Calileuctra , a new genus, and two new species of stoneflies from California (Plecoptera: Leuctridae)

Calileuctra is proposed as new genus in the family Leuctridae, with Calileuctra ephemera designated as the type species. All stages of Calileuctra ephemera are descpribed. Calileuctra dobryi is described in the male and female stages. Both species inhabit Mediterranean climatic region of California. A phylogenetic analysis of the genera in the family Leuctridae is given, which places Calileuctra near the genus of Perlomyia .     

Hesperoperla hoguei, a new species of stonefly from California (Plecoptera: Perlidae)

A new species of Hesperoperla is named from northern California. The adult male and female, nymph, and egg are described and figured. Hesperoperla hoguei adds a second species to this previously monotypic genus.     

The first record of the genus Vejdovskybathynella Serban and Leclerc, 1984 (Syncarida,Bathynellacea, Bathynellidae) in the Iberian Peninsula: three new species

Three new species of the genus Vejdovskybathynella are described from caves in northern Spain. It is the first time that this genus has been documented in the Iberian Peninsula. Vejdovskybathynella edelweiss n. sp. has several unique features: the setal formula of the antenna (0/2+exp/2+0/1+0/0+0/2+2/4); the form of the segments and claws of the mandibular palp of the mandible of the male; exopod of the female thoracopod VIII similar in size to the endopod (exopod is always longer than the endopod); small frontal projection of the basipod of the male thoracopod VIII, large or very large is common; the form and size of the lobes of the male thoracopod VIII is unique; the second spine of the furcal rami 2.5 times longer than the first spine. Vejdovskybathynella caroloi n. sp. has a unique male thoracopod VIII with a spur in the exopod that is a feature unknown in the genus, and additionally, this species has the smallest endopod of the thoracopod VIII male of the entire genus; the presence of three aesthetascs in segments VI and VII of the antennule had not been observed in this genus until now; the form of the segments of the mandibular palp of the mandible of the male are unique; the distal spine of the sympod of the uropod is larger than in other species, whereas in the rest of the species of the genus they are equal in size. Vejdovskybathynella pascalis n. sp. is the smallest species of the genus and has two and three aesthetascs in segments VI and VII of the antennule, respectively; it is the only species of the genus that has one seta on segment I and two setae on segment IV of the antenna; it has a unique male thoracopod VIII with a small spur on the frontal projection of the basipod and with the endopod larger than all other species in spite of its small size; the basal spine of the sympod of the uropod is smaller than the other three.     

A taxonomic revision of the genus Stempellinella (Diptera: Chironomidae)

The species of the chironomid genus Stempellinella are revised, described, and figured, and keys to known larvae, pupae, and male and female adults are presented. Five species new to science are diagnosed and described. An emended generic diagnosis of Stempellinella is given and morphological differences from its putative sister genus Zavrelia are discussed. The partial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences (DNA barcodes) of 10 Stempellinella species are presented and the variation in genetic distances within and between species is compared. The results indicate that DNA barcodes are suitable molecular markers for identification of Stempellinella species. The following life stages and species are diagnosed and described: the larva, pupa, male, and female of S. brevis, S. chambiensis, S. ciliaris, S. edwardsi, S. fimbriata sp. n., S. flavidula, S. leptocelloides, S. saltuum, and S. truncata; the pupa, male, and female of S. reissi and S. tamaseptima; the larva, pupa, and male of Stempellinella boltoni sp. n.; the pupa and male of S. lamellata sp. n.; the male and female of S. coronata; and the male of S. apicula, S. brevilamellae, S. distincta sp. n., and S. sublettorum sp. n. Two pupal types are described but not formally named. The following changes of combination are made: Stempellina chambiensis and Stempellina truncata are transferred to the genus Stempellinella. Zavrelia inopinata is listed as a new junior synonym of Stempellinella ciliaris.     

Reflections on the genus Amaga Ogren and Kawakatsu 1990, and description of a new genus of land planarian (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Geoplanidae)

Amaga amagensis, the type species of the genus Amaga, and Amaga bogotensis are re-described. Detailed analysis of the morphology of A. amagensis revealed important taxonomic features, such as testes located dorsally to the supraintestinal parenchymal muscular layer, and secretory accumulations opening through the lateral margins of the body. These characters, as well as other morphological features, are discussed, culminating in an emendation of the generic diagnosis of Amaga. Amaga bogotensis exhibits a characteristic set of morphological features, namely an eversible penis, a male atrium lined with large musculosecretory papillae, and independent muscular coats around both male and female atrium. Therefore, a new genus is proposed for this species.     

