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First records of Elachistinae are given from Thailand. Ten species of Elachistinae are reported, eight of which are described as new: Urodeta longa Sruoga & Kaila sp. nov., Elachista buszkoi Sruoga & Kaila sp. nov., E. oryx Sruoga & Kaila sp. nov., E. pellineni Sruoga & Kaila sp. nov., E. capricornis Sruoga & Kaila sp. nov., E. phichaiensis Sruoga & Kaila sp. nov., E. loeiensis Sruoga & Kaila sp. nov. and E. siamensis Sruoga & Kaila sp. nov. The new species are diagnosed and illustrated with photographs of the adults and genitalia. One species remains unidentified to species level.
The world species of Netomocera Bouček, 1954 (Hymenoptera Linnaeus, 1758: Pteromalidae Dalman, 1820), excluding those from the Oriental region, are revised. The Oriental species are excluded because their types could not be examined, the species limits could not be reliably assessed based on original descriptions and available Oriental material was scarce. Eighteen species, including 11 species described as new, are recognized: N. africana Hedqvist, 1971; N. alboscapus Hedqvist, 1971; N. amethysta sp. nov.; N. celebensis sp. nov.; N. cyanocephala sp. nov.; N. desaegeri sp. nov.; N. formiciformis sp. nov.; N. gloriosa sp. nov.; N. irregularis sp. nov.; N. masneri sp. nov.; N. merida sp. nov.; N. meridionalis sp. nov.; N. nearctica Yoshimoto, 1977; N. ramakrishnai Sureshan, 2010; N. rufa Hedqvist, 1971; N. sedlaceki Bouček, 1988; N. setifera Bouček, 1954; N. virgata sp. nov. The female brachypterous form of N. nearctica and the male of N. alboscapus are described for the first time. A key to both sexes is provided, as well as diagnoses, descriptions and illustrations for all treated species. The genus is reported for the first time in the Neotropical region. For several species, new distributional records are also given.
New species and records of Sericini from the Indian subcontinent (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) II
(2019)
The current paper presents new locality records, including first state records for Mizoram and Nagaland, of 50 species of Sericini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) from the Indian subcontinent. Nine new species are described herein: Maladera naveeni sp. nov., M. sujitrae sp. nov., M. thirthahalliensis sp. nov., M. viraktamathi sp. nov., Neoserica (s. lat.) reuteri sp. nov., Oxyserica goertzae sp. nov., Selaserica hosanagarana sp. nov., Serica (s. str.) eberlei sp. nov. and S. (s. str.) tashigaonensis sp. nov.
Thirty-six species of various thecate hydroids occur in two recent, deep-water collections from off New Caledonia. Of these, nine are new, namely Solenoscyphus subtilis Galea, sp. nov., Hincksella immersa Galea, sp. nov., Synthecium rectangulatum Galea, sp. nov., Diphasia alternata Galea, sp. nov., Dynamena opposita Galea, sp. nov., Hydrallmania clavaformis Galea, sp. nov., Symplectoscyphus acutustriatus Galea, sp. nov., Symplectoscyphus elongatulus Galea, sp. nov. and Zygophylax niger Galea, sp. nov. The male and female gonothecae of Caledoniana decussata Galea, 2015, the female gonothecae of Caledoniana microgona Galea, 2015, as well as the gonothecae of both sexes of Solenoscyphus striatus Galea, 2015 are described for the first time. The systematic position of the genera Solenoscyphus Galea, 2015 and Caledoniana Galea, 2015 is discussed on both morphological and molecular grounds, and both are confidently placed within the family Staurothecidae Maronna et al., 2016. In light of the molecular data, the genera Billardia Totton, 1930 and Dictyocladium Allman, 1888 are assigned to the families Syntheciidae Marktanner-Turneretscher, 1890 and Symplectoscyphidae Maronna et al., 2016, respectively. The previously undescribed gonothecae of Hincksella neocaledonica Galea, 2015, and the male gonothecae of Sertularella tronconica Galea, 2016, were found. Thyroscyphus scorpioides Vervoort, 1993, a peculiar hydroid with putative stem nematothecae, is redescribed and assigned to the new genus Tuberocaulus Galea, gen. nov. Noteworthy new records from the study area are: Tasmanaria edentula (Bale, 1924), Hincksella sibogae Billard, 1918, Dictyocladium reticulatum (Kirchenpauer, 1884), Salacia sinuosa (Bale, 1888) and Billardia hyalina Vervoort & Watson, 2003. Most species are illustrated to facilitate their identification, and the morphology of the new ones is compared to that of their related congeners.
The Afrotropical (including Malagasy Subregion) species of the genus Asobara Foerster, 1863, are revised. In addition to the redescribed 15 known species, 25 new species are described and illustrated, viz., Asobara abyssiniensis Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. caboverdensis van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. carinata Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. cracentis van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. elongitarsis van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. fletcheri Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. harrinsmithensis Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. kawandensis Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. kibalensis van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. laticlypeata van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. mediana van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. mellicephalata van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. natalensis Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. notleyi Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. robusta van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. sarae Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. somersetensis Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. stubbsi Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. taylori Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. vanalpheni van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. vanharteni van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. victoriana Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. zaprionae van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. zimbabwana Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. zululana Peris-Felipo, sp. nov. Moreover, the following new combination is suggested: Asobara pulchricornis (Szépligeti, 1911) comb. nov. A key to all Afrotropical (including Malagasy) species is provided for the first time.
