A stage-specific vertical life table of the aquatic beetle Berosus alternans Brullé was constructed based on a laboratory study. Embryonic development time was estimated as 3.5 days. Eggs hatched between the 4^th and 14^th days after being laid. Females constructed, on average, 2.46 egg cases per day during 84 consecutive days. The first oviposition occurred on the 6^th day after mating, extending until the 84^thday. The mean durations of instars and stages were: egg, 6.12; L1, 4.93; L2, 5.13; L3, 11.17; pre-pupa, 109.12 and pupa, 7.31 days. Preadult development time was completed in 127.6 days for males, and in 154.4 days for females. When we tested mean duration by developmental stages, pre-pupa was significantly longer for females than for males (P < 0.01). Relative mortality was highest in the third instar, followed by the pupal stage.

The taxonomic position of Mecysmoderes consularis Pascoe (Mecysmoderini, subfamily Ceutorhynchinae) was studied. Based on morphological and biological reasons, M. consularis should be placed within the genus Xenysmoderes Colonnelli (also Mecysmoderini). The structures of the frons, prothorax, elytral intervals, and procoxae of X. consularis (Pascoe), new combination, agree well with those of Xenysmoderes species. The host plant association with the genus Alpinia Roxburgh (Zingiberales: Zingiberaceae) indicate closer relation to Xenysmoderes, which is associated with Costaceae (Zingiberales), rather than to Mecysmoderes Schoenherr, which is associated with trees of Ericaceae (Ericales). Xenysmoderes ruficollis, new species, is described from Lanhsu Island and is distinguished from X. consularis by the body coloration, pattern of scales, and shapes of male aedeagus and female spermatheca. Xenysmoderes consularis and X. ruficollis occur allopatrically, the former distributed in Taiwan proper and on Lutao Island, while the latter is found only on Lanhsu Island.

The South American genus Selviria Stebnicka is redefined, S. anneae new species from Brazil is described and figured, a new distribution record for S. matogrossoensis Stebnicka and differentiating diagnosis are included.

Eleven species of weevils native to North America, Acalyptus carpini (Herbst), Tachyerges ephippiatus (Say), Bagous transversus LeConte, Ceutorhynchus omissus Fall, Ceutorhynchus squamatus LeConte, Auleutes nebulosus (LeConte), Perigaster liturata (Dietz), Stethobaris ovata (LeConte), Carphonotus testaceus Casey, Rhyncolus brunneus Mannerheim and Pissodes fiskei Hopkins, and seven species introduced to North America, Sitophilus oryzae (Linnaeus), Sitophilus granarius (Linnaeus), Gymnetron pascuorum (Gyllenhal), Gymnetron tetrum (Fabricius), Tychius meliloti Stephens, Phyllobius oblongus (Linnaeus), and Polydrusus sericeus (Schaller) are reported for the first time in Nova Scotia based on specimens from Cape Breton Island.

New records for native species reflect increased collecting and attention to the fauna of Nova Scotia. Historically, many introduced insects first established populations in North America in the Canadian Maritimes and in fact about 40% of the species listed in the most recent checklist of weevils are introduced. The introduced species new to Nova Scotia reported here apparently established populations elsewhere and subsequently expanded their ranges into Nova Scotia.

The larvae of Canthon cyanellus LeConte show well-defined sexual dimorphism. This dimorphism is seen in the presence of a terminal ampulla in the ventral region of the ninth abdominal segment in males. The terminal ampulla is a cuticular structure apparently present only in the male larvae beginning at the first instar and shows morphological changes during subsequent larval instars. A detailed study of terminal ampulla morphogenesis is needed to understand exactly how the ampulla develops into the structures of the ejaculatory bulb and aedeagus in the imago. Terminal ampullae have also observed in third-instar larvae of some species of Scarabaeidae, Trogidae, Passalidae and Lucanidae.

A field study was carried out to determine whether small hypogaeic beetles prey on winter moth (Operophtera brumata [L.]) pupae. Small invertebrates were responsible for ca. 28% of pupal mortality at sites in British Columbia in 1991. Using a new trap design, adult Staphylinidae and beetle larvae were shown to actively search for buried pupae as indicated by significantly higher catches in hypogaeic traps baited with pupae than in unbaited, control traps. Baited and unbaited pitfalls were largely ineffective at capturing predatory larvae when compared to the baited hypogaeic traps. Many previous studies of predation on the soil-dwelling stages of insect herbivores may be biased towards the epigaeic component of the predator assemblage because they use pitfall traps alone. A combination of traps that includes hypogaeic traps should be considered for future studies.

Trichaptus Pascoe is a genus of broad-nosed weevils (Curculionidae: Entiminae: Naupactini) endemic to Brazil with a single species, T. mutillarius (Perty), that resembles wasps of the family Mutillidae (Hymenoptera), particularly those of the tropical genera Traumatomutilla André and Hoplomutilla Ashmead. Based on morphological characters of the antennae, eyes, mouthparts, legs, and female and male genitalia, Trichaptus is closely related to Briarius [Fischer de Waldheim] (syn. of Lamprocyphus Marshall). The purpose of this contribution is to redescribe Trichaptus, to diagnose its only known species, and to illustrate its diagnostic features, including genitalia and mouthparts. This information is necessary to undertake a phylogenetic analysis of the whole Naupactini tribe, our main research goal.

