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New record of the African death’s head hawkmoth Acherontia atropos (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) in Upper Silesia. This note presents a new record of the African death’s head hawkmoth Acherontia atropos in Upper Silesia, Poland., {"references":["Banasiak G., Kuczkowski S. 2023. Zawisaki Polski – Baza Danych. Dostęp 15.04.2023. http://motyle.info/zawisaki/index.php.","Buszko J., Masłowski J. 2012. Motyle nocne Polski. Macrolepidoptera – cz. I. Wyd. \"Koliber\", Nowy Sącz: 301 pp.","Kadej M., Smolis A. 2022. Nowe stanowisko zmierzchnicy trupiej główki Acherontia atropos (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae) w południowo-zachodniej Polsce. Wiadomości entomologiczne 41(4); online 22N: 3–4. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7152255.","Larysz A. 2008. Nowe i rzadkie dla fauny Górnego Śląska gatunki motyli (Lepidoptera). Acta entomologica silesiana 16: 59–67.","Masło D. 2013. Zmierzchnica trupia główka – Acherontia atropos (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) w Rudce woj. małopolskie. Wiadomości entomologiczne 32(4): 309.","Pietraszko M. 2013. Nowe stanowisko zmierzchnicy trupiej główki Acherontia atropos (Linnaeus, 1758) w Beskidzie Śląskim. Przegląd Przyrodniczy 24(1): 73–74.","Pietraszko M., Czader B., Jonderko T. 2017. Nowe stwierdzenia zmierzchnicy trupiej główki Acherontia atropos (Linnaeus, 1758) na terenie Beskidu Śląskiego i Pogórza Śląskiego. Acta entomologica silesiana 25: 201–202.","Żurawlew P., Hybsz R. 2018. Nowe stwierdzenia zmierzchnicy trupiej główki Acherontia atropos (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) w Wielkopolsce. Przegląd Przyrodniczy 29(1): 113–114."]}

Records of 24 Curculionoidea species new for the Biebrza Basin in Northeastern Poland, including the Biebrza National Park and its buffer zone, are provided as a result of field studies in 2021-2022. Three more weevil species, unique or rare in Poland, were rediscovered in the Biebrza Basin after nearly 20 years, including Anthonomus rubripes GYLLENHAL previously thought to be extinct. The fauna of the Biebrza Basin comprises currently 505 species of Curculionoidea (Scolytinae excluded), being among the richest documented for protected areas in Northeastern Poland. Noteworthy and alarming is a great decrease in abundance of practically all hygrophilous weevil species observed in the Lower Biebrza, compared to results of previous surveys conducted in 1999-2004.

There is evident variation in body size amongst Anthonomus santacruzi Hustache, 1924, weevils. The aims of this study were to assess if the variation in body size in A. santacruzi weevils is a result of sexual dimorphism and what features can be used to distinguish males from females. The weevils were collected from field sites in Mpumalanga, South Africa, where they were introduced as biocontrol agents of Solanum mauritianum Scopoli. Body structures and the presence/absence of the tergal notch was examined under an optical stereomicroscope and SEM to assess differences between sexes. The morphometric analysis of the body structures included rostrum length (base–apex and antennal insertion–apex), elytral length and width, pronotum length and width, first tarsus length, first tibia length, funiculus length and total body length. Rostrum length, elytra length and width and total body length were significantly larger in females than in males. A tergal notch in the 8th abdominal tergite was present in males and absent in females. The body structure; of rostrum length, elytra length and width and total body length overlapped between sexes in some specimens. The abdominal tergal notch was found to be the most useful body structure to distinguish males from females in A. santacruzi.

