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Abstract Tailoring ultraconserved element (UCE) probe set design to focal taxa has been demonstrated to improve locus recovery and phylogenomic inference. However, beyond conducting expensive in vitro testing, it remains unclear how best to determine whether an existing UCE probe set is likely to suffice for phylogenomic inference or whether tailored probe design will be desirable. Here we investigate the utility of 8 different UCE probe sets for the in silico phylogenomic inference of scarabaeoid beetles. Probe sets tested differed in terms of (i) how phylogenetically distant from Scarabaeoidea taxa those used during probe design are, (ii) breadth of phylogenetic inference probe set was designed for, and (iii) method of probe design. As part of this study, 2 new UCE probe sets are produced for the beetle family Scarabaeidae and superfamily Hydrophiloidea. We confirm that probe set utility decreases with increasing phylogenetic distance from target taxa. In addition, narrowing the phylogenetic breadth of probe design decreases the phylogenetic capture range. We also confirm previous findings regarding ways to optimize UCE probe design. Finally, we make suggestions regarding assessment of need for de novo probe design. 

A new species from the genus Cephalodesmius Westwood (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) is described from the Cental Mackay Coast bioregion, Queensland extending the northern range of the genus. Cephalodesmius carminya Ebert & Gunter new species is known from two localities in the Pine Mountain, Carminya Forest Reserve and 2.5 km west of Eungella dam. A key to the four species of Cephalodesmius is provided and we discuss morphological similarities between Cephalodesmius and its closest relative Canthonosoma Macleay. 

This repository contains Materials and designed UCE probe sets for the manuscript entitled "To design or not to design? Comparison of beetle ultraconserved element probe set utility based on phylogenetic distance, breadth, and method of probe design". 

The monotypic genus Oficanthon Paulian, 1985 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) is treated as a junior synonym of the genus Lepanus Balthasar, 1966, and L. mirabilis (Paulian, 1985), new combination is proposed for Oficanthon mirabilis Paulian, 1985. Both morphological and molecular evidence support this synonymy. Morphological evidence further supports its placement within the Lepanus ustulatus species group. Lepanus mirabilis is redescribed.