Taxonomic revision of the genus Phylacastus Fairmaire (Tenebrionidae, Eurynotina): shortfalls of anatomical nomenclature with notes on aedeagal homology.

The genus Phylacastus Fairmaire (Tenebrionidae, Blaptinae, Platynotini, Eurynotina) is revised. Two new species and one new synonymy are presented along with new diagnoses, descriptions, a distribution map, and key to species. The resulting species of Phylacastus are: P.ancoralium sp. nov., P.crypticoides Koch (= P.pretoriensis Koch syn. nov.), P.makskacymirowi sp. nov., P.rhodesianus Koch, and P.striolatus Fairmaire. Lectotypes are designated for the type species, P.striolatus, to fix the taxonomic status of the species and genus. As a result of examination and subsequent description of P.ancoralium sp. nov., a brief review and treatment of aedeagal morphology is presented. The nomenclature ("clavae" versus "laciniae") and phylogenetic occurrence of accessory structures of the paramere-median lobe area within Blaptinae Leach and Adelinina LeConte (Diaperinae, Diaperini) are discussed. New descriptive terminology (i.e., ancora [singular] and ancorae [plural]) is proposed for these aedeagal structures in Blaptinae to clarify their function and resolve past ambiguities. The morphology within representatives of Adelina Dejean, Alphitophagus Stephens, Gnatocerus Thunberg, and Sitophagus Mulsant is also briefly contrasted and outlined.

Fossoriality in desert-adapted tenebrionid (Coleoptera) larvae.

In many extreme arid ecosystems, insects constitute major faunal components and are key contributors in nutrient cycling. Previous research on xerophily in insects has focused on adult forms. This study investigates skeletomuscular and behavioural adaptations of the Kalahari sandworm beetle larvae (Gonopus tibialis Fabricius) for dwelling in the sand. Microcomputed tomography enabled cuticle thickness distribution analysis, revealing structural reinforcements of the mandibular edge, the middle part of the head, and the ventral side of the front legs. Laboratory observations and the analysis of muscular system allowed for the definition and functional description of the elements of the digging apparatus of the sandworm larvae. Obtained results point to the crucial role of the head and mandibles in the digging process. These observations are important for understanding desert ecology and pose a challenge to develop newer excavation techniques.

The tracheal system in post-embryonic development of holometabolous insects: a case study using the mealworm beetle.

The tracheal (respiratory) system is regarded as one of the key elements which enabled insects to conquer terrestrial habitats and, as a result, achieve extreme species diversity. Despite this fact, anatomical data concerning this biological system is relatively scarce, especially in an ontogenetic context. The purpose of this study is to provide novel and reliable information on the post-embryonic development of the tracheal system of holometabolous insects using micro-computed tomography methods. Data concerning the structure of the respiratory system acquired from different developmental stages (larvae, pupae and adults) of a single insect species (Tenebrio molitor) are co-analysed in detail. Anatomy of the tracheal system is presented. Sample sizes used (29 individuals) enabled statistical analysis of the results obtained. The following aspects have been investigated (among others): the spiracle arrangement, the number of tracheal ramifications originating from particular spiracles, the diameter of longitudinal trunks, tracheal system volumes, tracheae diameter distribution and fractal dimension analysis. Based on the data acquired, the modularity of the tracheal system is postulated. Using anatomical and functional factors, the following respiratory module types have been distinguished: cephalo-prothoracic, metathoracic and abdominal. These modules can be unambiguously identified in all of the studied developmental stages. A cephalo-prothoracic module aerates organs located in the head capsule, prothorax and additionally prolegs. It is characterised by relatively thick longitudinal trunks and originates in the first thoracic spiracle pair. Thoracic modules support the flight muscles, wings, elytra, meso- and metalegs. The unique feature of this module is the presence of additional longitudinal connections between the neighbouring spiracles. These modules are concentrated around the second prothoracic and the first abdominal spiracle pairs. An abdominal module is characterised by relatively thin ventral longitudinal trunks. Its main role is to support systems located in the abdomen; however, its long visceral tracheae aerate organs situated medially from the flight muscles. Analysis of changes of the tracheal system volume enabled the calculation of growth scaling among body tissues and the volume of the tracheal system. The data presented show that the development of the body volume and tracheal system is not linear in holometabola due to the occurrence of the pupal stage causing a decrease in body volume in the imago and at the same time influencing high growth rates of the tracheal system during metamorphosis, exceeding that ones observed for hemimetabola.

Afrotropical Melambiina: revision of the genus Tragardhus Koch, 1956 and redescription of Pseudemmallus Koch, 1956 (Tenebrionidae: Pedinini).

The genus Tragardhus Koch, 1956 (Pedinini: Melambiina) is revised to include nine Afrotropical species, five of which are new. A taxonomic treatment of the genus is provided including a morphological study, new species descriptions, keys, illustrations, and notes on species distributions. The following species are included: Tragardhus (Mitragardhus) nodosus Koch, 1956, T. (M.) ewae sp. nov., T. (M.) ryszardi sp. nov., T. (M.) zuzannae sp. nov., Tragardhus (Tragardhus) biapicalis Koch, 1956, T. (T.) glandipleurum Koch, 1956, T. (T.) jani sp. nov., T. (T.) majae sp. nov. and T. (T.) stigmaticus Koch, 1956. Additionally, a monotypic genus Pseudemmallus Koch, 1956, previously known from a single specimen representing P. aspericollis Koch, 1956, is redescribed based on newly available material.

