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In this study, the fauna of Saudi Arabian Dermestinae (Coleoptera, Dermestidae) is summarised. Six Dermestes species and single species from two Marioutini genera, Mariouta and Rhopalosilpha, are reported. Dermestes (Dermestinus) undulatus Brahm, 1790 and Dermestes (Dermestes) haemorrhoidalis Küster, 1852 are newly recorded from Saudi Arabia. A list of Dermestinae species from the Arabian Peninsula is provided with their distributions.

The Niphta Theischinger fauna of South America is revised to include 11 species, nine of which are described as new to science (N. acus Pivar, sp. nov., N. bifurcata Pivar & Moulton, sp. nov., N. bispinosa Pivar & Sinclair, sp. nov., N. brunnea Pivar, sp. nov., N. courtneyi Pivar, sp. nov., N. daniellae Pivar, sp. nov., N. downesi Pivar, sp. nov., N. eurydactyla Pivar, sp. nov., N. mapuche Pivar, sp. nov.). The genus Niphta is redefined, both previously described Chilean species are redescribed, N. halteralis (Edwards) and N. nudipennis (Edwards), and females are described or redescribed where possible. The first descriptions of the immature stages of South American Niphta are provided, which represent a new larval morphotype in Thaumaleidae, as larvae and pupae possess ventral adhesive structures. Furthermore, these larvae were collected from vegetation rather than rocky substrates. Illustrations and micrographs are provided for all species, and scanning electron microscopy images are included for select immatures. A key to species, distribution maps, and discussions regarding phylogenetic affinities and habitat are also included.

Research on amphibians and their conservation have gained worldwide attention, as the group includes the highest number of threatened and Data Deficient species when compared to other vertebrates. However, amphibians have long been neglected in wildlife conservation, management decisions, policy making, and research agendas in Pakistan. In this paper, an annotated checklist of the 21 amphibian species of Pakistan, a key to their identification, and detailed discussions on variation in species, including the genera Minervarya and Sphaerotheca, are provided. We found a statistically significant difference in the morphometric measurements of males but non-significant difference in the females of the two forms (rusty dorsum and dotted dorsum) of S. maskeyi. Some genera, such as Microhyla, Uperodon, Minervarya, Allopaa, Chrysopaa, Euphlyctis, Nanorana, and Sphaerotheca, in Pakistan are in need of additional data for molecular and morphological comparisons with taxa in other South Asian countries. The predicaments of amphibian research in Pakistan are discussed, gaps identified, and suggestions are made. Although the occurrence of chytrid fungus in Pakistan is predicted of low likelihood, a lack of data merits studying the prevalence of the fungus, particularly in the northern regions of the country which exhibit complex and dynamic ecosystems. It is recommended that systematic and coordinated surveys are conducted throughout the country to build a database of species occurrences and distributions. Additionally, the monitoring of wild populations and threat mitigation, as well as appropriate legislation, are suggested as long-term measures. By adopting an inclusive wildlife conservation approach in Pakistan, amphibians could be integrated into wildlife conservation and management efforts.

We describe a new species of dung beetle,Epactoides giganteussp. nov., from a single female specimen allegedly collected in the 19thcentury on Réunion island and recently found at the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris. This species differs from other species ofEpactoidesby larger size and a set of other distinctive morphological characters.Epactoides giganteussp. nov.is the first native dung beetle (Scarabaeinae) of Réunion, and its discovery expands the known area of distribution of the genusEpactoides, which was hitherto believed to be endemic to Madagascar. Like other taxa from Madagascar and peripheral islands (e.g., Comoro, Seychelles, Mascarenes),E. giganteussp. nov.may have reached Réunion by over-water dispersal. Given the rapid loss of biodiversity on Réunion island and the fact that no additional specimens were re-collected over the last two centuries, it is very likely thatE. giganteussp. nov.has gone extinct. However, we have unconfirmed evidence that the holotype ofE. giganteussp. nov.might be a mislabeled specimen from Madagascar, which would refute the presence of native dung beetles on Réunion. We discuss both hypotheses about the specimen origin and assess the systematic position ofE. giganteussp. nov.by examining most of the described species of MadagascanEpactoides. Additionally, we provide a brief overview of the dung beetle fauna of Mascarene Archipelago.

An overview of the Estonian terrestrial isopod fauna is given, based on literature data and material collected from 1984 to 2021. The identified material consisted of 10915 specimens belonging to 14 species and collected from 172 localities throughout Estonia. In combination with previous data from the literature data, there are now reliable records of 16 species of woodlice from Estonia. Two species, viz. Platyarthrus hoffmannseggii Brandt, 1833 and Hyloniscus riparius (C. Koch, 1838), are new for the fauna. The latter has probably colonised Estonia recently and range expansions have been reported elsewhere. The data on Philoscia muscorum (Scopoli, 1763) are dubious, and this species is currently excluded from the Estonian list.

Three new species of the genus Araeopteron Hampson, 1893: A. dawaisp. nov., A. medogensissp. nov. and A. tibetasp. nov. are described from Motuo (= Medog) County of the Xizang Autonomous Region (= Tibet), China. The imagines as well as the male genitalia are illustrated. A checklist of the 45 species of the genus Araeopteron in the world fauna is presented, including recently and presently described species.

