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Simple Summary: Zelkova abelicea is an endemic tree growing only on eight mountain stands on the Greek island of Crete. The aim of this study was to determine the structure of the assemblages and analyze the diversity of the arachnid assemblages (spiders, pseudoscorpions, mites) living on these trees. Samples for the analyses were collected from tree trunks, oftentimes covered by bryophytes or lichens. In the examined material, 85 taxa were recorded. The most numerous represented group was mites (1134 specimens, 69 species), and the highest numbers of specimens were in the order Oribatida, namely Zygoribatula exilis (284 specimens) and Eremaeus tuberosus (210). Additionally, in order Mesostigmata, Hypoaspisella sp. was found, which is probably a species new to science. Among the eight sampled localities, Gerakari (646 specimens, 50 species) and Omalos (409, 43) had by far the richest assemblages. Our statistical analyses confirmed the highly diverse character of the arachnid assemblages at the individual sites, which is a consequence not only of the varied numbers of arachnids found, but also of the presence of very rare species, such as Androlaelaps shealsi, Cosmolaelaps lutegiensis or Hoploseius oblongus in the order Mesostigmata. These results highlight the high species diversity of arachnids found on Z. abelicea but also suggest the lack of connectivity between the isolated and fragmented forest stands on Crete. Zelkova abelicea is an endemic tree growing only on eight mountain stands on the Greek island of Crete. The aim of this study was to determine the structure of the assemblages and analyze the diversity of the arachnid assemblages living on Zelkova abelicea, an endemic tree species in Crete. Material for the analyses was collected from tree trunks, oftentimes covered by bryophytes or lichens. In the examined material, 85 taxa were recorded. The most numerous groups represented in the analyzed material were Acari, including representatives of the orders Mesostigmata (78 ind. of 18 spp.) and Oribatida (1056 ind. of 51 spp.). In the order Mesostigmata the species represented by the highest numbers of specimens were Onchodellus karawaiewi (15 individuals) and Hypoaspisella sp. (13), which is probably a species new to science. In turn, representatives of the order Oribatida were much more numerous, with Zygoribatula exilis (284) and Eremaeus tuberosus (210) being identified in the largest numbers. Among the eight sampled localities, Gerakari (646 ind. and 50 spp.) and Omalos (409 ind. and 43 spp., respectively) had by far the richest assemblages. Statistical analyses confirmed the highly diverse character of the arachnid assemblages at the individual sites, which is a consequence not only of the varied numbers of arachnids found, but also of the presence of very rare species, such as Androlaelaps shealsi, Cosmolaelaps lutegiensis or Hoploseius oblongus. These results highlight the high species diversity of the arachnids found on Z. abelicea but also suggest the lack of connectivity between the isolated and fragmented forest stands on Crete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new genus and species of chernetid pseudoscorpion, Alinnaechernes itororoi n. sp., is described from the Brazilian Cerrado domain, southeast region, found under the bark of Copaifera langsdorffii Des. (Fabaceae). Alinnaechernes n. gen. can be distinguished from other genera by: (1) the presence of a bilobed protuberance on the prolateral margin of the pedipalpal chela of males, with a small distal tooth on each lobe; (2) the spermathecae consist of two small, elongated bulbous sacs that are broadly connected at the base; (3) trichobothrium et situated subdistally, it distal of et, est at same level as ist, ib slightly distal to eb and at same level as esb, ist at same level as esb. The description of this new genus represents an important contribution to the knowledge of the pseudoscorpion fauna of the Brazilian savanna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some pseudoscorpions (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpions) occur in seashore habitats where they are typically found under driftwood or rocks. Here we review the genus Nipponogarypus Morikawa, 1955 from littoral habitats in Japan and South Korea and describe a new species, Nipponogarypus seosanensis sp. nov., from the Korean Peninsula. We also elevate two former subspecies to species rank: N. enoshimaensis enoshimaensis Morikawa, 1960 = N. enoshimaensis Morikawa, 1955, and N. enoshimaensis okinoerabensis Morikawa, 1960 = N. okinoerabensis Morikawa, 1960, stat. nov. The distribution of all Nipponogarypus species is mapped, and an identification key for the species is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phoretic interaction between Americhernes oblongus (Say) (Chernetidae) and