This study aimed to establish a regional cooperative network involving the Endangered Species Restoration Center (National Institute of Ecology), local governments, educational institutions, and community residents, and to develop a structured citizen science platform to support the conservation of the endangered beetle Polyphylla laticollis manchurica (Endangered Species Class I). The primary objective was to assess changes in citizens’ awareness and derive practical strategies for the conservation of endangered species through community engagement. Between 2023 and 2024, citizen scientists were recruited in the Miho River area of Cheongju, South Korea, and participated in educational programs designed to strengthen their research capacity. As a result of monitoring activities and ecological education, 153 individuals of P. l. manchurica were identified, demonstrating that participants were capable of independently conducting surveys following training. A post-program survey of 98 participants revealed a high level of understanding of the activities and a strong motivation for conservation activities. However, challenges remain in securing long-term sustainability of such initiatives, including the need for stable funding, structured feedback mechanisms, and appropriate incentive systems for continued citizen involvement. This study underscores the potential of citizen science as a viable tool for endangered species conservation and highlights the importance of regionally coordinated frameworks. The findings provide foundational data for promoting sustained, community-based conservation actions through local cooperation.

The hyperdiverse beetle family Carabidae is one of the largest families of Coleoptera. Nearly 10% of described carabid species are classified in the tribe Pterostichini or tribes historically closely associated with Pterostichini. Beetles in these groups are found worldwide and in habitats from ocean beaches to high-elevation glacial edges. Pterostichines are often abundant and local species richness can be exceptionally high. I will present an overview of the diversity, biogeography, and current phylogenetic arrangement of the included taxa. I will discuss some of the many amazing aspects of the group’s natural history including cases of mate marking during copulation, secondary sexual characters, mate guarding, burrow construction, maternal care for eggs and larvae, and apparent stridulatory structures. I will introduce the Australian trichosternus group and discuss the conservation status of these imperiled beetles and how fundamental taxonomic science led to gaining protection for some species. I will make the case that taxonomy has a unique role among the life sciences to explore, describe, classify, and provide an understanding of the diversity of life, at and above the species level, focusing on individual characters, and within the context of evolutionary history.