New Notiodes semiaquatic weevil (Curculionidae) from sporocarps of Marsilea mollis (Marsileaceae) in southern Arizona, USA

A new species from the semiaquatic weevil genus, Notiodes sporocarpicus, which develops and pupates in the sporocarps of the water fern Marsilea mollis B.L. Rob. & Fernald, is described from cattle tanks in southeastern Arizona. This new species can be separated readily from the majority of the known species by its nearly straight rostrum, with its distinctive dorsally swollen base and attenuated apex. Its elongate and slender body will separate N. sporocarpicus from most species in the genus except N. aeratus, which lacks the characters above. The Texas species N. celatus resembles the new species but has strongly developed suberect curved setae that are not present in N. sporocarpicus. Included are habitus photos and line drawings of the male and female genitalia of the new species.     

First record of the subfamily Coelotinae in Laos,with review of Coelotinae embolus morphology and description of seven new species from Laos and Vietnam (Araneae,Amaurobiidae)

First records of Coelotinae are reported from Laos. Five new species of the genus Draconarius are described from the northern Luang Nam Tha Province: Draconarius bounnami sp. nov. (male), D. latidens sp. nov. (female), D. postremus sp. nov. (male, female), D. songi sp. nov. (male) and D. tabularis sp. nov. (female). In addition, two new Coelotinae species are described from Vietnam: D. hanoiensis sp. nov. (female) and D. huongsonensis sp. nov. (female). Of the 429 currently valid Coelotinae species, 154 of them have only females described (36%). The embolus characteristics of those with males described (275 species, 64%) are reviewed. Two characters have been found that might be informative for the estimation of phylogeny, and their congruence with the current Coelotinae classification system is discussed. One character is the point from which the embolus arises and another is the embolus shape.     

Leptandria gen.n., a monophyletic group of Neotropical aleocharine Staphylinidae (Coleoptera)

Based on external structural features, especially those of the mouthparts, and male and female genitalia, the aleocharine staphylinid genus Leptandria, new genus, is proposed and diagnosed. Three new species are also described, L. ashei, L. tishechkini and L. ecitophila, with a key to differentiate them and numerous illustrations of diagnostic features presented.     

Two new species of Chloroperlidae (Plecoptera) from California

Suwallia sierra and Sweltsa pisteri are described as new species in the family Chloroperlidae from California, USA. Illustrations of the male terminalia of both species and the female and egg of S. sierra are presented. In addition, detailed figures of the epiproct of 2 similar species, Sweltsa townsei and Sweltsa resima , are included. Diagnoses provided comparing the new taxa with related species. Observations indicate that S. sierra may belong to the same clade as the genus Neaviperla .     

A synopsis of the subterranean mealybug genus Neochavesia Williams and Granara de Willink (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae: Rhizoecinae)

The neotropical mealybug genus Neochavesia, associated with the ant genus Acropyga Roger, is discussed and placed in the tribe Xenococcini on the bases that it lacks dorsal ostioles, the distal end of the circulus is depressed and cup-shaped, and the third-instar female is a pupa. These are characters shared by Xenococcus Silvestri and Eumyrmococcus Silvestri, also in the tribe Xenococcini, and differ from those in the tribe Rhizoecini, the other tribe in the subfamily Rhizoecinae. Two new species, Neochavesia iwokramae sp. nov. and N. lapollai sp. nov., are described from Guyana, and the female pupal instar and adult male of N. lapollai and the adult male of N. caldasiae (Balachowsky) are described and illustrated. A key to adult females is provided.     

The sentinel crabs of the genus Chaenostoma (Stimpson, 1858) (Crustacea: Brachyura: Macrophthalmidae), with description of a new species and new records

The genus Chaenostoma (Stimpson, 1858) so far includes four distinct species, i.e. C. boscii (Audouin, 1826), C. lisae (Poupin and Bouchard, 2010), C. punctulatus Miers, 1884, and C. sinuspersici (Naderloo and Türkay, 2011). Chaenostoma java n. sp. is here described as a fifth species from Java (Indonesia) easily distinguished from its congeners by the features of the male first pleopod, the penultimate segment of the male abdomen, and the unique female gonopore. The new species is most similar to C. lisae, but they differ in the morphology of the male chelipeds and female gonopores. Chaenostoma lisae is redescribed and recorded from Madagascar, Mayotte I. and New Caledonia. An identification key for the genus is provided.     

