Awarded Annually for the Best Paper Published in The Coleopterists Bulletin. This award, in the form of a plaque, is presented each year at the annual meeting of The Coleopterists Society for the best paper published in The Coleopterists Bulletin from the preceding year. The paper is selected by the Editorial Board of the Society. Papers are judged on quality, originality, and methodology of research, interpretation of data to support conclusions, special use of language or illustrations, and overall impact or importance of paper to the study of beetles. Since 1983, when the award was initiated, the following authors have been honored for their contributions:

  • 2022. Richard A. B. Leschen, Steven Davis, Samuel D. J. Brown, Talia Brav-Cubitt, and Thomas R. Buckley. 2022. The enigmatic dead-leaf miner Geochus Broun (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): phylogenetic placement, a new species, and lectotype designations. The Coleopterists Bulletin 76(1):1–35. https://doi.org/10.1649/0010-065X-76.1.1
  • 2021. Barr, Cheryl B. 2021. Revision of Macrelmis Motschulsky, 1860 in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico with description of four new species (Coleoptera: Elmidae: Elminae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 75(1): 93–120. https://doi.org/10.1649/0010-065X-75.1.93
  • 2020. Jia-Wei Shen, Thomas R. Buckley, and Richard A. B. Leschen. 2020. Molecular systematics of Eupines King, including a new genus and notes on New Zealand Brachyglutini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae: Goniaceritae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 74(4): 791–812. https://doi.org/10.1649/0010-065X-74.4.791
  • 2019. Chamorro, M.L. and C.-L. Huang. 2019. Descriptions of the immature stages of Poteriophorus Schoenherr, 1838 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Dryophthorinae): larva, pupa, and biology of Poteriophorus uhlemanni (Schultze, 1922) discovered through Dawu traditional ecological knowledge. The Coleopterists Bulletin 73(2): 283–299. https://doi.org/10.1649/0010-065X-73.2.283
  • 2018. Parker, J. and B. Owens. 2018. Batriscydmaenus Parker and Owens, new genus, and convergent evolution of a “reductive” ecomorph in socially symbiotic Pselaphinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 72(2): 219–230. https://doi.org/10.1649/0010-065X-72.2.219
  • 2017. Ellen M. Reese and Alex Swanson. P. 2017. A Review of the Cactophilic Carcinops Marseul (Coleoptera: Histeridae) of the Sonoran Desert Region, with Descriptions of Six New Species. The Coleopterists Bulletin 71(1): 159–190. https://doi.org/10.1649/0010-065X-71.1.159
  • 2016. Ivie, M.A., Lord, N.P., Foley, I.A. and Ślipiński, S.A. 2016. Colydiine Genera (Coleoptera: Zopheridae: Colydiinae) of the New World: A Key and Nomenclatural Acts 30 Years in the Making. The Coleopterists Bulletin 70(4): 755–788. https://doi.org/10.1649/0010-065X-70.4.755
  • 2015. Barr, C.B., Gibson, J.R. and P.H. Diaz. 2015. Typhloelmis Barr (Coleoptera: Elmidae: Elminae), a New Stygobiontic Riffle Beetle Genus with Three New Species from Texas, USA. The Coleopterists Bulletin 69(4): 531–558. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24773664
  • 2014. Richard G. Dearborn, Robert E. Nelson, Charlene Donahue, Ross T. Bell and Reginald P. Webster. 2014. The Ground Beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) Fauna of Maine, USA. The Coleopterists Bulletin 68(3): 441–599. https://doi.org/10.1649/072.068.0317
  • 2013. Ferro, M.L., N.H. Nguyen, A. K. Tishechkin, J.-S. Park, V.L. Bayless, and C.E. Carlton. 2013. Coleoptera collected from rotting fishhook barrel cacti (Ferocactus wislizeni (Engelm.) Britton and Rose), with a review of Nearctic Coleoptera associated with succulent necrosis. The Coleopterists Bulletin 67(4): 419–443. https://doi.org/10.1649/0010-065X-67.4.419
  • 2012. Leasure, Doug R., D.M. Rupe, E.A. Phillips, D.R. Opine, and G.R. Huxel. 2012. Efficient new above-ground bucket traps produce comparable data to that of standard transects for the endangered American burying beetle, Nicrophorus americanus Olivier. The Coleopterists Bulletin 66(3): 209–218. https://doi.org/10.1649/072.066.0305
  • 2011. Hammond, H.E. James and Daryl J. Williams. 2011. A revision of the genus Callimoxys Kraatz (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in America north of Mexico and review of world species. The Coleopterists Bulletin 65(3): 246–289. https://doi.org/10.1649/072.065.0307
  • 2010. Valladares, Luis F., Baselga, Andres, and Josefina Garrido. 2010. Diversity of water beetles in Picos de Europa National Park, Spain: inventory completeness and conservation assessment. The Coleopterists Bulletin 64(3): 201–219. https://doi.org/10.1649/0010-065X-64.3.201.5
  • 2009. Jim Liebherr 2009. Native and alien Carabidae share Lanai, an ecologically devastated island. The Coleopterists Bulletin 63(4): 383–411. https://doi.org/10.1649/1176.1
  • 2008. Jens Prena 2008. Review of Odontocorynus Schönherr (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Baridinae) with Descriptions of Four New Species. The Coleopterists Bulletin 62(2):243–277. https://doi.org/10.1649/1074.1
  • 2007. Liang, H.B. and D.H. Kavanaugh. 2007. Review on the genus Dendrocellus Schmidt-Göbel (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Dryptini), with descriptions of seven new species. The Coleopterists Bulletin 61(1):1–39. https://doi.org/10.1649/934.1
  • 2006. Chamorro-Lacayo, M.L., Konstantinov, A.S., and Moseyko, A.G. 2006. Comparative Morphology of the Female Genitalia and Some Abdominal Structures of Neotropical Cryptocephalini (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 60(2):113–134. https://doi.org/10.1649/873.1