The Swedish species of Ophion Fabricius, 1798 are revised. More than 4800 specimens and relevant type material were studied; 234 sampled specimens produced COI sequences. The study recognises 41 species, 18 of which are described as new to science, mainly from Fennoscandian material: Ophion angularis Johansson & Cederberg sp. nov., Ophion arenarius Johansson sp. nov., Ophion autumnalis Johansson sp. nov., Ophion borealis Johansson sp. nov., Ophion broadi Johansson sp. nov., Ophion brocki Johansson sp. nov., Ophion confusus Johansson sp. nov., Ophion ellenae Johansson sp. nov., Ophion inclinans Johansson sp. nov., Ophion kallanderi Johansson sp. nov., Ophion matti Johansson sp. nov., Ophion norei Johansson sp. nov., Ophion paraparvulus Johansson sp. nov., Ophion paukkuneni Johansson sp. nov., Ophion splendens Johansson sp. nov., Ophion sylvestris Johansson sp. nov., Ophion tenuicornis Johansson sp. nov. and Ophion vardali Johansson sp. nov. Barcoding analysis also indicated the possible presence of at least three additional, partly cryptic species, but these cannot be separated morphologically with certainty at this point. Ophion costatus Ratzeburg, 1848 and Ophion artemisiae Boie, 1855 are interpreted and defined. Ophion slaviceki Kriechbaumer, 1892 is excluded from synonymy with Ophion luteus Linnaeus, 1758 stat. rev. Ophion polyguttator (Thunberg, 1824) stat. rev. and Ophion variegatus Rudow, 1883 stat. rev. are excluded from synonymy with O. obscuratus Fabricius, 1798. Ophion variegatus is redescribed and a neotype is designated. Ophion albistylus Szépligeti, 1905 (syn. nov.) is synonymized with Ophion pteridis Kriechbaumer, 1879 and Ophion frontalis Strobl, 1904 (syn. nov.) is synonymized with Ophion areolaris Brauns, 1889 syn. nov. Eleven species are reported from Sweden for the first time: Ophion artemisiae, Ophion crassicornis Brock, 1982, Ophion costatus, Ophion dispar Brauns, 1895, Ophion forticornis Morley, 1915, Ophion kevoensis Jussila, 1965, Ophion ocellaris Ulbricht, 1926, Ophion perkinsi Brock, 1982, Ophion subarcticus Hellén, 1926, Ophion variegatus Rudow, 1883 and Ophion wuestneii Kriechbaumer, 1892. The study shows that a number of species that previously have been treated as highly variable taxa, actually consist of several valid species that are separable using morphological characters. An illustrated key for the determination of the Swedish Ophion species is provided.
Eleven species of Ctenopelma Holmgren, 1857 are reported from China. Five species are new to science: C. labiatum Sheng, Sun & Li sp. nov., from Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, C. lii Sheng, Sun & Li sp. nov., from Liaoning province, C. rufofasciatum Sheng, Sun & Li sp. nov., reared from Cephalcia lariciphila (Wachtl, 1898) from Beijing, C. pineatum Sheng, Sun & Li sp. nov., reared from Acantholyda posticalis (Matsumura, 1912) and Cephalcia lariciphila from Beijing and Henan, Shanxi, Shan’xi, Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces, and C. spiraculare Sheng, Sun & Li sp. nov., reared from Cephalcia lariciphila from Henan and Shanxi provinces. One species, C. nigrum Holmgren, 1857, reared from Cephalcia lariciphila in Beijing, is a new record for China. Ctenopelma tomentosum (Desvignes, 1856) was reared from Neurotoma sibirica Gussakovskij, 1935 (new host record) in Liaoning province. A key to species of Ctenopelma known in China is provided.
Neopanorpa van der Weele, 1909 is the second largest genus in Panorpidae, and over 170 Oriental species have been reported hitherto. In this paper, we describe two new species: Neopanorpa luojishana sp. nov. and Neopanorpa xingmini sp. nov. from Southwest China. We also report the first discovery of the male of Neopanorpa ocellaris (Navás, 1908) from Guangxi and Guizhou, China, a species recorded from Sikkim previously. Neopanorpa brevivalvae Chou & Wang, 1988 is synonymized with Neopanorpa lungtaushana Cheng, 1957. In addition, Neopanorpa furcula nom. nov. is proposed for Neopanorpa furcata Zhou, 2005, a junior homonym preoccupied by Neopanorpa furcata (Hardwicke, 1825). The biogeographical implications of some Neopanorpa species are discussed in brief.
Ampharete oculicirrata sp. nov. (Annelida: Ampharetidae) is described from samples collected by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and Marine Scotland Science, in the West Shetland Shelf NCMPA in the NE Atlantic. This species is characterised by a very small body size, thin and slender paleae, twelve thoracic and eleven abdominal uncinigers, presence of eyes both in the prostomium and the pygidium, the latter provided with a pair of long lateral cirri. The external micro-morphology of the new taxon was studied using scanning electron microscopy and compared with species described or reported from the North Atlantic. Two complementary keys to all species of Ampharete in the area are also provided.
The gigas species group of the subgenus Canthidium (Neocanthidium) is defi ned and described. This species group is composed of three described species [C. gigas Balthasar, 1939, Brazilian Atlantic Forest, including intrusions into Cerrado, C. bokermanni (Martínez et al., 1964), Chaco and western Cerrado in Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina, and C. kelleri (Martínez et al., 1964), Brazilian Cerrado and neighbouring open areas] and three new species: Canthidium stofeli sp. nov. from the western and southern regions of the Brazilian Amazon, Canthidium feeri sp. nov. from French Guiana, and Canthidium ayri sp. nov. from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We present descriptions and redescriptions, illustrations, an identifi cation key and comments on the distributions of the species of the gigas group.
In the present paper three empidoid fly species new to science are described from the island Sal of the Cabo Verde archipelago. Aphrosylus salensis sp. nov., a marine dolichopodid fly, is found in the splash zone of a rocky sea shore. Crossopalpus salensis sp. nov. (Hybotidae) is recorded from two different sebkhas. Crossopalpus complicatus sp. nov. is reported from an irrigated wasteland. A key to the species of these two genera occurring on Cape Verde is provided. The presence of the morphospecies Tachytrechus tessellatus (Macquart, 1842), a presumed Old World tropical species, is confirmed.
This paper is based on three collections of Ptiliidae from Sarawak totalling more than 2000 specimens made by staff and affiliates of the Natural History Museum, London, between March–July 1978. One new genus Niptella gen. nov with its type species Niptella gutta gen. et sp. nov. and 24 new species are described and figured: Sindosium collinsi sp. nov., Bambara hammondi sp. nov., Bambara subtortuosa sp. nov., Bambara tortuosa sp. nov., Erro brookei sp. nov., Cissidium globulum sp. nov., Cissidium longum sp. nov., Cissidium marshallae sp. nov., Cissidium pauxillum sp. nov., Cissidium subfoveolatum sp. nov., Cissidium triangulum sp. nov., Discheramocephalus nigritus sp. nov., Kuschelidium sarawakense sp. nov., Ptinella alisonae sp. nov., Acrotrichis acuta sp. nov., Acrotrichis belli sp. nov., Acrotrichis bidens sp. nov., Acrotrichis geiseri sp. nov., Acrotrichis globosa sp. nov., Acrotrichis hanskii sp. nov., Acrotrichis muluensis sp. nov., Acrotrichis plaga sp. nov., Storicricha resticula sp. nov., Storicricha umbella sp. nov. New records and information are provided for Dipentium latum Darby, 2019; Ptiliola semitaria Darby, 2018; Baeocrara minima Darby, 2019; Acrotrichis agricola Darby, 2019; Acrotrichis britteni Johnson, 1969; Acrotrichis bubalis Darby, 2019; Acrotrichis cognata (Matthews, 1877) and Acrotrichis cursitans (Nietner, 1856).
