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The koinobiont endoparasitoid genus Triraphis Ruthe, 1855 (Rogadinae Foerster, 1863) is a group of braconid wasps that contains 74 species distributed along the Nearctic, Neotropical, Oriental and Palearctic regions. We amplified a fragment of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) for 19 specimens of Triraphis from the Chamela Biological Station (CBS), a region mainly composed of tropical dry forest near the Pacific coast of Jalisco, Mexico. Based on genetic distances among specimens of Triraphis from the CBS and all COI sequences of BINs assigned to Triraphis and Rogas Nees, 1819 available in the BOLDSYSTEMS database, we identified three clusters in the CBS that correspond with T. bradzlotnicki Sharkey, 2021, T. davidwahli Sharkey, 2021 and T. defectus Valerio, 2015, which were previously described from Costa Rica. Based on morphology, we identified individuals of T. fusciceps Cresson, 1869 and provided COI sequences of this species for the first time. Four genetic clusters of Triraphis correspond to four new species that are described here: T. kardia sp. nov., T. ocellatus sp. nov., T. divergens sp. nov. and T. luzabrilae sp. nov. Since T. bradzlotnicki and T. davidwahli were exclusively described with molecular data (COI), we morphologically described them based on Mexican specimens.
A new species of Bathynellidae is described from Colorado (USA). Hobbsinella gunnisonensis Camacho & Taylor sp. nov. displays a unique combination of morphological characters including seven-segmented antenna lacking medial seta on exopod, antennule slightly longer than antenna, three-segmented mandibular palp, four articles on endopod of thoracopods I to VII and five spines on sympod and three spines on endopod of the uropods. Partial sequences of cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and 18S have been obtained from several specimens of the new species. The mitocondrial and nuclear DNA data complement the traditional morphological taxonomic description support the validity of the new species. Molecular data for the Bathynellidae demonstrate the presence of two highly divergent genetic units, with the new species placed in the genus Hobbsinella. With the description of Hobbsinella gunnisonensis Camacho & Taylor sp. nov. and its molecular characterization, we discovered an interesting distribution of the genus, which occurs in both sides of the Continental Divide (Texas and Colorado) and different habitats.
Paramacrobiotus bengalensis sp. nov. was discovered in a moss sample collected from a tree in West Bengal, India. We describe this new species using detailed morphological and morphometric data obtained from phase contrast microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, along with molecular and phylogenetic data analyses. Due to the presence of a cap-like structure at the distal portion of egg processes, the new species showed the highest similarity with Paramacrobiotus garynahi (Kaczmarek, Michalczyk & Diduszko, 2005), Paramacrobiotus alekseevi (Tumanov, 2005), Paramacrobiotus filipi Dudziak, Stec & Michalczyk, 2020, Paramacrobiotus sagani Daza, Caicedo, Lisi & Quiroga, 2017, Paramacrobiotus vanescens (Pilato, Binda & Catanzaro, 1991) and Paramacrobiotus gadabouti Kayastha, Stec, Mioduchowska & Kaczmarek, 2023. However, it can be differentiated from them by some morphological and morphometric characteristics. The genetic data corroborated our phenotypic outcome further supporting the new species hypothesis.
A new species of brittle star was collected in 2021 by the manned submersible “Fendouzhe” from the central rift zone deep waters, Philippine Sea, at a depth of 7729 m. It is described as Ophiuroglypha fendouzhe sp. nov., and is distinguished from its congeners based on the following features: slender arms, separated dorsal and ventral arm plates, overlapping large disc scales, and distally contiguous radial shields. We provide comprehensive descriptions of the external morphological features, including characteristics of the arm skeleton, and a phylogenetic analysis based on COI sequences. The interspecific genetic distance variation in the genus Ophiuroglypha found in this study was 3.89% to 24.25%. The new species constitutes the deepest known record for the genus Ophiuroglypha.