Ptiliolum marginatum (Aube, 1850) (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae) – a new species for Poland from the Białowieża National Park. We present the first record of Ptiliolum marginatum for Poland. The specimens have been extracted from two nests of the wood warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix in 2020, during investigations of the invertebrate fauna inhabiting bird nests. The samples were collected in the strictly protected part of the Białowieża National Park, in eastern Poland. We provide general information on the geographical distribution of Ptiliolum marginatum in Europe, the state of knowledge of the genus Ptiliolum in Poland, and further documentation including colour photographs of dorsal and ventral habitus, and characteristic features of hind femora and spermatheca of females., {"references":["Besuchet C. 1971. Familie: Ptiliidae, pp. 311–334, In: Freude H., Harde K.W., Lohs e G.A. (Eds.), Die Käfer Mitteleuropas. Band 3 – Adephaga 2, Palpicornia, Histeroidea, Staphylinoidea 1. Goecke & Evers, Krefeld","Burakowski B., Mroczkowski M. Stefa fa ńska J. 1978. Chrząszcze Coleoptera. Histeroidea i Staphylinoidea prócz Staphylinidae. Katalog fauny Polski 23(5): 1–356.","Burakowski B., Mroczkowski M., Stefa fa ńska J. 2000. Chrząszcze Coleoptera. Uzupełnienia tomów 2–21. Katalog fauny Polski 23(22): 1–252.","Caterino M.S., Caterino K.J., Maddison D.R. 2015. Extant! Living Bembidion palosverdes Kavanaugh and Erwin (Coleoptera: Carabidae) found on Santa Catalina Island, California. The Coleopterists Bulletin 69: 410–411.","Cramp S. (Ed.) 1992. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol. VI. Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford.","Dybas H.S. 1960. A new genus of blind beetles from a cave in South Africa. Fieldiana Zoology 39: 399–405.","Dybas H.S. 1966. Evidence for parthenogenesis in the featherwing beetles, with a taxonomic review of a new genus, and eight new species (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae). Fieldiana Zoology 51: 11–52.","Faliński J.B. 1986. Vegetation dynamics in temperate forests (Ecological studies in Białowieża Forest). W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht.","Glutz von Blotzheim U.N., Bauer K. 1991. Handbuch der Vögel Mitteleuropas. Vol. 12/II. Akademische Verlagsgessellschaft, Wiesbaden.","Hebda G.A., Kandziora A., Mitrus S. 2017. Decomposition of nest material in tree holes and nest-boxes occupied by European Starlings Sturnus vulgaris: an experimental study. Acta Ornithologica 52: 119–125.","Jałoszyński P. 2015. Ptenidium pusillum (Gyllenha l, 1808) from egg to pupa (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae). Zootaxa 3948: 361–421.","Jaroszewicz B., Cholewińska O., Gutowski J.M., Sam ojlik T., Zimny M., Latałowa M. 2019. Białowieza Forest-a relic of the high naturalness of European forests. Forests 10: 849.","Johnson C. 2001. Notes on Palaearctic Ptiliidae (Coleoptera). Entomologist's Gazette 52: 129–137.","Johnson C. 2003. Further notes on Palaearctic and other Ptiliidae (Coleoptera). Entomologist's Gazette 54: 55–70.","Johnson C. 2004. Ptiliidae, pp. 122–131, In: Löbl I., Smetana A. (Eds.), Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera, vol. 2. Apollo Books, Stenstrup.","Komosiński K., Marczak D. 2016. Ptiliolum caledonicum (Sha rp, 1872) and Baeocrara japonica (Matthews, 1885) (Coleoptera: Staphylinoidea: Ptiliidae) new to Poland, with additional Polish records of Acrotrichis nana Strand, 1946. The Coleopterists Bulletin 70(1): 87–90.","Majewski T. 2001. Ptiliidae, pp. 128–129, In: Gutowski J.M., Jaroszewicz B. (Eds.), Katalog fauny Puszczy Białowieskiej. IBL, Warszawa.","Papp V., Sörensson M., Merkl O. 2017. First Hungarian record of the smallest beetle in Europe, Baranowskiella ehnstromi, and a national checklist of featherwing beetles (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae). Folia Entomologica Hungarica 78: 13-25.","Pinowski J., Pinowska B., Haman A. 1999. Grzyby w upierzeniu i gniazdach ptaków. Wiadomości Botaniczne 43(3–4): 31–39.","Polilov A.A., Ribera I., Yavorskaya M.I., Cardoso A., Grebennikov V.V., Beutel R.G. 2019. The phylogeny of Ptiliidae (Coleoptera: Staphylinoidea) – the smallest beetles and their evolutionary transformations. Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny 77(3): 433–455.","Sörensson M. 1988. Studies od Danish Ptiliidae (Coleoptera). Entomologiske Meddelelser 56: 35–48.","Taylor V., Luke B.M., Lomas M.B. 1982. The giant sperm of a minute beetle. Tissue and Cell 14: 113–123.","Tomás A., Rebelo M.T., Valkenburg T., Darby M., da Fonesca I.P. 2018. Coleopterist Bulletin 72(4): 1–3.","Tomiałojć L., Wesołowski T., Walankiewicz W. 1984. Breeding bird community of a primaeval temperate forest (Białowieża National Park, Poland). Acta Ornithologica 20: 241–310."]}

