Stenotarsus subtilis Arrow (not S. rotundus Arrow) is the aggregating endomychid beetle from Barro Colorado Island, Panama, subject of many studies on a diapausing aggregation. Allozyme analysis results (Nei genetic distance = 0.005) supported conclusions from morphological study, revealing the true identity of two diapause groups now known within the Barro Colorado Island Nature Monument. They have an the estimated aggregation density of 2.2 per km², with up to 200,000 individuals in each aggregation. Females predominate in these groups, but sex ratios varied from 1:1 to 1:4. One group has persisted at least 20 years. Bark was depleted of Mg and K on both Oenocarpus C. F. P. Martius (Palmae) and Tetragastris J. Gaertner (Burseraceae) diapause sites, but did not differ visibly from surrounding bark. Fungi showed no consistent relationship with beetles or sites. Bark and wood substrates of an aggregation did not attract beetles when displaced to other forest areas. We suggest beetles may live more than one year and return to diapause sites after completing the still undocumented mating and reproductive facets of their life cycle. Stenotarsus rotundus is synonymized under S. ovalis Arrow, new synonymy, and a key is given to known species of Stenotarsus occurring in Panama.

Under laboratory conditions, we tested the effects of parental presence and parental manipulation of the food resource on larval development and offspring survival in Nicrophorus mexicanus Matthews. The three study groups were (1) control, with parental care (brood mass present and feeding of larvae by trophallaxis); (2) brood mass present but parents removed; and (3) without parental care (brood mass not present and parents removed). Duration of larval development from stage L1 to the end of stage L3 was significantly different among the three groups. The number of adults emerging also was different among the groups. Parental presence and manipulation of the brood mass were required for larvae to reach adulthood. In contrast, when both parents and brood mass were absent, few juveniles reached adulthood.

Glaresis thiniensis new species is described from material collected at light in littoral sand dunes from eastern Iberian Peninsula. A new record of the other known Iberian species of Glaresis Erichson, G. hispana (Báguena), is provided. Diagnostic characters of both species include the presence/absence of mesotibial fossa in the metasternum, the form of the clypeus and meso- and metatibia, the number and size of teeth on the metatrochanter and femora and the form of male genitalia. These characters and others as the form of mandibles, length of metatarsomers, and the form of outer horseshoe-shaped portion of metatibia can be used to separate G. thiniensis from the North African species: G. mandibularis Petrovitz, G. tripolitana Petrovitz, G. carthagensis Petrovitz, G. pardoi Petrovitz and G. mauritanica Petrovitz. A map with the known distribution of the Iberian species is also provided.

The southern Neotropical cetoniine genus Neocorvicoana Ratcliffe and Micó new genus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Gymnetini) is established for three species previously placed in Corvicoana Strand, 1934 (nomen nudum) and Gymnetis MacLeay, 1819: N. chalybea (Kirby), N. reticulata (Schürhoff), and N. tricolor (Schürhoff), new combinations. The type species of the new genus is N. reticulata (Kirby). Corvicoana rudolfi (Frölich) is transferred to the genus Gymnetis. Corvicoana suavis (Schürhoff) and C. castanea (Schürhoff) are junior synonyms of N. chalybea. We include a taxonomic key to the species, nomenclatural history, descriptions, illustrations, and commentary.

Using a mobile crane system covering a canopy area of about 1.4 ha in a rain forest in southern Venezuela, adults of several species of Agra Fabricius were observed and captured. Adults of 17 species were kept in the laboratory. Movements and foraging behaviour in the forest canopy and in the laboratory are reported. Larvae of four Agra species are described. Larvae of all four species are highly modified. Short antennae, multiple setae FR_8/9, elongate head capsule with enlarged frontale, trochanter and femoral spines or spin-like tubercles, absence of a lacinia, markedly long, multisetose and multisegmented urogomphi, a pygopod with two groups of hooks, as well as bifid-toothed tarsal claws are larval apomorphies of Agra. The enlarged pulvillus is shared with larvae of other genera in Lebiini that are regarded as related to Agra based on adult characters. Amongst themselves studied larvae show a number of differences. The larva of the Agra cajennensis-group has small abdominal egg bursters on terga I–VIII that were previously known only from coleopteran suborder Polyphaga; these are not present in the other first instars studied. From larval attributes, it is hypothesized that Agra larvae live under bark and are predatory.

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Examination and dissection of type specimens of Corylophidae resulted in three generic synonomies: Holopsis Broun (=Bathona Casey), Ectinocephalus Matthews (=Conodes Matthews), Gloeosoma Wollaston (=Gronevus Casey), new synonyms. The corylophid species Microstagetus parvulus Wollaston is reported for the first time in North America. Synonomy of the cryptophagid genus Scytomaria Lyubarsky with Anitamaria Leschen, new synonymy, is proposed and the proliferation of higher taxon names in Cryptophagidae by Ljubarsky (1998b) is determined to be unnecessary.

