A revision of the Labiidae (Dermaptera) of the Neo-tropical and Nearctic Regions

A new genus, Helenolius (Cixiidae, Pentastirini), is described to accommodate the species H. dividens (Walker) comb. nov. and H. insulicola sp. nov. Both species are described and illustrated; they are endemic on the island St Helena.     

Systematic status of Hydrozetes octosetosus Willmann, 1932 (Acari: Oribatida: Hydrozetidae) in the light of ontogenetic and ecological studies

The systematic status of Hydrozetes octosetosus was investigated by comparing this species to H. lacustris, which is the type species for the genus Hydrozetes Berlese, 1902. These species are similar, but probably not synonyms as recently proposed. They differ mainly by the position of notogastral seta lm in the adult and position and length of this seta and total number of long setae in the posterior part of nymphs. In the adult of H. octosetosus, this seta inserts behind the opisthosomal gland opening (gla), but in front of it in H. lacustris. In the nymphs of H. octosetosus seta lm inserts behind gla opening, but medially to it in H. lacustris. In H. octosetosus this seta is very long and the total number of long setae in nymphs is four pairs, while in H. lacustris seta lm is short and the total number of long setae in nymphs is three pairs.     

Cave-dwelling Fulgoroidea (Homoptera: Auchenorrhyncha) from the Canary Islands

Examination of Fulgoroid specimens collected in several caves of volcanic origin on the Canary Islands (Tenerife, El Hierro) has revealed the existence of at least two undescribed troglobitic Fulgoroid species. These are apparently the first records of troglobitic Auchenorrhyncha, not only from the Middle Atlantic Islands, but from the Palaeartic Region. These cavernicolous taxa belong to the families Cixiidae (Tachycixius lavatubus sp. nov.) and Meenoplidae (Meenoplus cancavus sp. nov.). Possible pathways towards the evolution of troglobitic forms in Auchenorrhyncha and ways of speciation—sympatric or allopatric—for T. lavatubus sp. nov. and its epigean relative Tachycixius canariensis (Lindberg) are discussed. These findings suggest that cavernicolous Homoptera are more widely distributed over the world than was previously assumed.     

A new deep-water calanoid copepod and the phylogeny of the genus Nullosetigera nom. nov. in the Nullosetigeridae nom. nov. (pro Phyllopus: Phyllopodidae) from Japanese waters

Nullosetigeridae nom. nov. is proposed for Phyllopodidae Brodsky, 1950, nom. nud., and Nullosetigera nom. nov. is introduced for Phyllopus Brady, 1883, non Rafinesque, 1815. A new species, Nullosetigera auctiseta, is described from Japanese waters. Nullosetigera mutica comb. nov. (Sars, 1907) and N. mutata comb. nov. (Tanaka, 1964) are redescribed. Phylogenetic analysis implies that two groups, N. auctiseta–N. mutica group and N. mutata–N. impar–N. bidentata–N. helgae group, exist within the genus Nullosetigera and that the new species first diverges with N. mutica. The relatively advanced species, N. impar, N. bidentata, and N. helgae are the most widespread, and are vertically distributed from the epipelagic to the bathypelagic layers.     

A new genus and species of Cixiidae (Homoptera: Fulgoroidea) from Lower Cretaceous amber

Mundopoides aptianus gen. et sp. nov. (Homoptera: Fulgoroidea: Cixiidae) is described on the basis of a fossil of an adult female preserved in Lebanese amber of Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) age, and is compared with modern genera.     

Distribution of the Pacific coconut mealybug,Dysmicoccus cocotis (Maskell) and of a new related species on coconut in southern Asia (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae)

A new species of mealybug from southern Asia, Dysmicoccus finitimus sp. nov., is described. It has often been confused with D. cocotis (Maskell), to which it is closely related. Both species are common on coconut and often occur in sufficient numbers to cause growers concern. D. cocotis is known from a wide area of Micronesia, Polynesia and Melanesia, but it is not known to occur west of the Federated States of Micronesia in the north and Fiji in the south. There are no records of D. cocotis from the Solomon Islands or Papua New Guinea, despite extensive collecting on coconut in these territories. D. finitimus is confined to southern India, Sri Lanka, Cocos (Keeling) Islands and peninsular Malaysia. There are no records yet of the new species from Indonesia.     

