A new subgenus of the genus Colastes Haliday (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Exothecinae) for species reared from bracket fungi,with description of two new species from Europe

A new Holarctic subgenus (Fungivenator subgen. nov.) of the genus Colastes Haliday, 1833 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Exothecinae) is proposed for a group of species that, as far as is known, has its larvae living on hosts in bracket fungi. The type species (Colastes sandei sp. nov. from Netherlands, Germany and England) and a second species (C. fritzeni sp. nov.) from Finland are described and illustrated. A key to the five known species is included.     

First record of the genus Koreanurina Najt and Weiner (Collembola: Neanuridae: Pseudachorutinae) from China,with description of two new species from Changbai mountain

The genus Koreanurina Najt and Weiner, 1992 is recorded for the first time from China. It is redefined and its similarity with the subfamily Caputanurininae is stressed. Two species are described from Changbai Mountain in North-East China: Koreanurina weinerae sp. nov. and K. alba sp. nov. The first species differs from the other species of the genus, mostly by its post-antennal organ located on the lateral edge of head (versus dorsolaterally), its central plate on head wider and the presence of only 1 + 1 chaetae on Th I (versus 2–3 + 2–3). K. alba sp. nov. differs from the other species of the genus mostly by the absence of body pigment, and the presence of only 1 + 1 chaetae posteriorly to the furcal rest (versus 2 + 2).

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:65366D33-890A-4E67-B581-5D32406C078F     

A new genus and three new species of free‐living marine nematodes from the Yellow Sea,China

One new genus, Paramphimonhystrella gen. nov., and three new species of free‐living marine nematodes in this genus, P. elegans sp. nov., P. minor sp. nov., and P. sinica sp. nov., are described and illustrated from the Yellow Sea, China. Paramphimonhystrella gen. nov. differs from the similar genus Amphimonhystrella by the elongated buccal cavity, cervical setae and large caudal glands. Paramphimonhystrella elegans sp. nov. is characterized by ovoid amphids and spicules with a small hook at distal end and cylindrical part of tail shorter than conical part. Paramphimonhystrella sinica sp. nov. is characterized by circular amphids, wide buccal cavity, spicules with blunt tip, and cylindrical part of tail longer than conical part. Paramphimonhystrella minor sp. nov. differs from the other two species by its smaller body (shorter than 800 µm), circular amphids, and spicules with sharp tip. The type species of this new genus is P. elegans gen. nov. and sp. nov. Types are deposited in the College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China.     

Thirteen new species of the genus Helina R.-D. (Diptera: Muscidae) from China

Thirteen new species of the genus Helina are described: H. briaroacantha sp. nov., H. corrugicerca sp. nov., H. cuneicauda sp. nov., H. curvoifemoralisa sp. nov., H. deqinensis sp. nov., H. dianibrunneigena sp. nov., H. kytososurstylia sp. nov., H. mesolobata sp. nov., H. nigrointermedia sp. nov., H. nudusimacula sp. nov., H. spinusiabdomena sp. nov., H. tigrisipedisa sp. nov., and H. yanzigouensis sp. nov.     

Revision of the genus Delopleurus Boheman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) with description of new species from Africa

The genus Delopleurus Erichson, 1847, is revised. Five new species are described from Africa: Delopleurus naviauxi sp. nov., Delopleurus krikkeni sp. nov., Delopleurus darrenmanni sp. nov., Delopleurus fossatus sp. nov. and Delopleurus pubescens sp. nov. One new synonymy is established (Delopleurus parvus (Sharp, 1875) = Delopleurus cardoni Paulian, 1934, syn. nov.). Lectotype of Delopleurus pullus Boheman, 1857, is designated. Delopleurus janssensi Frey, 1963, is transferred to the genus Metacatharsius Paulian, 1939. A key to the Delopleurus species and locality maps are given.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:67AE5CC5-9C9C-4872-A2B6-68C3BA82C44A     

Two new species of Niphargus (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Iran

Two Niphargus species, Niphargus khayyami sp. nov. and Niphargus khwarizmi sp. nov., are morphologically analysed and described. Both species are found in western Iran, which represents the easternmost border of the distributional area for this subterranean amphipod genus. We were unable to attribute N. khayyami sp. nov. to any of 80 Niphargus species that were analysed for 28S ribosomal DNA sequences; sequencing of N. khwarizmi sp. nov. failed. Niphargid findings from west Asia recorded in 5 years imply that almost one half of the range of this large freshwater amphipod genus is still unexplored. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9E9E7CC9-83E2-419F-A394-57197305E1EF     

A new genus with three new species of copepods from the family Diaixidae (Crustacea: Calanoida), and a redefinition of the family

Plankton samples taken in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia, yielded material of a new genus containing 3 new species: Anawekia spinosa gen. nov. et sp. nov., A. robusta sp. nov. and A. bilobata sp. nov., which are described herein. The family Diaixidae now contains 12 described species in 2 genera, 9 being in the genus Diaixis. It is noted that 3 of the Diaixis species (including the type species) share some features which are not shared with the remaining 6 species, and that these latter species should probably be placed into a third genus. An amplified redefinition of the family is given.     

