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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.
In this report, we analyse the benthic hydroids collected on the Vema and Valdivia seamounts during a survey conducted in 2015 in the SEAFO Convention Area, focused on mapping and analysing the occurrence and abundance of benthopelagic fish and vulnerable marine ecosystem (VMEs) indicators on selected Southeast Atlantic seamounts. A total of 27 hydroid species were identified, of which 22 belong to Leptothecata and only five to Anthoathecata. Monostaechoides gen. nov. was erected within the family Halopterididae to accommodate Plumularia providentiae Jarvis, 1922, and a new species, Monotheca bergstadi sp. nov., is also described. Campanularia africana is recorded for the first time from the Atlantic Ocean, and the Northeast Atlantic species Amphinema biscayana, Stegopoma giganteum and Clytia gigantea are also recorded from the South Atlantic. Three species were identified to the genus level only, due to the absence of their gonosomes. None of the reported species are endemic, and the hydroid community is clearly dominated by species with a wide geographical distribution in the three major oceans. Only Monotheca bergstadi sp. nov. presently has its distribution restricted to the Vema Seamount and the South African coast.
Seven new species of the giant pill-millipede genus Zoosphaerium Pocock, 1895 are described from Madagascar: Z. nigrum sp. nov., Z. silens sp. nov., Z. ambatovaky sp. nov., Z. beanka sp. nov., Z. voahangy sp. nov., Z. masoala sp. nov. and Z. spinopiligerum sp. nov. All species are described based on drawings and scanning electron microscopy, while genetic barcoding of the COI gene was successful for six of the seven new species. Additional COI barcode information is provided for the first time for Z. album Wesener, 2009 and Z. libidinosum (de Saussure & Zehntner, 1897). Zoosphaerium nigrum sp. nov. and Z. silens sp. nov. belong to the Z. libidinosum species-group, Z. ambatovaky sp. nov. to the Z. coquerelianum species-group, Z. beanka sp. nov., Z. voahangy sp. nov. and Z. masoala sp. nov. to the Z. platylabum species-group and Z. spinopiligerum sp. nov. to the Z. piligerum species-group. Updated identification keys are provided for each species-group. Two western dry forest species, Z. silens sp. nov. and Z. voahangy sp. nov. are recorded from two localities, while the other five species are currently only known from their type localities. Of special conservation concern might be Z. ambatovaky sp. nov. from the lowland rainforest fragment of Ambatovaky, a nowadays isolated lowland rainforest, rapidly shrinking due to slash and burn agriculture. In addition to the new species, new locality data is provided for 11 species and numerous unidentifiable species of Zoosphaerium: Z. neptunus (Butler, 1872), Z. platylabum (de Saussure & Zehntner, 1902) and Z. piligerum (de Saussure & Zehntner, 1897) from the central eastern montane forests, as well as Z. ambrense Wesener, 2009, Z. aureum Wesener, 2009, Z. libidinosum, Z. corystoides Wesener, 2009, Z. discolor Wesener, 2009, Z. smaragdinum Wesener, 2009, Z. villosum Wesener & Sierwald, 2005 and Microsphaerotherium anjozorobe Wesener, 2009.
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.
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.
The Acanthocinini genus Alcathousiella Monné, 2005 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae) is revised with both the genus and the type species, Alcathousiella polyrhaphoides (White, 1855) redescribed. New country records for the species, greatly expanding its known distribution in South America, are also presented. Lastly, Alcathousiella giesberti sp. nov., from Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama is described and illustrated.