Mallodon chevrolatti (Thomson) (Cerambycidae) is documented for the first time. Furthermore, with this record, the distribution of A. oblongus to western Panama is expanded. This study contributes to our knowledge of the pseudoscorpion fauna in the central part of America, particularly shedding light on phoretic interactions. Americhernes oblongus is now documented for the first time in West Panama, expanding the known distribution within the country. The discovery includes a female specimen found attached to a male Mallodon chevrolatii. This finding not only marks the initial occurrence of A. oblongus on the western side of the isthmus but also represents the first report of a phoretic interaction between these organisms. This study contributes to our knowledge of the pseudoscorpion fauna in the central part of America, particularly shedding light on phoretic interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phoretic interaction between Americhernes oblongus (Say) (Chernetidae) and Mallodon chevrolatti (Thomson) (Cerambycidae) is documented for the first time. Furthermore, with this record, the distribution of A. oblongus to western Panama is expanded. This study contributes to our knowledge of the pseudoscorpion fauna in the central part of America, particularly shedding light on phoretic interactions. Americhernes oblongus is now documented for the first time in West Panama, expanding the known distribution within the country. The discovery includes a female specimen found attached to a male Mallodon chevrolatii. This finding not only marks the initial occurrence of A. oblongus on the western side of the isthmus but also represents the first report of a phoretic interaction between these organisms. This study contributes to our knowledge of the pseudoscorpion fauna in the central part of America, particularly shedding light on phoretic interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand how global warming will impact biodiversity, we need to pay attention to those species with higher vulnerability. However, to assess vulnerability, we also need to consider the thermoregulatory mechanisms, body size, and thermal tolerance of species. Studies addressing thermal tolerance on small ectotherms have mostly focused on insects, while other arthropods, such as arachnids remain understudied. Here, we quantified the physiological thermal sensitivity of the pseudoscorpion Dactylochelifer silvestris using a respirometry setup with a ramping temperature increase. Overall, we found that D. silvestris has a much lower metabolic rate than other organisms of similar size. As expected, metabolic rate increased with body size, with adults having larger metabolic rates, but the overall metabolic scaling exponent was low. Both the temperature at which metabolism peaked and the critical thermal maxima were high (>44°C) and comparable to those of other arachnids. The activation energy, which characterizes the rising portion of the thermal sensitivity curve, was 0.66 eV, consistent with predictions for insects and other taxa in general. Heat tolerances and activation energy did not differ across life stages. We conclude that D. silvestris has low metabolic rates and a high thermal tolerance, which would likely influence how all stages and sexes of this species could endure climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The data on host–arthropod associations between arthropods and Passalidae are summarised. In the family Diarthrophallidae, the new genus Hamptonilla is established to replace the junior homonym Lombardiniella Womersley, 1961. A total of 404 arthropod species (including those collected from unidentified Passalidae) have been found on 170 species of Passalidae (including those determined as aff.). On Passalidae, arthropods have been found belonging to Astigmata (79 species), Diptera (1), Ixodida (1), Mesostigmata (242), Oribatida (27), Pseudoscorpiones (25) and Trombidiformes (29). Among Mesostigmata, the most species were found in Diarthrophallidae (63), Diplogyniidae (37), Klinckowstroemiidae (36), Fedrizziidae (33) and Megisthanidae (15), among Astigmata in Canestriniidae (68) and among Trombidiformes in Heterocheylidae (26). The largest number of arthropod species were collected from Odontotaenius zodiacus (36), O. striatopunctatus (23), Passalus punctiger (22), O. disjunctus (20), Mastachilus australasicus (17), P. interstitialis (17), Pharochilus dilatatus (14), P. interruptus (13) and Aceraius grandis (11). Arthropods are recorded from 170 species of Passalidae. The least host-specific species are: Tridenchthonius mexicanus (found on 25 species of passalids), Lustrochernes aff. reimoseri (21), Americhernes aff. incertus (12) and L. intermedius (12). The relationships between arthropods and Passalidae are best known in Central America (114 arthropod species from 58 species of Passalidae). In