Liparus glabrirostris is one of the largest European weevils, and it has been recently proposed as the flagship species for threatened riparian habitats in the mountains. For effective conservation of its populations (and associated habitats), it is crucial to understand its history, contemporary distribution, genetic diversity and predict changes in the range, including its highly isolated populations on the Baltic coast. Here, we examined numerous populations of L. glabrirostris across almost the entire species range using phylogeography and species niche modeling (SNM) approaches. Analyses of mtDNA and nucDNA markers revealed the existence of 2 major mitochondrial lineages generally separated between 1) the Alpine region and 2) the Bohemian Massif, the Carpathians, and the Baltic coast areas. Genetic diversity in nuclear genes was more complicated with no clear division between populations. The origin of Baltic populations was derived from the Carpathians, but there were probably multiple expansion events to the north. SNM suggested the existence of glacial refugia for L. glabrirostris, mainly in the Alps and the Southern Carpathians. Current predictions of species range were found to be generally congruent with zoogeographic data; however, the Baltic coast was not really supported as a suitable area for L. glabrirostris. An important prediction of future distribution (2050–2070 CE) suggests a shrinkage of the L. glabrirostris range and extinction of some of its populations (particularly those isolated on lower altitudes). Based on the aforementioned data, proposals for the protection of this species are proposed, including the designation of several evolutionary units of conservation importance.

Different populations of two closely related species, Cryptocephalusflavipes and C. bameuli, from western (Alps, Apennines and Pyrenees) and central Europe (Poland, Ukraine and Pannonia) were analysed. On the basis of DNA sequences from two genes, cox1 and ef1-alpha, distinctiveness of both species was confirmed. Nevertheless, possible hybrids were identified in Carpathian mountains. We found a significant genetic differentiation among populations of C. flavipes and C. bameuli from distant regions but a high genetic similarity between populations of C. bameuli from north and south of the Carpathians. Demographic estimates suggest a past population expansion in the case of C. bameuli and a recent one for C. flavipes, possibly occurred during Pleistocene and Holocene, respectively. Distribution modelling showed that C. flavipes is typically present in the mountain systems, whereas C. bameuli is associated with hilly areas of central and eastern Europe. Based on the present data, Last Glacial Maximum refugia of both species were located in the Alpine region and Black Sea coasts, but on different elevations. The characterization of the insect diet, through a DNA metabarcoding approach targeting the trnL plant intron, demonstrated a significant differentiation of food preferences between the two species, as well as between geographic populations within the species.