The species of Stenothemus Bourgeois, 1907 from Southwest China are reviewed. Three species are transferred to this genus, S. davidi (Pic, 1926) comb. nov. (from Malthacus Kirby, 1837), S. minutissimus (Pic, 1933) comb. nov. (from Micropodabrus Pic, 1920) and S. singularicollis (Pic, 1933) comb. nov. (from Lycocerus Gorham, 1895). Two new synonyms are suggested, S. dinshuiensis Švihla, 2011 syn. nov. is synonymized with S. davidi and S. melleus Švihla, 2005 syn. nov. with S. singularicollis. Stenothemus shaanxiensis Švihla, 2004 stat. nov. is raised to species level from a subspecies of S. benesi Švihla, 2004. Five new species are described, S. gracilis Y. Yang & X. Yang sp. nov., S. chongqingensis Y. Yang & H. Liu sp. nov., S. flavicollis Y. Yang & S. Ge sp. nov., S. jindraimimus Y. Yang & X. Yang sp. nov. and S. laticornis Y. Yang & H. Liu sp. nov., which are illustrated with photographs of habitus, aedeagi, abdominal sternites VIII and internal genitalia of the female. Characters of the female reproductive system are described for the first time for the following species: S. diffusus Wittmer, 1974, S. dundai Švihla, 2004, S. grahami Wittmer, 1974, S. jindrai Švihla, 2004, S. tryznai Švihla, 2004 and S. singularicollis. Some additional distribution information is added for previously known species. A key for the identification of all studied species is provided.
The taxonomy of Micronectidae in Vietnam is reviewed. Based on our cumulative collections during 2001–2020, 11 new species of Micronecta Kirkaldy, 1897 are documented and described in this study: M. acuminata sp. nov., M. arcuata sp. nov., M. caperata sp. nov., M. clavata sp. nov., M. cultellata sp. nov., M. fulvopicta sp. nov., M. nieseri sp. nov., M. pingae sp. nov., M. sinuata sp. nov., M. undulata sp. nov., and M. vietnamica sp. nov. Nine species are recorded from Vietnam for the first time: M. decorata Lundblad, 1933, M. drepani Nieser, 2000, M. erythra Nieser, Chen & Yang, 2005, M. fugitans Breddin, 1905, M. johorensis Fernando, 1964, M. melanochroa Nieser, Chen & Yang, 2005, M. ornitheia Nieser, Chen & Yang, 2005, M. sahlbergi (Jakovlev, 1881), and M. tuwanoni Nieser, Chen, Leksawasdi, Thanyakam & Duangsupa, 2004. Thus, in this study, two genera and 37 species of Micronectidae are now reported from Vietnam: Synaptonecta Lundblad, 1933 with only one species, S. issa (Distant, 1910), and Micronecta with 36 species. A key to all species occurring in Vietnam, subgeneric diagnoses, and a key to all current subgenera of Micronecta are provided.
Revision of the Merodon bombiformis group (Diptera: Syrphidae) – rare and endemic African hoverflies
(2021)
In the present work, the Afrotropical species of the bombiformis species group, part of the aureus lineage, are revised. Six species are recognized, based on a combination of morphological and genetic features. Three of these species are new to science: Merodon lotus Vujić & Radenković sp. nov., M. vittatus Vujić & Likov sp. nov., and M. zebra Vujić & Radenković sp. nov. Redescriptions are provided for the other three species: M. bombiformis Hull, 1944, M. multifasciatus Curran, 1939, and M. nasicus Bezzi, 1915. The female of M. bombiformis is described. The name Merodon edentulus Macquart, 1855 is considered here as a nomen dubium. One new synonymy is proposed: M. apimima Hull, 1944 syn. nov. (junior synonym of M. multifasciatus). The distribution of the bombiformis species group is discussed. The larval host plant of M. multifasciatus is identified as Gladiolus. A key to the identification of both males and females of the bombiformis group is provided.
A new millipede species of the genus Sechelleptus Mauriès, 1980 is described and illustrated from Mayotte Island, Indian Ocean. This new species, S. arborivagus sp. nov., found on trees, looks particularly similar to the sympatric S. variabilis VandenSpiegel & Golovatch, 2007, but is much larger and has a very different ecological behavior. Phylogenetic analyses based on a concatenated dataset of the COI and 16S rRNA genes and including nine species of Spirostreptidae (including Sechelleptus, Doratogonus Attems, 1914, Bicoxidens Attems, 1928 and Spirostreptus Brandt, 1833), strongly support the monophyly of Sechelleptus. Despite the similarity of their genitalia, the molecular analyses also reveal a clear-cut genetic divergence between S. arborivagus sp. nov. and S. variabilis (22.55% for COI and 6.63% for 16SrRNA) and further suggest the presence of a higher diversity within the genus Sechelleptus on Mayotte.
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.
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.