The courtship behavior of Meloe (Micromeloe) decorus and Sitaris muralis is described. From all courtship patterns described within the Meloinae fanning courtship of M. decorus differs quite remarkably. The differences to other subgenera within the genus Meloe are described. Their significance for the systematic position of M. decorus within its genus is emphasized and discussed. Courtship behavior of S. muralis is compared to courtship behavior of other species of Nemognathinae.

Das Balzverhalten von Meloe (Micromeloe) decorus und Sitaris muralis wird beschrieben. Die Fächelbalz von M. decorus unterscheidet sich innerhalb der Meloinae auffallend von allen bisher bekannten Balzmustern. Die Unterschiede zu anderen Untergattungen innerhalb der Gattung Meloe werden aufgezeigt. Ihre Bedeutung für die systematische Stellung von M. decorus innerhalb der Gattung Meloe wird hervorgehoben und diskutiert. Das Balzverhalten von S. muralis wird mit dem anderer Arten innerhalb der Nemognathinae verglichen.

The subfamily Necrophilinae Newton is recorded for the first time from China. This subfamily belongs to the Agyrtinae Thomson, a group of beetles which were once included in the Silphidae but are now recognized as an independent family more closely related to the Leiodidae than the Silphidae. Based on 619 specimens collected by pitfall traps from Sichuan province of western China, Necrophilus chinensis Zhou, new species, is described. The endophallus of the aedeagus was studied and is illustrated for the first time for this subfamily. This study fills a distribution gap of Necrophilus Latreille between Japan and Nepal-Bhutan and contributes important data to zoogeographical studies of this group.

Eight genera and nine species (five are new) are included in a key to the Apioninae Schoenherr occurring in Chile. The key includes five new genera in addition to Chilapion Kissinger, Noterapion Kissinger (species treated in separate paper), and Exapion Bedel. Each new genus listed is followed by the type species and included species; the type locality for each species is listed as locality, province/region, and country.

Hecyrapion new genus: type species H. novercale new species (37 km N Talca, Maule, Chile) and Apion anisorhynchum Gerstaecker, 1854 (Buenos Aires, Argentina).

Rhamnapion new genus: type species Apion pachymerum Philippi and Philippi, 1864 (Fundo San Juan, Valdivia, Chile) and A. humerale Philippi and Philippi, 1864 (Fundo San Juan, Valdivia, Chile).

Acarapion new genus: type species A. ferruginosum new species (El Clarillo, Santiago, Chile) and Apion nigrosuturatum Béguin-Billecocq, 1909 (Tucumán Province, Argentina).

Pystapion new genus with type species P. erotema new species (Lota, Biobío, Chile).

Mythapion new genus with type species M. trifolianum new species (18 km E San Carlos, Ñuble, Biobío, Chile); M. adesmiae n. sp. (Chile Chico, Lago B. Aires, Aisén, Chile); Apion rufonigrum Béguin-Billecocq, 1909 (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina) and A. simplex Béguin-Billecocq, 1909 (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina).

Lectotypes are designated for Apion pachymerum Philippi and Philippi and A. humerale Philippi and Philippi. Circapion Kissinger does not occur in Chile but in the tropical cloud forest on the eastern side of the Andes.

The third instar larvae of Megasoma pachecoi Cartwright, M. punctulatus Hardy, M. thersites LeConte, M. vogti Cartwright, M. cedrosa Hardy, M. elephas (F.), M. actaeon (L.), and M. occidentalis Bolívar y Pieltain, Jiménez-Asúa, and Martínez are described. Preliminary diagnosis for the larvae of Megasoma species from North and Central America and a key to eight species are presented. Comparative, brief descriptions of first and second instar larvae of M. elephas, M. thersites, M. pachecoi, and M. cedrosa, and a detailed description of the male pupa of M. elephas, are also included. Diagnostic structures of immatures are illustrated. Notes on the habits, biology, and distribution of the eight species are reviewed.

Oryctoantiquus borealis Ratcliffe and Smith is described as a new genus and new species of fossil dynastine Scarabaeidae from West Branch Creek of the Middle Eocene Clarno Formation (44.6–46.8 Ma) of north-central Oregon, U.S.A. This specimen is the oldest specimen attributable to the subfamily Dynastinae and the largest fossil in the family Scarabaeidae.

The southern Brazilian genus Hoplopygothrix is reviewed. The genus now contains only one species, H. atropurpurea (Schaum). Hoplopygothrix atropurpurea nigroscutellaris (Moser) and H. fulvohirta (Moser) are placed in synonymy with H. atropurpurea.

Collagenus dasysternus Ratcliffe and Hardy, new genus and species, is described from eastern Venezuela. We include a revised key to the 26 genera of New World Pentodontini.