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Blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are generally early colonisers of fresh cadavers, enabling the estimation of a minimum post-mortem interval (minPMI) based on an accurate aging of the oldest immature stages associated with a cadaver. In blow flies, the pupal stage and the subsequent development of the adult take place inside a protective case, the puparium, formed from the hardened and darkened cuticle of the third instar larva. Because the puparium is an opaque structure that shows virtually no external changes, qualitative analyses of the internal tissues can be very informative for determining reliable age-specific morphological markers. Those analyses can be performed using either non-invasive but expensive and not widely accessible techniques, or traditional histological methods, which are invasive as they require the serial sectioning of the sample. Histological methods are often readily available for forensic researchers and practitioners; however, the histological study of blow fly intra-puparial stages has traditionally been hampered by the poor paraffin infiltration of tissues due to the abundance of fat bodies, resulting in usually fragmented sections and the subsequent loss of relevant information. We present here an effective method for the preparation of histological sections of blow fly intra-puparial stages, maximising the paraffin infiltration while enabling the production of clean and entire sections that allow for the use of reliable age-specific morphological markers, thus improving the accuracy of minPMI estimations when access to more costly techniques is not feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the genus Mycena, species exhibiting brownish basidiomata present considerable challenges in identification due to similar coloration. This study underscores the significance of pileipellis types and cheilocystidia characteristics as critical in delimiting brownish Mycena species. To clarify the principal taxonomic characters and their utility in distinguishing between brownish Mycena species, a morphological taxonomy and phylogenetic analysis were performed. Five new species from China were introduced and characterized through a comprehensive morphological anatomy and phylogenetic substantiation: M. campanulatihemisphaerica sp. nov., M. digitifurcata sp. nov., M. kunyuensis sp. nov., M. limitis sp. nov., and M. oryzifluens sp. nov. Discussions of these taxa are supplemented with morphological illustrations. The phylogenetic relationships were inferred using Bayesian Inference and Maximum Likelihood methods based on sequences from the internal transcribed spacer and the large subunit regions of nuclear ribosomal RNA. With the addition of these five new species, the worldwide count of brownish Mycena increases to 94, and a key to the 29 known species of brownish Mycena from China is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gondwanan dinosaur faunae during the 20 Myr preceding the Cretaceous–Palaeogene (K/Pg) extinction included several lineages that were absent or poorly represented in Laurasian landmasses. Among these, the South American fossil record contains diverse abelisaurids, arguably the most successful groups of carnivorous dinosaurs from Gondwana in the Cretaceous, reaching their highest diversity towards the end of this period. Here we describe Koleken inakayali gen. et sp. n., a new abelisaurid from the La Colonia Formation (Maastrichtian, Upper Cretaceous) of Patagonia. Koleken inakayali is known from several skull bones, an almost complete dorsal series, complete sacrum, several caudal vertebrae, pelvic girdle and almost complete hind limbs. The new abelisaurid shows a unique set of features in the skull and several anatomical differences from Carnotaurus sastrei (the only other abelisaurid known from the La Colonia Formation). Koleken inakayali is retrieved as a brachyrostran abelisaurid, clustered with other South American abelisaurids from the latest Cretaceous (Campanian–Maastrichtian), such as Aucasaurus, Niebla and Carnotaurus. Leveraging our phylogeny estimates, we explore rates of morphological evolution across ceratosaurian lineages, finding them to be particularly high for elaphrosaurine noasaurids and around the base of Abelisauridae, before the Early Cretaceous radiation of the latter clade. The Noasauridae and their sister clade show contrasting patterns of morphological evolution, with noasaurids undergoing an early phase of accelerated evolution of the axial and hind limb skeleton in the Jurassic, and the abelisaurids exhibiting sustained high rates of cranial evolution during the Early Cretaceous. These results provide much needed context for the evolutionary dynamics of ceratosaurian theropods, contributing to broader understanding of macroevolutionary patterns across dinosaurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of Hirudinea species infesting elasmobranchs are scarce and scattered worldwide and they are inexistent off the Tunisian waters. In this work, we aimed to assess the occurrence of these parasites on two ray species in the Gulf of Tunis (Tunisia). Between 2017 and 2021, 254 fish specimens belonging to two Torpedinidae species (marbled electric ray, Torpedo marmorata Risso, 1810, and common torpedo, Torpedo torpedo (Linnaeus, 1758)) were examined for leech infestation. Morphological and molecular characterizations based on 18S rDNA and cytochrome c oxidase (COI) sequences allowed us to identify two leech species: Pontobdella muricata (Linnaeus, 1758) and a new Branchellion Savigny, 1822 species Branchellion tunisensis sp. n. This new species (B. tunisensis) exhibited distinctive traits unlike other Branchellion, including a transparent body marred with dark green along the abdomen and neck, long trachelosome (about 1/3 of the length of the body), distinctive two eye spots, the presence of a pair of lateral branchiae per somite except for the last 2 somites and cup-shaped posterior sucker. Molecular analysis of the 18S rDNA and COI gene fragments shows more than 10% divergence of B. tunisensis from other Branchellion spp. and high identity score of P. muricata with other sequenced isolates. This work allowed us to report the presence of P. muricata for the first time off the Tunisian coasts and to identify a new marine leech species parasitizing electric rays in the Gulf of Tunis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterologia is the property of Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Simple Summary: The genus Diploderma Hallowell, 1861 (Squamata, Agamidae), currently consists of 46 species, which are distributed across East Asia (inclusive of Japan) and the northern part of the Indochinese Peninsula, primarily inhabiting dry valley regions in Western China. This article introduces a novel species of Diploderma based on its unique morphological