Beetles in Integrative Entomology: Biology, Taxonomy, and Conservation—2nd Edition

A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450). This special issue belongs to the section "Insect Systematics, Phylogeny and Evolution".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2027 | Viewed by 1038

Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Zoology and Nature Protection, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland
Interests: morphology; ecology and taxonomy of beetles
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Working on the previous edition of our Special Issue was a great honor and a true pleasure. We were surprised by the diversity of the submitted papers. At the same time, we fully realize that together we have only scratched the surface. Unexplored species are still waiting for their turn, not only in natural habitats but also in museums and private collections. Let us give them a chance! At the same time, the development of modern research methods allows us to address questions and problems that have previously remained unresolved. Every step brings us closer to our goal. Therefore, we would like to draw your attention to the continuation of our Special Issue. In this edition, priority will be given to papers on groups of beetles that lie somewhat outside the mainstream of coleopterological interest, for example, families characterized by fewer species or less known distribution. We are confident that publishing such materials in our Special Issue will increase the audience and, consequently, provide new impetus for research on these taxa. As in the previous edition, papers resulting from international collaborations will be promoted.

Prof. Dr. Rafał Gosik
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • coleoptera
  • beetles
  • biology
  • taxonomy
  • conservation
  • zoography
  • biodiversity
  • morphology
  • integrative entomology
  • phylogeny

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 2724 KB  
Article
Diversity and Faunal Composition of Coleoptera in the Gansu Heihe Provincial Nature Reserve, China
by Jia Qi, Kang Chang, Jianhui Wang, Miao Li, Lulin Li, Xiaoxiao Chen, Suqin Shang and Youssef Dewer
Insects 2026, 17(7), 700; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17070700 - 6 Jul 2026
Viewed by 350
Abstract
Background: The Gansu Heihe Provincial Nature Reserve harbors rich plant and animal resources, yet its coleopteran fauna has remained taxonomically and ecologically uncharacterized. To address this gap, we conducted the first systematic survey of beetle diversity across four representative transects—Youcaigou (I), Zhugou [...] Read more.
Background: The Gansu Heihe Provincial Nature Reserve harbors rich plant and animal resources, yet its coleopteran fauna has remained taxonomically and ecologically uncharacterized. To address this gap, we conducted the first systematic survey of beetle diversity across four representative transects—Youcaigou (I), Zhugou (II), Loufangya (III), and Sigou (IV)—and assessed variation in community structure using the Shannon–Wiener diversity index, Margalef richness index, Berger–Parker dominance index, Pielou evenness index, and Jaccard similarity coefficient. Results: A total of 131 species belonging to 108 genera and 22 families were identified, establishing a comprehensive baseline of beetle diversity for the reserve. Cerambycidae was the most species-rich family (27 species), while Lampyridae, Staphylinidae, and Anobiidae were each represented by only a single species, reflecting marked unevenness in family-level composition. Diversity and community structure differed substantially among transects: Transect II showed the highest Shannon–Wiener diversity index and Pielou evenness, Transect III the lowest diversity, and Transect IV the greatest dominance by a few species, while species richness declined in the order I > II > III > IV. Zoogeographic analysis revealed that widely distributed (Cosmopolitan) species predominated (83 species; 63.36%), with Palaearctic (21 species; 16.03%) and Oriental (27 species; 20.61%) elements also well represented, underscoring the reserve’s position at a key biogeographic transition zone. Within China, North China faunal elements were most prevalent (75.94%), with the North China–Northeast China distribution group alone accounting for 54.20% of species, whereas nationally widespread species comprised only 9.16%. Conclusions: This study provides the first systematic record of coleopteran diversity in the Gansu Heihe Provincial Nature Reserve, enriching the region’s biodiversity inventory and offering reference data for future insect monitoring and forest conservation. Further multi-seasonal, method-diversified surveys are needed to achieve a complete faunal inventory. Full article
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21 pages, 23313 KB  
Article
The Phenotypic Landscape of Phloeosinus baumanni: Spatial Patterns of Morphological Variation and Their Implications for Ecology and Taxonomy
by Montserrat Cervantes-Espinoza, Edwin R. Ariza-Marín, Tonatiuh Santos-Neria, Mauricio Pérez-Silva, Rodolfo J. Cancino-López, Osiris Valerio-Mendoza, Alba R. Dueñas-Cedillo, Enrico Alejandro Ruiz, Luis Gerardo Cuellar-Rodríguez, Israel Yerena-Yamallel and Francisco Armendáriz-Toledano
Insects 2026, 17(6), 625; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17060625 - 14 Jun 2026
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Abstract
Morphological characters are widely used for species delimitation in Scolytinae, yet their stability under intraspecific variation remains poorly understood. Here, we analyzed phenotypic variation in specimens currently assigned to Phloeosinus baumanni across its distribution in Mexico to evaluate the effects of sexual dimorphism [...] Read more.
Morphological characters are widely used for species delimitation in Scolytinae, yet their stability under intraspecific variation remains poorly understood. Here, we analyzed phenotypic variation in specimens currently assigned to Phloeosinus baumanni across its distribution in Mexico to evaluate the effects of sexual dimorphism and locality on morphological traits. A total of 25 characters were examined using univariate and multivariate analyses. Pronounced sexual dimorphism was detected, with significant differences in more than half of the evaluated traits and a clear separation between sexes in multivariate space, particularly in body size, cephalic proportions, and elytral declivity features. Locality-associated variation was also detected, particularly within the better-sampled localities of the Transmexican Volcanic Belt. However, localities showed broad overlap in morphospace, with no consistent clustering across biogeographic provinces. Several traits commonly used for species delimitation exhibited substantial variation associated with both sex and geography. These results indicate sex- and locality-associated phenotypic variation among specimens currently assigned to P. baumanni and highlight the risk of taxonomic overestimation when variable morphological traits are overemphasized. Incorporating intraspecific variability into taxonomic frameworks is essential to improve species delimitation in Scolytinae. Full article
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