Lectotypes of Orthochaetes caucasicus Motschulsky, 1845 and Opitomorphus brevirostris Motschulsky, 1845 are designated. A new combination and new synonymies are established: Anchonidium caucasicum...

The available data on geographic distribution, habitat preferences, and phenology of species of the genus Bittacus Latreille, 1805 in European Russia and the adjacent regions of Kazakhstan are summarized and clarified. Bittacus italicus (Müller, 1766) is recorded for the first time from Volgograd Province of Russia and from Kazakhstan. The potential diagnostic features of B. italicus and B. hageni Brauer, 1860 are analyzed. New characters of wing venation are proposed for identifying both sexes of these species.

The lectotype of Longitarsus californicus (Motschulsky, 1845) is designated, described, and illustrated. An illustrated key to eight light-colored Longitarsus species known to occur in the western United States is presented. A brief history of Russian entomological collecting in North America during the first half of 19^th century, with specimens preserved in Zoological Museum of Moscow University, Moscow and Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg, is provided.

Nanopatterning of signal-transmitting proteins is essential for cell physiology and drug delivery but faces challenges such as high cost, limited pattern variability, and non-biofriendly materials. Arthropods, particularly beetles (Coleoptera), offer a natural model for biomimetic nanopatterning due to their diverse corneal nanostructures. Using atomic force microscopy (AFM), we analyzed Coleoptera corneal nanocoatings and identified dimpled nanostructures that can transform into maze-like/nipple-like protrusions. Further analysis suggested that these modifications result from a temporary, self-assembled process influenced by surface adhesion. We identified cuticular protein 7 (CP7) as a key component of dimpled nanocoatings. Biophysical analysis revealed CP7’s unique self-assembly properties, allowing us to replicate its nanopatterning ability in vitro. Our findings demonstrate CP7’s potential for bioinspired nanocoatings and provide insights into the evolutionary mechanisms of nanostructure formation. This research paves the way for cost-effective, biomimetic nanopatterning strategies with applications in nanotechnology and biomedicine.

Lectotypes of Cneorhinus viridimetallicus Motschulsky, 1860, C. cuprescens Motschulsky, 1866, C. nodosus Motschulsky, 1860, and Dermatodes carinulatus Motschulsky, 1866 are designated. A new synonymy Catapionus viridimetallicus (Motschulsky, 1860) (= Cneorhinus cuprescens Motschulsky, 1866, syn. n. ) and a new combination Scepticus carinulatus (Motschulsky, 1866), comb. n. are established. New data on the morphology of some genera of the tribes Cneorhinini and Tanymecini are presented. The record of Amystax fasciatus Roelofs, 1873 for Kunashir Island is shown to be based on misidentification of Scepticus carinulatus .

Data on 15 species of the subgenus Pseudotiorhynchus Magnano, 2004 of the genus Otiorhynchus Germar, 1822 from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Iran are given. Otiorhynchus lukarevskayae Davidian, sp. n., O. karakalensis Davidian et Savitsky, sp. n., O. konstantini Davidian et Savitsky, sp. n., O. muratovi Savitsky et Davidian, sp. n., O. kopetdagicus Savitsky et Davidian, sp. n., and O. shakhensis Savitsky et Davidian, sp. n. from Turkmenistan, and O. khorasanus Savitsky et Davidian, sp. n. from Iran are described as new to science. A new synonymy is established: Pseudotiorhynchus Magnano, 2004 = Crassorhynchus Magnano, 2004, syn. n. Otiorhynchus iranensis Magnano, 2004 is transferred from the subgenus Protarammichnus Voss, 1960 to the subgenus Pseudotiorhynchus. Lectotype of O. conicirostris Stierlin, 1886 is designated. A key to 15 species of the subgenus Pseudotiorhynchus is given. The new subgenus Microhanibotus Savitsky et Davidian, subgen. n. is established for the new species O. ghilarovi Davidian et Savitsky, sp. n. from the Western Kopet Dagh in Turkmenistan. Microhanibotus subgen. n. is closely related to the subgenera Pseudotiorhynchus, Hanibotus Reitter, 1912 and Nubidanus Reitter, 1912.