features and molecular evidence, discovered in the lower valley of the Dadu River in Sichuan Province, Western China. Phylogenetic analysis using ND2 data suggests that this new taxon is distinct from its congeners. Morphologically, the new species can be differentiated from other Diploderma species by an assemblage of 46 specific characteristics. Principal component analysis (PCA) further demonstrates that this new species is clearly distinguishable from its closest relative, D. splendidum. Given these multiple lines of evidence, we describe this species from the lower Dadu River valley as a newly identified species, D. daduense sp. nov. This discovery brings the total number of recognized species within the genus Diploderma to 47. This study describes a novel species of Diploderma (Squamata, Agamidae) from the lower valley of the Dadu River of the Sichuan Province of Western China based on its distinct morphological features and molecular evidence. D. daduense sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by its tympanum concealed; head mainly green-yellow, supplemented by black; skin folds under the nuchal and dorsal crest obviously present in adult males only, its vertebral crest discontinuous between nuchal and dorsal sections with a distinct gap; transverse gular fold present but not obvious in some individuals; gular spot absent in both sexes; dorsolateral stripes green-yellow anteriorly, cyan in the center and blurry off-white posteriorly in adult males, the upper edge of dorsolateral stripes strongly jagged in adult males; no radial stripes around the eyes; inner-lip coloration smoky-white, and the coloration of the tongue and oral cavity as a light-flesh color in life; bright green-yellow transverse stripes on dorsal body in males; black patches are evenly distributed along the vertebral line between the dorsolateral stripes from the neck to the base of the tail in males; beech-brown or gray-brown line along the vertebral line with heart-shaped or diamond-shaped black patches on the dorsal body in females; and supratemporals fewer than four on at least one side. The phylogenetic tree based on mitochondrial ND2 sequences indicates that D. daduense sp. nov. forms an independent clade with strong support 1/100 in ML bootstrap/Bayesian posterior probability and is the sister group to D. splendidum. At the inter-species level, the p-distance is at least 6.95%, further confirming that an independent species had been identified. Our work raises the number of species within the genus Diploderma to 47. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein we describe and illustrate Indopria angulata Theertha and Rajmohana gen. et sp. n. (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) from India, along with its mt COI DNA barcode data. The genus is treated as a member of the tribe Diapriini (subfamily: Diapriinae). The new genus is proposed based on an Integrative Taxonomic Approach (ITA) with the unique combination of the morphological data and high genetic divergence for the mt COI barcode within the tribe Diapriini. Morphologically, a semi-abrupt 3-segmented clava, the presence of a median incision on the anterior syntergite, paddle-shaped forewings with angular frenal gutters, elongated marginal fringes, submarginal vein closely approximated to forewing fore margin and marginal venation distinctly surpassing basal third of wing length, together distinguish Indopria gen. n. from related genera. The specialized wing morphology can be interpreted as an adaptation to inhabit aquatic environments. Initial studies suggest the distribution of the species in the aquatic environs of east India and Andaman Islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new species of the genus Stenohya Beier, 1967 from China are described: Stenohya gibba sp. nov. and S. papillata sp. nov. from Hunan Province, and S. guangmingensis sp. nov. from Jiangxi Province. In addition to their sexually dimorphic pedipalp, these three new species also have a uniquely sexual dimorphic leg I, which has not been reported in other Stenohya species. Additionally, an updated key to the Chinese Stenohya species is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new genus and new species of the euthemistid, Kidaneuthemis ningchengensis gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia, China. It can be assigned to the Euthemistidae by the several long intercalary veins between RP1 and IR1, IR1 and RP2, as well as between RP2 and IR2 and between IR2 and RP3/4. Kidaneuthemis ningchengensis gen. et sp. nov. distinguishes from the other two genera of this family by the presence of not less than eight intercalary veins between MP and wing margin; about three rows of cells in the distal part between MA and MP; the base of IR2 is two cells distal to that of RP3/4. In addition, a revision of the family Euthemistidae has been proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new Mexican species of Oragua Melichar, 1926 (O. balamisp. nov.) is described and illustrated from the Yucatán Peninsula based on specimens collected in Campeche (Campeche City and Castamay) and Yucatán (Ticul and Oxkutzcab) states. The new species is distinguished from other Neotropical species by the following combination of features: body color pale with orange marks on dorsum, head produced with anterior margin broadly rounded; pronotum narrower than head; forewing mottled with large orange spots; abdomen with inconspicuous apodemes; pygofer without appendages and dense long stout macrosetae over surface; aedeagus small, bulbous with one pair of twisted paraphyses with asymmetrical spines. A distribution map of available records of Oragua species recorded from southeastern Mexico is provided and a key to Mexican species is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metamorphosis in the pupae of the Trypoxylus dichotomus was continuously observed at 9.4T until their emergence. A large liquid-like mass occupied most of the volume in the trunk, while the surrounding tissue already existed at the beginning of the observation period. As the mass shrunk, tissues such as flight muscle formed, whereas the reservoir became prolonged to form the intestinal tract. This implies that the liquidlike mass worked as the raw material for creating adult tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the genus Awaous (Oxudercidae), Awaous motla sp. nov., is described based on 18 specimens collected from the Mahanadi River near Sonepur, Subarnapur District, and 3 specimens from the same river near Boudh bridge, Boudh District of Odisha, India. This species is distinct from its congeners by having a combination of characteristics: relatively small eyes, diameter of 6.6–8.4 in head length (LH); robust and long snout, 2.0–2.6 in LH; eye diameter 2.7–4.1 in snout length; cephalic sensory pore system interrupted with eight pores; predorsal scales 13–15; longitudinal