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The nereidid Pseudonereis variegata (Grube, 1866) described from Chile includes 14 synonymised species from 10 type localities with a discontinuous distribution, but no taxonomic or molecular studies have investigated the status of this species outside Chile. Two synonymised species, Mastigonereis podocirra Schmarda, 1861 and Nereis (Nereilepas) stimpsonis Grube, 1866, were described from South Africa and investigated here using morphological examination. MtCOI species delimitation analyses and morphology were used to determine the status of P. variegata in South Africa. Morphological examination revealed that museum and freshly collected specimens from South Africa that conform to the general description of P. variegata are similar to M. podocirra and N. stimpsonis with respect to the consistent absence of homogomph spinigers in the inferior neuropodial fascicle, expanded notopodial ligules and the subterminal attachment of dorsal cirri in posterior parapodia. The synonymy of M. podocirra and N. stimpsonis as P. variegata are rejected and P. podocirra, comb. nov. is reinstated. Morphologically, Pseudonereis podocirra differed from specimens from Chile with regard to the numbers of paragnaths, the absence of homogomph spinigers and changes in parapodial morphology along the body. Independence of these species was further supported by genetic distances, automatic barcode gap discovery and multi-rate Poisson tree process species delimitation analyses of 77 mtCOI sequences. Haplotype network revealed no genetic structuring within the South African populations. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F0B1A5AF-9CE9-4A43-ACCF-17117E1C2F21

Bombyliinae, one of the largest subfamilies of Bombyliidae, including 78 genera assigned to four tribes, is distributed on all continents except Antarctica. Their larvae are parasitoids, and adults are important pollinators. The Australian Bombyliinae currently has 17 described genera and 87 described species. The purpose of this study is to establish the phylogeny of the Australian members of the subfamily Bombyliinae, including the boundaries and relationships of the genera, using morphological characters. One maximum parsimony tree was generated from 83 morphological characters scored for 50 species, representing all recognised genera and some unplaced species that we considered may represent new genera. Phylogenetic analysis recovered the relationships between the recognised Australian genera of Bombyliinae and clarified generic limits. The group comprises five main clades, with the genus Pilosia being sister to the remaining Bombyliinae. On the basis of this analysis, four new genera are described: Lambkinomyia Li & Yeates, gen. nov., Dissodesma Bowden & Li, gen. nov., Nigromyia Li & Yeates, gen. nov. and Robertsmyia Li & Yeates, gen. nov. Ten new species are described: Dissodesma immaculata Li & Yeates, sp. nov., Dissodesma flava Li & Yeates, sp. nov., Dissodesma smarti Li & Yeates, sp. nov., Nigromyia collessi Li & Yeates, sp. nov., Nigromyia crocea Li & Yeates, sp. nov., Nigromyia flavimana Li & Yeates, sp. nov., Nigromyia longistriata Li & Yeates, sp. nov., Nigromyia pantherina Li & Yeates, sp. nov., Nigromyia parva Li & Yeates, sp. nov. and Nigromyia tomentosa Li & Yeates, sp. nov. Two new junior synonyms are identified: Apiformyia is a junior synonym of Eristalopsis and Brychosoma is a junior synonym of Staurostichus. The following new combinations are proposed: from Apiformyia: Eristalopsis australis (Yeates), comb. nov.; from Bombylius: Dissodesma primogenita (Walker) comb. nov.; from Brychosoma: Staurostichus aureolatus (Walker), comb. nov., Staurostichus hilaris (Walker), comb. nov. and Staurostichus pictipennis (Macquart), comb. nov.; from Laurella: Robertsmyia pallidoventris (Roberts), comb. nov.; from Mandella: Lambkinomyia cinctiventris (Roberts), comb. nov., Lambkinomyia flavovillosa (Roberts), comb. nov., Lambkinomyia pallida (Roberts), comb. nov. and Lambkinomyia rubida (Roberts), comb. nov.; and from Meomyia: Mandella australis (Guérin-Méneville), comb. nov. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E4A86A19-4AC3-498C-8BDF-B8B501E5A248

Phylogenetic relationships of two morphologically similar scolopendrid genera, Rhysida Wood, 1862, and Alluropus Silvestri, 1912, were investigated based on broad-scale taxonomic sampling from SE Asia, India and Australia. Morphological revision and molecular phylogenetics using three loci validate seven Rhysida species in SE Asia and Australia: R. lithobioides (Newport, 1845), R. longipes (Newport, 1845), R. immarginata (Porat, 1876), R. nuda (Newport, 1845), R. carinulata (Haase, 1887), R. singaporiensis Verhoeff, 1937 and R. polyacantha Koch, 1985. The nominal SE Asian species R. leviventer Attems, 1953 and R. marginata Attems, 1953 are placed in junior subjective synonymy with R. lithobioides and Alluropus calcaratus (Pocock, 1891), respectively. The monotypic genus Alluropus is redescribed, molecular phylogeny recovering it nesting together with Indo-Australian Rhysida. Taxonomic revision reassigned R. calcarata Pocock, 1891 to Alluropus based on its morphological and molecular similarity to the type, A. demangei Silvestri, 1912, the differences between putative species being sexual variation. Two morphologically distinct allopatric populations of A. calcaratus, comb. nov. (= A. demangei, syn. nov.) were found in the Indochina subregion. Phylogenetic relationships in Otostigminae remain unsettled because clades within several genera lack significant support, although Rhysida consistently falls into two clades that are not each other’s closest relative.

13 páginas, 2 figuras, 3 tablas., The primary purpose of DNA-barcoding projects is to generate an efficient expertise and identification tool. This is an important challenge to the taxonomy of the 21st century, as the demand increases and the expert capacity does not. However, identifying specimens using DNA-barcodes requires a preliminary analysis to relate molecular clusters to available scientific names. Through a case study of the genus Eumunida (Decapoda : Eumunididae), we illustrate how naming molecule-based units, and thus providing an accurate DNA-based identification tool, is facilitated by sequencing type specimens. Using both morphological and unlinked molecular markers (COI and 28S genes), we analysed 230 specimens from 12 geographic areas, covering two-thirds of the known diversity of the genus, including type specimens of 13 species. Most hypotheses of species delimitation are validated, as they correspond to molecular units linked to only one taxonomic name (and vice versa). However, a putative cryptic species is also revealed and three entities previously named as distinct species may in fact belong to a single one, and thus need to be synonymised. Our analyses, which integrate the current naming rules, enhance the a-taxonomy of the genus and provide an effective identification tool based on DNA-barcodes. They illustrate the ability, This work was supported by the ‘Consortium National de Recherche en Génomique’, and the ‘Service de Systematique Moléculaire’ of the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (UMS 2700 CNRS-MNHN). It is part of the agreement n 2005/67 between the Genoscope and the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle on the project ‘Macrophylogeny of Life’ directed by Guillaume Lecointre. These data fed the MarBol project supported by the Sloan Foundation.

The phylogenetic relationships of the Australian species of Feaellidae are assessed with a molecular analysis using mitochondrial (CO1) and nuclear (ITS2) data. These results confirm the morphological analysis that three previously undescribed species occur in the Pilbara bioregion, which are named and described: Feaella (Tetrafeaella) callani, sp. nov., F. (T.) linetteae, sp. nov. and F. (T.) tealei, sp. nov. The males of these three species, as well as males of F. anderseni Harvey and other unnamed species from the Kimberley region of north-western Australia, have a pair of enlarged, thick-walled bursa that are not found in other feaellids. Despite numerous environmental impact surveys for short-range endemic invertebrates in the Pilbara, very few specimens have been collected, presumably due to their relictual distributions, restricted habitat preferences and low densities. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:131F0587-F2EE-405F-BE5A-772F072D9915

