Martin Novák

• PhD
• Researcher at Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Literature regarding the firefly genus Luciola Laporte, 1833 is investigated to determine the correct type species for this diverse and taxonomically important genus. Evidence suggests that the type species subsequently designated by Desmarest (1860) was misidentified. Following the requirements of Article 70.3.2 of the International Code of Zoolog...

Sexual communication in nocturnal fireflies has been presumed to be facilitated exclusively by bioluminescence, which has replaced the pheromones used by diurnal species. Although some fireflies are suspected of using combined signalling, this view has so far not been supported by empirical evidence, and these species have been viewed more as outli...

Proper fixing and long-term preservation of entomological evidence are essential in collections and research and crucial in applied fields such as forensic entomology. Incorrectly stored samples may lose important morphological features over time, rendering molecular analyses exceedingly difficult. The most effective method for preserving soft samp...

The tribe Silphini is a small group of beetles, with 13 extant species currently known from the Czech Republic, which despite the group's common name (large carrion beetles), have various diets and lifestyles. While the morphology of the adult stages is well known, the descriptions of larvae and their instars are mostly outdated, inaccurate, or eve...

The forensically important genus Thanatophilus Leach, 1815 (Coleoptera: Silphidae) is a widespread group of carrion beetles that occupies the Holarctic and Afrotropical realms. It has recently received more recognition, as its species are frequently detected on large carrion, including humans, and can be useful in estimating the time of colonizatio...

The standard procedure for fluid preservation of insects consists of two steps. First, the specimen is killed and prepared in a fixative fluid and then transferred to a storage fluid. Recommendations for using specific chemicals or mixtures differ depending on the size and anatomy of the animal and vary among the authors. However, controlled compar...

Biotope or habitat preferences are important species characteristics that can be used for understanding their ecology, as well as their conservation, and even as a tool for crime investigations for detection of post-mortem body manipulation. However, the characterization of species' habitat preferences can be difficult. There are several limiting f...

We assessed the influence of diet on the development and survival in the immature stages of the necrophagous beetle Oiceoptoma thoracicum (Linnaeus, 1758). The species is frequently observed on large cadavers, including humans, and thus can be of potential forensic relevance. We compared multiple meat tissues from three animal sources, and detected...

Coleoptera are currently considered a fundamental tool to help solve criminal investigations, allowing forensic entomologists to estimate post-mortem intervals and obtain other ecology-related information. Thanatophilus rugosus (Linnaeus, 1758) is an important necrophagous beetle distributed through most of the Palaearctic region, where it is readi...

This study examined the effects of various diets on the development time and survival of the carrion beetle Thanatophilus rugosus (Fabricius, 1775). We attempted to find the best diet for rearing the species in laboratory conditions for entomological research and forensic purposes, and to further understand its feeding habits. The larval stages wer...

Providing clear and detailed morphological descriptions of endemic species in limited areas enables new knowledge of their biology and ecology to be obtained through citizen science. This information can be further used for their protection. Our study presents the first morphological description of the larvae of all three instars of Heterotemna ten...

Carrion beetles of genus Thanatophilus (Leach, 1815) are an important group of necrophagous insects, with great potential for forensic entomology in temperate zones of Africa, America, Asia, and Europe. Developmental models for majority of Thanatophilus species remain unknown. In this study, we will provide new thermal summation models for all the...

Insect pupae sampled at a death scene may be used to estimate the post-mortem interval. The pupal age is however difficult to estimate, as there are no good quantitative markers for the age of a pupa. We present a novel method for pupal age estimation based on the quantification of contrast in intensity between the eyes of a pupa and the middle gre...

The postmortem interval (PMI) estimation, in cases where the body was discovered in an advanced stage of decomposition, is predominantly based on entomological evidence. However, very few forensically important species are sufficiently known in detail to allow a practical application. One of them is the carrion beetle, Necrophila (Calosilpha) brunn...

In the original publication of this paper, a sentence in the “Habitat loss and fragmentation” section incorrectly left out a phrase to read “Genome-wide SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) analysis of Photinus pyralis, a species widespread and abundant across the eastern United States, among populations, with Fst (fixation index) values averaging...