scale series 55–58; gill rakers 2 + 1 + (6–7) on the first gill arch; teeth small, conical, and in a single row on the upper jaw and multiserial (2–3) on the lower jaw. This species is also differentiated from some of its congeners in the nucleotide composition of the cytochrome c oxidase I gene by 8.3%–13.8% Kimura two‐parameter (K2P) distance and belongs to a separate cluster in the maximum likelihood tree analysis. This finding is also supported by the species delimitation analysis based on Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning. The new species holds high commercial value in its locality and needs special conservation attention for sustainable utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new genus in the nudibranch family Discodorididae, Avaldesia n. gen. is established for Avaldesia albomacula (Chan & Gosliner, 2007) and Avaldesia tahala (Chan & Gosliner, 2007), originally assigned to the genus Thordisa Bergh, 1877, and a new species, Avaldesia tamatoa n. sp. described here from the central Pacific. To establish species relationships within Avaldesia , as well as the placement of Avaldesia within Discodorididae, we utilized four molecular markers (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, 16S rRNA, histone H3 and 28S rRNA) in our Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood analyses. Four species delimitation methods were complemented by morphological dissections and scanning electron microscopy. Our results reveal a clear separation between Avaldesia and Thordisa and suggest that Avaldesia is more closely related to the genera Hoplodoris Bergh, 1880 and Asteronotus Ehrenberg, 1831. The most characteristic features of Avaldesia include a radula with increasing denticulation towards the fimbriate outermost laterals and a reproductive system with a lobate vestibular gland, occasional hollow vestibular spine and a penis armed with one or more penial spines. All species of Avaldesia are found in shallow water (5–10 m depth) on rocky reefs, sandy sediments and algal fields with distributions across the Indo-Pacific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a well-preserved male imago, a new genus and species Oculephemera mazhenxingi n. gen. et n. sp. of Ephemeroptera are presented in this study. For its distinct characters on head, wings, legs and genitalia, especially the autapomorphies of fused turban eyes and three distal segments of forceps, we erect a new family Oculephemeridae n. fam. herein as the sixth ephemeropteran family discovered from Kachin amber. All the distinguishable characters of the new taxa are illustrated and described; detailed comparisons between related families are also given. The new taxa not only represent a unique clade of mayflies but also give us a chance to modify somehypothesess of the origin, evolution and dispersal of several related lineages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new mealybug species, Paracoccus gillianwatsonae Zhang, sp. nov. and P. wui Zhang, sp. nov., collected from Jiangxi, South China, are described and illustrated based on the morphology of adult females. Paracoccus gillianwatsonae is similar to P. burnerae (Brain, 1915), but it differs in having fewer pairs of cerarii, and in lacking both ventral oral collar tubular ducts on the margins of the head and translucent pores on the hind femur. Paracoccus wui resembles P. keralae Williams, 2004 and P. neocarens (Lit, 1992), but it differs in lacking ventral oral collar tubular ducts on the margins of the head and in having multilocular disc-pores usually in double rows at the posterior edges of abdominal segments V and VI. A key to the Paracoccus species found in China is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterologia is the property of Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: Specimens of Elthusa from trashfish of the Indian SW coast were described as a new parasitic cymothoid, Elthusa nemo sp. nov., (Crustacea: Isopoda). Later, the branchial cavity of the Blotchfin dragonet Callionymus filamentosus Valenciennes, 1837 were documented as its micro- and macro-habitat (host). Methods: Fresh/live specimens of unidentified cymothoid samples were collected from the trash fishes obtained from Neendakara (08°30.0′ N 76°53.30′ E) fish landing centre, Kollam district, Kerala state, southwest coast of India. After a long search for the host species, we recovered the isopod from the branchial cavity of the deep-sea fish Callionymus filamentosus Valenciennes, 1837 (Callionymiformes: Callionymidae). The new species is described and illustrated based on ovigerous females. Results: Elthusa nemo sp. nov., has the following sets of combinations of characters: body slightly twisted, elongated, dorsal surfaces smooth, nearly twice as long as greatest width; pleon short, ~ 14% body length, 0.8 times as wide as pereon maximum width; widest at pleonite 2 and narrowest at pleonite 1; only pleonite 1, laterally overlapped by pereonite 7 posterolateral expansion and coxa 7; presence of appendix masculina on pleopod 2; uropods 0.8 times as the length of pleotelson; antenna with two plumose setae on article 4. Conclusion: Elthusa nemo sp. nov., is the sixth species of the genus known from Indian waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historical, nomenclatural, technical, and biological problems associated with the 42 species of Mesothrips are discussed. Type specimens have been re-examined of 14 of the 25 species that were described prior to 1930 and remain known only from imperfectly slide-mounted specimens. As a result, seven new synonyms are recognised. From China, six species of Mesothrips have been listed, but the records of M. alluaudi and M. manii are rejected, and three new species are described: M. jianfengi sp. nov., M. longistylus sp. nov., and M. vernicia sp. nov. These three species are divergent from other members of Mesothrips in lacking a prominent fore tarsal tooth and may indicate a possible generic relationship to the flower-living species in the Asian genus Dolichothrips. An illustrated key is provided to the seven Mesothrips species now known from China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New data are presented for the potter wasp genus Orancistrocerus van der Vecht (Eumeninae, Odynerini) occurring in Vietnam. Two species are described as new to science: Orancistrocerus thanhnhat sp. nov. and O. thanghen sp. nov. Orancistrocerus aterrimus erythropus van der Vecht is synonymized with Orancistrocerus aterrimus aterrimus (de Saussure); the male genitalia of this species are described for the first time. An updated key is presented to all species of the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hitherto, only two species of the thysanopteran suborder Terebrantia have been reported from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber (Myanmar). This is here expanded through the discovery