This paper is part of a project of studying benthic diatom biodiversity on marine coastal regions of Sweden with focus on rare and less known species. Two new species of Cocconeis Ehrenb. are described from Vrångö, a small island in the west coast of Sweden. Both species were found as epiphytic on the green alga Ulva intestinalis L. Cocconeis magnoareolata Al-Handal, Riaux-Gob., R.Jahn & A.K.Wulff sp. nov. is a small species not exceeding 9 μm in length and characterized by having large subquadrangular areolae on the sternum valve. Cocconeis vrangoensis Al-Handal & Riaux-Gob. sp. nov. appears similar to some taxa of the 'Cocconeis scutellum complex', but differs by its stria density on both valves and variable features of the areola and valvocopula ultrastructure. Detailed descriptions based on light and electron microscopy examination, a comparison with closely related taxa, as well as a description of the habitat of both species are here presented.
Although Gastrotricha have previously been recorded in bottom sediments of greenhouses as well as in micro-reservoirs of Bromeliaceae, palm houses provide a more specific microhabitat for these animals that often originate from different regions of the world. This paper presents an investigation of gastrotrich assemblages associated with aquatic plants. Eight species of the epiphytic chaetonotids were found in the Jubilee Greenhouse of the Botanical Garden in Kraków (Poland), including three species new to science, Chaetonotus (Chaetonotus) invitatus sp. nov., C. (Hystricochaetonotus) horridus sp. nov. and C. (H.) inaequabilis sp. nov. Two other species are new to Poland, C. (C.) paucisquamatus Kisielewski, 1991 and C. (Zonochaeta) cestacanthus Balsamo, 1990, both recorded here for the first time outside their terra typica. These observations confirm that greenhouses and palm houses provide many ecological niches and favourable conditions for the development of a number of unintentionally introduced species which cannot be found outside their original climate conditions.
We present a review of Dendrocephalus (Dendrocephalinus) with an updated diagnosis for the subgenus and a key to all known species. We provide new records of Dendrocephalus alachua, which was previously supposed to be extinct, and we describe a new species, Dendrocephalus proeliator sp. nov., which is separated from all other species based on the form of the male frontal appendage. Dendrocephalus proeliator sp. nov. appears to be morphologically intermediate between D. alachua and D. lithaca. In addition, we provide conservation assessments for all four species in the subgenus, according to IUCN Red List standards. We also report for two species the first known examples of direct male-male agonistic behaviour and competition for access to areas frequented by receptive females.
Four new species of Brueelia Kéler, 1936 are described and illustrated. All of them parasitize African endemic host species in the families Passeridae, Ploceidae, and Estrildidae (Passeriformes). They are: Brueelia pofadderensis sp. nov. ex Passer melanurus damarensis Reichenow, 1902 and P. m. vicinus Clancey, 1958; B. semiscalaris sp. nov. ex Granatina granatina (Linnaeus, 1758); B. sima sp. nov. ex Malimbus nitens (Gray, 1831); B. terpsichore sp. nov. ex Euplectes jacksoni (Sharpe, 1891) and E. progne delamerei (Shelley, 1903). In addition, Brueelia bicurvata (Piaget, 1880) is redescribed and reillustrated from non-type material. A summary of all published records of lice in the Brueelia complex from Africa since 1980 is provided. We also estimate the unknown diversity of African species of Brueelia based on an index of host specificity calculated for each host family independently. The unknown diversity is estimated to be over 1000 species of Brueelia from African hosts, compared to the < 50 species in this genus currently recorded from Africa.
Three new species of Thinophilus Wahlberg, 1844 are described from marine sites on the Andaman Sea coasts in peninsular Thailand: T. inaequalis Samoh & Grootaert sp. nov. belonging to the 'Thinophilus simplex-group' sensu Grootaert, 2018, T. plektron Samoh & Grootaert sp. nov., an unplaced species characterised by a long flattened apical spur on the hind tibia, and T. subapicalis Samoh & Grootaert sp. nov. belonging to the 'Thinophilus spinatus-group' sensu Grootaert, 2018. New records are given for following species occurring in peninsular Thailand: T. apicatus Grootaert, 2018, T. chaetulosus Grootaert, 2018, T. clavatus Zhu, Yang & Masunaga, 2006, T. evenhuisi Grootaert, 2018, T. lenachanae Grootaert, 2018, T. longicilia Evenhuis & Grootaert, 2002, T. nigrilineatus Grootaert, 2018, T. simplex Grootaert, 2018, T. superbus Grootaert, 2018, and T. yeoi Grootaert, 2018.
The Oriental species of the genus Sphegina Meigen, 1822 are revised. The following 43 new species are described: Sphegina (Sphegina) abbreviata sp. nov. (Nepal), S. (S.) angustata sp. nov. (Nepal), S. (Asiosphegina) albolobata sp. nov. (Vietnam), S. (Asiosphegina) amplistylus sp. nov. (Philippines), S. (A.) atrimanus sp. nov. (Vietnam), S. (A.) bifida sp. nov. (Sabah, Malaysia), S. (A.) bracon sp. nov. (Vietnam), S. (A.) brevipilis sp. nov. (China), S. (A.) clavigera sp. nov. (Vietnam), S. (A.) collicola sp. nov. (Malaysia), S. (A.) crinita sp. nov. (Java, Indonesia; Malaysia), S. (A.) dentata sp. nov. (Taiwan), S. (A.) distincta sp. nov. (Vietnam), S. (A.) exilipes sp. nov. (Java, Indonesia), S. (A.) farinosa sp. nov. (Sabah, Malaysia), S. (A.) fimbriata sp. nov. (Thailand), S. (A.) furcillata sp. nov. (Vietnam), S. (A.) ghatsi sp. nov. (India), S. (A.) gigantea sp. nov. (China), S. (A.) granditarsis sp. nov. (China), S. (A.) hamulata sp. nov. (India), S. (A.) hauseri sp. nov. (Nepal), S. (A.) incretonigra sp. nov. (Vietnam), S. (A.) inflata sp. nov. (Philippines), S. (A.) inventum sp. nov. (Sabah, Malaysia), S. (A.) karnataka sp. nov. (India), S. (A.) licina sp. nov. (Thailand), S. (A.) lobulata sp. nov. (Vietnam), S. (A.) lucida sp. nov. (Vietnam), S. (A.) nigrotarsata sp. nov. (Vietnam), S. (A.) nubicola sp. nov. (Thailand), S. (A.) ornata sp. nov. (China), S. (A.) perlobata sp. nov. (Taiwan), S. (A.) plautus sp. nov. (China), S. (A.) prolixa sp. nov. (Malaysia, Thailand), S. (A.) setosa sp. nov. (Nepal, India), S. (A.) spathigera sp. nov. (Philippines), S. (A.) spenceri sp. nov. (Vietnam), S. (A.) strigillata sp. nov. (Vietnam), S. (A.) taiwanensis sp. nov. (Taiwan), S. (A.) umbrosa sp. nov. (China), S. (A.) verrucosa sp. nov. (Vietnam) and S. (A.) vietnamensis sp. nov. (Vietnam). Sphegina. (A.) tenuis Brunetti, 1915 is not a synonym of S. (A.) javana de Meijere, 1914. The males of S. (A.) apicalis Shiraki, 1930, S. (A.) tricoloripes Brunetti, 1915 and S. (A.) varidissima Shiraki, 1930 and the females of S. (A.) achaeta Hippa, van Steenis & Mutin, 2015, S. (A.) index Hippa, van Steenis & Mutin, 2015, S. (A.) mirifica Hippa, van Steenis & Mutin, 2015 and S. (S.) quadriseta Huo & Ren, 2006 are described for the first time. Sphegina (S.) quadriseta is recorded for the first time in the Oriental region. A key to all the Oriental species of Sphegina is provided. The Oriental fauna of Sphegina now comprises 94 species.
