Dmitry Telnov

The first record of wedge-shaped beetles (Ripiphoridae) from Eocene Rovno amber of Ukraine is presented based on a male Ripidius Thunberg, 1806. This is the first record of the family of wedge-shaped beetles for the Rovno amber fauna bridges a long-known palaeobiogeographic gap. The examined specimen is from Zhitomir Oblast, remarkably one of only approximately 2,500 amber inclusions known from this area. The new species, Ripidius paleoslavicus sp. nov., is described and illustrated herein. A lectotype designation is made for Ripidius primordialis Stein, 1877. The species identity of the Ripidius larva from Sakhalinian amber is discussed.

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Nalassus laevioctostriatus (darkling beetle, Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Tenebrionidae). The assembly contains two haplotypes with total lengths of 534.57 megabases and 558.90 megabases. Most of haplotype 1 (89.73%) and haplotype 2 (83.43%) are each scaffolded into 10 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled, with a length of 15.53 kilobases. This assembly was generated as part of the Darwin Tree of Life project, which produces genomes for eukaryotic species found in Britain and Ireland.

A new, extinct representative of the tribe Eurygeniini LeConte, 1862, Stereopalpus succinorepertus sp. nov., is described, diagnosed, and illustrated based on a well-preserved inclusion from Eocene Baltic amber. The extinct beetle species is compared with related extant and extinct members of the tribe. The present-day extent of occurrence of the genus Stereopalpus is schematically mapped.

Human‐driven changes in European forests have reduced habitat quality and connectivity, threatening specialist species. We assessed 32 saproxylic beetle species in Latvia based on 2668 observations to evaluate how conservation of EU forest habitats of importance supports species persistence. Species assigned to higher International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) threat categories (Vulnerable, Endangered) were significantly more likely to occur within these habitats, were found closer to forest patches and were significantly concentrated in areas with high habitat density and good to excellent habitat quality. Scenario‐based projections of forest management over 25 years indicated contrasting outcomes: under business‐as‐usual, continued habitat loss led to increased extinction risk for all species; moderate protection within Natura 2000 sites produced limited benefits; achieving the favourable reference area (FRA) substantially increased habitat availability and improved projected conservation status. Our results demonstrate that threatened saproxylic beetles are reliable indicators of habitat quality and are strongly dependent on high‐quality, continuous forest habitats. Achieving FRA targets is essential for securing the long‐term persistence of these species, particularly for those currently classified as Endangered or Vulnerable. These findings underscore the importance of expanding protected areas beyond Natura 2000 and implementing passive forest management to meet EU biodiversity restoration and conservation objectives.

The first representative of the long-jointed beetle genus Sora Walker, 1859 (Lagriinae: Lagriini Latreille, 1825) from Eocene is described and illustrated. The taxon represents the first Tenebrionidae Latreille, 1802 known from Danish amber.

Notoxus karshi sp. nov., a new species from sandy and clayey cold winter deserts of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, is described and illustrated. This new discovery underscores the conservation importance of the remaining desert areas in Central Asia that have not been converted to intensive grazing or agriculture.

In this study, a remarkable new species of the genus Byrsax Pascoe, 1860 (Tenebrionidae: Tenebrioninae: Bolitophagini), Byrsax titanus sp. nov. from the rainforests of Batanta Island, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, is described and illustrated. Additionally, a checklist and a key of Byrsax species of the Papuan Region is provided.

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Nacerdes melanura (wharf borer; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Oedemeridae). The assembly contains two haplotypes with total lengths of 530.90 megabases and 525.71 megabases. Most of haplotype 1 (98.04%) is scaffolded into 8 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. Haplotype 2 was assembled to scaffold level. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled, with a length of 16.45 kilobases. This assembly was generated as part of the Darwin Tree of Life project, which produces genomes for eukaryotic species found in Britain and Ireland.

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Aromia moschata (musk beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Cerambycidae). The assembly contains two haplotypes with total lengths of 738.97 megabases and 691.68 megabases. Most of haplotype 1 (97.23%) is scaffolded into 14 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X and Y sex chromosomes. Haplotype 2 was assembled to scaffold level. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled, with a length of 15.74 kilobases. This assembly was generated as part of the Darwin Tree of Life project, which produces genomes for eukaryotic species found in Britain and Ireland.

Two new Neotropical species of Osphya Illiger, 1807, a small genus of tenebrionoid Coleoptera, is described from the old secondary rainforests of the Petén-Veracruz moist forest ecoregion of Belize, based on material housed at the Natural History Museum in London. These are first new species of this genus and family to be described from Central America in nearly 150 years. Keys to the American Osphya and the genera of Osphyidae Mulsant, 1856 are presented for the first time. Lectotypes are designated for O. pallida Champion, 1889 and O. tuberculiventris Champion, 1889 to maintain nomenclatural stability. Images of Champion's types of Central American Osphya are provided. The genus Brasilium Pic, 1917 is moved to the subfamily Scraptiinae Gistel, 1848 of Scraptiidae Gistel, 1848 based on the adult morphology. Type species is designated for the genus Brasilium, and an annotated checklist of its species is presented for the first time.