The larvae of Formicomus pedestris Rossi, F. gestroi Pic, and F. rubricollis Laferté (Coleoptera: Anthicidae, Anthicinae) are described and biological data of the reared larvae are given. The life cycles of Omonadus floralis (Linné) and Notoxus monoceros (Linné) are illustrated, and notes of breeding experiments with Stricticomus amaniensis Pic are added.

New continental, national, provincial and state records of 34 species of Ptiliidae reported from North America are briefly listed, 20 of which belong to Acrotrichis Motschulsky. Eight European/Palaearctic species (Oligella foveolata (Allibert), Ptiliolum fuscum (Erichson), Ptiliola kunzei (Heer), Ptinella aptera (Guérin-Meneville), P. britannica Matthews, P. johnsoni Rutanen, Acrotrichis parva Rosskothen, A. silvatica Rosskothen) were previously not recorded on the North American continent. Fourteen species are new to Canada and 12 new to U.S.A. New or previously dubious provincial and state records are confirmed for Canada (96) and for U.S.A. (133). Acrotrichis fungi (Abdullah and Abdullah), previously established as a nomen dubium, should be removed from the Canadian list of Coleoptera. An updated checklist of North American ptiliid genera is presented. A tabulated summary of ptiliid species common to North America and either Europe or the Palaearctic is presented. Species are ordered according to their supposed origin (recent introductions or indigenous elements).

A new species of the genus Lignyodes Dejean, which is a new representative of the genus and the tribe Lignyodini Bedel, was discovered in Japan on the eastern periphery of the Palaearctic region. It is described herein as L. japonicus new species. The discovery of this species shows the discontinuous distribution of this genus in East Asia–North America, and Europe, with the Bering Arc relationship in the temperate region of the northern hemisphere. This species is very rare in collections and no biological information is available. The probable host and distribution in Japan are predicted from previous records of related species.

A checklist of all valid species of Dermestidae known to occur in the United States and Canada is presented with notes on the distribution and economic importance of each. Included is a revised key to the genera with a reference to the latest revisionary study or review of each genus.

Four new species of Ptomaphagus Illiger (Ptomaphagini) are described from Costa Rica and Panama: Ptomaphagus (Tupania) costarica new species, Ptomaphagus (Adelops) inbio new species, Ptomaphagus (Adelops) nubloso new species, and Ptomaphagus (Adelops) costanama new species.

The genus Melchus Lacordaire is redescribed to accommodate Melchus leprosus Lacordaire and four new species as follows: M. gomezi Anderson new species (type locality: Costa Rica, Puntarenas, Las Cruces Biological Station), M. jolyi Anderson new species (type locality: Venezuela, Aragua, Rancho Grande Biological Station), M. onorei Anderson new species (type locality: Ecuador, Napo, Santo Domingo de los Colorados), and M. perplexus Anderson new species (type locality: Bolivia, La Paz, San Jose). The genus Daisya Anderson new genus is described to accommodate Daisya umbratilis (Lacordaire) new combination (not examined) and three new species as follows: D. obriani Anderson new species (type locality: Costa Rica, Puntarenas, Reserva Forestal Golfo Dulce), D. andersonae Anderson new species (type locality: Costa Rica, Puntarenas, Estacion Biologia Las Cruces), and D. huetheri Anderson new species (type locality: Panama, Continental Divide Trail [near La Fortuna]). Only 17 specimens of these two genera are known. Adults were collected in mid-elevation moist tropical forest as well as lowland rain forest but virtually no other information is available about natural history. A key to the seven genera of Neotropical Litosomini is included.

A new species, the Seth Forest water scavenger beetle, Hydrochus spangleri Hellman (Coleoptera: Hydrophiloidea: Hydrochidae), is described and illustrated; notes on its biology are included. Known since the 1970's from a single large, vernal pool in Talbot County, Maryland, this apparent Delmarva endemic became a subject of interest and concern when human destruction of its unique habitat in 1982 left the survival of the species open to question. Surveys of depressed wetlands throughout the Delmarva Peninsula during 1997–2002 led to the rediscovery of the beetle at five vernal pools, including the type locality, although abundance there is now relatively low. The pools are all confined to two small forest fragments in Talbot County situated in a predominately agricultural and residential landscape. An additional record, represented by a single specimen collected in 1982 from New Castle County, Delaware, was found in the University of Delaware collection; however, the exact loaction of this site is uncertain.

The South American genus Paraplesiataenius Chalumeau is redefined and its affinities are discussed. Three species are recognized. Paraplesiataenius tremolerasi (Schmidt) and two new species from Brazil, P. catarinaensis new species and P. genieri new species are described and illustrated, a key to the species and distribution records are included.

The genus Saprositellus Balthasar with type species S. denticulatus Balthasar is redefined and transferred from the tribe Eupariini to Odontolochini. Four species are recognized including three new species: Saprositellus ariquemes new species from Brazil, S. peruanus new species from Peru and S. santaritae new species from Panama. All taxa are described and illustrated, a key to the species is provided.

The Pachyschelus fauna of America north of México is comprised of eight species plus one additional subspecies. Three species were found in collections under the name of P. schwarzi Kerremans. P. vogti new species from South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida is described and figured as new. P. nicolayi Obenberger, originally described as a variety of P. schwarzi Kerremans, is considered to be a full species and distinguished from P. schwarzi; both are redescribed and figured. A key is given to separate species and full synonymies and hosts are given for each species. Brachys carbonata LeConte, heretofore considered a synonym of P. laevigatus (Say), is transferred to the genus Leiopleura as L. carbonata (LeConte) new combination.

Larvae of the genus Megalopinus, of the monobasic subfamily Megalopsidiinae, are described for the first time. Larvae can be distinguished from all other known staphylinid larvae by the presence of a mandible with a subapical bladelike process, and are differentiated in detail from other larvae of the staphylinine group of subfamilies in a key. To confirm the identity of Megalopinus larvae, which have not been reared to adults, we compared partitions of 28 adult and 20 larval morphological characters derived from members of the stenine group (Megalopsidiinae, Euaesthetinae, Steninae) and three staphylinid outgroups (Oxyporinae, Pseudopsinae and Piestinae). Partitioned cladograms were similar with the only difference being the placement of Pseudopsinae as sister taxon to the stenine group (adult characters) or included within it (larval characters). Characters were combined and one tree was produced with the following relationships: Megalopsidiinae (Pseudopsinae (Steninae, Euaesthetinae)).

Megalopinus is a specialized genus occurring mainly under rotting logs where fungal growth occurs, a habit for which the new term hyphyledic is proposed. Adults digest their food preorally, using a rotary-mill method for extracting liquefied tissues from masticated prey items. A deeply bifurcate labrum bearing modified setae functions as a sieve, while hyaline processes on the labium may be used for tearing captured prey by Megalopinus adults. Implications for the evolution of the adult Stenus “stick-capture” method for prey capture, which involves extruding a rodlike labium that exudes sticky substances at the tip, are discussed based on new phylogenetic information.

Data on the size of the beetle fauna of North America north of Mexico are summarized from the newly published volumes of American Beetles. As currently recorded, this fauna contains 25,160 species in 3,526 genera and 129 families. Five families together contain over 50% of the species, 13 families together more than 75%, and 29 together over 90%. Sixteen families that have been fully revised or reviewed showed an average increase in species diversity of 21% since 1963 (range −20% to 116%). The total number of species reported from North America is expected to continue to increase to nearly 28,000 species, as reports of known undescribed species currently number in the several hundreds.