Disjunct distribution of Szeptyckiella gen. nov. from New Caledonia and South China undermines the monophyly of Willowsiini (Collembola: Entomobryidae)

Morphology of scales is an important taxonomical character at all levels of Entomobryidae taxonomy. A new scaled genus of Collembola, Szeptyckiella gen. nov., and three new species are described: Szeptyckiella boulouparica sp. nov. and Szeptyckiella sinelloides sp. nov. from New Caledonia, and Szeptyckiella lii sp. nov. from South China. The genus, assigned to Willowsiini, is characterized by pointed scales on the body, eyes and pigment absent, antennal apical bulb absent, dens lacking spines and scales, and bidentate mucro with a short basal spine. It is closest to Hawinella from Hawaii but the latter possesses a falcate mucro. However, its morphological characteristics and its disjunct distribution raise a number of problems. Its widely disjunct distribution is difficult to explain in terms of palaeobiogeographical or more recent dispersal events. The new genus is similar to Sinella without consideration of scales, although both genera are placed in different tribes following the current supra-generic classification of Entomobryidae. We discuss other cases of paired genera differing only by the presence or absence of scales, and placed in either Willowsiini or Entomobryini. On this basis, we assume that scale presence could independently occur in the former tribe, questioning the monophyly of the tribe Willowsiini.     

Scale insects of the families Asterolecaniidae and Eriococcidae (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) in New Caledonia

The scale insect families Asterolecaniidae and Eriococcidae are discussed from New Caledonia. One new genus Oacoccus gen. nov., and a new species Oacoccus nothofagi sp. nov. on Nothofagus sp., are described in the Asterolecaniidae, and a new species Eriococcus millei sp. nov. is described in the Eriococcidae. A new genus Rhopalotococcus gen. nov., and two new species Rhopalotococcus dugdalei sp. nov. and Rhopalotococcus metrosideri sp. nov., are also described in the Eriococcidae. Both species induce leaf galls on Metrosideros sp. Keys are provided for all the New Caledonian genera and species in the families Asterolecaniidae and Eriococcidae.     

Shamshevia,a new genus of long-legged flies from Namibia (Diptera: Dolichopodidae: Diaphorinae)

The genus Shamshevia Grichanov, gen. nov. is described from Namibia to accommodate a new species, Shamshevia hoanibensis Grichanov sp. nov. Despite flattened posterior mesonotum, the new genus is placed in the subfamily Diaphorinae and is considered close to the genus Dactylonotus Parent, differing from the latter in peculiar characters of male antenna, wing and genitalia.     

Terrapotamon gen. nov., a new genus of freshwater crabs from Malaysia and Thailand,with description of a new species,Terrapotamon aipooae sp. nov. (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Potamidae)

A new genus, Terrapotamon gen. nov., is established to accomodate two species of freshwater crabs, Potamon abbotti Rathbun, 1898 from southern Thailand, and a new species, Terrapotamon aipooae sp. nov. from West Malaysia. Members of this genus are characterized by their inflated carapaces, very acutely triangular external orbital angles, and structure of their first male gonopods.     

Five new Polycladida (Platyhelminthes: Acotylea) species from the Aegean Sea with remarks on the prostatic structures

Five species of polyclads, Imogine melihertani sp. nov., Pseudoplanocera izmirensis gen. et sp. nov., Izmira cinari gen. et sp. nov., Izmira turkeyi sp. nov. and Pseudodiscocelis aegeanensis gen. et. sp. nov., were collected in Izmir Bay, Turkey, Aegean Sea. I. melihertani is characterized by an anchor-shaped seminal vesicle, penis papilla, and ciliated male and female atria. P. izmirensis possesses spermiducal bulbs, a free prostatic vesicle, cirrus bulb, armed cirrus and Lang's vesicle. The genus Izmira is established based on the presence of a penis rod, true seminal vesicle, an interpolated prostatic vesicle of atomata-type and vagina bulbosa. Izmira cinari has an elongated body; a pointed penis and the oviducts enter the vagina bulbosa separately. Izmira turkeyi is characterized by an oval body, rod-shaped penis and the oviducts join before entering the vagina. Pseudodiscocelis is characterized by prostatoid organs, a lobed penis and ciliated and glandular cells in the male antrum.     