Fourteen species of Nazeris Fauvel, 1873 are reported for the Nanling Mountain Range, China. Four of them are described as new: N. xingmini Lin & Hu, sp. nov. (Guangdong, Jiangxi), N. huaiweni Lin & Hu, sp. nov. (Guangdong), N. meihuaae Lin & Hu, sp. nov. (Guangdong, Jiangxi) and N. lichongi Lin & Hu, sp. nov. (Hunan). An identification key to the Nazeris species reported for the Nanling Mountains, and a map showing their distribution are provided.

A comprehensive annotated checklist of the ladybeetle species of Portugal, including the Azores and Madeira archipelagos, is presented. The Coccinellidae fauna comprises a total of 101 species: 83 from the Mainland, 39 from Madeira, and 32 from the Azores. The listed species are distributed among 2 sub-families and 13 tribes: within the subfamily Microweiseinae, Madeirodulini (1 species), Serangiini (2 species), and within the subfamily Coccinellinae, Azyini (1 species), Chilocorini (4 species), Coccidulini (7 species), Coccinellini (30 species), Epilachnini (4 species), Hyperaspidini (7 species), Noviini (2 species), Platynaspini (1 species), Scymnini (37 species), Stethorini (3 species), and Sticholotidini (2 species). The Portuguese fauna comprises 10 exotic species: 5 present in the Mainland, 7 in Madeira, and 6 in the Azores. Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) from Madeira, Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (Linnaeus, 1758) from the Azores, Delphastus catalinae (Horn, 1895) from the Azores and Madeira, Nephus (Geminosipho) reunioni (Fürsch, 1974) and Nephus (Nephus) voeltzkowi Weise, 1910 from Madeira and Microserangium sp. from the Mainland, are reported for the first time. Some species are considered doubtful records, as explained in the text. These results were obtained by compiling information on the available literature regarding ladybeetle species on the Portuguese mainland and insular territories, and original data. Thanks are due to Claudio Canepari for helping in the identification of Microserangium sp. and Jaroslav Vetrovec of Harmonia axyridis Pallas from Madeira. This study was financed by FEDER in 85% and by Azorean Public funds by 15% through Operational Program Azores 2020, under the following projects AZORESBIOPORTAL -PORBIOTA (ACORES-01-0145-FEDER-000072), and under the project ECO2 -TUTA (ACORES-01-0145-FEDER-000081). The Forest Research Centre is funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia I.P. (FCT), Portugal (UIDB/00239/2020). Thanks are also due to FCT/MCES for financial support to CESAM (UIDB/50017/2020+UIDP/50017/2020) through national funds, and the co-funding by the FEDER, within the PT2020 Partnership Agreement and Compete 2020. OMCCA is funded by national funds (OE), through FCT, in the scope of the framework contract foreseen in the numbers 4, 5 and 6 of the article 23, of the Decree-Law 57/2016, of August 29, changed by Law 57/2017, of July 19. AM was supported by the "Laboratoires d'Excellence" LabEx TULIP (ANR-10LABX-41). The Open Access of this manuscript was supported by the project FCTUIDB/00329/2020-2024. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

The current work represents summarised data on the bee fauna in Serbia from previous publications, collections, and field data in the period from 1890 to 2020. A total of 706 species from all six of the globally widespread bee families is recorded; of the total number of recorded species, 314 have been confirmed by determination, while 392 species are from published data. Fourteen species, collected in the last three years, are the first published records of these taxa from Serbia: Andrena barbareae (Panzer, 1805), A. clarkella (Kirby, 1802), A. fulvicornis (Schenck, 1853), A. intermedia (Thomson, 1870), A. lapponica (Zetterstedt, 1838), A. pandellei (Pérez, 1895), A. paucisquama (Noskiewicz, 1924), A. simillima (Smith, 1851), Panurginus herzi (Morawitz, 1892), Epeoloides coecutiens (Fabricius, 1775), Nomada leucophthalma (Kirby, 1802), Chelostoma nasutum (Pérez, 1895), Hoplitis claviventris (Thomson, 1872), and Dasypoda pyrotrichia (Förster, 1855). Almost all the species recorded so far in Serbia belong to the West-Palaearctic biogeographical region, except Megachile sculpturalis (Smith, 1853), which is an alien invasive species native to East Asia. According to the European Red List of bees, 221 species listed in this paper were assessed as Data Deficient; threatened species mostly belong to the families Apidae with 13 species, Colletidae with eight species, and Halictidae with five species. This study contributes to the knowledge of the distribution of bee species in Europe. The present work provides a baseline for future research of wild bee diversity in Serbia and neighbouring regions at the local and regional levels, and a basis for their conservation.