The generic placement of New World pholcids assigned to the genus Leptopholcus Simon, 1893 has long been questioned and recent molecular data have shown that Caribbean (Hispaniolan) representatives are more closely related to the Old World genus Micropholcus Deeleman-Reinhold & Prinsen, 1987 than to ‘true’ African Leptopholcus (Dimitrov, Astrin and Huber 2013, Cladistics 29: 132–146). Here we provide new molecular (16S, 18S, 28S, COI, H3, WNT1) and morphological data about Caribbean (Cuban, Puerto Rican) and South American (Brazilian) representatives, supporting the sister-group relationship with Micropholcus and suggesting a monophyletic New World clade that in turn consists of a Caribbean and a South American clade. The ten New World species previously assigned to Leptopholcus are thus transferred to Micropholcus for which an emended diagnosis is provided: M. baoruco (Huber, 2006), comb. nov.; M. brazlandia (Huber, Pérez & Baptista, 2005), comb. nov.; M. dalei (Petrunkevitch, 1929), comb. nov.; M. delicatulus (Franganillo, 1930), comb. nov.; M. evaluna (Huber, Pérez & Baptista, 2005), comb. nov.; M. hispaniola (Huber, 2000), comb. nov.; M. jamaica (Huber, 2000), comb. nov.; M. kiskeya (Huber & Wunderlich, 2006), comb. nov.; M. pataxo (Huber, Pérez & Baptista, 2005), comb. nov.; M. toma (Huber, 2006), comb. nov. Four Brazilian species are newly described: M. piaui, sp. nov.; M. piracuruca, sp. nov.; M. crato, sp. nov.; M. ubajara, sp. nov. Natural history data are provided for M. piaui and M. ubajara.

The Australian endemic plant bug genus Rayieria Odhiambo (Heteroptera : Miridae : Bryocorinae : Monaloniina) is revised. Ten species are described as new to science: Rayieria acaciae, sp. nov., R. albaornata, sp. nov., R. decorata, sp. nov., R. frontalis, sp. nov., R. gearyi, sp. nov., R. grandiocula, sp. nov., R. kennedyi, sp. nov., R. minuta, sp. nov.. R. queenslandica, sp. nov., and R. rubranigra, sp. nov. Rayieria braconoides (Walker) and R. tumidiceps (Horváth) are synonymised with R. basifer (Walker), syn. nov. Diagnoses, descriptions, distribution records and host-plant information for all species are given. Digital habitus illustrations of males and females are provided for most species and sexes where available. Male and female genitalia are illustrated for each species. A key to all species is given. Phylogenetic analysis of the ingroup relationships of Rayieria is given, based on 11 ingroups, 16 outgroups and 56 morphological characters. The analysis supports monophyly of Rayieria and establishes a clade comprising all other elongate monaloniine genera, inclusive of Arthriticus Bergroth, Ragwelellus Odhiambo, Helopeltis Signoret and Monalonion Herrich-Schaeffer. Braconid-mimic species of Rayieria are reported. Host-plant associations for this genus and the subtribe Monaloniina are discussed.

The freshwater shrimp family Kakaducarididae Bruce, 1993 is revised and its familial status reappraised using morphological characters and the results of a complementary molecular study (Page et al. 2008). Based on combined morphological–molecular data, the Kakaducarididae is synonymised with the Palaemonidae Rafinesque, 1815 and the monotypic genus Kakaducaris Bruce, 1993 is synonymised with Leptopalaemon Bruce & Short, 1993. The Texan cave shrimp, Calathaemon holthuisi (Strenth, 1976), provisionally included in the Kakaducarididae by Bruce (1993), is re-assigned back to the Palaemonidae. Leptopalaemon is re-diagnosed and three new species, L. gibbosus, sp. nov., L. gudjangah, sp. nov. and L. magelensis, sp. nov., are described from the north-western edge of the Arnhem Land plateau/escarpment complex, Northern Territory, Australia. The two previously described species, L. gagadjui Bruce & Short, 1993 and L. glabrus (Bruce, 1993), comb. nov. are re-diagnosed. A key to the five presently recognised Leptopalaemon species is provided.

The genus Encyrtoscelio Dodd is revised. E. apterus (Szelényi), E. mirissimus Dodd, E. turneri Waterston are redescribed, and six new species are described: E. cydni Caleca, E. japonicus Caleca, E. mediterraneus Caleca, E. miroides Caleca, E. spuratus Caleca and E. undecim Caleca. A key to separate females is presented, and is based on the number of antennomeres and claval sensillar formula, mandibular spurs and teeth, palpal formula and clypeus, and some cephalic characters. Morphological adaptations of the head and mandibles are discussed in relation to host habitat and oviposition site. Information on host associations, habitat preference, seasonal and daily occurrence of some species are also presented.

We revise the Neotropical snail-feeding Charadrella and add two new species to it, one from Bolivia and one from Brazil. Additionally, we perform a cladistic analysis of the genus, based on morphological characters. Parsimony analyses were carried out under equal and implied weights. Our matrix included 25 species from nine Neotropical and three Afrotropical genera, including the snail-feeding Cariocamyia Snyder (Neotropical), Aethiopomyia Malloch, Alluaudinella Giglio-Tos and Ochromusca Bigot (Afrotropical). The following relationships between the species of Charadrella were recovered: (C. albuquerquei (C. macrosoma (C. malacophaga (C. boliviana, sp. nov., C. nambikwara, sp. nov.)))). In our chosen topology, the clade that includes Charadrella has the following topology (Dichaetomyia (Alluaudinella (Ochromusca (Itatingamyia (Cariocamyia, Charadrella))))), supporting the placement of the genus in the Dichaetomyiinae.

Phylogeny of Polycentropodidae Ulmer is inferred based on data from immature and adult stages. Larval information is unknown for 61% of the taxa included in this study. To understand the effects of including characters with large sets of missing data, three alternative datasets were analysed using parsimony and Bayesian methods. Five outgroup taxa, including the four families in Psychomyioidea and the single family in Hydropsychoidea, were used in all datasets. Monophyly of Polycentropodidae, as currently defined, was rejected and the monophyly of the three largest cosmopolitan genera, Polycentropus, Polyplectropus and Nyctiophylax, was not confirmed. Monophyly of Pseudoneureclipsinae, including the genera Antillopsyche and Pseudoneureclipsis, was supported in all analyses. The placement of Pseudoneureclipsis within Dipseudopsidae was rejected. Monophyly of Kambaitipsychinae was supported, but its placement within Polycentropodidae was not confirmed. Analyses were sensitive to either inclusion or exclusion of characters from immature stages. Based on the results of these analyses, the following taxonomic changes are established: Kambaitipsychidae, stat. nov. and Pseudoneureclipsidae, stat. nov. are elevated to family status. North American Polycentropus species originally described in either Plectrocnemia or Holocentropus are returned to their original combinations and North American species described in Polycentropus post-1944 are transferred to either Holocentropus or Plectrocnemia. The following new or reinstated combinations are proposed: Plectrocnemia albipuncta Banks, comb. rev.; Plectrocnemia aureola Banks, comb. rev.; Plectrocnemia cinerea (Hagen), comb. rev.; Plectrocnemia clinei Milne, comb. rev.; Plectrocnemia crassicornis (Walker), comb. rev.; Plectrocnemia jenula (Denning) comb. nov.; Plectrocnemia icula (Ross), comb. nov.; Plectrocnemia nascotia (Ross), comb. nov.; Plectrocnemia remota (Banks), comb. rev.; Plectrocnemia sabulosa (Leonard & Leonard), comb. nov.; Plectrocnemia smithae (Denning), comb. nov.; Plectrocnemia vigilatrix Navás, comb. rev.; Plectrocnemia weedi (Blickle & Morse), comb. nov.; Holocentropus chellus (Denning), comb. nov.; Holocentropus flavus Banks, comb. nov.; Holocentropus glacialis Ross, comb. rev.; Holocentropus grellus Milne, comb. rev.; Holocentropus interruptus Banks, comb. rev.; Holocentropus melanae Ross, comb. rev.; Holocentropus milaca (Etnier), comb. nov.; and Holocentropus picicornis (Stephens), comb. rev.

