The Atlantic Rainforest is a hotspot of biodiversity, housing several endemic species. Environmental stasis through broad time scales, vast latitudinal extension and landscape heterogeneity are thought to contribute in explaining the greater species richness of this biome. Unfortunately, it is threatened mainly due to anthropic-driven habitat loss. Ectotherms of low-mobility, such as tropical, small soft-bodied railroad-worms, may be especially threatened by anthropogenic climate changes. Many of such species have narrow climatic niches and therefore might become extinct before we know them. Here we describe a new genus endemic of the Atlantic Rainforest mountain ranges, and five spatially disjunct new species. Akamboja gen. nov. is unique by its ten-segmented antenna, IV to VIII with two short symmetrical branches, branches of antennomere IX fused in a singular flabellum, slightly depressed medially; elytron short, surpassing the second to fourth abdominal segment (depending on species); first tarsomere of anterior leg with a ventral comb; claws with six long and asymmetrical teeth; aedeagus with patch of bristles at paramere apex. We provide a key to species as well as illustrations for the diagnostic features. We highlight that Akamboja cleidae sp. nov., as defined here, has a disjunct distribution and its populations are surrounded by an unsuitable environmental matrix, thus are probably reproductively isolated. Future phylogenetic studies should address the evolutionary history and delimitation of this taxon. We also provide a key to genera of Mastinocerinae with ten antennomeres, including Akamboja gen. nov.

Here, based on phylogenetic analyses of 18 taxa and 57 morphological characters, we propose a new firefly genus, Costalampys gen. nov., to accommodate eleven species. Five new species are herein described: C. bella sp. nov., C. capixaba sp. nov., C delicata sp. nov. (designated as type species), C. joanae sp. nov. and C. minima sp. nov. In addition, six species are redescribed and transferred from other genera: C. bisbinotata (Pic) comb. nov., transferred from Platylampis Motschulsky; C. decorata (Olivier) comb. nov., transferred from Ethra Laporte; C. pauper (Olivier) comb. nov., transferred from Cladodes Solier; as well as C. klugii (Motschulsky) comb. nov., C. quadriguttata (Gorham) comb. nov., and C. tricolor (Gorham) comb. nov., transferred from Lucidota Laporte. Costalampys gen. nov. is tentatively placed in Lampyrinae, and is diagnosed by: antennae with 11 articles, III–X basally flabellate, lacking dense and upright bristles; clypeus connected to frons by membrane, pygidium rounded; sternum VIII mucronate; phallus with dorsal plate enlarged apically, projecting ventrally and partially embracing the internal sac. Our phylogenetic analyses supported both the monophyly of Costalampys gen. nov. and the new combinations proposed. However, the relationship among congeneric species was poorly resolved. Finally, we provide illustrations of diagnostic features, distribution maps, as well as a key to Costalampys gen. nov. species, based on males.

Here we describe a new genus, Cleidella gen. nov., and two new species, C. picea sp. nov. and C. silveirai sp. nov., all from Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. The new genus is characterized by the interantennal distance subequal to scape length, antenna with 11 antennomeres, IV to X with two long symmetrical branches; mandibles long, projected and not crossed, pointed forward obliquely from head; maxillary palpi 4‑segmented, last segment digitiform; labial palpi 2‑segmented; posterior tentorial pit consisting of a single small fossa; elytron surpassing from the fourth to fifth abdominal segment, 3.3‑3.9× longer than wide; first tarsomere of protarsus with a ventral comb as long as the tarsomere length; wing with radial cell closed and transverse, vein r4 interrupted; aedeagus with paramere symmetrical, apex unevenly round, toothed inward, with short and scarce bristles. We provide a key to Mastinocerinae genera with 11 antennomeres, as well as illustrations for the diagnostic features for this new genus and a key to its species.

Akamboja was recently described based on five species with relatively small geographic ranges, all of which are within the boundaries of the South-eastern Atlantic Rainforest in Brazil. Recent expeditions in the continental island of Ilha Grande (Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil) resulted in the discovery of a new species of the genus. Akamboja insularis sp. nov. has all diagnostic features of the genus, except for the branches of the antennomere IX, which are separated, unlike any other Akamboja. Here, we describe this new species, provide a new record for Akamboja minimum Roza et al. and propose a new diagnosis for the genus. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:DC47825C-B276-49CC-88DC-DFDC5D843356

Here we describe a new genus, Microphrixothrixgen. nov., and two new species, Michrophrixothrix gandarelasp. nov. and Michrophrixothrix kumagaiaesp. nov., both from Minas Gerais, Brazil. This new genus is distinguished by the following character combination: interantennal distance larger than scape length, antenna with eleven antennomeres, IV to X with two long symmetrical branches; mandible long, pointed forward; maxillary palpi 4-segmented, last segment digitiform; labial palpi 3-segmented: posterior tentorial pit consisting of a single small fossa; elytron medium, surpassing the fourth abdominal segment, 4× longer than wide; first and second tarsomere of protarsus, and first tarsomere of mesotarsus with a ventral comb as long as the tarsomere length; wing with radial cell closed and transverse, vein r4 interrupted; aedeagus with paramere asymmetrical, apex toothed, with a patch of bristles. We provide a key to Mastinocerinae genera with 11-segmented antennae as well as illustrations for the diagnostic features for this new genus and a key to its species. We discuss the asymmetry in the aedeagus of Phengodidae, recorded for three previously described genera (Brasilocerus Wittmer, 1963, Mastinocerus Solier, 1849 and Taximastinocerus Wittmer, 1963) and Microphrixothrixgen. nov. We advocate that this feature is caused either by a change in mating position or by a one-sided reduction to save space and resources.

Here I describe a new genus, Iviephengus gen. nov., based on a single species, Iviephengus ferreirai gen. et sp. nov., from Peru. This new genus is characterized by the following combination of characters: interantennal distance close to 3 × the antennal socket length; antenna 12-segmented, IV to XI each with two long symmetrical compressed and apically slightly enlarged branches; labrum fused to frontoclypeus; mandibles short, obliquely crossed, each with a notch on the external margin to fit the other mandible and without extra teeth; maxillary palpi 4-segmented, last segment digitiform; labial palpi 2-segmented; posterior tentorial pit consisting of a single small fossa; wing with radial cell closed and transverse, vein r4 interrupted, r3 absent; first tarsomere of pro- and mesotarsus with a ventral comb covering the posterior half of the tarsomere; claws simple, without any teeth; aedeagus with paramere symmetrical, apex unevenly round, toothed inward, with short and sparse bristles. I provide a key to Mastinocerinae genera with 12-segmented antennae and the first pro- and mesotarsomere with ventral combs. I also provide illustrations for the diagnostic features for this new genus. Finally, I discuss the presence and function of some modifications in the mandible and the sternite VIII in Phengodidae and other Coleopteran families.