Explore the vast range of titles available.

The World Catalogue of the Dermestidae (Coleoptera) contains the list of subfamilies, tribes and subtribes, list of genera and subgenera, systematic catalogue of all known taxons including new nomenclatorial acts, new distributional records, list of type depositions, infrasubspecific names, bibliography and alphabetical index of names of genera, subgenera and their synonyms. It contains all the taxa described until February 28, 2014.

This study documents the diversity and distribution of the subfamily Attageninae (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) in Saudi Arabia based on the examination of specimens from institutional and private collections, and field surveys using different trapping and collection methods. It enumerates 20 species belonging to two genera, Attagenus (19 species) and Telopes (one species). Six species are newly recorded for the country: Attagenus barbieri Pic, 1946; A. jakli Háva, 2021; A. kadleci Háva, 2012; A. vanharteni Háva, 2009; A. yemensis Háva & Herrmann, 2014; and Telopes tessellatus Reitter, 1887. Morphological examinations led to the exclusion of five previously misidentified species from the Saudi fauna: A. dichrous Roth, 1851; A. fasciolatus (Solsky, 1876); A. heydeni (Reitter, 1881); Telopes obtusus (Gyllenhal in Schönherr, 1808); and Telopes reitteri (Mroczkowski, 1968). The distribution of Attageninae reveals the influence of environmental gradients on species richness, with mid-altitude areas (601–1500 m) serving as biodiversity hotspots, hosting 14 species. Lowland and highland specialists display niche adaptation, with species like A. apicalis and A. logunovi restricted to low altitudes (≤ 600 m) and A. kadleci found exclusively in high-altitude environments (> 2000 m). Approximately 40% of the Attageninae species in Saudi Arabia are found within protected areas. This study identifies five endemic species in the Arabian Peninsula, including one exclusive to Saudi Arabia ( A. logunovi ). These findings increase the number of known attagenine species by 43% in Saudi Arabia and 7% in the Arabian Peninsula, highlighting the need for systematic surveys and taxonomic revisions to reveal the overlooked biodiversity in the region.

•Dermestes tessellatocollis is a forensically important insect for PMI estimation.•Development of D. tessellatocollis was monitored from 16 to 34 °C.•Development models were constructed which can be used to estimate PMImin.•Developmental threshold temperature and thermal constant were obtained.•Instar determination accuracy was unsatisfactory for application in casework. Dermestidae generally appears on dry corpses and carcasses, especially if mummified or skeletonized. They are forensically important insect species for estimating longer postmortem intervals (PMI). As they develop, Dermestidae larvae undergo multiple larval ecdyses; however, a lack of guidelines for determining the larval instar limits their forensic application. Herein, we explored how temperature impacts the development of Dermestes tessellatocollis Motschulsky, 1860 (Coleoptera: Dermestidae). At seven constant temperatures (16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, and 34 °C), the developmental time from egg to adult was 163.87 ± 9.19, 103.56 ± 3.02, 63.59 ± 2.88, 51.49 ± 2.74, 47.86 ± 3.01, 44.62 ± 4.65, and 41.80 ± 4.87 days respectively. Four morphological indexes, including head capsule width, pronotum width, mesonotum width, and body length, were taken in vivo at regular intervals to identify methods for larval instar determination in D. tessellatocollis. The acquired morphological data were used to simulate fitted curves and equations depicting the relationship between the four morphological indexes and instars. From the validation experiment, we could hardly determine a specific instar based on the morphological indexes. The combination of morphometric data (head capsule, pronotum, and mesonotum width) generated the classification accuracy at 100%, 87.5%, 85%, and 93% for the 1st, 2nd/3rd, 4th/5th, and 6th/7th instars, respectively. Nevertheless, the accuracy was unsatisfactory for application in forensic casework. This study provides fundamental development data for adopting D. tessellatocollis in minimum postmortem interval (PMImin) estimations; however, further studies are needed to improve the classification accuracy for the larval instar determination.

In this study, the fauna of Saudi Arabian Dermestinae (Coleoptera, Dermestidae) is summarised. Six Dermestes species and single species from two Marioutini genera, Mariouta and Rhopalosilpha , are reported. Dermestes (Dermestinus) undulatus Brahm, 1790 and Dermestes (Dermestes) haemorrhoidalis Küster, 1852 are newly recorded from Saudi Arabia. A list of Dermestinae species from the Arabian Peninsula is provided with their distributions.