A revision and phylogenetic re-evaluation of the family Schizopodidae (Coleoptera,Buprestoidea)

The Schizopodidae (formerly subfamily Schizopodinae, family Buprestidae) is elevated to family status, based on a review of its morphology including wing venation, male and female genitalia, larvae, and also a cladistic analysis of in-group and out-group comparisions. Two tribes are recognized: Schizopodini LeConte with one genus, Schizopus LeConte and Dystaxiini Théry with two genera: Dystaxia LeConte and Glyptoscelimorpha Horn. The genus Schizopus contains two species: S. laetus LeConte and S. sallei Horn with one new subspecies, S. sallei nigricans Nelson. The genus Dystaxia includes two species: D. murrayi LeConte, and D. elegans Fall. The genus Glyptoscelimorpha is separated into two subgenera: G. (s. str.) with two species, G. marmorata Horn, and G. viridis Chamberlin; and G. (Dystaxiella) Knull, new status, with one species, G. (D.) juniperae (Knull), new combination, with a new subspecies, G. (D.) juniperae viridiceps Nelson. All taxa are described and information on variation, type localities, distribution, biology, and comparisons are given for each species. Keys to taxa for tribes to subspecies are provided. Illustrations for all species, including habitus, male and female genitalia and other parts, as well as cladograms of relationships are presented. Lectotypes are designated for the following: Yermoella helferi Obenberger, Dystaxia elegans Fall and Glyptoscelimorpha marmorata Horn. Tables of taxa, characters and character states used in the cladistic analysis are included.     

Two new species of Neosophia Guimarães, 1982 and first description of female of Neoeuantha sabroskyi Guimarães, 1982 (Diptera: Tachinidae)

Neosophia Guimarães is a monotypic genus with Neotropical distribution that belongs to the tribe Sophiini. Neosophia guimaraesi sp. nov. from Amazonas, Brazil, and Neosophia bispinosa sp. nov. from Costa Rica are new species described for this genus. The female of Neoeuantha sabroskyi Guimarães, 1982 is described for the first time. First-instar larvae and illustrations of the female terminalia are described and illustrated for both new species.     

The first record of Bathynellacea from Thailand: a new genus and species of Parabathynellidae (Crustacea: Syncarida)

A new genus and species of the family Parabathynellidae, Siambathynella laorsriae gen. nov. et sp. nov. is described from Thailand. The new genus displays an exclusive character: a distinctive male thoracopod VIII with a row of denticles on the basipod. The new species also displays a unique combination of morphological characters, including a seven-segmented antennule, seven-segmented antenna, sexual dimorphism on the antennule, exopod of thoracopod I one-segmented, exopod of thoracopod II–VII two-segmented, male thoracopod VIII lacking basipodal seta, female thoracopod VIII with two setae, lacking pleopods, sympod of the uropod with inhomonomous row of spines, and endopod of uropod with a spinous distal process and a large distal spine ornamented with rows of setules. This is the first record of Bathynellacea (family Parabathynellidae) in Thailand, extending the distributional range of this taxon in Asia.     

The female genitalia of Gonioctena,subgenus Spartoxena (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

The taxonomy of the eight species of Gonioctena Chevrolat belonging to the subgenus Spartoxena Motschulsky is mostly based on male genitalia due to the unsuitability of external characters (i.e. coloration patterns) for identification. In order to provide similar diagnostic characters for both genders, the female genitalia of the eight species are described and illustrated. Considering the lack of spermathecae within the genus, the shapes of tergite 8, and sternites 8 and 9 have been explored as possible diagnostic characters. These structures present marked differences between taxa and simultaneously stability among individuals of each species, and thus they are very useful for taxonomic purposes. A key to the females of the subgenus Spartoxena is provided, and figures of tergite 9, and sternites 8 and 9 of each species are included.     

New genera of pseudocerotid flatworms (Platyhelminthes; Polycladida) from Australian and Papua New Guinean coral reefs

Two new genera, Maiazoon nov. gen. and Phrikoceros nov. gen. are described respectively from Madang, eastern Papua New Guinea and the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. The monotypic genus Maiazoon resembles Nymphozoon Hyman, 1959 since it possesses multiple male reproductive systems and multiple female pores although the latter genus lacks a penial stylet and sucker. Phrikoceros, with five new species, morphologically resembles Pseudobiceros although it possesses only one male reproductive system as found in Pseudoceros.