The Lycocerus hanatanii species group is revised, with the addition of seven taxa: L. araticollis (Fairmaire, 1897), L. nigripennis (Pic, 1938), L. griseopubens (Pic, 1928), L. aurantiacus sp. nov., L. evangelium sp. nov., L. kintaroi sp. nov., and L. yitingi sp. nov. Supplementary descriptions of the males of L. araticollis and L. griseopubens are provided. Lycocerus nigripennis (Pic, 1938) and L. pictus (Wittmer, 1983) are redescribed in detail. Each species is provided with photos or illustrations of genitalia of both sexes and abdominal ventrite VII of the female if available. Distribution maps and a key to the species of the L. hanatanii species group are presented. In addition, the monophyly of the L. hanatanii species group is supported based on a morphological phylogenetic analysis.

Cantharidae is a diverse group of soft-bodied beetles and frequently occurs in the Mid-Cretaceous (c. 99 Mya) amber of Myanmar. In the present paper, three new soldier beetles, Cretocantharis veda gen. & sp. nov., Palaeocantharispanna gen. & sp. nov. and Hukawngichthyurus maha sp. nov. are reported. A phylogenetic reconstruction of Cantharidae, including all extant subfamilies and tribes, corroborates a distinct lineage comprising cantharine-like cantharids from Burmese amber as sister to Silini (Silinae), revealing that the current subfamilial placement is probably inadequate. Together with our results and recent molecular phylogenetic frameworks, it reveals that subfamilies of Cantharidae evolved during the Cretaceous period and highlights a probable Gondwanan ancestry of main cantharid groups. Our topology also proposes that the systematically controversial tribe Tytthonyxini of Silinae constitutes an independent clade sister to Malthininae, rather than the component of Silinae. Furthermore, Archaeomalthodes rosetta, previously placed in Malthininae, is recovered as a member of Dysmorphocerinae, representing the oldest fossil record for this subfamily and enhancing the Gondwanan origin hypothesis of Burmese amber biota. The previous interpretation of reticulated elytra as a lycid-mimicry for the Cretaceous cantharid fossils and pleisiomorphy of Cantharidae are challenged and discussed.

Weevils have been shown to play significant roles in the obligate pollination of Australian cycads. In this study, we apply museomics to produce a first molecular phylogeny estimate of the Australian cycad weevils, allowing an assessment of their monophyly, placement and relationships. Divergence dating suggests that the Australian cycad weevils originated from the Late Oligocene to the Middle Miocene and that the main radiation of the cycad-pollinating groups occurred from the Middle to the Late Miocene, which is congruent with the diversification of the Australian cycads, thus refuting any notion of an ancient ciophilous system in Australia. Taxonomic studies reveal the existence of 19 Australian cycad weevil species and that their associations with their hosts are mostly non-species-specific. Co-speciation analysis shows no extensive co-speciation events having occurred in the ciophilous system of Australian cycads. The distribution pattern suggests that geographical factors, rather than diversifying coevolution, constitute the overriding process shaping the Australian cycad weevil diversity. The synchronous radiation of cycads and weevil pollinators is suggested to be a result of the post-Oligocene diversification common in Australian organisms.

The preprint of "A new genus and species of soldier beetle from Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber (Coleoptera, Cantharidae, Malthininae)". A new Upper Cretaceous genus and species of soldier beetles, Archaeomalthodes rosetta gen. et sp. nov., is described and illustrated from an individual preserved in Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian, ca. 99 Ma) amber from northern Myanmar. It is undoubtedly placed in extant subfamily Malthininae based on its small-sized body, somewhat abbreviated elytra and fusiform terminal maxillary palpomere, representing the oldest documented occurrence of Malthininae. It suggests that this subfamily is an ancient group, which originated at least in the earliest Late Cretaceous. Our discovery sheds light on the palaeodiversity of Cantharidae in the Late Mesozoic. Together with other previously reported fossil cantharids, it is likely that Malthininae has been fairly speciose during the early evolution of Cantharidae. On the other hand, a morphological similarity between Archaeomalthodes and Recent malthinines and the occurrence of flowering plants in the Burmese amber implies a potential flower-visiting behaviour of this fossil species

We report the publication of 953 DNA barcodes of forest leaf litter beetles from central Taiwan, in total representing 334 species of 36 beetle families. This is the first bulk of data from the Taiwanese Leaf Litter beetles project focused on uncovering the under-explored diversity of leaf litter beetles across Taiwan. Based on these data, we provide the first records of the following taxa for Taiwan: family Sphindidae (genusAspidiphorusZiegler, 1821); tribes Trichonychini, Ctenistini, and Bythinoplectini (all Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae); generaGyrelonHinton, 1942,ThyroderusSharp, 1885,CautomusSharp, 1885 (all Cerylonidae),DermatohomoeusHlisnikovský, 1963 (Leiodidae),ParaploderusHerman, 1970 (Staphylinidae: Oxytelinae),ThinocharisKraatz, 1859 (Staphylinidae: Paederinae),CephennodesReitter, 1884,NapoconnusFranz, 1957 (both Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae),BicavaBelon, 1884 (Latridiidae),OtibazoMorimoto, 1961,SeleucaPascoe, 1871 andAcallinusMorimoto, 1962 (all Curculionidae); species Oodes (Lachnocrepis) japonicus (Bates, 1873) (Carabidae: Licininae),Drusilla obliqua(Bernhauer, 1916) (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) andCoccotrypes advenaBlandford, 1894 (Curculionidae: Scolytinae). The records ofAnapleusHorn, 1873 (Histeridae) andBatraxisReitter, 1882 (Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) have been confirmed. The male ofSivacrypticus taiwanicusKaszab, 1964 (Archeocrypticidae) is described for the first time.Gyrelon jenpaniHu, Fikáček & Matsumoto,sp. nov.(Cerylonidae) is described, illustrated, and compared with related species. DNA barcodes associated larvae of 42 species with adults, we are concisely illustrating some of these:Oodes japonicus, Perigona cf. nigriceps Dejean, 1831 (both Carabidae),Ptilodactylasp. (Ptilodactylidae),Maltypus ryukyuanusWittmer, 1970 (Cantharidae),Drusilla obliqua,Myrmecocephalus brevisulcus(Pace, 2008),Diochussp.,Mimopinophilussp. (all Staphylinidae),Stelidota multiguttataReitter, 1877,Lasiodites inaequalis(Grouvelle, 1914) (both Nitidulidae),Lagria scutellarisPic, 1910, andAnaedus spinicornisKaszab, 1973 (both Tenebrionidae). We also report the first cases ofRickettsiainfections in Scydmaeninae and Pselaphinae. All data (sequences, metadata, and voucher photos) are made public in BOLD database and in a Zenodo Archive.