Xyloryctes Hope, 1837 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Oryctini) in the United States. Qui es et ubi fuisti et quo vadis?

Two species of Xyloryctes occur in the United States: X. jamaicensis (Drury) and X. thestalus Bates. Identification and distribution of these species has long been confused but is reviewed and clarified here. Xyloryctes jamaicensis occurs only in the eastern half of the U.S. and not in the southwestern U.S. as previously thought, while X. thestalus occurs in Guatemala and southern Mexico northwards to the southwestern United States. This hypothesis is corroborated by biogeographical and host plant data. Three new synonyms are listed for X. thestalus: X. faunus Casey 1915, X. hebes Casey 1915, and X. thestalus borealis Endrödi. The decline of Fraxinus spp., the food plant of Xyloryctes species, as a result of damage caused by the introduced emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire; Buprestidae) in the United States might portend a similar decline for Xyloryctes species in North America

Composition and Host-Use Patterns of a Scarab Beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Community Inhabiting the Canopy of a Lowland Tropical Rainforest in Southern Venezuela

The adult scarab beetle fauna of the canopy in a lowland tropical rainforest in southern Venezuela was observed and collected by means of a 42 m-tall tower crane for a complete year. This first census of an entire Amazonian canopy scarab community was embedded within the interdisciplinary research project Towards an understanding of the structure and function of a Neotropical rainforest ecosystem with special reference to its canopy organized by the Austrian Academy of Science. The Scarabaeidae represented one of the most species-rich beetle families in the canopy of the crane plot and were therefore selected for a detailed analysis of host-use patterns. Thirty-three species of Scarabaeidae with 399 individuals were recorded, including two species represented by singletons. Subfamilies abundant in the canopy were the Rutelinae, Dynastinae, and Melolonthinae. Species were diurnal or nocturnal flower visitors restricted in their occurrence to their host trees during the flowering season. The scarab beetles remained commonly on one host tree species throughout the entire flowering period and switched to another host tree species only after depletion of food resources. Some species fed on extrafloral nectar but feeding on fruits and leaves was uncommon in the observed species. Most species showed a broad host range, often with abundant species recorded on several host trees. Seven species were found exclusively on one tree species. The co-occurrence of up to five congeneric species sharing the same host trees and diet was conspicuous. With this study, it could be shown how species of Scarabaeidae track available food resources within the canopy of a tropical rainforest

A revision of the genus Gymnetina Casey, 1915 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Gymnetini)

The genus Gymnetina Casey (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Gymnetini) is redescribed and revised. Three new species and one new subspecies are described: G. borealis Warner and Ratcliffe, G. grossepunctata Ratcliffe and Warner, G. howdeni Warner and Ratcliffe, and G. cretacea sundbergi Warner and Ratcliffe. Gymnetina salicis (Bates), new status, is removed from synonymy with G. cretacea (LeConte), and G. alboscripta (Janson) is transferred from Gymnetis MacLeay to Gymnetina becoming Gymnetina alboscripta (Janson), new combination. Redescriptions of previously known species, a key for identification, and illustrations of the six species are provided. A brief biogeographical analysis suggests that ancestral taxa dispersed northwards from Guatemala and Mexico to the southwestern United States

Homophileurus neptunus Dechambre, a new junior synonym of H. waldenfelsi Endrödi (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Phileurini)

Homophileurus neptunus Dechambre was found to be conspecific with H. waldenfelsi Endrödi after examination of types, descriptions, and illustrations. Accordingly, H. neptunus is placed in junior synonymy with H. waldenfelsi, new synonymy. Homophileurus waldenfelsi is an uncommon species and occurs in Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, and Peru. Brazil and Peru are new country records

The Dynastinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) of the Cayman Islands (West Indies), with descriptions of Tomarus adoceteus, new species (Pentodontini) and Caymania nitidissima, new genus and species (Phileurini)

The five genera and eight species of dynastine scarabs occurring in the Cayman Islands in the West Indies are reviewed. Two new, endemic species are described from Little Cayman, with supporting illustrations: Tomarus adoceteus Ratcliffe and Cave (Pentodontini), new species, and Caymania nitidissima Ratcliffe and Cave (Phileurini), new genus and species