  • 2005. Brett C. Ratcliffe and Miguel A. Morón. 2005. Larval descriptions of eight species of Megasoma Kirby (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae) with a key for identification and notes on biology. The Coleopterists Bulletin 59(1):91–126. https://doi.org/10.1649/0010-065X(2005)059[0091:LDOESO]2.0.CO;2
  • 2004. Igor Sokolov, Chris Carlton, and James Cornell. 2004. Review of Anillinus, with Description of 17 New Species and a Key to Soil and Litter Species (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae: Bembidiini). The Coleopterists Bulletin 58(2):185–233. https://doi.org/10.1649/611
  • 2003. R.A.B. Leschen and A.F. Newton. 2003. Larval Description, Adult Feeding Behavior, and Phylogenetic Placement of Megalopinus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 57(4):469–493. https://doi.org/10.1649/586
  • 2002. Andrew B.T. Smith. 2002. Revision of the Southern South American Endemic Genus Aulacopalpus Guérin-Méneville with Phylogenetic and Biogeographic Analyses of the Subtribe Brachysternina (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Anoplognathini). The Coleopterists Bulletin 56(3):379–437. https://doi.org/10.1649/0010-065X(2002)056[0379:ROTSSA]2.0.CO;2
  • 2001. Caroline S. Chaboo. 2001. Revision and Phylogenetic Analysis of Acromis Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Stolaini). The Coleopterists Bulletin 55(1):75–102. https://doi.org/10.1649/0010-065X(2001)055[0075:RAPAOA]2.0.CO;2
  • 2000. Steven Lingafelter and Alexander Konstantinov. 2000. Revision of Pedethma Weise (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 54(4):413–458. https://doi.org/10.1649/0010-065X(2000)054[0413:ROPWCC]2.0.CO;2
  • 1999. Miguel Archangelsky. 1999. Adaptations of Immature Stages of Sphaeridiinae (Staphyliniformia, Hydrophiloidea: Hydrophilidae) and State of Knowledge of Preimaginal Hydrophilidae. The Coleopterists Bulletin 53(1): 64–79. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4009292
  • 1998. Weston Opitz. 1998. The Classification and Evolution of Apolopha Spinola (Coleoptera: Cleridae, Enoplinae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 52(1): 6–22. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4009317
  • 1997. Henry F. Howden. 1997. Podolasiini Howden, New Tribe, and a Revision of the Included Genera, Podolasia Harold and Podostena Howden, new genus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 51(3): 223–255. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4009417
  • 1996. Rolf L. Aalbu and Fred G. Andrews. 1996. A revision of the Neotropical genus Discopleurus Lacordaire (Tenebrionidae: Stenosini). The Coleopterists Bulletin 50(1): 14–38. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4009252
  • 1995. Rodney S. Hanley and Michael A. Goodrich. 1995. Review of mycophagy, host relationships and behavior in the New World Oxyporinae (Staphylinidae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 49(3): 267–280. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4009146
  • 1994. Thomas R. Van Devender and W. Eugene Hall. 1994. Holocene arthropods from the Sierra Bacha, Sonora, Mexico, with emphasis on beetles (Coleoptera). The Coleopterists Bulletin 48(1): 30–50. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4008998
  • 1993. Donald B. Thomas. 1993. Scarabaeidae (Coleoptera) of the Chiapanecan forests: a faunal survey and chorographic analysis. The Coleopterists Bulletin 47(4): 363–408. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4009092
  • 1992. Brett C. Ratcliffe and Cuauhtemoc Deloya. 1992. The biogeography and phylogeny of Hologymnetis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) with a revision of the genus. The Coleopterists Bulletin 46(2): 161–202. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4008803
  • 1991. Steven R. Wing. 1991. Timing of Photinus collustrans reproductive activity: finding a mate in time (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 45(1): 57–74. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4008783
  • 1990. Mary Liz Jameson. 1990. Revision, phylogeny and biogeography of the genera Parabyrsopolis Ohaus and Viridimicus, new genus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae).
  • 1989. James V. Capogreco. 1989. Immature Lebia viridis Say (Coleoptera: Carabidae): bionomics, descriptions, and comparisons to other Lebia species. The Coleopterists Bulletin 44(4): 377–422. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4008643
  • 1988. John T. Doyen. 1988. Descriptions of some phylogenetically important larvae of Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera). The Coleopterists Bulletin 42(3): 285–301. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4008496
  • 1987. Wayne E. Clark. 1987. Revision of the Nearctic species of Pseudanthonomus Dietz (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 41(3): 263–285. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4008422
  • 1986. No award presented.
  • 1985. Donald R. Schwert and Allan C. Ashworth. 1985. Fossil evidence for late Holocene faunal stability in southern Minnesota. The Coleopterists Bulletin 39(1): 67–79. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4008190
  • 1984. James S. Ashe and Larry E. Watrous. 1984. Larval chaetotaxy of Aleocharinae (Staphylinidae) based on a description of Atheta coriaria Kraatz. The Coleopterists Bulletin 38(2): 165–179. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4008166
  • 1983. Joseph M. Cicero. Lek assembly and flash synchrony in the Arizona firefly Photinus knulli Green (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 37(4): 318–342. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4008254