The orb-weaving spider subfamily Arkyinae L. Koch, 1872 is exclusively found in the Australasian region and its taxonomy and the systematic relationships within and between genera of this subfamily are poorly understood. We here revise the arkyine genus Demadiana Strand, 1929 to include six Australian species, four of which are described as new: Demadiana simplex (Karsch, 1878) (type species), D. carrai, sp. nov., D. cerula (Simon, 1908), comb. nov., D. complicata, sp. nov., D. diabolus, sp. nov., and D. milledgei, sp. nov. A phylogenetic analysis based on an updated araneid morphological data matrix including 57 genera of orb-weaving spiders identified Demadiana as a member of the araneid subfamily Arkyinae. A separate phylogenetic analysis for the genus at the species level showed little resolution within Demadiana, but did identify a monophyletic Demadiana supported by three putative synapomorphies: small unique setal pits with spherical sockets covering the carapace, sternum and the bases of the paturon (chelicerae), an extreme elongation of the trumpet-like aggregate spigots of the posterior lateral spinnerets and a distinct curvature of the embolus. We detail several new generic and species synonymies within Arkyinae. Aerea Urquhart, 1891 (type species Aerea alticephala Urquhart, 1891) and Neoarchemorus Mascord, 1968 (type species N. speechleyi Mascord, 1968) are regarded as junior synonyms of Arkys Walckenaer, 1837 (type species A. lancearius Walckenaer, 1837), resulting in Arkys speechleyi (Mascord, 1968), comb. nov. Aerea magnifica Urquhart, 1893 and Archemorus simsoni Simon, 1893 are regarded as junior synonyms of Aerea alticephala Urquhart, 1891, and Arkys nitidiceps Simon, 1908 is proposed as a junior synonym of Arkys walckenaeri Simon, 1879.

Recent phylogenetic analyses of scutigeromorph centipedes omitted New Guinea endemics for lack of modern data, either from morphology or molecular sequences. Among these is the tribe Ballonemini, originally established for Ballonema Verhoeff, 1904, and Parascutigera Verhoeff, 1904, based on similar tergal prominences. Subsequent systematic revision led to their separation into different subfamilies. Combined analyses of morphology and sequence data including Ballonema gracilipes Verhoeff, 1904, resolve Ballonema either in a grade of Scutigerinae or as sister to all other Scutigerinae + Thereuoneminae. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) of the types of B. gracilipes demonstrates the utility of this technique for non-destructive imaging of historical museum material at a resolution comparable to scanning electron microscopy. A possible record of Ballonema in the Seychelles is dismissed; a collection from Silhouette samples a member of Thereuoneminae described as Seychellonema gerlachi, gen. nov. sp. nov. Morphological data, analysed with sequence data for other Scutigeromorpha, ally Seychellonema with the Oriental–Australian genus Thereuopoda Verhoeff, 1904, but it displays a novel patterning of its tergal spinula and tarsal papillae. The phylogenetic analyses include sequence data for African Pselliodidae, corroborating a sister group relationship to remaining Scutigeromorpha and generating a more stable result than in earlier analyses using only Neotropical species.

Coelotine spiders from Nepal are studied based on collections from the Himalaya Expeditions of J. Martens carried out in the years 1969, 1970, 1973, 1980, 1983, 1988 and 1995. In total, 38 Nepalese species of the genus Draconarius Ovtchinnikov, 1999 are described, including 35 new species. These are: D. beloniforis, sp. nov. (♂), D. bifarius, sp. nov. (♂), D. brevikarenos, sp. nov. (♀), D. capitellus, sp. nov. (♀), D. communis, sp. nov. (♂♀), D. condocephalus, sp. nov. (♂♀), D. confusus, sp. nov. (♂♀), D. contiguus, sp. nov. (♀), D. cylindratus, sp. nov. (♀), D. dapaensis, sp. nov. (♂), D. distinctus, sp. nov. (♂♀), D. dorsicephalus, sp. nov. (♂♀), D. gorkhaensis, sp. nov. (♂♀), D. gurkha (Brignoli, 1976) (♀), D. latiforus, sp. nov. (♀), D. meganiger, sp. nov. (♀), D. microcoelotes, sp. nov. (♀), D. panchtharensis, sp. nov. (♀), D. paraepisomos, sp. nov. (♂♀), D. phulchokiensis, sp. nov. (♀), D. pseudogurkha, sp. nov. (♀), D. pseudomeganiger, sp. nov. (♀), D. sacculus, sp. nov. (♀), D. schawalleri, sp. nov. (♂), D. semicirculus, sp. nov. (♂♀), D. seorsus, sp. nov. (♀), D. simplicifolis, sp. nov. (♀), D. spinosus, sp. nov. (♂♀), D. subconfusus, sp. nov. (♀), D. subepisomos, sp. nov. (♂♀), D. subrotundus, sp. nov. (♀), D. taplejungensis, sp. nov. (♀), D. testudinatus, sp. nov. (♀), D. tinjuraensis, sp. nov. (♂♀), D. tritos, sp. nov. (♂♀), D. volutobursarius, sp. nov. (♂♀), D. wuermlii (Brignoli, 1978) (♀) and D. yadongensis (Hu & Li, 1987) (♂♀). The male is described for the first time for D. yadongensis. The distribution characteristics of Nepalese coelotines are discussed. The phylogenetic relationships of Coelotinae, including Nepalese coelotines and the two recently established coelotine genera, Lineacoelotes Xu, Li & Wang, 2008 and Notiocoelotes Wang, Xu & Li, 2008 from China and South-east Asia, are analysed using the parsimony method. Our research found that coelotines from Nepal are highly diversified and occur in different clades of the tree. The genus Draconarius is not monophyletic. We assigned all the species examined in this study to Draconarius because they are not congeneric with any existing coelotine genus. Their appropriate placement will be further studied in a future phylogenetic analysis using all coelotine species as terminals.

We present a description of the first indigenous member of the arachnid order Palpigradi from Australia. Eukoenenia guzikae, sp. nov. was collected from subterranean environments in the Yilgarn region of Western Australia. The sole male specimen differs from all other members of the genus in several small but significant ways, including by the combined presence of six blades in the prosomal lateral organs, nine pairs of setae on the propeltidium, the presence of a spur on coxa IV, the chaetotaxy of sternites IV–VIII, and the shape of the male genital lobes. It shows some similarities in the male genital region to a group of species found in Madagascar.

We studied a variety of chthoniid pseudoscorpions collected from the semiarid zone of Western Australia. Five new species of Tyrannochthonius Chamberlin, 1929 and three new species of Lagynochthonius Beier, 1951 are named and described from the Pilbara and Gasgoyne regions, and surrounding areas such as Barrow Island. Tyrannochthonius basme, sp. nov. and Lagynochthonius asema, sp. nov. from pisolitic mesas near Pannawonica, T. garthhumphreysi, sp. nov. from limestone karst on Barrow Island, T. souchomalus, sp. nov. from calcrete deposits near Cue, T. billhumphreysi, sp. nov. and L. polydentatus, sp. nov. from a calcrete deposit on Sturt Meadows Station and L. leemouldi, sp. nov. from calcrete near Marble Bar are all considered to represent hypogean species as all exhibit typical troglomorphic adaptations including total loss of eyes and attenuated appendages. New records are provided for T. brooksi Harvey and T. butleri Harvey from Cape Range peninsula. A new epigean species, T. aridus, sp. nov., was found on Barrow Island and the Pilbara mainland. Two further putative new species based upon nymphal specimens from subterranean environments are described but not named owing to the lack of adult specimens. Although the epigean species T. aridus, sp. nov. is relatively widespread, all of the subterranean species are thought to represent short-range endemic species as they have been found at very few locations, all of which occur in localised habitats such as limestone or within mesa formations. Tyrannochthonius chamorro Chamberlin, 1947 from Guam is transferred to the genus Lagynochthonius, creating the new combination Lagynochthonius chamorro (Chamberlin 1947).