Coleoptera is one of the largest taxon among animals and exhibits diverse eating habits. When associated with decaying corpses, beetles can be of great value in estimating the postmortem interval. In order to consolidate a useful database for the forensic field, it is necessary to study the entomological fauna associated with the carcasses in different geographical regions since the diversity of insects varies according to the biogeoclimate zone. Thus, this study aimed to assess the influence of environmental and ecological factors on the composition and succession of beetles associated with pig carcasses exposed in southern Brazil. Collections were carried out during the hot/dry and cold/wet seasons. A total of 415 specimens belonging to 18 Coleoptera families were sampled. The highest total abundance (n = 329) and diversity (n = 44 taxa) were recorded in the cold/wet season, corresponding to approximately 80% of the total sampled from the two seasons. Dermestidae (26.7%) was the family most abundantly sampled. Regarding eating habits, in an increasing order of importance were necrophagous (43.3%), predator (31.6%), and omnivorous (0.05%). In the hot/dry season, there was no faunal succession. In the cold/wet season, the succession was more associated with differences in abundance than to the presence or absence of a specific taxon by decomposition stage. Considering all the factors analyzed in the current study, three species of beetles, Dermestes maculatus DeGeer (Dermestidae), Euspilotus azureus (Sahlberg, 1823) (Histeridae), and Oxelytrum discicolle Brullé, 1840 (Silphidae), could be identified as being of the greatest forensic relevance in this biogeoclimatic zone.

The impressive Sacristy of the Basilica of San Domenico Maggiore contains 38 wooden sarcophagi with the bodies of 10 Aragonese princes and other Neapolitan nobles, who died in the 15th and 16th centuries. To improve the knowledge about the entomofauna associated with bodies in archaeological contexts, herein we provide insights on the funerary practices and the insect community associated to Ferrante II King of Naples and other Italian Renaissance mummies of the Aragonese dynasty buried in the Basilica of St. Domenico Maggiore. We identified 842 insect specimens: 88% were Diptera (Muscidae, Fanniidae, and Phoridae), followed by 9% Lepidoptera (Tineidae) and 3% Coleoptera (Dermestidae and Ptinidae). Ninety-seven percent of the specimens were collected from the coffin of Francesco Ferdinando d'Avalos, which was the best preserved. A lack of fly species characterizing the first colonization waves of exposed bodies was noted.The most common fly was the later colonizing muscid Hydrotaea capensis (Wiedemann); only a few Fanniidae (Fannia spp.) were retrieved. The lack of blowflies, coupled with recording H. capensis as the dominant fly, supports our hypothesis that corpses have been kept indoors for a long time under confined environmental conditions. Other explanations include odorous oils/balms having been used in the embalming process, causing the delay or stopping the arrival of first colonizer flies. Hermetically sealing of the coffin with bitumen may also have played a role in preventing access to the corpses.This scenario describes a historical context characterized by a well-advanced knowledge of body preparation, with specific burial techniques adopted for nobles.

An updated description of the last larval instar (based on the exuvia) of Reesa vespulae (Milliron, 1939) (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) is presented. The paper is fully illustrated and includes some important additions to extend the poorly illustrated, short notes for this species available in the references. Summarized data about biology, economic importance, and distribution of R. vespulae are also provided.

The species richness, abundance and seasonality of Coleoptera fauna associated with pig carcasses exposed in a Caatinga area were examined. Tray, pitfall and modified Shannon traps were settled together to collect these insects during two seasons (dry and rainy). 4,851 beetles were collected, belonging to 19 families and 88 species. Staphylinidae (2,184) and Histeridae (1,264) were the most abundant families and accounted for 71.1% of the specimens collected. Scarabaeidae (15) showed the highest species richness. The most abundant species were Atheta iheringi Bernhauer, 1908 (Staphylinidae) (1,685), Euspilotus sp. (Histeridae) (461), Stelidota geminata (Say, 1825) (Nitidulidae) (394), Xerosaprinus diptychus(Marseul, 1855) (Histeridae) (331) and Dermestes maculatus De Geer, 1774 (Dermestidae). Amongst these species, X. diptychus showed to be strongly influenced by seasonality, since 96.1% of the specimens were collected during the dry season. A riqueza, abundância e sazonalidade da coleopterofauna associada a carcaças de suínos expostas em uma área de Caatinga foram examinadas. Para captura desses insetos foram utilizadas armadilhas do tipo bandeja, pitfall e Shannon modificada, durante duas estações (seca e chuvosa). 4.851 coleópteros foram coletados, pertencentes a 19 famílias e 88 espécies. Staphylinidae (2.184) e Histeridae (1.264) foram as famílias mais abundantes e somaram 71,1% dos espécimes coletados. Scarabaeidae (15) apresentou a maior riqueza. As espécies mais abundantes foram Atheta iheringi Bernhauer, 1908 (Staphylinidae) (1,685), Euspilotus sp. (Histeridae) (461), Stelidota geminata (Say, 1825) (Nitidulidae) (394), Xerosaprinus diptychus(Marseul, 1855) (Histeridae) (331) e Dermestes maculatus De Geer, 1774 (Dermestidae). Entre essas espécies, X. diptychus mostrou-se fortemente influenciada pela sazonalidade, uma vez que 96,1% dos espécimes foram coletados durante a estação seca.

Orphinus (s. str.) pakistanus Kadej & Háva, sp. nov. is described from Pakistan. The habitus, antenna, and genitalia are illustrated and compared with related species. A revised checklist and a key to the known Orphinus species from the Himalayan Region are presented.