Aquatic insects in the forest canopy: a new genus of moth flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) developing in slime on aerial roots

Many hemiepiphytic plants secrete a thick layer of mucilage to limit desiccation and protect against fungal pathogens. With its stable moisture and protected location, this mucilage constitutes a potentially attractive microhabitat for small animals; however, until now, no animal species have been recorded from it. Larvae of a psychodid fly were collected from the mucilage of a hemiepiphytic Araceae in Braulio Carillo National Park, Costa Rica. Rearing of the larvae yielded specimens of pupae and one adult male described here as Mucomyia emersa Kvifte and Curler gen. nov. sp. nov. An additional species from Costa Rica, Mucomyia browni Kvifte sp. nov., is described based on adult males from the Zurquí de Moravia forest reserve. Mucomyia belongs to tribe Psychodini, which comprises both habitat generalists and specialists. The new species are morphologically similar to those in Philosepedon s. str. and Eurygarka, both of which are known to develop in snail carrion. It is premature to speculate about whether or not species in the new genus are restricted to hemiepiphyte mucilage.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:37CD136B-53D8-4D3E-A34A-3BE4859045E5     

Four new species of the genus Trichomyia − subgenus Septemtrichomyia Bravo (Diptera: Psychodidae: Trichomyiinae) from Brazil

Septemtrichomyia Bravo is a subgenus of Trichomyia Haliday in Curtis that includes 14 Neotropical species. Here we describe four new species of moth flies from the state of Espírito Santo in Brazil: Trichomyia capixaba sp. nov., T. gabia sp. nov., T. gustavoi sp. nov. and T. menezesi sp. nov. We also provide an updated key to males of the subgenus Septemtrichomyia.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4E3C2133-2FCD-4A14-B9A3-A55715931AB4     

A new genus and two new species of Pudeoniscidae Lemos de Castro 1973 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Oniscidea) from Brazil

To date, the family Pudeoniscidae includes six species and three genera, Pudeoniscus, Brasiloniscus and Iansaoniscus, with distributions restricted to Brazil. Here, we redefine the family Pudeoniscidae based on the discovery of a new genus and two new species, Oxossioniscus pataxo sp. nov. and Oxossioniscus akoko sp. nov., from the Brazilian Atlantic forest in the state of Bahia, and on the examination of Pudeoniscus birabeni and Pudeoniscus obscurus. Moreover, P. obscurus is re-described and new records are provided for P. birabeni.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A0123730-C623-49CE-8665-AE17FDDF994A.     

New species of gnaphosid spiders (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) from the Western Ghats of India

Three new species of the family Gnaphosidae are diagnosed and illustrated: Hitobia procula sp. nov. (only male), Synaphosus iunctus sp. nov. (only female) and Urozelotes patulusus sp. nov. (both male and female). The genera Hitobia and Synaphosus are recorded for the first time from India.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B0090C55-5C3A-4D8A-A543-EFE945F09332     

New species of Megastylus (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Orthocentrinae) reared from larvae of Keroplatidae fungus gnats (Diptera) in a Dutch orchid greenhouse

A new parasitoid wasp species belonging to the genus Megastylus (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Orthocentrinae) found in an orchid nursery in The Netherlands is described and illustrated: Megastylus woelkei sp. nov. It was reared from parasitized larvae of fungus gnats (Diptera: Keroplatidae). The biology of this new species and the possibility to use it in biological pest control are briefly discussed.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7E405813-67C6-44CD-B068-97B79523592E     

Genus Pseudolepturges Gilmour (1957) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae): a new species from Bolivia,key to the species of the genus and first reports of a possible Pseudomyrmex ant mimic in longhorn beetles

A new species of Pseudolepturges from Bolivia is described and illustrated; a key to the species is also provided. Based on the similar body size, orange-yellowish colour, behaviour, and close co-occurrence on a Triplaris americana tree, we suggest that Pseudolepturges triplarinus sp. nov. is a mimic of the ant Pseudomyrmex triplarinus.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6DF38C64-6986-4A79-8D9A-645DA89149F2     

The ninth brachypterous Onthophagus Latreille (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) of the world: a new species from Mexico

A new brachypterous species of Onthophagus from Mexico, belonging to the New World chevrolati species group, is described and illustrated. Illustrations of the male and female dorsal habitus, and genitalia are provided. The relationships with other brachypterous species that occur in Guerrero (Mexico) are discussed. Placement of the new species in the chevrolati group key is provided. Additionally, new locality records for O. inflaticollis Bates are provided.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:747118CE-6A93-401A-8625-5A75479980AD     

The subfamily Cladonotinae (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae) from China with description of a new monotypic genus

The genus Tetradinodula Zha gen. nov. (type species: T. bambusae Zha sp. nov.) is described from the Baiqing Nature Preserve, Tongzi County, Guizhou Province, China. Ecology and habits of the new species are discussed. Genera of Cladonotinae from China are reviewed and a revised key for identifying the genera of Chinese Cladonotinae is presented.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:EDEEECE8-9828-4C8E-829E-98089F58469E     

Genus Promalactis Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) from Cambodia,Part II: five new species,checklist and taxonomic key for the species in Cambodia

