MicroCT data provide evidence correcting the previous misidentification of an Eocene amber beetle (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae) as an extant species.

The fossil record suggests some insect species have a marked longevity. The oldest fossils purported to represent extant insect species are from the Oligocene and Eocene. One of the most cited fossils is the extant tiger beetle Tetracha carolina (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) that was identified over a century ago by Walther Horn in Eocene Baltic amber. We examined this and compared it to the previously described cincindelid Baltic amber fossil Palaeoiresina cassolai using X-ray microscopy and 3D imaging techniques. We conclude that Horn's fossil tiger beetle specimen is conspecific with the Eocene P. cassolai and is a member of an extinct stem group lineage of Cicindelidae. Based on a review of all the tiger beetle fossils described from Cretaceous and Paleogene deposits, we found that the assignment of these fossil species to extant lineages is not supported. There are currently no synapomorphies known from fossils that can provide evidence for Cretaceous Manticorni or Megacephalini nor is there evidence for Eocene Iresina. We provide evidence that rejects the idea of a recent beetle species persisting since the Eocene period, which is crucial for using the currently known fossil Cicindelidae species to calibrate divergence dating of beetle phylogenies.

The Philippines species of the genus Prothyma Hope, 1838 (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) Part 1: Subgenera Prothyma Hope, 1838, Genoprothyma Rivalier, 1964 and Parasymplecthyma subgen. nov.

The Philippines species of Prothyma Hope, 1838 (Prothyma s.str., Genoprothyma Rivalier, 1964 and Parasymplecthyma subgen. nov.) are revised to include 12 species. Prothyma (Genoprothyma) rotundatocuprascens Horn, 1923, and Prothyma (Genoprothyma) confluenteangustata Horn, 1924, are elevated to species rank; Prothyma (Symplecthyma) claudinae Dheurle, 2012 is synonymized with Prothyma (Genoprothyma) tenuipenis Horn, 1934; and two species are described: Prothyma (Genoprothyma) masbateensis sp. nov. and Prothyma (Genoprothyma) miltonmedinai sp. nov. The subgenus Parasymplecthyma subgen. nov., its unique species Prothyma (Parasymplethyma) johnsoni sp. nov. are described. Keys to Prothyma subgenera and to the Philippines species are provided. Color photographs of the habitus and diagnostic characters, also showing their variability, are presented.

Calochroa miroklichai sp. nov., a new species from Thailand with rectification of different concepts of Calochroa tritoma (Schmidt-Goebel) and comparisons to similar species. (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae).

A new species of the genus Calochroa Hope, 1838 is described as new to science from Thailand. Two different concepts of Calochroa tritoma (Schmidt-Goebel, 1846) are rectified here, stating that the correct concept of C. tritoma (fully corresponding to the holotype in NMPC) is that presented by Naviaux (1991), Naviaux & Pinratana (2004) and Klícha & Durícek (2021), while C. tritoma sensu Pearson et al. (2020) is described here as Calochroa miroklichai sp. nov. Accordingly, C. tritoma sensu Acciavatti & Pearson (1989) represents a different, probably an undescribed species. C. anometallescens (W. Horn, 1893) and Calochroa laurae (Gestro, 1893), as well as the new species, have been partly misidentified as C. tritoma in collections. The occurrence of C. tritoma is newly restricted to Thailand and Myanmar only. The above-mentioned species, as well as Calochroa fumikoae Wiesner & Phyu, 2019 are compared to C. miroklichai sp. nov. Calochroa goebeli (W. Horn, 1895), treated in literature either as a "variety" or junior synonym of C. anometallescens (or confused with C. tritoma), proved to represent a separate species. Some other taxa and discrepancies within the genus are discussed. Habitats and characters of several species versus their relations to the genus Cosmodela Rivalier, 1961 also are annotated. Habitus and diagnostic characters are illustrated in colour photographs, and photographs of the habitus and labels of type specimens of C. tritoma, C. laurae and C. goebeli are presented here for the first time.

Revision of the Therates fruhstorferi complex (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae).

The taxonomic structure of the Therates fruhstorferi species complex (sensu lato) within the batesi-species group is revised. The lectotypes and paralectotypes of Therates fruhstorferi W. Horn, 1902 and Therates fruhstorferi sauteri W. Horn, 1912 are designated. Therates biserratus Tan, Mo, Liang, 1991 and T. vitalisi ida Mandl, 1954 are restored from the synonyms of T. vitalisi W. Horn, 1913 as the separate species and subspecies, respectively while T. sauteri is considered as a separate species, but not as a subspecies of T. fruhstorferi. Three species and two subspecies are described as new: T. fruhstorferi australis ssp. n.-from southern Vietnam; T. pseudovitalisi sp. n.-from northern Laos; T. pseudovitalisi tibetana ssp. n.-from eastern Tibet, China; T. hunanensis sp. n.-from the Chinese Province Hunan; T. ziyardamensis sp. n.-from northern Myanmar. An identification key and distribution map of the species of Therates fruhstorferi complex are provided.

Alien and native tree species having extrafloral nectaries as favorite hunting area for arboreal endemic Philippine tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) in human-disturbed habitat in Lanao del Sur Province, Mindanao, Philippines.

To document a relation between abundance of arboreal, predatory tiger beetles, their ant prey, and extrafloral nectaries attracting the ants, we gathered data from more than 10 species of native and introduced trees and large, tree-like perennial plants in Lanao del Sur Province, Mindanao, Philippines. All specimens of tiger beetles (two Tricondyla and two Neocollyris species, all endemic to the country) were noted on five tree species characterized by presence of extrafloral nectaries, including three alien/invasive and two native ones. Invasive Spathodea campanulata and native Hibiscus tiliaceus were the most inhabited ones (respectively, 56% and 19% of beetles). Presence of tiger beetles on these trees most probably depends on high abundance of ants, which are typical prey for arboreal Cicindelidae, while occurrence of ants can result from presence of extrafloral nectaries on different parts of the plants. This suggests a new mutualistic insect-plant interaction between native and invasive species.

Tiger beetles (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae) of Northern Mindanao region (Philippines): checklist, distributional maps, and habitats.

The knowledge about tiger beetle fauna of the Northern Mindanao region (Philippines) is summarized based on literature data and new records. Thirty species classified in ten genera (Tricondyla, Neocollyris, Protocollyris, Therates, Prothyma, Heptodonta, Thopeutica, Lophyra, Calomera, and Cylindera) were documented from the area (56% of tiger beetle fauna of Mindanao and 21% of Philippine species). Twelve species were noted from Northern Mindanao region for the first time, including five taxa, Neocollyris speciosa, Calomera angulata, Cylindera minuta, Lophyra striolata tenuiscripta, and Thopeutica virginea, not recorded from Mindanao before. Distribution maps for all recorded species and the first photographs of habitats for some species in Mindanao and/or in the Philippines are provided. Eight species (27% of recorded fauna) were noted from riverine habitats while 18 tiger beetles (60%) were typical forest taxa; in the case of four species, their habitats in Northern Mindanao region are not known.