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Abstract Daiphron bipartitus Pic, 1934 is a poorly known species whose systematic position in the subfamily Chaulioganthinae is still controversial. In this paper we describe immature stages of D. bipartitus which were found inhabiting fallen bromeliads Vriesea bituminosa in southeastern Brazilian Atlantic forest. Adults are redescribed, including the first study of male and female genitalia. Larva, pupa and adult are illustrated in detail and compared with other species of Daiphron Gorham, 1881 and Chauliognathus Hentz, 1830. We discuss the systematic position of Daiphron bipartitus within Chauliognathinae on the basis of morphological comparison of its immature and adult characters. Both were found to be more similar to species of Chauliognathus than to Daiphron mediofasciatum Pic, 1949, which supports the hypothesis of polyphyly of Daiphron. Aspects of the species biology and occasional association with bromeliads are discussed.

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Jurasaidae are a family of neotenic elateroid beetles which was described recently from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot based on three species in two genera. All life stages live in the soil, including the larviform females, and only adult males are able to fly. Here, we report the discovery of two new species, Jurasai miraculum sp. nov. and J. vanini sp. nov., and a new, morphologically remarkable population of J. digitusdei Rosa et al., 2020. Our discovery sheds further light on the diversity and biogeography of the group. Most species of Jurasaidae are known from the rainforest remnants of the Atlantic Forest, but here for the first time we report a jurasaid species from the relatively drier Atlantic Forest/Caatinga transitional zone. Considering our recent findings, minute body size and cryptic lifestyle of all jurasaids, together with potentially high numbers of yet undescribed species of this family from the Atlantic Forest and possibly also other surrounding ecoregions, we call for both field research in potentially suitable localities as well as for a detailed investigation of a massive amount of already collected but still unprocessed materials deposited in a number of Brazilian institutes, laboratories and collections.

Three new species of Paramaronius Wittmer from southeastern Brazil are described and illustrated: P. serranus sp. n., P. brancuccii sp. n. and P. cavipennis sp. n. Paramaronius impressipennis (Pic) is redescribed, with supplementary description of the female. This species is recorded from Northeastern Brazil for the first time and its distribution pattern is discussed. A distribution map of Paramaronius in South America is provided. An identification key to all known species of the genus as well as photographs are given.

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Dysmorphocerinae is a subfamily of Cantharidae erected for a group of genera with a mainly gondwanan distribution whose adult forms could not be reliably assigned to any other subfamily. The systematic position and monophyly of Dysmorphocerinae remains questionable, as recent molecular and morphological studies have produced conflicting results. Despite the importance of immature morphology for characterising lineages of Cantharidae, so far, the larvae of only two dysmorphocerine species had been briefly described: Neoontelus sp., from New Zealand, and Afronycha picta (Wiedemann), from South Africa. Their morphologies considerably differ from one another, and the larvae cannot be readily attributed to any subfamily, as usually occurs with cantharid larvae. Here, we fully describe for the first time the larvae of Asilis Broun (New Zealand) and Plectonotum laterale Pic (Brazil) and redescribe Neoontelus Wittmer (New Zealand). We also diagnose larvae of Heteromastix Boheman (Australia) and A. picta. Dysmorphocerinae cannot be clearly diagnosed because each genus has a unique combination of features, though Neoontelus is the most divergent. We conclude that the Dysmorphocerinae may not be monophyletic with Plectonotum laterale, Asilis, Neoontelus, Heteromastix showing a closer relationship to Malthininae and Afronycha more aligned with Silinae or Cantharinae. The double gland openings present on the body of Neoontelus reported by Crowson (1972) are reinterpreted as a complex character involving a single posterior pore linked to a gland and an anterior sensillum that may serve as a trigger for the release of defensive chemicals. These are also reported in Asilis and Heteromastix and may be a potential synapomorphy for part of the Dysmorphocerinae. Neoontelus has a series of unique features, including a cotyliform glandular pore on abdominal segment IX.