A revision of the genus Anthonaeus Horn is provided as the initial step of a multiphase project to completely revise the entire New World Kateretidae fauna. Anthonaeus, a previously monospecific genus of short-winged flower beetles, was formerly known from the type species Anthonaeus agavensis (Crotch). This species is a specialist on flowers of Hesperoyucca (Engelm.) Baker (Agavaceae) in southern California, USA. Anthonaeus bajaensis, new species, is described from Baja California, Mexico, and a redescription of A. agavensis is provided for comparative morphology. The larva of A. agavensis is described for the first time and the relationship of Anthonaeus to other New and Old World Kateretidae genera is discussed in the context of both larval and adult morphology.

Actium vestigialis Caterino and Chandler, new species, from Santa Catalina Island, California, is described. This new species is brachypterous, has strongly reduced eyes, and is only known to occur on this one island. The leaf litter fauna of California's Channel Islands is inadequately examined, and this discovery may indicate a significant fauna of endemic litter-associated insects.

Third instars of Macrodactylus mexicanus Burmeister, Macrodactylus nigripes Bates, and Macrodactylus ocreatus Bates are described from specimens collected from soil in corn fields at Chignahuapan, Puebla and La Malinche, Tlaxcala, and from soil in an amaranth grain field at Zapotitlán Salinas, Puebla. Illustrations of diagnostic structures, comparative comments with similar species, and a key to known third instars of Macrodactylus Dejean in Mexico are included. Data on the habits and reproductive behavior of M. ocreatus in nature and in captivity are also provided.

The diversity of true water beetles (Coleoptera: Gyrinidae, Haliplidae, Dytiscidae, Helophoridae, Hydrochidae, Hydrophilidae, Hydraenidae, Elmidae, and Dryopidae) in Picos de Europa National Park (Cantabrian Mountains, Spain) was examined. Taking into account historic long-term sampling (all collections from 1882 to the present), a total of 117 species are recorded. Species accumulation models and non-parametric estimators were used to estimate the actual species richness of aquatic Coleoptera occurring in Picos de Europa National Park. Estimates were generated by analyzing both the collector's curve from the long-term sampling and the historic cumulative curve of species recorded from the park since 1882. Values of species richness estimated by different methods range from 127 to 170 species (mean = 148 ± 15 SD). Therefore, it seems that the current inventory has reached a reasonably good level of completeness as estimates indicate that about 80% of the water beetle fauna has already been recorded. The inventory is used to analyze the biological uniqueness of the park and its outstanding level of species richness and endemism (33 Iberian endemic species). Richness and endemism of water beetles in Picos de Europa National Park is compared to those of other national parks in Spain. Finally, the conservation status and threat level is assessed for two Cantabrian endemic species, Deronectes costipennis gignouxi Fery and Brancucci and Ochthebius (Asiobates) cantabricus Balfour-Browne.

Five carabid beetle species described from the Hawaiian Islands, Polynesia—Calleida gracilis Gemminger and de Harold, 1868 (= Calleida amoenula Boheman, 1858), Calleida sanguinicollis Dejean, 1831 (= Calleida insularis Boheman, 1858), Lebia insularis Boheman, 1858, Selenophorus insularis Boheman, 1858, and Selenophorus picinus Boheman, 1858—are shown to be properly attributed to the American biogeographic region, with their type localities corrected to either Central America or Pacific South America. Two of the five names are newly synonymized: L. insularis Boheman = L. analis Dejean, 1825 (new synonymy), and S. insularis Boheman = S. chalcosomus Reiche, 1843 (new synonymy). Calleida gracilis is shown to be a member taxon of the janthina species-group of South America, most similar to Calleida tibialis Brullé, 1837. However, taxonomic uncertainty surrounding C. gracilis, C. tibialis, and an undescribed taxon precludes definitive species circumscription in this group, and C. gracilis is retained as a valid member of the janthina species-group pending future revision. Selenophorus picinus is placed as species incertae sedis within Selenophorus subgenus Gynandropus Dejean, alternately treated as the hylacis species-group. The biogeographical and ecological consequences obtained from removing these taxa from the Polynesian fauna include: 1) recognition of more natural biogeographical distributions for the genera Calleida Latreille and Dejean, Lebia Latreille, and Selenophorus Dejean; 2) elimination of all examples that could demonstrate extinction of a non-native carabid beetle species subsequent to its accidental introduction into the Hawaiian Islands.

Field experiments showed that females and males of the American carrion beetle, Necrophila americana (L.), are attracted to 45% isopropanol. Numbers of beetles caught in isopropanol-baited Baker traps reflect differences between microhabitats monitored with this lure. Results also suggest that in addition to utilizing the ground as microhabitat, N. americana explores tree canopies.

The black-winged firefly, Luciola cerata Olivier, is endemic to Taiwan and is the most common firefly on the island. Males flash spontaneously and females respond with bioluminescent flashes at fixed response delays. In order to explore the potential for sexual selection in L. cerata, we surveyed males at 12 sites in Taiwan. We measured variation in male morphological characteristics and mated males to females. Male flash behavior and mating success was quantified under a variety of experimental sex ratios in the lab. We found there are two male morphs of this species, which are distinguishable only by the morphology of the lantern. One morph has a pentagonal second light segment, while the other has a semi-oval second light segment and only produces a flash with the first lantern segment. Besides this difference in morphology, the flash patterns and mating behavior also differ between these two morphs. Males with a pentagonal segment have a faster flashing rate than those with a semi-oval segment and are considered more attractive to females in groups with male-biased sex ratios. Furthermore, females that mate with the pentagonal-segment morph demonstrate greater fecundity than those that mate with the semi-oval-segment morph.