Notes on Bombyliidae (Diptera) from the southern borderlands of the Sahara with descriptions of new species

The paper is a review of the genus Pellenes (s. lat.) in the fauna of Central Asia and the Caucasus. The genus Pellenes(s. lat.) is redefined and subdivided into four subgenera according to the structure of genitalia: Pellenes(s. str.), Pelpaucus subgen. nov., Pelmultus subgen. nov. and Pelmirus subgen. nov. Altogether 23 species have been treated, of which nine are described as new to science: Pellenes amazonka sp. nov. (female), P. badkhyzicus sp. nov. (male), P. borisi sp. nov. (female), P. karakumensis sp. nov. (male), P. bonus sp. nov. (male), P. pamiricus sp. nov. (male and female), P. pseudobrevis sp. nov. (male and female), P. sytchevskayae sp. nov. (male and female) and P. turkmenicus sp. nov. (male and female). Five species are newly synonymized: P. maderianus Kulczyński, 1905 with P. epularis (O. P.-Cambridge, 1872); P. kulabicus Andreeva, 1976 and P. simoni (O. P.-Cambridge, 1872) with P. geniculatus (Simon, 1868); and P. albomaculatus Peng and Xie, 1993 with P. denisi Schenkel, 1963; P. tauricus (Thorell, 1875) is removed from synonymy with P. simoni (O. P.-Cambridge, 1872) and is shown to be a junior synonym of P. nigrociliatus (Simon in L. Koch, 1875). A lectotype is designated for Pellenes brevis Simon, 1868. P. campylophorous (Thorell, 1875) is recognized to be nomen dubium. Pellenes calvus (Simon, 1868) is excluded from the Central Asian fauna of Pellenes. Evarcha lapponica (Sundevall, 1832), comb. nov. (ex Pellenes), is proposed. Some morphological terms, e.g. the median septum, the epigynal flaps, the central blindending pocket and the newly proposed ‘compound terminal apophysis’, are discussed in relation to their homology.     

New troglobitic species of the genus Troglocheles (Acari: Prostigmata: Rhagidiidae) from caves in northern Italy and Austria,with a key to adult species of the genus

Three new troglobitic species of rhagidiid mites of the genus Troglocheles – two from northern Italy, Troglocheles quinquesolenidiata sp. nov. and T. lanai sp. nov., and T. christiani sp. nov. from Austria – are described. A key to adults of the known species of the genus Troglocheles Zacharda of the world is given. In these vicariant species the different apomorphic morphological traits, troglomorphisms, are discussed in aspects of allopatric speciation, climatic relict hypothesis and evolutionary processes of adaptation to specific niches and time of occupation of the subterranean habitat. All new taxa are authored by M. Zacharda only.     

Four new species of Mesomyzostoma (Myzostomida: Annelida)

Mesomyzostoma Remscheid, 1918 currently includes three described species that live in the coelom and/or gonads of comatulid crinoids: Mesomyzostoma reichenspergeri Remscheid, 1918, Mesomyzostoma katoi Okada, 1933 and Mesomyzostoma lanterbecqae Summers and Rouse, 2014 in Summers, Al-Hakim et al. 2014. Here we describe four new species of Mesomyzostoma and assess their phylogenetic relationships using 18S rRNA, cytochrome oxidase subunit I and 16S rRNA sequence data. We also designate a neotype for M. katoi as the original types appear to be lost. We record M. reichenspergeri from the Australian Great Barrier Reef and from northern Papua New Guinea, but samples from the type locality (Aru Islands, Indonesia) and previously recorded host are needed for confirmation. The new species of Mesomyzostoma are one Japanese species: Mesomyzostoma okadai sp. nov., and three Australian species: Mesomyzostoma lobus sp. nov., Mesomyzostoma leukos sp. nov. and Mesomyzostoma botulus sp. nov. The first infects the coelom of crinoid arms and pinnules, and the other three are found in crinoid oral discs. We also record M. leukos sp. nov. and M. botulus sp. nov. from Papua New Guinea. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that M. okadai sp. nov. is the sister group to all other Mesomyzostoma.     

