I've just started another RSS Feed on kerbtier.de. This feed is dedicated exclusively to recent records of notable beetle species recorded by the author in Germany. It is mainly aimed at skilled coleopterists active in faunistics, who want to keep track on all the news from the German beetle fauna. You can subscribe to the feed by clicking the link above or by clicking the large RSS icon on the record page.

Record of Phloiophilus edwardsii from the forest 'Bössinger Wald' near Zeutern (Kraichgau) online.

Starting today, kerbtier.de offers a RSS Feed. Those who want the stay tuned to all news on kerbtier.de are invited to subscribe.

Today a user suggested an improvement in the module Search by appearance. So from now on, search results can not only be sorted alphabetically and systematically, but also by body length. The manual has been revised accordingly.

On March 1st, 2010 the new version of the Federal Nature Conservation Act will come into force. Therefore the topic page introducing the Federal Nature Conservation Act, the Federal Regulation for the Protection of Species and the FFH-Directive has been updated. Thanks to Maik Hausotte for his support.

At the end of the winter season I've just uploaded another update on kerbtier.de: A new topic page on the phylogeny of the beetles from their origin in the Permian 300 millionen years ago until today. I also try to shed some light on the continental drift and changes in climate conditions during the history of the earth. To make this site would have been impossible without the support with photos and maps by a number of scientists from paleontology and geology. Their support is gratefully acknowledged. I also thank Irina Würtele and Klaas Reißmann for their review of the draft and helpful comments and suggestions.

I've just uploaded six new book reviews on the literature page. Thanks to Dr. Andreas Müller who made this contribution to kerbtier.de. I also thank all the publishers, who granted permission to use the pictures of their respective book covers and 2-page previews.

And another new topic page on the jewel beetle Agrilus biguttatus. Special thanks to Klaas Reißmann for the text and some photos of the larva and the woodpecker marks. I also want to thank Petr Zábranský for the photograph of Agrilus guerini.

In order to keep the former featured species, I've created a new page with a complete overview of all species previously presented. The link to the new page can be found in the main menu bar under the entry "Fauna".

Klaas Reißmann contributed a new topic page on the Click beetle Lacon querceus, which I've just uploaded. Thanks, Klaas! I also want to thank Josef Mertlik (www.elateridae.com) for the kind permission to use his nice photographs of mounted specimen of three Lacon species and of Danosoma fasciata for this page.

I wish all visitors of kerbtier.de a happy and successful New Year 2010! And of course, lots of beetles...

So as a start into the New Year, I've just uploaded a new page with tips and hints on books and literature about beetles and coleopterology. Many thanks go to Klaas Reißmann, who did not only have the initial idea for the page, but also invested a tremendous amount of time and effort to realize it. Besides, I made a few minor changes to the main menu bar: The new literature page can be found under "Tools", together with the glossary and my selection of beetle links. Furthermore, I replaced "Home" by a tiny house symbol, thus creating free space in the menu bar for new stuff ;-). I wish all of you a pleasant stay on kerbtier.de!