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Two new species of shrubs in the genus Lasianthus Jack (Rubiaceae), L. naikii V.S.Dang & Vuong sp. nov. and L. sonlangensis V.S.Dang, Vuong & Quan sp. nov. from Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve of Gia Lai Province in southern Vietnam, are described and illustrated. The similarities and differences of two new species with the morphologically closest allies are presented. Descriptions, illustrations, colour plates and vernacular names are provided.
In the present paper, we have made a taxonomic revision of the previously monotypic genus Troglostygnopsis Šilhavý, 1974. Based on the revision of diverse material, the genus is rediagnosed and the type species, Troglostygnopsis anophthalma Šilhavý, 1974 is redescribed. The new species Troglostygnopsis kalebi sp. nov. is described from specimens collected in a cave in Chiapas, Mexico, and this species is compared with T. anophthalma. A final discussion on some troglobitic genera of Stygnopsidae is addressed.
The marine annelid family Sigalionidae is little known in the Grand Caribbean Region; there are few records of these worms in the area, and some of the recorded species have uncertain taxonomic status. In this contribution, the subfamily Pelogeniinae was addressed through a faunistic study, aiming to improve the knowledge of Sigalionidae in the region. In order to do this, material deposited in the three following institutions was examined: University of Miami Deep Sea Expeditions; Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville; and El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Chetumal. Eleven species are recognized, including six newly described: Dayipsammolyce paulayi sp. nov., Hartmanipsammolyce pettiboneae sp. nov., Neopsammolyce fragilis sp. nov., Pelogenia brevipalpata sp. nov., P. capitata sp. nov. and P. salazarvallejoi sp. nov. Four other species are confirmed for this region: N. floccifera (Augener, 1906), P. hartmanae Pettibone, 1997, P. kinbergi (Hansen, 1882) and Psammolyce flava Kinberg, 1856; and one is indeterminate: N. aff. floccifera. A standardized terminology of neurochaetae is proposed, along with notes on the notochaetal morphology and elytral structures. For all genera covered in this study, identification keys are also provided.
Seven new species of very small Gulella Pfeiffer, 1856 are described from two regions in the interior of south-eastern South Africa within the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany biodiversity hotspot. In addition, the status of Gulella darglensis benthodon van Bruggen, 1980 is revised and raised to species level. All species are very small-shelled and are narrow-range endemics. Six species, G. judithmastersae sp. nov., G. kevincolei sp. nov., G. hlathikhulu sp. nov., G. nkandla sp. nov., G. mystica sp. nov. and G. libertas sp. nov. are each known from only one locality. The first two as well as G. benthodon and G. mcmasteri sp. nov. are found only in the Amathole Mountains, where poaching, illegal harvesting of plant products and uncontrolled access of cattle take place, including in protected areas. The other four species each occur at one locality in north-central KwaZulu-Natal. The localities of three of the last-mentioned species are in protected areas although they are isolated and surrounded by a heavily transformed cultural landscape rendering enforcement of conservation legislation a challenge. Six species occur in nature reserves, highlighting the importance of small pockets of protected habitat for the conservation of terrestrial snails.
Eight new species of Gulella Pfeiffer, 1856 are described from south-eastern South Africa, occurring over a linear distance of 550 km within the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany biodiversity hotspot. Seven species are narrow-range endemics, while Gulella kenbrowni sp. nov. occurs somewhat patchily over most of this distance. The very similar G. fordycei sp. nov. is recorded from only one small nature reserve in medium-altitude mistbelt forest. Six species, G. crookesi sp. nov., G. maraisi sp. nov., G. mkombeni sp. nov., G. abbotti sp. nov., G. donaikeni sp. nov. and G. calcicola sp. nov. each occur at one or a few isolated localities along a narrow strip of 140 km at or near the coast. The latter two are found only in the Marble Delta region, where mining has badly degraded and continues to threaten their habitat, and appear to meet the criteria for Red-Listing as Critically Endangered. Six species occur in nature reserves, highlighting the importance of small pockets of protected habitat for the conservation of terrestrial snails.
