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The dataset presented in this data paper supports “Breaking down insect stoichiometry into chitin-based and internal elemental traits: Patterns and correlates of continent-wide intraspecific variation in the largest European saproxylic beetle” (Orlowski et al. 2020). Here we present the supplementary data and description of methods on the following: (1) mass of elytra and abdomens across 28 local Stag Beetle Lucanus cervus populations in Europe. (2) Population origin and coverage of six major land-cover types, including transport infrastructure, measured in three radii (500 m, 1000 m and 5000 m) around the sampling sites of these populations. (3) The relationship between the mass and concentrations of elements measured in abdomens and elytra in 28 Stag Beetle populations and major land-cover types around the sampling sites.

The sedimentary succession exposed in the Gorzów Wielkopolski area includes Eemian Interglacial (MIS 5e) or Early Weichselian (MIS 5d–e) deposits. The sedimentary sequence has been the object of intense interdisciplinary study, which has resulted in the identification of at least two palaeolake horizons. Both yielded fossil remains of large mammals, alongside pollen and plant macrofossils. All these proxies have been used to reconstruct the environmental conditions prevailing at the time of deposition, as well as to define the geological context and the biochronological position of the fauna. Optically stimulated luminescence dating of the glaciofluvial layers of the GS3 succession to 123.6 ± 10.1 (below the lower palaeolake) and 72.0 ± 5.2 ka (above the upper palaeolake) indicate that the site formed during the Middle–Late Pleistocene (MIS 6 – MIS 5). Radiocarbon-dating of the lacustrine organic matter revealed a tight cluster of Middle Pleniglacial Period (MIS 3) ages in the range of ~41–32 ka cal bp (Hengelo – Denekamp Interstadials). Holocene organic layers have also been found, with C ages within a range of 4330–4280 cal bp (Neolithic). Pollen and plant macrofossil records, together with sedimentological and geochemical data, confirm the dating to the Eemian Interglacial., This research was supported by grant 0201/2048/18 ‘Life and death of extinctrhino (Stephanorhinus sp.) from Western Poland: a multiproxy palaeoenvironmental approach’ financed by the National Science Centre, Poland. LiDAR DTM data presented in this study were used under academic licences DIO.DFT.DSI.7211.1619.2015_PL_N and DIO.DFT.7211.9874. 2015_PL_N awarded to the Faculty of Earth Sciences and the Environmental Management University of Wrocław, in accordance with the Polish legal regulations of the administration of the Head Office of Land Surveying and Cartography.

We report, for the first time, a case of nesting by Apis mellifera mellifera (L., 1758) (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Apidae), Vespula vulgaris (L., 1758) (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Vespidae), and Sciurus vulgaris L., 1758 (Mammalia: Rodentia: Sciuridae) inside a mummified human corpse in natural conditions (Lower Silesia province, south-western Poland). A case history, autopsy findings, and biological observations are provided. A list of the insect species found in the corpse is provided and compared with available data. Other zoological findings are mentioned and briefly discussed.

Shrubby field margins and hedgerows play an important role for many species of flora and fauna in agro-ecosystems, including those which are rare or endangered. A characteristic species of these semi-natural habitats in agricultural landscape is the Eastern eggar, Eriogaster catax (Linnaeus, 1758): a moth species threatened in many European countries. In this study we investigated the oviposition preferences of E. catax at host plant level in agricultural landscape in south-western Poland, near of the northern limit of the species distribution in Europe. In total we surveyed 796 host plants. Altogether we found 439 eggs batches or caterpillar webs of E. catax on 373 occupied plants. Most of them (92.3%) were on blackthorn Prunus spinosa, which was preferred host plant next to pear Pyrus spp. However, the most important predictor of the presence of egg batches were microclimatic conditions. We recorded that females preferred host plants exposed to direct sunlight and with south and west-facing slopes for oviposition and avoided those inside of the dense shrub canopy. Eggs were laid more often on the trunk and on the upper half of the host plant, however there was a significant difference in vertical and horizontal position of egg batches in relation to the position of the plant. Inside of the shrub canopy, eggs were laid in higher parts of host plant and closer to the trunk, than at the edge and on solitary plants. Based on our observations the management strategies for the habitats of the species are proposed and discussed.

