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     

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     

Description of the aberrant Leptopilina lasallei n. sp., with an updated phylogeny of Leptopilina Förster (Hymenoptera: Figitidae: Eucoilinae)

ABSTRACT

In the search for native Asian parasitoids of Drosophila suzukii, the notorious spotted-wing Drosophila (SWD), an odd new species of Eucoilinae was discovered. Leptopilina lasallei sp. nov. is herein described and diagnosed relative to other eucoilines associated with drosophilid hosts. Morphologically, L. lasallei is somewhat aberrant within Leptopilina; phylogenetically, L. lasallei is sister group to the core Leptopilina. In the process of investigating L. lasallei, a de novo molecular phylogeny of Leptopilina was generated and is included here. The integrated approach used for the characterisation of L. lasallei, and the resulting phylogeny of Leptopilina, produced data useful to select parasitoid species for SWD biological control.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:402D504A-4616-4524-85D7-1C13A6276F06 http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:402D504A-4616-4524-85D7-1C13A6276F06     

Two new species of Xironogiton (Clitellata: Branchiobdellida) from western North America

Xironogiton, a genus of crayfish worm (order Branchiobdellida), is historically endemic to North America. To date, six species of Xironogiton have been described, including five and one from areas west and east of the Continental Divide, respectively. Recent collections of the crayfishes Pacifastacus connectens and Pacifastacus leniusculus from the endorheic Harney Basin in south-eastern Oregon, USA, revealed the presence of two previously unknown Xironogiton species, which we describe herein. Discovery and characterisation of Xironogiton bibendumi sp. nov. and Xironogiton malheurensis sp. nov. suggests that much work remains to understand branchiobdellidan diversity in western North America, and additional targeted sampling is needed to determine intra- and interspecific variation, and thus define species limits.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B24AA844-4A73-48F2-B269-7CD08DC8389A http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F1787846-BF04-44A6-949B-551EE3453F26     

Description of two new Quadrastichus (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) reared from Litchiomyia chinensis (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) on commercial lychee (Litchi chinensis; Sapindaceae) in Taiwan

ABSTRACT

The lychee gall midge, Litchiomyia chinensis Yang and Luo (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), invaded Taiwan in 2008. This fly induces blister-galls on the leaves of lychee, Litchi chinensis Sonn (Sapindaceae), and causes significant yield losses. At present, its natural enemy complex is largely undocumented; thus, the overall aim of ongoing research is to investigate the natural enemies on L. chinensis in different areas and seasons in Taiwan. We describe two species that parasitise this gall midge: Quadrastichus lasallei, sp. n. and Quadrastichus johnlasallei, sp. n. that demonstrate biocontrol potential of this pest.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A5E93071-D935-4F60-BCF9-225C50389ABF http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:261FC598-03CC-44A1-9379-F665B2DF0AA0     

Integrative taxonomic revision of Dendrobaena veneta (Rosa, 1886) sensu lato with description of a new species and resurrection of Dendrobaena succinta (Rosa, 1905) (Megadrili: Lumbricidae)

Dendrobaena veneta is one of the most widely used compost worms now distributed all over Europe and has been described under several synonymous names. Besides the typical stripy red specimens, another form bearing pinkish pigmentation also exists, mostly found in natural habitats in the East Mediterranean. Here we provide the first integrative taxonomic analysis of D. veneta, including some closely related species. Both the morphological and molecular results highly support the resurrection of D. succinta, a former synonym of D. veneta. In addition, we describe a peculiar new species, D. karacadagi sp. n. from Anatolia, and prove the highly homoplasious character of the cross section of the longitudinal musculature.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:336D3F7A-AEA1-465B-9096-03070C761A6A     

Colour and size reveal hidden diversity of Necturus (Caudata: Proteidae) from the Gulf Coastal Plain of the United States

ABSTRACT

Recent data from the mitochondrial genome reveal six lineages of Gulf Coast Waterdogs traditionally classified as Necturus beyeri. Here, we use patterns of colour and body size, along with previously published data, to reveal a large, heavily spotted phenotype with an unstriped larva possessing numerous white spots; we re-describe N. beyeri to correspond to this phenotype. We also reveal a small, weakly spotted phenotype possessing an unstriped larva lacking numerous white spots. This phenotype characterises the Apalachicola and Escambia lineages, which current evidence suggests are paraphyletic. We reject taxonomies that place these two lineages in N. lodingi because the type specimen of this species appears to be a melanistic member of N. beyeri. Therefore, we describe the Apalachicola and Escambia lineages as independent new species.

http://ww.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C8508CCB-F54F-4DC8-B61D-56966A3F1CC8

