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Acrostilicus Hubbard, 1896 and Pachystilicus Casey, 1905 are North American genera known from only one and two species, respectively, and have never been a subject of a modern revision. In fact, Acrostilicus was not even properly described as its author provided only a sketchy diagnosis of the genus and species. Here, we provide a redescription of the genus Acrostilicus and its species and illustrate the habitus and male genital features. For the first time, we also redescribe Pachystilicus and its two species, and provide their differential diagnoses. Additionally, we tested the phylogenetic position of both genera. They were scored into a morphological matrix supplemented with molecular data and the analyses were run using Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood methods. A total of 119 morphological characters and 4859 bp of nuclear (28S, TP, Wg, CADA, CADC, ArgK) and mitochondrial (COI) sequences were analysed for 46 taxa. The results confirmed that both Acrostilicus and Pachystilicus are members of the subtribe Stilicina, but at the same time challenged the monophyly of the subtribe in its current composition. Additionally, we provided further evidence for non-monophyly of the subtribe Medonina and discussed the biology of Acrostilicus and Pachystilicus.
Selizitapia gen. nov. (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Flatidae) from tapia woodlands of Madagascar
(2021)
A new monotypic genus of flatid planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Flatidae), Selizitapia gen. nov., is described for Selizitapia pennyi gen. et sp. nov. (type species) from the island of Madagascar. Habitus, male and female external and internal genital structures of the new species are illustrated and compared with similar taxa. Selizitapia pennyi gen. et sp. nov. is endemic to Madagascar where it is known to date only from one locality in the Central Plateau and is associated with tapia woodland formation.
A new monotypic genus of flatid planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Flatidae), Medleria gen. nov., is described for Medleria caudata gen. et sp. nov. (type species) from the island of Socotra (Yemen). Habitus, male and female external and internal genital structures of the new species are illustrated and compared with similar taxa. Medleria caudata gen. et sp. nov. is probably endemic to Socotra where it is known to date from a small area of the Dixam mountain plateau only.
A new species complex, the eparmata complex, is established within the subgenus Phortica s. str., based on eight known and five new species, all of which are endemic to the Oriental Region: P. bipartita (Toda & Peng, 1992), P. eparmata (Okada, 1977), P. lanuginosa Chen & Toda, 2007, P. latipenis Chen & Gao, 2005, P. pangi Chen & Wen, 2005, P. setitabula Chen & Gao, 2005, P. unipetala Chen & Wen, 2005 and P. zeta Chen & Toda, 2007; P. jadete sp. nov., P. kava sp. nov., P. mengda sp. nov., P. wongding sp. nov. and P. yena sp. nov. A key to all species of this complex is provided. Barcoding sequences (mitochondrial COI gene) were obtained for 22 specimens of five known and the five abovementioned new species. The intra- and inter-specific pairwise K-2P (Kimura’s two-parameter) distances of COI were determined. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using Bayesian inference based on COI sequences, confirming the monophyletic status of the eparmata complex, which is distinct from the species complexes of magna, omega, variegata and another two ungrouped species.
As a preliminary step towards a more intensive research on the diversity of macromycetes in Greece, an updated check-list of the Greek mycoflora is presented together with information on the host-substrates and geographic occurrence. The data originated from a thorough literature search and the authors' field observations. In total, 58 families, 214 genera and 811 species of fungi are recorded belonging to Basidiomycetes. The systematics and nomenclature of the relative bibliography have been updated and suitably revised. The large gaps in our knowledge on the existence and distribution of higher fungi in Greece are emphasized.
Background: Taxonomy or biological systematics is the basic scientific discipline of biology, postulating hypotheses of identity and relationships, on which all other natural sciences dealing with organisms relies. However, the scientific contributions of taxonomists have been largely neglected when using species names in scientific publications by not citing the authority on which they are based.
Discussion: Consequences of this neglect is reduced recognition of the importance of taxonomy, which in turn results in diminished funding, lower interest from journals in publishing taxonomic research, and a reduced number of young scientists entering the field. This has lead to the so-called taxonomic impediment at a time when biodiversity studies are of critical importance.
