Maxwell V. L. Barclay

Natural History Museum, London · Department of Life Sciences

We present a genome assembly from an individual male specimen of Gymnocheta viridis (tachinid fly; Arthropoda; Insecta; Diptera; Tachinidae). The genome sequence has a total length of 600.30 megabases. Most of the assembly (98.1%) is scaffolded into 6 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also bee...

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Platypus cylindrus (the oak pinhole borer; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Curculionidae). The genome sequence is 147.5 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 8 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X and Y sex chromosomes. The mitochondrial genome has also been assemble...

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Lochmaea capreae (the willow leaf beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Chrysomelidae). The genome sequence is 534.7 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 17 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 18.85 kilobases in length. G...

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Cantharis flavilabris (soldier beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Cantharidae). The genome sequence is 348.3 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 7 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 17...

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Barypeithes pellucidus (the hairy spider weevil; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Curculionidae). The genome sequence has a total length of 743.70 megabases. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 11 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also...

We present a genome assembly from an individual Dogs-Mercury Flea Beetle, Hermaeophaga mercurialis (Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Chrysomelidae). The genome sequence has a length of 479.40 megabases. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 9 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.05 kilobases in l...

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Schizotus pectinicornis (the Scarce Cardinal Beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Pyrochroidae). The genome sequence spans 181.10 megabases. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 9 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assemble...

Beetle consumption by heron and egret in UK

Insects are posited to be declining globally. This is particularly pertinent in tropical forests, which exhibit both the highest levels of biodiversity and the highest rates of biodiversity loss. However, for the hyper-diverse tropical insects there are scant data available to evidence declines. Understanding tropical insect diversity and its respo...

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Harpalus rufipes (a ground beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Carabidae). The genome sequence spans 890.50 megabases. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 19 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 17.37 kilobas...

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Dinocampus coccinellae (a braconid wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Braconidae). The genome sequence spans 110.40 megabases. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 8 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 22.88 kilobases in length.

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Clivina fossor (a ground beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Carabidae). The genome sequence spans 612.60 megabases. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 22 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.48 kilobas...

An illustrated catalogue of South American species of the genus Omorgus Erichson is presented. Based on this study we propose the following taxonomic changes: Omorgus (Omorgus) capillaceus Scholtz, 1990, syn. nov. and Omorgus (O.) lucidus Pittino, 2010, syn. nov. are proposed as junior subjective synonyms of Omorgus (O.) fuliginosus (Robinson, 1941...

Logged and disturbed forests are often viewed as degraded and depauperate environments compared with primary forest. However, they are dynamic ecosystems¹ that provide refugia for large amounts of biodiversity2,3, so we cannot afford to underestimate their conservation value⁴. Here we present empirically defined thresholds for categorizing the cons...

In the present paper, the genus Mimomyagrus Breuning, 1970 is synonymized with Combe Thomson, 1864, and Mimomyagrus pfanneri Breuning, 1970 is considered a junior synonym of Combe brianus (White, 1858). The female of Arctolamia sinica Bi & Chen, 2022 is described for the first time and this species is reported as new to Myanmar. Type material of La...

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Platypus cylindrus (the oak pinhole borer; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Curculionidae). The genome sequence is 147.5 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 8 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X and Y sex chromosomes. The mitochondrial genome has also been assemble...

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Lochmaea capreae (the willow leaf beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Chrysomelidae). The genome sequence is 534.7 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 17 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 18.85 kilobases in length. G...

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Cantharis flavilabris (soldier beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Cantharidae). The genome sequence is 348.3 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 7 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 17...

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Anaspis maculata (false flower beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Scraptiidae). The genome sequence is 757.8 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 8 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16...

Bruchus affinis Frölich, 1799 (Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) new to Britain

This case study deals with some invertebrate fragments recovered during an inspection of the preserved remains of Santa Maria Maddalena de' Pazzi in Florence, Italy. Sampling of these fragments was followed by their careful identification by microscopic examination and direct comparison with identified voucher specimens. Results showed that a curre...

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Bruchidius siliquastri (the Judas tree Seed Beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Chrysomelidae). The genome sequence is 375.6 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 11 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X and Y sex chromosomes. The mitochondrial genome has also bee...

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Musotima nitidalis (the Golden-brown Fern moth; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Crambidae). The genome sequence is 555.6 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z and W sex chromosomes. The mitochondrial genome has also been ass...

Afghanicenus nuristanicus (Heyrovský, 1936) is hereby newly recorded from Pakistan based on a specimen collected at the beginning of the 20th century and preserved in the collection of the Natural History Museum, London. High quality colour images of the type material (a male syntype of Purpuricenus nuristanicus and a female syntype of P. nuristani...

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Melanotus villosus (click beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Elateridae). The genome sequence is 803.5 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 10 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.91 k...

