa (Annonaceae) is one of the economically most important magnoliid species in Asia due to its edible, creamy and sweetly aromatic fruits, commonly known as sugar-apples or sweetsops. Recently, an emerging weevil pest of this plant species has been reported in northern Vietnam, where the weevils can aggregate on the flowers and damage them, thus reducing the crop of fruits. Morphological examination of the weevils revealed them to represent an unnamed species of the genus Endaeus Schoenherr, 1826 (Curculionidae: Curculioninae: Ochyromerini), here described as E. inexpectatus Hsiao & Kojima sp. nov. The description and diagnosis of the species are supplemented with photographs of the habitus and salient structures. The study presents the first case of a species of Endaeus weevils, which usually pollinate Annonaceae, causing damage to the flowers of a cultivated species of this family. By providing a name for this weevil species, the study lays the foundation for future investigations into its interactions with the plant and possible control measures to limit its damage to the flowers.