The Selva Zoque region is characterized by a great variety of ecosystems for which there is little information about reptile species diversity and their conservation status. This study is the first assessment of the species richness, composition, and conservation status of reptiles of this region. Additionally, this information is compared with that of seven other tropical regions in northern Mesoamerica. In total, 141 native reptile species belonging to 81 genera and 29 families are recorded for the Selva Zoque region. Sixty species (42% of the total) recorded in Selva Zoque are in high-risk categories according to the Mexican Ministry of the Environment, the highest number for the Mexican regions of Mesoamerica. According to the IUCN, six species are in high-risk categories, seven species are in Data Deficient, and 23 (16%) have not been evaluated yet. According to the Environmental Vulnerability Scores approach, 28 species (20%) are in the high vulnerability category. The Selva Zoque species composition is most similar to Los Tuxtlas and Lacandona regions, and most dissimilar to Sian Ka´an Biosphere Reserve. The reptilian fauna of Selva Zoque has a distinctive composition, with the highest number (11 species) of endemic reptiles in the northern Mesoamerican, and species from two biogeographic provinces: the Gulf of Mexico and the Mexican Pacific Coast. These results indicate that the Selva Zoque is the most diverse region in native reptile species in northern Mesoamerica, highlighting it as extremely important for the conservation of the reptile fauna at local (southern Mexico) and regional levels (northern Mesoamerica).

The natural history of a cerrado snake community in a protected area in southeastern Brazil (Santa Bárbara Ecological Station; SBES) is described. A visual guide and an identification key are also provided to assist researchers and local people in identifying snakes in that region. Sampling was performed through pitfall traps, time-constrained search, accidental encounters, and observations by local people for two years, which corresponded to 240 days of sampling. Among the 388 individuals found in the field, 33 snake species belonging to 21 genera of seven families were recorded. Most species were restricted or found at least once in non-forest vegetation types (campo sujo, campo cerrado, and cerrado sensu stricto) and a few were restricted to forest habitats (cerradão). Our results show that most species (1) occupy open areas; (2) present both diurnal and nocturnal activity; (3) are primarily terrestrial; (4) include lizards, mammals and/or anurans in the diet; (5) present seasonal reproductive activity; and (6) use mainly visually oriented defensive tactics. Despite its small size (3,154 ha), the SBES harbours preserved habitats and a rich and typical Cerrado snake fauna, including threatened species. Furthermore, most of the SBES snakes occur in non-forest environments (54%) and some species are sensitive to habitat disturbance.

Canopy fogging was used to sample the diversity of bark and ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) at two western Amazonian rainforest sites in Ecuador. Sampling was conducted by Dr Terry Erwin and assistants from 1994–2006 and yielded 1158 samples containing 2500 scolytine specimens representing more than 400 morphospecies. Here, we analyze a subset of these data representing two ecological groups: true bark beetles (52 morphospecies) and ambrosia beetles (69 morphospecies). A high percentage of these taxa occurred as singletons and doubletons and their species accumulation curves did not reach an asymptote. Diversity estimates placed the total scolytine species richness for this taxon subset present at the two sites between 260 and 323 species. The α-diversity was remarkably high at each site, while the apparently high β-diversity was an artifact of undersampling, as shown by a Monte Carlo resampling analysis. This study demonstrates the utility of canopy fogging for the discovery of new scolytine taxa and for approximate diversity assessment, but a substantially greater sampling effort would be needed for conclusive alpha as well as beta diversity estimates.

Twenty species of Libnotes (Laosa) Edwards, 1926 are known worldwide and three are known from China so far. Here, two species of Laosa are added to the Chinese fauna, of which L. (L.) baiyunensissp. nov. is described and illustrated as new to science, and L. (L.) fuscinervis Brunetti, 1912 is newly recorded from China. Morphologically, the new species is most similar to L. (L.) charmosyne (Alexander, 1958) but can be distinguished by the pleura of the thorax, the relative position of the additional cross veins in cell r3 and r5, and the details of the male genitalia. A key to the world species of Laosa is presented.

The fish fauna from the Lower Iguaçu River and tributaries upstream of the Iguaçu Falls, the last free-flowing river stretch, were investigated. Twenty five sites in tributaries and the main channel were sampled between 2010 and 2016 using several kinds of fishing gear. The species were categorized according to their size, origin, and conservation status. Species richness and abundance in the main channel and tributaries were compared. In total, 87,702 specimens were recorded, comprising 76 species, 25 families, 53 genera, and eight orders. Characiformes and Siluriformes were the richest orders, representing 92% of the total specimens; Characidae, Cichlidae, Pimelodidae, and Loricariidae were the richest families. The fish fauna was composed of small and medium-sized species and included endemic (42%), autochthonous (24%), allochthonous (21%), and exotic (9%) species, as well as hybrids (4%). Significant differences in the relative numerical abundance of species were found among sites. Ancistrus mullerae and Rhamdia branneri (endemic) were indicator species for tributaries inside of Iguaçu National Park (INP), while Phalloceros harpagos (autochthonous) and Ictalurus punctatus (exotic) for tributaries outside of INP and Odontesthes bonariensis (allochthonous) for the main channel. The last dam-free stretch of the Lower Iguaçu River and tributaries upstream the Iguaçu Falls exhibits a rich endemic fish fauna, including some rare, endangered species (Steindachneridion melanodermatum, Gymnogeophagus taroba, and Psalidodon gymnogenys). These findings are essential to predict and understand the effects caused by the new Baixo Iguaçu Hydroelectric Power Plant and highlight the importance of tributaries and Iguaçu National Park for conservation of endemic species.