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Galleria mellonella (the Greater Wax Moth; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Pyralidae). The genome sequence is 466.9 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 30 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is...

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Pilophorus perplexus (mirid plant bug; Arthropoda; Hemiptera; Heteroptera; Miridae). The genome sequence is 481.3 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 13 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 20...

The functional stability of ecosystems depends greatly on interspecific differences in responses to environmental perturbation. However, responses to perturbation are not necessarily invariant among populations of the same species, so intraspecific variation in responses might also contribute. Such inter-population response diversity has recently b...

Understanding how community assembly processes drive biodiversity patterns is a central goal of community ecology. While it is generally accepted that ecological communities are assembled by both stochastic and deterministic processes, quantifying their relative importance remains challenging. Few studies have investigated how the relative importan...

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Rutpela maculata (a longhorn beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Cerambycidae). The genome sequence is 2,021.6 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 10 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is...

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Polydrusus cervinus (a weevil; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Curculionidae). The genome sequence is 713.4 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 11 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 18.22 k...

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Pterostichus niger (a ground beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Carabidae). The genome sequence is 674.1 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 19 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 17.16 k...

Data on the collection of the genus Epepeotes Pascoe, 1866 deposited in the Natural History Museum, London are presented. A total of 23 species/subspecies, including type specimens of 18 names, of them 13 valid, are recorded. Epepeotes uncinatus lineatopunctatus Breuning, 1960 is restored to subspecies-level status. Lectotypes are designated for Ep...

The species of the genus Xenicotela Bates, 1884 are reviewed. One new species, Xenicotela mucheni sp. nov., is described from Yunnan, China. Monochamus binigricollis Breuning, 1965 and Monochamus villiersi Breuning, 1960 are transferred to Xenicotela as follows: Xenicotela villiersi (Breuning, 1960) comb. nov. and Xenicotela binigricollis (Breuning...

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Lagria hirta (darkling beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Tenebrionidae). The genome sequence is 336.8 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 12 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X and Y sex chromosomes. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16...

Data on the collection of the genus Mispila Pascoe, 1864 (Lamiinae, Pteropliini) deposited in the Natural History Museum, London are presented. Mispila (s. str.) auguralis Pascoe, 1878 is removed from synonymy with Mispila (s. str.) venosa Pascoe, 1864 and considered as a subspecies: Mispila (s. str.) venosa auguralis Pascoe, 1878 stat. rev.. Lecto...

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Leistus spinibarbis (a ground beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Carabidae). The genome sequence is 235.1 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 23 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.82...

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Rhaphigaster nebulosa (the mottled shieldbug; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hemiptera; Pentatomidae). The genome sequence is 1,155.8 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 7 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled...

Chalcocopris hesperus (originally Scarabaeus hesperus) (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae, Dichotomiini) is a common and unmistakable dung beetle species from the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. In 2015, a neotype was designated for its valid name based on the belief that the original type series had been lost. However, the...

We present a genome assembly from an individual Halyzia sedecimguttata (the orange ladybird, Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera, Coccinellidae). The genome sequence is 919.1 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 10 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is...

Understanding how community assembly processes drive biodiversity patterns is a central goal of community ecology. While it is generally accepted that ecological communities are assembled by both stochastic and deterministic processes, quantifying their relative importance remains challenging. Even fewer studies have investigated how the relative i...

A taxonomic review of the Chinese species of the genus Xenicotela Bates, 1884 is presented. A new species, Xenicotela griseomaculata sp. nov. , is described from Chongqing, China, and a new combination, Xenicotela convexicollis (Gressitt, 1942) comb. nov. , is proposed.

The tribe Anatistini Lacordaire, 1856, is a relatively small group of leaf chafer scarabs with only four genera and fewer than 30 species. The collection at the Natural History Museum, London is one of the largest and most comprehensive Coleoptera collections in the world, and includes important type material for four out of 27 species. However, it...

The leafhopper Penestragania apicalis (Osborn & Ball, 1898) (Cicadellidae: Iassinae) is reported from three sites in London. These records represent the first for the British Isles.

Data on the Passandridae collection of the Natural History Museum (London, United Kingdom), including type specimens of 50 names, of them 29 valid and 21 invalid, are presented. The type status of several specimens is clarified. Images of type and other significicant specimens are provided for 55 taxa, mainly for the first time. The history of the...

In the evolution of praying mantids, eusocial termites, cave cockroaches and the beetle/ant/bee/wasp-mimicking umenocoleoids, at a single Early Cretaceous diversification point (127 Ma) each lacked hierarchical structure, and independent explosive radiations are revealed. Adult male, female and individuals of unidentified sex of new cockroaches (Co...

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Aelia acuminata (the bishop’s mitre shieldbug; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hemiptera; Pentatomidae). The genome sequence is 1,170 megabases in span. The majority of the assembly (99.78%) is scaffolded into 8 chromosomal pseudomolecules, with the X and Y sex chromosome assembled.

