The genus Aesalus F., 1801 of the family Lucanidae in the Himalayas is reviewed, and a new species, A. saburoi sp. n., is described from Central Nepal. This new species has been confused with A. himalayicus Kurosawa 1985, but differs from the latter mainly by a darker and broader body, and by different shapes of the intercoxal process of the prosternum and of male genitalia. The male of A. himalayicus sensu stricto is described for the first time and the male genitalia are illustrated. A key to the members of the genus Aesalus from the Himalayas is provided.
Trophic eggs, which are not viable and eaten by larvae, are produced by the passalid beetle Cylindrocaulus patalis. This is the first record of trophic eggs in subsocial Coleoptera. There are differences in the morphology of trophic and fertile eggs; the former are a paler colour and softer than the latter. The surface of the chorion of trophic eggs is also smoother than that of fertile eggs. The trophic eggs are fed directly by the female parent to 3rd instar larvae following a series of specific behavioural interactions between them, including repeated stridulation by the larva. It is likely that trophic eggs supplement the protein-poor diet of the larvae and contribute to their growth and survival. The production of trophic eggs may be associated with the evolution of an extremely small clutch size in C. patalis.