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For the monitoring of wild boar interactions with conspecific carcasses, seven wild boar carcasses were placed in different sites in the Czech Republic during winter season. Data were collected by camera traps. In total, 732 visits were recorded of wild boars at the carcass sites. Direct contact with the carcass was detected in 81% of the records. Cannibalism was observed in 9.8% of all recorded visits. The first direct contact was observed on average 30 days after the carcass had been placed in its respective site. Cannibalism was observed on average after 70 days. The effect of sex-age class on direct contact was not proven in our study. The presented findings show that cannibalism in wild boar can play a substantial role in the ASF epidemic.These results highlighted the importance of the removal of infected carcasses from the habitat, which is crucial for African swine fever eradication. K E Y W O R D S African swine fever, camera-trapping, cannibalism, wild boar behaviour S U PP O RTI N G I N FO R M ATI O N Additional supporting information may be found online in the Supporting Information section. How to cite this article: Cukor J, Linda R, Václavek P, Mahlerová K, Šatrán P, Havránek F. Confirmed cannibalism in wild boar and its possible role in African swine fever transmission. Transbound Emerg Dis.

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 tenuicornis (Brullé, 1836), an endemic species of the Canary Islands that, together with H. britoi García & Pérez, 1996 and H. figurata (Brullé, 1839), belongs to the peculiar genus Heterotemna Wollaston, 1864. Furthermore, we present the first sequences of two mitochondrial genes (COI, 16S) obtained from larval specimens, and cross reference them with sequences from an adult specimen. Phylogenetic analysis of molecular data placed the genus Heterotemna within the genus Silpha Linnaeus, 1758, suggesting paraphyly of Silpha. In our study, we underline the importance of using a combination of morphological description and molecular data, that can be used for barcoding developmental stages which could not otherwise be definitely associated.

Implementation of various restrictions to eradicate viral diseases has globally affected human activity and subsequently nature. But how can the altered routines of human activity (restrictions, lockdowns) affect wildlife behaviour? This study compared the differences between human and wildlife occurrences in the study forest area with acreage of 5430.6 ha in 2018 (African swine fever outbreak, complete entrance ban), 2019 (standard pattern) and 2020 (COVID-19 restrictions) during the breeding season. The number of visitors was lower by 64% in 2018 (non-respecting of the entry ban by forest visitors) compared to standard 2019, while in 2020, the number of visitors increased to 151%. In the COVID-19 period, distinct peaks in the number of visitors were observed between 8–11 AM and 4–7 PM. The peaks of wildlife activity were recorded between 4–7 AM and 9–12 PM. Animals avoided the localities that were visited by humans during the people-influenced time (24 h after people visit), which confirmed the direct negative impact of human activities on wildlife.

Integrative taxonomy of Diamesus Hope, 1840 (Coleoptera: Silphinae) is presented. Adults of D. bimaculatus Portevin, 1914 (endemic to Taiwan) and D. osculans (Vigors, 1825) (widely distributed from northern India to Australia) are redescribed, keyed and figured, including characters of the male and female genitalia of both species. Variation in elytral maculation in D. osculans is discussed and illustrated. The absence of diagnostic differences of D. osculans var. reductus Pic, 1917 from D. osculans is discussed, and the former name is confirmed as a junior subjective synonym of D. osculans. Types of all three names available were studied; a lectotype and paralectotypes are designated for the name D. osculans var. bimaculatus Portevin, 1914. Molecular phylogenetic analysis confirms the genus Diamesus is sister group to the genus Necrodes Leach, 1815, and D. osculans and D. bimaculatus are two, well supported clades. Detailed data on the distribution of D. bimaculatus and D. osculans are presented and mapped. Species distribution models for both species were created and interpreted. Diamesus osculans is reported for the first time from India: Uttarakhand, China: Anhui, Hainan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Shaanxi and Zhejiang Provinces, and Australia: Victoria; it is also recently confirmed from Taiwan, being sympatric in distribution there with D. bimaculatus. Available data on the ecology and seasonality of both species of Diamesus are also discussed.

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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 comparative studies are often missing. The ideal method should preserve the specimen�s morphology as well as its genetic information. We have investigated the effect of 12 combinations of commonly used methods based on ethanol, using four types of fixatives (Hot Water Kill (HWK) for 5 minutes/6 hours; absolute ethanol cold/boiling) and three types of storage fluids (70 %; 80 %; and absolute ethanol) after eight months of storage. The effects were tested on mature larvae of a forensically relevant beetle species. We have evaluated the effectivity in terms of color preservation, shape of the specimen, and quality of genetic material. The color was best preserved by HWK for 5 min with subsequent storage in absolute ethanol, and the worst results were achieved by cold absolute ethanol with subsequent storage in 70 % ethanol. The fixative type has a major effect on the shape compared to the storage fluid. The effect of treatments on shape appears to be inverse to the effect on color preservation. The genetic material was preserved equally well in all treatments. The advantages and disadvantages of specific treatments and the recommendation of the best method are discussed.