Based on morphological and molecular data we investigated the species boundaries in the genus Ochraethes Chevrolat, 1860. The species delimitation with cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) data supports some synonymies and highlights the existence of a high phenotypic plasticity in some species. The following species are considered as new junior synonyms: O. virescens (Chevrolat, 1860) syn. nov. of O. brevicornis (Chevrolat, 1860), O. octomaculata Chemsak & Noguera 2001 syn. nov. of Ochraethes cinereolus (Bates, 1892) comb. nov., O. zebratus Bates, 1885 syn. nov. of O. obliquus (Chevrolat, 1860), Trichoxys giesberti Botero, Santos-Silva & Wappes, 2019 syn. nov. of O. sommeri (Chevrolat, 1835), O. clerinus (Bates, 1892) of O. viridiventris (Chevrolat, 1860), O. cristoforii (Chevrolat, 1860) syn. nov. and O. litura Bates, 1885 syn. nov. of O. z-littera (Chevrolat, 1860). Two new species are described from Mexico: Ochraethes confusus sp. nov., and Ochraethes nigroapicalis sp. nov.
The Western Ghats of India is considered one of the richest biodiversity hotspots in the world. Documenting scorpion diversity has always been of paramount importance due to their species richness, ecological role and endemism, which calls for conservation priority. Scorpion diversity of the Western Ghats is probably underestimated given the ancestry of the group, and more field work in the region is very likely to uncover numerous undescribed taxa. Several new Indian species have recently been discovered in the scorpion genus Isometrus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Scorpiones: Buthidae). In this communication, we resurrect I. sankeriensis Tikader & Bastawade, 1983 and describe two new species from the Western Ghats of India, I. nakshatra sp. nov. and I. wayanadensis sp. nov., using an integrative taxonomic approach. In order to replace the lost holotype of I. sankeriensis, we designate a neotype and reassess the identity of this species. This work elevates the number of species of Isometrus found in India to eight and we expect many more scorpion discoveries from India with continued research.
Deep-sea ophiuroids were collected by the manned submersible ‘Shenhaiyongshi’ from the South China Sea at depths of 500–3550 m, in 2017 to 2020. A total of 18 species were identified, including three new species and eight new records, increasing the total number of species known from the South China Sea to 304. Most of the ophiuroids recorded from the South China Sea were found in shallow waters (77.9%) and a few of them occurred only in deep water (20.4%). Three new species are described as Ophiacantha aster sp. nov., Ophiomoeris petalis sp. nov. and Ophiopristis shenhaiyongshii sp. nov. We provide comprehensive descriptions of morphological features, including characteristics of the arm skeletons, and a phylogenetic analysis based on COI and 16S sequences. Overall intraspecific and interspecific genetic distance variations among the families found in this study were 0.5% to 2.47% and 1.16% to 44.16%, respectively, along the South Pacific region to the South China Sea. Our phylogenetic analysis suggested that COI partial genes resolved the interspecies complexity in the class Ophiuroidea better than 16S partial genes. The order Euryalida had low interspecies genetic distance variation within the class Ophiuroidea. The present study suggests a high probability that species of Asteroschema and Gorgonocephalus are more widely spread around the Indo-Pacific region than previously expected.
The ambersnails (Succineidae), found nearly worldwide, are considered a very challenging group to classify and identify with even genus-level identifications requiring dissection. In this study, we use mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers, shell morphometrics, and anatomical dissection to examine fresh material collected from the type localities of two nominal species in Oxyloma (Neoxyloma). We conclude from these evidence that Oxyloma salleanum (L. Pfeiffer, 1850) and Oxyloma effusum (L. Pfeiffer, 1853) are conspecific, and accordingly reduce O. effusum to the status of junior synonymy. We present a redescription of O. salleanum.