Two new species from the genera Calambus Thomson 1859 and Hypoganus Kiesenwetter, 1858 (tribe Prosternini Gistel, 1856 ), from China are described and illustrated. These are the first species of Calambus and the second species of Hypoganus recorded from China. Additionally, we provide distributional data for Hypoganus tibetis Cechovský and Kubaň 1997.

Stoichiometric, trophic and ecotoxicological data have traditionally been acquired from patterns of variation in elemental traits of whole invertebrate bodies, whereas the critical issue of the extracellular origin of some portion of elements, such as those present in ingested food and internal organs, has been ignored. Here we investigated an unexplored, yet crucial, question relating to whether, and to what degree, metals from two major body fractions: exoskeleton (elytra) and internal (body organs with gut material present in abdomens), are correlated with each other in wild populations of the largest European saproxylic insect, the Stag Beetle Lucanus cervus, and how metals from these two fractions vary with insect size and local habitat conditions. We examined the continent-wide variation in the concentrations of 12 chemical elements (Ca, Mg, K, Na, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu, As, Cd, Pb and Ni) measured in the elytra and abdomen of specimens from 28 populations inhabiting an urban-woodland habitat gradient across the species’ entire distributional range from Spain to Russia. Across populations, elemental concentrations (except Ni and Pb) were 2–13 times higher in abdominal samples than in elytra, and the magnitude of these differences was related to both insect size and local habitat conditions. Smaller individuals from both woodland and urban habitat tended to have higher concentrations of trace elements (Zn, As, Cd, Pb and Ni). The concentration of only six elements (Mg, K, Na, Mn, Cd and Ni) was correlated in the elytra and abdomen at the individual and population levels, implying a limitation to the broader applicability of elytra as a surrogate for internal elemental pools. We highlight that in non-feeding adult saproxylic beetles, minerals, acquired during the larval stage, may be concentrated in the large quantities of residual body fat.

Three new species of Costalicus gen. nov. are described from northern Pakistan: C. kaghanensis sp. nov., C. pakistanus sp. nov. and C. sulcatus sp. nov. The new genus is morphologically very similar to the genus Mosotalesus Kishii, 1977 but differs distinctly in the costiform structure of the elytral striae intervals, the conspicuously broad and crown-shaped elytral lateral edge, long and distinctly arched carina, and in the obtuse apices of pronotal basal angles. All specimens of the new species were collected in the western Himalaya at 3000–4000 m a.s.l. The new genus belongs to the tribe Prosternini Gistel, 1856.

Decline and fragmentation of natural habitats, such as old-growth forests, reduces their availability in the landscape. The solution to this problem for many forest-dwelling species, may be colonization of alternative habitats, such as parks, orchards or rural avenues, located in the highly fragmented agricultural landscape. Our main objective was to determine the effect of both habitat quality parameters and isolation from potential forest habitats, as primary habitats, on the occurrence of the hermit beetle (Osmoderma) in rural avenues in south-western Poland. The study was based on the results of an inventory of the species in 201 rural avenues within an area of approx. 30,000 km2. Occurrence of the hermit beetle in such alternative habitats was affected by both habitat quality parameters and connectivity with suitable forest habitats. The species occurrence in an avenue was significantly positively affected by mean tree diameter and diversity of tree species, but probability of occurrence decreased as isolation of avenue from the deciduous forest increased. Moreover, in the study area the hermit beetle seemed to avoid alleys with a large proportion of Acer platanoides, Fraxinus excelsior and Populus spp. Spatially isolated roadside avenues have limited value in the preservation of the hermit beetle in the long term conservation management of the species. Conservation plans in such habitats should therefore take into account surrounding suitable habitats.

