Patterns of genomic architecture across insects remain largely undocumented or decoupled from a broader phylogenetic context. For instance, it is unknown whether translocation rates differ between insect orders. We address broad scale patterns of genome architecture across Insecta by examining synteny in a phylogenetic framework from open-source insect genomes. To accomplish this, we add a chromosome level genome to a crucial lineage, Coleoptera. Our assembly of thePachyrhynchus sulphureomaculatusgenome is the first chromosome scale genome for the hyperdiverse Phytophaga lineage and currently the largest insect genome assembled to this scale. The genome is significantly larger than those of other weevils, and this increase in size is caused by repetitive elements. Our results also indicate that, among beetles, there are instances of long-lasting (>200 Ma) localization of genes to a particular chromosome with few translocation events. While some chromosomes have a paucity of translocations, intra-chromosomal synteny was almost absent, with gene order thoroughly shuffled along a chromosome. This large amount of reshuffling within chromosomes with few inter-chromosomal events contrasts with patterns seen in mammals in which the chromosomes tend to exchange larger blocks of material more readily. To place our findings in an evolutionary context, we compared syntenic patterns across Insecta in a phylogenetic framework. For the first time, we find that synteny decays at an exponential rate relative to phylogenetic distance. Additionally, there are significant differences in decay rates between insect orders, this pattern was not driven by Lepidoptera alone which has a substantially different rate.

Three new species of Metapocyrtus: Metapocyrtus inangsabong Cabras, Obrial & Agbas sp. nov., Metapocyrtus lumad Cabras, Obrial & Agbas sp. nov., and Metapocyrtus (Trachycyrtus) uphagpula Cabras, Obrial & Agbas sp. nov. are described and illustrated. Short ecological notes on the species’ habitat, mimicry with other weevils and beetles, and the association between Nepenthes candalaga and Pachyrhynchini in the Philippines are also presented.

Two new species of Metapocyrtus Heller, 1912, subgenus Orthocyrtus Heller, 1912 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae, Pachyrhynchini) are described and illustrated from Mindanao Island, Philippines. The species are Metapocyrtus (Orthocyrtus) davaoensissp. nov. and Metapocyrtus (Orthocyrtus) hirakuisp. nov. from Davao City and Bukidnon, respectively. Brief bionomical notes and phenotypic characters compared to their sympatric Entiminae counterparts are also reported. The discovery of M. (O.) davaoensissp. nov. in Davao City confirms how understudied Coleoptera are in Mindanao and underlines the potential for the discovery of new species even in highly urbanized areas.

Pachyrhynchini is a group of flightless plant-feeding weevils known for their complex and iridescent body ornamentation. It has its center of diversity in the Philippines and this paper presents the first comprehensive record of Pachyrhynchini fauna in Davao City. Data gathering was done through a combination of belt transect, photo documentation, and opportunistic sampling techniques. Materials were collected from trees and shrubs in twelve selected green spaces in Davao City using handpicking and bush beating techniques between 2016 and 2019. A total of 1103 individuals consisting of 32 species and two genera-Pachyrhynchus Germar and Metapocyrtus Heller, were documented. Thirty (30) species (93.75%) are endemic to Mindanao, while fifteen (15) species (46.88%) are considered vulnerable based on Department of Environment and Natural Resources Administrative Order No. 2019-09. The high endemism and the presence of rare species associated with the remaining forest patches call for immediate conservation actions.

The brilliant appearance of Easter Egg weevils, genus Pachyrhynchus (Coleoptera, Curculionidae), originates from complex dielectric nanostructures within their elytral scales and elytra. Previous work, investigating singular members of the Pachyrhynchus showed the presence of either quasi‐ordered or ordered 3D photonic crystals based on the single diamond () symmetry in their scales. However, little is known about the diversity of the structural coloration mechanisms within the family. Here, the optical properties within Pachyrhynchus are investigated by systematically identifying their spectral and structural characteristics. Four principal traits that vary their appearance are identified and the evolutionary history of these traits to identify ecological trends are reconstructed. The results indicate that the coloration mechanisms across the Easter Egg weevils are diverse and highly plastic across closely related species with features appearing at multiple independent times across their phylogeny. This work lays a foundation for a better understanding of the various forms of quasi‐ordered and ordered diamond photonic crystal within arthropods.

We describe and illustrate two new species from two previously monotypic genera Eumacrocyrtus Schultze, 1923 and Enoplocyrtus Yoshitake, 2017 from Luzon Island, Philippines: Eumacrocyrtus robertfoxisp. nov., and Enoplocyrtus angelalcalaisp. nov.Eumacrocyrtus robertfoxisp. nov. serves as a new record for Luzon Island for Eumacrocyrtus which was only previously represented by E. canlaonensis Schultze, 1923 from Negros Island whereas Enoplocyrtus angelalcalaisp. nov. serves as an additional record of Enoplocyrtus in Mountain Province in Luzon Island. The discovery of these two new species from the Zoological Collections of the Philippine National Museum, collected in 1947 and 1985, respectively, highlights the value of natural history collections for the present and future generations of researchers.