We describe a long-unnamed Chaetopterus Cuvier, 1830 species from southern California, using a combination of DNA barcoding and detailed morphological investigation employing highresolution X-ray microtomography (micro-CT). Chaetopterus dewysee sp. nov. is not only one of the most dominant annelids in the benthic communities of the shallow end of the La Jolla submarine canyon, but also a well-established model for studying bioluminescence and has a published transcriptome. The description and naming of this southern Californian Chaetopterus is a step towards the muchneeded revision of the group’s taxonomy and towards resolving the confusion over the 'cosmopolitan' Chaetopterus variopedatus species complex. Micro-CT data showing details of both internal and external anatomy has been made freely available as the first annelid cybertype.
A new genus and species, Richerius marqueti gen. et sp. nov., of a crab of the family Hymenosomatidae MacLeay, 1838 are described from the inland waters of New Caledonia based on several specimens collected in two streams at altitudes of 180 m and 500 m, respectively. Richerius marqueti gen. et sp. nov. was compared to the other freshwater species known in New Caledonia, Odiomaris pilosus (A. Milne-Edwards, 1873), and to species of Amarinus Lucas, 1980, a genus comprising many freshwater species in New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea, but never recorded in New Caledonia. The barcode fragment of the COI mitochondrial gene was sequenced for seven specimens of R. marqueti gen. et sp. nov., and all sequences were deposited in GenBank. A brief and updated review of the New Caledonian marine and freshwater hymenosmatid fauna is provided.
In this study, we examine 500 specimens of Anaplecta collected from China, of which 26 samples were used for COI sequencing. We confirm eight new species, i.e., Anaplecta corneola Deng & Che sp. nov., Anaplecta staminiformis Deng & Che sp. nov., Anaplecta arcuata Deng & Che sp. nov., Anaplecta strigata Deng & Che sp. nov., Anaplecta furcata Deng & Che sp. nov., Anaplecta cruciata Deng & Che sp. nov., Anaplecta nigra Deng & Che sp. nov. and Anaplecta bicolor Deng & Che sp. nov. based on morphological and molecular data using ABGD and GMYC analyses. The results of ABGD and GMYC were basically consistent with the morphospecies of Anaplecta. The intraspecific and interspecific genetic distances of Anaplecta ranged from 0 to 6.6% and 16.8% to 31.8%, respectively. We found the male genitalia of Anaplecta to exhibit intraspecific variation, especially in the phallomeres.
A new genus of Baetidae is described from Southeast Asia, Procerobaetis gen. nov. It has a wide distribution reaching from Indonesia (Sumatra) to the Philippines. Two new species are described from Indonesia, P. leptobranchius gen. et sp. nov. and P. petersorum gen. et sp. nov., and one new species from the Philippines, P. freitagi gen. et sp. nov. Procerobaetis gen. nov. is characterized by having seven pairs of elongate, apically pointed gills. At least gills I and II are very slender with strongly extended points, which is unique in Baetidae. Similar gills were described from Leptophlebiidae. Procerobaetis gen. nov. is further characterized by having long, slender legs with extended, slender and slightly bent claws. The antennae posess remarkable spines at the outer, lateral margin, which are maximally developed on segments IX–XI of the flagellum. No spines are present on the posterior margins of abdominal tergites I–VI. COI sequences were obtained from all three of the new species. The genetic distances (Kimura 2-parameter) between these species are between 13% and 20%. Very limited genetic distances of 0% to 1% were found between specimens of the same species. The occurrence of two different species in the same area of Sumatra is discussed.
Morphological and allozyme analyses suggested the occurrence of a pseudocryptic species in the Lasioglossum villosulum (Kirby, 1802) species complex (Hymenoptera: Halictidae). We analysed the morphology of more than 1500 specimens and the DNA barcode fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) of 102 specimens of this species complex from several Palaearctic countries. Our phylogenetic tree reconstructions, based on maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference revealed one clade corresponding to all specimens morphologically identified as Lasioglossum medinai (Vachal, 1895) and one divergent specimen morphologically identified as Lasioglossum berberum (Benoist, 1941). The other specimens, morphologically identified as L. villosulum, aggregated into at least three other lineages in our phylogenetic trees. The tree-based species delineations methods based on the Generalized Mixed Yule Coalescent (GMYC) model and the Bayesian Poisson Tree Process (bPTP) identified five to ten candidate species within the L. villosulum species complex, with L. medinai and L. berberum consistently recognized as separated from all other candidate species. Diagnostic morphological differences were found among L. medinai, L. berberum and the remaining specimens identified as L. villosulum. No diagnostic morphological differences were found to distinguish the different phylogenetic candidate species or lineages found within L. villosulum and L. medinai. Thus, both genetic and morphological approaches support the existence of L. medinai and L. berberum as distinct species from L. villosulum.
