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Morphological variation was examined in 65 species of Canthon Hoffmansegg and 31 species in 11 additional genera of the tribe Canthonini (Anisocanthon Martínez & Pereira, Canthonella Chapin, Cryptocanthon Balthasar, Deltochilum Eschscholtz, Hansreia Halffter & Martínez, Holocanthon Martínez & Pereira, Malagoniella Martínez, Megathopa Eschscholtz, Melanocanthon Halffter, Scybalocanthon Martínez, and Sylvicanthon Halffter & Martínez). Morphological characters were examined on a total of 306 specimens. Variation in head structures such as clypeus, eyes, labium. gula, and epipharynx is described. Thoracic structures examined include pronotum, proepimeron, prosternum, and posterior and medial tibiae. Additional structures examined were the elytra, pygidium, and male genitalia, including the sclerites and brushes of the internal sac. Cladistic analysis of 39 taxa and 82 characters resulted in eight most parsimonious cladograms. The consensus tree confirms that Canthon is polyphyletic. Characters mainly from the epipharynx support the clade where most of the genera of Canthonini included in the analysis, with the exception of Cryptocanthon and Canthonella, are grouped. The species of the subgenus Francmonrosia form a clade supported mainly by synapomorphies from the internal male genitalia. Species of the genus Scybalocanthon share four synapomorphies with Canthon sordidus. Although there are some supported groups, there is extensive homoplasy in the cladogram mainly for characters of external morphology. A majority of the synapomorphies correspond to characters from the internal structures such the epipharynx and the internal male genitalia. Therefore we consider the internal morphology to be more informative in defining natural groups within Canthonini.

The beetle-hunting wasp, Cerceris fumipennis Say (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae), native to eastern North America, provisions its subterranean nest almost exclusively with adult metallic wood-boring beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), including the destructive emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, EAB). This wasp provides a unique opportunity to survey indigenous and nonindigenous buprestid diversity. We discuss the accessibility, sustainability, and productivity of C. fumipennis with respect to its application as a buprestid surveying and monitoring tool.

Dung beetles (Scarabaeidae) were pitfall trapped at two sites in southern Alberta from 1993 to 1995. A 3-year total of 156 500 specimens representing 17 species was collected. Local assemblages were dominated, in descending order, by the exotic species Onthophagus nuchicornis (Linné), Aphodius prodromus (Brahm), Aphodius distinctus (O.F. Müller), and Aphodius fimetarius (Linné). Aphodius vittatus Say was the most common native species. Although adults were collected from mid-March to mid-November, the activity of individual species either peaked in the spring and again in the fall, or peaked once in spring to midsummer. Maps showing the Canadian distributions for 15 of these species were compiled from examination of collections and published records and identify 10 new provincial records. Most distributions are transcontinental, with the distribution of O. nuchicornis likely expanding only in the last 20–30 years to include Alberta and Saskatchewan. Aphodius erraticus (Linné) and Aphodius ruricola Melsheimer have not been previously reported from British Columbia. Aphodius pinguellus W.J. Brown, Canthon praticola LeConte, and Aphodius coloradensis Horn are restricted to western Canada.