Foveapeltis gen. nov., an unusual cleroid genus with large hypomeral cavities from mid-Cretaceous amber (Coleoptera: Cleroidea).

Beetles have a remote evolutionary history dating back to the Carboniferous, with Mesozoic fossils playing a pivotal role in elucidating the early evolution of extant families. Despite their exceptional preservation in amber, deciphering the systematic positions of Mesozoic trogossitid-like beetles remains challenging. Here, we describe and illustrate a new trogossitid-like lineage from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber, Foveapeltis rutai Li, Kolibác, Liu & Cai, gen. et sp. nov. Foveapeltis stands out within the Cleroidea due to the presence of a significant large cavity on each hypomeron. While the exact phylogenetic placement of Foveapeltis remains uncertain, we offer a discussion on its potential affinity based on our constrained phylogenetic analyses.

A new species of the rare monotypic genus Cyrtinoclerus Chapin from Borneo, with notes on Meprinogenus Kolibác (Coleoptera: Thanerocleridae).

Cyrtinoclerus sabahensis sp. nov. of the less diverse cleroid family Thanerocleridae is described from Borneo. The unique specimen was found in the Malaysian state of Sabah and represents the first collecting record of the genus in one hundred years. The new species is assigned to the hitherto monotypic genus Cyrtinoclerus Chapin, 1924, whose single species is known from a single specimen from Basilan, Philippines, with no subsequently collected specimens known to date. Cyrtinoclerus is distinct in its unique synapomorphies, namely the tarsi with formula 5-5-5 but tarsomeres 4 reduced in size, elytron depressed in basal third with distinct bulge, and seriate punctation of elytra. The genus is re-examined and again classified within Thanerocleridae. A systematic status of Cyrtinoclerus and its relative Meprinogenus Kolibác, 1992, also known only from two just one-hundred-year-old specimens, is discussed and possible synonymy of the latter genus suggested. The family Thanerocleridae now comprises 38 extant species in eleven genera and four extinct Cretaceous genera and species found in Burmese and Charentese ambers. A phylogenetic analysis of all fifteen extinct and extant genera of Thanerocleridae based on 36 morphological characters is presented and updated key to the tribe Thaneroclerini provided.

Review of the Family Thanerocleridae (Coleoptera: Cleroidea) and the Description of Thanerosus gen. nov. from Cretaceous Amber Using Micro-CT Scanning.

The predaceous beetle family Thanerocleridae is one of the smallest families of Cleroidea. It comprises only 36 extant species widespread on all continents. Three more species have been described from Cretaceous ambers of Myanmar and France. The fourth fossil representative of Thanerocleridae is described herein. Thanerosus antiquus gen. and sp. nov. is based on one fossil specimen preserved in an amber piece from Upper Cretaceous Kachin amber. The holotype was imaged using an X-ray micro-CT system to obtain high-quality 3D images. A phylogenetic analysis based on 33 morphological characters supports the placement of the new genus at the basal position in a tree of Thanerocleridae, in the vicinity of extant Zenodosus Wolcott and three extinct Mesozoic genera with which the new fossil shares open procoxal and mesocoxal cavities and transverse procoxae. We offer here a key to all extant and extinct genera in the family together with a complete list of all valid thaneroclerid taxa.

A New Genus and Species of Lophocateridae from Mid-Cretaceous Amber of Myanmar (Coleoptera).

A new genus and species of the cleroid family Lophocateridae are described and illustrated from the mid-Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar. Gracilenticrus burmiticus Yu, Kolibác & Slipinski gen. et sp. nov. is unique among Lophocateridae in the tiny body size, frontoclypeal suture and antennal grooves absent, symmetrical antennal clubs, protrochantin reduced, tarsal claws small and widened at base. A key to the species of Mesozoic Lophocateridae is also provided. Morphological characters of the newly discovered Gracilenticrus were analyzed together with representatives of 43 extant genera of Cleroidea (broadly defined Trogossitidae) in a matrix of 91 characters. Gracilenticrus burmiticus was resolved as a member of Lophocateridae. The discovery of a diverse fauna of Lophocateridae in the mid-Cretaceous sheds a new light on the early evolution of superfamily Cleroidea.

Carinicateres merkli gen. et sp. nov. from Thailand, with notes on identification of two lophocateride beetles used in recent molecular phylogenies (Cleroidea, Lophocateridae).

