We synthesize data on all known extant and fossil Coleoptera family-group names for the first time. A catalogue of 4887 family-group names (124 fossil, 4763 extant) based on 4707 distinct genera in Coleoptera is given. A total of 4492 names are available, 183 of which are permanently invalid because they are based on a preoccupied or a suppressed type genus. Names are listed in a classification framework. We recognize as valid 24 superfamilies, 211 families, 541 subfamilies, 1663 tribes and 740 subtribes. For each name, the original spelling, author, year of publication, page number, correct stem and type genus are included. The original spelling and availability of each name were checked from primary literature. A list of necessary changes due to Priority and Homonymy problems, and actions taken, is given. Current usage of names was conserved, whenever possible, to promote stability of the classification.New synonymies (family-group names followed by genus-group names): Agronomina Gistel, 1848 syn. nov. of Amarina Zimmermann, 1832 (Carabidae), Hylepnigalioini Gistel, 1856 syn. nov. of Melandryini Leach, 1815 (Melandryidae), Polycystophoridae Gistel, 1856 syn. nov. of Malachiinae Fleming, 1821 (Melyridae), Sclerasteinae Gistel, 1856 syn. nov. of Ptilininae Shuckard, 1839 (Ptinidae), Phloeonomini Ádám, 2001 syn. nov. of Omaliini MacLeay, 1825 (Staphylinidae), Sepedophilini Ádám, 2001 syn. nov. of Tachyporini MacLeay, 1825 (Staphylinidae), Phibalini Gistel, 1856 syn. nov. of Cteniopodini Solier, 1835 (Tenebrionidae); Agronoma Gistel 1848 (type species Carabus familiaris Duftschmid, 1812, designated herein) syn. nov. of Amara Bonelli, 1810 (Carabidae), Hylepnigalio Gistel, 1856 (type species Chrysomela caraboides Linnaeus, 1760, by monotypy) syn. nov. of Melandrya Fabricius, 1801 (Melandryidae), Polycystophorus Gistel, 1856 (type species Cantharis aeneus Linnaeus, 1758, designated herein) syn. nov. of Malachius Fabricius, 1775 (Melyridae), Sclerastes Gistel, 1856 (type species Ptilinus costatus Gyllenhal, 1827, designated herein) syn. nov. of Ptilinus Geoffroy, 1762 (Ptinidae), Paniscus Gistel, 1848 (type species Scarabaeus fasciatus Linnaeus, 1758, designated herein) syn. nov. of Trichius Fabricius, 1775 (Scarabaeidae), Phibalus Gistel, 1856 (type species Chrysomela pubescens Linnaeus, 1758, by monotypy) syn. nov. of Omophlus Dejean, 1834 (Tenebrionidae). The following new replacement name is proposed: Gompeliina Bouchard, 2011 nom. nov. for Olotelina Báguena Corella, 1948 (Aderidae).Reversal of Precedence (Article 23.9) is used to conserve usage of the following names (family-group names followed by genus-group names): Perigonini Horn, 1881 nom. protectum over Trechicini Bates, 1873 nom. oblitum (Carabidae), Anisodactylina Lacordaire, 1854 nom. protectum over Eurytrichina LeConte, 1848 nom. oblitum (Carabidae), Smicronychini Seidlitz, 1891 nom. protectum over Desmorini LeConte, 1876 nom. oblitum (Curculionidae), Bagoinae Thomson, 1859 nom. protectum over Lyprinae Gistel 1848 nom. oblitum (Curculionidae), Aterpina ...

Short-sequence fragments ('DNA barcodes') used widely for plant identification and inventorying remain to be applied to complex biological problems. Host-herbivore interactions are fundamental to coevolutionary relationships of a large proportion of species on the Earth, but their study is frequently hampered by limited or unreliable host records. Here we demonstrate that DNA barcodes can greatly improve this situation as they (i) provide a secure identification of host plant species and (ii) establish the authenticity of the trophic association. Host plants of leaf beetles (subfamily Chrysomelinae) from Australia were identified using the chloroplast trnL(UAA) intron as barcode amplified from beetle DNA extracts. Sequence similarity and phylogenetic analyses provided precise identifications of each host species at tribal, generic and specific levels, depending on the available database coverage in various plant lineages. The 76 species of Chrysomelinae included-more than 10 per cent of the known Australian fauna-feed on 13 plant families, with preference for Australian radiations of Myrtaceae (eucalypts) and Fabaceae (acacias). Phylogenetic analysis of beetles shows general conservation of host association but with rare host shifts between distant plant lineages, including a few cases where barcodes supported two phylogenetically distant host plants. The study demonstrates that plant barcoding is already feasible with the current publicly available data. By sequencing plant barcodes directly from DNA extractions made from herbivorous beetles, strong physical evidence for the host association is provided. Thus, molecular identification using short DNA fragments brings together the detection of species and the analysis of their interactions.