An unusual,flagellum-bearing hydrobiid snail (Gastropoda: Rissooidea: Hydrobiidae) from Greece,with descriptions of a new genus and a new species

A new genus and a new species of Hydrobiidae, Agrafia wiktori sp. nov., from the Agrafa Mountains, northern Greece, are described based on the shell, protoconch, radula and male and female reproductive organs. In the protoconch sculpture and female reproductive organs A. wiktori resembles a typical member of Hydrobiidae Sadlerianinae, but the penis with tubular penial gland terminating within the flagellum and extending into the cephalic haemocoele has not been found in any other representative of Hydrobiidae. Instead, it is comparable with the penes and tubular penial glands of some non-hydrobiid Rissooidea (Bithyniidae, Bythinellidae, Amnicolidae, Emmericidae). Analysis of partial sequences of 18S ribosomal DNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit I mitochondrial DNA in A. wiktori place it in Hydrobiidae Sadlerianinae. The evolution of the bifid penis and tubular penial gland is discussed.     

A new genus and species of Conchaspididae (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) from Florida,remarkable in lacking legs

A new genus of Conchaspididae, Asceloconchaspis gen. nov., is described for Asceloconchaspis milleri sp. nov., a new species from Florida, USA. Unlike other conchaspidids, the adult female and second instar of the genus lack legs. The presence of legs is one of the important, distinguishing characters at present separating the Conchaspididae from the Diaspididae. However, the new genus also possesses well-developed antennae and has multilocular disc pores on the abdomen in the adult female; these distinctly conchaspidid characters are never found in the Diaspididae. Asceloconchaspis is closely related to Fagisuga Lindinger, a monotypic genus with primitive characters described from South America on Nothofagus. A key to the four known genera of Conchaspididae is provided, and the morphology and distribution of the Conchaspididae are discussed.     

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.     

New genera and species of the Synchelidium group (Amphipoda: Oedicerotidae) from Asia-North Pacific

Four new species and two new genera belonging to the family Oedicerotidae are reported from Korea and Vietnam. Two new genera, Orthomanus and Imbachoculodes are described, with three new species, namely Orthomanus koreanus gen. et sp. nov., Imbachoculodes namhaensis gen. et sp. nov. and Imbachoculodes vietnamensis gen. et sp. nov. The monotypic genus Orthomanus is characterized by the very short carpi and transverse palms of gnathopods 1 and 2, the reduced dactyli on pereopods 3–6, and the greatly enlarged distolateral spine-tooth on the outer plate of maxilla 1. Imbachoculodes has slender gnathopods 1 and 2 with elongated carpi, pereopods 3 and 4 with elongated dactyli, and a narrow basis of pereopod 7. The fourth new species, Sinoediceros hwanghaensis sp. nov. has a greatly reduced flagellum on antenna 2, a broadened meri on pereopods 3 and 4, and an elongated maxilliped outer plate. Keys are provided to 1) the North Pacific genera of the Synchelidium group, 2) species of Imbachoculodes, and 3) species of Sinoediceros.     

Depressorotunda gen. nov., a new remarkable Uropodina mite genus from South-East Asia with description of four new species (Acari: Mesostigmata)

A new genus Depressorotunda gen. nov. and four new species are described from South-East Asia, namely Depressorotunda malayana sp. nov. and Depressorotunda seticaudata sp. nov. from Malaysia, Depressorotunda thailandica sp. nov. from Thailand and Depressorotunda mirifica sp. nov. from Vietnam. A key to the species of the genus Depressorotunda is provided with 28 original drawings and scanning micrographs.     

A new genus and six new species of the Parabathynellidae (Bathynellacea,Syncarida) from the Kimberley region,Western Australia

Six new species of a new genus of the Parabathynellidae are described from the Kimberley Region, Western Australia. The erection of the new genus, Kimberleybathynella gen. nov., is based on the two‐segmented antenna, the partial fusion of the second and third segments of the maxilla, and the setal condition of the uropodal exopodite, where the outer seta is longer than the inner one. The one‐segmented exopodite of thoracopods I–VII and hemispherical form of male thoracopod VIII suggest the close relationship of Kimberleybathynella to the genus Atopobathynella.     