Flesh flies (Sarcophagidae) are necrophagous insects initially colonizing on a corpse. The species-specific developmental data of the flies collected from a death scene can be used to estimate the minimum postmortem interval (PMImin). Thus, the first crucial step is to correctly identify the fly species. Because of the high similarity among species of flesh flies, DNA-based identification is considered more favorable than morphology-based identification. In this study, we demonstrated the effectiveness of combined sequences (2216 to 2218 bp) of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and II genes (COI and COII) for identification of the following 14 forensically important flesh fly species in Thailand: Boettcherisca nathani Lopes, Fengia ostindicae (Senior-White), Harpagophalla kempi (Senior-White), Liopygia ruficornis (Fabricius), Lioproctia pattoni (Senior-White), Lioproctia saprianovae (Pape & Bänziger), Parasarcophaga albiceps (Meigen), Parasarcophaga brevicornis (Ho), Parasarcophaga dux (Thomson), Parasarcophaga misera (Walker), Sarcorohdendorfia antilope (Böttcher), Sarcorohdendorfia inextricata (Walker), Sarcorohdendorfia seniorwhitei (Ho) and Seniorwhitea princeps (Wiedemann). Nucleotide variations of Thai flesh flies were evenly distributed throughout the COI-COII genes. Mean intra- and interspecific variations ranged from 0.00 to 0.96% and 5.22% to 12.31%, respectively. Using Best Match (BM) and Best Close Match (BCM) criteria, identification success for the combined genes was 100%, while the All Species Barcodes (ASB) criterion showed 76.74% success. Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Inference (BI) phylogenetic analyses yielded similar tree topologies of monophyletic clades between species with very strong support values. The achieved sequences covering 14 forensically important flesh fly species including newly submitted sequences for B. nathani, F. ostindicae and S. seniorwhitei, can serve as a reliable reference database for further forensic entomological research in Thailand and in other areas where those species occur.
Polysyncraton Nott, 1892 is the second largest genus of didemnid ascidians; it has a wide distribution ranging from temperate to tropical waters. Seventy-one specimens of Polysyncraton from eight museum collections and recently collected samples were analyzed. This resulted in the description of three new species (P. cabofriense Oliveira & Rocha sp. nov. from Brazil, P. globosum Oliveira & Rocha sp. nov. from Australia and P. snelliusi Oliveira & Rocha sp. nov. from Suriname) and emended descriptions of three further species (P. amethysteum (Van Name, 1902), P. magnilarvum (Millar, 1962) and P. purou C. Monniot & F. Monniot, 1987).