The beetles of the Suwalski Landscape Park (NE Poland) were studied between the years 2006−2013. The park covers an area of 6338 ha. Various field methods were used including sweep netting, dip netting, catching by hand, investigation of potential foraging sites of saproxylic beetles, rearing of cambio- and xylophagous larvae from inhabited material and attracting to artificial light sources. On the basis of our field studies and literature data, 1052 beetle species from 70 families were recorded, of which 715 have not been previously reported in the Park. One species – Variimorda briantea – is new to the Masurian Lake Region. The most numerous families were: rove beetles Staphylinidae (208 species), weevils Curculionidae (161 species), ground beetles Carabidae (99 species), leaf beetles Chrysomelidae (86 species) and true water beetles Dytiscidae (64 species). Among recorded beetles, 111 are rare and/or protected species. They were depicted on photographs and discussed in detail. Three species of Carabidae (Carabus coriaceus, C. glabratus, C. nitens) are protected by Polish law, another species belonging to this family – Epaphius rivularis – is listed in the Polish Red Data Book of Animals. A total of 32 species from the Red List of Threatened Animals in Poland were found, four species from the list of Primeval forest relict beetles of Central Europe (Peltis grossa, Tritoma subbasalis, Cryptophagus confusus, Corticeus suturalis), as well as 26 species listed in the European Red List of Saproxylic Beetles. Areas within the Park, considered as the most interesting in terms of beetle fauna, were described. All recorded beetle species were characterized based on their habitat preferences. The most numerous group were open-area inhabitants (379 species) which constituted 36% of all species recorded in the Park. Two other main groups were a forestspecies (275) and water and riparian species (273). Each of these groups constitue 26% of all recorded beetles. The group of xerothermophilous beetles, which include: Philonthus lepidus, Dolichosoma lineare, Afrogethes tristis, Thymogethes lugubris, Olibrus bimaculatus, Hyperaspiscampestris, Mordellistena pseudonana, M. pseudoparvula, M. purpureonigrans, Anaspis brunnipes, Cassida pannonica, Dibolia cryptocephala, Ceratapion austriacum, Protapion ruficrus, Squamapion oblivium, Lixus tibialis, Cleopus solani, Tychius aureolus, T. medicaginis, T. schneideri, Ceutorhynchus nanus and Ethelcus denticulatus, are very interesting from the faunistic perspective. Adult beetles and larvae were characterized separately with reference to microhabitat and trophism, respectively. A comparison between the beetle faunas of the Suwalski Landscape Park and other protected areas in Poland was conducted. All beetle fauna of the Suwalski Landscape Park, together with particular taxonomic and ecological groups, were also compared with whole beetle fauna of Poland. Water beetles, with over 40% of all species known from Poland, are relatively well represented. Other families with fairly complete coverage in the Suwalski Landscape Park include marsh beetles Scirtidae (41%), apionid weevils Apionidae (37%), ladybirds Coccinellidae (28%), shining flower beetles Phalacridae (25%) and longhorn beetles Cerambycidae (23%). Total number of beetles recorded until now in the Suwalski Landscape Park (17% of Polish fauna) is not large. But considering such factors as intensity of research, area of the Park and its geographic location, it is quite rewarding. Future field investigations should increase the number of species known from the Park, especially in the less-intensively researched groups. Concept of protection of the species richness in the Suwalski Landscape Park was discussed with reference to different ecological groups and habitats. In the case of saproxylic beetles, the main threats are a low amount of dead wood in the forests, and its inferior quality (trees only with thin breast diameters, limited number of tree species). Establishing the designed reserve ”Peat bogs over the Jaczno Lake” is needed to ensure the protection for the most valuable area for saproxylic fauna. This area have also high importance for hygrophilous insects.

Wolbachia, Rickettsia, Spiroplasma and Cardinium are endosymbiotic and intracellular bacteria known to cause numerous disorders in host reproduction, reflected in their common name “male-killers”. In this study, 297 beetle species from various taxonomic groups were screened with the use of molecular markers for the presence of infection by any of these endosymbionts. Wolbachia was found to be the most common “male-killer” among beetle hosts as it infected approx. 27% of species. Rickettsia, Spiroplasma and Cardinium were much less prevalent as they infected: 8%, 3% and 2%, respectively, of the studied beetle species. This is the first report of Cardinium presence in beetle hosts. Incidences of co-infection of two bacteria taxa were very rare and only two weevil species were found to be infected by three different bacteria. These findings suggest that endosymbiotic bacteria inhabit their host at various levels of prevalence and that particular taxa usually infect different hosts, suggesting some competition among “male-killers”. This is the first study that simultaneously verifies infection status by all major endosymbiotic bacteria in hundreds of species (based on coleopterans).

Intracellular bacteria of the genus Wolbachia (alpha-Proteobacteria) are the most widespread endosymbionts of insects. Host infection is usually associated with alterations in reproduction, such as cytoplasmic incompatibility, the induction of parthenogenesis and offspring sex ratio bias: all phenomena that may influence host speciation. In the present study, by using well-established molecular tools, we investigated the presence of Wolbachia in leaf beetles of the genus Crioceris and their host plants, which are various species of Asparagus. Multilocus sequence typing of bacterial genes showed that despite their occurrence in the same habitat and feeding on the same plant, two species of Crioceris, C. quinquepunctata and C. quatuordecimpunctata, are infected by two different strains of Wolbachia. C. asparagi, C. paracenthesis and C. duodecimpunctata, which are sympatric with the infected species, do not harbour the bacterium. Interestingly, DNA of Wolbachia was detected in host plant tissues that are exploited by the beetles, providing evidence for the horizontal transmission of the bacterium between beetles and their host plants. Moreover, Wolbachia was detected in species of Crioceris that are not closely related.