Commonly reported as a household pest throughout the northern hemisphere, Willowsia nigromaculata (Lubbock) is among the most abundant and widely distributed springtails. However, taxonomic uncertainty due to incomplete morphological descriptions based on specimens from different continents may lead to incorrect identifications and/or prevent the recognition of distinct lineages within this morphospecies. Here, we perform the first comprehensive morphological and genetic comparison between W. nigromaculata specimens collected from North America and Europe. Morphological and genetic evidence reveals that populations in the United States and France represent two distinct nigromaculata-like species, but a phylogenetic analysis indicates both species may also be present in Canada. Based on these results, we redescribe W. nigromaculata from France, provide a description for Willowsia neonigromaculata sp. nov. from the United States, and propose new diagnostic characters for their separation, including the number of inner appendages on the maxillary sublobal plate. We also highlight the need for morphological and molecular investigations of additional populations to better understand the diversity and distribution of W. nigromaculata and related species.
Based on morphological and molecular evidence, two new species of Silene are recognized and described here, S. penduliflora F.Jafari, Keshavarzi & Doostm. sp. nov. and S. thyrsiantha F.Jafari, Mirtadz. & Keshavarzi sp. nov. The newly discovered species are distributed in the central and southeastern parts of Iran, growing in rocky habitats. Relationships among these species and their close relatives are demonstrated using nrDNA ITS and cpDNA rps16 phylogenies. Silene ghahremaninejadii, S. parrowiana, and S. shahrudensis form a clade with these new species. A key to S. penduliflora and S. thyrsiantha and their close relatives is provided.
Diversity and distribution of intertidal Microporella (Bryozoa: Cheilostomatida) from California
(2024)
Seven species of the cheilostome bryozoan genus Microporella were identified across 15 rocky intertidal sites spanning 940 km of the California coast, from Mill Creek in the Montereyan Pacific Transition Region north to Point Saint George in the Mendocinian Region. Colonies of Microporella were found encrusting boulders and mollusc shells. Among these species, three are new to science, namely Microporella dentata Chowdhury & Di Martino sp. nov., M. pauciperforata Chowdhury & Di Martino sp. nov. and M. rota Chowdhury & Di Martino sp. nov. Three other species, M. californica, M. setiformis, and M. umbonata have previously been recorded from other localities in California. Finally, Microporella neocribroides, originally described from off Kodiak Island, Alaska, and subsequently found in Hokkaido, Japan, was recorded in California for the first time. An additional new species, M. similis Chowdhury & Di Martino sp. nov., was identified through the re-examination of museum material previously attributed to M. cribrosa and M. californica. These newly acquired data allowed for a more comprehensive examination of the distribution of species, intraspecific variability, and potential predator-induced teratologies in certain species, thanks to the availability of numerous colonies from various sites and the re-examination of museum records. Altogether, this study increases the known Recent diversity of Microporella in California’s waters to a total of 18 species.
The enigmatic millipede assassin bug genus Xenorhyncocoris Miller, 1938 is revised. Previously known species, X. caraboides Miller, 1938, X. princeps Miller, 1949 and X. schoenitzeri Putshkov & Bérenger, 1999, are diagnosed and photographed. A new species, X. attractivus sp. nov., is described based on male and female specimens from northeastern Borneo. The male of Xenorhyncocoris is reported for the first time, revealing the extreme sexual dimorphism present in the genus. The diagnosis of Xenorhyncocoris is extended in order to make it applicable to the new discovery, and a female-based key to species of the genus is updated. Relationships among Xenorhyncocoris and Vilius Stål, 1863, Neozirta Distant, 1919 and Schottus Distant, 1902 are briefly discussed.
This paper deals with the brachypterous Meconematini, including three new genera, Acosmetides gen. nov., Neocyrtopsides gen. nov. and Macrocosmetura gen. nov. Five new species are described: Acosmetides peltates gen. et sp. nov., Acosmetides dilobosa gen. et sp. nov., Acosmetides platycerca gen. et sp. nov., Neocyrtopsides bispina gen. et sp. nov. and Macrocosmetura truncata gen. et sp. nov. Two new combinations are proposed: Acosmetides trigentis (Wang, Bian & Shi, 2016) gen. et comb. nov. and Neocyrtopsides platycata (Shi & Zheng, 1994) gen. et comb. nov.
