Journal of Insect Biodiversity

Does the soil type influence the composition of rove beetle fauna? A study case in the Atlantic Forest in Southern Brazil

2026-01-06T03:58:11+13:00

The Atlantic Forest is one of the most biodiverse biomes in the world. A significant protected area in Paraná State (Brazil) represents an ecotone between two subdivisions: the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest and the Araucaria Moist Forest. This protected area experiences a loss of approximately half of its canopy tree leaves between June and August, leading to the formation of a thick layer of leaf litter. This environment fosters a high abundance and diversity of Staphylinidae beetles, the beetle family with the highest species richness, particularly in the Neotropics. This study investigated whether soil characteristics influence Staphylinidae composition and diversity. Among the two soil types analyzed, Ultisol exhibited the highest overall richness (63 morphospecies) and diversity, whereas Oxisol (38 morphospecies) hosted a compositionally distinct community with greater internal variability, a pattern consistent across years. A generalized linear model confirmed soil type as the main predictor of richness, while NMDS ordination showed distinct community clustering by soil type, corroborated by PERMANOVA. These results infer the importance of Ultisol within the reserve, given that it is subject to greater disturbance through direct contact with crops and highways. Demonstrating the importance of soil properties in biodiversity monitoring enhances the understanding of habitat heterogeneity and reinforces the relevance of soil health.

The longhorn beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) of three Ecuadorian protected natural areas

2025-12-31T09:25:53+13:00

This study presents the results of the longhorn beetle surveys conducted in three protected natural areas in Ecuador. Species collection was carried out in Yasuní National Park, El Pahuma Orchid Reserve and Lalo Loor Dry Forest Reserve in different seasons in the years 2008, 2011, and 2018. A total of 39 species of Cerambycidae were collected across the three protected natural areas. Four of them are recorded for the first time for the Ecuadorian fauna: Achryson surinamum (Linnaeus, 1767); Eburodacrys elegantula Gounelle, 1909; Pantomallus fuligineus Bates, 1872; and Colobothea juncea Bates, 1865.

**Discovery of Cymatopus Kertész (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) on African continent with description of two new species from Tanzania**

2026-02-10T04:34:30+13:00

Two new species of the genus Cymatopus Kertész from coastal Tanzania are described, and an identification key to males of Afrotropical species is provided. Cymatopus mtwara sp. nov. and C. vikhrevi sp. nov. are associated with the Australasian and Oriental Cymatopus tibialis group of species, particularly the C. thaicus subgroup, differing from other species in ornamentations of male fore legs and shape and setation of hypopygial structures. An identification key to males of the four known Afrotropical species is compiled for the first time. The World fauna of the genus contains now 25 Afrotropical, Australasian, Neotropical and Oriental species.