New species of cheilostomate Bryozoa collected by the US Antarctic Research Program

Four new species of cheilostomate Bryozoa are described in the genera Chartella, Ogivalia, Melicerita and Cellarinella. The circumArctic genus Chartella is recorded for the first time from the subAntarctic. Alloeoflustra gen. nov. is introduced for three endemic Antarctic Flustridae.     

A new genus of Parabathynellidae (Crustacea: Bathynellacea) in New South Wales,Australia

A new genus and species of the family Parabathynellidae, Octobathynella peelensis gen. nov. sp. nov., is described from New South Wales, Australia. The new genus displays several exclusive characters: a very large and distinctive male thoracopod VIII with one crest-like projection containing two lobules on the basipod; and four aesthetascs on segments six and seven of the antennule. It also has several combinations of characters that make it unique in the Parabathynellidae, specifically that: the antennule is eight-segmented (a new character in the Australian species); there are seven segments in the antenna; the labrum has 18–20 teeth; the exopod of thoracopod I has three to four segments and the exopod of thoracopod II has four segments; the endopod has one dorsal seta on the first and second segments and the epipod is absent on thoracopod I; pleopods are absent; the endopod of the male thoracopod VIII has two setae and the exopod has setules; there are 10–12 spines on the sympod, three or four spines on the endopod and five setae on the exopod of the uropod. The new genus and species is placed into context with all known Bathynellacea in Australia, and the biogeographic patterns are discussed for this ancient group of subterranean crustaceans.     

Synopsis of copepods associated with asteroid echinoderms,including new species from the Moluccas

Copepods associated with Asteroidea are listed, with their hosts and localities where found. Five new species and one new genus are included: Astericola carens sp. nov., Stellicola astrivagus sp. nov., Astroxynus choriasteris sp. nov., Chorioxynus moluccensis gen. nov., sp. nov., and Stellicomes bisphaerulifer sp. nov. New hosts and localities are recorded.     

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.     

A new earthworm genus Nouraguesia gen. nov. from French Guiana with description of two new species (Oligochaeta,Glossoscolecidae)

Nouraguesia gen. nov., consisting of three species, is described from Eastern Amazonia. Species belonging to this genus are middle-sized earthworms inhabiting, based on our experience, decomposing tree logs and space filled with detritus between leaf-axils and trunk (e.g. in some palm species). The new genus is morphologically similar to the genus Andiorrhinus, but differs from it by the presence of numerous caeca encircling the intestine in segment 27. The three species belonging to the newly established genus are known from state Amapa in Brazil (N. amaparis (Righi, 1971)); and French Guiana (N. parare sp. nov., N. souadae sp. nov.).     

The Cassidininae Hansen, 1905 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Sphaeromatidae) of Australia

The Cassidininae of Australia are revised. The status of the subfamily is assessed and it is concluded that, as presently constituted, the Cassidininae is an artificial taxon. It is maintained here as a taxon of convenience (sensu lato) until the other sphaeromatid subfamilies can be reassessed, but a new diagnosis (sensu stricto) is given. The genus Cassidina is redescribed. Three new genera are established: Agostodina gen. nov. (type species: A. munta sp. nov.), Apemosphaera gen. nov. (type species: A. naranagi sp. nov.) and Discidina gen. nov. (type species: D. banawarra sp. nov.). New diagnoses are provided for the genera Cassidina Milne Edwards, Chitonopsis Whitelegge, Cassidinidea Hansen, Paracassidina Baker, Syncassidina Baker and Platysphaera Holdich and Harrison. The genus Dies is placed in synonymy with Cassidinidea and an annotated list is given of all species of the genus. The following new species (excluding the new type species) are described: Chitonopsis booyoolie, Agostodina munta, Paracassidina anasilla, P. bakeri, P. bamarook, P. bilbie, P. cervina, P. dama, P. fuscina, P. incompta, P. kutyo, P. munna, P. petala, P. prolata, P. wurrook and Cassidinidea korpie. Keys to the Australian genera and species are given.