In insects, morphological species identification is often challenging. The discrimination of closely related species may be hampered when only subtle differences in phenotypic characters or a continuum in their variability are present. This is exemplified in the Cryptocephalus flavipes species complex (Coleoptera; Chrysomelidae) where, until now, the species have been discriminated only by the yellow pattern on frons, pronotum, and epipleurae. In the present study, the phylogeny of the C. flavipes species complex was resolved through a multi-locus sequence approach, and the inclusion in the group of the phenotypically similar Cryptocephalus quadripustulatus Gyllenhal, 1813 was evaluated. Subsequently, the C. flavipes species complex was used to test the usefulness of DNA-based approaches for species recognition and identification. All previously described morphospecies were recovered by means of species delimitation approaches. In addition, lineages of Cryptocephalus flavipes Fabricius, 1781 and Cryptocephalus bameuli Duhaldeborde, 1999, which have not evolved clear morphological differences, were found to form genetically well-isolated groups. A new taxon from Turkey was recognized as a separate lineage by DNA-based methods, and morphological diagnostic characters are reported. Through this study, new morphological diagnostic characters were discovered and the suitability of the meta-episternal shape in species discrimination was tested by a geometric morphometric approach.

The phylogeography of species associated with European steppes and extrazonal xeric grasslands is poorly understood. This paper summarizes the results of recent studies on the phylogeography and conservation genetics of animals (20 taxa of beetles, butterflies, reptiles and rodents) and flowering plants (18 taxa) of such, "steppic" habitats in Eastern Central Europe. Most species show a similar phylogeographic pattern: relatively high genetic similarity within regional groups of populations and moderate-to-high genetic distinctiveness of populations from currently isolated regions located in the studied area. This distinctiveness of populations suggests a survival here during glacial maxima, including areas north of the Bohemian Massif-Carpathians arc. Steppic species generally do not follow the paradigmatic patterns known for temperate biota (south-north “contraction–expansion”), but to some extent are similar to those of arctic-alpine taxa. There are three main groups of taxa within Eastern Central Europe that differ in their contemporary distribution pattern, which may reflect historical origin and expansion routes. Present diversity patterns of the studied steppic species suggest that they share a unique genetic signature and distinct assemblages exist in each of the now isolated areas rich in steppic habitats. At least some of these areas probably act as present “interglacial refugia” for steppic species. This study strongly supports the need to protect steppic species throughout their entire ranges in the region, as the continuous destruction of steppic habitats in some areas may lead not only to the disappearance of local populations, but also to the extinction of unique evolutionary units.

Callistomorphusis one of the “forgotten” genera of the tribe Eugnomini inhabiting rain forest in New Caledonia. In this paper, the genusCallistomorphusand the type speciesC.farinosusare redescribed. Eight new species,Callistomorphusfundatussp. n.,C.gibbussp. n.,C.malleussp. n.,C.minimussp. n.,C.rutaisp. n.,C.szoltysisp. n.,C.torosussp. n.andC.turbidussp. n., are described, originating from the main island of New Caledonia. Illustrations and SEM photographs of the external morphology and the male and female terminalia are provided, as well as dorsal habitus colour photographs of the adults, a key to the species, a distribution map, and a discussion of the systematic position ofCallistomorphuswithin the tribe.

Bacterial communities play a crucial role in the biology, ecology, and evolution of multicellular organisms. In this research, the microbiome of 24 selected beetle species representing five families (Carabidae, Staphylinidae, Curculionidae, Chrysomelidae, Scarabaeidae) and three trophic guilds (carnivorous, herbivorous, detrivorous) was examined using 16S rDNA sequencing on the Illumina platform. The aim of the study was to compare diversity within and among species on various levels of organization, including evaluation of the impact of endosymbiotic bacteria. Collected data showed that beetles possess various bacterial communities and that microbiota of individuals of particular species hosts are intermixed. The most diverse microbiota were found in Carabidae and Scarabaeidae; the least diverse, in Staphylinidae. On higher organization levels, the diversity of bacteria was more dissimilar between families, while the most distinct with respect to their microbiomes were trophic guilds. Moreover, eight taxa of endosymbiotic bacteria were detected including common genera such as Wolbachia, Rickettsia, and Spiroplasma, as well as the rarely detected Cardinium, Arsenophonus, Buchnera, Sulcia, Regiella, and Serratia. There were no correlations among the abundance of the most common Wolbachia and Rickettsia; a finding that does not support the hypothesis that these bacteria occur interchangeably. The abundance of endosymbionts only weakly and negatively correlates with diversity of the whole microbiome in beetles. Overall, microbiome diversity was found to be more dependent on host phylogeny than on the abundance of endosymbionts. This is the first study in which bacteria diversity is compared between numerous species of beetles in a standardized manner. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s00248-019-01358-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Callistomorphus is one of the “forgotten” genera of the tribe Eugnomini inhabiting rain forest in New Caledonia. In this paper, the genus Callistomorphus and the type species C.farinosus are redescribed. Eight new species, Callistomorphusfundatussp. n., C.gibbussp. n., C.malleussp. n., C.minimussp. n., C.rutaisp. n., C.szoltysisp. n., C.torosussp. n. and C.turbidussp. n., are described, originating from the main island of New Caledonia. Illustrations and SEM photographs of the external morphology and the male and female terminalia are provided, as well as dorsal habitus colour photographs of the adults, a key to the species, a distribution map, and a discussion of the systematic position of Callistomorphus within the tribe.