Selizitapia gen. nov. (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Flatidae) from tapia woodlands of Madagascar
(2021)
A new monotypic genus of flatid planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Flatidae), Selizitapia gen. nov., is described for Selizitapia pennyi gen. et sp. nov. (type species) from the island of Madagascar. Habitus, male and female external and internal genital structures of the new species are illustrated and compared with similar taxa. Selizitapia pennyi gen. et sp. nov. is endemic to Madagascar where it is known to date only from one locality in the Central Plateau and is associated with tapia woodland formation.
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.
A new scale insect genus and species, Gompholopium quercicola gen. et sp. nov. is described and illustrated, based on material from China (Yunnan Prov.). Hemaspidoproctus cinereus (Green, 1922) is redescribed, based on material from India (Allahabad). Walkeriana tosariensis Reyne, 1957 is transferred to the genus Hemaspidoproctus Morrison, 1927 – H. tosariensis (Reyne, 1957) comb. nov. Monophlebus neglectus Gavrilov-Zimin, 2018 syn. nov. is formally synonymized with the unrecognizable Monophlebus atripennis Burmeister, 1835 in order to resolve an old taxonomic and nomenclatural problem in the subfamily Monophlebinae.
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.
The species of Stenothemus Bourgeois, 1907 from Southeast China are reviewed. Stenothemus fukienensis Wittmer, 1974 and S. kuatunensis Wittmer, 1979 are supplementarily described. Two new species are described, S. longicornis Y. Yang & H. Liu sp. nov. (China: Guangdong) and S. flavus Y. Yang & X. Yang sp. nov. (China: Zhejiang). Five new combinations are established: S. biimpressiceps (Pic, 1930) comb. nov. (from Cantharis L.), S. chinensis (Wittmer, 1982) comb. nov., S. limbatipennis (Pic, 1926) stat. rev. et comb. nov., S. nigriceps (Wittmer, 1955) comb. nov. and S. pallicolor (Wittmer, 1951) comb. nov. (from Lycocerus Gorham). Leiothorax atrosanguineus Švihla, 2005 syn. nov. is synonymized with S. chinensis, Lycocerus limatus Kazantsev, 2007 syn. nov. with S. limbatipennis. The above species are illustrated with habitus photos, aedeagi, abdominal sternites VIII and internal genitalia of female. A key for the identification of the above species is provided.
Ninety percent of the Cixiidae of the Macaronesian archipelagos are endemic. Each archipelago has its own endemics reaching a total of 31 taxa. The Madeira archipelago comprises five species: Cixius madeirensis China, 1938, C. verticalis Noualhier, 1897, C. chaoensis China, 1938, Hyalesthes madeires Remane & Hoch, 1986 and H. portonoves Remane & Hoch, 1986. Good knowledge concerning taxonomy, habitat information and distribution are essential for the conservation of the biodiversity of this rich archipelago. However, due to intraspecific variation and incomplete descriptions, misidentifications of Madeira cixiids have been common. In this work, the taxonomy of this family is reviewed and ecological data based on material collected over more than forty years are presented. A new species, Cixius wollastoni sp. nov., is described. A new combination, Tachycixius chaoensis (China, 1938) comb. nov., is proposed, and a new record, Pentastiridius leporinus (Linnaeus, 1761), is reported. Lectotypes are designated for Tachycixius chaoensis and C. verticalis. The genital structures of the latter species are depicted for the first time. All species are diagnosed, described, photographed and illustrated, and an identification key for the family is provided. Thanks to this new information, Madeira together with Tenerife are the two Macaronesian islands with the highest number of endemic species of cixids.
Six new species of the genus Caccothryptus (Coleoptera: Limnichidae) are described from the Himalayan region: C. brendelli sp. nov., C. arakawae sp. nov., C. championi sp. nov., C. larryi sp. nov., C. tardarsauceae sp. nov. and C. abboti sp. nov. Photographs of type specimens with relevant morphological characters to distinguish species are provided.
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.