In this study, the Saudi Arabian Thorictinae beetle species,Thorictus riyadhensisHáva & Abdel-Dayem,sp. nov.,T. shadensisHáva & Abdel-Dayem,sp. nov.,T. sharafiHáva & Abdel-Dayem,sp. nov.,T. hanifahensisHáva & Abdel-Dayem,sp. nov.are described, illustrated, and compared with related species. Three other species:T. castaneusGermar, 1834;T. foreliWasmann, 1894; andT. peyerimhoffiChobaut, 1904 are excluded from the fauna of Saudi Arabia. A list of Thorictinae species from the Arabian Peninsula is provided.

Seven new species of the genus Exocelina Broun, 1886 are described from three different mountain ranges of New Guinea: E. fojasp. nov., E. riberaisp. nov., E. apisteftisp. nov., and E. waafsp. nov. from the Foja Mountains; E. hudsonisp. nov. from the Cyclops Mountains; E. ekpliktikisp. nov. and E. oraiasp. nov. from Wano Land. All of them are placed into the E. ekari group based on the structure of their male genitalia. The species are characteristic dytiscid elements of the fauna of northern cost and the western part of central orogen of New Guinea. Two taxonomic notes are presented: Exocelina athesphati is a correct name for the recently described Exocelina athesphatos Shaverdo et al., 2020; Exocelina bacchus Balke, nom. nov. is a replacement name for Exocelina bacchusi (Balke, 1998), formerly Copelatus (Papuadytes) bacchusi Balke, 1998, a junior homonym of Copelatus bacchusi Wewalka, 1981.

An annotated checklist of the Chrysididae from Mongolia is provided. A revision of the bibliographical data is provied, since most of the collecting localities published for “Mongolia” refer to places currently located in China. The known Mongolian cuckoo wasp fauna counts 90 species in 18 genera and two subfamilies. Four genera and 57 species are recorded for the first time, including two species here described as new for science: Cleptes mongolicus Rosa, Halada & Agnoli, sp. nov. (Dornod) and Spinolia spinosa Rosa & Halada, sp. nov. (Bayankhongor).

Copepods are well studied in South Korea, with the exception of marine non-parasitic cyclopoids, and especially cyclopinids; only three species were found so far here, and only one of them is endemic. A survey of intertidal interstitial faunas from sandy beaches revealed four endemic members of the genus Cyclopina Claus, 1863, which represents the first record of the largest cyclopinid genus in South Korea. A detailed study of their morphology revealed numerous differences, including in rarely studied cuticular organs. Some of these micro-characters could easily be homologised and showed little intraspecific variability, which might prove invaluable for matching sexes and reconstructing phylogenetic relationships. Cyclopina busanensissp. nov. is described from both sexes collected near Busan (South Coast of South Korea), and is most similar to the only congener from Japan: C. kiraensis Horomi, 1984. Cyclopina koreanasp. nov. is described from both sexes collected near Gangneung (East Coast), and has no close relatives among currently known species. Cyclopina curtijejusp. nov. is described from two females from Jeju (off South Coast); it is possibly closely related to C. smirnovi Herbst, 1982, but the latter is known from a single male from the Russian Far East. Cyclopina widosp. nov. is described from both sexes from Wido (West Coast), and shows numerous reductions in segmentation and armature of appendages, most of them probably a consequence of its diminutive size. A table of 26 discrete and continuous characters commonly used in the taxonomy of this group is provided for 48 valid species and subspecies of Cyclopina.

Only seven species of the genus Tipula Linnaeus were previously known to occur in Laos. Here one new species is added to the fauna of Laos, Tipula (Nippotipula) champasakensissp. nov.Tipula (unplaced) cladomera Alexander, 1936 is designated as a synonym of T. (unplaced) reposita Walker, 1848, syn. nov. A key to species of the genus Tipula from Laos is presented.

Celaenorrhinus pyrrha de Nicéville, 1889, a rare species of Hesperiidae previously known to be distributed from northeastern India to Indochina, is reported from southwestern Yunnan and southwestern Chongqing, China. A 658 bp COI gene sequence of this species is published for the first time. Although Chongqing is obviously isolated from the main distribution range, morphological characters of the specimens from this locality do not indicate a subspecies differentiation. Another rare taxon, C. munda munda (Moore, 1884), is also recorded from China for the first time based upon a male specimen from Cuona County in the Tibet Autonomous Region. This is the second specimen of C. munda from China, over 100 years after the holotype of C. munda joka Evans, 1949. The genitalia of both species are illustrated and described. Some taxonomic notes and a distribution map are provided as well.

Thailand has a great diversity of ant fauna as a zoogeographical crossroads and biodiversity hotspot. The last publication presenting a Thai ant checklist was published in 2005. In the present paper, based on an examination of museum specimens and published records, a comprehensive and critical species list of Thai ants is synthesized. Currently, 529 valid species and subspecies in 109 genera among ten subfamilies are known from Thailand with their diversity and distribution within 77 provinces presented and assigned to six geographical regions. Furthermore, Thailand is the type locality for 81 ant species. Forty-one species are here newly recorded for Thailand with photographs illustrating these species. The checklist provides information on distribution and a comprehensive bibliography. This study will also serve as a guide for the upper northeast and central Thailand, which are poorly sampled; a comprehensive reference list relating to endemic taxa and localities where conservation is an important priority, thus an essential resource for policy makers and conservation planners concerned with the management of insect diversity in Thailand; and a list of exotic ant species found in Thailand, which could possibly impact the ecological balance.