Blow flies are the first insect group to colonize on a dead body and thus correct species identification is a crucial step in forensic investigations for estimating the minimum postmortem interval, as developmental times are species-specific. Due to the difficulty of traditional morphology-based identification such as the morphological similarity of closely related species and uncovered taxonomic keys for all developmental stages, DNA-based identification has been increasing in interest, especially in high biodiversity areas such as Thailand. In this study, the effectiveness of long mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and II (COI and COII) sequences (1247 and 635 bp, respectively) in identifying 16 species of forensically relevant blow flies in Thailand (Chrysomya bezziana, Chrysomya chani, Chrysomya megacephala, Chrysomya nigripes, Chrysomya pinguis, Chrysomya rufifacies, Chrysomya thanomthini, Chrysomya villeneuvi, Lucilia cuprina, Lucilia papuensis, Lucilia porphyrina, Lucilia sinensis, Hemipyrellia ligurriens, Hemipyrellia pulchra, Hypopygiopsis infumata, and Hypopygiopsis tumrasvini) was assessed using distance-based (Kimura two-parameter distances based on Best Match, Best Close Match, and All Species Barcodes criteria) and tree-based (grouping taxa by sequence similarity in the neighbor-joining tree) methods. Analyses of the obtained sequence data demonstrated that COI and COII genes were effective markers for accurate species identification of the Thai blow flies. This study has not only demonstrated the genetic diversity of Thai blow flies, but also provided a reliable DNA reference database for further use in forensic entomology within the country and other regions where these species exist.
Records of Odonata from Gunung Melatai, Nanga Gaat and the Kastima Logging area, all in Sarawak’s Kapit Division, are presented. The most notable records are of Matronoides cyaneipennis Förster, 1897 and Heliogomphus blandulus Lieftinck, 1929. A distribution map for Matronoides cyaneipennis and updated distribution maps for three species from the Coeliccia borneensisgroup are given. Tentative identifications to species of previously published records of Idionyx females are given. The genus Heliogomphus in Borneo, Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore is reviewed and a simple one marker molecular analysis is presented for the genus in this region. Based on reexamination of specimens from the genus and the molecular results, an additional member of the genus is reported from Borneo: H. sp. cf olivaceus Lieftinck, 1961. Although both morphological and molecular results remain incomplete, it does appear likely that there is at least one more species of Heliogomphus present in Borneo than has been recognised until now, and that H. borneensis Lieftinck, 1964 may be a junior synonym of H. kelantanensis (Laidlaw, 1902).
In this paper we describe Macrobiotus canaricus sp. nov., a new tardigrade species of the Macrobiotus hufelandi group from the Canary Islands. Moreover, with the use of DNA sequencing, we confirm that Macrobiotus recens Cuénot, 1932 represents the hufelandi group, even though eggs laid by this species do not exhibit the typical hufelandi group morphology. Our study is based on both classical taxonomic methods that include morphological and morphometric analyses conducted with the use of light and scanning electron microscopy, and on the analysis of nucleotide sequences of four molecular markers (three nuclear: 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, ITS-2, and one mitochondrial: COI). Our analyses revealed that M. canaricus sp. nov. is most similar to Macrobiotus almadai Fontoura et al., 2008 from the Archipelago of the Azores, from which it differs by the absence of granulation patches on the external and internal surfaces of legs I–III as well as by the absence of a cuticular pore in the centre of the external patch on legs I–III. Molecular sequences allowed us to pinpoint the phylogenetic positions of M. canaricus sp. nov. and M. recens within the M. hufelandi group.
Drepanosticta kosterini sp. nov. (holotype ♂, from Gunung Penrissen, Kuching Division, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, deposited in RMNH) is described from both sexes. It is the sister species of D. actaeon Laidlaw, 1934; a fresh description of the male of D. actaeon and the first description of the female are given, along with discussion of variation in this species. Both D. actaeon and D. kosterini are considered to belong to a species group also including D. rufostigma (Selys, 1886) and a preliminary discussion of variation in this species is given, along with illustrations of both sexes. A neighbour joining COI gene tree for D. actaeon and D. kosterini is presented. The relationships of D. actaeon, D. kosterini and D. rufostigma to other members of the Platystictidae are briefly discussed.
