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.     

CVIII.—The African spiders of the family Ctenidae in the collections of the British Museum (Natural History)

Summary

The African Ctenidae in the Collections of the British Museum (Natural History) are revised. Thirty species are contained in the subfamilies Cteninae and Acantheinae. Ctenus batesii Pocock, 1903, is a synonym of Ctenus capulinus (Karsch), 1879, Ctenus dirus Thorell, 1899, is a synonym of Ctenus kingsleyi F. O. P.-Cambridge, 1898, Ctenus marshalli F. O. P.-Cambridge, 1898, is a synonym of Ctenus melanogastra (Bösenberg & Lenz), 1895, and Ctenus spenceri F. O. P.-Cambridge, 1898, is a synonym of Ctenus pulchriventris Simon, 1896.

The subfamily Acantheinae is recorded from Africa for the first time. A new genus, Africactenus, is erected for a group of allied species. The genotype is Ctenus agilior Pocock, 1899, and the following new species are described:—A. depressus, A. desartsi, A kribiensis, A. pococki, A. sandersoni, A. simoni, A. sladeni, A. tridentatus and A. trilateralis. Ctenus longurio Simon, 1909, is transferred to the genus Africactenus on examination of the type-material.

Certain species from the Simon Collection are listed in the Appendix and figured for the first time.     

Re-descriptions of two little-known Indo-West Pacific palaemonid shrimps,Periclimenes calmani Tattersall and P. delagoae Barnard

The type material of two little-known Indo-West Pacific palaemonid shrimps Periclimenes calmani Tattersall, 1921, and P. delagoae Barnard, 1958, is redescribed and illustrated. Their systematic relationships are re-assessed and keys provided for the identification of related species.     

Model mimics: antlike jumping spiders of the genus Myrmarachne from Sri Lanka

All nominal species of ant-mimicking jumping spiders of the genus Myrmarachne from Sri Lanka are redescribed, based on type and newly collected material. Three new species are described: Myrmarachne aurantiaca sp. nov., M. dishani sp. nov. and M. morningside sp. nov. Panachraesta Simon, 1900 is shown to be a junior synonym of Myrmarachne MacLeay, 1839, syn. nov. The following species are synonymized: Myrmarachne orientales Tikader, 1973 = Myrmarachne melanocephala MacLeay, 1839 syn. nov., Myrmarachne paivae Narayen, 1915 and Myrmarachne bengalensis Tikader, 1973 = Myrmarachne prava (Karsch, 1880) syn. nov., Myrmarachne hanoii Zabka, 1985 = Myrmarachne pumilio (Karsch, 1880) syn. nov., Myrmarachne maratha Tikader, 1973 = Myrmarachne robusta (Peckham & Peckham, 1892). One new combination is proposed: Myrmarachne paludosa (Simon, 1900) comb. nov. Myrmarachne ramunni Narayan, 1915 is recorded for the first time in Sri Lanka. A total of 12 valid species are now known from the island; six of them are endemic.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B723C180-996B-471D-B920-4D08E7A8CD53     

Revision of the Trogidae of South America (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea)

The South American Trogidae are revised. Three genera, Trox Fabricius, Omorgus Erichson (with two subgenera, Omorgus and Haroldomorgus Scholtz), and Polynoncus Burmeister, and 47 species are recorded from the continent and its islands. Trox is represented by the ubiquitous introduced species T. scaber (L.), Omorgus is represented by 13 species and Polynoncus by 33 species. Five new species are described and all others are re-described. A key to all taxa is provided. Adults of all species and their male genitalia are illustrated and their distributions mapped. Observations are presented on phylogeny, zoogeography and biology. The new species are O. capillaceus, O. indigenus, O. nocheles, P. erugatus and P. gibberosus. Four new synonymies are proposed (synonyms listed first): O. triestinae Pittino = P. suberosus (Fabricius); P. furcifer Pittino = P. bifurcatus (Vaurie); P. parafurcatus occidentalis Pittino and P. furcillifer Pittino = P. parafurcatus Pittino. Omorgus badeni (Harold) is reinstated as a valid species. Lectotypes are designated for O. batesi (Harold) and O. badeni (Harold).     