Four new species of the braconid wasp genus Hecabolus Curtis, 1834 (Doryctinae Foerster, 1863) are described for the Neotropical region in south and southwestern Brazil: H. acutus sp. nov., H. chrisaxeli sp. nov., H. gavinbroadi sp. nov., and H. transversalis sp. nov. We also report the morphological variation of females and males of H. mexicanus Zaldívar-Riverón & Belokobylskij, 2009, originally described based on a single female, and provide its first precise geographical distribution records. An updated key to the 13 described species of Hecabolus is provided.
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.
The nine genera of Malagasy spittlebug are revised, with the addition of new characters, facilitating the identification of the species. Nesaulax Jacobi, 1917, is synonymized with Amberana Distant, 1908, leading to a new combination for Amberana vittipennis (Bergroth, 1894). A new endemic genus Soulierana Bucher & Bouteille gen. nov. is proposed for two species originally placed in Literna Stål, 1866, based on morphological characters of the head, tegmina and male genitalia. Also, three new species are described in this genus: Soulierana bigidea Bucher gen. et sp. nov., Soulierana claudinae Bouteille gen. et sp. nov. and Soulierana kelymena Le Cesne gen. et sp. nov. Pictures of species and drawings of the male genitalia for all genera, with the exception of Rhinaulax Amyot & Serville, 1843, Alluaudensia Lallemand, 1920 and Literna, are included. An identification key is available in both a dichotomous format and an interactive format (Xper3).
In this paper, three new spider species are described from the Greek Aegean island Lesbos: Tegenaria maelfaiti sp. nov. (Agelenidae), Amaurobius lesbius sp. nov. (Amaurobiidae) and Agroeca parva sp. nov. (Liocranidae), as well as the unknown male of Arabelia pheidoleicomes Bosselaers, 2009 (Corinnidae). Diagnostic features and notes on ecology and distribution of these species are given. Two new records for the island are provided, such that currently 300 spider species are known from Lesbos.
Handaoia Seyrig, 1952 is a small genus of Phygadeuontinae currently represented by eleven described species from Madagascar, Tanzania and Europe, and can be recognized by the combination of the distally expanded and ventrally flattened antennal flagellum, complete posterior transverse carina of the mesosternum, isolated ‘pit’ (episternal scrobe) in the mesopleuron, and a single bulla in fore wing vein 2m-cu. Most species have a distinctive combined area basalis and area superomedia on the propodeum. The following six new species from Central and South America are described and illustrated: H. cuscoensis Bordera sp. nov. from Peru, H. fritzi sp. nov. from Brazil, H. mercedensis Bordera sp. nov. from Peru, H. plaumanni sp. nov. from Brazil, H. ruizcancinoi Bordera sp. nov. from Mexico, and H. urceus sp. nov. from Brazil. A key to the New World species is provided.
In this paper a new tardigrade species, Macrobiotus azzunae sp. nov., from Tunisia, is described. An integrative taxonomic approach was applied by combining morphological, morphometric and molecular data. In particular, light and scanning electron microscopy observations, and four genetic markers, three nuclear (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and ITS-2) and one mitochondrial (COI) were used. The analysis showed that M. azzunae sp. nov. belongs to the Macrobiotus hufelandi group and is most similar to Macrobiotus sandrae Bertolani & Rebecchi, 1993. It differs from M. sandrae by a more pronounced constriction of the first macroplacoid (hardly visible in M. sandrae) and for the eggshell shape, with thinner wires of the reticulum and meshes around the processes larger than the inter-process meshes in M. azzunae sp. nov., while all meshes are similar in size in M. sandrae. The species is gonochoristic. With this discovery, there are 33 species of tardigrades identified in Tunisia, all non-marine. This result, compared with nearby Sicily, where more research has been conducted, indicates that there is a considerable potential for identification of new species. Further research will be most informative if multiple habitats are explored and if carried out with an integrated approach as done in this present work.