The Swedish species of Enicospilus are reviewed. Three species are described from Swedish material; Enicospilus cederbergi sp. nov., Enicospilus intermedius sp. nov. and Enicospilus ryrholmi sp. nov. Four species: Enicospilus cerebrator Aubert, 1966, Enicospilus combustus (Gravenhorst, 1829), Enicospilus merdarius (Gravenhorst, 1829) and Enicospilus myricae Broad & Shaw, 2016, are reported from Sweden for the first time. An illustrated key to the Swedish species of Enicospilus is provided. Validity of the new species is supported by DNA barcoding.
The Central Asian spider genus Anemesia Pocock, 1895 is rediagnosed and revised. The genus was found to contain 14 species: ♂♀ A. andreevae sp. nov. (Uzbekistan, Tajikistan); ♂♀ A. birulai (Spassky, 1937) (Turkmenistan); ♂♀ A. castanea sp. nov.; ♂♀ A. incana Zonstein, 2001, ♂♀ A. infumata sp. nov.; ♂♀ A. infuscata sp. nov.; ♂♀ A. karatauvi (Andreeva, 1968) (all Tajikistan); ♂ A. koponeni Marusik, Zamani & Mirshamsi, 2014 (Iran); ♂♀ A. oxiana sp. nov.; ♂♀ A. pallida sp. nov.; ♂ A. parvula sp. nov. (all Tajikistan); ♂♀ A. pococki sp. nov. (Turkmenistan); ♂♀ A. sogdiana sp. nov. (Uzbekistan, Tajikistan) and ♂♀ A. tubifex (Pocock, 1889), the type species (Afghanistan, Turkmenistan). Nine species are newly described; others are redescribed from types and/or conspecific material. Males of A. tubifex and females of A. birulai, hitherto unknown, are described for the first time. Data on the variability, relationships, distribution, and ecology of all considered species are provided.
A new species of the Afrotropical genus Genaemirum Heinrich, 1936 is described from a single female specimen from Guinea and compared to the closest species, G. rhinoceros Heinrich, 1967. Genaemirum filipazzii sp. nov. also provides the first record of the genus for West Africa. An updated key to the species is included.
Three new species of Willowsia collected from Guizhou Province, China are described here: W. sexachaeta sp. nov., W. christianseni sp. nov., and W. tanae sp. nov. They have spinulate scales on the body. Colour pattern and dorsal chaetotaxy are the main diagnostic characters for these species. A table summarizing the main differences between all Chinese Willowsia species is given.
Twenty species of the genus Chilocorus Leach, 1815 currently known from China are recorded, including two new species described here: C. nigricaeruleus Li & Wang sp. nov. and C. strenotubus Li & Wang sp. nov. Diagnoses and detailed descriptions of the new species are given. Each species is illustrated in detail, including genitalia. Distribution maps, a key to the Chinese species and a world checklist of Chilocorus are given.
Although extensively studied by different authors over the past 150 years, the taxonomy of Canthon Hoffmannsegg, 1817 and allied genera (which are here informally referred to as 'Canthon sensu lato') still remains problematic. With the aim of resolving some of the questions surrounding these taxa, the present work reviews the taxonomy of one of them, the genus Sylvicanthon Halffter & Martínez, 1977. As defined here, Sylvicanthon is distributed mainly throughout the vast areas of tropical rainforests in the Neotropical region and includes 15 species divided into two groups: the enkerlini group, with a single species, S. enkerlini (Martínez et al., 1964) comb. nov., and the candezei group, with five subgroups: the candezei subgroup, with S. candezei (Harold, 1869), S. genieri sp. nov. and S. foveiventris (Schmidt, 1920); the aequinoctialis subgroup, with S. aequinoctialis (Harold, 1868) comb. nov. and S. proseni (Martínez, 1949) stat. et comb. nov.; the bridarollii subgroup, with S. bridarollii (Martínez, 1949), S. seag sp. nov., S. edmondsi sp. nov. and S. attenboroughi sp. nov.; the furvus subgroup, with S. furvus (Schmidt, 1920), S. monnei sp. nov., S. mayri sp. nov. and S. obscurus (Schmidt, 1920); and the securus subgroup, with a single species, S. securus (Schmidt, 1920) comb. nov. Three species originally included in Sylvicanthon are here (re)transferred to Canthon: Canthon xanthopus Blanchard, 1846 and C. machadoi (Martínez & Pereira, 1967) comb. nov., as well as C. cobosi (Pereira & Martínez, 1960) stat. et comb. nov., which had been previously in synonymy under C. xanthopus. Descriptions, redescriptions, illustrations and comparative tables on the external morphology (including the genital capsule) of the genus and its species are presented, as well as a detailed discussion on their biogeography, comparative morphology, hypotheses on their phylogenetic relationships, data on natural history and a detailed historical revision of the classification of 'Canthon sensu lato'. Finally, we also discuss the socalled 'species problem' (i.e., the definition of the scientific term 'species') and its consequences to dung beetle taxonomy and favour the solution offered by the Biological Species Concept.