Marked differentiation in a new species of dwarf stonebasher,Pollimyrus cuandoensis sp. nov. (Mormyridae: Teleostei), from a contact zone with two sibling species of the Okavango and Zambezi rivers

We studied the systematic status of a form of Pollimyrus of the lower Kwando River that is flanked by the Okavango River, inhabited by Pollimyrus castelnaui (Boulenger, 1911), and the Zambezi River, inhabited by Pollimyrus marianne Kramer et al., 2003. In morphology and electric organ discharges (EODs), the Kwando phenotype proved well differentiated from both P. castelnaui and P. marianne. Sequence analysis of the cyt b gene confirmed that the three forms or species form a monophyletic clade, with P. castelnaui sister to the other two species. Genomic fingerprinting with ISSR-PCR confirmed differentiation of the Kwando form, that we recognize as a different species, P. cuandoensis sp. nov., from its sister species, P. marianne. A considerable amount of EOD and morphological variation was revealed among samples of P. cuandoensis sp. nov. from four different locations on the lower Kwando River, possibly due to hybrid introgression. This seems an ideal system for testing theories of parapatric speciation. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FB644B21-04F6-44F8-AEB6-8DC09268C17C     

New taxa of Rhagidiidae (Acari: Prostigmata) from North America. Part V. Genus Robustocheles Zacharda,with a key to world species of the genus

Six new species of rhagidiid mites from the Nearctic region, Robustocheles (R.) pascuaria n.sp., R. (R.) similis n.sp., R. (Mexia) longichelae n.subgen, n.sp., R. (Lewia) lacustris n. sp., R. (L.) obscuritata n. sp. and R. (L.) spinaea n. sp., are described. Additional morphological data are given for R. infernalis Zacharda and Elliott which is placed in the new subgenus Mexia. A key to adults of the known four subgenera and 15 species of the genus Robustocheles Zacharda of the world is presented.     

Revision of Indian species of Baeus Haliday (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea: Scelionidae)

ABSTRACT

Baeus senus Kozlov and Lê from Vietnam and B. primitus Rajmohana from India are the only two species of the genus known from the Oriental region. Thirty eight new species of Baeus are here described from India: B. acuminatus sp. n., B. agniparvathus sp. n., B. airavata sp. n., B. arachnophagus sp. n., B. bagheera sp. n., B. bharathiae sp. n., B. chakora sp. n., B. chitrasena sp. n., B. ciprianii sp. n., B. densipilosus sp. n., B. flaviscapus sp. n., B. gajakarna sp. n., B. giganteus sp. n., B. himalayanus sp. n., B. krishnareddyi sp. n., B. krumbiegeli sp. n., B. kubera sp. n., B. longiabdominalis sp. n., B. mahanetra sp. n., B. mareecha sp. n., B. menaka sp. n., B. nbairus sp. n., B. nicobarensis sp. n., B. pygmaeus sp. n., B. rachanae sp. n., B. rambha sp. n., B. ravana sp. n., B. reticulatus sp. n., B. sreedeviae sp. n., B. striatus sp. n., B. takshaka sp. n., B. tejaswii sp. n., B. tilottama sp. n., B. tripurasundari sp. n., B. tumburu sp. n., B. urvashi sp. n., B. vichitra sp. n. and B. xanthoclavatus sp. n. A key to the Indian species of Baeus is provided along with illustrations.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:878C5BFB-C2CB-4163-A08B-C761B4C6F087     

Aspects of the biology of the Melanesian stick-insect Eurycantha calcarata Lucas (Cheleutoptera: Phasmatidae)

A preliminary account of biological observations on Eurycantha calcarata Lucas is given, based on three years' laboratory data. The development of eggs, nymphs and adults was studied at room temperature (25 ± 1°C) and at 68–72% R.H.     