Yemen is provided for the first time. The following genera are recorded in the southern Arabian Peninsula for the first time: tribe Doryctini – Hemispathius Belokobylskij & Quicke, 2000 and Doryctes Haliday, 1836; tribe Spathiini – Parana Nixon, 1941 and Spathius Nees, 1819; tribe Hecabolini – Hemidoryctes Belokobylskij, 1992 and Parallorhogas Marsh, 1993; tribe Heterospilini – Heterospilus Haliday 1936; tribe Rhaconotini – Platyspathius Viereck, 1911 and Rhaconotinus Hedqvist, 1965. Sixteen species and one subspecies are described as new for science: Dendrosotinus (Gildoria) maculipennis Belokobylskij sp. nov., D. (G.) subelongatus Belokobylskij sp. nov., Doryctes (Neodoryctes) arrujumi Belokobylskij sp. nov., Parana arabica Belokobylskij sp. nov., Spathius alkadanus Belokobylskij sp. nov., S. austroarabicus Belokobylskij sp. nov., S. lahji Belokobylskij sp. nov., S. subafricanus Belokobylskij sp. nov., Hecabalodes maculatus Belokobylskij sp. nov., Platyspathius (Platyspathius) longicaudis Belokobylskij sp. nov., P. (P.) brevis Belokobylskij sp. nov., Rhaconotinus albosetosus Belokobylskij sp. nov., Rhaconotus brevicellularis Belokobylskij sp. nov., Rh. magniareolus Belokobylskij sp. nov., Rh. microexcavatus Belokobylskij sp. nov., Rh. vanharteni Belokobylskij sp. nov. and Hemidoryctes carbonarius postfurcalis Belokobylskij subsp. nov. Two new generic combinations are proposed: Hemispathius pilosus (Granger, 1949) comb. nov. (transferred from Doryctes) and Parallorhogas testaceus (Szépligeti, 1914) comb. nov. (transferred from Opius). Rhaconotus decaryi Granger, 1949 is here synonymised with Rh. menippus Nixon, 1939 (syn. nov.). A lectotype for Doryctes pilosus Granger, 1949 is designated. The following species are recorded for the UAE and/or Yemen for the first time: Dendrosotinus ferrugineus (Marshall, 1888), Hemispathius pilosus (Granger, 1949), Mimodoryctes proprius Belokobylskij, 2001, M. arabicus Edmardash, Gadallah & Soliman, 2020, Spathius nixoni Belokobylskij & Maetô, 2009, Hecabalodes anthaxiae Wilkinson, 1929, H. radialis Tobias, 1962, H. xylophagi Fischer, 1962, Parallorhogas testaceus (Szépligeti, 1914), Heterospilus (Eoheterospilus) rubrocinctus (Ashmead, 1905), Rhaconotinus menippus (Nixon, 1939), Rhaconotus arabicus Belokobylskij, 2001, Rh. manolus Nixon, 1941, Rh. scirpophagae Wilkinson, 1927 and Rh. sudanensis Wilkinson, 1927.
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.
Remipedia is a stygobitic group commonly associated with coastal anchialine caves. This class consists of 12 genera, ten of which are found within the Lucayan Archipelago. Herein, we describe a new species within the genus Godzillius from Conch Sound Blue Hole, North Andros Island, Bahamas. Godzillius louriei sp. nov. is the third known remipede observed from a subseafloor marine cave, and the first from the Godzilliidae. Remipedes dwell within notoriously difficult to access cave habitats and thus integrative and comprehensive systematic studies at family or genus level are often absent in the literature. In this study, all species of Godzillius are compared using morphological and molecular approaches. Specifically, the feeding appendages of G. louriei sp. nov., G. fuchsi Gonzalez, Singpiel & Schlagner, 2013 and G. robustus Schram, Yager & Emerson, 1986 were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Species of Godzillius are identified based on the spines of maxilla 1 segment 4 and by the denticles on the lacinia mobilis of the left mandible. A molecular phylogeny using the mitochondrial 16S rRNA and nuclear histone 3 genes recovered G. louriei sp. nov. within the Godzillius clade and 16S genetic distances revealed a 13–15% difference between species of Godzillius.
A new monospecific genus belonging to the family Linyphiidae Blackwell, 1859, Nihonella gen. nov., is described using an integrative taxonomic approach based on the species N. chika gen. et sp. nov. The new genus is endemic to Western Honshu, Japan, and it shows distinctive genitalic and somatic characters of other genera of the subfamily Erigoninae Emerton, 1882. Nihonella gen. nov. is found only in the twilight and transition zones of caves in Okayama and Nara Prefectures. The phylogenetic position of Nihonella gen. nov. within the subfamily Erigoninae, and its relationship as a sister clade of the species of the group of Savignia Blackwell, 1833 (sensu Millidge 1977), is discussed on the basis of both, morphological and molecular evidence.