New methods in taxonomy and systematics can influence the overall practice of formally naming and describing biodiversity. DNA barcoding has been controversial since its emergence, but now, large scale species descriptions exclusively based on barcodes have created what can be called a 'new quality of performance'. Its limitations are discussed fro...

Colour polymorphism offers rich opportunities for studying the eco-evolutionary mechanisms that drive the adaptations of local populations to heterogeneous and changing environments. We explored the colour morph diversity and composition in a Chrysomela lapponica leaf beetle across its entire distribution range to test the hypothesis that environme...

New Prioninae material from Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands has led to the re-evaluation of two undetermined female specimens from 1965 in the collection of the Natural History Museum, London. The male and additional females have since been found, and the distinctive new species Psalidocoptus satori sp. nov. is described in this paper, the first addit...

With four chapters on molluscs, combined with the malacological contributions in the previous volumes, the series "Biodiversity, Biogeography and Nature Conservation in Wallacea and New Guinea" already counts among the major contributions to the knowledge of the terrestrial snails of the Wallacean Region. Most chapters of the present new volume uns...

New methods in taxonomy and systematics can influence the overall practice of formally nam-ing and describing biodiversity. DNA barcoding has been controversial since its emergence, but now, large scale species descriptions exclusively based on barcodes have created what can be called a "new quality of performance". Its limitations are discussed fr...

From 'Wild World' Magazine published by Natural History Museum, April 2021

ABSTRACT We describe reports of adult brown marmorated stink bugs (Halyomorpha halys) in the UK and discuss the implications for possible establishment of this global invasive species. Reports of interceptions at ports date back to 2010, but more recently (since 2018) adults have been observed free in the environment within England. Sentinel pherom...

This article presents a summary of species recorded in the Wildlife Garden since the last report (Sivell et al. 2020). Recording and monitoring in the Wildlife Garden during 2020 and 2021 was again disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, with repeated lockdowns resulting in staff being forced to work from home and no recording days, such as bioblitz...

Abstract. For 160 years, Anthrenus pimpinellae isabellinus Küster, 1848 has been considered a subspecies of A. pimpinellae Fabricius, 1775. However, habitus shape differs between the subspecies with A. p. isabellinus being broader than A. p. pimpinellae and resembling more closely A. dorsatus Mulsant & Rey, 1868. Here A. p. pimpinellae and A. p. is...

The African prionine longhorn beetle Cantharocnemis (Cantharoplatys) faimairei Lameere, 1902 is newly recorded from Mozambique. Details of its discovery there are presented.

The genus Hexacylloepus extends from the Neotropical region to the southwestern United States of America. At present, 25 species are known from 20 countries, with no new species proposed since 1972. In this paper, we describe and illustrate 18 new species (H. barrae; H. calori; H. casariae; H. froehlichi; H. geiseri; H. grandis; H. iassu; H. keitai...

New data on the Upper Visean foraminifers from the reference Melekess 1 and Buzuluk 1 boreholes from the Volga-Ural Region are obtained. The foraminifera-based zonal subdivision is clarified, and a detailed description of the zonal assemblages is provided. Patterns in the stratigraphic distribution of foraminifers in the section and general trends...

Two ancient Egyptian child mummies at the University of Tartu Art Museum (Estonia) were, according to museum records, brought to Estonia by the young Baltic-German scholar Otto Friedrich von Richter, who had travelled in Egypt during the early 19th century. Although some studies of the mummies were conducted, a thorough investigation has never been...

Ischaliidae (Tenebrionoidea) is a small, relatively poorly known family of beetles, with fewer than 50 described species. The Coleoptera collections of the Natural History Museum, London are among the largest and most comprehensive in the world, but the Ischaliidae holding is relatively small (136 specimens, 18 species). However, this collection is...

The purpose of the current report is to present a summary of species reported over the past year since the last Garden update (Ware et al. 2018). For the taxonomic groups covered in this article 23 new species have been added to the Wildlife Garden list, including two flies new to Britain and a Nationally Notable wasp. These new additions are liste...

Neocylloepus Brown, 1970 and Pilielmis Hinton, 1971 are Neotropical genera of riffle beetles, mainly distributed in Central America and the north of South America. These genera are here reported for the first time from Venezuela, and a new species, Pilielmis shepardi sp. nov. is described and illustrated. The type material is housed in Museu de Zoo...

The earliest eusociality of cockroaches is conserved in termites. New wood-boring mole “roaches” from Cretaceous Burmite belong to a new, most primitive, termite family Pabuonqedidae. Cock- roach symplesiomorphies include hypognathous head concealed under pronotum/ paranotalia, regular wing venation, clavus, long cercal sensillae, carinated legs, u...