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     

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     

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     

Albertine Rift Valley endemics: three new species of freshwater crabs (Brachyura: Potamoidea: Potamonautidae) from Uganda,the Democratic Republic of the Congo,and Rwanda

Three new species of potamonautid freshwater crabs are described from the Albertine Rift Valley, Eastern Africa. One of the new species is from Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda, the second is from Lake Kivu in Rwanda, and the third is from the Rwenzori Mountains in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. Diagnoses, illustrations and distribution maps are provided for these taxa, and they are compared to similar species from Uganda and elsewhere in East Africa.

www.zoobanl.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FC681BD6-6FB2-4A14-B068-89FC3EB26605     

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     

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     

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     

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     

The uncommon genus Hedychridium (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae) in South America: new species and first record for Brazil

Hedychridium is recorded for the first time for Brazil. A new species from southeastern Brazil, Hedychridium periotoi sp. nov., is described and illustrated. So far, the single species known to South America has been Hedychridium argentinum Buysson, which is restricted to the western and southern parts of Argentina.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C0D66A84-3168-478D-9AC5-5EC3B4EB32FC     

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     

A new genus and species in the ostracod family Candonidae (Crustacea: Ostracoda) from Texas,USA

A new ostracod genus and species, Namiotkocypria haysensis gen. et sp. nov., of the subfamily Cyclocypridinae is reported from an artesian well in San Marcos, Texas, USA. The new genus has several unique characteristics that distinguish it from all other genera in the subfamily, including postero-dorsally inclined valves, absence of tubercles in marginal zones of the valves, very short swimming setae on A2, length of aesthetasc ya on A1, asymmetric clasping organs, and differences in the shape of the hemipenis and other cheatotaxial parts. A detailed comparison among related genera of the subfamily is provided.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:42FF41E3-E2FB-4BB6-B9F0-948ED0A0807A.     

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     

Three new Idiops (Mygalomorphae: Idiopidae) from Argentina and redescription of the male of I. hirsutipedis Mello-Leitão, 1941

Three new Argentinean species of the front-eyed trapdoor spider genus Idiops namely I. minguito sp. nov. from Salta and Jujuy provinces, I. piluso sp. nov. from Córdoba province and I. tolengo sp. nov. from Santiago del Estero province, are described. The male of I. hirsutipedis is redescribed and new distributional data in Argentina are presented for this species and for I. clarus. An identification key for all these species is provided.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:846E175E-3E2F-4512-83BE-E72D41C307AF     

First record of genus Promalactis Meyrick (Lepidoptera: oecophoridae) from Cambodia with five new species

In this study, species of the genus Promalactis found in Cambodia are reviewed for the first time. Five new species, P. infundibulina sp. nov., P. prolixa sp. nov., P. seimana sp. nov., P. serratiola sp. nov., P. spiraliola sp. nov., are described. Promalactis albisquama Kim and Park is also newly discovered in Cambodia. Illustrations of adults and genitalia of each species are also provided with distributional data.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:88AF790D-B677-498F-20A5B4-F287B5D52318     

New Acanthodrilus species from New Caledonia (Clitellata,Megadrili, Acanthodrilidae)

A survey to explore the earthworm fauna of New Caledonia was carried out between 14 January 2014 and 2 April 2014. Altogether, 24 earthworm species were recorded, of which eight belong to the native genus Acanthodrilus including four species new to science, Acanthodrilus barrieri, A. doanus, A. millei and A. ouenghianus spp. nov., raising the number of Acanthodrilus species in New Caledonia to 29. The 16 recorded peregrine species are distributed among five families, namely Benhamiidae (5 spp.), Eudrilidae (1 sp.), Megascolecidae (8 spp.), Moniligastridae (1 sp.) and Rhinodrilidae (1 sp.).

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4E0A6295-A2FA-43BB-993D-BB00AFF54406     

A second species of the genus Vietnamorpha Golovatch, 1984 (Polydesmida: Paradoxosomatidae) and notes on the generic relationship

A second Vietnamorpha species is described from Pu Mat National Park, north-central Vietnam. The new species is distinguished by the gonopod femorite being erect and cylindrically elongate; and the solenomere being completely sheathed by the solenophore, and being only exposed at the tip. The relationship between Vietnamorpha and several sulciferinine genera was analysed using a combination of a mitochondrial gene (16S rRNA) and two nuclear genes (18S and 28S rRNA). The genus Vietnamorpha is more closely related to the genus Anoplodesmus than to other sulciferinine genera.

www.zobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C8A19CFD-1329-427A-B380-08542BB25718