Here we emphasize a practical and obvious solution to this dilemma. We propose that whenever a species name is used, the author(s) of the species hypothesis be included and the original literature source cited, including taxonomic revisions and identification literature - nothing more than what is done for every other hypothesis or assumption included in a scientific publication. In addition, we postulate that journals primarily publishing taxonomic studies should be indexed in ISISM.
Summary: The proposal outlined above would make visible the true contribution of taxonomists within the scientific community, and would provide a more accurate assessment for funding agencies impact and importance of taxonomy, and help in the recruitment of young scientists into the field, thus helping to alleviate the taxonomic impediment. In addition, it would also make much of the biological literature more robust by reducing or alleviating taxonomic uncertainty.
Keywords: Taxonomy crisis; taxonomic impediment; impact factor; original species description; citation index; systematics
Distributional records of the 71 tiger beetle species and subspecies known for Argentina are given together with a key and habitus photos (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae). Brasiella (Brasiella) cuyabaensis Mandl, 1970 and Brasiella (Gaymara) rotundatodilatata (Horn, 1925) are reported as new for the fauna of Argentina. Brasiella (Brasiella) stamatovi (Sumlin, 1979) is transferred to Cylindera (Plectographa), becoming C. (P.) stamatovi (Sumlin), new combination. Cylindera (Plectographa) siccalacicola (Sumlin, 1979) is placed into synonymy under Cylindera (Plectographa) hassenteufeli (Mandl, 1960), new synonymy. A lectotype is designated for Cylindera (Plectographa) patagonica bergiana (Horn, 1895).
This paper contains the results of research on a large assemblage of jumping spiders collected by J.-C. Ledoux from Ivory Coast in 1974–75. In total, 105 species are included. Three new genera are erected Pulcherula gen. nov., Sphericula gen. nov. and Vicirionessa gen. nov. Two generic names are synonymized, Polemus Simon, 1902 with Baryphas Simon, 1902 and Brancus Simon, 1902 with Thyene Simon, 1885. Twenty eight new species are described: Afraflacilla albopunctata sp. nov. (♀), Ansienulina lamottei sp. nov. (♂), Asemonaea pusilla sp. nov. (♀), Detalik cavally sp. nov. (♀), Evarcha zougoussi sp. nov. (♀), Heliophanus (Heliophanus) minimus sp. nov. (♂♀), Hyllus ignotus sp. nov. (♀), Hyllus solus sp. nov. (♀), Hyllus unicolor sp. nov. (♀), Icius bandama sp. nov. (♂♀), Langona recta sp. nov. (♂), Malizna zabkai sp. nov. (♀), Menemerus niangbo sp. nov. (♀), Myrmarachne galea sp. nov. (♀), Phintella brevis sp. nov. (♂), Phintella globosa sp. nov. (♀), Phintella occidentalis sp. nov. (♂), Phintella transversa sp. nov. (♂), Pochytoides mirabilis sp. nov. (♂♀), Pochytoides tonkoui sp. nov. (♀), Pochytoides tournieri sp. nov. (♂), Pulcherula magna gen. et sp. nov. (♂), Rhene ferkensis sp. nov. (♀), Sonoita ledouxi sp. nov. (♂♀), Sphericula globulifera gen. et sp. nov. (♀), Thiratoscirtus silvestris sp. nov. (♂♀), Tusitala bandama sp. nov. (♀) and Tusitala cornuta sp. nov. (♂). Five specific names are synonymized: Polemus chrysochirus Simon, 1902 with Baryphas jullieni Simon, 1902, Viciria mondoni Berland & Millot, 1941with Malloneta guineensis Simon, 1902, Brancus lacrimosus Wesołowska & Edwards 2008 with Vicirionessa fuscimana (Simon, 1903), Viciria monodi Berland & Millot, 1941 and Viciria equestris pallida Berland & Millot, 1941 with Vicirionessa equestris (Simon, 1903). Hyllus natali peckhamorum Berland & Millot, 1941 is removed from synonymy of Hyllus brevitarsis Simon, 1902, revalidated and its rank is raised as Hyllus peckhamorum Berland & Millot, 1941 stat. nov. Also rank of Telamonia aequipes minor Lessert, 1925 is elevated as Phintella minor (Lessert, 1925) stat. nov. Menemerus dubius Berland & Millot, 1941 is