of two new genera and species, described and figured as Parallelothrips separatus gen. et sp. nov. and Didymothrips abdominalis gen. et sp. nov., both of the family Stenurothripidae. Both taxa have key apomorphies of the Stenurothripidae, allowing for a confident assignment as to family. Both species have characteristic comb-like anteromarginal setae, which are discussed along with structural differences between the two sexes. Cycad pollen was found on the thrips’ bodies, providing further evidence that Thysanoptera were pollinators of gymnosperms during the mid-Cretaceous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rich and diverse fungal species occur in different habitats on the earth. Many new taxa are being reported and described in increasing numbers with the advent of molecular phylogenetics. However, there are still a number of unknown fungi that have not yet been discovered and described. During a survey of fungal diversity in different habitats in China, we identified and proposed two new species, based on the morphology and multi-gene phylogenetic analyses. Herein, we report the descriptions, illustrations and molecular phylogeny of the two new species, Bisifusarium keratinophilum sp. nov. and Ovatospora sinensis sp. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, six species of Statherotmantis Diakonoff, 1973 were previously recorded. In the present study, four other species were recognized using morphology and DNA barcording analysis. Among these, three of which, S. miniscula sp. n., S. calva sp. n., and S. longiuscula sp. n., are described as new. In addition, one species, S. laetana Kuznetzov, 1988, is a new record for China. Adults and genitalia are illustrated, and keys to identify the Chinese species of Statherotmantis are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The few already published generic features of the genus Prochasma Warren, 1897 are reviewed and new-found characters are added to make the generic description more comprehensive. A new species, Prochasma diaoluoensis Liu & Stüning, sp. nov. is described from Hainan Province, China. It is the only Prochasma species found on this island and exceptional for its conspicuous pattern, vivid coloration and some morphological characters not observed in other species before. Descriptions and illustrations of adults, their venation, and male and female genitalia are presented. An identification key and an annotated checklist of all presently known species of Prochasma are provided. In addition, a DNA barcode sequence is given for the new species, and preliminary phylogenetic estimations of the genus Prochasma are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of Hypodontolaiminae, Dichromadora media sp. nov. and Neochromadora parabilineata sp. nov., were isolated and described from the Yellow Sea, China. Dichromadora media sp. nov. is characterized by four long cephalic setae, the amphidial fovea transverse oval in the male and slit-shaped in the female, the pharynx with a single posterior bulb, spicules curved and distally bifurcated, gubernaculum jointed, four (1+3) precloacal supplements papilliform, and the tail conical elongated with a short spinneret. Neochromadora parabilineata sp. nov. is characterized by the buccal cavity with one large hollow dorsal tooth and two small subventral teeth, the pharynx with an obvious posterior bulb, spicules L-shaped and widened medially, gubernaculum boatshaped, seven cup-shaped and equidistant precloacal supplements, and a long and gradually tapering tail. The phylogenetic analysis of maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference based on rDNA sequences confirmed the taxonomic positions of Neochromadora parabilineata sp. nov. and Dichromadora media sp. nov. within Hypodontolaiminae. Tree topology in Hypodontolaiminae shows the genera Neochromadora, Dichromadora, Ptycholaimellus, and Spilophorella as polyphyletic groups, and the genus Chromadorita as a paraphyletic group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species, Psilalcis subalbibasis Liu, sp. nov. and Psilalcis subconceptaria Liu, sp. nov., are described from Hainan Island, China. Adult males and females of both species, including their genitalia, are figured and compared to closely related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Torrent frogs of the genus Amolops are widely distributed in Nepal and northern India eastwards to southern China and southwards to Malaysia. The genus currently contains 84 species. Previous studies indicated underestimated species diversity in the genus. In the context, a new species occurring from the mountains in the northwestern Guizhou Province, China is found and described based on morphological comparisons and molecular phylogenetic analyses, Amolops dafangensis sp. nov. Phylogenetic analyses based on DNA sequences of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA and COI genes supported the new species as an independent lineage. The uncorrected genetic distances between the 16S rRNA and COI genes in the new species and its closest congener were 0.7% and 2.6%, respectively, which are higher than or at the same level as those among many pairs of congeners. Morphologically, the new species can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: body size moderate (SVL 43.2-46.8 mm in males); head length larger than head width slightly; tympanum distinct, oval; vocal sacs absent; vomerine teeth present; dorsolateral folds weak formed by series of glands; nuptial pads present on the base of finger I; heels overlapping when thighs are positioned at right angles to the body; tibiotarsal articulation reaching the level far beyond the tip of the snout when leg stretched forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study from the state of Odisha, India, documents for the first time a species of Idris Förster (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) as an egg parasitoid of a clubionid spider. In Scelionidae, two genera, Ceratobaeus Ashmead and Odontacolus Kieffer, are known to attack clubionids. The emerged species of Idris did not fit the descriptions of congeners; hence, the new species is described and illustrated here as a novel species, Idris hirsutus Sunita and Rajmohana sp. n. The mt COI gene-based molecular characterisation of the species is provided. In addition, a preliminary phylogenetic tree to decipher the placement and broader geographic groupings of Idris on a country-wide scale is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six species in two genera of the family Cheiracanthiidae Wagner, 1887 are studied from Hainan Island, China, including two new species: Cheiracanthium bawanglingense sp. n. (♀♂) and Eutittha hainanensis sp. n. (♀). Cheiracanthium ningmingense Zhang and Yin, 1999 syn. n. is synonymised with C. exquestitum Zhang and Zhu, 1993, and C. adjacensoides Song, Chen and Hou, 1990 stat. resurr. (♀♂) is