Carinicateres merkli gen. et sp. nov. of Lophocateridae from eastern Thailand is described. The monotypic genus is distinct in its unique synapomorphies, namely the tarsal formula 4-4-4, elytron with 2 complete and 3 incomplete carinae, antenna 10-segmented with 2-segmented club. The emarginate frontoclypeal suture, mandible with mola, prementum divided into two parts, cranium dorsally with large impressions, each with seta in centre, crenulate lateral margins of pronotum, and distinct dorsal vestiture are shared with lophocateride genera Indopeltis Crowson and Trichocateres Kolibác. Two specimens affiliated to Lophocateres Olliff and recently used in three molecular phylogenetic analyses are unambiguously identified as members of the clade Ancyrona + Neaspis and associated with Neaspis Pascoe.

Fauna Europaea: Coleoptera 2 (excl. series Elateriformia, Scarabaeiformia, Staphyliniformia and superfamily Curculionoidea).

Fauna Europaea provides a public web-service with an index of scientific names (including synonyms) of all living European land and freshwater animals, their geographical distribution at country level (up to the Urals, excluding the Caucasus region), and some additional information. The Fauna Europaea project covers about 230,000 taxonomic names, including 130,000 accepted species and 14,000 accepted subspecies, which is much more than the originally projected number of 100,000 species. This represents a huge effort by more than 400 contributing specialists throughout Europe and is a unique (standard) reference suitable for many users in science, government, industry, nature conservation and education. Coleoptera represent a huge assemblage of holometabolous insects, including as a whole more than 200 recognized families and some 400,000 described species worldwide. Basic information is summarized on their biology, ecology, economic relevance, and estimated number of undescribed species worldwide. Little less than 30,000 species are listed from Europe. The Coleoptera 2 section of the Fauna Europaea database (Archostemata, Myxophaga, Adephaga and Polyphaga excl. the series Elateriformia, Scarabaeiformia, Staphyliniformia and the superfamily Curculionoidea) encompasses 80 families (according to the previously accepted family-level systematic framework) and approximately 13,000 species. Tabulations included a complete list of the families dealt with, the number of species in each, the names of all involved specialists, and, when possible, an estimate of the gaps in terms of total number of species at an European level. A list of some recent useful references is appended. Most families included in the Coleoptera 2 Section have been updated in the most recent release of the Fauna Europaea index, or are ready to be updated as soon as the FaEu data management environment completes its migration from Zoological Museum Amsterdam to Berlin Museum für Naturkunde.

Nemozoma gymnosternalis sp. nov., a new anomalous species of Trogossitidae from Brazil.

Nemozoma gymnosternalis sp. nov., a new member of the tribe Trogossitini (Trogossitidae) from southeastern Brazil is described. The species is distinct in its morphological characters, namely the shortened elytra, abdominal tergites enwound with projected folds of ventrites, and modified structure of extremely shortened ovipositor. Léveillé's assignment of Airora quadrimaculatus Léveillé, 1894 to the genus Corticotomus Sharp, 1891 is confirmed. The systematics of brachelytric species of Nemozoma Latreille, 1804 is briefly discussed. The presence of two projecting cranial horns, a structure that occurs in several unrelated beetle groups with a similar biology, is also mentioned. 

Sedlacekvia kinchegaensis, a new species of a charismatic genus from Australia, with notes on its systematics (Coleoptera, Cleridae).

Sedlacekvia kinchegaensis sp. nov., a new member of the hitherto monotypic genus Sedlacekvia Winkler, 1989 is described from an arid region of New South Wales, Australia. As the genus has not been associated with any subfamily of Cleridae yet, its classification within Clerinae and phylogenetic relation with Odontophlogistus Elston, 1923 (Cleridae: Clerinae) is proposed.

Trogossitidae: A review of the beetle family, with a catalogue and keys.

THE FAMILY TROGOSSITIDAE (COLEOPTERA: Cleroidea) is reviewed to species level. Keys to its genera, tribes and subfamilies are presented for the first time. All known species and subspecies are listed, together with complete taxonomic references back to 1910, the date of issue of the last catalogue of Trogossitidae. Higher taxa reviews are accompanied by remarks on phylogeny, distribution and biology as well as a brief description of adults and larvae. All known fossil records of Trogossitidae are reviewed and discussed. The work includes maps of distribution, colour photographs of generic representatives, morphological illustrations, SEM photographs and phylogenetic trees.