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:

  • 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: 531-558.
  • 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: 441-599.
  • 2013. Ferro, M.L., N.H. Nguyen, A. K. Tishechkin, J.-S. Park, V.L. Bayless, and C.E. Carlton. for their paper entitled “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: 419-443.
  • 2012. Leasure, Doug R., D.M. Rupe, E.A. Phillips, D.R. Opine, and G.R. Huxel. for their paper entitled “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.
  • 2011. Hammond, H.E. James & Daryl J. Williams. for their paper entitled “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.
  • 2010. Valladares, Luis F., Baselga, Andres, & Josefina Garrido. for their paper entitled “Diversity of water beetles in Picos de Europa National Park, Spain: inventory completeness and conservation assessment.” The Coleopterists Bulletin, 64(3): 201-219.
  • 2009. Jim Liebherr for his paper entitled “Native and alien Carabidae share Lanai, an ecologically devastated island.” The Coleopterists Bulletin, 63(4): 383-411.
  • 2008. Jens Prena for his paper entitled: Review of Odontocorynus Schönherr (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Baridinae) with Descriptions of Four New Species. The Coleopterists Bulletin, 61:1-39.
  • 2007. Liang, H.B., and D.H. Kavanaugh. Review on the genus Dendrocellus Schmidt-Göbel (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Dryptini), with descriptions of seven new species. The Coleopterists Bulletin, 61:1-39.
  • 2006. Chamorro-Lacayo, M.L., Konstantinov, A.S., & Moseyko, A.G. Comparative Morphology of the Female Genitalia and Some Abdominal Structures of Neotropical Cryptocephalini (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae).
  • 2005. Brett C. Ratcliffe & Miguel A. Morón. Larval descriptions of eight species of Megasoma Kirby (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae) with a key for identification and notes on biology.
  • 2004. Igor Sokolov, Chris Carlton & James Cornell. Review of Anillinus, with Description of 17 New Species and a Key to Soil and Litter Species (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae: Bembidiini).
  • 2003. R.A.B. Leschen & A.F. Newton. Larval Description, Adult Feeding Behavior, and Phylogenetic Placement of Megalopinus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae).
  • 2002. Andrew B.T. Smith. Revision of the Southern South American Endemic Genus Aulacopalpus Guérin-Méneville with Phylogenetic and Biogeographic Analyses of the Subtribe Brachysternina (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Anoplognathini).
  • 2001. Caroline S. Chaboo. Revision and Phylogenetic Analysis of Acromis Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Stolaini).
  • 2000. Steven Lingafelter & Alexander Konstantinov. Revision of Pedethma Weise (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).
  • 1999. Miguel Archangelsky. Adaptations of Immature Stages of Sphaeridiinae (Staphyliniformia, Hydrophiloidea: Hydrophilidae) and State of Knowledge of Preimaginal Hydrophilidae.
  • 1998. Weston Opitz. The Classification and Evolution of Apolopha Spinola (Coleoptera: Cleridae, Enoplinae).
  • 1997. Henry F. Howden. Podolasiini Howden, New Tribe, and a Revision of the Included Genera, Podolasia Harold and Podostena Howden, new genus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae).
  • 1996. Rolf L. Aalbu & Fred G. Andrews. A revision of the Neotropical genus Discopleurus Lacordaire (Tenebrionidae: Stenosini).
  • 1995. Rodney S. Hanley & Michael A. Goodrich. Review of mycophagy, host relationships and behavior in the New World Oxyporinae (Staphylinidae).
  • 1994. Thomas R. Van Devender & W. Eugene Hall. Holocene arthropods from the Sierra Bacha, Sonora, Mexico, with emphasis on beetles (Coleoptera).
  • 1993. Donald B. Thomas. Scarabaeidae (Coleoptera) of the Chiapanecan forests: a faunal survey and chorographic analysis.
  • 1992. Brett C. Ratcliffe & Cuauhtemoc Deloya. The biogeography and phylogeny of Hologymnetis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) with a revision of the genus.
  • 1991. Steven R. Wing. Timing of Photinus collustrans reproductive activity: finding a mate in time (Coleoptera: Lampyridae).
  • 1990. Mary Liz Jameson. Revision, phylogeny and biogeography of the genera Parabyrsopolis Ohaus and Viridimicus, new genus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae).
  • 1989. James V. Capogreco. Immature Lebia viridis Say (Coleoptera: Carabidae): bionomics, descriptions, and comparisons to other Lebia species.
  • 1988. John T. Doyen. Descriptions of some phylogenetically important larvae of Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera).
  • 1987. Wayne E. Clark. Revision of the Nearctic species of Pseudanthonomus Dietz (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).
  • 1986. No award presented.
  • 1985. Donald R. Schwert & Allan C. Ashworth. Fossil evidence for late Holocene faunal stability in southern Minnesota.
  • 1984. James S. Ashe & Larry E. Watrous. Larval chaetotaxy of Aleocharinae (Staphylinidae) based on a description of Atheta coriaria Kraatz.
  • 1983. Joseph M. Cicero. Lek assembly and flash synchrony in the Arizona firefly Photinus knulli Green (Coleoptera: Lampyridae).