We describe a new genus and species of troglomorphic scorpion from Ledge Cave, Barrow Island, off the north-western coast of Western Australia. This troglobite scorpion was initially difficult to place within the superfamily Scorpionoidea Latreille on account of its unusual morphology. Based on cladistic analysis, we demonstrate that this scorpion is phylogenetically most closely related to the endemic Australian genus Urodacus Peters (Urodacidae Pocock). The new taxon, named Aops oncodactylus, gen. et sp. nov., is the first troglobitic urodacid and the first troglobitic scorpion recorded from continental Australia. In light of this discovery, we re-assess the known diversity of troglobitic scorpions and the troglomorphic adaptations (troglomorphies) of cavernicolous scorpions. A distinction is recognised between the exclusive occurrence in cavernicolous habitats and the presence of troglomorphies, which are exhibited by some endogean (humicolous) scorpions. The definition of troglobitic scorpions is limited to species that are both restricted to cavernicolous habitats and exhibit pronounced troglomorphies. Only 20 scorpion species meet both criteria and are considered unequivocally troglobitic according to this definition.

Within the well researched European fauna of harvestmen, the genus Trogulus Latreille exhibits unexpectedly high cryptic diversity. The species’ uniform morphology hinders an exclusively morphological approach to their systematics and taxonomy, and a preliminary molecular study estimated the number of species to be three times higher than currently known. The current study focuses on a clearly defined species-group within Trogulus, combining molecular (~1700 bp 28S rRNA and the cytochrome b gene), distributional, morphometric and morphological data. Relationships are reconstructed using Bayesian inference, maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood and this information is subsequently used to evaluate morphological characters for systematic usability and to identify biogeographical processes leading to speciation events. The Trogulus coriziformis species-group is defined and diagnosed and includes eight species. Three species are redefined: T. coriziformis C. L. Koch, 1839, for which a neotype is designated, and T. aquaticus Simon, 1879 and T. cristatus Simon, 1879 for which lectotypes are designated. Four species are described as new: T. balearicus, sp. nov. from the Balearic Islands, T. huberi, sp. nov. from southern Portugal, T. prietoi, sp. nov. from Andalusia, Spain, and T. pyrenaicus, sp. nov. from the central Pyrenees. Trogulus lusitanicus Giltay, 1931 is used as collective name and probably refers to a composite of species presently difficult to tell apart. Trogulus salfii De Lerma, 1948 is proposed as a synonym for T. coriziformis. Within Trogulus, the molecular genetic data support monophyly and basal placement of the Trogulus coriziformis species-group. The species to differ in external morphology (size, papillation of palps, apophyses of legs, pattern of body papillation, morphometric data), 28S and cytochrome b autapomorphies and to a lesser degree by male genital morphology. The species-group is confined to the western Mediterranean area and its species are allopatrically distributed. Their present distribution corresponds to geological processes in the Miocene and Pliocene indicating that this group of organisms may be of considerable value for further biogeographic studies.

Five species of the nephilid genus Nephila Leach are found in the Australasian region, which for the purposes of this study was defined as Australia and its dependencies (including Lord Howe I., Norfolk I., Christmas I., Cocos (Keeling) Is), New Guinea (including Papua New Guinea and the Indonesian province of West Papua), Solomon Is, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji, Tonga, Niue, New Zealand and other parts of the south-west Pacific region. All species are redescribed and illustrated. Nephila pilipes (Fabricius) occurs in the closed forests of eastern and northern Australia, New Guinea, Solomon Is and Vanuatu (through to South-East Asia); N. plumipes (Latreille) is found in Australia (including Lord Howe I. and Norfolk I.), New Guinea, Vanuatu, Solomon Is and New Caledonia; N. tetragnathoides (Walckenaer) inhabits Fiji, Tonga and Niue; N. antipodiana (Walckenaer) occurs in northern Australia (as well as Christmas I.), New Guinea and Solomon Is (through to South-East Asia); and N. edulis (Labillardière) is found in Australia (including Cocos (Keeling) Is), New Guinea, New Zealand and New Caledonia. Epeira (Nephila) walckenaeri Doleschall, E. (N.) hasseltii Doleschall, N. maculata var. annulipes Thorell, N. maculata jalorensis Simon, N. maculata var. novae-guineae Strand, N. pictithorax Kulczyński, N. maculata var. flavornata Merian, N. pictithorax Kulczyński, N. maculata var. flavornata Merian, N. maculata piscatorum de Vis, and N. (N.) maculata var. lauterbachi Dahl are proposed as new synonyms of N. pilipes. Nephila imperialis var. novaemecklenburgiae Strand, N. ambigua Kulczyński, N. sarasinorum Merian and N. celebesiana Strand are proposed as new synonyms of N. antipodiana. Meta aerea Hogg, N. meridionalis Hogg, N. adelaidensis Hogg and N. meridionalis hermitis Hogg are proposed as new synonyms of N. edulis. Nephila picta Rainbow is removed from the synonymy of N. plumipes and treated as a synonym of N. edulis, and N. nigritarsis insulicola Pocock is removed from the synonymy of N. plumipes and treated as a synonym of N. antipodiana. Allozyme data demonstrate that N. pilipes is distinct at the 80% FD level from N. edulis, N. plumipes and N. tetragnathoides. Nephila plumipes and N. tetragnathoides, deemed to represent sister-taxa owing to the shared presence of a triangular protrusion of the male pedipalpal conductor, were found to differ at 15% FD in the genetic study. No genetic differentiation was found between 10 populations of N. edulis sampled across mainland Australia. Species of the genus Nephila have been extensively used in ecological and behavioural studies, and the biology of Nephila species in the Australasian region is extensively reviewed and compared with studies on Nephila species from other regions of the world.

The Philodromus pulchellus species-group is defined and diagnosed. Eleven species are included, described or redescribed, keyed and illustrated: P. afroglaucinus, sp. nov. from Algeria; P. bistigma Simon, 1870, P. glaucinus Simon, 1870, P. lamellipalpis, sp. nov. from Algeria; P. medius O. P.-Cambridge, 1872; P. pardalis, sp. nov. from northern Africa and the Iberian peninsula; P. pulchellus Lucas, 1846, P. punctigerus O. P.-Cambridge, 1908, P. ruficapillus Simon, 1885, P. simoni de Mello-Leitão, 1929, and P. wunderlichi, sp. nov. from the western Canary Islands. The validity of P. bistigma and P. medius is re-established (formerly in synonymy with P. pulchellus); neotype and lectotype, respectively are newly designated. The following new synonymies are proposed: P. torquatus O. P.- Cambridge, 1908 = P. pulchellus; P. salinarum Denis, 1939 = P. glaucinus; P. glaucinoides Wunderlich, 1987 = P. punctigerus; P. marionschmidti (Schmidt, 1990) = P. pulchellus. Philodromus albopictus Simon, 1875 and P. rubidus Simon, 1870 are considered nomina dubia. Determination of phylogenetic relationships within the group is difficult owing to continuous character variation, resulting in partially incongruent reconstructions using morphological and molecular data (partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I gene). Dispersal vicariance analysis provides support for a western Mediterranean origin of the group.

The freshwater crayfish genus Parastacoides Clark, 1936 was last reviewed by Sumner (1978). In that review Sumner synonymised several species, reducing the genus to one species, consisting of three subspecies. However, subsequent collections of specimens from previously unsurveyed areas, as well as field studies on habitat partitioning by the subspecies, cast doubt on the taxonomic status that Sumner proposed. Molecular studies suggesting the presence of several genetically distinct populations provided the stimulus for this review. A complete revision of the genus has led to the recognition of two new genera and 14 new species. Keys, descriptions, diagnoses, synonymies and distribution maps of the genera and species are provided. During the course of this study it was discovered that the type specimen attributed to the genus Parastacoides is a specimen of the genus Geocharax Clark, 1936. The name Parastacoides is a junior synonym of Geocharax, and new names for the genera previously described as Parastacoides have been raised.

The exoristine genus Phorinia Robineau-Desvoidy of the Palearctic, Oriental and Oceanian regions is revised. Sixteen species are recognised, fifteen of them described as new. Phylogenetic relationships of Phorinia are analysed using morphological characters. The analysis reveals that Phorinia is clearly monophyletic and closely related to Ctenophorinia Mesnil within the tribe Exoristini. The following three species-groups are defined in this genus: the aurifrons-group: Phorinia aurifrons Robineau-Desvoidy; P. breviata, sp. nov.; P. minuta, sp. nov.; P. aduncata, sp. nov. and P. convexa, sp. nov.; the bifurcata-group: P. bifurcata, sp. nov.; P. quadrata, sp. nov.; P. longiseta, sp. nov. and P. spinulosa, sp. nov.; and the flava-group: P. flava, sp. nov.; P. gracilis, sp. nov.; P. australiana, sp. nov.; P. denticulata, sp. nov.; P. insignita, sp. nov.; P. occidentalis, sp. nov. and P. orientalis, sp. nov.

