Aim  We analysed the geographical distribution of beetle species of the families Buprestidae, Cerambycidae, Dryophthoridae, Melolonthidae, Passalidae and Staphylinidae from the Trans‐mexican Volcanic Belt (TVB) through a track analysis and a parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE), in order to test its naturalness and determine its affinities. Location  The area analysed corresponds to the TVB, which is a biogeographical province of the Mexican Transition Zone. Methods  The panbiogeographical analysis was based on the comparison of the individual tracks of 299 species of Buprestidae, Cerambycidae, Dryophthoridae, Melolonthidae, Passalidae and Staphylinidae (Coleoptera). The TVB was divided into 1o × 1o grid cells and we also included in the analysis the remaining Mexican biogeographical provinces. Parsimony analysis of endemicity with progressive character elimination (PAE‐PCE) was applied to classify areas by their shared taxa according to the most parsimonious cladograms. The nested sets of areas were represented as generalized tracks. Results  Three generalized tracks were obtained: (1) grid cells 9C, 9D, 10D, 10E, Sierra Madre Oriental, Chiapas, Mexican Gulf and the Sierra Madre del Sur; (2) grid cells 3B, 3C, 4B, 4C, 5C, 6C, 7C, Sierra Madre Occidental, Sierra Madre del Sur, Balsas Basin and the Mexican Pacific Coast, and (3) grid cells 8D, 9C, 9D, 10D, 10E, Yucatán Peninsula, Chiapas, Sierra Madre Oriental and the Mexican Gulf. Main conclusions  We conclude that the TVB does not represent a natural biogeographical unit because it shows different relationships with other biogeographical provinces, being clearly transitional between the Nearctic and Neotropical provinces. Some parts of the TVB are related to Neotropical provinces (Chiapas, Mexican Gulf and Mexican Pacific Coast) and others to the remaining provinces of the Mexican Transition Zone (Sierra Madre Oriental, Sierra Madre del Sur, Sierra Madre Occidental and Balsas Basin).

Aim  We analysed the geographical distributions of species of Buprestidae (Coleoptera) in Mexico by means of a panbiogeographical analysis, in order to identify their main distributional patterns and test the complex nature of the Mexican Transition Zone, located between the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. Location  Mexico. Methods  The geographical distributions of 228 species belonging to 33 genera of Buprestidae were analysed. Localities of the buprestid species were represented on maps and their individual tracks were drawn. Based on a comparison of the individual tracks, generalized tracks were detected and mapped. Nodes were identified as the areas where generalized tracks converged. Results  Thirteen generalized tracks were obtained: one was restricted to the Mexican Transition Zone and five to the Neotropical region (Antillean and Mesoamerican dominions), a further two occurred in both the Nearctic region (Continental Nearctic dominion) and the Mexican Transition Zone, and a further five in both the Neotropical region (Mesoamerican dominion) and the Mexican Transition Zone. Seven nodes were identified at the intersections of the generalized tracks – in the Mesoamerican dominion (Mexican Pacific Coast, Mexican Gulf and Chiapas biogeographical provinces) and the Mexican Transition Zone (Trans‐Mexican Volcanic Belt, Balsas Basin and Sierra Madre Oriental biogeographical provinces). Main conclusions  We conclude that the geographical distribution of Buprestidae is mainly Neotropical, corresponding to the Mesoamerican dominion and the Antillean dominion of the Neotropical region, and the Mexican Transition Zone. Most of the generalized tracks and nodes correspond to the Mexican Transition Zone, thus confirming its complex nature. We suggest that the nodes we have identified could be particularly important areas to choose for conservation prioritization.

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Abstract. The species of Lampetis (Spinthoptera) Casey, 1909 of Central America, North America and the West Indies are revised and 31 species are recognized. Six species from the West Indies [L. aurata (Saunders, 1871), L. aurifera (Olivier, 1790), L. bahamica , L. guildini (Laporte & Gory, 1836), L. straba (Chevrolat, 1867), and L. torquata (Dalman, 1823) External morphological characters were examined using a stereoscopic microscope and measurements were taken using an ocular micrometer. Length measurements were made from the frons of the head to the elytral apex and width across the widest part of the body. Type data are indicated as they appear on the original labels. Separate labels are indicated by brackets ([ ]), each separate line by a slash (/). Localities for distribution under each species are listed alphabetically. RESULTS Genus Lampetis Dejean, 1833Lampetis Dejean, 1833: 76; Gistel, 1834: 10; Dejean, 1836: 86; Mannerheim, 1837: 39; Spinola, 1837: 113; Gistel, 1848: 128; Lacordaire, 1857: 27 (syn. of Psiloptera);: 1364 Saunders, 1871: 22; Thomson, 1878: 29; 1879b: 163; Kerremans, 1892: 56; 1893: 106; 1903: 92; Théry, 1905: 39 (as Psiloptera); Obenberger, 1926: 163; Théry, 1946: 54; Obenberger, 1958: 225; Nelson, 1982: 445; Bellamy, 1985: 416; Kurosawa, 1993: 580;Akiyama & Ohmomo, 1994: 17 (Asian spp. key); Bellamy, 1998a: 369.Type species: Buprestis bioculata Olivier, 1790 (subsequent designation: Lacordaire, 1857: 30).Damarsila sensu Kerremans, 1892: 56 (nec Thomson, 1878 1893: 106; 1903: 95;1910: 193; Obenberger, 1924b: 9; 1926: 173; Théry, 1948: 5; Bellamy, 1985: 416;: 580. Buprestodes Carter, 1924 Carter, 1929: 283; Obenberger, 1930: 419; Bellamy, 1985: 420; Bellamy & Peterson, 2000: 82 (syn. of Lampetis). Type species: Buprestodes corruscans Carter, 1924 (subs. design. by Bellamy, 1998b. Subgenus Spinthoptera Casey, 1909Spinthoptera Casey, 1909: 71; Kerremans, 1910: 3; Obenberger, 1926: 163; Nelson, 1982: 445; Bellamy, 1985: 416; Nelson, 1986: 274; Kurosawa, 1993: 580. Type species. Psiloptera valens LeConte, 1858a (orig. design.).Lampetis sensu : 92 (nec Dejean, 1833 Obenberger, 1958: 225; Nelson, 1986: 274; Kurosawa, 1993: 580. Diagnosis. Head rugose, frons feebly excavated; clypeus broadly, shallowly emarginate, not separated from frons by carina; antennal cavities large, triangular, with strong oblique ridge above; mandible apices black without punctures. Antennae: short, segment 1 robust, elongate; segments 2 and 3 subglobular, 3 longer than 2; segments 4 and 5 elongate, subequal in length; segment 5 weakly triangular; segments 6-11 serrate, obliquely truncate on toothed border except segment 6 in female, border narrowed more abruptly basally; with sensorial pores along serrate border, in fossae on dorsal and ventral surfaces and at apex ventrally; apical segment without terminal process in either sex. Pronotum: transverse, convex; without raised basal margin; punctuartion coarse; with two small perforate ante-scutellar discal punctures, with weak depression at base near...

The new species Pennasolis opitzi n. sp., Cymatodera ignava n. sp. and C. tlahuica n. sp. are described from the Reserva de la Biosfera Sierra de Huautla in Morelos, Mexico.