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 Australian endemic genus Hyptiogaster Kieffer (Hymenoptera: Gasteruptiidae), with descriptions of seven new species

The Australian hyptiogastrine wasp genus Hyptiogaster Kieffer is revised. Among other characters, species of Hyptiogaster can be readily distinguished from other Hyptiogastrinae by having an exserted ovipositor and the anterior face of the mesothorax truncate in lateral view. Ten species are recognised including seven which are newly described: H. arenicola Turner, H. humeralis (Schletterer), H. rufus (Westwood), H. cobarensis sp. nov., H. hulli sp. nov., H. kalbarrii sp. nov., H. kiefferi sp. nov., H. naumanni sp. nov., H. pinjarregaensis sp. nov., H. weowaniensis sp. nov. Two synonymies are proposed; H. flavosignata (Kieffer) with H. humeralis and H. crassiceps (Schletterer) with H. rufus. An illustrated key to species is presented and relationships among genera of Hyptiogastrinae and species of Hyptiogaster are discussed.     

New species and records of the Neoserica (sensu stricto) group (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Sericini)

In this paper we examined newly collected specimens of the Neoserica Brenske, 1894 (sensu stricto) species group housed in Chinese collections. Four new species are described from China: Neoserica (s. str.) mengsongensis Liu & Ahrens, sp. nov. (Yunnan Prov.), Neoserica (s. str.) pseudosangangana Liu & Ahrens, sp. nov. (Guizhou Prov.), Neoserica (s. str.) taibaiensis Liu & Ahrens, sp. nov. (Shaanxi Prov.) and Neoserica (s. str.) yongkangensis Liu & Ahrens, sp. nov. (Zhejiang Prov.). Habitus and the male genitalia are illustrated. Additionally, we provide new distribution records, an updated distribution map and an updated key to the species of the Neoserica (sensu stricto) group.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A3C6B300-EAC3-445E-8B14-E1DBB7BBFB7F     

African Derbidae (Homoptera,Fulgoroidea): taxonomic notes with descriptions of new species collected mainly from coconut

An annotated list of the African Derbidae described since Synave's 1973 monograph is given, with some corrections and additions to that work together with a revision of the genus Robigus from Africa. The following new species are described: Diostrombus schuilingi sp. nov., D. mkurangai sp. nov., Zorabana vipaku sp. nov., Patara minazi sp. nov., P. chambeziensis sp. nov., Paraphenice mawai, sp. nov., Phenice pongwei sp. nov., Robigus magawai sp. nov., Robigus synavei sp. nov. (= R. tortrinotatus sensu Synave, 1973), Kamendaka ukutu sp. nov. All of these new species with the exception of R. synavei were collected from coconut. The following new synonomies are made: Proutista fritillaris (Boheman) = P. tesselata (Westwood) syn. nov., Diostrombus abdominalis (Distant) = D. moerensis Synave syn. nov., Paraphenice dissimilis Synave = Pamendanga fuscinervis Van Stalle syn. nov., Zoraida fuligipennis Muir = Z. nigeriensis Synave syn. nov., Platocera africana Muir, omitted in error from Synave (1973), is described and figured. Proutista moesta (Westwood) is recorded from Africa for the first time.     

Some new and unrecorded Arrenurus Dugès 1834 (Acari: Hydrachnellae) species from Turkey

In this paper two new species, Arrenurus (s.str.) hasankalensis n.sp. and A. (s.str.) afyonensis n.sp., and the females of A. (s.str.) turgidus Koenike 1911 and A. (s.str.) ayyildizi Erman 1993 are described. In addition, a list of Arrenurus species known from Turkey is presented.     

