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The predatory firefly Photuriselliptica is common throughout the Atlantic Forest and has been proposed as a biomonitor due to the species' narrow niche and elevational range. However, the species is only known from adults, and a more effective monitoring of its populations hinges on the lack of knowledge on their immature stages. Recent sampling in ferruginous caves and inserted in other lithologies, on sites in the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado, have led to the capture of firefly larvae later reared to adults in the lab. Firefly larvae have been reported in South American caves before; however, they have only been identified to family due to the adult-biased taxonomy of Lampyridae. Here, we provide an updated diagnosis of Photuriselliptica , describe its immature stages for the first time, and update the distribution of the species. The larvae of Photuriselliptica were observed to interact with guano of several bat species, including that of vampire bats. These observations are consistent with the less specialized feeding preferences of photurine larvae, unlike most other firefly taxa, which specialize in gastropods and earthworms. It is yet unclear whether P.elliptica are cave specialists. However, since its occurrence outside caves remains unknown, protecting cave environments must be considered in conservation strategies for this important biomonitor species., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Paula M. Souto, Simone P. Rosa, Robson de A. Zampaulo, Sara C. Rivera, Thais G. Pellegrini, Luiz F. L. da Silveira.)

To date, 20 species of obligate cave-dwelling beetles are known from Brazil, and 12 belong to the Coarazuphium genus. In this paper, we describe Coarazuphium bambui sp. n., from two specimens, one male and one female, collected in the Gruna Boca da Lapa cave located in the municipality of Feira da Mata (Bahia state, Brazil). The most striking difference between C. bambui and other species of the genus is the presence of three pairs of fixed setae posteriorly on the head, combined with the slightly elytral sinuosity. We also provide an updated key for species identification of the Coarazuphium genus. Finally, we highlight the importance of the Serra do Ramalho karst area for the conservation of troglobite diversity in the Brazilian context.

Five decades ago, a landmark paper in Science titled The Cave Environment heralded caves as ideal natural experimental laboratories in which to develop and address general questions in geology, ecology, biogeography, and evolutionary biology. Although the 'caves as laboratory' paradigm has since been advocated by subterranean biologists, there are few examples of studies that successfully translated their results into general principles. The contemporary era of big data, modelling tools, and revolutionary advances in genetics and (meta)genomics provides an opportunity to revisit unresolved questions and challenges, as well as examine promising new avenues of research in subterranean biology. Accordingly, we have developed a roadmap to guide future research endeavours in subterranean biology by adapting a well-established methodology of 'horizon scanning' to identify the highest priority research questions across six subject areas. Based on the expert opinion of 30 scientists from around the globe with complementary expertise and of different academic ages, we assembled an initial list of 258 fundamental questions concentrating on macroecology and microbial ecology, adaptation, evolution, and conservation. Subsequently, through online surveys, 130 subterranean biologists with various backgrounds assisted us in reducing our list to 50 top-priority questions. These research questions are broad in scope and ready to be addressed in the next decade. We believe this exercise will stimulate research towards a deeper understanding of subterranean biology and foster hypothesis-driven studies likely to resonate broadly from the traditional boundaries of this field., (© 2020 Cambridge Philosophical Society.)

In this paper, we describe Coarazuphium lundi sp. nov., from a single male specimen collected in Gruta 06L cave located in the municipality of Prudente de Morais (Minas Gerais state, Brazil). The two most striking differences between C. lundi and other species of the genus is the presence of two pairs of posterior supraorbital setae and the elytra shape with parallel, not rounded sides. Coarazuphium pains Álvares Ferreira 2002 is an endemic species restricted to a few caves at the Bambuí Carbonatic Group in the midwest of Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The holotype of C. pains was unfortunately lost in 2010, due to a fire that destroyed almost the entire zoological collection at the Butantã Institute, São Paulo state in Brazil. In recent years, several species of the genus have been described and compared to C. pains only based on its paper description, clearly prompting the need for the C. pains neotype designation. In order to provide a necessary standard for comparison, a neotype is designed for this species based on the material collected from the best approximation of the type locality (caves). Lastly, we also provide a brief discussion on the presence of eyespots of C. cessaima, originally described as blind.

The new species Ardistomis ferreirai sp. nov. is described and illustrated. Some specific characters are discussed together with a possible correlation to the species subterranean way of life. Available ecological data and recordings are provided by description of the caves and the specific threats to the caves are indicated.

Coarazuphium caatinga sp. n. occurs in limestone caves located in Campo Formoso municipality, in the Brazilian Caatinga (Bahia, Brazil). The new species is close to C. formoso although they are morphologically distinct by the elytra sinuosity, which is more pronounced in C. caatinga; the aedeagus is more tapered at the tip in this last species. Important traits found in C. caatinga are the variable size presented by the eyes, and the remarkable variability of body pigmentation among specimens; both traits do not seem to be correlated. Coarazuphium Gnaspini, P., Vanin, S.A. & Godoy, N.M., 1998, species exhibit advanced troglomorphic characters in comparison to other Brazilian cave beetles, as are increased extra-optic sensory structures, presence of particular sensilla, and sensory and gustatory receptors. These characters are not detected under routine microscopy and thus require ultrastructural methods for their study.