New taxa of Afrotropical Toktokkies (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Molurina) from the Natural History Museum of Basel.

Investigation of the darkling beetle (Tenebrionidae) specimens from the Natural History Museum Basel (Switzerland) resulted in the discovery of two new species of Afrotropical toktokkies (tribe Sepidiini). Both taxa provided novel morphological data which, in the light of previously acquired molecular evidence, challenged the taxonomic coherence of the genus Dichtha. To accommodate this information a new genus Bouchardium gen.

Taxonomic revision of the genus Fairmaire (Tenebrionidae, Eurynotina): shortfalls of anatomical nomenclature with notes on aedeagal homology.

The genus Fairmaire (Tenebrionidae, Blaptinae, Platynotini, Eurynotina) is revised. Two new species and one new synonymy are presented along with new diagnoses, descriptions, a distribution map, and key to species. The resulting species of are: , Koch (= Koch ), , Koch, and Fairmaire.

Fossoriality in desert-adapted tenebrionid (Coleoptera) larvae.

In many extreme arid ecosystems, insects constitute major faunal components and are key contributors in nutrient cycling. Previous research on xerophily in insects has focused on adult forms. This study investigates skeletomuscular and behavioural adaptations of the Kalahari sandworm beetle larvae (Gonopus tibialis Fabricius) for dwelling in the sand.

The tracheal system in post-embryonic development of holometabolous insects: a case study using the mealworm beetle.

The tracheal (respiratory) system is regarded as one of the key elements which enabled insects to conquer terrestrial habitats and, as a result, achieve extreme species diversity. Despite this fact, anatomical data concerning this biological system is relatively scarce, especially in an ontogenetic context. The purpose of this study is to provide novel and reliable information on the post-embryonic development of the tracheal system of holometabolous insects using micro-computed tomography methods.

Afrotropical Melambiina: revision of the genus Koch, 1956 and redescription of Koch, 1956 (Tenebrionidae: Pedinini).

The genus Tragardhus Koch, 1956 (Pedinini: Melambiina) is revised to include nine Afrotropical species, five of which are new. A taxonomic treatment of the genus is provided including a morphological study, new species descriptions, keys, illustrations, and notes on species distributions. The following species are included: Tragardhus (Mitragardhus) nodosus Koch, 1956, T.

Three new species of trigonopoid Platynotina (Tenebrionidae: Pedinini) from the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve, South Africa.

Three new species representing closely related genera of the trigonopoid Platynotina are described from the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve in South Africa: Atrocrates kandai sp. nov., A.

A taxonomic revision of the Quadrideres simplicipes species-group (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pedinini), including description of a new species from Tanzania.

The taxonomic and distributional data concerning the representatives of the Quadrideres simplicipes species-group is revised. Selinus parallelus Ancey, 1877, considered by some previous authors as incertae sedis Platynotina species, is transferred to the genus Quadrideres. Q.

The Last Breath: A μCT-based method for investigating the tracheal system in Hexapoda.

In recent years, μCT-based studies of the insect tracheal system have become an increasingly important area of research. Nevertheless, the methods proposed in previous research for investigating the respiratory system in the three-dimensional space were described and tested based on a relatively small number of specimens. Additionally, the individuals studied in all these cases represented only a single post-embryonic stadium - pupa or imago - of a particular insect species.

A cladistically based reinterpretation of the taxonomy of two Afrotropical tenebrionid genera Ectateus Koch, 1956 and Selinus Mulsant & Rey, 1853 (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Platynotina).

On the basis of a newly performed cladistic analysis a new classification of the representatives of two Afrotropical tenebrionid genera, Ectateus Koch, 1956 and Selinus Mulsant & Rey, 1853 sensu Iwan 2002a, is provided. Eleoselinus is described as a new genus. The genus Monodius, previously synonymized with Selinus by Iwan (2002), is redescribed and considered as a separate genus.

Taxonomy of the genus Kochogaster Kamiński et Raś, 2011 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pedinini), with description of a second known species.

A second species of the genus Kochogaster Kamiński et Raś (K. gerardi sp. n.

Taxonomy and distribution of the Afrotropical genus Anchophthalmops Koch, 1956 with a key to species (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pedinini).

The taxonomic and distributional data concerning the representatives of the genus Anchophthalmops were revised. Lectotypes for Anchophthalmopsfoveipennis and A. ventralis were designated to fix the taxonomic status of these species.