Although there is scientific consensus on most of the major biogeographic regions in the world, the demarcation of the area connecting Southeast Asia with Australia and Oceania remains debated. Two candidate boundaries potentially explain faunistic diversity patterns in the regions: Lydekker’s and Wallace’s lines. The islands in between both ‘lines’ are jointly termed Wallacea, with Sulawesi as the largest landmass. We surveyed Dacini fruit flies (Tephritidae: Dacinae) in Sulawesi between 2016 and 2019 using traps baited with male lures, resulting in 4,517 collected flies. We identified all specimens to species level, which adds 15 new species records to the island, bringing the total number of Dacini species in Sulawesi to 83. The biogeographic affinity of species in the updated checklist reveals a strong connection with former ‘Sunda’ (41% of species); validating Lydekker’s line, but also a high level of endemism (47% of species), confirming the uniqueness of Wallacea as a biogeographic region. We further describe a new species, Bactrocera (Bactrocera) niogreta Doorenweerd, sp. nov. and discuss the taxonomy of several interesting species.

Bumblebees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: genus Bombus Latreille, 1802) constitute an important group of pollinators for many wild plants and crops in north temperate regions and South America. Although knowledge of these insects has been increasing over the last decades, some geographic areas remain poorly studied and additions to the knowledge of their faunas are infrequent. Afghanistan is one example of a country that is currently underrepresented in the scientific literature despite its high species diversity. For this study, more than 420 new occurrence records were gathered for 17 bumblebee species belonging to all eight subgenera recorded in the country, including the first record of a species closely related to the B longipennis group. Additionally, the first standardized database for Afghan bees is launched, which we hope will be enriched in the future to allow further assessments of population trends for the bumblebees of Afghanistan. Finally, the previously published species records for the country are discussed considering the most recent taxonomic revisions of the genus and key perspectives are highlighted for further work in this understudied country and neighboring regions.

Eight species of the genus Nephrotoma were previously known to occur in Xizang Autonomous Region. Here, three species are added to the fauna of Xizang. Among them two species, N. beibengensissp. nov. and N. hanaesp. nov. are described and illustrated as new to science, and one species, N. evittata Alexander, 1935 is recorded from Xizang for the first time. The following four species are redescribed: N. claviformis Yang & Yang, 1987, N. didyma Yang & Yang, 1987, N. nigrohalterata Edwards, 1928, and N. xizangensis Yang & Yang, 1987. A key to the species of Nephrotoma from Xizang is presented.

The doryctine wasp species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) of Farasan Archipelago (Saudi Arabia) are studied here for the first time. Six species are reported, of which Mimodoryctes arabicus Edmardash, Gadallah & Soliman is described and illustrated as a new species. Neoheterospilus sp. is most probably a new species but further collecting should be done to obtain the female. Four species are new records for Saudi Arabia as well as for the whole Arabian Peninsula: Dendrosotinus ferrugineus (Marshall, 1888), Hecabalodes anthaxiae Wilkinson, 1929, Mimodoryctes proprius Belokobylskij, 2001, and Rhaconotus (Rhaconotus) carinatus Polaszek, 1994. The newly recorded species are re-described and illustrated.

The amphibian fauna of the western Indian ocean volcanic island of Mayotte is currently constituted by two species belonging to two genera of the anuran family Mantellidae: Blommersia transmarina and Boophis nauticus. These were recently described after intense fieldwork on the herpetofauna of the island. We here describe a third new species of frog from Mayotte, based on morphological and molecular data, that occurs in sympatry with the others and was utterly unnoticed until now. Genetic analyses of the16S rRNA gene, including all described and several undescribed species of the genus Blommersia from Madagascar and Mayotte, confirms that the new species is the sister species of Blommersia transmarina. Both species show apparent morphological differences as well as different life histories, ecology and genetics that confirm Blommersia nataliae sp. nov. as a new species. We propose an IUCN Red List status of Critically Endangered for B. nataliae sp. nov., The Spanish Min-istry of Science and Innovation supported this work with grants CGL2009-10198, CGL2013-40924-P, and CGL2017-89898-R (AEI/FEDER, UE) to DRV.

Eight new Otacilia species were collected from Ji’an City, Jiangxi Province, China during a survey of the phrurolithid fauna of the region: Otacilia bizhouica Liu, sp. nov. (♂♀), O. gougunao Liu, sp. nov. (♂), O. nanhuashanica Liu, sp. nov. (♂♀), O. subfabiformis Liu, sp. nov. (♂♀), O. wugongshanica Liu, sp. nov. (♂♀), Otacilia yusishanica Liu, sp. nov. (♂♀), O. zaoshiica Liu, sp. nov. (♂♀) and O. ziyaoshanica Liu, sp. nov. (♀). All species are described and illustrated with photographs and SEM micrographs, and their distribution is also mapped.