New records of the praying mantis Mantis religiosa religiosa (Linnaeus, 1758) (Insecta: Mantodea) in Silesia and South Wielkopolska. Praying mantis Mantis religiosa (L.) is one of those species in Polish entomofauna, which in the last dozen years have significantly increased the range. The expansion of this insect in Poland is probably related to the change of climatic conditions, i.e. with the increase of average annual temperatures, with mild winters without strong temperature drops and with the decrease of rainfall during the growing season. In this work, we publish fourteen new records which increase our knowledge about occurrence of Mantis religiosa religiosa from the south-western part of Poland (i.e. from the Lower Silesia, Opole and Silesia Provinces) and south part of Wielkopolska Province. We also shortly summarize and discuss these new findings referring them to historical and contemporary data as well., {"references":["Bazyluk W. 1977. Blattodea et Mantodea. Karaczany i modliszki (Insecta). Fauna Polski 6: 1–173.","Berg M., Keller M. 2004. Die Gottesanbeterin, Mantis religiosa (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mantodea: Mantidae), im Stadtgebiet von Berlin-Schöneberg – Ihre Lebensweise und faunistiche Beobachtungen in den Jahren 1998 bis 2003. Märkichen Entomologischen Nachrichten 6(1): 55–84.","Berg M.K., Schwarz C.J., Mehl J.E. 2011. Die Gottesanbeterin. Die Neue Brehm-Bücherei 656, Westarp Wissenschaften, 521 pp.","Biwo T. 2016. Rozmieszczenie modliszki zwyczajnej Mantis religiosa na Opolszczyźnie. Chrońmy Przyrodę Ojczystą 72(4): 304–310.","Błoński W. 2015. Modliszka zwyczajna Mantis religiosa Linnaeus, 1758 w Świętokrzyskim Parku Narodowym. Naturalia 3, 2014(2015): 145–146.","Bonk M., Kajzer J. 2009. Wzrost liczby stanowisk modliszki zwyczajnej Mantis religiosa L. na Wyżynie Małopolskiej. Chrońmy Przyrodę Ojczystą 65(3): 189–194.","Bonk M., Kajzer J., Szafrański A. 2011. 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Fragmenta Faunistica 52(2): 99–103. DOI: 10.3161/00159301FF2009.52.2.099.","Galera H., Sudnik-Wójcikowska B., Wierzbicka M., Wiłkomirski B. 2011. Encroachment of forest plants into operating and abandoned railway areas in north-eastern Poland. Plant Biosystems 145(1): 23–36.","Głowaciński Z. 2011. Zagadnienia problemowe i syntezy. XII. Introdukcja i mechanizmy sprzyjające inwazji zwierząt, pp. 653–670, In: Głowaciński Z. (Ed.), Gatunki obce w faunie Polski – II. Instytut Ochrony Przyrody PAN, Kraków.","Kadej M., Smolis A., Malkiewicz A., Tarnawski D. 2016. Pierwsze udokumentowane stwierdzenie modliszki zwyczajnej Mantis religiosa religiosa (Linnaeus, 1758) (Insecta, Mantodea) na Dolnym Śląsku. Przyroda Sudetów 19: 115–120.","Kowalczyk J.K., Nadolski J. 2007. Żądłówki (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) terenów kolejowych w Łodzi. Wiadomości Entomologiczne 26(4): 279–288.","Kowalczyk J.K., Śliwiński Z. 1996. Tereny kolejowe ostoją interesującej entomofauny. Chrońmy Przyrodę Ojczystą 52: 108–109.","Kozina P. 2015. Nowe stanowisko Mantis religiosa (L.) (Mantodea: Mantidae) na terenie rezerwatu Wzgórza Sobkowskie (Wyżyna Małopolska, Pogórze Szydłowskie). Wiadomości Entomologiczne 34(4): 67–76.","Kozina P., Łopucki R. 2016. Nowe stanowisko modliszki zwyczajnej Mantis religiosa (Mantodea: Mantidae) na Polesiu Lubelskim. Przegląd Przyrodniczy 27(1): 113–115.","Kozina P., Łopucki R. 2017. Kolejne stanowisko modliszki zwyczajnej Mantis religiosa religiosa na terenie Polesia Lubelskiego. Przegląd Przyrodniczy 28(1): 117–121.","Królik R. 2010. Mantis religiosa religiosa (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mantodea) w Polsce. Acta entomologica silesiana 18: 5–7.","Liana A. 2002. Prostoskrzydłe Orthoptera i inne owady ortopteroidalne, pp. 115–120, In: Głowaciński Z. (Ed.), Czerwona lista zwierząt ginących i zagrożonych w Polsce. Instytut Ochrony Przyrody PAN, Kraków.","Liana A. 2004. Mantis religiosa (Linnaeus, 1758). Modliszka zwyczajna, pp. 72–73, In: Głowaciński Z., Nowacki J. (Eds.), Polish Red Data Book of Animals, Invertebrates. IOP PAN, Kraków.","Liana A. 2007. Distribution of Mantis religiosa (L.) and its changes in Poland. Fragmenta Faunistica 50(2): 91–125.","Łazarski G. 2016. Nowe stwierdzenia modliszki zwyczajnej Mantis religiosa na Wyżynie Małopolskiej. Chrońmy Przyrodę Ojczystą 72(4): 311–313.","Pax F. 1920. Beitrag zur Orthopterenfauna Schlesiens. Zeitschrift für wissenschaftliche Insektenbiologie 16(3/4): 41–42.","Pawelec J. 2003. Inwazja modliszek w Magurskim Parku Narodowym. Parki Narodowe 4, (2003): 1–2.","Pawłowski J. 1991. 2.4.5. Przemiany fauny od pleniglacjału do czasów współczesnych, pp. 159–177, In: Starkel L. (Ed.), Geografia Polski. Środowisko przyrodnicze. PWN, Warszawa.","Pawłowski J. 2003. Wstępna ocena działalności entomologicznej Karola Perthéesa, pp. 193–260, In: Pawłowski J. (Ed.), Karol Perthées (1739-1815) fizjograf Pierwszej Rzeczypospolitej: życie oraz działalność kartograficzna i entomologiczna. Warszawa.","Pawłowski J. 2005. Rękopisy entomologiczne Karola Perthéesa w Bibliotece Instytutu Systematyki i Ewolucji Zwierząt PAN w Krakowie w 110 rocznicę ich pozyskania. Rocznik Biblioteki Naukowej PAU i PAN w Krakowie 50: 167–180.","Pączka G. 2008. Występowanie modliszki zwyczajnej (Mantis religiosa L.) w Rzeszowie i okolicach. Zeszyty Naukowe Południowo-Wschodniego Oddziału Polskiego Towarzystwa Inżynierii Ekologicznej z siedzibą w Rzeszowie i Polskiego Towarzystwa Gleboznawczego, Oddział w Rzeszowie 10: 101–104.","Pupiņš M., Kalniņš M., Pupiņa A., Jaundaldere I. 2012. First records of European Mantid Mantis religiosa (Linnaeus, 1758) (Insecta: Dictyoptera, Mantidae) in Lativia. Acta Biologica Universitatis Daugavpiliensis 12(2): 175–184.","Witkowski Z. 1992. Mantis religiosa (Linne, 1758). Modliszka zwyczajna, pp. 259–260, In: Głowaciński Z. (Ed.), Polish Red Data Book of Animals. PWRiL, Warszawa.","Zieliński D. 2016. Mantis religiosa – dyspersja gatunku w Polsce i w Europie. Nowe stanowisko na Lubelszczyźnie. Nauki Przyrodnicze 3(13): 10–18.","Zieliński D., Schwarz C.J., Ehrmann R. 2018. Evaluation of the expansion of Mantis religiosa (L.) in Poland based on a questionnaire survey. Animal Biodiversity and Conservation 41(2): 275–280."]}