Three leptostracan species (Crustacea: Phyllocarida) are reported from mud volcanoes at the Moroccan margin of the Gulf of Cadiz (NE Atlantic). Nebalia strausi Risso, 1826 and N. abyssicola Fage, 1929 were found in experimentally deployed organic substrates in Mercator, Meknès and Darwin mud volcanoes; N. abyssicola was also found among bathymodiolin bivalves and is recorded for the first time in the Atlantic Ocean. The third species was collected from the Gemini mud volcanoes and is described herein as Sarsinebalia ledoyeri sp. nov. The new species is characterised by having the eyes provided with ommatidia and lacking pigment, the ventral margin of the eye is concave along distal half, the antennular scale is more than twice as long as wide, the second article of the mandibular palp bears one seta on lateral surface about 0.5 times as long as the article and one subterminal seta longer than the third article, the distal article of the maxilla II endopod is about 1.8 times as long as the proximal article, the maxilla II exopod is clearly longer than the endopod proximal article, the lateral margin of the pleopod I exopod lacks setae and the posterodorsal border of pleonites VI–VII is provided with rounded to pointed denticles.
Ysachron pilosus gen. et sp. nov. is described from the Caribbean region of Colombia, and an updated key to genera of South American Achrysonini is provided. Moreover, the geographical distribution of 45 species of Cerambycidae, belonging to the subfamilies Cerambycinae, Lamiinae and Prioninae, is expanded, including nine new country records for Colombia and a further locality in Colombia for nine species.
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.
This study reviews the species of the tribe Smicronychini Seidlitz, 1891 found in southern Africa. In total, 18 species are recognized in this region, 12 of them being described as new (Sharpia madibai sp. nov., Afrosmicronyx cycnii sp. nov., A. louwi sp. nov., A. marshalli sp. nov., A. nebulosipennis sp. nov., Smicronyx pseudocoecus sp. nov., S. australis sp. nov., S. drakensbergensis sp. nov., S. gracilipes sp. nov., S. paucisquamis sp. nov., S. san sp. nov., S. similis sp. nov.). The following genera and species are newly reported from this area: Afrosmicronyx Hustache, 1935; Sharpia Tournier, 1873; Smicronyx pauperculus Wollaston, 1864; S. albosquamosus Wollaston, 1854 and S. namibicus Haran, 2018. New host plant taxa and plant associations for the tribe are reported among the families Gentianaceae Juss., Orobanchaceae Vent. and Convolvulaceae Juss. A key to species and images of the habitus of adults and male genitalia are provided.
The genus Stephostethus LeConte, 1878 of minute brown scavenger beetles (Coleoptera: Latridiidae: Latridiinae) is recorded from Taiwan for the first time, which extends the southernmost boundary of this genus in the Palaearctic realm. Two new species, S. taiwanus sp. nov. and S. yuanfengensis sp. nov., and one new record, S. chinensis (Reitter, 1877), are described in this study. A taxonomic key to the three species of this genus in Taiwan is also provided. The distributions, habitats and collecting methods of these three species, as well as the structure of the genital segments of this genus are discussed.
The Neotropical D. agenor species group of the subgenus Luederwaldtinia Martínez, 1951 is taxonomically reviewed. After examination of specimens in collections, the D. agenor species group will consist of seventeen species, a leap from the former nine species: D. agenor (Harold, 1869), D. amplicollis (Harold, 1869), D. belus (Harold, 1880), D. centralis (Harold, 1869), D. deyrollei (Harold, 1869), D. sagittarius (Harold, 1869) stat. rev., D. tristis (Luederwaldt, 1923), D. triquetrus (Luederwaldt, 1923), D. validipilosus (Luederwaldt, 1931), D. fornicatus (Luederwaldt, 1931) [transferred to D. lucasi species group and to which D. bosqi (Pereira, 1941) is considered to be a new synonym], D. inachoides (Felsche, 1901) [transferred from the group fisus (Selenocopris)], D. simplicicornis (Luederwaldt, 1935) [transferred from the group fisus (Selenocopris)], D. subaeneus (Castelnau, 1840) [transferred from the D. carbonarius species group], D. rafanunezi sp. nov. from Mato Grosso, D. henripittieri sp. nov. from Venezuela and D. enioi sp. nov. from Guatemala and Costa Rica. This review was based on external morphology and characters of the male genitalia (aedeagus and internal sac). Descriptions of new species and redescriptions were made after examining the type-specimens of the already described species. Lectotype designations, species revalidations, redescriptions and new species descriptions are provided.