The genus Heterolinus Sharp, 1885 is revised, with generic redescription, description of a new species, a key to the species, remarks, illustrations, and a distributional map. Heterolinus distinctus Bernhauer, 1905 is a junior synonym of H. xanthogaster (Solsky 1875) new combination. Lectotypes are designated for Xantholinus puncticeps Guérin-Méneville, 1844 and Xantholinus xanthogaster Solsky, 1875. Heterolinus puncticeps is distributed in Colombia and Ecuador, H. xanthogaster in Peru and Bolivia, and H. basiniger new species in Costa Rica, Colombia and Ecuador. According to a cladistic analysis based on 47 transformation series from external morphology and male genitalia, Heterolinus is a monophyletic group, and is the sister group of Ehomalolinus plus Homalolinus. Heterolinus puncticeps is the sister species of H. xanthogaster and H. basiniger is the most plesiomorphic species of the genus.

Publication funded by the Patricia Vaurie bequest.

Peltoschema Reitter is redescribed as a genus of Chrysomelidae, not Trogossitidae, and is recognised as the valid and oldest available name for Acacicola Lea, Pyrgo Weise (nec Defrance) and Pyrgoides Kelly and Reid (all new synonyms). A lectotype is designated for the type species, Peltoschema filicornis Reitter, which is a senior synonym of Paropsis platynota Lea (new synonym). The monophyly of Peltoschema is discussed, the species-group to which both P. filicornis and the type species of Acacicola belong is defined, and P. filicornis is redescribed.

The genus Haematoides Fairmaire is moved from the Dascillidae to the Byturidae. The genus Byturodes Barber is synonymized with Haematoides new synonymy. The type species of these two genera, Byturodes grahami Barber and Haematoides davidii Fairmaire are also synonymized new synonymy.

Description of larval instars of the madicolous species Hydrotarsus compunctus (Wollaston 1865) is presented including a detailed chaetotaxic and porotaxic analysis of the cephalic capsule, head appendages, legs, last abdominal segment and urogomphi. Compared to other genera of the tribe Hydroporini, Hydrotarsus Falkenström (1938) is postulated to be more closely related phylogenetically to Sanfilippodytes Franciscolo and Hydroporus Clairville based on the following combination of characters: (i) absence of the primary seta MX5, (ii) absence of a constriction at level of occipital suture, (iii) presence of a maxillary cardo, (iv) insertion of the primary seta MX1 on the maxillary cardo, (v) presence of spiracles on mesothorax and abdominal segments 1–7, and (vi) presence of the primary seta TR2.

Tyrannasorus rex Ratcliffe and Ocampo (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Hybosoridae), a new genus and new species of fossil hybosorid, is described from the Dominican Republic. This fossil scarabaeoid is embedded in the amber resin of Hymenaea protera Poinar (Leguminosae), and it dates from the Miocene.

During May 1999, feces baited pit-fall traps were run at the Welder Wildlife Refuge near Sinton, Texas, duplicating, in part, earlier surveys of 1974–75 and 1985. The results show a decline in the number of species of Scarabaeinae and a shift in species composition. Possible explanations for the changes include vegetational-climatic differences over time and the recent increase in the number of the red imported fire ant.

Hydrocanthus (Hydrocanthus) paludimonstrus (new species) is described from specimens collected in Beni, Bolivia. Important morphological features are figured, including male and female genitalia. The character combination present in H. (H.) paludimonstrus makes the species intermediate between Hydrocanthus (Guignocanthus) Young and Hydrocanthus s. str. Based on new evidence from H. (H.) paludimonstrus and re-examination of characters previously used to diagnose the subgenera, H. (Guignocanthus) is synonymized with Hydrocanthus s. str. (new synonymy).

Erlandia mexicana new species is described from México and biogeographical comments are included.

Quedius (Microsaurus) cruentus (Olivier), widely distributed in Western Palaearctic region, has been found in New York State. The species is redescribed, male genitalia and female terminalia are illustrated and a modification to the key for Nearctic Quedius Stephens is proposed.

This paper records 19 species of Carabidae new to British Columbia, with one species, Colpodes buchannani Hope, new to Canada.

Larvae of the genera Chlorota Burmeister and Chasmodia Macleay (Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Rutelini) are described for the first time based on the larvae of Chlorota cincticollis Blanchard and Chasmodia collaris (Blanchard). The pupa of C. cincticollis is also described. A key to the larvae of 19 American genera of Rutelini and a list of the described species are provided.