The last larval instar of Alaus melanops LeConte, 1863 (Coleoptera: Elateridae) is described. Morphological characters of the larva such as general morphology of antenna, frons, clypeus, mandible, maxillolabial complex, lacinia and galea, maxillary palp, labium, and abdominal terga are documented and discussed. Data on the natural history and distribution are provided.

Presence-only models can aid conservation and management of threatened, elusive species. A MaxEnt model has been developed for the great capricorn beetle (Cerambyx cerdo L., 1758) in south-western Poland and the variables identified best explaining the species' occurrence on a large scale. Once successfully validated, the model was used to (a) illustrate the expected location of the species' habitats in the region and in existing Natura 2000 sites (SACs) in S-W Poland and (b) assess the efficacy of the regional network of national protected areas (NPAs) versus Natura 2000 (SACs). Overall, information was gathered on 1025 localities of C. cerdo L., 1758 in Lower Silesia. All the records came from the pedunculate oak Quercus robur L., 1753. The occurrence of the great capricorn beetle in the study region is limited mainly to its eastern part, with a marked concentration in the valleys of the rivers Odra, Barycz and Bystrzyca. The kernel density estimation analysis also showed the high concentration of occupied trees in the north-western part of the region, clearly isolated from the above-mentioned main populations. Although a considerable part of the localities in the study region (74.2%) occurred within protected areas (PAs), their contribution to the species' conservation varied between the PAs groups. Natura 2000 SACs are the most important PAs, covering more than 30% of the predicted area of suitable habitats in the region and more than 45% of optimal habitats. In total, 384 localities of C. cerdo L., 1758 were found within the cities, most of them (n = 356) in the city of Wrocław. Forty three percent (43%) of the urban localities of the species (n = 165) in the study region are protected within the regional network of protected areas (OPAs), while those unprotected are mainly concentrated in the city of Wrocław (n = 207). Wrocław also includes 17.1% of the area of suitable habitats and 29% optimal habitats of the species in the region outside the protected area network. To preserve C. cerdo L., 1758, forest corridors should be created or restored to bridge the otherwise impermeable gaps revealed by the authors' model and grant protection to the still largely unprotected area of the Lower Silesian territory. The species conservation programme in the region requires the cooperation of various authorities, not only those dealing with nature conservation, but also local governments, state forest management and flood protection authorities.

In spite of the great popularity of Ellenberg's Indicator Values (EIVs) in plant ecology, animal ecologists seldom use EIVs to address ecological questions. In this study we used EIVs to test their potential usefulness for the prediction of suitable habitat for pre-diapause larvae of the endangered butterfly species Euphydryas aurinia. Nine transects crossing grasslands in SW Poland with abundant populations of E. aurinia were designed. We sampled 76 vegetation plots along the transects. In addition, the presence of the larval webs of E. aurinia in sampled plots was also recorded. We then calculated the mean community EIVs of light, nitrogen, soil reaction, moisture and temperature for each sample plots. Generalized linear mixed-effects models (GLMMs) were used to assess which factors determine the local occurrence of larval webs of E. aurinia. We found the larval webs only in 12 plots, while the host plant was present in 39 of the examined plots. The presence of the host plant was the most important predictor in both models including all plots or including only plots with host plants. The other significant predictor was the mean EIV of light, and its importance increased in models considering all plots. We attributed the importance of the EIV of light to the site openness and density of the vegetation layer. A positive relationship between this predictor and the presence of larval webs indicates that sites with looser vegetation, a lower contribution of shrubs and tall herbs and better penetration of photosynthetically active radiation to lower vegetation layers are preferred by E. aurinia for oviposition. Moreover, the significance of EIV of light may be linked with management practices. Many light-demanding species decline after cessation of mowing as a result of litter accumulation and the dominance of tall herbs. An absence of light-demanding species decreases the community's mean EIV of light and thus indicates the influence of meadow abandonment.

The “Wallacean shortfall”—lack of distributional information—is one of the main problems when trying to assess the threats to and planning conservation strategies for many invertebrate species. Based on published and unpublished records since 1840, as well as on our own field survey, we attempted to estimate if and to what extent the use of pheromone traps increased the detectability of a rare, saproxylic click beetle Elater ferrugineus. The significant increase in the number of records in 2011–2013 shows that the pheromone method made it much easier to detect the occurrence of the species. Advantages of the pheromone method are that it does not disturb the habitat, can be used by non-specialists, is less costly and less time-consuming, and thus providing a useful tool for conservation research (studying biology, ecology and genetics of local populations).