removed from synonymy with C. approximatum O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1885. Cheiracanthium insigne O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1874 (♀♂) and C. taegense Paik, 1990 (♀♂) are reported from Hainan Province, China, for the first time. Photos of habitus and genitalia and a distribution map of all species are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Neotropical planthopper genus Trigava O'Brien, 1999 (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Dictyopharidae, Nersiini) is revised. Four species are included: T. brachycephala (Melichar, 1912) (the type species, from Peru), T. obrieni Song, Malenovský & Deckert, sp. nov. (from Brazil), T. peruensis Song, O'Brien & Bartlett, sp. nov. (from Peru), and T. recurva (Melichar, 1912) (from Bolivia and Peru). Lectotypes are designated for Igava brachycephala Melichar, 1912 and Igava recurva Melichar, 1912. All species are described, including habitus photographs and detailed illustrations of the male genitalia. Male and female genitalia are described for this genus for the first time. A key for identification of the species of Trigava and a distribution map are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of wood-soldier fly under the genus Solva Walker, 1859 (Diptera: Xylomyidae) (Solva andamanensis sp. n. Pramanik, Naskar & Banerjee) is described from the tropical forest of Andaman Island, India. Males can be distinguished from other species by a combination of characters, specifically the ochre yellow antenna; snow-white cylindrical palpi; yellow fore coxa, one antero-dorsal bristle in fore femur, black scutellum and black hind coxa. Male terminalia is illustrated here. Furthermore, Solva javana (Meijere, 1907) (Diptera: Xylomyidae) is reported for the first time from Andaman Island as well as India. The difference in habitus characters between these two species is also illustrated in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An illustrated catalogue of comb-clawed beetles (Alleculinae) from Borneo Island is presented. A key to the genera is added and a new genus and new species are described as follows: Jaklia bruneiica sp. nov. and Jaklia luminaria sp. nov. both from Brunei (the first records of the genus from Borneo Island), Mycetocula temburongica sp. nov. from Brunei (the first record of the genus in Borneo Island), Palpichara kalimantanica sp. nov. from Indonesia, Palpichara labiica sp. nov. from Brunei and Tropicula viridis gen. and sp. nov. from Brunei and Indonesia. Tropicula viridis is a unique species, it differs from the species of similar genera mainly by long head (distinctly longer than wide), strongly convex and long pronotum (distinctly longer than wide) widest near middle, sexual dimorphism on legs (unusually shaped protibiae and profemora and differences on meso- and metatibiae). Also colour of dorsal surface of elytra and legs (yellowish green, pale green or green) is not usual. All described species are illustrated (including male genitalia) and compared with the most morphologically similar species. The species Allecula affinis Borchmann, 1932 and Allecula curvatipes Pic, 1944 are transferred to the genus Chitwania Novák, 2015 and the species Allecula borneensis Pic, 1915 and Allecula bruneiensis Pic, 1915 are transferred to the genus Sporacula Novák, 2023. Currently we know 47 species in 16 genera living here. Diagnosis and body outlines based mostly on type material are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an index of titles and authors/editors of books that have been reviewed. It includes a variety of topics such as evolutionary biology, animal behavior, marine mammals, plant disease, dinosaur science, and neuroscience. Some notable titles include "The Lives of Sharks" by Abel D. C. and R. D. Grubbs, "How Life Works: A User's Guide to the New Biology" by P. Ball, and "The Evolution of Charles Darwin: The Epic Voyage of the Beagle That Forever Changed Our View of Life on Earth" by D. Preston. This index provides a comprehensive list of books that library patrons can explore for further research on specific topics. [Extracted from the article]

Two new species of the bristletail family Machilidae are described: Ditrigoniophthalmus ongudaensis sp. n. and Allopsontus altaicus sp. n. The former, D. ongudaensis sp. n., differs from the known species of the genus Ditrigoniophthalmus Kaplin 1979 by club-shaped paired ocelli, the relative lengths of the urostyli and urocoxites VIII and IX, and the basal and terminal portions of the penis in the male. Allopsontus altaicus sp. n. belongs to the subgenus Anisopsontus Mendes 1990 and is quite similar to the following four consubgenera: A. ciliatus (Wygodzinsky 1970), A. tekelensis Kaplin 2015, A. lineatus Kaplin 2002, and A. zinchenkoi Kaplin 2019. However, A. altaicus sp. n. differs in the number of segments of the ovipositor, the number of digging spines on its anterior and posterior gonapophyses, the number of rosette-shaped sensilla on the anterior femora of the male, the width-to-length ratios of paired ocelli in both sexes, and the length-to-width ratios of the last segment of the labial palps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines Blattinae samples from Southwest China collected in recent years. Based on morphological characters, we establish two genera, Vittiblatta gen. nov. and Planiblatta gen. nov., and describe four new species, Vittiblatta punctata Luo & Wang, sp. nov., Vittiblatta ferruginea Luo & Wang, sp. nov., Vittiblatta undulata Luo & Wang, sp. nov., and Planiblatta crassispina Luo & Wang, sp. nov. These two new genera resemble Periplaneta s.s., but are easily distinguished from it and other genera of Blattinae by morphological characters (genital sclerite L4C). Our results indicate that sclerites L4C and R1G of male genitalia might be important in species delimitation of Blattinae. In addition, chiral dimorphism is found in male genitalia of Vittiblatta punctata sp. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a summary of a research article titled "The Paracortinidae of South-East Asia" by Nesrine Akkari et al. The article focuses on the taxonomy, characteristics, and distribution of the Paracortinidae family of millipedes found in Southeast Asia. The authors describe new species and genera within the family and provide detailed descriptions, identification keys, and distribution maps. The article also discusses the controversy surrounding the taxonomy of the family and highlights the need for further research to fully understand its diversity. The document includes references to other relevant research articles on millipedes. [Extracted from the article]