The ‘gigas’ group of dragon millipedes, formerly placed in the genus Desmoxytes Chamberlin, 1923, is revised and assigned to the new genus Gigaxytes gen. nov. Desmoxytes gigas Golovatch & Enghoff, 1994 is the type species of the new genus and is redescribed as G. gigas (Golovatch & Enghoff, 1994) gen. et comb nov. Three new species are described: G. fusca gen et sp. nov. from Thailand and Myanmar; G. parvoterga gen et sp. nov. and G. suratensis gen et sp. nov. from Thailand. All Gigaxytes species are endemic to small distribution areas in limestone habitats in South Thailand and South Myanmar. Illustrations of external morphological characters and an identification key to all known species are provided as well as a distribution map.
The ‘acantherpestes’ group of dragon millipedes, formerly placed in the genus Desmoxytes Chamberlin, 1923, is revised and assigned to the new genus Nagaxytes Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha gen. nov. Desmoxytes acantherpestes Golovatch & Enghoff, 1994 is the type species of the new genus and is redescribed as N. acantherpestes (Golovatch & Enghoff, 1994) gen. et comb. nov. Three new species are described from Thailand: N. erecta Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha gen. et sp. nov. and N. gracilis Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha gen. et sp. nov. from Kanchanaburi Province, and N. spatula Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha gen. et sp. nov. from Tak Province. All new species are endemic to western Thailand and all are restricted to limestone habitats. Complete illustrations of external morphological characters, an identification key, and a distribution map are provided.
The bathyal kinorhynch fauna along the Northwest American continental rise is explored, with emphasis on species of Echinoderidae Zelinka, 1894. Seven species of Echinoderes Claparède, 1863 are described as new to science: E. anniae sp. nov., E. dubiosus sp. nov., E. hamiltonorum sp. nov., E. hviidarum sp. nov., E. juliae sp. nov., E. lupherorum sp. nov. and E. yamasakii sp. nov. Three known species, Echinoderes hakaiensis Herranz, Yangel & Leander, 2017, E. cf. unispinosus Yamasaki, Neuhaus & George, 2018 and Fissuroderes higginsi Neuhaus & Blasche, 2006, are reported. The numerous new species indicate that the deep-sea still holds a great, undiscovered diversity of kinorhynchs, and that Echinoderes, as is also the case in more shallow, coastal waters, represents an important component of the deep-sea kinorhynch fauna. The presence of E. hakaiensis in the deepsea sediments demonstrates that the species may occur at a great depth range, and suggests that depth may play a less important role for the distribution of some kinorhynch species. The finding of the Northeast Atlantic species E. cf. unispinosus and the Southwest Pacific species Fissuroderes higginsi could indicate that kinorhynch species in the deep-sea may cover considerably larger distributional ranges than is assumed for coastal species of Echinoderidae.
The family Plectopylidae is divided into two subfamilies: Sinicolinae subfam. nov. (included extant genera: Gudeodiscus Páll-Gergely, 2013, Endothyrella Zilch, 1959, Halongella Páll-Gergely, 2015, Sicradiscus Páll-Gergely, 2013, Sinicola Gude, 1899) and Plectopylinae Möllendorff, 1898 (included genera: Chersaecia Gude, 1899, Hunyadiscus Páll-Gergely, 2016, Naggsia Páll-Gergely & Muratov, 2016, Plectopylis Benson, 1860). The Eocene fossil Plectopyloides Yen, 1969 is classified into the Sinicolinae. The Plectopylinae are revised mainly based on historical type and non-type material, and the material of the Florida Museum of Natural History, collected in Thailand in the 1980s. The following species-group taxa are described as new: Chersaecia auffenbergi sp. nov., Chersaecia densegyrata sp. nov., Chersaecia mogokensis sp. nov., Chersaecia reversalis sp. nov., Chersaecia scabra sp. nov., Chersaecia shiroiensis subnagaensis subsp. nov., Hunyadiscus tigrina sp. nov., Naggsia oligogyra sp. nov., Plectopylis crassilabris sp. nov., Plectopylis malayana sp. nov. and Plectopylis thompsoni sp. nov. The genus Endoplon Gude, 1899 is treated as a synonym of Chersaecia. Consequently, the two species classified in Endoplon are members of Chersaecia: Chersaecia brachyplecta (Benson, 1863) comb. nov. and Chersaecia smithiana (Gude, 1897) comb. nov. The genus Plectopylis is redefined, and includes only species with fused anterior and posterior lamellae. Thus, the following species are moved from Plectopylis to Chersaecia: Chersaecia feddeni (Blanford, 1865) comb. nov., Chersaecia goniobathmos (Ehrmann, 1922) comb. nov., Chersaecia leucochila (Gude, 1897) comb. nov., Chersaecia magna (Gude, 1897) comb. nov. and Chersaecia woodthorpei (Gude, 1899) comb. nov. Altogether thirteen species and varieties are moved to the synonymy of valid species: Helix (Plectopylis) brachydiscus Godwin-Austen, 1879 syn. nov., Helix (Plectopylis) ponsonbyi Godwin-Austen, 1888 syn. nov., Plectopylis (Chersaecia) kengtungensis Gude, 1914 syn. nov., Plectopylis (Chersaecia) degerbolae Solem, 1966 syn. nov., Plectopylis lissochlamys Gude, 1897 syn. nov., Helix repercussa Gould, 1856 syn. nov., Plectopylis achatina var. obesa Gude, 1898 syn. nov., Plectopylis achatina var. infrafasciata Gude, 1898 syn. nov. Plectopylis achatina var. venusta Gude, 1898 syn. nov., Plectopylis achatina var. castanea Gude, 1898 syn. nov., Plectopylis achatina var. breviplica Gude, 1898 syn. nov., Plectopylis achatina var. repercussoides Gude, 1899 syn. nov., Plectopylis linterae var. fusca Gude, 1898 syn. nov. Plectopylis (Chersaecia) simplex Solem, 1966 is a subspecies of Chersaecia perarcta (Blanford, 1865), whereas Plectopylis muspratti Gude, 1897 is a subspecies of Chersaecia nagaensis (Godwin-Austen, 1875).
Ants of the Tetramorium solidum group occur in Africa, with the vast majority of species endemic to the arid regions of southern Africa. The first revision of the genus was published more than 30 years ago and ant surveys have since considerably expanded the number of specimens available for study. The revision of this group reveals five new species, expanding the total number to 19. Almost all the species in this group occur in the southern parts of the Afrotropical region, with the exception of T. setuliferum Emery, 1895 and T. rothschildi (Forel, 1907). These two species have broad distributions within African grasslands and savannas, with T. setuliferum occurring in southern Africa and T. rothschildi in East Africa and the Sahel. Five new species are described in this revision: T. aisha sp. nov., T. brigitteae sp. nov., T. duncani sp. nov., T. lerouxi sp. nov. and T. margueriteae sp. nov. An illustrated key is presented and descriptions of new species are provided, supported by montage images and distribution maps.