Three new species of herb gall wasps (Cynipidae: Aulacideini and Phanacidini) are described from Turkey. Aulacidea turguti sp. nov. induces galls on Hieracium patentissimum Freyn & Sint. ex Freyn, 1895 (Asteraceae) and was collected in Gümüşhane province, Phanacis ciceki sp. nov. and Phanacis urhani sp. nov. were collected in Gümüşhane and Ordu Provinces, the former inducing galls on Picris sp. and the latter on Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten., 1835–36 (Asteraceae). SEM images, gall photos, distribution, biology, and diagnostic morphological characteristics of the three new species are provided.
The genus Tekellina Levi, 1957 is currently composed of ten species, six of which are Neotropical. They are small-sized spiders (0.9 to 1.5 mm), with a wide distribution, with a great diversity in the Neotropical Region and well represented in Brazil. In this article, males and females of the species Tekellina bella Marques & Buckup, 1993 and T. crica Marques & Buckup, 1993 are redescribed and illustrated. The female of Tekellina minor Marques & Buckup, 1993 is described and illustrated for the first time. New records are included for Neotropical species. Tekellina guaiba Marques & Buckup, 1993 is synonymized with T. pretiosa Marques & Buckup, 1993. Three new species are described for Brazil: Tekellina picurrucha Rodrigues & Estol sp. nov. (São Paulo, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul), Tekellina miuda Rodrigues & Estol sp. nov. (São Paulo and Paraná) and Tekellina miudinha Rodrigues & Estol sp. nov. (São Paulo). Distribution maps with new records and an identification key of the Neotropical species are also presented.
An annotated list of twenty species of rarely collected and little known bees of the genus Sphecodes Latreille, 1804 (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Halictidae) from the Himalayas is given. Sphecodes bluethgeni sp. nov. is described from Bhutan. Three species are newly recorded from the Himalayas: S. binghami Blüthgen, 1924, S. kershawi Perkins, 1921 and S. laticeps Meyer, 1920. Based on type specimens, new synonymies have been proposed for Sphecodes cameronii (Bingham, 1897) = S. armeniacus Warncke, 1992 syn. nov.; S. gibbus (Linnaeus, 1758) = S. indicus Bingham, 1898 syn. nov.; and S. invidus (Cameron, 1897) = S. nigrobasalis Meyer, 1922 syn. nov. A lectotype is designated for Sphecodes sikkimensis Blüthgen, 1927. Illustrated keys to males and females of all species known from the Himalayas and an updated checklist of the 26 Himalayan species of Sphecodes are provided. Additionally, one new species from neighboring Uttar Pradesh (India), Sphecodes uttaricus sp. nov., is here described as new and included due to its close relationship to the Himalayan S. sikkimensis Blüthgen, 1927.
Two new species, Habrocestum sahyadri sp. nov., and Irura shendurney sp. nov. are described from the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala. The unknown female of Habrocestum kerala Asima, Caleb, Babu #38; Prasad, 2022 is described and three other species: Gelotia lanka Wijesinghe, 1991, Phintella accentifera (Simon, 1901) and Vailimia jharbari Basumatary, Caleb #38; Das, 2020 are recorded from the locality. Detailed descriptions, diagnosis and illustrations of the species are provided.
The following four species new to science are described: Platygaster azarbaijanica Buhl & Asadi sp. nov., Platygaster lotfalizadehi Buhl & Asadi sp. nov., Platygaster karimpouri Asadi & Buhl sp. nov. and Synopeas calecai Buhl & Asadi sp. nov. Diagnostic characters are discussed, and figures are provided to distinguish the new species. In addition, ten species of Platygastrinae Howard, 1892 belonging to the genera Platygaster Latreille, 1809, Synopeas Förster, 1856 and Leptacis Förster, 1856 are reported as new records for the fauna of Iran. Four species of Platygaster and one species of Synopeas are recorded as ʻconferʼ.