A cladistic analysis of the genera of the family ‘Lafoeidae’ was performed in order to investigate suprageneric classifications and the boundaries of the family, as well as to organise the available morphological data and discuss the possible evolution of some morphological characters. Our results suggest that the former ‘Lafoeidae’ must be separated into two families: the Hebellidae and the Lafoeidae (including the subfamilies Lafoeinae and Zygophylacinae).

The replacement name Kapu is provided for the Australian beefly genus Kapua Lambkin & Yeates (Bombyliidae : Anthracinae : Exoprosopini). Kapua Lambkin & Yeates is a junior homonym of the molluscan fossil Kapua Marwick (Gastropoda : Sorbeoconcha : Janthinoidea : Epitoniidae).

Squilloidea is the most speciose of the stomatopod superfamilies and comprises more than 40 genera. Until 2001, three families were recognised: two extant (Harpiosquillidae, Squillidae) and one extinct (Ursquillidae). Recent studies, however, suggested that Harpiosquillidae is nested among other squillids and was thus synonymised with Squillidae. Interrelationships of all squilloid genera are studied by cladistic analysis based on somatic morphology. Results are used to assess the familial classification and investigate the ‘shape’ of squilloid evolution. The phylogeny of the squilloids shows general trends in the armature of the raptorial claw, increased dorsal carination, a tendency for bilobation of the lateral processes of the exposed thoracic somites, and a change in telson shape from trianguloid with movable submedian teeth, to quadriform with fixed submedian teeth. Harpiosquilla Holthuis, 1964 is deeply nested among other squillid genera, supporting the recent synonymy of the Squillidae and Harpiosquillidae. Characters of the late Cretaceous Ursquillidae show that it is highly derived and is therefore synonymised with Squillidae. Although the antiquity of Ursquilla Hof, 1998 does not show it to be a basal or stem-lineage squilloid, it does show that the squilloids had already undergone significant diversification by the end of the Cretaceous. Species of most squilloid genera are regionally restricted, either to the Indo-west Pacific or Atlanto-east Pacific. Only Alima Leach, 1818, Cloridopsis Manning 1968b, and Pontiosquilla Manning, 1995 are represented in both regions.

Discovery of adults and a larva of Natalignathus, a new South African endemic genus, and examination of previously undescribed larvae of Atanygnathus Jakobson shed light on the phylogenetic relationships of the puzzling rove beetle subtribe Tanygnathinina (Staphylinidae : Staphylininae : Staphylinini). Based on plesiomorphic states for many characters of Natalignathus, gen. nov., inferred on the basis of comparison of the new genus with Atanygnathus, various Quediina and other Staphylinini, Natalignathus can be considered either a relatively plesiomorphy-rich member of Tanygnathinina, or a derived genus of Quediina, essentially linking these two subtribes together. Based on morphological and distributional data, it is preliminarily assumed that Atanygnathus evolved from some lineage of southern Quediina, which currently are very poorly known. Comparative study of the adults of Natalignathus and Atanygnathus allows correction of earlier misinterpretations of the structure of the aedeagus and head capsule ridges of Atanygnathus. Detailed morphological descriptions are provided for adults and a larva of Natalignathus and for the larvae of two species of Atanygnathus, A. bicolor (Casey) and A. sp. 1. Special appendages of unknown function are present on the mesothoracic spiracles of the examined larvae of Atanygnathus. No similar structures are known in any other group of Staphylinidae or Coleoptera. Based on the new findings, a review of the state of knowledge of the subtribes Quediina and Tanygnathinina and an updated diagnosis of the latter are provided.

The nephilid ‘coin spiders’ (Herennia Thorell) are known for their arboricolous ladder webs, extreme sexual size dimorphism and peculiar sexual biology. This paper revises Herennia taxonomy, systematics, biology and biogeography. The widespread Asian Herennia multipuncta (Doleschall) ( = H. sampitana Karsch, new synonymy; = H. mollis Thorell, new synonymy) is synanthropic and invasive, whereas the other 10 species are narrowly distributed Australasian island endemics: H. agnarssoni, sp. nov. is known from Solomon Islands; H. deelemanae, sp. nov. from northern Borneo; H. etruscilla, sp. nov. from Java; H. gagamba, sp. nov. from the Philippines; H. jernej, sp. nov. from Sumatra; H. milleri, sp. nov. from New Britain; H. oz, sp. nov. from Australia; H. papuana Thorell from New Guinea; H. sonja, sp. nov. from Kalimantan and Sulawesi; and H. tone, sp. nov. from the Philippines. A phylogenetic analysis of seven species of Herennia, six nephilid species and 15 outgroup taxa scored for 190 morphological and behavioural characters resulted in 10 equally parsimonious trees supporting the monophyly of Nephilidae, Herennia, Nephila, Nephilengys and Clitaetra, but the sister-clade to the nephilids is ambiguous. Coin spiders do not fit well established biogeographic lines (Wallace, Huxley) dividing Asian and Australian biotas, but the newly drawn ‘Herennia line’ suggests an all-Australasian speciation in Herennia. To explain the peculiar male sexual behaviour (palpal mutilation and severance) known in Herennia and Nephilengys, three specific hypotheses based on morphological and behavioural data are proposed: (1) broken embolic conductors function as mating plugs; (2) bulb severance following mutilation is advantageous for the male to avoid hemolymph leakage; and (3) the eunuch protects his parental investment by fighting off rival males.

The New Zealand species of Hydropeza Sinclair are revised and include the following ten species: H. agnetis, sp. nov., H. akatarawa, sp. nov., H. clarae, sp. nov., H. daviesi, sp. nov., H. longipennae (Miller), H. milleri, sp. nov., H. paniculata, sp. nov., H. tutoko, sp. nov., H. vockerothi, sp. nov. and H. wardi, sp. nov. All species are described and male genitalia illustrated. Adults skate about on pools and below small cascades in cool montane streams. The New Zealand fauna is divided into two groups, with the H. longipennae-group assigned as the sister-group to all remaining species of the genus. Only one species is currently known from North Island, with all remaining species confined primarily to west of the Alpine Fault in South Island. The distribution patterns in South Island are examined and implications discussed.

A new Australian zodariid genus Masasteron, gen. nov. is proposed for 20 newly described and one known species belonging to the following seven species-groups: Masasteron mas-group: M. bennieae, sp. nov., M.�bipunctatum, sp. nov., M. mas (Jocqué, 1991), M. ocellum, sp. nov., and M. queensland, sp. nov. Masasteron maini-group: M. maini, sp. nov., and M. tuart, sp. nov. Masasteron deserticola-group: M. clifton, sp. nov., M.�deserticola, sp. nov., and M. derby, sp. nov. The remaining four species-groups form the M. complector-clade. Masasteron mackenziei-group: M. mackenziei, sp. nov., and M. sampeyae, sp. nov. Masasteron burbidgei-group: M.�burbidgei, sp. nov. and M. haroldi, sp. nov. Masasteron darwin-group: M. barkly, sp. nov., M. darwin, sp. nov., and M. utae, sp. nov. Masasteron complector-group: M. complector, sp. nov., M. gracilis, sp. nov., M. piankai, sp.�nov. and M. tealei, sp. nov. Most new species are described from specimens of both sexes, but M. bennieae, sp.��nov., M. tuart, sp. nov., M. derby, sp. nov., M. mackenziei, sp. nov., M. haroldi, sp. nov., M. darwin, sp. nov., M.�utae, sp. nov. and M. gracilis, sp. nov. are known only from males. The possible relationships of the Masasteron species-groups are analysed with NONA and also reconstructed applying the original Hennigian method. The��results indicate that the genus Masasteron, gen. nov. is monophyletic, but closely related to Euasteron (Baehr,�2003a). Additional keywords: Zodariidae, Masasteron, new species from Australia

Australian and New Zealand Tethya Lamarck, 1814 species have been revised on the basis of museum material and new findings. Ten new species: T. acuta, T. burtoni, T. dendyi, T. expansa, T. flexuosa, T. gunni, T.�hooperi, T. pulitzeri, T. stellodermis and T. tasmaniae are described. Tethya gigantea (von Lendenfeld, 1888), here recognised as a valid species, and T. magna Kirkpatrick, 1903, hitherto known only from South Africa, are redescribed. New observations and taxonomic remarks have been provided for: T. bergquistae, T. corticata, T.�deformis, T. inflata, T. phillipensis, T. ingalli, T. laevis, T. monstrosa, T. orphei, T. robusta, T. seychellensis and T.�tuberculata. The revised species list includes 31 valid species, most of which are endemic to Australia or New Zealand. Species-groups within the genus were investigated using cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling.

