I've just completed and uploaded a new map module on kerbtier.de. The new module allows to display my beetle records in a map of Germany, clustered by the most recent year of discovery. For example, see my records of Coccinella septempunctata.
To display the map, simply click the little green map icon in the species overview (on the right of the species name). The locations have been normalized according to the map sheets of TK 25 (ordnance map). Enjoy the new function!

Record of Aphodius zenkeri in the natural forest reserve 'Stuttpferch' in the forest 'Bienwald' and Vibidia duodecimguttata on the 'Friesenheimer Insel' in Mannheim.

Record of Abdera affinis and Benibotarus taygetanus in the forest 'Bienwald' near Büchelberg (Palatinate).

I've just uploaded the big summer update with 85 new species from 32 families. The number of species available on kerbtier.de increases to more than 2280. Additionally I've added new color patterns on the page variability of elytral color patterns in Coccinellidae (photos courtesy of Ingrid Altmann). I wish all visitors of kerbtier.de a pleasant stay on my site!

Three notable records from Southwest Germany: Agrilus hyperici and Harpalus melancholicus from the Lampertheim Forest (South Hesse) and Allecula rhenana from the forest 'Untere Lußhardt' near Kirrlach (North Baden).

Five notable records from Southwest Germany: Anthaxia fulgurans, Rhyncolus reflexus, Abdera quadrifasciata, Otiorhynchus smreczynskii and Reesa vespulae.

Record of Bryaxis collaris in the Schlierbach valley near Neuler (Württemberg).

Three new records from the 'Heimberg' near Waldböckelheim (Rhineland-Palatinate) and from the city forest of Frankfurt (Hesse): Cylindromorphus filum, Labidostomis lucida and Trinodes hirtus.

Two new records from the forest 'Bienwald' (Palatinate): Enicmus testaceus and Selatosomus cruciatus.

Two new records from the 'Friesenheimer Insel', Mannheim: Otiorhynchus dieckmanni and Cyrtosus ovalis. This discovery of Cyrtosus ovalis constitutes the first record of the species in Germany. Thanks to Dr. Robert Constantin for checking the determination.

Record of Lasiotrechus discus in the floodplain near Oberhausen-Rheinhausen.

Three new records online (Trox perlatus, Ischnodes sanguinicollis and Ochina latreillei).

Record of Attagenus punctatus in the city forest of Frankfurt.

I've just uploaded a first small spring update with 21 new species from several families. The number of species available on kerbtier.de increases to 2200. I wish all visitors of kerbtier.de a pleasant stay on my site!

Record of Emus hirtus and Polydrusus sparsus in the forest 'Bienwald' (Southern Palatinate).

The glossary of entomology terms just grew by 70 new terms. Thanks to Thomas Hörren for his contribution.
Furthermore I've added three new excursion dates for the Kaiserstuhl in the calender of events.

Record of Hedobia regalis in the river Rhine floodplain near Philippsburg (North Baden).

Record of Mycetophagus fulvicollis in the forest 'Untere Lußhardt' near Kirrlach (North Baden).

Record of Rhynchaenus lonicerae from the arid floodplain near Grißheim (South Baden).

There are quite a few events in coleopterology in Germany, like lectures, excursions or congresses. However, the events and dates are quite widespread on the internet. Therefore kerbtier.de launches today a new calender of events for Germany, which allows to search for events in coleopterology. The site allows to search by date, type of event and region. Organizers of events in coleopterology are invited to submit their event to kerbtier.de for publication on this page. In any case, kerbtier.de reserves the right to decide on the publication.

The Family overview can now be sorted by "popularity" as well. That means, the families will be ranked in descending order by number of visits on kerbtier.de.

I've added a new feature on the starting page, a box with an overview of the most popular beetle families (ranked by number of visits on kerbtier.de). It allows quick access to the ten most wanted family overviews.

Minor changes in the design of the starting page with rounded containers.

Record of Orchesia luteipalpis from the forest 'Treburer Unterwald' near Mörfelden (South Hesse) online. Thanks to Frank Lange for the hint.

The glossary of entomology terms just grew by 50 new terms. Thanks to Klaas Reißmann for his contribution.

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!