We conducted studies to determine the distribution, abundance, and conservation status of Omus submetallicus G. Horn. From pitfall traps and visual searches, we found 286 O. submetallicus adults at six sites in far western Fresno County, California where larval burrows were abundant and widespread. The same survey methods produced 975 Omus californicus lecontei G. Horn, mostly from seven sites in San Benito County, but others from two sites, one within 300 m of one of the O. submetallicus sites. Contrary to previous reports, we conclude that O. submetallicus does not occur in Monterey County (including Priest Valley) or in Kings County, but ranges east of the designated Warthan Canyon type locality where the habitat is generally drier and less densely vegetated than most of the rest of the canyon. Omus submetallicus is primarily associated with blue oak woodland and bull (digger) pine, but not with poison oak as previously reported. We predict that the actual range of O. submetallicus extends several miles north and south of the sites where we found it along Hwy. 198 because similar habitat is present in various small canyons there. This area is mostly private property, roadless, and accessible only on foot, so thorough surveys are difficult. All populations were on private lands used for low intensity cattle grazing which does not seem to pose a significant risk to the species. Because this area is unlikely to be developed in the near future, the species does not seem to be in danger of extinction at this time, despite its extremely limited geographic range.

Four main phenotypes of Propylea japonica (Thunberg) occur in Wuhan, China: ancora, dionea,feliciae, and tessellata. The occurrence of these phenotypes in broad bean, wheat, and com was investigated. Body size, prey capacity, and starvation resistance were assessed for their relatedness to the different phenotypes. Individuals of ancora were dominant in the three crops and abundance of feliciae and tessellata was low. In various crops, the body length of feticiae adults was found to be larger than that of tessellata, and body width of ancora females was larger than that of tessellata females. Males of ancora consumed more Aphis craccivora Koch (about 45 per day) than males of feliciae. There were, however, no significant differences in starvation resistance among the four phenotypes. Our results demonstrated that the most abundant phenotype, ancora, had some advantages in terms of body width and voracity, while the less dominant phenotypes (feliciae and tessellata) were, respectively, less voracious and of smaller size. This indicates that body size and prey capacity may relate to the variable phenotype abundance occurring in crop environments.

Three species of the genus Sanfilippodytes Franciscolo, 1979 (Sanfilippodytes adelardi [Rochette, 1983], Sanfilippodytes bidessoides [Leech, 1941], and Sanfilippodytes setifer Roughley and Larson, 2000) have been described from ponds or rain pools in the town of Caspar, California. These species were found to be strongly associated with the pygmy forest of Mendocino, California. The soils of the pygmy forest are strongly podsolized and nearly impenetrable to water. As a result, rain water pools and quickly becomes acidified. All three species were found in these acidic pools, where they are often quite abundant. The small number of specimens collected prior to this study was most likely a result of having an inadequate understanding of the habitat.

Two species of Methiini, Tessaropa hispaniolae Lingafelter, new species, and Methia dolichoptera Lingafelter, new species, (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) from Hispaniola are diagnosed, described, and illustrated. The Dominican Republic represents a new country record for Malacopterus tenellus (F.) (Oemini). A discussion of the tribal characters, followed by a key to the four species of both tribes known from Hispaniola, is included.

The genus Pseudoliogenys Moser is reviewed and placed in the tribe Diplotaxini based on morphological characters. Liogenys bidentula Fairmaire is transferred to the genus Pseudoliogenys, with Pseudoliogenys flavida Moser as a junior synonym (new synonymy). Lectotypes are designated for both names. The gender of the genus Pseudoliogenys is clarified as feminine for the purposes of nomenclature.

Third instars of the Scarabaeinae species Sulcophanaeus menelas (Laporte), Sulcophanaeus Imperator (Chevrolat), Sulcophanaeus batesi (Harold) (all Phanaeini), Ontherus sulcator (F.) (Dichotomiini), and Malagoniella argentina (Gillet) (Canthonini) construct pupation chambers inside brood balls. Similar chambers are constructed by larvae of Anomiopsoides biloba (Burmeister) (Eucraniini) inside nests. The wall of these pupation chambers is a helicoid composed of whorls showing transverse rows of imbricate pellets. When this character is optimized on a simplified cladogram of Scarabaeinae, the helicoidal wall seems to be a synapomorphic character for the clade that includes Phanaeini, Eucraniini, Neotropical Canthonini, and some species of Dichotomiini. It may be predicted that species of other tribes belonging to this clade (Scarabaeini, Gymnopleurini, Eurysternini, and some Coprini) would construct similar pupation chamber walls. In addition, the presence of two other types of pellet arrangements in the pupation chamber wall in species of Liatongus Reitter (Oniticellini) and Heliocopris Hope (Dichotomiini), which are grouped in the other main clade of the subfamily, suggests that the behavior of arranging pellets in rows in the pupation chamber wall appeared in the node that defines Scarabaeinae.