The species-rich giant pill-millipedes (Sphaerotheriida) often represent a microendemic component of Madagascar’s mega-invertebrate fauna. Of the chirping genus Sphaeromimus de Saussure & Zehntner, 1902, ten species have been described. Here, we describe two new species of Sphaeromimus integratively, combining light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, DNA barcoding and micro-CT technology for the first time in a taxonomic description of a giant pillmillipede. S. kalambatritra sp. nov. and S. midongy sp. nov. are the first giant pill-millipedes collected and described from the mountainous rainforests of Kalambatritra and Midongy. Both species show island gigantism compared to their congeners. Our analysis of the mitochondrial COI gene shows that the two species are related to one another with a moderate genetic distance (9.4%), while they are more closely related to an undetermined specimen from the forest of Vevembe (6.3% and 8.4%). They stand in a basal position with S. ivohibe Wesener, 2014 and S. musicus (de Saussure & Zehntner, 1897). The four aforementioned species share a high number of stridulation ribs on the male harp. Our micro-CT analysis provides a look into the head of S. kalambatritra sp. nov. and shows that non-destructive CT methods are a useful tool for studying the inner morphology of giant pill-millipedes.
The small conoidean Hemilienardia ocellata is one of the easily recognizable Indo-Pacific “turrids”, primarily because of its remarkable eyespot colour pattern. Morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed four species that share this “characteristic” colour pattern but demonstrate consistent differences in size and shell proportions. Three new species – Hemilienardia acinonyx sp. nov. from the Philippines, H. lynx sp. nov. from Papua New Guinea and H. pardus sp. nov. from the Society and Loyalty Islands – are described based on the results of phylogenetic analyses. Although the H. ocellata species complex clade falls in a monophyletic Hemilienardia, H. ocellata and H. acinonyx sp. nov. possess a radula with semi-enrolled or notably flattened triangular marginal teeth, a condition that diverges substantially from the standard radular morphology of Hemilienardia and other raphitomids.
Three new species of Kynotus from the Central Highlands of Madagascar (Clitellata, Megadrili)
(2017)
The earthworm fauna of Madagascar is scarcely known. A recently launched exploration of the soil fauna (“Global Change and Soil Macrofauna Diversity in Madagascar”) resulted in the discovery of six new earthworm species belonging to the Malagasy endemic family Kynotidae. The success of the collecting campaign carried out between 2008 and 2011 inspired a new exploration of the earthworm fauna across the Central Highland Region of the island in the spring of 2015. During this expedition, two new species of Kynotus, K. ankisiranus sp. nov. and K. voimmanus sp. nov., were discovered. Barcoding of the recently collected species of Kynotus revealed that the unpigmented worms referred previously to K. alaotranus Michaelsen, 1897 also represented a new, still undescribed species, K. blancharti sp. nov.
Numerous specimens of squat lobsters belonging to the families Munididae, Munidopsidae and Eumunididae were collected during several cruises along the eastern coasts of Africa. The study of these specimens revealed the presence of 10 new species (one Eumunida Smith, 1883, eight Munida Leach, 1820 and one Munidopsis Whiteaves, 1874). We describe and illustrate these new species, providing some new data on occurrences and colour patterns for previously described taxa. We have also included molecular data from two mitochondrial markers (16S rRNA and COI) to support the taxonomic status of different species. Some deep-sea species show a clear increase in their geographic range dirstribution. Finally, a key to known species of the genus Munida from the western and central Indian Ocean is also presented.
One of the main challenges to adequately conserve the African fish fauna is to improve our so far unsatisfactory taxonomic knowledge of important portions of the ichthyofauna. In the present study, we attempted to unravel the taxonomic diversity of some species of Enteromius Cope, 1867, a problematic African fish genus, recently collected in the north-eastern part of the Congo basin. We used an integrative approach, combining DNA barcodes and morphological analyses. For one of the species complexes found, the E. miolepis/eutaenia species complex, we evaluated taxonomic diversity over a larger geographic scale within the Congo drainage system. Although initial literature-based species identifications allowed us to assign all examined specimens to four tentative species, DNA barcodes indicated the presence of 23 distinct mitochondrial lineages. The majority of these lineages appeared endemic to particular rivers, and in most rivers multiple lineages occur in sympatry. Subsequent exploratory morphometric analyses indicated that almost all these lineages are morphologically distinguishable and that they may therefore represent undescribed species. As only a part of the Congo basin and a subset of the species diversity within Enteromius were examined, it appears that the species richness of Enteromius in the Congo basin is severely underestimated.