Knowledge of Wolbachia prevalence with respect to its hosts is restricted mainly to taxonomic/phylogenetic context. In contrast, relations between infection and most host’s ecological and biological traits are poorly understood. This study aimed to elaborate on relations between bacteria and its beetle hosts in taxonomic and the ecological contexts. In particular, the goal is to verify which ecological and biological traits of beetles could cause them to be prone to be infected. Verification of Wolbachia infection status across 297 beetle taxa showed that approximately 27% of taxa are infected by supergroups A and B. Only minor support for coevolution between bacteria and its beetle hosts was observed in some genera of beetles, but in general coevolution between beetles and Wolbachia was rejected. Some traits of beetles were found to be unrelated to Wolbachia prevalence (type of range and thermal preferences); some traits were related with ambiguous effects (habitats, distribution, mobility and body size); some were substantially related (reproduction mode and trophy). The aforementioned summary does not show obvious patterns of Wolbachia prevalence and diversity in relation to host taxonomy, biology, and ecology. As both Wolbachia and Coleoptera are diverse groups, this lack of clear patterns is probably a reflection of nature, which is characterised by highly diversified and probably unstable relations.

New data about weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) of the Babia Góra Mt.

The second record of Pentarthrum huttoni Wollaston, 1854 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Cossoninae) in Poland.

The genus Rasilinus gen. n. is described (type species Rasilinus tchambicus sp. n.). Nine new species: Rasilinus bicolor sp. n., Rasilinus bifurcatus sp. n., Rasilinus bimaculatus sp. n., Rasilinus grandidens sp. n., Rasilinus longulus sp. n., Rasilinus subgemellus sp. n., Rasilinus subnodulus sp. n., Rasilinus tchambicus sp. n., Rasilinus virgatus sp. n. are described from New Caledonia. Illustrations of the external morphology, male and female terminalia, dorsal habitus colour photographs of the adults, key to species and distribution map of the new genus Rasilinus are provided.

Crioceris quinquepunctata is a European leafbeetle, rare and strictly associated with steppe-like habitats in Central and Eastern Europe. We sampled suitable localities in Central East Europe to determine the current distribution and to verify whether populations isolated by the Carpathian Mountains (within Pannonian and Pontic area) show genetic differentiation. Sequences from the beetle COI and ITSl were amplified and compared. Furthermore, ftsZ and hcpA genes of the endosymbiont Wolbachia were analysed as additional genetic markers. We found only two populations of C. quinquepunctata (in Moravia and Podolian Upland). Unusually low genetic differences between these populations were revealed, which is in contrast to previous studies on other steppe beetles. The reasons for such low diversity are speculative and probably related to recent natural expansion or man-made translocation of C. quinquepunctata.

Fragmentation and isolation may have detrimental effects on the viability of populations. Xerothermic grasslands, which are extra-zonal analogues of steppes, are among Europe's most endangered natural environments. Information about connectivity between the remaining habitat patches is critical for effective conservation planning. However, very little is known about the actual levels of isolation of individual xerothermic patches at the inter-regional and local scale. In this study, 16 microsatellite loci were used to investigate genetic diversity, structuring, effective sizes (Ne), and connectivity among populations of the weevil Centricnemus leucogrammus at various geographic scales. Analysis of 22 populations from three geographic regions, differing in the time of origin and the degree of geographic isolation of the populations, showed that the isolated populations from northern Poland showed the least variability, whereas those from central Poland and Ukraine sustained a similar level of microsatellite variability and were moderately connected within regions. Very low effective sizes (Ne = 14–44) were estimated, and signatures of bottlenecks were detected in all populations. Effective sizes were generally higher in larger xerothermic patches, which constitute a good quality habitat, and in populations sampled in nature reserves, as opposed to unprotected turfs. Such information is useful for the design of conservation and management plans. As C. leucogrammus is characteristic of xerothermic and steppic habitats in central and eastern Europe, it may be considered an excellent target species for assessing the quality of xerothermic habitats as well as estimating and monitoring their connectivity.