We report a new myxozoan, Myxobolus opsaridiumi sp. nov., infecting the ornamental fish Opsaridium ubangiensis (Pellegrin, 1901) collected from the Anga River near the city of Yaounde, Cameroon. Plasmodia were found in the skin, muscles and spleen. The overall prevalence of infection was 54.7% (288 parasitized fish out of 526 examined). The myxospores were ovoid to subspherical in frontal view and lenticular in lateral view. The valves were symmetrical and relatively thick, without edge markings. The myxospore measurements were 10.7 ± 0.14 (10–11.5) μm long, 9 ± 0.15 (8–10) μm wide and 6.2 ± 0.7 (5.6–7.2) μm thick. The two ovoid polar capsules were equal in size, converging and opening together at the anterior end, measuring 5 ± 0.07 (4.3–6.0) μm long and 2.7 ± 0.07 (2.2–3.0) μm wide. Polar filaments were coiled from 5 to 7 turns. Histopathological analysis revealed no inflammatory reaction associated with the infection. A BLAST search found that the newly obtained 18 rDNA sequence had a low sequence similarity with available sequences for Myxobolus on GenBank. A phylogenetical analysis based on ribosomal DNA partial sequences showed that M. opsaridiumi sp. nov. is closely associated with several species of Myxobolus infecting cyprinid fish.
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.
The adult stage of Helioandesia tarregai gen. et sp. nov. (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutoidea: Heliodinidae) is described and illustrated from the arid western slopes of the Andes of northern Chile. The larvae of H. tarregai gen. et sp. nov. feed as leaf skeletonizers on Mirabilis acuta (Reiche) Heimerl (Nyctaginaceae). The mostly gray forewing of H. tarregai gen. et sp. nov., ornamented with strongly bulging metallic spots, resembles that of the representatives of the mainly Nearctic Lithariapteryx Chambers, 1876. However, the latter lacks CuP in the forewing, has a single bristle in the female frenulum, and lacks a well-developed cornutus. Helioandesia gen. nov. clustered as sister to Neoheliodines Hsu, 2004 in a cladistic analysis, although no synapomorphies were found for this cluster, while Lithariapteryx was sister to Helioandesia gen. nov. + Neoheliodines based on two synapomorphies. The genetic distance between a DNA barcode sequence of H. tarregai gen. et sp. nov. and representatives of other genera of Heliodinidae Heinemann, 1877 was 9.0–12.5% (K2P), and a maximum likelihood analysis based on this molecular marker confirmed the placement of H. tarregai gen. et sp. nov. as a member of this micromoth family. This contribution represents the first confirmed record of Heliodinidae for Chile.
Phylogenetic inference, based on five molecular markers (COI, 28S, AATS, 12S, PGD), corroborates the synonymy of the flightless genera Pieltainia Arias, 1919 and Ariasella Gil, 1923 with Tachydromia Meigen, 1803. The secondary structure of the 28S rRNA gene is used for the first time in this family to align the multiple sequences. Molecular and morphological data are largely congruent for all known species of flightless Tachydromia. This paper treats ten western Mediterranean species (nine Iberian and one Italian) in detail, including the description of four new species: T. ebejeri Gonçalves, Grootaert & Andrade sp. nov., T. stenoptera Gonçalves, Grootaert & Andrade sp. nov., T. cantabrica Gonçalves, Grootaert & Andrade sp. nov. and T. nigrohirta Gonçalves, Grootaert & Andrade sp. nov. The male of Tachydromia pieltaini (Gil Collado, 1936) and the female of Tachydromia apterygon Plant & Deeming, 2006 are described for the first time, while a lectotype is assigned to Tachydromia pandellei (Séguy, 1941). A key to all non-macropterous Tachydromia is supplied. Knowledge on the geographic distribution of most species is considerably enhanced. The mating behaviour of Tachydromia semiaptera (Gil Collado, 1923) and Tachydromia iberica (Arias, 1919) is documented for the first time, and we propose a change in the definition of terms apterous and micropterous to properly accommodate the diversity of wing states in this cluster of species.
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.