removed from nomina dubia. This species is considered valid and is redescribed. A lectotype is designated for it. The male of Mexcala torquata Wesołowska, 2009 and females of Hyllus tuberculatus Wanless & Clark, 1975, Iranattus principalis (Wesołowska, 2000), Myrmarachne eidmanni Roewer, 1942 and Thiratoscirtus tentativus (Szűts & Jocqué, 2001) are described for the first time. Many new combinations are proposed. Twenty ex Brancus are recombined: Hyllus nigeriensis (Wesołowska & Edwards, 2012) comb. nov., Thyene blaisei (Simon, 1902) comb. nov., Thyene calebi (Kanesharatnam & Benjamin, 2018) comb. nov., Thyene mutica (Simon, 1902) comb. nov., Thyene verdieri (Berland & Millot, 1941) comb. nov., Vicirionessa besanconi (Berland & Millot, 1941) gen. et comb. nov., Vicirionessa fuscimana (Simon, 1903) gen. et comb. nov., Vicirionessa mustela (Simon, 1902) gen. et comb. nov., Vicirionessa niveimana (Simon, 1902) gen. et comb. nov., Vicirionessa occidentalis (Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2011) gen. et comb. nov., Vicirionessa peckhamorum (Lessert, 1927) gen. et comb. nov., Vicirionessa signata (Dawidowicz & Wesołowska, 2016) gen. et comb. nov. Four ex Viciria are recombined: Vicirionessa chabanaudi (Fage, 1923) gen. et comb. nov., Vicirionessa equestris (Simon, 1903) gen. et comb. nov., Vicirionessa prenanti (Berland & Millot, 1941) gen. et comb. nov., Vicirionessa tergina (Simon, 1903) gen. et comb. nov. and one species ex Hyllus: Vicirionessa albocincta (Thorell, 1899) gen. et comb. nov. Furthermore, the following two new combinations are proposed: Thiratoscirtus tentativus (Szűts & Jocqué, 2001) comb. nov. (ex Bacelarella) and Baryphas galeatus (Simon, 1902) comb. nov. (ex Polemus). For 11 species known so far from single records new data are presented: Heliophanus butemboensis Wesołowska, 1986, Hyllus lwoffi Berland & Millot, 1941, Hyllus tuberculatus Wanless & Clark, 1975, Menemerus dubius Berland & Millot, 1941, Mexcala torquata Wesołowska, 2009, Neaetha maxima Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2011, Pachyballus miniscutulus Wesołowska, Azarkina & Wiśniewski 2020, Phintella paludosa Wesołowska & Edwards, 2012, Thiratoscirtus gambari Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2011, Tusitala guineensis Berland & Millot, 1941 and Tusitala lutzi Lessert, 1927.
The female of Nothopleurus subsulcatus (Dalman, 1823) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Prioninae: Macrotomini) is described for the first time, and the female of Strongylaspis bullata Bates, 1872 is redescribed. Color photographs of the habitus of both, and key characters for the former are included. New distributional records within Mexico for N. subsulcatus and Strongylaspis championi Bates, 1884 are given.
The actual prevalence and diversity of the elusive Asian ant genus Rhopalomastix Forel, 1900 in Southeast Asia are largely unknown; only two named species were previously known from Thailand. Following substantial newly-collected museum material made available, we used a combined approach based on morphology and complementary DNA evidence to revise the genus in Thailand. Specimens were sorted to putative species by objective clustering of short fragment (313 bp) COI barcodes, after which specimens of each molecular cluster were morphologically examined. With morphology and supporting genetic evidence, we recognize five species of Rhopalomastix in Thailand, including three species new to science: R. impithuksai Wang & Jaitrong sp. nov., R. parva Wang & Jaitrong sp. nov., and R. robusta Wang & Jaitrong sp. nov. Different castes and sexes are described for most species where available. Descriptions of the two extant described species – R. javana Wheeler, 1929 and R. johorensis Wheeler, 1929 – are also revised, taking into account observations from the additional material. A key to Thai species based on the worker caste, with the three new species included, is further provided.