Among Crioceris leaf-beetles, the two most widespread species (Crioceris asparagi and C. duodecimpunctata) are serious invasive plant pests, while another two (C. quatuordecimpunctata and C. quinquepunctata) are rare species restricted to steppe-like habitats in Eurasia. The aim of the research was to check the genetic distinctiveness of these four species and develop barcodes for their molecular identification using the mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) gene and two nuclear markers: Elongation Factor 1-α (EF1-α) and Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 (ITS1). The identification of each species was possible and reliable with the use of COI and ITS1 markers. EF1-α was omitted in analyses due to its high level of heterozygosity (presence of multiple PCR products). C. duodecimpunctata and C. quatuordecimpunctata were shown to be sister taxa, but the similar genetic distances between all of the species indicate that these species originated almost simultaneously from a common ancestor. Identification of two separate clades in populations of C. quatuordecimpunctata suggested that the clades are isolated and can be considered as separate conservation units.

Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) of the Stobrawski Landscape ParkThe work presents the results of faunistic and ecological studies on the weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea without Scolytinae) of the Stobrawski Landscape Park. Between 2006-2008 more than 4 000 specimens representing 285 species of weevils were collected from nine types of plant communities.Mesotrichapion punctirostre, Nanophyes brevis, Otiorhynchus lepidopterus, Phytobius leucogaster, Rhaphitropis marchicuswere collected for the first time in Lower or Upper Silesia. The geographical, habitat and food preferences of particular species are presented. The relationships between weevil species and the different habitats are analysed.

The paper presents the results of a study on the tenebrionid beetles (more than 10,500 specimens belonging to 78 species) collected in Poland and preserved in the following national zoological collections: Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals PAS, Cracow (ISEA), Museum and Institute of Zoology PAS, Warsaw (MIZ) and Upper Silesian Museum, Bytom (USMB). The occurrence of 14 rarely recorded species is confirmed. The presence of 14 studied species on the „Polish Red List of Endangered Animals” and „Polish Red Data Book of Animals” is recorded. The common species, Isomira murina (L.), as a senior synonym of I. semiflava (KUST.), should be excluded from the „Polish Red List of Endangered Animals”. Two species should be excluded from Polish fauna because of an erroneous determination: Pedi- nus helopioides AHR. as Crypticus quisquilius (L.), and Isomira icteropa (KUST.) as Isomira murina (L.). New distributional data on the occurrence on Catalogus faunae Poloniae regions is given for 44 species. Centorus elongatus (HERBST), Cryphaeus cornutus (FISH.) and Nalassus convexus (COM.) are recorded from Poland, but not included in Polish fauna.

DNA barcoding facilitates many evolutionary and ecological studies, including the examination of the dietary diversity of herbivores. In this study, we present a survey of ecological associations between herbivorous beetles and host plants from seriously threatened European steppic grasslands. We determined host plants for the majority (65%) of steppic leaf beetles (55 species) and weevils (59) known from central Europe using two barcodes (trnL and rbcL) and two sequencing strategies (Sanger for mono/oligophagous species and Illumina for polyphagous taxa). To better understand the ecological associations between steppic beetles and their host plants, we tested the hypothesis that leaf beetles and weevils differ in food selection as a result of their phylogenetic relations (within genera and between families) and interactions with host plants. We found 224 links between the beetles and the plants. Beetles belonging to seven genera feed on the same or related plants. Their preferences were probably inherited from common ancestors and/or resulted from the host plant's chemistry. Beetles from four genera feed on different plants, possibly reducing intrageneric competition and possibly due to an adaptation to different plant chemical defences. We found significant correlations between the numbers of leaf beetle and weevil species feeding on particular plants for polyphagous taxa, but not for nonpolyphagous beetles. Finally, we found that the previous identifications of host plants based on direct observations are generally concordant with host plant barcoding from insect gut. Our results expand basic knowledge about the trophic relations of steppic beetles and plants and are immediately useful for conservation purposes.