Review of the genus Helcystogramma Zeller (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae: Dichomeridinae) from China

The genus Helcystogramma Zeller from China is reviewed. Of the 20 species treated in this paper, nine are described as new: H. imagibicuneum sp. nov., H. flavifuscum sp. nov., H. brevinodium sp. nov., H. albilepidotum sp. nov., H. angustum sp. nov., H. flavistictum sp. nov., H. furvimaculare sp. nov., H. imagitrijunctum sp. nov. and H. rectangulum sp. nov.; six are newly recorded for this country: H. flavilineolella Ponomarenko, H. bicuneum (Meyrick), H. epicentra (Meyrick), H. perelegans (Omelko et Omelko), H. fuscomarginatum Ueda and H. lutatella (Herrich-Schäffer); the previously unknown females of H. epicentra (Meyrick) and H. hassenzanensis Park et Hodges are described for the first time; H. bicuneum (Meyrick) and H. epicentra (Meyrick) are redescribed; and the misidentification of H. trijunctum (Meyrick) is clarified. These species are arranged into five species groups based on the forewing patterns and the genital characters: the flavilineolella group, the hibisci group, the perelegans group, the triannulella group and the trijunctum group. Images of the adults and the illustrations of the male and female genitalia are provided. A key to distinguish the Chinese species and three maps to show the localities of these species are included.     

Revision of the sesarmid crab genera Labuanium Serène and Soh, 1970, Scandarma Schubart,Liu and Cuesta, 2003 and Namlacium Serène and Soh, 1970 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), with descriptions of four new genera and two new species

ABSTRACT

The systematics of the arboreal sesarmid crab genera Labuanium Serène and Soh, 1970 and Scandarma Schubart, Liu and Cuesta, 2003 is revised. Also included is the poorly known genus Namlacium Serène and Soh, 1970, which is morphologically similar to Labuanium and may also be arboreal in habit. The present study restricts Labuanium to its type species, L. politum (De Man, 1887), and congeners are transferred to Scandarma, Geosesarma De Man, 1892, and three new genera established herein: Circulium gen. nov., Shinobium gen. nov. and Mindanium gen. nov. Two new species of Scandarma are described from Papua New Guinea and Madagascar. Sesarma jacquinoti Ortmann, 1894, previously regarded as a synonym of Scandarma gracilipes (H. Milne Edwards, 1853) (comb. nov.), is here shown to be a junior synonym of Sesarmops angustifrons (A. Milne-Edwards, 1869). Labuanium schuetteii (Hess, 1865) is regarded as conspecific with Scandarma gracilipes (H. Milne Edwards, 1853) (comb. nov.) and the lectotype of the latter species (here designated) is also selected as the neotype of the former, making the two names objective synonyms. Material which had been identified as ‘Labuanium finni Alcock, 1900’ by Pretzmann (1984) from the South Andaman Islands is actually the poorly known Geosesarma thelxinoe (De Man, 1908), which is here referred to a new genus, Andamanium gen. nov. Sesarma finni Alcock, 1900 s.s. is herein assigned to Scandarma. Namlacium crepidatum (Calman, 1925), the only species in the genus, is redescribed and figured and compared with Labuanium and Scandarma. Keys to species of Circulium and Scandarma are provided.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:414B8DAA-584F-4070-A355-83B583D0D017     

A key to Neodohrniphora (Diptera: Phoridae), parasites of leaf-cutter ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

A key to the females of Neodohrniphora Malloch is provided. A species referred to as Apocephalus sp. by Eibl-Eibesfeldt and Eibl-Eibesfeldt (1967) is assigned to N. attae sp. nov., and to a newly designated subgenus Eibesfeldtphora for the N. curvinervis (Malloch) group of species. Neodohrniphora frontalis (Curran) is confirmed as a synonym of N. (E). curvinervis. The paratype of N. (N.) acromyrmecis Borgmeier differs from the lectotype, and is reassigned to N. (N.) similis Prado. A new subgenus, Wallerphora, is designated for N. (W.) mexicanae sp. nov. from Mexico.