This is a first inventory of Isopoda Anthuroidea from near-shore marine sites in Sulawesi. The material was collected from reefs, sea-grass beds and mangroves of the Minahasa Peninsula in North Sulawesi. Specimens were washed out from benthos samples collected in shallow water. The new species Hyssura reptans sp. nov., Kupellonura indonesica sp. nov., Kupellonura macaroni sp. nov., Pendanthura bangkaensis sp. nov., Expanathura marcoi sp. nov., and Colanthura gerungi sp. nov. are described. We discovered that in Colanthura the mandible is fused to the cephalothorax, a unique feature among isopods. Expanathura collaris (Kensley, 1979) is described from Bangka Island and several differences between other Indo-Pacific populations are discussed.
The pseudoscorpion (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones) fauna of mainland Ecuador, excluding the Galápagos Islands, is poorly known, with only 41 described species in 9 families. The family Syarinidae has a pantropical distribution and presently comprises ca 120 species in 17 valid genera that are found in leaf litter and subterranean habitats, mostly in tropical and subtropical climates. Four syarinid species have been recorded from Ecuador, including the Galápagos, in two widespread genera, Ideobisium and Ideoblothrus, but field collections suggest that these pseudoscorpions are common and abundant in all forest systems across the country. Here, we review field collections of syarinids from mainland Ecuador and describe five new species in these genera: Ideobisium kichwa sp. nov. (Napo Province, Colonso Chalupas Natural Reserve), I. sonqo sp. nov. (Napo Province, Colonso Chalupas Natural Reserve), I. susanae sp. nov. (Napo Province, Jatun Sacha Natural Reserve), Ideoblothrus nadineae sp. nov. (Napo Province, Colonso Chalupas Natural Reserve) and I. safinai sp. nov. (Pichincha Province, Otongachi Natural Reserve) based on morphology. These species seem to have narrow distributions and we therefore restrict the ranges of two species previously recorded from Ecuador (Ideobisium crassimanum Balzan, 1892 and Ideoblothrus costaricensis (Beier, 1931)) to their countries of origin, which is Costa Rica and Venezuela, respectively.
The ant genus Vollenhovia Mayr, 1865 (Myrmicinae, Crematogastrini) mostly occurs in the Australasian and Oriental regions. We revised its diversity in India and Sri Lanka based on qualitative and quantitative morphology, recognizing eleven taxa, including a new species which is described herewith: V. escherichi Forel, 1911, V. gastropunctata Bharti & Kumar, 2013, V. karimalaensis Dhadwal et al., 2023, V. keralensis Kripakaran & Sadasivan, 2022, V. mawrapensis Dhadwal et al., 2023, V. oblonga laevithorax Emery, 1889, V. penetrans (Smith, 1857), V. pfeifferi Bharti et al., 2023, V. taylori Rilta et al., 2023, V. terayamai Rilta et al., 2023, and V. yasmeenae sp. nov. The subspecies status of V. oblonga laevithorax and its relationship with V. penetrans, whose type series does not contain workers, still requires to be assessed in the context of a broader revision including the whole Oriental region. The known distribution of the genus in the Indian subcontinent appears to be fragmentary, still requiring extensive sampling efforts. Four species are from the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot in the southern Indian state of Kerala, one is endemic to the biogeographically related Sri Lanka, three are known from Eastern India near the border with Bangladesh, two are reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and one is restricted to the Himachal Pradesh in northern India. A comprehensive key of the known Vollenhovia species from India and Sri Lanka is provided.
Here, I describe four new species of the Neoserica vulpes species group: Neoserica daxue sp. nov., N. mianningana sp. nov., N. myanmarensis sp. nov., and N. yanyuan sp. nov. Genitalia and habitus of the new species are illustrated. Additional records of species from the group are given and the key to species of the Neoserica vulpes species group is updated.
Pholetesor acrocercophagus sp. nov., P. camerariae sp. nov. and P. indicus sp. nov.(Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae) are described as new to science. These three species were reared from Acrocercops sp., Acrocercops phaeospora Meyrick, 1916 and Cameraria virgulata Meyrick, 1914 (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), respectively. Characteristics of these new species and their affinities with related taxa are discussed. Data on habitat, host records and host plant species for all the parasitoid species is provided. A key to the Indian species of the genus Pholetesor Mason, 1981 reared from lepidopteran leafminers is also given.