Two new species of the genus Phaecadophora, P. dactylina sp. nov. and P. vascularis sp. nov., are described from the southwest China. Photographs of the adults and the genitalia are provided. Keys to the species of the genus based on the male and female genitalia are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calotes wangi sp. nov., a new species of the agamid genus Calotes Cuvier, 1817, from southern China and northern Vietnam, is described. This species can be distinguished from all known congeners by a combination of morphological characteristics and genetic divergence in the mitochondrial tRNA, ND2, and CO1 genes. Molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed that the new species was formed as a monophyletic group and that considerable genetic divergence existed between its congeners (minimum p-distance, 4.6%). Calotes wangi sp. nov. is distinguished by a combination of the following characteristics: average SVL < 90 mm for adult males; 10-14 dorsal eyelid scales; scales on side of neck and adjacent shoulder area pointing obliquely upward; keels on neck scales weakly to strongly developed; fold in front of the shoulder absent; pair of dark triangular patches extending from the front of the shoulder to the jaw angles; and orange coloration of the tongue. Calotes wangi sp. nov. is similar to C. irawadi but differs in having scales between the nasal shield and the orbit and a fourth toe with a claw that can reach between the eyes and tympanum (even to the snout when hind the limbs are adpressed forward). Phylogenetic analyses revealed two well-supported subspecies, Lineages A and B in C. wangi sp. nov., with mean uncorrected p-distances between them of 2%. We propose that Lineage A, which is mainly from the central and southern Wuzhi Mountains on Hainan Island, is a subspecies, C. w. hainanensis ssp. nov. Lineage B mainly comprises individuals from other sites on the island plus the adjacent mainland, and is described as subspecies, C. w. wangi ssp. nov. A diagnostic key to all Calotes species of China is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Szeptyckitheca Betsch & Weiner is a genus of Sphyrothecinae (Sminthuridae) similar to Sphyrotheca Börner, with 13 nominal species. Most descriptions of Szeptyckitheca taxa lack valuable data in face of the current taxonomy of Symphypleona. In this study the previously described species of the genus were surveyed, aiming to provide updated diagnoses for them. Three species were also transferred to Szeptyckitheca: Sphyrotheca karlarum Palacios-Vargas, Vázquez & Cuéllar, 2003, S. peteri Palacios-Vargas, Vázquez & Cuéllar, 2003, and S. koreana Betsch & Weiner, 2009, based on trochanteral and/or dental chaetotaxy. Two new Brazilian species of the genus are described and illustrated, S. andrzeji Medeiros, Bellini & Weiner, sp. nov., with a remarkable reduced ventral dental chaetotaxy not seen in other Neotropical species, and S. cyanea Oliveira, Medeiros & Bellini, sp. nov. with a distinctive large set of head vertex spines (18). Finally, an updated key to all the valid species of the genus is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Miniaturization is an evolutionary trend observed in many animals. Some arachnid groups, such as spiders and mites, demonstrate a strong tendency toward miniaturization. Some of the most miniaturized spiders belong to the family Anapidae. In this study, using light and confocal microscopy and 3D modelling, we provide the first detailed description of the anatomy of a spider of the genus Rayforstia, which is only 900 µm long. In comparison with larger spiders, Rayforstia has no branching of the midgut in the prosoma and an increased relative brain volume. In contrast to many miniature insects and mites, the spider shows no reduction of whole organ systems, no allometry of the digestive and reproductive systems, and also no reduction of the set of muscles. Thus, miniature spider shows a more conserved anatomy than insects of a similar size. These findings expand our knowledge of miniaturization in terrestrial arthropods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new monotypic genus of Geometridae, Mirlatia gen. nov., and a new species, M. arcuata sp. nov., are described from Croatia. Based on external and genitalia characters, the new genus is tentatively placed in the subfamily Larentiinae. However, the new genus takes a highly isolated position by having unique characters of the tympanum and showing an unusually long pectination of female antennae. Genetic analysis of a fragmented DNA barcode (mtDNA; cytochrome c oxidase 1) did not result in a clear assignation to any geometrid subfamily or tribe. Adults, male and female genitalia, and habitat photos of the type locality of the new species are illustrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One new genus Evacuxyela gen. nov., with two new species, Evacuxyela conflata sp. nov. and Evacuxyela hsiaoae sp. nov., is described and illustrated on the basis of two fossils from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of northeastern China. The new genus Evacuxyela gen. nov. is placed in the subfamily Macroxyelinae Ashmead, 1898, tribe Angaridyellini of Xyelidae, mainly based on veins C and R connected by a bridge next to pterostigma. The two new fossil species are similar, but differentiated by degree of expansion for hind femur, sclerotisation of pterostigma and venational details. In addition, the well-preserved spurs and expanded femora of hind legs provide important morphological characters to enhance our understanding of Xyelidae. ZooBank ID (LSID): Evacuxyela: Evacuxyela conflata: Evacuxyela hsiaoae: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vermetid worm-snails are sessile and irregularly coiled marine mollusks common in warmer nearshore and coral reef environments that are subject to high predation pressures by fish. Often cryptic, some have evolved sturdy shells or long columellar muscles allowing quick withdrawal into better protected parts of the shell tube, and most have variously developed opercula that protect and seal the shell aperture trapdoorlike. Members of Thylacodes (previously: Serpulorbis) lack such opercular protection. Its species often show polychromatic head-foot coloration, and some have aposematic coloration likely directed at fish predators. A new polychromatic species, Thylacodes bermudensis n. sp., is described from Bermuda and compared morphologically and by DNA barcode markers to the likewise polychromatic western Atlantic species T. decussatus (Gmelin, 1791). Operculum loss, previously assumed to be an autapomorphy of Thylacodes, is shown to have occurred convergently in a second clade of the family, for which a new genus Cayo n. gen. and four new western Atlantic species are introduced: C. margarita n. sp. (type species; with type locality in the Florida Keys), C. galbinus n. sp., C. refulgens n. sp., and C. brunneimaculatus n. sp. (the last three with type locality in the Belizean reef) (all new taxa authored by Bieler, Collins, Golding & Rawlings). Cayo n. gen. differs from Thylacodes in morphology (e.g., a protoconch that