The phylogeny of the Chrysomeloidea is re-assessed, with data from recently described larvae of three chrysomeloid taxa. Cladistic analyses were performed on 19 subfamilies and tribes with 56 informative characters. The tribe Megascelidini is shown to be correctly placed in Eumolpinae and the subfamily Aulacoscelidinae in Orsodacnidae, but Spilopyra and associated genera are the probable monophyletic sister-taxon of (Eumolpinae + (Lamprosomatinae + Cryptocephalinae)) and are therefore elevated to subfamily: Spilopyrinae Chapuis (= Stenomelini Chapuis, syn. nov. = Hornibiinae Crowson, syn. nov.). The genera included in Spilopyrinae are: Bohumiljania Monrós, Cheiloxena Baly, Hornius Fairmaire, Macrolema Baly, Richmondia Jacoby, Spilopyra Baly and Stenomela Blanchard. Adults and larvae of Spilopyrinae are described and a key given for the genera. The status of several genera formerly placed in association with members of the Spilopyrinae is reviewed. The subfamily Spilopyrinae has a southern trans-Pacific distribution, in Chile, New Caledonia, New Guinea and Australia, indicating an origin before the late Cretaceous break-up of Gondwana. The species feed on Sapindaceae (Spilopyra), Nothofagaceae (Hornius) and Myrtaceae (Cheiloxena, Stenomela). New keys are provided to the adults and larvae of the subfamilies of Chrysomeloidea.

We examined the responses of a beetle assemblage to habitat complexity differences within a single habitat type, Sydney sandstone ridgetop woodland, using pitfall and flight-intercept trapping. Six habitat characters (tree canopy cover, shrub canopy cover, ground herb cover, soil moisture, amount of leaf litter, and amount of logs, rocks and debris) were scored between 0 and 3 using ordinal scales to reflect habitat complexity at survey sites. Pitfall trapped beetles were more species rich and of different composition in high complexity sites, compared with low complexity sites. Species from the Staphylinidae (Aleocharinae sp. 1 and sp. 2), Carabidae ( Pamborus alternans Latreille), Corticariidae ( Cartodere Thomson sp. 1) and Anobiidae ( Mysticephala Ford sp. 1) were most clearly responsible for the compositional differences, preferring high complexity habitat. Affinities between general functional groupings of pitfall-trapped beetles and habitat variables were not clear at a low taxonomic resolution (family level). The composition and species richness of flight-intercept-trapped beetles were similar in high and low complexity sites. Our study demonstrates that discrete responses of the various functional groups of beetles are strongly associated with their feeding habits, indicated by differing habitat components from within overall composite habitat complexity measures. Although habitat preferences by beetle species may often reflect their foraging habits, clarification of the causal mechanisms underpinning the relationships between habitat complexity and beetles are critical for the development of general principles linking habitat, functional roles and diversity.