A review of the South-East Asian Nasutitermitinae (Isoptera: Termidae), with descriptions of one new genus and a new species and including a key to the genera

This paper describes Snootitermes leuserensis, gen. et sp. nov. (collected from the Leuser Ecosystem, Sumatra), Hirtitermes brabazoni sp. nov. (collected from north Sulawesi) and the major soldier of Ceylonitermes indicola. It also includes a revised generic key to the Nasutitermitinae of Peninsular Malaysia, Java, Sumatra and Borneo and reassigns the South-East Asian Subulitermes-group of termites to the Nasutitermes-group. Aciculioiditermes denticulatus and A. sarawakensis are considered to be junior synonyms of Aciculioiditermes holmgreni. The genera Aciculioiditermes and Proaciculitermes are considered to be junior synonyms of Malaysiotermes. Therefore Aciculioiditermes holmgreni, Proaciculitermes orientalis, P. sabahensis, P. malayanus and P. lowi are all Malaysiotermes species. Tho's (1982, 1992) unpublished new genus (Genus A) is considered to be a new species of Ceylonitermes. Oriensubulitermes borneensis is shown to be a Subulioiditermes species, S. borneensis. Nasutitermes matangensiformis is shown to be a junior synonym of N. matangensis. Havilanditermes is shown to be a junior synonym of Nasutitermes.     

New species of the bee genus Augochlorodes Moure (Hymenoptera,Apidae s. l., Halictinae)

Five new species of the bee genus Augochlorodes from Brazil are described and the type species, A. turrifaciens Moure, 1958 Moure, J. S. 1958. Augochlorodes, a new genus of Halictinae from Brasil (Hymenoptera, Apoidea).. J Kansas Entomol Soc., 31(1): 53–55.  [Google Scholar], is redescribed. The new species are: A. clementis sp. nov. (from the states of Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul), A. incomitatus sp. nov. (Rio Grande do Sul), A. politus sp. nov. (Paraná), A. rostratus sp. nov. (Rio Grande do Sul) and A. vachali sp. nov. (Paraná, Santa Catarina, São Paulo). A discriminant function analysis using head measurements is presented to help distinguish the species. An identification key for the species is provided.     

New and little‐known earthworm species from the Ivory Coast (Oligochaeta: Acanthodrilidae: Benhamiinae and Eudrilidae)

In the framework of the international project called “Conservation and Sustainable Management of Below‐Ground Biodiversity”, soil macrofauna collections were carried out in the Centre‐West Ivory Coast. Altogether, 13 earthworm species were recorded, of which four belonged to the family Eudrilidae and nine to the family Acanthodrilidae. From the species collected, two, Dichogaster (Dichogaster) eburnea sp. nov. and Dichogaster (Dichogaster) mamillata sp. nov., proved to be new to science. To accommodate the enigmatic eudrilid earthworm species Scolecillus compositus Omodeo, 1958 Omodeo, P. 1958. Oligochetes. In, La reserve naturelle integrale du Mont Nimba.. Memoire de la Institut Francais Afrique Noire, 53: 9–109.  [Google Scholar], a new genus, Lavellea gen. nov., is proposed.     

Revision of the Traumatomutilla juvenilis species group (Hymenoptera,Mutillidae)

ABSTRACT

Traumatomutilla duplicata duplicata (Gerstaecker, 1874), T. duplicata feia Casal, 1969, T. bruchi André, 1908, T. cristata (Gerstaecker, 1874), T. aterrima (Gerstaecker, 1874) and T. lorena (Cresson, 1902) are proposed as junior synonyms of Traumatomutilla bivittata (Gerstaecker, 1874). Traumatomutilla immaculiceps André, 1901, T. bivittata rubroguttata André, 1901 and T. estrella (Cresson, 1902) are proposed as junior synonyms of T. juvenilis (Gerstaecker, 1874). Traumatomutilla bispiculata (André, 1907) is proposed as a junior synonym of T. miniata (Gerstaecker, 1874). The previously unknown males of T. guarata Casal, 1969 and T. juvenilis are described and illustrated. All species of the T. juvenilis species group are redescribed and illustrated. A new species, Traumatomutilla juvenindica Bartholomay & Williams sp. nov., is described based on males and females from northern South America. Additionally, identification keys to the species and known colour forms of the T. juvenilis species group are provided.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3563B9EE-A45B-4939-8436-7A808D4F8996     

A revision of Bovichtus Cuvier, 1831 (Pisces: Bovichthyidae) from Australasia,with description of a new deepwater species from the New Zealand Subantarctic

The genus Bovichtus includes four species from the Australasian region, viz. B. variegatus Richardson, B. psychrolutes Günther, B. angustifrons Regan, and B. oculus n. sp. B. decipiens Regan and Aurion effulgens Waite are junior synonyms of B. variegatus and B. psychrolutes respectively. B. oculus, described from a specimen taken in 847–902 m on the Campbell Plateau in the New Zealand Subantarctic, is the first known deep water Bovichtus species. It differs from all congeners in having a very large eye (horizontal diameter <9·0 times in SL) and, alone with B. psychrolutes, has a patch of ctenoid scales on the body behind the pectoral fin base.     