The long-legged flies (Dolichopodidae) of the island of Montserrat in the Lesser Antilles have been surveyed and include 63 species in 27 genera. The following eleven new species are described and illustrated: Amblypsilopus marskeaesp. nov., Medetera ivieisp. nov., Medetera montserratensissp. nov., Systenus ladonnaesp. nov., Thrypticus mediofuscussp. nov., Chrysotus antillensissp. nov., Chrysotus callichromoidessp. nov., Chrysotus interfronssp. nov., Chrysotus montserratensissp. nov., Diaphorus robinsonisp. nov., and Sympycnus montserratensissp. nov. Six species have only been found on Montserrat (ca. 10% endemicity). Keys are provided to the genera and species on Montserrat, their known distribution summarized, and additional new island records provided for many species. Asyndetus wirthi Robinson is synonymized with A. interruptus (Loew) and Achradocera apicalis (Aldrich) is removed from synonymy with A. barbata (Loew). Diaphorus flavipes Aldrich is transferred to Chrysotus as a new combination. A new replacement name, Chrysotus milvadunom. nov., is provided for the Nearctic Chrysotus parvulus Van Duzee. Lectotypes are designated for Achradocera apicalis (Aldrich) and Asyndetus fratellus Aldrich. The fauna of Montserrat is summarized and compared with that of Dominica. Collecting methods are compared and threats to the dolichopodid fauna of Montserrat discussed.

All 2,145 species of Coleoptera from 88 families known to occur in Mordovia State Nature Reserve, Russia, are listed, along with their author(s) and year of description using the most recent classification framework. Adventive species for European Russia are indicated. There are 31 adventive species in the reserve, comprising 1.44% of the total beetle fauna.

New Caledonia has a rich Trichoptera fauna with over 200 known species, most of them endemic. The total diversity has been estimated as high as 300 to 600 species. The endemic genus Agmina Ward & Schefter (Ecnomidae, Trichoptera) includes 28 described species. Based on male genitalia morphology and previously published molecular data another 47 new species in the genus are described, namely Agmina tuberosasp. nov., A. semiovalesp. nov., A. rochetasp. nov., A. tenuisasp. nov., A. multidentatasp. nov., A. cornutasp. nov., A. sagittatasp. nov., A. circulatasp. nov., A. digitatasp. nov., A. longispinasp. nov., A. magnahamatasp. nov., A. longicordatasp. nov., A. campanulasp. nov., A. semicampanulasp. nov., A. cuniculasp. nov., A. cerritulasp. nov., A. monstrosasp. nov., A. rectangulatasp. nov., A. chelasp. nov., A. piscariasp. nov., A. amplexasp. nov., A. caraffa, sp. nov., A. rostratasp. nov., A. dathioensissp. nov., A. rougensissp. nov., A. viklundisp. nov., A. latasp. nov., A. falxsp. nov., A. guttulasp. nov., A. amieuensissp. nov., A. spinasp. nov., A. complexasp. nov., A. dognyensissp. nov., A. manasp. nov., A. anterohamatasp. nov., A. curvatacuasp. nov., A. recurvatasp. nov., A. taoensissp. nov., A. triangulatasp. nov., A. bleuensissp. nov., A. touhoensissp. nov., A. wardisp. nov., A. parallelasp. nov., A. christinaesp. nov., A. brevissp. nov., A. ninguanasp. nov., and A. scopulasp. nov. Additionally, new records are provide for the species A. acula Ward, 2003, A. artarima Ward & Schefter, 2000, A. berada Ward & Schefter, 2000, A. bimaculata Ward & Schefter, 2000, A. cheirella Ward, 2003, A. comata Ward, 2003, A. diriwi Ward & Schefter, 2000, A. hamata Ward & Schefter, 2000, A. hastata Ward & Schefter, 2000, A. hirta Ward & Schefter, 2000, A. jepiva Ward & Schefter, 2000, A. joycei Ward & Schefter, 2000, A. kapiwa Ward & Schefter, 2000, A. kara Ward & Schefter, 2000, A. mariae Ward & Schefter, 2000, A. nodosa Ward, 2003, A. panda Ward & Schefter, 2000, A. padi Ward & Schefter, 2000, A. parie Ward & Schefter, 2000, A. rhara Ward & Schefter, 2000, A. urugi Ward & Schefter, 2000, and A. vuegi Ward & Schefter, 2000. With a total of 75 described species Agmina is one of the largest animal radiations in New Caledonia. Nothing is known about the early stages of any of the species in this genus.

The Farasan Archipelago is a group of small coral islands and islets in the southern Red Sea, offshore of the southwestern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). These islands are internationally important as breeding sites for turtles and bird species and regionally for its threatened, rare, and endemic flora and other fauna. The beetles (Coleoptera) of the Archipelago have not been previously surveyed. This study presents the first data on the beetle fauna based on a recent survey of the Farasan Archipelago. In total, 179 beetle species (including three synanthropic species) in 145 genera and 31 coleopteran families were determined. The Carabidae are represented by 31 species, followed by the Tenebrionidae (22 species), Chrysomelidae (17 species), Scarabaeidae (13 species), and Coccinellidae (12 species). The genusLasioceraDejean, 1831 and the speciesAmblystomus villiersanusBruneau de Miré, 1991 (Carabidae) are new for the beetle fauna of the Arabian Peninsula, and eighteen species are new country records for KSA. Sand dune habitats on the islands were inhabited by the greatest number of species in comparison with other habitats. Zoogeographically, the beetle fauna of the Archipelago was dominated by the representatives of the Saharo-Arabian and Afrotropical elements (74 spp., 41.0%). Fourteen species (7.8%) were recognized as cosmopolitan and subcosmopolitan. No species was known to be exclusively endemic to Farasan Archipelago. Eighteen species (10.1%) were endemic to Arabian Peninsula and KSA. Approximately 64.8% (116 spp.) of the archipelago beetle species is found on the KSA mainland and is most closely allied to the south and southwestern KSA regions (sharing 91 spp.). Comparisons of the beetle faunas of the Farasan and Socotra archipelagos indicate that 30 families, 70 genera, and 28 species are shared.