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The Australian genera of Chrysomelinae are reviewed and redefined. A new genus of Chrysomelinae is described: Alfius gen. n., from Queensland, with three species, A. hieroglyphicus (Lea), A. pictus (Lea) and A. pictipennis (Lea), all transferred from Oomela Lea. The hitherto Papuan genus Sphaerotritoma Arrow, with two species, is removed from Erotylidae and placed in Chrysomelinae, and one Australian species added, S. coccinelloides (Lea), from Oomela. A key is provided for adults of the 42 native and 4 exotic genera of Chrysomelinae occurring in Australia. Information on host-plants and immature stages is listed where known. Taxonomic and nomenclatural problems in the Australian or Papuan Chrysomelinae are resolved, as follows: (i) new or confirmed generic synonyms, senior name first: Callidemum Blanchard (= Augomela Baly, = Clidonotus Chapuis syn. n., = Kurumela Gressitt, = Stethomela Baly); Chalcomela Baly (= Cyclomela Baly syn. n., = Micromela Baly), Dicranosterna Motschulsky (= Trochalodes Weise syn. n., = Paropsimelina Daccordi syn. n.), Oomela Lea (= Nannoda Weise), Paropsimorpha Lhoste (= Thaumalegastra Daccordi syn. n.), Paropsis Olivier (= Procrisina Aslam syn. n.), Paropsisterna Motschulsky (= Chrysophtharta Weise syn. n., = Sterromela Weise syn. n., = Xanthogramma Weise syn. n.), Platymela Baly (= Macelola Selman syn. n.), Trachymela Weise (= Chondromela Weise); (ii) reversal of synonymy (sensu Daccordi 1994) by removal of: Phola Weise from Chalcolampra Blanchard; Rhaebosterna Weise from Faex Weise; Platymela Baly from Callidemum Blanchard; (iii) replacement of species homonyms: Phyllocharis ewani nom. n. for Phyllocharis abdominalis (Jacoby, 1894) nec Baly, 1867; Tinosis leai nom. n. for T. fasciata (Lea, 1915) nec Weise, 1908b; (iv) new species synonymy, senior name first, in the original combination with present placement in square brackets if different: Aesernia [Promechus] australica Jacoby (= Aesernia bipunctata Weise syn. n., A. mjoebergi Weise syn. n.); Australica [Platymela] digglesi Baly (= Platymela mjoebergi Weise syn. n.); Australica [Paropsides] erudita Baly (= Paropsis complicata Blackburn syn. n.); Augomela [Paropsimorpha] elegans Baly (= Stethomela armiventris Lea syn. n.); Chalcolampra rufipes Jacoby (= Phyllocharis fulvifrons Jacoby syn. n.); Chrysomela [Gastrophysa] viridula Degeer (= Lamprolina unicolor Jacoby syn. n.); Eugastromela metasternalis Lea (= E. flavitarsis Lea syn. n.); Grammicomela quadrilineata Lea (= Stethomela rara Lea syn. n.); Micromela [Chalcomela] cupripennis Baly (= Stethomela purpureipennis Lea syn. n.); Notoclea [Chalcomela] splendens Macleay (= Chalcomela illudens Baly syn. n.); Oomela [Tinosis] bicolor Wilson (= Nannoda femoralis Weise syn. n.); Oomela trimaculata Lea (= Nannoda bimaculata Weise syn. n.); Oomela variabilis Lea (= Nannoda variabilis Weise syn. n.); Paropsis [Dicranosterna] circe Stål (= Paropsis pedestris Chapuis syn. n.); Paropsis [Peltoschema] delicatula Chapuis (= Peltoschema vestalis Daccordi & De Little syn. n.); Paropsis [Paropsisterna] semifumata Blackburn (= Xanthogramma pellucida Weise syn. n.); Chalcomela [Sphaerotritoma] nigripennis Baly (= Sphaerotritoma laeta Arrow syn. n.); (v) type species designations: Phyllocharis splendens Guérin-Méneville for Aesernia Stål, Chrysomela hypochalcea Germar for Augomela Baly, Chalcomela illudens Baly for Chalcomela Baly, Nannoda variabilis Weise for Nannoda Weise, Platymela sticticollis Baly for Platymela Baly, Promechus splendidus Boisduval for Promechus Boisduval, Stethomela submetallica Baly for Stethomela Baly;Phyllocharis wollumbina (Daccordi) comb. n.; Platymela bimaculiceps (Lea) comb. n., P. cephalotes (Lea) comb. n., P. digglesi (Baly) comb. n., P. flavescens (Blackburn) comb. n., P. flavida (Lea) comb. n., P. hasenpuschi (Daccordi) comb. n., P. maculiceps (Lea) comb. n., P. monochromatea (Lea) comb. n., P. quadripustulata (Baly) comb. n., P. transversa (Baly) comb. n.; Rhaebosterna interruptofasciata (Baly) comb. n.; Sphaerotritoma coccinelloides (Lea) comb. n., S. nigripennis (Baly) comb. n.; Tinosis bicolor (Wilson) comb. n.; Trachymela echo (Blackburn) comb. n.; (vii) lectotype designation for Oomela hieroglyphica Lea; (viii) recognition of two unavailable nomina nuda: subtribal name Calomelina Daccordi & De Little; generic name Gastromela Daccordi; (ix) listing of lapsus calami with their attempted identification.

In Southeast Asian tropical rainforests, two events, severe droughts associated with the El Niño-Southern Oscillation and general flowering, a type of community-wide mass flowering, occur at irregular, supra-annual intervals. The relationship between these two supra-annual events and patterns of insect population fluctuations has yet to be clearly elucidated. Leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) are major herbivores and flower-visitors of canopy trees, affecting their growth and reproduction and, in turn, affected by tree phenology; but their population fluctuations in the Southeast Asian tropics have not been extensively investigated. We examined population fluctuation patterns of the 34 most dominant chrysomelid species in relation to the two supra-annual events by conducting monthly light-trapping over seven years in a lowland dipterocarp forest in Borneo. Our results showed large community variation in population fluctuation patterns and a supra-annual (between-year) variation in abundance for most of the dominant chrysomelids that was significantly larger than the annual (within-year) variation. Specifically, in response to a severe drought in 1998, chrysomelid species exhibited different population responses. These results show that population fluctuations of individual species, rather than the entire assemblage, must be analyzed to determine the effects of changes in environmental conditions on the structure of insect assemblages in the tropics, especially in regions where supra-annual environmental changes are relatively more important than seasonal changes.

1. The rainforest canopy has been called 'the last biological frontier', and if this is true, there should be more undescribed species in this stratum than the ground stratum.2. Here, we test this and other hypotheses regarding traits of described and undescribed species by a sub-sample of 156 species into 96 described and 60 undescribed species from a beetle assemblage of 1473 species collected from the canopy and ground in an Australian lowland rainforest.3. We show that described species are significantly more likely to be in the canopy, are more likely to be larger and, if they are large, are more likely to have been described earlier.4. Undescribed species are just as likely to be found near the ground as in the canopy and are more likely to be smaller. 5. After the first year of sampling, 'new' described and undescribed species not previously encountered continued to appear in each of three further years of trapping.6. These data show that the canopy fauna is in fact relatively 'well known', and that the undescribed species to be found in both strata are likely to be smaller than described species and are less likely to be plant feeders. ResultsOf the 156 species examined, 96 (61.5%) were assessed to be described species and 60 (38.5%) to be undescribed (Table 1).116 Nigel E. Stork et al.