We describe two new frog species of the genus Guibemantis Dubois, 1992 (Mantellidae) from northern Madagascar. Both species are placed in the subgenus Pandanusicola Glaw & Vences, 1994 and, like most of their relatives, appear to only inhabit the leaf axils of Pandanus plants. Guibemantis albomaculatus sp. nov. is distinguished from other closely related species by light colored dorsolateral stripes and abundant small white spots found on its flanks and limbs. Guibemantis woosteri sp. nov. also has light-colored dorsolateral stripes and small white spots, but differs by having strongly banded forelimbs and a reddish coloration around the eye orbits. Mitochondrial DNA sequences corroborate the identity of these two new species, which appear to be regional endemics in northern and north-eastern Madagascar, respectively. These descriptions bring the species count in Pandanusicola to thirteen.
Four new species of Lobolibethra Hennemann & Conle, 2007 (Diapheromerinae: Diapheromerini: “Clonistria-group”) are described and illustrated. Lobolibethra carbonelli sp. nov. and L. pozuzoae sp. nov. from eastern Peru are described from both sexes and the eggs, L. tricarinata sp. nov. from southeast Ecuador is described from the female and male, and L. verruculosa sp. nov. from eastern Peru is described from the male. The previously unknown males of the Peruvian L. mainerii (Giglio-Tos, 1910) and L. mutica Hennemann & Conle, 2007 are described and illustrated. Dyme iconnicoffi Caudell, 1918 is shown to represent the previously unknown male of L. mainerii (Giglio-Tos, 1910) and is synonymised (syn. nov.). An updated key is presented for the eleven known species of Lobolibethra.
Flower flies (Diptera, Syrphidae) of French Polynesia, with the description of two new species
(2018)
The flower flies (Diptera, Syrphidae) of French Polynesia are revised. A total of nine syrphid species were recorded from the five archipelagos of French Polynesia. Among them are two species new to science, Allograpta jacqi Mengual & Ramage sp. nov. and Melanostoma polynesiotes Mengual & Ramage sp. nov., and a new record for this country, Syritta aenigmatopatria Hardy, 1964. We provide DNA barcodes for all flower fly species of French Polynesia, making the syrphid fauna of this country the first one in the world to be entirely barcoded. New data on biology, flowers visited and some taxonomic notes are provided. An identification key for the species of Syrphidae in French Polynesia is given, as well as an identification key for the species of Melanostoma Schiner, 1860 in the Australasian and Oceanian Regions.
Based on a study of 2150 specimens of the genus Trechus Clairville, 1806 from the Bale Mts, Mount Chillalo, and Mount Enkuolo, southern Ethiopia, the current knowledge regarding systematics and distribution of the genus in the area is summarized. Twenty-six new species are described and figured in detail: Trechus abalkhasimi sp. nov. (southeastern slope of Bale Mts, below Mt Abalkhasim); T. adaba sp. nov. (western Bale Mts, above Adaba); T. angavoensis sp. nov. (western Bale Mts, above Dodola); T. balesilvestris sp. nov. (western Bale Mts, above Adaba); T. bombi sp. nov. (southern escarpment of Bale Mts, Harenna Forest); T. colobus sp. nov. (western Bale Mts); T. depressipennis sp. nov. (northeastern margin of Sanetti Plateau, Bale Mts); T. dodola sp. nov. (western Bale Mts, above Dodola); T. fisehai sp. nov. (northern slope of Bale Mts, above Goba); T. grandipennis sp. nov. and T. hagenia sp. nov. (southern escarpment of Bale Mts, Harenna Forest); T. haggei sp. nov. (northeastern margin of Sanetti Plateau); T. harenna sp. nov. and T. harryi sp. nov. (southern escarpment of Bale Mts, Harenna Forest); T. iridescens sp. nov. (southeastern slope of Bale Mts, below Mt Abalk-hasim); T. mattisi sp. nov. (southern escarpment of Bale Mts, Harenna Forest); T. mekbibi sp. nov. (southern and western part of Bale Mts); T. minitrechus sp. nov. (northeastern slope of Mt Enkuolo); T. nanulus sp. nov. (southern escarpment of Bale Mts, Harenna Forest); T. nigrifemoralis sp. nov. and T. oppositus sp. nov. (western Bale Mts, above Dodola); T. rira sp. nov. (southern escarpment of Bale Mts, upper Rira Valley); T. sanettii sp. nov. (southeastern slope of Sanetti Plateau, Bale Mts); T. tragelaphus sp. nov. (western Bale Mts, above Dodola); T. transversicollis sp. nov. (southern escarpment of Bale Mts, Harenna Forest); T. wiersbowskyi sp. nov. (southern escarpment of Bale Mts, upper Rira Valley). New distributional data are provided for T. baleensis (Basilewsky, 1974), T. bastianinii Magrini & Sciaky, 2006, T. batuensis Magrini & Sciaky, 2006, T. chillalicus Jeannel, 1936, T. clarkeianus (Basilewsky, 1974), T. culminicola Jeannel, 1936, T. ericalis Magrini, Quéinnec & Vigna Taglianti, 2013, T. gallorites Jeannel, 1936, T. gypaeti Vigna Taglianti & Magrini, 2010, T. oromiensis Magrini, Quéinnec & Vigna Taglianti, 2012, T. relictus Magrini, Quéinnec & Vigna Taglianti, 2012 and T. rotundicollis (Basilewsky, 1974). Cothresia robini Basilewsky, 1974 is considered a junior synonym of T. chillalicus Jeannel, 1936. A key to all species known to occur in the Bale Mts and adjacent volcanos is presented.
Twenty-two new species of the genus Eviulisoma Silvestri, 1910, from the Eastern Arc Mountains, Tanzania, are described: E. acaciae sp. nov., E. aequilobatum sp. nov., E. akkariae sp. nov., E. angulatum sp. nov., E. articulatum sp. nov., E. biquintum sp. nov., E. breviscutum sp. nov., E. cetafi sp. nov., E. chitense sp. nov., E. commelina sp. nov., E. coxale sp. nov., E. ejti sp. nov., E. grumslingslak sp. nov., E. kalimbasiense sp. nov., E. navuncus sp. nov., E. nessiteras sp. nov., E. ottokrausi sp. nov., E. paradisiacum sp. nov., E. sternale sp. nov. and E. zebra sp. nov. from the Udzungwa Mts, E. culter sp. nov. from the Rubeho Mts and E. kangense sp. nov. from the Kanga Mts. Eviulisoma kwabuniense Kraus, 1958, and E. dabagaense Kraus, 1958, both from the Udzungwa Mts, are redesribed based on new material. Notes are provided on E. iuloideum (Verhoeff, 1941) based on type material. Eoseviulisoma Brolemann, 1920, is synonymized under Eviulisoma, based on newly collected material of E. julinum (Attems, 1909), type species of Eoseviulisoma. New material of Suohelisoma ulugurense Hoffman, 1964, type species of Suohelisoma Hoffman, 1964, has revealed that the gonopod structure is more similar to that of Eviulisoma than originally thought, but Suohelisoma is retained as a valid genus. Four species groups are recognized among Eviulisoma species from the Udzungwa Mts, but the need for a revision of the entire genus is emphasized. Two types of epizootic fungi are recorded from Eviulisoma spp., and an enigmatic amorphous mass, which may be a kind of plugging substance, is recorded from the gonopod tips and excavated sixth sternum of several species.
