A systematic review of Amydetes Illiger, 1807, based on examination of the type-material. We fix A. fastigiata Illiger, 1807 as the type-species of the genus; redescribe the genus and six out of eight species; describe 13 new species; and provide illustrations and a key to species. We place A. vigorsi Westwood, 1830 syn. n. and A. gorhami Kuntzen, 1912 syn. n. in synonymy with A. fastigiata; A. suturalis Pic, 1925 syn. n. and A. brasiliensis Pic, 1925 in synonymy with A. apicalis; and A. flavicollis Olivier, 1888 syn. n. in synonymy with A. lucioloides Olivier, 1888. We report the first record of Amydetes from Venezuela and Argentina, and establish more precise distributions of the studied species. We describe the circadian period of A. apicalis (diurnal), A. fastigiata and Amydetes bellorum sp. nov. (nocturnal) and discuss the circadian diversity of the genus. Fronto-clypeus, antenna, labrum, maxillary palpomere, prothorax, mesosternum, lanterns, abdominal segment VIII and terminalia were structures that provided important characters for delimitation and diagnosis of the species.

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 we describe a new Photinina genus with three species endemic to Serra dos Órgãos Mountains in Brazil. Ybytyramoan gen. nov. occurs in high altitudes, from 980m up to 2000m, and has the following unique set of characters: head abruptly depressed at vertex; lanterns not fully developed, somewhat rounded or anteriorly rounded, straight posteriad, with posterolateral rounded projections (billycock-shaped), at the middle of the abdominal sterna VI and VII; abdominal sternum VIII not covered by VII; phallus and parameres apically teethed. We provide illustrations and a key to the three species in this genus: Ybytyramoan praeclarum sp. nov. (type-species), Y. diasi sp. nov., Y. monteirorum sp. nov.

Tropical mountains are hotspots of biodiversity, hosting many endemic species. Here, we propose Luciuranus gen. nov. and four new firefly species dwelling in montane habitats of the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest. Luciuranus gen. nov. is unique in the shape of the last abdominal segments of both males and females, varying in a clear species-specific fashion. Luciuranus josephi sp. nov. and L. jameshooki sp. nov. are restricted to Serra dos Órgãos mountain range, while L. dextrus sp. nov. and L. sinistrus sp. nov. are restricted to Serra da Mantiqueira formation. DNA barcoding with COI gene confirmed species identities and male–female associations. We propose that terminalia structures work together as a lock-and-key mechanism, avoiding hybridization in overlapping zones along heterogeneous habitats, such as montane forests, where temperature, moisture, and vegetation cover can change significantly even in small spatial and temporal scales. Such morphological displacement is discussed in terms of sexual selection on both male and female features. We also provide detailed morphological descriptions, illustrations, and a key to species based on males and females. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:05598351-4655-49E5-9011-B90DFC7D9435

Fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) are charismatic insects that have been fruitful model systems in biotechnology. However, lack of information about firefly taxonomy and ecology renders species identification a hard task, especially in the Neotropical region, where fireflies are most diverse. A major gap in the literature on Neotropical fireflies is the lack of knowledge on species’ ecological niches and habitats, which are fundamental aspects for understanding their biology. Here, we provide an annotated checklist of the firefly fauna of the Serra dos Órgãos mountain range (Rio de Janeiro State, Southeastern Brazil), with information on the natural history of each species. We assembled data in three ways: monthly sampling with Malaise traps and active search along an elevational transect from 130 to 2,170 m, over 2 years (2014–2016), extensive field observations, and extracted from historical species records for the Serra dos Órgãos from museum specimens in key collections in Brazil and Europe. We provide a taxonomic key to the genera recorded in the region, and a differential diagnosis for each species, highlighting key references for each taxon. We report 58 species representing 21 genera, making the Serra dos Órgãos one of the richest firefly hotspots on Earth. Most species are restricted to one or two habitat types and/or just one of the regional seasons (warm or cool), and many were only collected either by malaise traps or active search, underlining the importance of sampling different habitat types and seasons, and using different sampling methods when surveying fireflies. Out of the 51 species observed in the field, 49 were active either during the day or the night, although two species – Photuris elliptica and Pyrogaster nigrolineatus – were active in both periods, which is rare in fireflies.

Memoan ciceroi gen. et sp. nov., a remarkable new firefly genus and species from the Atlantic Rainforest (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)