Insect declines and their drivers have attracted considerable recent attention. Fireflies and glowworms are iconic insects whose conspicuous bioluminescent courtship displays carry unique cultural significance, giving them economic value as ecotourist attractions. Despite evidence of declines, a comprehensive review of the conservation status and t...

Necrophagous beetles of genus Thanatophilus are well recognized as a group of beetles with a high potential utility in forensic entomology. They can be used to estimate postmortem interval (PMI) or validate the value for other groups of insects commonly encountered on human remains, like blowflies (Calliphoridae). However, reliable tools for instar...

Obtaining taxonomic-grade images is a vital part of probably every present-day morphological study of insects, even though the task itself is perceived as a “necessary evil” due to high investment of both time and effort to produce representable images. Cleaning the background and making it appear as a solid color of known properties is probably on...

Carrion beetles are an important part of the decomposition processes in the Northern Hemisphere ecosystems. Along with the flies, they are the main consumers of dead animal tissues, thus driving the nutrients from the carcass to other parts of the ecosystem. These animals can also be used as bio indicators in forensic entomology, where they help to...

Determination of insect species and their instars, occurring on human remains, is important information that allows us to use insects for estimation of postmortem interval and detect possible manipulation with the body. However, larvae of many common species can be identified only by molecular methods, which is not always possible. The instar deter...

The mature larva of the elusive firefly Phosphaenus hemipterus (Goeze, 1777) is thoroughly redescribed and illustrated with detailed images, including scanning electron microscope figures. The external sense organs and their significance is discussed, as well as the predatory behaviour and specific lifestyle of the larva. A key to the central Europ...

The mature larva of the firefly Lamprohiza splendidula (Linnaeus, 1767) is thoroughly redescribed and illustrated with detailed images, including scanning electron microscope figures. External sense organs, structure of tergal plates and their significance are discussed, as well as photic manifestation of the larvae and pupae and prey hunting in la...

Distributional data on Cholevinae found in caves in Iran are presented. In total, three species are reported. Anemadus sengleti Giachino & Vailati, 1993 is redescribed, including previously unknown female characters, based on material from two localities in Iran, with the first records from Isfahan, and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Provinces. Catops...

Due to increased efforts of local researchers, enthusiasts and (online) citizen science survey projects, blogs and internet forums, we are getting a quite good image of the distribution of lampyrid species present in North, Central, South and Southwest Europe (Portugal, Spain, France, British isles and Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Switze...

To this day there is still some degree of taxonomy-related uncertainty prevailing within the genus Luciola Laporte, 1833 in Europe. Thanks to the extensive phenotypic plasticity, the numerous synonyms have been finally grouped into three currently recognized species. These are Luciola italica Linnaeus, 1767, Luciola lusitanica Charpentier, 1825 and...

Among the three currently recognized species of European Luciola, the coastal Montenegro endemic Luciola novaki Müller, 1946 has been neglected for decades. No work describing its morphology, or behaviour exists after its first description in 1946 and the last reference comes from 1967. The last specimens to be collected were from the 1950’s and co...

The mature larva of Lampyris noctiluca (Linnaeus, 1758) is redescribed and illustrated in detail, including scanning electron microscope images. Male and female pupae are briefly described, including notes on behaviour as well as light production of the immature stages. Observed structures, life cycle and behaviour of larvae and pupae are discussed...

Ze zhruba dvou tisíc známých druhů světlušek, se pouze tři druhy vyskytují na území České republiky. Zatímco morfologie dospělců druhů Lampyris noctiluca (Linnaeus, 1767), Lamprohiza splendidula (Linnaeus, 1767) a Phosphaenus hemipterus (Geoffroy, 1762), jsou relativně známé, popisy morfologie jejich larev jsou zastaralé a detailní informace týkají...

The aim of this study was to determine the traits that define the optical properties of the needles of four coniferous species: Picea abies, Picea omorika, Abies alba and Pinus sylvestris. The analysis included measurements of the needles for their morphological and anatomical aspects, reflectances at the upper and lower needle surfaces through the...