A new species of the genus Mesobiotus is described from the Republic of South Africa using a traditional morphological approach (light and scanning electron microscopy) combined with molecular analysis (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, ITS-2 and COI markers). Mesobiotus anastasiae sp. nov. differs from all known Mesobiotus species by having a unique combination of characters of the adult animals and the eggs. Adults of the new species have an oral cavity armature without elongate teeth in the second band, while the processes of the egg chorion have a basal collar and distinct rows of large pores. An updated key to the species of the genus Mesobiotus, including 66 of 70 currently described species, is given. An aquatic mite species from the Lobohalacarus weberi complex (freshwater Halacaridae) co-occurs with M. anastasiae sp. nov., suggesting that the newly described tardigrade inhabits constantly wet moss cushion habitats.
The taxonomic and faunistic status of the spider family Oecobiidae in Iran, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan is revised. A new species, namely Uroctea gambronica sp. nov. (♂) is described from southern Iran, and the male of U. grossa Roewer, 1960 is described and illustrated for the first time. Additionally, new faunistic data are provided, including the first records of Oecobius putus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1876 and U. grossa in Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, respectively, and the re-evaluation of previously misidentified and questionable records of this family in the region. The known distribution ranges of all species are mapped for these three countries.
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.
The family Hahniidae is reported from Thailand for the first time. The genus Hexamatia gen. nov. and two new species, Hexamatia seekhaow gen. et sp. nov. and Hahnia ngai sp. nov., are described and illustrated. DNA sequences are provided for all the species reported here. The phylogenetic position of the novel genus Hexamatia gen. nov. and its relation to Hahnia are discussed. Based on these results, a new combination is proposed for Hexamatia senaria (Zhang, Li & Zheng, 2011) gen. et comb. nov. = Hahnia senaria. Known distribution of the species Hahnia saccata Zhang, Li & Zheng, 2011, originally described from China, is expanded. A brief review and notes on the taxonomy of the six-eyed hahniids are included.
The Chinese fauna of the pselaphine genus Sathytes Westwood (Batrisitae: Batrisini) currently includes 20 species. In this paper, 15 new species from various provinces of the country are described: S. alpicola sp. nov. (Xizang), S. australis sp. nov. (Guangdong, Guangxi), S. chayuensis sp. nov. (Xizang), S. chengzhifeii sp. nov. (Yunnan), S. huapingensis sp. nov. (Guangxi), S. linzhiensis sp. nov. (Xizang), S. maoershanus sp. nov. (Guangxi), S. nujiangensis sp. nov. (Yunnan), S. panzhaohuii sp. nov. (Xizang), S. shennong sp. nov. (Hubei), S. tianquanus sp. nov. (Sichuan), S. transversus sp. nov. (Xizang), S. valentulus sp. nov. (Guangxi), S. xingdoumontis sp. nov. (Hubei) and S. xizangensis sp. nov. (Xizang). New collection records are provided for S. longitrabis Yin & Li, 2012, S. tangliangi Yin & Li, 2012 and S. yunnanicus Yin & Li, 2012. Maps showing the distribution of the genus in China, and an updated checklist of the world species are provided.
Five new species of Hercostomus Loew, 1857 from Kenya, Namibia, Tanzania and South Africa are described and illustrated. They belong to the Hercostomus longiventris lineage, which also appears similar to the Palaearctic H. chetifer subgroup and the Oriental H. takagii and H. absimilis groups on the basis of the modified male fore tarsus. The male cercus of almost all Afrotropical species is remarkable in having ventral processes or projections and are conditionally divided into H. nectarophagus and H. perturbus subgroups on the basis of the presence of one or two ventral projections on the cercus, respectively. Hercostomus brandbergensis sp. nov. and H. fedotovae sp. nov. are associated with the H. nectarophagus subgroup; H. koshelevae sp. nov., H. vikhrevi sp. nov., and H. sanipass sp. nov. are associated with the H. perturbus subgroup. The new species differ by fine structures of the male fore tarsus, cercus and postgonite. An identification key to males of 23 Afrotropical species of Hercostomus is compiled for the first time. New records are given for some known species.
In February 2012, Odonata were recorded and voucher specimens collected in Luzon, The Philippines. The focus of study was set on localities near Dinapigue and San Mariano (Isabela Province), sites in Casiguran (Aurora Province) and on Polillo Island (Quezon Province). 60 Odonata species were recorded. Three are new to science and have been formally to be described. Four species were recorded for the first time in Luzon. Amphicnemis furcata and Diplacodes nebulosa were rediscovered after several decades since they were last documented from Luzon.
