Urbanization is widely recognized as a driver of increased pathogen transmission, primarily through landscape modification and heightened contact rates between hosts and vectors, which can elevate parasite prevalence and virulence. In this survey, we investigated the prevalence and parasitemia rates of avian malaria in urban and rural areas within a tropical dry forest region of eastern Guatemala—an area undergoing substantial transformation from natural landscapes to urbanized environments. Using a combination of microscopy and PCR-based techniques, we diagnosed and quantified malaria parasites in 181 blood samples collected from 33 wild bird species. Our findings revealed a moderate overall prevalence of avian malaria (38%), with Plasmodium spp. being the most prevalent, followed by Haemoproteus spp. Notably, no Leucocytozoon infections were detected in the sampled populations.

A new fossil weevil species of the cossonine genus Caulophilus Wollaston, Caulophilus ayotzinapa Barrios-Izás, new species, from the late Oligocene to middle Miocene amber of Totolapa, Chiapas, Mexico, is described. This represents the first record of the genus from Mexican amber. Diagnostic characters are the subquadrate shape of the pronotum, the lesser distance between eyes in dorsal view, the shallow seriate-punctate pattern of striae, interstices 8 and 9 costate, and the shape of the basal half of the tibiae widening apicad from the base to the middle of the tibiae.

We describe the Mesoamerican leaf litter weevil genus Plumolepilius Barrios-Izás & Anderson, new genus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae: Conotrachelini) (type species P. trifiniensis Barrios-Izás & Anderson, new species), species of which inhabit mountain ecosystems from the state of Chiapas in southeastern Mexico to northern Panama. In this paper we describe nine new species from Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador: P. trifiniensis Barrios-Izás & Anderson, new species (El Salvador and Guatemala); P. branstetteri Barrios-Izás & Anderson, new species (Guatemala and Mexico); P. longinoi Barrios-Izás & Anderson, new species (Guatemala and Mexico); P. cortezi Barrios-Izás & Anderson, new species (Guatemala and Mexico); P. canoi Barrios-Izás & Anderson, new species (Guatemala); P. schusteri Barrios-Izás & Anderson, new species (Guatemala and Mexico); P. daryi Barrios-Izás & Anderson, new species (Guatemala); P. yolnabajensis Barrios-Izás & Anderson, new species (Guatemala); and P. macalajauensis Barrios-Izás & Anderson, new species (Guatemala). The genus and the species are named and described, information on their geographical distributions is given and images of the habitus of both sexes and the aedeagus are presented. A key to the species of Plumolepilius based on males is included. The monophyly of Plumolepilius was confirmed by a parsimony analysis of external and male aedeagus morphology and the genus is best characterized by the presence of plumose scales lining the prosternal channel. Phylogenetic analysis supports that Lepilius Champion 1905 is the sister genus of Plumolepilius.

Seventeen new species of the genus Plumolepilius Barrios-Izás & Anderson 2016, are described. Images of habitus and genitalia of both sexes are presented, as well as a dichotomous key for the identification of males and females of the known species of the genus. The species included here are P. andersoni Barrios-Izás, new species (Costa Rica and Panamá), P. antonioi Barrios-Izás, new species (Honduras), P. camuna Barrios-Izás, new species (Nicaragua), P. genieri Barrios-Izás, new species (Honduras), P. guaimacaensis Barrios-Izás, new species (Honduras), P. hectori Barrios-Izás, new species (Costa Rica), P. linaresi Barrios-Izás, new species (Honduras), P. maesi Barrios-Izás, new species (Nicaragua), P. molinai Barrios-Izás, new species (Honduras), P. monzoni Barrios-Izás, new species (Guatemala), P. morronei Barrios-Izás, new species (Honduras), P. nelsoni Barrios-Izás, new species (Honduras), P. nicaraguensis Barrios-Izás, new species (Nicaragua), P. obrienorum Barrios-Izás, new species (Costa Rica), P. solisi Barrios-Izás, new species (Costa Rica), P. velizi Barrios-Izás, new species (Honduras) and P. zarazagai Barrios-Izás, new species (Honduras).

Since its development in 2020, the Guatemala Biodiversity Portal (Fig. 1), generated with Symbiota (Gries et al. 2014, Gilbert et al. 2020, Symbiota Support Hub 2021), has turned into an outstanding resource to facilitate the digitization, mobilization, and use of specimen data from local natural history collections (Orellana et al. 2023). More than 50,000 records and several thousands of images from Guatemalan zoological, botanical, mycological, and paleontological collections have been shared online for the first time in this portal. An integrated Symbiota installation allows further data mobilization to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF.org 2024a), amplifying its impact on biodiversity research at an international level. To date, more than 42,000 records have been shared from the Guatemala Biodiversity Portal (GBIF.org 2024b), promoting visibility and recognition for national collections and researchers as shown by more than 300 citations in scientific literature, and the presence of at least 50 local collectors and taxonomists in the platform, Bionomia (Shorthouse 2020). Personalized training, documentation, and technical support have been key to the growing success of the portal (Orellana et al. 2022a, Portal de Biodiversidad de Guatemala 2023). Continuous leadership provided by portal managers and the Symbiota team has additionally amplified the active participation of the Guatemalan collections community. Engagement with undergraduate students has also been crucial to increasing the volume of specimen digitization. Outreach and crowdsourcing activities, as well as guided assignments and temporary internships in research projects, have contributed to transcribing most of the available data. Careful supervision by collection and portal managers, integrated data cleaning tools (Pearson 2021), and a curated taxonomic thesaurus (Orellana et al. 2022b) help maintain the accuracy of the digital records in the portal. Furthermore, the improving accessibility to specimen data from Guatemalan collections and tailored resources in a bilingual Spanish-English interface (e.g., interactive checklists, Pearson and Walker 2021), have made the portal an important source of information, enabling local researchers to develop and share studies about the natural diversity of the country (Prado et al. 2023, Vásquez-Almazán 2023). Additional outcomes, strategies, and reflections about the dynamics of the community will be shared during the presentation.

Aedes mosquitoes play a pivotal role as vectors of several arboviral diseases, presenting significant public health challenges worldwide. Their invasive success in tropical regions has raised substantial medical concerns. In Guatemala, Aedes mosquitoes are widely distributed and are the primary vectors of the dengue virus. Efforts to control and monitor Aedes populations have evolved over time, incorporating strategies such as spatial repellents, larvicides, genetic modifications, and targeted interventions. Previous research has shown the heterogeneous spatial-temporal distribution of these mosquitoes within each season, influenced by temperature variations and favorable environmental conditions for breeding. This study analyzed hot-spot patterns of spatiotemporal egg density in Santa Elena de la Cruz, Petén, Guatemala, from March to September 2022. The aim was to determine whether these patterns were influenced by non-residential larval habitats with plant cover that are not treated by healthcare entities, as well as the proximity between such habitats. Our findings include the collection and registration of over 16,000 Aedes eggs during the study period. Local analyses revealed hot-spot patterns in egg densities associated with non-residential larval habitats and their proximity. These insights highlight critical focal points where targeted interventions could be implemented more effectively, resulting in cost-efficient mosquito vector control.