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     

The taxonomy and biology of the Polystomatidae (Monogenea) in Australian freshwater turtles (Chelidae,Pleurodira)

Polystomoides scottae n. sp. is described from the urinary and accessory bladders of Chelodina expansa. Four species of Neopolystoma are described from the conjunctival sacs of Australian freshwater turtles (Chelidae): Neopolystoma cribbi n. sp. from Emydura signata, E. macquarii, Elseya latisternum and Chelodina expansa; Neopolystoma spratti n. sp. from Chelodina longicollis; Neopolystoma tinsleyi n. sp. from Chelodina expansa; and Neopolystoma queenslandensis n. sp. from Emydura signata and E. macquarii. Polystomoides australiensis, Neopolystoma macleayi and N. chelodinae are redescribed from new individuals. Neopolystoma australis is made a junior synonym of N. kreffti. P. australiensis, N. macleayi and N. cribbi produced on average 5·6, 4·3 and 0·7 eggs per day, respectively. Eggs of P. australiensis take 33–57 days at 18–24°C and 30–33 days at 24–28°C to develop and hatch. Oncomiracidia of P. australiensis and N. macleayi had 64 ciliated cells; the patterns of the ciliated cells are the same for both species. Different sizes of worms in different sites in the hosts suggest strongly that the oncomiracidia of P. australiensis and N. macleayi enter the host, migrate to the ureters, possibly to the kidneys, then to the urinary bladder and finally to either the accessory bladders or cloaca. Successful cross-infection experiments between host genera (Emydura to Elseya) indicated that P. australiensis and N. macleayi have a low degree of host specificity.     

Revision of the genus Erythracarus Berlese (Acarina: Anystidae: Erythracarinae)

The mite genus Erythracarus is revised and redefined and the new pyrrholeucus species group is described. The type species of Erythracarus is established as E. ruricola and the previous designation of Trombidium parietinum as the type is thus declared invalid. Bechsteinia and Chabrieria are newly synonymized with Erythracarus. Nine new species are described: Erythracarus amnicolus n. sp., E. avius n. sp., E. barbarus n. sp., E. ciliatus n. sp., E. decoris n. sp., E. elegans n. sp., E. flavipes n. sp., E. katherinae n. sp. and E. nasutus n. sp. The species E. parietinus, E. pyrrholeucus, E. festinus and E. grahami are redescribed and identification keys to known species and instars of Erythracarus are presented. E. cluozzai is made a junior synonym of Tarsolarkus articulosus, Bechsteinia solarii and Erythraeus spinatus are made junior synonyms of Erythracarus parietinus, while Bechsteinia californica, B. schneideri and Tarsotomus terminalis are all made junior synonyms of E. pyrrholeucus. E. simku is found to be a nomen nudum. E. pyrrholeucus is recorded for the first time from Australia, Iran and the Ukraine and E. parietinus for the first time from the western United States. The only record of E. parietinus from Australia is shown to be based on a misidentification. Observations on reproductive behaviour are made for five Erythracarus species. All of these reproduce sexually by means of stalked spermatophores, the shape of which is species specific. Spermatophores are often deposited on top of one another, possibly indicating sperm competition. Males of one species, E. pyrrholeucus, are unknown and this species is thus likely to be thelytokous. Some Erythracarus species are oviparous. E. ciliatus and E. parietinus are ovoviviparous or viviparous. Prelarvae that were studied were immotile except for those of E. ciliatus, which were able to move their legs. Immotility is a derived character state in Erythracarus and possibly an adaptation to more protected habitats.     

Review of the Neotropical genus Physiomorphus Pic (Coleoptera: Mycteridae: Lacconotinae), with description of the larvae of three species

The Neotropical lacconotine genus Physiomorphus Pic (Coleoptera: Mycteridae) is reviewed, and redescribed. Larvae are described and illustrated for three species, based on reared specimens. Detailed information is included on biology, rearing and habitat. New synonymies presented are: Physiomorphus Pic 1917 = Batobiomorphus Pic 1920; Laccoderus melanurus Champion 1916 = Batobiomorphus laticollis Pic 1920; Physiomorphus atricolor Pic 1917 = Physiomorphus rufotinctus Pic 1921. The following new species are described: Physiomorphus rufolineatus; P. antennatus; P. angustus; P. mimeticus, and P. subcostulatus, bringing the total number of known species to eight. Comparisons are made between larvae and adults of Physiomorphus and other described lacconotines. Details are given on Brazilian localities where Physiomorphus larvae were collected.     