This study is the second report on the genus Promalactis, which includes five new species, P. ceratiscus sp. nov., P. flavidius sp. nov., P. latifasciata sp. nov., P. mecodigita sp. nov. and P. petasumella sp. nov., from western and southern Cambodia. Also provided is a taxonomic key to all species of Cambodian Promalactis.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:72474144-5D65-48BE-9021-0490952AAA3C     

An unusual new species of Trechona (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Dipluridae), from quartzitic caves of the Diamantina Plateau,Minas Gerais,Brazil, with a key to the known species

Trechona diamantina sp. nov. is described from quartzite caves in Diamantina, central Minas Gerais State, Brazil. This represents the largest cavernicolous mygalomorph population ever recorded. The new species is the first Trechona recorded from a xeric habitat, namely the Rocky Fields on the Diamantina Plateau. T. diamantina sp. nov. is closely related to T. uniformis, both species possessing elongated male and female copulatory organs and both constructing distinct funnel-webs and sheet-webs in quartzite formations. T. diamantina sp. nov. is distinct in possessing less elongated embolus and receptacula seminis. A key for all valid species of the genus is given.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:EB9E66B3-4701-470C-A80D-873E25F52042     

Pygmy grasshoppers of the genus Formosatettix Tinkham, 1937 (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae: Tetriginae)

Formosatettix serrifemora Deng sp. nov., Formosatettix zhejiangensis Deng sp. nov. and Formosatettix guposhanensis Deng sp. nov. are described with detailed illustrations of external morphology. New synonymy is proposed: Formosatettix tianmushanensis Zheng and Li = Formosatettix xiai Zheng, Shi and Yin, syn. nov. An updated key to species of the genus is given.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D64FA763-EBA7-453C-9D76-7209F5659478     

A new species of Ahaetulla Link, 1807 (Serpentes: Colubridae: Ahaetullinae) from India

A new species of vine snake of the genus Ahaetulla is described from peninsular India. The new taxon is a medium-sized arboreal snake, readily distinguished from all other congeners by morphological and genetic differences. The new species appears to be widely distributed in Eastern Ghats and Central India with the western-most distribution extending into eastern Rajasthan. However, it is relatively rare, with only three specimens being acquired over the past nine years.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B610BF55-3CEF-4160-9A2C-25A069A82223

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:AD84ABAE-F4F5-452C-8EFD-969D191E738B     

Revision of the cleptoparasitic bee genus Austrostelis Michener and Griswold (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Megachilinae)

A taxonomic revision for the species of Austrostelis Michener and Griswold is provided. Ten species are recognized, one of which is newly described, A. saltensis Parizotto and Urban sp. nov., from Argentina. Additionally one new synonym is proposed and a lectotype for Stelis iheringi Friese, 1925 is designated. A revised diagnosis for the genus, illustrations and identification key for all species are also provided.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8397FEAE-45CB-444C-8B3C-6D706E752068     

Colonial ascidians from the Foveaux Strait region of New Zealand

Colonial ascidians collected from wharf piles and natural substrata from Bluff Harbour and Stewart Island in the South Island of New Zealand are described in this paper. Two species, Lissoclinum violaceum sp. nov. and Didemnum marineae sp. nov. are new to science and described for the first time. The ascidian fauna in this region is a mixed assemblage of southern species, species with a New Zealand-wide distribution, and two species with trans-Tasman affinities.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:37DC0D4B-8FB9-4F1D-A5A0-E9CAB3203447     

Review of the microphysid genus Loricula Curtis in Japan (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Microphysidae), with descriptions of three new species

Japanese fauna of the cimicomorphan family Microphysidae is documented. Four species of the genus Loricula Curtis are recognised, including three new species herein described from Japan, Loricula miyamotoi, L. nikko and L. yakushima, representing the first discovery of new taxa in the twenty-first century for the Asian Microphysidae. A single known species, L. pilosella Miyamoto, is rediagnosed. A key is provided to distinguish both sexes of the Japanese Loricula species.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C01445E4-FD3E-4953-932C-7835FC8BDD16     

Three noteworthy mirine plant bugs inhabiting subalpine zones of the Nepalese Himalayas (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Mirinae)

Three unique mirine plant bugs inhabiting typical subalpine vegetation in the Nepalese Himalayas are documented, with their confirmed plant associations. A new genus and new species, Khumbumiris schwartzi, is diagnosed and described, based on a male specimen collected from Abies spectabilis; two additional new species, Lygocoris laligurans (associated with Rhododendron shrubs) and Phytocoris sagarmathanus (Abies spectabilis), are also described. Images of the habitats and live individuals are also provided. The tribal placement of Khumbumiris is discussed in detail.

http:/zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:54E31614-3262-4BF8-8BBB-F81893AF41D2     

A taxonomic review of the genus Gibbotettix with description of one new species (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae)

During an investigation of species diversity in the Lengshuihe Nature Preserve, Jinsha County, Guizhou Province, China, in August of 2015, a new species of the rare genus Gibbotettix was discovered. Gibbotettix vallis Zha and Wen sp. nov. is introduced, described and photographed, and compared with other species. A taxonomic review of the genus Gibbotettix is provided and a key to all known species of the genus is given.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:74D8DCB9-A31E-4E4D-A2E8-692A54A81317