Three new species of trigonopoid Platynotina (Tenebrionidae: Pedinini) from the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve, South Africa.

Three new species representing closely related genera of the trigonopoid Platynotina are described from the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve in South Africa: Atrocrates kandai sp. nov., A. smithi sp. nov. and Schelodontes baviaanskloofensis sp. nov. Based on newly acquired material, the taxonomic concept of Atrocrates is verified. Phylogenetic relationships between Atrocrates and Schelodontes are briefly discussed.

A taxonomic revision of the Quadrideres simplicipes species-group (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pedinini), including description of a new species from Tanzania.

The taxonomic and distributional data concerning the representatives of the Quadrideres simplicipes species-group is revised. Selinus parallelus Ancey, 1877, considered by some previous authors as incertae sedis Platynotina species, is transferred to the genus Quadrideres. Q. ruandanus Koch, 1956 is proposed as a synonym of S. parallelus. Lectotypes for Selinus parallelus, S. simplicipes Gebien, 1910, Q. robynsi Koch, 1956 and Q. ruandanus are designated to fix the taxonomic status of these species. Q. kazimierzi sp. nov. is described as a new species. An identification key is provided to all known species of the Q. simplicipes species-group. This paper brings the total species number within the genus Quadrideres to 20.

The Last Breath: A µCT-based method for investigating the tracheal system in Hexapoda.

In recent years, µCT-based studies of the insect tracheal system have become an increasingly important area of research. Nevertheless, the methods proposed in previous research for investigating the respiratory system in the three-dimensional space were described and tested based on a relatively small number of specimens. Additionally, the individuals studied in all these cases represented only a single post-embryonic stadium - pupa or imago - of a particular insect species. Therefore, in the current situation it is difficult to predict the reliability and possible limitations of these methods. To address this problem we conducted a methodological study, during which we used 65 individuals representing larvae, pupae and imagines of the mealworm beetle (Tenebrio molitor). In addition to the protocol previously described, which implicated freezing as a killing technique, we also tested a novel one, which was based on ethyl acetate fumigation of the specimens studied. We included step-by-step guides for the manual and semiautomatic approaches in order to facilitate the digital visualization of the tracheal system. Our investigations enabled us to generate multiple models of the tracheal system of all post-embryonic stages of the mealworm beetle. The methods used proved to be minimally invasive, thus allowing for the application of post-scanning manipulations, such as drying with critical point dryer (CPD). This approach enabled us to merge different three-dimensional models into a single picture and analyse the relationship of the tracheal system with other tissues (e.g., muscles, nervous system). We comprehensively discuss the advantages and possible limitations of the tested methods and provide practical suggestions for conducting the analyses on a wider scale. The visualizations presented in this publication are the first three-dimensional models of the respiratory system using a representative of the extremely diverse order Coleoptera.

A cladistically based reinterpretation of the taxonomy of two Afrotropical tenebrionid genera Ectateus Koch, 1956 and Selinus Mulsant & Rey, 1853 (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Platynotina).

On the basis of a newly performed cladistic analysis a new classification of the representatives of two Afrotropical tenebrionid genera, Ectateus Koch, 1956 and Selinus Mulsant & Rey, 1853 sensu Iwan 2002a, is provided. Eleoselinus is described as a new genus. The genus Monodius, previously synonymized with Selinus by Iwan (2002), is redescribed and considered as a separate genus. Following new combinations are proposed: Ectateus calcaripes (Gebien, 1904), Monodius laevistriatus (Fairmaire, 1897), Monodius lamottei (Gridelli, 1954), Monodius plicicollis (Fairmaire, 1897), Eleoselinus villiersi (Ardoin, 1965) and Eleoselinus ursynowiensis (Kaminski, 2011). Neotype for Ectateus calcaripes and lectotypes for E. crenatus (Fairmaire, 1897), E. ghesquierei Koch, 1956 and Monodius malaisei malaisei Koch, 1956 are designated to fix the taxonomic status of these taxa. The following synonymies are proposed: Selinus monardi Kaszab, 1951 and Ectateus latipennis Koch, 1956 with E. crenatus (Fairmaire, 1897). Identification keys are provided to all known species of Ectateus sensu novum, Eleoselinus, Monodius and Selinus sensu novum.

Taxonomy and distribution of the Afrotropical genus Anchophthalmops Koch, 1956 with a key to species (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pedinini).

The taxonomic and distributional data concerning the representatives of the genus Anchophthalmops were revised. Lectotypes for Anchophthalmopsfoveipennis and A. ventralis were designated to fix the taxonomic status of these species. A. neumanni and A. zablockii were described as new species. Maximum entropy modeling was used to test the probability of occurrence of A. menouxi on Madagascar. An identification key is provided to all known species of Anchophthalmops.

Taxonomy of the genus Kochogaster Kaminski et Ras, 2011 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pedinini), with description of a second known species.

A second species of the genus Kochogaster Kaminski et Ras (K. gerardi sp. n.) is described from the surroundings of Garissa (Kenya). The taxonomic concept and phylogenetic relationships of Kochogaster are discussed. A distributional map is presented with complete faunistic data on the genus. Additionally, the original spelling of the name Anchophthalmus inuelleri Schimrosczyk, 2010 is emended to A. muellerae due the rules of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.