Representatives of the subgenus Helochares (s. str.) Mulsant, 1844 of China are revised. One new species, H. (s. str.) songi sp. nov., is described from Guangxi, China. All species known from China are redescribed. A diagnosis and a differential diagnosis are provided for each species. Helochares
fuliginosus d’Orchymont, 1932 is recorded for the first time from China and Cambodia. Additional distribution records of H. atropiceus Régimbart, 1903 and H. pallens (MacLeay, 1825) are provided from China. The habitus and aedeagus of all species are illustrated, and a key for the identification of Chinese species of the subgenus is provided.
Description of Hemicordulia tuiwawai sp. nov. from Kadavu Island, Fiji (Odonata: Corduliidae)
(2019)
Hemicordulia tuiwawai sp. nov. (Odonata: Corduliidae) is described and diagnosed based on material collected from Kadavu Island, Fiji; holotype: Wainitayuki River about 750 m above Baidamudamu village, -19.0916, 178.1038; 37 m a.s.l., 06 June 2016, M. Marinov leg. This species is distinguished from its congeners in the field by the contrasting colouration – dark green metallic body with bright yellow spots on the synthorax and base of the abdomen. This pattern is comparable to H. pacifica Selys, 1871. However, Hemicordulia tuiwawai sp. nov. can be recognised by the larger size and unique shape of the caudal appendages and genital hamule (in males) and vulvar scale (in females).
The South American genus Phantasca Redtenbacher, 1906 (Phasmatodea: Diapheromeridae: Diapheromaerinae) is re-diagnosed and revised at the species level. The precedingly unknown eggs are described for the first time. The genus Pterolibethra Günther, 1940 (type species: P. heteronemia Günther, 1940) is re-synonymised, with Phantasca (syn. nov.) and consequently the two species originally contained, P. heteronemia Günther, 1940 and P. poeciloptera Günther, 1940, are transferred to Phantasca (comb. rev.). P. laeta Conle, Hennemann & Gutierréz, 2011 is not congeneric and is transferred to the genus Jeremiodes Hennemann & Conle, 2007 (Cladomorphinae: Cladomorphini; comb. nov.). Two species are removed from Bacteria Berthold, 1827 and transferred to Phantasca; these are B. quadrilobata Chopard, 1911 and B. montana Redtenbacher, 1906 (comb. nov.). Six new species are described: P. adiposa sp. nov., P. amabile sp. nov., P. femorata sp. nov., P. guianensis sp. nov., P. nigrolineata sp. nov. and P. ruboligata sp. nov. The male and egg of P. quadrilobata (Chopard, 1911) are described and illustrated for the first time. The genus now contains 13 species that are distributed throughout the northern half of South America. A key as well as detailed descriptions and illustrations are presented for all known species.
Palaeosynthemis opaca sp. nov., a new dragonfly from Papua New Guinea (Anisoptera: Synthemistidae)
(2016)
A new species of the synthemistid genus Palaeosynthemis is described from the northern slopes of Papua New Guinea’s central cordillera. It is distinguished from all congeners by having females with large, nearly black patches at the bases of both wings. The male is most similar to P. cervula and P. feronia, but it differs from those species in having superior anal appendages less than three times as long as S10, basally enlarged and otherwise unarmed vs basally not enlarged (feronia) and almost four times as long as S10 and armed (cervula). Characters of the adults (both sexes) are illustrated and the affinities of the species are discussed.
Two new Cordulegaster species are described and illustrated by drawings, photographs and SEM images. The first one, C. plagionyx sp. nov., was discovered in NW Azerbaijan in a low-mountain forest landscape; the second, C. nachitschevanica sp. nov., occurs in the subalpine zone of Nakhichevan AR, south of the main territory of Azerbaijan. Both new taxa look generally similar to C. insignis Schneider, 1845; however, each of them reveals unique features and distinctive combinations of characters that set them apart from other species of the genus. Both new species exhibits new types of sex dimorphism previously unknown in Cordulegaster. Some traits related to the structure of male appendages and important details of colouration prevent both C. plagionyx sp. nov. and C. nachitschevanica sp. nov., from being reliably classified under any of two widely accepted groups of species within the genus Cordulegaster: the boltonii-group and the bidentata-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.
A new species of the genus Teinobasis Kirby is described from the Muller Range in Western Province, Papua New Guinea. Its male is distinguished from all other Teinobasis species by having a pale labrum, an extensively bright orange thorax, and ventrally bowed superior anal appendages that are markedly shorter than the plump, apically rounded inferiors. Characters of the male are illustrated, and the affinities of the new species are discussed.
Two new species of damselflies are described from central Halmahera in North Maluku Province, Indonesia. They are Drepanosticta pararudicula sp. nov. (Holotype MZB. ODON. 19257) and Nososticta halmahera sp. nov. (Holotype MZB. ODON. 19265). The two species are most similar to the Moluccan taxa D. rudicula and N. moluccensis respectively and their descriptions bring the total number of Drepanosticta species known from Halmahera to five and of Nososticta to two.
Specimens of Neurothemis disparilis Kirby, 1889, N. fluctuans (Fabricius, 1793), N. fulvia (Drury, 1773), N. ramburii (Brauer, 1866), N. stigmatizans (Fabricius, 1775) and N. terminata Ris, 1911, including their subspecies, were studied with the main focus on the morphology of the vesica spermalis, wing maculation, wing venation, abdominal markings and vulvar scales. The results were compared with species descriptions and directly with type specimens where possible. The vesica spermalis, especially the medial process, is useful at least in separating species groups and supports the traditional differentiation methods using wing maculation and venation. The use of other characters in accessing specific status, coupled with known distribution patterns, is discussed. The following taxonomic changes are proposed: Neurothemis manadensis (Boisduval, 1835) stat. nov., Neurothemis papuensis (Lieftinck, 1942) stat. nov. and Neurothemis taiwanensis sp. nov. is described (27.5.1998, Kenting, Pingtung County/Taiwan, L. M. Juang leg.; holotype is deposited at Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, Taipeh, Taiwan). The type of Polyneura palliata Rambur, 1842 was rediscovered at MNHN and designated as lectotype; a lectotype for Neurothemis nicobarica Brauer, 1867 housed at NHMW is designated. The holotype of Neurothemis incerta Brauer, 1867 was rediscovered and synonymized with N. ramburii.