Description of the last larval instar (based on larvae or exuviae) of Anthrenus (Helocerus) minutus (Erichson, 1848), Anthrenus (Nathrenus) biskrensis (Reitter, 1886), and Anthrenus (Nathrenus) signatus (Erichson, 1848; Coleoptera: Dermestidae) is presented. Morphological characters of Anthrenus larvae such as general morphology of antenna, epipharynx, mandible, maxilla, ligula with labial palpi, hastisetae, legs, and terga, and condition of antecostal suture, are documented and discussed. Structural differences among mature larvae of the following Anthrenus species are compared and summarized: Anthrenus coloratus (Reitter, 1881), Anthrenus delicatus delicatus (Kiesenwetter, 1851), Anthrenus flavipes flavipes (LeConte, 1854), Anthrenus fuscus (Olivier, 1789), Anthrenus museorum (L., 1761), Anthrenus latefasciatus (Reitter, 1892), Anthrenus oceanicus (Fauvel, 1903), Anthrenus olgae (Kalík, 1946), Anthrenus picturatus makolskii (Mroczkowski, 1950), Anthrenus pimpinellae pimpinellae (F., 1775), Anthrenus sarnicus (Mroczkowski, 1963), Anthrenus scrophulariae scrophulariae (L., 1758), Anthrenus sophonisba (Beal, 1998), and Anthrenus verbasci (L., 1767).

SummaryDescription of the last larval instar (based on exuvia) of Anthrenus delicatus delicatus Kiesenwetter 1851, A. picturatus makolskii Mroczkowski 1950 and A. sophonisba Beal 1998 (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) is presented. Notes about the biology of A. picturatus makolskii and A. sophonisba are provided. Several morphological characters of Anthrenus larvae are documented: antenna, epipharynx, mandibula, maxilla, ligula with labial palpi, hastisetae, legs, terga, and condition of antecostal suture are documented, and discussed. Structural differences among mature larvae of the following Anthrenus species are compared and summarized: A. coloratus Reitter 1881, A. delicatus delicatus Kiesenwetter 1851, A. flavipes flavipes LeConte 1854, A. fuscus Olivier 1789, A. museorum (Linnaeus 1761), A. latefasciatus Reitter 1892, A. oceanicus Fauvel 1903, A. olgae Kalik 1946, A. picturatus makolskii Mroczkowski 1950, A. pimpinellae pimpinellae (Fabricius 1775), A. sarnicus Mroczkowski 1963, A. scrophulariae scrophular...

Sixteen new species of the genus Zorochros Thomson 1859 from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal and Thailand are described and illustrated, a key to the species of the Zorochros indicus group is given, and new records on already known species are provided. New species: Z. ahrensi n. sp., Z bingkorensis n. sp., Z. dabieshanensis n. sp., Z. dolini n. sp., Z. hartmanni n. sp., Z. hubeiensis n. sp., Z. karnaliensis n. sp., Z. magnificus n. sp., Z. naniensis n. sp., Z. nigredos n. sp., Z. platiai n. sp., Z schawalleri n. sp., Z. schmidti n. sp., Z. senaroensis n. sp., Z. theodori n. sp., and Z. tongshanensis n. sp.

The species of the genus Hypdonus Fleutiaux 1928 are revised, six new species are described and illustrated, new records of known species of this genus are given, and a key to the species of the genus is provided. New species: Hypdonus johorensis n. sp., H. perakensis n. sp., H. planus n. sp., H. sulawesiensis n. sp., H. thailandicus n. sp., and H. vietnamensis n. sp. Resume. Especes nouvelles du genre Hypdonus Fleutiaux 1928 (Coleoptera : Elateridae). L'objet de la presente note est de reviser les especes du genre Hypdonus Fleutiaux 1928. A cette occasion, six especes nouvelles sont decrites et illustrees : Hypdonus johorensis n. sp., H. perakensis n. sp., H. planus n. sp., H. sulawesiensis n. sp., H. thailandicus n. sp., et H. vietnamensis n. sp. De nouvelles donnees sur la repartition geographique d'especes deja connues ainsi qu'un tableau dichotomique permettant d'identifi er les especes du genre Hypdonus sont proposes.

Eight new species of the tribe Quasimusini Schimmel et Tarnawski, 2009 from China, Indonesia, and Himalaya (Bhutan and Sikkim) are described and illustrated. New records on two known species from Laos are given. Wittmeroquasimus irianjayensis sp. nov. is the first of the genus Wittmeroquasimus, and Striatoquasimus carinatissimus sp. nov. is the second species of the genus Striatoquasimus recorded from Indonesia. Keys to the species of the genus Wittmeroquasimus from China and from Himalaya are provided. New species: Quasimus wrasei sp. nov., Striatoquasimus carinatissimus sp. nov., Wittmeroquasimus fujianensis sp. nov.