Four new species of terrestrial earthworms belonging to the genus Amynthas (Megascolecidae: Oligochaeta) from Taiwan with discussion on speculative synonyms and species delimitation in oligochaete taxonomy

This paper describes four new species of earthworms, Amynthas shinanmontis sp. nov., Amynthas chilanensis sp. nov., Amynthas bilineatus sp. nov., and Amynthas cruxus sp. nov. from Taiwan. Amynthas shinanmontis is sexthecate and parthenogenetic with individuals with various levels of degeneration of spermathecae and male reproductive organs. It occurs at elevations of 1700–2700 m in the Central Mountain Range in southern Taiwan. Amynthas bilineatus and A. chilanensis are athecate and also parthenogenetic. They occur, respectively, at elevations of 1000 m in the central region and 1325 m in the northeastern region of Taiwan. Amynthas cruxus is octothecate, amphimictic, and occurs at elevations of 900–1700 m in southern Taiwan. This paper also discusses confusion and dilemma caused by uncertain, speculative synonyms and parthenogenetic morphs in species delimitation in oligochaete taxonomy, and recommends the use of absolute synonyms and phylogenetic species concept.     

New oriental aradid bugs in the collections of the British Museum (Natural History) (Insecta: Hemiptera)

Summary

The following new taxa of Oriental Aradidae are described: Acoryphocoris duodecimus sp. nov. (Sulawesi), A. minor sp. nov. (Sulawesi), Apaniocoris micropterus gen. and sp. nov. (Sulawesi), Aphelocoris minutissimus sp. nov. (Sarawak), Arictus gracilis sp. nov. (Sulawesi), Artabanus burmensis sp. nov. (Borneo), Chelonocoris tomentosus sp. nov. (Malaya), Chinessa kokodensis sp. nov. (New Guinea), C. major sp. nov. (New Guinea), Crimia tertia sp. nov. (Java), Magdalenia excelsa gen. and sp. nov. (Sulawesi), Mastigocoris insularis sp. nov. (Christmas Is, Indian Ocean), Mezira mekongensis sp. nov. (Laos), M. submontana sp. nov. (India), Mezira (Zimera) kachinensis sp. nov. (Burma), Neuroctenus perplexus sp. nov. (Bhutan), Notoplocaptera breviceps sp. nov. (N. Borneo), N. dollingi sp. nov. (N. Borneo), Overlaetiella elongata sp. nov. (Sulawesi), Parapictinus confusus sp. nov. (Sri Lanka), Proxius (Nesoproxius) malayensis sp. nov. (Malaya), Scironocoris malayensis sp. nov. (Malaya), and Usingerida longirostris sp. nov. (India).

Males of Artabanus magnificus Kormilev and Dimorphacantha luchti (Kiritshenko) are described for the first time. Brachyrhynchus lignicolus Kirby is transferred to the genus Neuroctenus as a new combination and redescribed. The following new synonymies are proposed: Melvertes Vásárhelyi, 1976=Notoplocaptera Usinger and Matsuda, 1959 syn. nov., and Chinessa furcella Vásárhelyi, 1976=C. bispiniceps Walker, 1873 syn. nov.     

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     

Gastrointestinal helminth communities of two gekkonid lizard species,Nactus multicarinatus and Nactus pelagicus (Squamata: Gekkonidae), from the Republic of Vanuatu,Oceania

Gastrointestinal helminth communities of two gekkonid species, Nactus multicarinatus and Nactus pelagicus, from the Vanuatu Archipelago were examined. Both helminth communities were depauperate: N. multicarinatus harboured one species of Digenea, Mesocoelium monas, one species of Cestoda, Oochoristica javaensis, four species of Nematoda, Hedruris hanleyae, Parapharyngodon maplestoni, Physocephalus sp. (larvae in cysts), Filarioidea gen. sp. (juvenile); N. pelagicus harboured one species of Cestoda, O. javaensis, four species of Nematoda, H. hanleyae, Falcaustra tannaensis, P. maplestoni, Physocephalus sp. (larvae in cysts). In each helminth community P. maplestoni represented a core species and H. hanleyae was a secondary species. It is postulated that the helminth fauna infecting lizards of the Vanuatu Archipelago originated in Australia and Papua New Guinea and reached the archipelago by rafting; their establishment in Vanuatu was fortuitous.