The New Zealand endemic longicorn beetle genus Drototelus Broun is revised. The scope of the genus is redefined. The monotypic genus Neocalliprason Brookes is synonymised with Drototelus. Two known species, D. politus Broun and D. elegans (Brookes), are redescribed and one new species, D. rarus, is described. These changes have brought the number of Drototelus species to three. Distribution and biology are noted for each species. Adults are diurnally active flower-visitors, and larvae are dead-wood feeders. Phylogenetic relationships of these species are cladistically analysed, confirming the monophyly of the revised genus and determining the sister-species relationship between D. politus and D. rarus.

The genus Eriogenes Meyrick, with three species, is reviewed. A lectotype of Phanaca cossoides Butler is designated and the species placed in Eriogenes as a senior subjective synonym of E. meyricki Duckworth. The known species of Eriogenes Meyrick, E. mesogypsa Meyrick and E. cossoides both described from Papua New Guinea, are redescribed based on Australian material and E. mesogypsa is recorded from Australia for the first time. A third, and new, species from Australia is described here as E. nielseni, sp. nov. Females of Eriogenes were previously unknown but females of two species are described here. Characters to differentiate Eriogenes and Agriophara Rosenstock are discussed.

A cladistic analysis of 29 Chinese species of Neopsylla Wagner, 1903 is carried out based on morphology. Rothschildiana Smit, 1952 and Tamiophila Jordan, 1938, two close relatives of Neopsylla, are also included in the analysis. The results support four species-groups among the Neopsylla: the anoma-group, the stevensi-group, the specialis-group and the setosa-group, and an independent species, N. angustimanubra Wu, Wu�& Liu, 1966. Species of Rothschildiana are included in the stevensi-group and Tamiophila grandis is a member of the setosa-group. Therefore Neopsylla is a paraphyletic group and Rothschildiana and Tamiophila are junior synonyms. The four species-groups show different distributions and host preferences. Rattus is the primary host of the anoma- and stevensi-groups, although some species of the anoma-group have shifted to Myospalax. The specialis-group predominantly infects Apodemus. The setosa-group shifted host preference from the Murinae to genera of Cricetinae and Sciurinae. The reasons for the changes in host and distributions of the species-groups are discussed in relation to the zoogeographic history of China.

The biosystematic position of the Parallelia generic complex is reviewed and a revised generic classification of its component taxa is presented. Bastilla Swinhoe (= Xiana Nye, syn. nov., Naxia Guenée, syn. nov.) is identified as the most appropriate genus for a large number of these taxa, including the joviana-group, which is reviewed in detail, with description of two new species, B. nielseni, sp. nov. and B. binatang, sp. nov. Parallelia prouti Hulstaert, syn. nov. and P. cuneifascia Hulstaert, syn. nov. are recognised as junior synonyms of Bastilla vitiensis Butler and two newly described Tahitian taxa are transferred into the joviana-group. Larval host records are examined in relation to this new generic system and significant preference for the Euphorbiaceae is noted for several groups: Bastilla, Buzara Walker (= Caranilla Moore, syn. nov., another segregate from Parallelia) and an Australian group within Grammodes Guenée.

A dichotomous key and revisional notes are presented for all 17 known species of Lohora Moore, a genus of satyrine butterflies endemic to the Sulawesi Region (Indonesia). Detailed information on primary type material of all taxa is included, together with description of a new species, L. anna, from Lore Lindu National Park previously misidentified in the literature as L. deianira (Hewitson). The recognition of some species, notably a complex centred on L. transiens (Fruhstorfer) that includes L. anna, sp. nov., is difficult and the rank of certain other taxa is problematic. A detailed revision remains necessary if this, the major endemic radiation of butterflies on Sulawesi, is to be better understood.

This study examines the phylogeny, taxonomy, distribution and biology of the gasteruptiid subfamily Hyptiogastrinae and, at the same time, presents an overview of the family. Following a cladistic analysis of 35 discrete morphological characters, two monophyletic genera are recognised, Hyptiogaster Kieffer and Pseudofoenus s. l. Kieffer. As a consequence, the genera Aulacofoenus Kieffer, Crassifoenus Crosskey, and Eufoenus Szépligeti are synonymised with Pseudofoenus. A total of 88 species are recognised for the subfamily, 10 species of Hyptiogaster, which are restricted to mainland Australia, and 78 species of Pseudofoenus, 40 of which are described as new. Pseudofoenus has a restricted Gondwanan distribution and is found in Australia including Tasmania (65 spp.), New Guinea and New Britain (5 spp.), the south-west Pacific (New Caledonia, New Hebrides and Fiji – 2 spp.), New Zealand (4 spp.) and South America (2 spp.). No new species have been recorded from either New Zealand or South America. For Pseudofoenus, information on the distribution of each species, their biology (if known) and an identification key are presented.Following a taxonomic revision, the following new species are described: P. baileyi, sp. nov., P. baitetaensis, sp. nov., P. beverlyae, sp. nov., P. caperatus, sp. nov., P. cardaleae, sp. nov., P. carrabinensis, sp. nov., P. claireae, sp. nov., P. collessi, sp. nov., P. coorowensis, sp. nov., P. crosskeyi, sp. nov., P. douglasorum, sp. nov., P. eliseae, sp. nov., P. ericae, sp. nov., P. eustonensis, sp. nov., P. feckneri, sp. nov., P. gressitti, sp. nov., P. gullanae, sp. nov., P. hackeri, sp. nov., P. imbricatus, sp. nov., P. iqbali, sp. nov., P. kadowi, sp. nov., P. karimuiensis, sp. nov., P. kelleri, sp. nov., P. leinsterensis, sp. nov., P. macdonaldi, sp. nov., P. malkini, sp. nov., P. marshalli, sp. nov., P. masneri, sp. nov., P. mitchellae, sp. nov., P. morganensis, sp. nov., P. nalbarraensis, sp. nov., P. pumilis, sp. nov., P. schmidti, sp. nov., P. stevensi, sp. nov., P. tasmaniensis, sp. nov., P. taylori, sp. nov., P. umboiensis, sp. nov., P. walkeri, sp. nov. and P. zborowskii, sp. nov. The synonymy of Aulacofoenus, Crassifoenus and Eufoenus with Pseudofoenus result in the following new combinations: from Aulacofoenus: P. bungeyi (Jennings & Austin), comb. nov., P. deletangi (Schletterer), comb. nov., P. fallax (Schletterer), comb. nov., P. fletcheri (Jennings & Austin), comb. nov., P. goonooensis (Jennings & Austin), comb. nov., P. infumatus (Schletterer), comb. nov., P. kurmondi (Jennings & Austin), comb. nov., P. loxleyi (Jennings & Austin), comb. nov., P. marionae (Jennings & Austin), comb. nov., P. perenjorii (Jennings & Austin), comb. nov., P. swani (Jennings & Austin), comb. nov., P. thoracicus (Guérin Menéville), comb. nov., P. whiani (Jennings & Austin), comb. nov. and P. wubinensis (Jennings & Austin), comb. nov.; from Crassifoenus: P. houstoni (Jennings & Austin), comb. nov., P. grossitarsis (Kieffer), comb. nov and P. macronyx (Schletterer), comb. nov.; and from Eufoenus: P. antennalis (Schletterer), comb. nov., P. australis (Westwood), comb. nov., P. crassitarsis (Kieffer), comb. nov., P. darwini (Westwood), comb. nov., P. extraneus (Turner), comb. nov., P. ferrugineus (Crosskey), comb. nov., P. floricolus (Turner), comb. nov., P. inaequalis (Turner), comb. nov., P. melanopleurus (Crosskey), comb. nov., P. minimus (Turner), comb. nov., P. nitidiusculus (Turner), comb. nov., P. patellatus (Westwood), comb. nov., P. pilosus (Kieffer), comb. nov., P. reticulatus (Crosskey), comb. nov., P. rieki (Crosskey), comb. nov., P. ritae (Cheesman), comb. nov. and P. spinitarsis (Westwood), comb. nov. Pseudofoenus microcephalus (Crosskey), comb. nov. is transferred from Hyptiogaster and Eufoenus flavinervis (Kieffer) remains incertae sedis.