Eight new species of the tribe Megapenthini from the Indonesian island Sulawesi are described and illustrated: Abelater bosi sp. nov., A. buechei sp. nov., A. dongalaensis sp. nov., A. jakubi sp. nov., Cateanus sulawesiensis sp. nov., Friedrichiellus bosi sp. nov., Simodactylus saetosus sp. nov., and Xanthopenthes dongalaensis sp. nov. New records of further eight species of the tribe Megapenthini from Sulawesi are given. Abelater brandti Schimmel, 2004, and A. jaechi Schimmel, 2004 are recorded from this island for the first time.

Eight new species of the Tribe Megapenthini Gurjeva, 1973 from China, Laos, and from the Philippines are described and illustrated: Cateanus kucerai sp. nov., Friedrichiellus luzonensis sp. nov., Gamepenthes kresli sp. nov., G. phoupa- nensis sp. nov. ,G.shinuishanensis sp. nov., G. turnai sp. nov., Megapenthes jintan- gensis sp. nov., Procraerus kresli sp. nov. A key to the species of the genus Game- penthes Fleutiaux, 1928 from China, and one from Laos and Vietnam is provided, zoogeo- graphical and taxonomical remarks as well as a discussion on the phylogenetic importance of some characters of the species and their ecobiotic life are given.

Eleven new species of the genera Chinathous and Gnathodicrus from China, Laos, Nepal and Sikkim (North India) are described and illustrated: Chinathous heinzi sp. nov., C. jitiangensis sp. nov., C. juizhaigouensis sp. nov., C. moxiensis sp. nov., C. xinjiangensis sp. nov., Gnathodicrus daliangshanensis sp. nov., G. dehongdaiensis sp. nov., G. laoticus sp. nov., G. nepalensis sp. nov., G. vietnamensis sp. nov., G. zhongdianensis sp. nov., Chinathous lizipingensis (Schimmel et Tarnawski, 2006) is introduced as comb. nov. Gnathodicrus nepalensis sp. nov. is recorded as the first species of the genus Gnathodicrus from Himalaya (Nepal and North India).

The species of the genus Athousius Reitter, 1905 from China are revised, described, illustrated, a key to species is given, and some systematic characters are discussed. The genus Thacana Fleutiaux, 1936 is re-established as a bona gen. and is excluded from the Chinese fauna in this paper. The following species are introduced as new to science: Athousius gansuensis sp. n., A. jiuzhaigonensis sp. n., A. muyupingensis sp. n., and A. shaanxiensis sp. n.

In the present paper we introduce three new species of the genus Corymbitodes Buysson, 1904 from Nepal and from Northern India and provide the description of the male of C. kambaitiana Fleutiaux, 1942. No species of Corymbitodes was recorded from Nepal or India previously. The new species are C. bengalensis sp. nov. (India), C. chassaini sp. nov. (India), C. nepalensis sp. nov. (Nepal). C. kambaitiana Fleutiaux, 1942 was originally described based on female material from Myanmar. Here we describe the male based on material from Ganesh Himal in Nepal.

The red flat bark beetle Cucujus cinnaberinus (Scopoli, 1763) is included as a protected species in the Berne Convention and the European Habitat Directive—Annex II and IV (92/43 EU of 21 May 1992) which requires the establishment of special areas of conservation in the European Union, and listing the species in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species under the near-threatened category. Cucujus haematodes Erichson, 1845 is considered to be one of the most threatened saproxylic species, a relic of primeval forests, in many European countries (including Poland) under protection. Morphology of the larvae of two rare European species of the genus Cucujus ( cinnaberinus and haematodes ) is compared here. We point out differences which allow the two species to be properly distinguished and which, until now, have been omitted or misinterpreted in literature. The best characteristics seem to be the arrangement of minor spines on the top of basal tooth, the shape of frontal suture, size of stemmata, shape of I antennal joint, localization of basal tooth, and morphology of VIII abdominal tergites.