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A systematic review of Amydetes Illiger, 1807, based on examination of the type-material. We fix A. fastigiata Illiger, 1807 as the type-species of the genus; redescribe the genus and six out of eight species; describe 13 new species; and provide illustrations and a key to species. We place A. vigorsi Westwood, 1830 syn. n. and A. gorhami Kuntzen, 1912 syn. n. in synonymy with A. fastigiata; A. suturalis Pic, 1925 syn. n. and A. brasiliensis Pic, 1925 in synonymy with A. apicalis; and A. flavicollis Olivier, 1888 syn. n. in synonymy with A. lucioloides Olivier, 1888. We report the first record of Amydetes from Venezuela and Argentina, and establish more precise distributions of the studied species. We describe the circadian period of A. apicalis (diurnal), A. fastigiata and Amydetes bellorum sp. nov. (nocturnal) and discuss the circadian diversity of the genus. Fronto-clypeus, antenna, labrum, maxillary palpomere, prothorax, mesosternum, lanterns, abdominal segment VIII and terminalia were structures that provided important characters for delimitation and diagnosis of the species.

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A species of firefly discovered in a fragile and rapidly disappearing Atlantic Rainforest biome in Brazil does not fit into any of the existing subfamilies nor described generic categories in the Lampyridae and is described here as Memoan ciceroi gen. et sp. nov. and classed as Lampyridae Incertae sedis, as it exhibits features of both the Amydetinae and Lampyrinae. An overview of subfamily arrangements and relevant generic characters is given to support this action. Memoan gen. nov. can be distinguished by its alveolate pronotum and elytra; subserrate antennae, antenommeres II-IX compressed, antennal sockets obliquely inserted on tubercles; labial palp one-segmented and obconic, and by its conspicuous pleuroventral suture.

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The Atlantic Rainforest is a hotspot of biodiversity, housing several endemic species. Environmental stasis through broad time scales, vast latitudinal extension and landscape heterogeneity are thought to contribute in explaining the greater species richness of this biome. Unfortunately, it is threatened mainly due to anthropic-driven habitat loss. Ectotherms of low-mobility, such as tropical, small soft-bodied railroad-worms, may be especially threatened by anthropogenic climate changes. Many of such species have narrow climatic niches and therefore might become extinct before we know them. Here we describe a new genus endemic of the Atlantic Rainforest mountain ranges, and five spatially disjunct new species. Akamboja gen. nov. is unique by its ten-segmented antenna, IV to VIII with two short symmetrical branches, branches of antennomere IX fused in a singular flabellum, slightly depressed medially; elytron short, surpassing the second to fourth abdominal segment (depending on species); first tarsomere of anterior leg with a ventral comb; claws with six long and asymmetrical teeth; aedeagus with patch of bristles at paramere apex. We provide a key to species as well as illustrations for the diagnostic features. We highlight that Akamboja cleidae sp. nov., as defined here, has a disjunct distribution and its populations are surrounded by an unsuitable environmental matrix, thus are probably reproductively isolated. Future phylogenetic studies should address the evolutionary history and delimitation of this taxon. We also provide a key to genera of Mastinocerinae with ten antennomeres, including Akamboja gen. nov.

A review and cladistic analysis of the genus Ptychoderes Schoenherr, 1823 is presented. The genus and the following seventeen known species are redescribed: P. nebulosus (Olivier, 1795) (type species), P. elongatus (Germar, 1824), P. viridanus Boheman, 1833, P. virgatus Fåhraeus, 1839, P. obsoletus Jekel, 1855, P. depressus Jekel, 1855, P. mixtus Jekel, 1855, P. callosus Jekel, 1855, P. antiquus Jekel, 1855, P. brevis Jordan, 1894, P. longicollis Jordan, 1894, P. bivittatus Jordan, 1894, P. rugicollis Jordan, 1895, P. jordani Frieser, 1959, P. crustatus Frieser, 1988, P. magnus Mermudes & Napp, 2004 and P. jekeli Mermudes & Napp, 2004. New synonyms are proposed: Ptychoderes nebulosus (Olivier, 1795) = Ptychoderes tricostifrons Fåhraeus, 1839 syn. nov. = Ptychoderes columbianus Jekel, 1855 syn. nov.; and Ptychoderes antiquus Jekel, 1855 = Ptychoderes affinis Jordan, 1894 syn. nov. A key to species and maps of their geographical distribution are provided. The cladistic analysis with 24 taxa and 50 characters from body vestiture, external morphology, wing venation, male and female terminalia and rectal loop, resulted in a single cladogram showing, for the first time, a hypothesis of phylogenetic relationship  among genera of Anthribinae. The analysis included the seventeen species of Ptychoderes, as defined in the taxonomic review, along with the type species of the genera presently considered as belonging to Ptychoderini Jekel, 1855: Cerambyrhynchus schoenherri Montrouzier, 1855, Phloepemon acuticornis (Fabricius), Phloeotragus heros (Fabricius), Tribotropis prasinata (Fåhraeus, 1839), Hypselotropis annulicornis (Fåhraeus, 1839) and Unanthribus maximus Mermudes, 2003. A hypothesis of the phylogenetic relationships among the Neotropical genera of Ptychoderini is presented in parenthetical notation: ((Tribotropis + Hypselotropis) (Unanthribus + Ptychoderes)). The monophyly of Ptychoderes is supported by 14 synapomorphies and its interrelationships are as follows: ((P. crustatus (P. brevis + P. jekeli)) ((P. longicollis (P. jordani (P. obsoletus+P. magnus) (P. depressus+P. virgatus))) (P. mixtus (P. bivittatus ((P. callosus+P. rugicollis) (P. viridanus (P. antiquus (P. elongatus+P. nebulosus)))))))).

Here, based on phylogenetic analyses of 18 taxa and 57 morphological characters, we propose a new firefly genus, Costalampysgen. nov., to accommodate eleven species. Five new species are herein described: C. bellasp. nov., C. capixabasp. nov., C delicatasp. nov. (designated as type species), C. joanaesp. nov. and C. minimasp. nov. In addition, six species are redescribed and transferred from other genera: C. bisbinotata (Pic) comb. nov., transferred from Platylampis Motschulsky; C. decorata (Olivier) comb. nov., transferred from Ethra Laporte; C. pauper (Olivier) comb. nov., transferred from Cladodes Solier; as well as C. klugii (Motschulsky) comb. nov., C. quadriguttata (Gorham) comb. nov., and C. tricolor (Gorham) comb. nov., transferred from Lucidota Laporte. Costalampysgen. nov. is tentatively placed in Lampyrinae, and is diagnosed by: antennae with 11 articles, III–X basally flabellate, lacking dense and upright bristles; clypeus connected to frons by membrane, pygidium rounded; sternum VIII mucronate; phallus with dorsal plate enlarged apically, projecting ventrally and partially embracing the internal sac. Our phylogenetic analyses supported both the monophyly of Costalampysgen. nov. and the new combinations proposed. However, the relationship among congeneric species was poorly resolved. Finally, we provide illustrations of diagnostic features, distribution maps, as well as a key to Costalampysgen. nov. species, based on males.