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:F044B2CC-55F0-4FFA-A312-9CAD9E73CD69     

Revalidation of Obidosus Roewer, 1913 and description of two new cave-dwelling species of Protimesius Roewer, 1913 from Brazil (Opiliones: Stygnidae)

The penial and tarsal morphology of Protimesius is studied and morphological data support the revalidation of Obidosus with the subsequent new combinations (20 species) and restored combinations (two species). Emended diagnoses are proposed for both genera, and two cave-dwelling new species of Protimesius are described and illustrated: P. lucifer sp. nov. (Pará state) and P. orcus sp. nov. (Ceará state). An identification key to the species of Protimesius and distributional maps of Obidosus and Protimesius are provided.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C4E9C04D-A646-41E4-AE59-B6D0C951DEAB     

Contributions to some Corydiinae genera (Blattodea: Corydioidea: Corydiidae) from China

New findings on Chinese Corydiinae are presented and new taxa are described and illustrated: Ctenoblatta impubis gen. and sp. nov., Minicorydia maoxiana gen. and sp. nov. and Ergaula nepalensis (Saussure) is newly recorded from China. The occurrence of two species of Polyphaga Brullé, P. plancyi Bolívar and P. obscura Chopard, in China are confirmed. A key to Chinese Corydiinae genera is provided as well as checklists for extant Polyphaga and Ergaula.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F428E561-2A57-4DAD-8855-5879AB4599FB     

Description of Torymus lasallei,sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Torymidae), a species with an unusual ovipositor

ABSTRACT

Torymus lasallei, sp. nov., a species with an unusual ovipositor, reared from galls of Amphibolips spp. (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) on Quercus spp. (Lobatae section) from Mexico, is described. The placement of this new species within the genus Torymus, and the morphology and function of its ovipositor, are discussed.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0B9F9B11-DD95-465D-A98C-53742A8099CC     

Two new Pontocyprididae (Ostracoda) species from Korea

ABSTRACT

Pontocyprididae is a diverse ostracod family with over 300 species described so far. It has a worldwide distribution in various marine ecosystems. I describe two new species belonging to Ekpontocypris Maddocks, 1969 and Schedopontocypris Maddocks, 1969. They have been collected from shallow littoral and interstitial waters from the east coast of Korea. This is the first record of the family from this country. Two new species differ from their closest congeners mostly by male sexual characters, including morphology of the hemipenis and prehensile palps. Taxonomic keys to living representatives of Ekpontocypris and genera of Pontocyprididae are provided.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1B3664EA-4999-4625-81A3-9BE31D11F517http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A18697AE-F331-4E10-B1E6-866752F83ADA     

Lasalleistichus a new genus of Tetrastichinae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) from the Neotropical region,including four new species

ABSTRACT

A new genus, Lasalleistichus, is described based on material from the Neotropical region (Brazil, Costa Rica, Peru). This new genus includes four species: L. albiclava, L. albifasciatus, L. fuscicoxa, L. longicaulis, all spp. n. and described here. The group is mainly female based, males are known only for L. albiclava. There is no biological information available for this group.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:82E08F36-E2C4-42FF-AD12-11B49C272AC6     

A new unique species of Mucroseius Lindquist, 1962 (Acari: Mesostigmata: Melicharidae) mites associated with sawyer beetles (Cerambycidae: Monochamus Dejean, 1821) from the Palaearctic Region

Adult females of a new species, Mucroseius insolitus sp. nov., are described from the metathoracic spiracular atria of the Black pine sawyer beetle Monochamus galloprovincialis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) from Asian Russia (Altai Republic and Tyumen Province). The new species differs from all congeners by the absence of the otherwise autapomorphic distal flangelike process (mucro) of the fixed chela. The genus Mucroseius is recorded for the first time in Russia, and its generic concept is reviewed.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:AB3BDB6A-63C3-4970-A192-A3C539C48BA1     

A new scale insect host family (Hemiptera: Asterolecaniidae) for Aphytis (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) in China

Aphytis wasps are among the most important natural enemies of scale insects, and armoured scale insects (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) have generally been considered as the only hosts of the genus Aphytis. Host records from non-diaspidids have been considered erroneous by most authors. A new scale insect host, Bambusaspis notabilis (Russell), however, belonging to Asterolecaniidae (Hemiptera), has been found as the host of a new Aphytis species in our field investigations. Aphytis bambusaspis Wang, Huang & Polaszek sp. nov. is described and illustrated, and detailed photographs of the key characters of the female and male of the new species are provided. Type specimens are deposited in Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China and Natural History Museum, London, UK. Previously published host records of Asterolecaniidae are reviewed.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0BE6DB64-CB75-466A-B974-8A620FAFEA1E