A revision of the ant-like sac spider genus Apochinomma Pavesi 1881 (Araneae: Corinnidae) in the Afrotropical Region

The genus Apochinomma Pavesi, 1881 is revised in the Afrotropical Region. The male and female of the type species, A. formicaeforme Pavesi, 1881, are redescribed. Five new species are described: A. malkini sp. nov. (♂ ♀) from Nigeria, A. parva sp. nov. (♂) from Guineé, and A. tuberculata sp. nov. (♀) from the Ivory Coast in the A. formicaeforme species group, and A. decepta sp. nov. (♂ ♀) from South Africa and Mozambique, and A. elongata sp. nov. (♂) from Botswana, Malawi and Tanzania in the A. decepta species group. Another undescribed species, known only from juveniles, belongs to the latter species group. Members of the A. formicaeforme species group mimic Polyrhachis ants and are thought to be primarily arboreal, whereas the A. decepta species group has ground-dwelling or grass-dwelling representatives that mimic large ground-dwelling ponerine ants. A single case of A. formicaeforme feeding on its model, Polyrhachis gagates, is noted. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:04116235-B195-48B0-B27E-076DAF4F51FD     

Cornutorogas,a new genus with four new species of the subfamily Rogadinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from the Oriental region

A new genus, Cornutorogas gen. nov., and four new species, Cornutorogas orientalis Chen and Belokobyskij, sp. nov. (China, Vietnam), C. maetoi van Achterberg, sp. nov. (Thailand), C. javensis van Achterberg, sp. nov. (Java) and C. sumatrensis van Achterberg, sp. nov. (Sumatra), of the subfamily Rogadinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from the Oriental Region are described and illustrated. The placement of this genus in the Rogadini is discussed.     

Two new earthworms of the genus Amynthas Kinberg, 1867 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) from Mt Jiri,Korea

Two new species of the genus Amynthas are described from Mt Jiri (Korea): Amynthas baikmudongensis sp. nov., and Amynthas cheonghakdongensis sp. nov. The species A. baikmudongensis sp. nov. has two pairs of spermathecal pores in intersegments 5/6/7; large circular-shaped raised pads extending from 17/18, 18/19 with transverse grooves extending from approximately the centres of the pads towards the presetal half of the pad. The others species, A. cheonghakdongensis sp. nov., has two pairs of spermathecal pores in intersegments 6/7/8; and circular male porophores extending from 17/18 to 18/19.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A3E018E9-A520-4841-A1C9-E27870F24E88     

Novel characters in a conservative coral genus: three new species of Astreopora (Scleractinia: Acroporidae) from West Papua

Three new species of Astreopora (Hexacorallia: Scleractinia: Acroporidae), from Cenderawasih Bay in West Papua, exhibit morphological innovations for this conservative genus, extant since the Cretaceous. Two species are fully branching, a condition never previously described for Astreopora: Astreopora cenderawasih sp. nov. has dendritic branching, also seen in the confamilial genus Montipora, whereas branches of A. acroporina sp. nov. possess an axial corallite, regarded as the key morphological innovation facilitating rapid diversification and dominance of reefs in the younger, confamilial and most diverse genus Acropora (staghorn corals). We propose that these novel characters may be parallelisms indicating deep familial homologies. The third species, Astreopora montiporina sp. nov., has expansive coenosteum, reminiscent of plating Montipora. The new species form part of the most species-rich Astreopora assemblage reported to date, comprising 14 species. The unique tectonic and eustatic history of Cenderawasih Bay may have played a role in the evolution of these new species.     

Description of four new species of the Cirolana ‘parva group’ (Crustacea: Isopoda: Cirolanidae) from Thailand,with supporting molecular (COI) data

Four new species of the Cirolana ‘parva group’ from shallow coastal habitats in Thailand are described: Cirolana andamanensis sp. nov. and C. phangnga sp. nov., from the Andaman Sea, and C. siamensis sp. nov. and C. thailandica sp. nov. from the Gulf of Thailand. Molecular (The cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene) analysis incorporating taxa from the Cirolana ‘tuberculate group’ shows a monophyletic clade (Bayesian inference = 1 and maximum likelihood = 100%) within the Cirolana ‘parva group’ with two clades reflecting morphological characters. Cirolana andamanensis sp. nov. with antennula peduncle articles 1 and 2 entirely fused; male pereopod 1 without a setal fringe; uropod peduncle ventrolateral margin with 1 sensory seta. Cirolana phangnga sp. nov., C. siamensis sp. nov. and C. thailandica sp. nov. share the morphological characters of antennula peduncle articles 1 and 2 distinctly articulated; pereopod 1 in male with a setal fringe on the carpus and propodus; uropod peduncle ventrolateral margin with 3 sensory setae. Uncorrected p-distances strongly support the separation of these species, originally based on morphology, and show that the highest value of 32.1% is between C. thailandica sp. nov. and C. andamanensis sp. nov., while the lowest value of 22.5% is between C. phangnga sp. nov. and C. siamensis sp. nov.