The Australasian wolf spider genus Artoria, with A. parvula Thorell, 1877 as type species, is revised in part. In addition to A. parvula (=A. luwamata Barrion & Litsinger, 1995, new synonymy), recorded from the Philippines and Indonesia, and A. palustris Dahl, 1908 from Papua New Guinea, it includes the Australian A. albopedipalpis, sp. nov., A. avona, sp. nov., A. cingulipes Simon, 1909, A. flavimanus Simon, 1909 (=Lycosa neboissi McKay, 1976, new synonymy), A. howquaensis, sp. nov., A. lineata (L. Koch, 1877), A. mckayi, sp. nov., A. quadrata, sp. nov., A. taeniifera Simon, 1909, A. triangularis, sp. nov., A. ulrichi, sp. nov. and A. versicolor (L. Koch, 1877). Artoriella flavimanus, the type species of Artoriella Roewer, 1960, is returned to Artoria. Of the remaining species of Artoriella, the Western Australian species A. cingulipes and A. taeniifera are transferred to Artoria, the African species Artoriella amoena Roewer, 1960, A. maculatipes Roewer, 1960 and A. lycosimorpha (Strand, 1909) are considered incertae sedis and Artoriella maura (Urquhart, 1891) from New Zealand is considered a nomen dubium. Trabaeola Roewer is a junior synonym of Artoria, as its type species, T. lineata, is transferred to Artoria. Trabea australiensis (L. Koch, 1877) is considered a nomen dubium. The genus Artoria is characterised by a unique apophysis near the base of the embolus of the male pedipalp. It does not fit into the existing lycosid subfamilies, which have been established by investigation of mainly Northern Hemisphere taxa. Artoria is widespread in Australia and species can be found in a range of habitats (swamps and riverbanks, open areas, rain and dry sclerophyll forests).

Members of the flightless genus Apterotheca Gebien (Coleoptera : Tenebrionidae) are mostly restricted to the high elevation rainforests of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area of north-eastern Australia. This region has been recognised as an `epicentre of evolution for low vagility animals'. The genus Apterotheca is the most diverse low vagility insect taxon known in this region. Forty-four species are included here in a revision of the genus. Three of these species were previously included in Apterotheca (A. amaroides (Pascoe), A. besti (Blackburn) and A. punctipennis Carter), four were previously included in other genera (A. australis (Kulzer), comb. nov. and A.�punctifrons (Gebien), comb. nov. in Apterophenus Gebien, A. costata (Buck), comb. nov. in Caxtonana Buck and A. pustulosa (Carter), comb. nov. in Austropeus Carter) and 37 are new. The monotypic genera Austropeus Carter, syn. nov. and Caxtonana Buck, syn. nov. are proposed as new synonyms of Apterotheca. A lectotype for A. punctipennis and A. besti are designated. A key to the species of Apterotheca and a phylogenetic analysis based on the morphological features of adults, as well as a discussion of character evolution, are also included. Data presented here represent the framework for future studies on the determinants of the patterns of diversity found in the Wet Tropics.

This paper reviews the darwinulid ostracods from Australia and Oceanian islands. Eleven species in three genera have thus far been found in Australia, only the genera Microdarwinula and Alicenula are absent. Vestalenula matildae, sp. nov. is here described from Western Australia. Some taxonomic notes on other species, as well as a preliminary discussion on the distribution of the group on this continent, are also offered.

The millipede genus Metopidiothrix Attems, 1907 (Chordeumatida : Heterochordeumatoidea : Metopidiotrichidae), of south-east Asia, is examined and 30 new species (M. abuyog, M. anderssoni, M. apoensis, M. baletei, M. baybay, M. burckhardti, M. calamei, M. cameronensis, M. danao, M. dolok, M. gallus, M. gressetti, M. hoogsraali, M. kagpili, M. kalang, M. laguna, M. layang, M. lehtineni, M. leyte, M. loebli, M. mada, M. matang, M. mujong, M. nebulosa, M. samuelsonorum, M. santubong, M. schawalleri, M. sedgwicki, M. visca, M. werneri) are added to the genus. The synonymy of M. javana Chamberlin under M. lacertosa Attems is confirmed. Notes are provided on natural history, biogeography and taxonomic characters. The family Metopidiotrichidae is closely related to the Heterochordeumatidae. A key to the genera of Metopidiotrichidae is presented. The family is divided for the first time into three subfamilies: Metopidiotrichinae Attems contains Metopidiothrix and Reginaterreuma Mauriès, 1987; Neocambrisomatinae Mauriès (new status) includes Neocambrisoma Mauriès, 1987, Australeuma Golovatch, 1987, Nesiothrix Shear & Mesibov, 1997 and Nipponothrix Shear & Tanabe, 1994; and Schedotrigoninae Mauriès (new status) includes only Schedotrigona Silvestri, 1903.

Seventy-one species of Psocoptera : Psocidae are recorded from Java and/or the Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, and their relationships and distributional affinities are discussed. Keys are given to facilitate identification of all genera and species from Indonesia together with a regional checklist of species. New genera described and illustrated are Anomaloblaste (two new species) and Javablaste (two new species) of the subfamily Amphigerontiinae and Javapsocus (four new species) (Psocinae : Ptyctini). A total of 42 new species are described.

The taxonomy and bionomics of the southern African meloid genus Prolytta are reviewed. First-instar larvae of four species (P. coriacea, P. pallidipennis, P. lucida and P. semilineata) are described and keyed. The morphology of the specialised setae found in the larvae of this genus is discussed and compared with that of other blister beetles. Based on adult and larval morphology, two assemblages of species, the pallidipennis-group and the lucida-group, are recognised. Included are a key and catalogue of species, taxonomic remarks and several new faunistic records. Two new synonymies, Prolytta lucidicollis Kaszab, 1967 = Prolytta coriacea Kaszab, 1967 and Prolytta sumptuosa (Laporte de Castelnau, 1840) = Prolytta nitidula (Fabricius, 1775), are proposed.

The Hawaiian spider genus Orsonwelles, gen. nov. (Araneae : Linyphiidae) is described. All Orsonwelles species are single island endemics: Kauai harbours six species; Oahu has three; Molokai has two; and Maui and Hawaii have one species each. The thirteen species included in Orsonwelles are described and illustrated: O. torosus (Simon), comb. nov., O. malus, sp. nov., O. calx, sp. nov., O. ventus, sp. nov., O. bellum, sp. nov. and O. iudicium, sp. nov. from Kauai; O. polites, sp. nov. (the type species), O. ambersonorum, sp. nov. and O. arcanus, sp. nov. from Oahu; O. othello, sp. nov. and O. macbeth, sp. nov. from Molokai; O. falstaffius, sp. nov. from Maui; and O. graphicus (Simon), comb. nov. from Hawaii. A total of 55 morphological characters (plus one behavioural character) were scored for twelve taxa (four Orsonwelles species plus eight linyphiid outgroups) to test the monophyly of the genus using cladistic methods. The most parsimonious cladograms provide robust character support for the monophyly of Orsonwelles. A single colonisation of the Hawaiian archipelago is hypothesised to explain the presence of these species in the Hawaiian Islands. This genus represents a case of insular gigantism (these are the largest linyphiids described), although the close relatives of Orsonwelles remain unknown. Their web architecture is also described and illustrated.