is wider than tall), behavior (including deep shell entrenchment into the substratum), reproductive biology (fewer egg capsules and eggs per female; an obliquely attached egg capsule stalk), and in some species, a luminous, ''neon-like'', head-foot coloration. Comparative investigation of the eusperm and parasperm ultrastructure also revealed differences, with a laterally flattened eusperm acrosome observed in two species of Cayo n. gen. and a spiral keel on the eusperm nucleus in one, the latter feature currently unique within the family. A molecular phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial and nuclear rRNA gene sequences (12SrRNA, trnV, 16SrRNA, 28SrRNA) strongly supports the independent evolution of the two non-operculate lineages of vermetids. Thylacodes forms a sister grouping to a clade comprising Petaloconchus, Eualetes, and Cupolaconcha, whereas Cayo n. gen is strongly allied with the small-operculate species Vermetus triquetrus and V. bieleri. COI barcode markers provide support for the specieslevel status of the new taxa. Aspects of predator avoidance/deterrence are discussed for these non-operculate vermetids, which appear to involve warning coloration, aggressive behavior when approached by fish, and deployment of mucous feeding nets that have been shown, for one vermetid in a prior study, to contain bioactive metabolites avoided by fish. As such, non-operculate vermetids show characteristics similar to nudibranch slugs for which the evolution of warning coloration and chemical defenses has been explored previously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three‐dimensional (3D) imaging, such as microcomputed tomography (micro‐CT), is increasingly being used by organismal biologists for precise and comprehensive anatomical characterization. However, the segmentation of anatomical structures remains a bottleneck in research, often requiring tedious manual work. Here, we propose a pipeline for the fully automated segmentation of anatomical structures in micro‐CT images utilizing state‐of‐the‐art deep learning methods, selecting the ant brain as a test case. We implemented the U‐Net architecture for two‐dimensional (2D) image segmentation for our convolutional neural network (CNN), combined with pixel‐island detection. For training and validation of the network, we assembled a data set of semimanually segmented brain images of 76 ant species. The trained network predicted the brain area in ant images fast and accurately; its performance tested on validation sets showed good agreement between the prediction and the target, scoring 80% Intersection over Union (IoU) and 90% Dice Coefficient (F1) accuracy. While manual segmentation usually takes many hours for each brain, the trained network takes only a few minutes. Furthermore, our network is generalizable for segmenting the whole neural system in full‐body scans, and works in tests on distantly related and morphologically divergent insects (e.g., fruit flies). The latter suggests that methods like the one presented here generally apply across diverse taxa. Our method makes the construction of segmented maps and the morphological quantification of different species more efficient and scalable to large data sets, a step toward a big data approach to organismal anatomy. Key points: Development of a deep learning‐based pipeline for the fully automated segmentation of micro‐CT images of insects, using ant brains as a starting point.Creation of an open access data set of micro‐CT images of ant heads for training and testing.Generalizable computer vision methodology, extendable across diverse taxa and anatomical features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Cylapocoris is a genus of the cylapine tribe Fulviini distributed in the Neotropics, with most species being recorded from Central America. By the descriptions of five new species and redescriptions of six species, we provide a robust amount of morphological data, including the novel study of female genitalia, offering an updated diagnosis and description of the genus. This paper also elucidates the phylogenetic position of the genus and the interrelationships of the species within it as well as confirming the monophyly of Cylapocoris. This paper provides descriptions of five new species of the Neotropical genus Cylapocoris Carvalho, 1954 (C. bimaculatus n. sp., C. brooksi n. sp., C. carvalhoi n. sp., C. scutellatus n. sp., and C. simplexoides n. sp.). Cylapocoris and Cylapocoroides Carvalho, 1989 are redescribed and rediagnosed. Illustrations of male genitalia, scanning electron micrographs of selected structures of certain taxa, and an identification key to species are provided. Female genitalia are described and illustrated for the first time for Cylapocoris in nine out of 19 known species. A cladistic analysis of the genus, based on 62 morphological characters, is presented as a contribution to the understanding of relationships within Cylapocoris and its relationships with other groups of Cylapinae. The analysis comprises 16 ingroup species and 15 outgroup taxa. Both equal and implied weighting parsimony analyses were used in the phylogenetic reconstruction. We confirm the monophyly of Cylapocoris and its sister-group relationship with Cylapocoroides. Additionally, we identify subgroupings within Cylapocoris. Intertribal relationships within Cylapinae are briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This research presents a description of a new ectoparasitic scale-mite species, Neopterygosoma robertmertensi sp. n., collected from a Robert's tree iguana (Liolaemus robertmertensi) from Argentina. For the first time, the description of females was accompanied by the description of the male and juvenile stages. The morphology of all post-embryonic stages of this species was analyzed in detail using scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis to determine its position within the genus and created an updated identification key for all Neopterygosoma species. The findings show that N. robertmertensi sp. n. is a part of the chilensis group and is a sister taxon to all Neopterygosoma spp. collected from Liolaemus pictus and L. chiliensis. A new pterygosomatid mite species, Neopterygosoma robertmertensi sp. n. (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae) was collected from two specimens of Liolaemus robertmertensi (Liolaemidae) from Argentina. This new species is described based on active stages: adults (female and male) and juveniles (deutonymphs, protonymphs, and larvae) and quiescent stages (nymphchrysalis, deutochrysalis and imagochrysalis). The changes in morphological characters that occur during the ontogeny of N. robertmertensi have been analyzed in detail. A difference in larval sex morphology was observed for the first time in the family Pterygosomatidae (female larvae differ from male larvae in terms of the shape and size of the idiosoma and the position of the genital area). This new mite species is most similar to N. cyanogasteri but can be distinguished by the presence of different leg chaetotaxy patterns of genua IV and femora IV, four to six genital setae, three to five dorsomedial setae, and two to three ventromedial setae. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted based on 120 morphological characters of all Neopterygosoma spp. and four outgroup species using the maximum parsimony approach. The results indicated that this species is nested within mites of the chilensis group of Neopterygosoma associated with host species of the section chiliensis of Liolaemus s. str. An updated diagnosis of the chilensis group of Neopterygosoma and an identification key for all species of this genus has been provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spectacular radiation of insects has produced a stunning diversity of phenotypes. During the past 250 years, research on insect systematics has generated hundreds of terms for naming and comparing them. In its current form, this terminological diversity is presented in natural language and lacks formalization, which prohibits computer-assisted comparison using semantic web technologies. Here we propose a Model for Describing Cuticular Anatomical Structures (MoDCAS) which incorporates structural properties and positional relationships for standardized, consistent, and reproducible descriptions of arthropod phenotypes. We applied the MoDCAS framework in creating the ontology for the Anatomy of the Insect Skeleto-Muscular system (AISM). The AISM is the first general insect ontology that aims to cover all taxa by providing generalized, fully logical, and queryable, definitions for each term. It was built using the Ontology Development Kit (ODK), which maximizes interoperability with Uberon (Uberon multispecies anatomy ontology) and other basic ontologies, enhancing the integration of insect anatomy into the broader biological sciences. A template system for adding new terms, extending, and linking the AISM to additional anatomical, phenotypic, genetic, and chemical ontologies is also introduced. The AISM is proposed as the backbone for taxon-specific insect ontologies and has potential applications spanning systematic biology and biodiversity informatics, allowing users to: 1) use controlled vocabularies and create semiautomated computer-parsable insect morphological descriptions; 2) integrate insect morphology into broader fields of research, including ontology-informed phylogenetic methods, logical homology hypothesis testing, evo-devo studies, and genotype to phenotype mapping; and 3) automate the extraction of morphological data from the literature, enabling the generation of large-scale phenomic data, by facilitating the production and testing of informatic tools able to extract, link, annotate, and process morphological data. This descriptive model and its ontological applications will allow for clear and semantically interoperable integration of arthropod phenotypes in biodiversity studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of Anthocoridae sens. lat. from Australia and nearby islands of the south-western Pacific in Australian museums have revealed a group of new genera and species which is proposed as a new tribe, the Aenigmocorini tribe n. They share a number of features which unify them as a taxon discrete from other defined subdivisions of the Anthocoridae, notably the structural composition and configuration of the external male genitalia and the position of the site for integumental copulation in the female. A key to tribes of Anthocoridae sens. lat. is provided. New genera and included species of Aenigmocorini are: Aenigmocoris gen. n. with three species, A. austropiceus (Gross, 1954) comb. n. (type species) from southern Australia and Tasmania, A. novaecaledoniae sp. n. from New Caledonia and Loyalty Islands and A. queenslandensis sp. n. from Queensland; Kentiacola gen. n. with K. leai sp. n. (type species) from Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands and Norfolkcoris gen. n. with N. kentiae sp. n. (type species) from Norfolk Island. All species are illustrated and a key to genera and species of the tribe is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dolichostylusgen. nov., a new genus of Portanini, is described, and illustrated, based on two new species: Dolichostylus amazonicusgen.et sp. nov. from Brazil and Ecuador and Dolichostylus zahniserigen.et sp. nov. from Ecuador. The new genus differs from other portanine genera in having the crown short and rounded, forewing without m‐cu2 vein, connective H‐shaped, style very long and slender, aedeagus with pair of elongate caudoventral processes, female sternite VII longer than wide and first valvula of ovipositor without a distinctly expanded area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Three‐dimensional (3D) imaging, such as microcomputed tomography (micro‐CT), is increasingly being used by organismal biologists for precise and comprehensive anatomical characterization. However, the segmentation of anatomical structures remains a bottleneck in research, often requiring tedious manual work. Here, we propose a pipeline for the fully automated segmentation of anatomical structures in micro‐CT images utilizing state‐of‐the‐art deep learning methods, selecting the ant brain as a test case. We implemented the U‐Net architecture for two‐dimensional (2D) image segmentation for our convolutional neural network (CNN), combined with pixel‐island detection. For training and validation of the network, we assembled a data set of semimanually segmented brain images of 76 ant species. The trained network predicted the brain area in ant images fast and accurately; its performance tested on validation sets showed good agreement between the prediction and the target, scoring 80% Intersection over Union (IoU) and 90% Dice Coefficient (F1) accuracy. While manual segmentation usually takes many hours for each brain, the trained network takes only a few minutes. Furthermore, our network is generalizable for segmenting the whole neural system in full‐body scans, and works in tests on distantly related and morphologically divergent insects (e.g., fruit flies). The latter suggests that methods like the one presented here generally apply across diverse taxa. Our method makes the construction of segmented maps and the morphological quantification of different species more efficient and scalable to large data sets, a step toward a big data approach to organismal anatomy. Key points Development of a deep learning‐based pipeline for the fully automated segmentation of micro‐CT images of insects, using ant brains as a starting point. Creation of an open access data set of micro‐CT images of ant heads for training and testing. Generalizable computer vision methodology, extendable across diverse taxa and anatomical features.