The available information about the cleptoparasitic bees of the genusSphecodesin Southeast Asia is summarized. Thirty-one species are currently known from this area. Four new species are described:Sphecodes discoverlifeiAstafurova & Proshchalykin,sp. nov.(Laos),S. engeliAstafurova & Proshchalykin,sp. nov.(Laos, Vietnam),S. ilyadadariaAstafurova,sp. nov.(Indonesia), andS. pseudoredivivusAstafurova & Proshchalykin,sp. nov.(Laos). Nine species are newly recorded from South East Asia:S. chaprensisBlüthgen, 1927 (Laos),S. howardiCockerell, 1922 (Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand),S. kershawiPerkins, 1921 (Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand),S. laticepsMeyer, 1920 (Thailand, Vietnam),S. montanusSmith, 1879 (Laos),S. sauteriMeyer, 1925 (Laos),S. sikkimensisBlüthgen, 1927 (Laos, Myanmar),S. simlaensisBlüthgen, 1924 (Laos), andS. turneriCockerell, 1916 (Laos). Based on type specimens, new synonymies have been proposed forSphecodes kershawiPerkins, 1921 =S. javanensisBlüthgen, 1927,syn. nov.;S. simlaensisBlüthgen, 1924 =S. simlaellusBlüthgen, 1927,syn. nov.;S. laticepsMeyer, 1920 =S. biroi mariaeCockerell, 1930,syn. nov.Lectotypes are designated forSphecodes biroiFriese, 1909,S. simlaellusBlüthgen, 1927, andS. laticepsMeyer, 1920. The female ofSphecodes sauteriMeyer, 1925, and the male ofS. turneriCockerell, 1916 are described for the first time.

This study presents new data on the lacewing fauna of Saudi Arabia based on field work performed between 2014 and 2019. Sixty-one lacewing species from 37 genera and seven Neuroptera families were documented. Additionally, two species belonging to Dielocroce and Pseudomallada were identified only to genus level. Three of the identified species are new records to Saudi Arabia (Aspoeckiella gallagheri Hölzel, 2004, Bankisus maculosus Hölzel, 1983, and Nemoleon secundus Hölzel, 2002). Another three species are new to the fauna of the Arabian Peninsula (Mantispa aphavexelte Aspöck & Aspöck, 1994, Omoleon jeanneli Navás, 1936, and Stylascalaphus krueperi van der Weele, 1909). The first reports of eight species are provided after their original description from Saudi Arabia; namely, Creoleon ultimus Hölzel, 983, Cueta amseli Hölzel, 1982, Cu. asirica Hölzel, 1982, Distoleon asiricus Hölzel, 1983, Geyria pallida Hölzel, 1983, Neuroleon delicatus Hölzel, 1983, N. virgineus Hölzel, 1983 and Solter buettikeri Hölzel, 1982 Zoogeographically, most lacewing species documented in the Arabian Peninsula are endemic (26.2%), followed by Afro-syroeremic (23.0%), Afrotropical (18.0%), and Afro-syro-iranoeremic (14.8%) species. Palaearctic species (4.9%) had the lowest contribution.

Based on all available information, 339 species from 71 genera, 26 families, and eleven orders of Diplopoda have hitherto been recorded from mainland China, the fauna thus being very rich, albeit far from completely known, comprising various zoogeographic elements and populating very different environments. Diplopods mainly occur in various woodlands, in caves, and high in the mountains. Most species (> 90 %, usually highly localised, including 160 cavernicoles), 18 genera, and one family are strictly endemic to continental China. Mapping not only the horizontal, but also the vertical distributions of Diplopoda in China shows the bulk of the fauna to be expectedly restricted to forested lowland and mountain biomes or their remnants. Yet some Chordeumatida, Callipodida, Polydesmida, Julida, and even Spirobolida seem to occur only in the subalpine to alpine environments and thus may provisionally be considered as truly high-montane. The long-acknowledged notions of China being a great biogeographic zone transitional between the Palaearctic and Oriental regions generally find good support in millipede distributions, in particular at the higher taxonomic levels (generic, familial, and ordinal). While the Palaearctic/Holarctic components expectedly dominate the fauna of the northern parts of the country, the Oriental ones prevail in its south and along the Pacific coast. Both realms are increasingly mixed and intermingled towards China’s centre. However, in addition to the above traditional views, based on distribution patterns alone, southern China seems to harbour a rather small, but highly peculiar faunal nucleus or origin centre of its own, whence Himalaya, Myanmar, Thailand, Indochina and/or Taiwan could have become populated by younger lineages. The millipede fauna of continental China is thus a tangled mixture of zoogeographic elements of various origins and ages, both relict and more advanced. The few anthropochores must have been the latest faunal “layer” to populate China.