Records of Odonata collected above 800m a.s.l.on Gunung Penrissen in western Sarawak are presented. A short note on the location of Mount Merinjak, the type locality of several species, is included. Notable records include two new species from the Platystictidae, Bornargiolestes species and Acrogomphus jubilaris. Previously unpublished records from Annah Rais, a location at the foot of Gunung Penrissen, made in 2005 and 2006, are included in an appendix.
Molecular phylogenetic studies of Moraea Mill. and the inclusion of Barnardiella Goldblatt, Galaxia Thunb., Gynandriris Parl., Hexaglottis Vent., Homeria Vent. and Roggeveldia Goldblatt in the genus have rendered the existing infrageneric classification, dating from 1976, in need of substantial revision. In particular, subg. Moraea and subg. Vieusseuxia have been shown to be paraphyletic. We propose a new infrageneric classification, based, as far as current data permit, on phylogenetic principles. Monophyletic subgenera and sections are circumscribed based on molecular phylogenies alone or in combination with morphological considerations. We recognize 11 subgenera, 15 sections and three series, arranged as follows in phylogenetic sequence: Plumarieae; Visciramosae (with sect. Multifoliae and sect. Visciramosae); Moraea (with sect. Moraea and sect. Polyphyllae); Galaxia (with ser. Unguiculatae, ser. Eurystigma and ser. Galaxia); Monocephalae; Acaules; Polyanthes (with sect. Serpentinae, sect. Deserticola, sect. Hexaglottis, sect. Gynandriris, sect. Polyanthes and sect. Pseudospicatae); Grandifl orae; Vieusseuxia (with sect. Integres, sect. Vieusseuxia and sect. Villosae); and Homeria (with sect. Stipanthera, sect. Flexuosae, sect. Homeria and sect. Conantherae). Most are moderately to well circumscribed at the morphological level either by floral or vegetative characters, except subg. Moraea, which includes a small number of unspecialized species apparently not linked by any apomorphic features. With over 27 new species described in the past 25 years and another 60 transferred to the genus, Moraea now includes 214 species. We provide a full taxonomic synopsis of the genus.
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.
Es werden Milben der Gattung Halolaelaps Berlese & Trouessart, 1889 bearbeitet und die neue Untergattung Halolaelaps (Halogamasellus) etabliert. Folgende neue Arten werden in dieser neuen Untergattung beschrieben: Halolaelaps (Halogamasellus) evansi, Halolaelaps (Halogamasellus) janinae und Halolaelaps (Halogamasellus) willmanni. Für die Männchen und Weibchen der Halolae/aps (Halogamasellus)-Arten wird ein Bestimmungsschlüssel aufgestellt. Die Typus-Art der Gattung Saprolae/ aps Leitner, 1946 Saprolaelaps subtilis Leitner, 1946 wird in die neue Untergattung übertragen.
Palystes kreutzmanni sp. n. is described from habitats close to Kleinmond, in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Spiders of this new species live in the typical fynbos vegetation of the Western Cape region. They build retreats between apical leaves of Leucadendron bushes. The systematic position of Palystes kreutzmanni sp. n. is discussed. Male and female show characters of different species groups, especially the female copulatory organ seems to be unique within the genus Palystes L. Koch, 1875.
The genus Erlandia (Cerambycinae: Erlandiini) was described by Aurivillius in 1904, containing a single species, Erlandia inopinata, distributed in Bolivia, Argentina, and Paraguay. Anew species, E. megacephala, from Argentina is described, and illustrated here. A key and distribution map of both species are provided, with a generic diagnosis using characters of both species.
Six species of the genus Polyplectropns are recorded from the People's Republic of China. All the species are new to science. A key to the males is given. The larva of Polyplectropns nanjingensis sp. nov. is illustrated. The phylogenetic relationships among these species and with Polyplectropns species of the New World are discussed.
Four new species of Ommatius Wiedemann, the female of O. stramineus Scarbrough, and the male of 0. nigellus Scarbrough from Hispaniola are described. A lectotype for O. gwenae Scarbrough and a neotype for O. cinnamomeus are selected. Notes of previously named species, new records, illustrations of terminalia, and a key to the species are included.