Morphologically diverse and species-rich, the endemic Australasian genus Agapophytus is revised. Eleven previously described species are redescribed and twenty-nine species are described for the first time: A. adonis, sp. nov., A. annamariae, sp. nov., A. antheliogynaion, sp. nov., A. asprolepidotos, sp. nov., A. atrilaticlavius, sp. nov., A. biluteus, sp. nov., A. borealis, sp. nov., A. caliginosus, sp. nov., A. cerrusus, sp. nov., A. chaetohypopion, sp. nov., A. chrysosisyrus, sp. nov., A. decorus, sp. nov., A. dieides, sp. nov., A. discolor, sp. nov., A. eli, sp. nov., A. fenestratum, sp. nov., A. galbicaudus, sp. nov., A. labifenestellus, sp. nov., A. laparoceles, sp. nov., A. lissohoplon, sp. nov., A. lyneborgi, sp. nov., A. notozophos, sp. nov., A. novaeguineae, sp. nov., A. pallidicrus, sp. nov., A. palmulus, sp. nov., A. paramonovi, sp. nov., A. septentrionalis, sp. nov., A. yeatesi, sp. nov. and A. zebra, sp. nov. All 40 species of Agapophytus were compared in a cladistic analysis with three species of Acupalpa Kröber using 134 states across 58 adult morphological characters. The analysis resulted in 36 most parsimonious trees with a length of 240 steps. The phylogenetic relationships of the species of Agapophytus are discussed with three main clades recognised: A. dioctriaeformis clade, A. australasiae clade and A. queenslandi clade.

The Australasian lycosid genus Venatrix Roewer, 1960, with Venator fuscus Hogg, 1900 as type, is reinstated and redefined to include 22 species as follows: Venatrix funesta (C. L. Koch, 1847), comb. nov. (= Venator fuscus Hogg, 1900; syn. nov.); V. penola, sp. nov.; V. australiensis, sp. nov.; V. roo, sp. nov.; V. mckayi, sp. nov.; V. koori, sp. nov.; V. archookoora, sp. nov.; V. pictiventris (L. Koch, 1877), comb. nov.; V. hickmani, sp. nov.; V. allopictiventris, sp. nov.; V. speciosa (L. Koch, 1877), comb. nov. (= Lycosa mayama McKay, 1976; syn. nov.); V. esposica, sp. nov.; V. pseudospeciosa, sp. nov.; V. brisbanae (L. Koch, 1878), comb. nov.; V. forsteri, sp. nov.; V. lapidosa (McKay, 1974), comb. nov.; V. fontis, sp. nov.; V. furcillata (L. Koch, 1867), comb. nov.; V. arenaris (Hogg, 1905), comb. nov.; V. pullastra (Simon, 1909), comb. nov.; V. goyderi (Hickman, 1944), comb. nov. (= Lycosa howensis McKay, 1979; syn. nov.); and V. hoggi, sp. nov. Hogna albosparsa (L. Koch, 1876) is considered nomen dubium. Venatrix comprises species mainly found in temperate forests and open areas near watercourses, lakes and springs. Notes on the distribution together with maps, zoogeography and subfamilial placement of Venatrix are given. A solution is proposed to resolve confusion over the dates of some of Roewer’s publications.

The genus Paralaea Guest is reviewed and includes fourpreviously described species, P. porphyrinaria (Gueée, 1857), P. beggaria (Guenée,1857), P. ochrosoma (R. Felder & Rogenhofer,1875) and P. polysticha (Goldfinch, 1944), and nine newspecies: P. atralba, sp. nov., P. chionopasta, sp. nov., P. jarrah, sp. nov., P. karri , sp. nov., P. maranoa, sp. nov., P. sarcodes, sp. nov., P. taggorum, sp. nov., P. tasmanica, sp. nov. and P. toowoomba, sp. nov. The genus has a Bassiandistribution with some extension into the woodlands of the semi-arid zone. Most species occur in south-eastern Australia with six species in Tasmania. Known larvae feed on Eucalyptus, especially trees of the subgenus Monocalyptus, and one species is an occasionalforest pest.

The schizomid fauna of the Seychelles is reviewed and the following taxa are recognised: Apozomus gerlachi, sp. nov., Bamazomus aviculus, sp. nov., Mahezomus apicoporus, sp. nov., Anepsiozomus sobrinus, sp. nov., Ovozomus similis (Hirst), Secozomus latipes (Hansen) and Zomus bagnallii (Jackson). Four new genera are recognised, each represented by a single species: Mahezomus, gen. nov. (type species M. apicoporus, sp. nov.); Anepsiozomus, gen. nov. (type species A. sobrinus, sp. nov.); Ovozomus, gen. nov. (type species Schizomus similis Hirst); and Secozomus, gen. nov. (type species Schizomus latipes Hansen). Three species of Schizomus described from Madagascar are transferred to Bamazomus: B. madagassus (Lawrence), comb. nov., B. milloti (Lawrence), comb. nov. and B. vadoni (Lawrence), comb. nov. Problems in the systematics of the subfamily Hubbardiinae are explored, especially with regard to the high number of genera currently recognised. Biogeographic patterns of the arachnid fauna of the Seychelles are briefly explored, and a list of the Scorpiones, Pseudoscorpiones, Amblypygi, Schizomida and Palpigradi is included.

A systematic review of the genus Catapagurus A.Milne-Edwards, 1880 from the Indo-West Pacific is presented. The genusCatapagurus is rediagnosed and its type species,C. sharreri A. Milne-Edwards, 1880 is redescribed.Icelopagurus tuberculosus Asakura, 1999 is transferredto Catapagurus. The genusHemipagurus Smith, 1881a isreinstated and rediagnosed, and its type speciesH. gracilis Smith, 1881b isredescribed. Seven species previously assigned toCatapagurus, i.e. C. alcockiMcLaughlin, 1998, C. granulatus Edmondson, 1951,C. ensifer Henderson 1893,C. tanimbarensis McLaughlin, 1997,C. holthuisi McLaughlin, 1997,C. oculocrassus McLaughlin, 1997 andC. japonicus Yokoya, 1933, are transferred toHemipagurus. Eight new species ofHemipagurus are described from the Indo-West Pacific:H. haigae; H. kosugei;H. lewinsohni; H. maclaughlinae;H. albatrossae; H. hirayamai;H. imperialis; and H. toyoshioae.Catapagurus doederleini Doflein, 1902 is transferred toParapagurodes McLaughlin & Haig, 1973.

The systematics of New Guinean Colymbetini is revised. All of the species aremontane and/or subalpine, and include:Carabdytes upin Balke, Hendrich & Wewalka, 1992;Rhantus suturalis (MacLeay, 1825)s.l.; R. papuanus Balfour-Browne,1939; and R. ekari Balke & Hendrich, 1992a. Thefollowing new species are described: R. anggi, sp. nov.;R. bacchusi, sp. nov.; R. dani,sp. nov.; R. kakapupu, sp. nov.;R. riedeli, sp. nov.; andR. supranubicus, sp. nov.Rhantus neoguinensis Guéorguiev & Rocchi,1993 is a junior subjective synonym of R. suturalis s.l.All New Guinean Rhantus Dejean, 1833 belong to themonophyletic R. suturalis-group. Within that group,Rhantus simulans Régimbart, 1908 (southwestAustralia),R. dani, R. suturalis,R. ekari and R. kakapupu form amonophyletic subgroup; the latter two are sister-species. TheR. suturalis-group is suggested to be of Holarcticorigin. Possible scenarios that may explain the biogeographical history ofthis tribe in the Indo-Australian region are discussed. No evidence was foundfor monophyly of New Guinean Rhantus. Thebiogeographical history of Carabdytes upin remainsenigmatic. New Guinean Rhantus inhabit swamps atlakeshores, ponds and ditches, while C. upin Balkeet al., 1992 is a rheobiont. A checklist of worldspecies of the R. suturalis-group is provided.