The genus Pseudolatirus Bellardi, 1884, with the Miocene type species Fusus bilineatus Hörnes, 1853, has been used for 13 Miocene to Early Pleistocene fossil species and eight Recent species and has traditionally been placed in the fasciolariid subfamily Peristerniinae Tryon, 1880. Although the fossil species are apparently peristerniines, the Recent species were in their majority suspected to be most closely related to Granulifusus Kuroda & Habe, 1954 in the subfamily Fusininae Wrigley, 1927. Their close affinity was confirmed by the molecular phylogenetic analysis of Couto et al. (2016). In the molecular phylogenetic section we present a more detailed analysis of the relationships of 10 Recent Pseudolatirus-like species, erect two new fusinine genera, Okutanius gen. nov. (type species Fusolatirus kuroseanus Okutani, 1975) and Vermeijius gen. nov. (type species Pseudolatirus pallidus Kuroda & Habe, 1961). Five species are described as new for science, three of them are based on sequenced specimens (Granulifusus annae sp. nov., G. norfolkensis sp. nov., Okutanius ellenae gen. et sp. nov.) and two (G. tatianae sp. nov., G. guidoi sp. nov.) are attributed to Granulifusus on the basis of conchological similarities to sequenced species. New data on radular morphology is presented for examined species.
This paper presents an improved diagnosis and definition of the genus Stenaelurillus Simon, 1886, with new taxonomic and faunistic data for 23 species. The genera Microheros Wesołowska & Cumming, 1999 and Mashonarus Wesołowska & Cumming, 2002 are synonymized with Stenaelurillus. Six new species are described: Stenaelurillus bandama sp. nov. (♂♀, from Côte d’Ivoire), S. belihuloya sp. nov. (♂, from Sri Lanka), S. jocquei sp. nov. (♂♀, from Cameroon), S. pseudoguttatus sp. nov. (♂, from Namibia), S. senegalensis sp. nov. (♂♀, from Senegal), and Stenaelurillus siyamae sp. nov. (♀, from Sudan). Lectotypes are designated for two species: S. albopunctatus Caporiacco, 1949 (♂) from Kenya and S. werneri Simon, 1906 (♀) from South Sudan. Six new combinations are proposed: Aelurillus ambiguus (Denis, 1966), comb. nov. (ex Stenaelurillus); Evarcha werneri (Simon, 1906), comb. nov. (ex Stenaelurillus); Phlegra davidi (Caleb, Mungkung & Mathai, 2015), comb. nov. (ex Mashonarus); Stenaelurillus brandbergensis (Wesołowska, 2006), comb. nov. (ex Mashonarus); Stenaelurillus guttatus (Wesołowska & Cumming, 2002), comb. nov. (ex Mashonarus); and S. termitophagus (Wesołowska & Cumming, 1999), comb. nov. (ex Microheros). Two species names are synonymized: Evarcha elegans Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2000 with E. werneri comb. nov.; and Aelurillus sahariensis Berland & Millot, 1941 with Stenaelurillus nigricaudus Simon
The Siriella brevicaudata species group from the West Indo-Pacific, defined and designated by Murano & Fukuoka (2008), previously contained five nominal species. In this study we describe five new species in the brevicaudata group: S. bassi sp. nov. from the Bass Strait, southern Australia, S. occulta sp. nov. from the Arabian Gulf, S. muranoi sp. nov. from the coast of Northern Territory, Australia, S. tabaniocula sp. nov. from Ningaloo Reef of Western Australia and Lodestone Reef off Queensland, and S. talbotae sp. nov. from Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia. Furthermore, Siriella hanseni W.M. Tattersall, 1922 from India and S. vincenti W.M. Tattersall, 1927 from South Australia are redescribed based on re-examination of their type material. A re-examination of specimens subsequently attributed to these two species from other geographical regions showed that these were misidentifications, partly representing three of the new species described herein. Siriella gibbosa (Ledoyer, 1970), which was previously synonymized with S. brevicaudata Paulson, 1875 by Bačescu, is revalidated and included within the brevicaudata group. Siriella lacertilis Talbot, 2009, from Lizard Island, is placed within the brevicaudata group. Diagnostic features for all the members of the group and the group itself are updated. As a result of the present study, the brevicaudata group now comprises 12 valid species.
Homollea Arènes (Rubiaceae, subfamily Ixoroideae, tribe Pavetteae) is a genus of shrubs and small trees endemic to western and northern Madagascar. The genus comprises five species occurring in dry deciduous forest, often in limestone areas. The five species are narrow endemics and their conservation status is either Endangered (4 species) or Critically Endangered (1 species). Homollea is characterized by few-flowered, pseudo-axillary, pedunculate inflorescences, well-developed calyces with the lobes much longer than the tube, laterally flattened seeds with a shallow, elongated to linear hilum and entire endosperm, ovules arising from the upper margin of the placenta, and, pollen grains with supratectal elements in the shape of microgemmae. Until now, three species were known and their descriptions are amended. Two further species, H. furtiva De Block sp. nov. and H. septentrionalis De Block sp. nov., are described as new for science. The five species are dealt with in detail: descriptions, distribution maps, conservation assessments, illustrations, lists of exsiccatae and an identification key are given.
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.
The concept of the jumping spider genus Pochytoides Berland & Millot, 1941 is reviewed, based on the examination of described and undescribed species. Pochytoides is elevated from the subgeneric to the generic rank and a short diagnosis and description of the genus are presented. Redescriptions or descriptions of all species are provided together with a key to the species. Two new combinations are proposed: Pochytoides perezi (Berland & Millot, 1941) comb. nov. and P. poissoni (Berland & Millot, 1941) comb. nov. (both from Pochyta). Pochyta remyi Berland & Millot, 1941 originally placed in the subgenus Pochytoides is excluded; new combination Thiratoscirtus remyi (Berland & Millot, 1941) comb. nov. is proposed for it (but its generic status is uncertain). Six new species are described: Pochytoides monticola sp. nov., P. obstipa sp. nov., P. lamottei sp. nov., P. patellaris sp. nov., P. securis sp. nov. and P. spiniger sp. nov. The genus has a West African distribution.