A new species belonging to the crustacean class Remipedia is described from an anchialine cave system on the island of Cozumel (Mexico), and is illustrated and compared morphologically and molecularly (CO1 and 16S) with closely related taxa. Xibalbanus cozumelensis sp. nov., the first remipede described from Cozumel, is morphologically similar to Xibalbanus tulumensis (Yager, 1987) from the Yucatán Peninsula, but the two species are genetically separate from each other (about 10% in CO1). A phylogenetic (Bayesian) analysis of Yucatán remipede populations based on CO1 and 16S placed them in a monophyletic Xibalbanus (in Xibalbanidae fam. nov.), with X. cozumelensis as most closely related to X. tulumensis. The Yucatán Peninsula and Cozumel have been separate since approx. early Cenozoic (~65 Ma), which suggests allopatric speciation for X. cozumelensis sp. nov. and X. tulumensis. However, the comparatively low genetic divergence between the two species may indicate that there has been gene flow between ‘mainland’ Yucatán and Cozumel long after the geological separation of the two landmasses, e.g., in cave systems under the sea bed, either continuously or sporadically, for example during the Last Glacial Maximum when the sea level was about 120 m lower than today.
Several recent studies have detected and described complexes of cryptic and sibling species in the genus Merodon (Diptera, Syrphidae). One representative of these complexes is the Merodon avidus complex that contains four sibling species, which have proven difficult to distinguish using traditional morphological characters. In the present study, we use two geometric morphometric approaches, as well as molecular characters of the 5’-end of the mtDNA COI gene, to delimit sibling taxa. Analyses based on these data were used to strengthen species boundaries within the complex, and to validate the status of a previously-recognized cryptic taxon from Lesvos Island (Greece), here described as Merodon megavidus Vujić & Radenković sp. nov. Geometric morphometric results of both wing and surstylus shape confirm the present classification for three sibling species-M. avidus (Rossi, 1790), M. moenium Wiedemann in Meigen, 1822 and M. ibericus Vujić, 2015-and, importantly, clearly discriminate the newly-described taxon Merodon megavidus sp. nov. In addition to our geometric morphometric results, supporting characters were obtained from molecular analyses of mtDNA COI sequences, which clearly differentiated M. megavidus sp. nov. from the other members of the M. avidus complex. Molecular analyses revealed that the earliest divergence of M. ibericus occurred around 800 ky BP, while the most recent separation happened between M. avidus and M. moenium around 87 ky BP.
Neben biogeographischen werden morphologische Argumente zusammengetragen, die für eine Synonymisierung der Arten Acalles parvulus Boheman, 1837 = Acalles temperei Péricart, 1987 sprechen. Entlang eines Transekts zwischen dem Mont Pilat (Dep. Loire) und dem Mont Saint-Martin nördlich von Grenoble (Dep. Isère) wird über den Vergleich der Aedoeagi eine Cline sichtbar, die am Artstatus von Acalles temperei zweifeln lässt. Bestätigung finden diese vergleichenden, phänotypischen Untersuchungen durch erste molekulargenetische Untersuchungen. Danach scheint entweder eine Hybridisierungszone wahrscheinlich oder der Verdacht liegt nahe, dass Acalles parvulus und Acalles temperei eine einzige, geographisch strukturierte Art darstellen. Völlig anders liegen die molekularbiologischen Ergebnisse bei Kyklioacalles roboris (Curtis, 1834) und der erst kürzlich resynonymisierten Art Kyklioacalles navieresi (Boheman, 1837): Die DNA-Sequenzanalysen der mitochondrialen CO1- und 16S-Gene sowie des nukleären 28S-Gens zeigen, dass Kyklioacalles navieresi und Kyklioacalles roboris zwei eigenständige, wenn auch eng verwandte Arten darstellen.