Larvae of some leaf beetles carry masses of feces covering parts or all of the body, which is called a “fecal shield”. In general, the shield is thought to be a defense structure against natural enemies. However, some studies have suggested that defense effectiveness varies depending on the natural enemy. In this study, we used a fecal retention leaf beetle Ophrida xanthospilota (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), and 2 local generalist predators (an ant, Camponotus japonicus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and a stinkbug, Arma custos [Hemiptera: Pentatomidae]) as a system to test the hypothesis that the fecal shield of O. xanthospilota plays different roles in predation behavior of different predators and can provide multiple chemical communication signals in predator–prey interactions. Prey bioassays showed that the fecal shield of O. xanthospilota larvae repelled the ant C. japonicus while attracting the stinkbug A. custos. The results also strongly demonstrated that hexane extracts of the fecal shield significantly repelled C. japonicus, while dichloromethane (DCM) extracts did not inhibit ant predation. Interestingly, DCM extracts attracted A. custos, but hexane extracts did not. Therefore, we suggest that the fecal shield is a double-edged sword for the larvae of O. xanthospilota. Our results also indicated that the risk–benefit tradeoff of an insect should be estimated at a community level involving multiple enemies (predators and parasites) and herbivores, rather than in a single prey–predator pair.

Two new species of Longitarsus Latreille, 1829 from China are described: L. pekingensis Liang, Konstantinov & Ge, sp. nov. (Beijing) and L. xinjiangensis Liang, Konstantinov & Ge, sp. nov. (Xinjiang). Images of dorsal and lateral habitus, pronotum, head, and male and female genitalia are provided. The records of Longitarsus violentus Weise, 1893 and Longitarsus weisei Guillebeau, 1895 in China are discussed. Holotypes of L. marguzoricus Konstantinov in Konstantinov & Lopatin, 2000 and L. violentoides Konstantinov in Konstantinov & Lopatin, 2000 are illustrated with images of pronotum and median lobe of aedeagus. A key to species of L. violentus species group is provided.

The model organism Drosophila melanogaster, as a species of Holometabola, undergoes a series of transformations during metamorphosis. To deeply understand its development, it is crucial to study its anatomy during the key developmental stages. We describe the anatomical systems of the thorax, including the endoskeleton, musculature, nervous ganglion, and digestive system, from the late pupal stage to the adult stage, based on micro-CT and 3D visualizations. The development of the endoskeleton causes original and insertional changes in muscles. Several muscles change their shape during development in a non-uniform manner with respect to both absolute and relative size; some become longer and broader, while others shorten and become narrower. Muscular shape may vary during development. The number of muscular bundles also increases or decreases. Growing muscles are probably anchored by the tissues in the stroma. Some muscles and tendons are absent in the adult stage, possibly due to the hardened sclerites. Nearly all flight muscles are present by the third day of the pupal stage, which may be due to the presence of more myofibers with enough mitochondria to support flight power. There are sexual differences in the same developmental period. In contrast to the endodermal digestive system, the functions of most thoracic muscles change in the development from the larva to the adult in order to support more complex locomotion under the control of a more structured ventral nerve cord based on the serial homology proposed herein.

The functional anatomy of the split compound eyes of whirligig beetles Dineutus mellyi (Coleoptera: Gyrinidae) was examined by advanced microscopy and microcomputed tomography. We report the first 3D visualization and analysis of the split compound eyes. On average, the dorsal and ventral eyes contain 1913 ± 44.5 facets and 3099 ± 86.2 facets, respectively. The larger area of ventral eyes ensures a higher field of vision underwater. The ommatidium of the split compound eyes is made up of laminated cornea lenses that offer protection against mechanical injuries, bullet-shaped crystalline cones that guide light to the photoreceptive regions, and screening pigments that ensure directional light passage. The photoreceptive elements, made up of eight retinular cells, exhibit a tri-tiered rhabdom structure, including the upper distal rhabdom, a clear zone that ensures maximum light passage, and an enlarged lower distal rhabdom that ensures optimal photon capture.

The genus Macrispa Baly, 1859, previously known only from Southeast Asia and south of the Himalayas, has remained unrecorded in China until now. Here, we report the first discovery of Macrispa saundersii Baly, 1859 from Xizang Autonomous Region, China, representing a northward range extension for the genus. Through integrative examination of external morphology and male genitalia, we provide a comprehensive redescription of M. saundersii. High-resolution stacked imaging was employed to document key taxonomic characters, including elytral punctation patterns, stridulatory files, abdominal ventrite structures, and male genitalia.

The oriental genus Labidolanguria Fowler, 1908, previously remained unknown in China, is revised in this study. A new species, Labidolanguria liangi Huang, sp. nov., is described and illustrated from the Xizang Autonomous Region. Two new combinations are proposed: Labidolanguria apicata (Zia, 1959), comb. nov., and L. sauteri (Fowler, 1913), comb. nov. This genus now comprises four recognized species in Asian, and a key is provided for their identification. The relationship of the genus Labidolanguria to closely related genera is discussed.