The marine toad Rhinella marina (Linnaeus) (Anura, Bufonidae) is a notorious, exotic amphibian species in Australia. However, our present knowledge of the composition of the nematode fauna of R. marina is still not complete. In the present study, a new cosmocercid nematode, Cosmocerca multipapillatasp. nov., was described using both light and scanning electron microscopy, based on specimens collected from R. marina in Australia. Cosmocerca multipapillatasp. nov. can be easily distinguished from its congeners by the body size, the presence of lateral alae and well sclerotized gubernaculum, the number and arrangement of plectanes and rosettes and the length of spicules, oesophagus and tail.

The shallow underground of rock debris is a unique animal refuge. Nevertheless, the research of this habitat lags far behind the study of caves and soil, due to technical and time-consuming demands. Data on Myriapoda in scree habitat from eleven localities in seven different geomorphological units of the Czech and Slovak Republics were processed. Based on previous studies, as well as knowledge of cave and soil fauna, it was hypothesised that the occurrence of a varied and peculiar fauna would show a pattern of depth distribution with variations due to local specificities. From 2005–2016 (at least one year on each site), macrofauna was collected via sets of three long-term exposed subterranean traps consisting of 110 cm long perforated tube, with ten cups located in a gradient at 5–95 cm below the soil surface. In total, 14 symphylans (not identified to species level), 271 centipedes (23 spp.) and 572 millipedes (32 spp.) were sampled. The overall depth distribution of centipedes and millipedes appeared to have relatively similar pattern, with both groups being found at all depth levels. Nevertheless, this pattern depends on locations. The depth distribution trend lines are mostly in the form of an asymmetric ‘U’, with decreased abundance until the middle of the gradient, followed by increase in the deepest levels. Epigeic species were sporadically distributed along the whole depth gradient, but concentrated at the soil surface, while some subterranean species, such as the centipede Lithobius lucifugus and the millipedes Geoglomeris subterranea, Cibiniulus slovacus and Archiboreoiulus pallidus, were recorded in the deepest parts of the gradient. This characterises the debris community as a mixture of soil and subterranean species with an absence of species exclusively found in caves. The use of different fixation methods in traps had a significant and selective impact on samples; millipedes were either attracted by ethylene glycol or repelled by formaldehyde. Centipedes were also captured more frequently in ethylene glycol; however, the species composition varied in each of the fixatives. Depth distribution of myriapods was similar in both fixative solutions. Traps with these fixatives could be recommended for similar ecological studies.

Approximately 140 snake species are known to occur in the Atlantic Forest with nearly half being endemic to this ecoregion. However, the Atlantic forest is one of the most threatened tropical ecoregions, with only 16% of its original area remaining as forest. This extensive habitat loss must have had a negative effect on its snake fauna. Indeed, 53% of the threatened snakes of Brazil occur in the Atlantic forest. Therefore, basic natural history information that can potentially contribute to the conservation of Atlantic forest snakes are urgently needed. Here the natural history of a snake assemblage at Etá Farm region, Sete Barras municipality, south-eastern Brazil is described, and a visual guide and an identification key provided that can be used by researchers and local people to identify snakes from this region. Most of the species found in the field use both open areas and forests, are primarily terrestrial, present diurnal activity, and include frogs in their diet. A higher number of enlarged follicles, eggs, and/or embryos were recorded during the warm and rainy season. Seventeen different types of defensive tactics were recorded in the species found in the field. This study provides useful information for understanding the structure of snake assemblages of the Atlantic Forest and is potentially useful for conservation assessments and for designing conservation plans.

The Caspian Sea is a unique inland brackish waterbody inhabited by highly endemic fauna. This fauna consists of species of both marine and freshwater origin. Some Caspian invertebrates cannot be confidently referred to as animals of either origin. The endemic monophyletic family of sponges, Metschnikowiidae, is among them. Although these sponges are considered as fresh water in the modern literature, no researcher has seen them alive for many years, and its status is actually unconfirmed. Here, we present the first photos ofMetschnikowia tuberculataGrimm, 1877 and report evidence for its freshwater origin based on analysis of ITS1 and ITS2 sequences and partial sequences of CO1 gene. According to the genetic analysis,M. tuberculatabelongs to the order Spongillida. We observed specimens of diverse appearance, but their spicule complement proved to be similar, and ITS sequences were identical. Thus, we conclude that they belong to the same species. The obtained results expand our knowledge about the dispersal ability of freshwater sponges.

The South-East Asian opilionid family Epedanidae Sørensen, 1886 has one of its strongholds in Thailand from where a multitude of genera and species have been described but the epedanid fauna of the country is still poorly known. This paper records four species from this country, three of which are new: Euepedanus dashdamirovisp. nov. (male and female), Plistobunus jaegerisp. nov. (male and female), and Toccolus kuryisp. nov. (male and female). Toccolus globitarsis Suzuki, 1969 was previously known only from the type locality in Thailand and is redescribed here. Functional aspects of epedanid penial morphology are highlighted.