Asia (102 from 32), Oceania (77 from 31), South America (64 from 38), Africa (38 from 13) and North America (20 from 2). Among countries the best studied are Mexico, Brazil, Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Costa Rica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudoscorpions can be found in different microhabitats, one of which is moss. In this paper, we report the first records of pseudoscorpions associated with mosses in Mexico. We found three species: Albiorix edentatus, Paratemnoides nidificator and a new species of the genus Cocinachernes which is described below as C. akalchesis sp. nov. The specimens were collected from moss of the genus Bryum. This new species has globose spermathecae with four tubes: two short and two long, with ocular spots in the carapace; trichobothrium distance between t and st is less than the distance of t from the fingertip, Femur L/B ranges from 2.4 to 2.9, tibia from 1.68 to 1.9, chela is 2.9 (without pedicel), and hand (without pedicel) ranges from 2.53 to 2.88; galea short and slightly robust, without divisions in males; anterior operculum with 36 setae long and acuminated, posterior operculum with 20 acuminated setae. This new species represents the second known species of Cocinacheres from Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ants are among the most ecologically dominant animals in several terrestrial ecosystems. Some myrmecophile species use ants to transport themselves, a behavior known as phoresy or phoresis. Although phoresis is commonly reported in arachnids such as pseudoscorpions or acari, it is very unusual among spiders. Phoresis on ants has only been reported in one genus of spiders, the sac-spider Attacobius Mello-Leitão, 1925 and for only two Brazilian species. In this report, we describe this amazing behavior in Attacobius nigripes (Mello-Leitão, 1942) for the first time in association with a new host, the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex lobicornis Emery, 1888. This record extends the geographic distribution of this spider species to the southwest of Argentina, from the Chaco into the Monte Desert region. We briefly describe the riding behavior of spiders and discuss the myrmecophile association between this species and A. lobicornis. More studies are needed to understand the evolutionary context of this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advances in higher‐level invertebrate phylogeny have leveraged shared features of genomic architecture to resolve contentious nodes across the tree of life. Yet, the interordinal relationships within Chelicerata have remained recalcitrant given competing topologies in recent molecular analyses. As such, relationships between topologically unstable orders remain supported primarily by morphological cladistic analyses. Solifugae, one such unstable chelicerate order, has long been thought to be the sister group of Pseudoscorpiones, forming the clade Haplocnemata, on the basis of eight putative morphological synapomorphies. The discovery, however, of a shared whole genome duplication placing Pseudoscorpiones in Arachnopulmonata provides the opportunity for a simple litmus test evaluating the validity of Haplocnemata. Here, we present the first developmental transcriptome of a solifuge (Titanopuga salinarum) and survey copy numbers of the homeobox genes for evidence of systemic duplication. We find that over 70% of the identified homeobox genes in T. salinarum are retained in a single copy, while representatives of the arachnopulmonates retain orthologs of those genes as two or more copies. Our results refute the placement of Solifugae in Haplocnemata. Subsequent reevaluation of putative interordinal morphological synapomorphies among chelicerates reveals a high incidence of homoplasy, reversals, and inaccurate coding within Haplocnemata and other small clades, as well as Arachnida more broadly, suggesting existing morphological character matrices are insufficient to resolve chelicerate phylogeny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Understanding the historical biogeography of the Earth's oldest terrestrial lineages provides insights into lineage diversification in relation to plate tectonics, climate change and biome shifts at maximum timescales. We investigate the biogeography of an ancient arachnid family, dragon pseudoscorpions, which are found today in mesic (mostly temperate) forests on all continents except Antarctica and Europe, have potential origins on Pangea and comprise species with extremely limited dispersal capacities. We evaluate the respective role of continental vicariance (abiotic) and biome shifts (biotic) deep in time and unravel the evolutionary history of this ancient group. Location: Global. Taxon: Pseudotyrannochthoniidae (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones). Methods: Five loci were sequenced for 75 Pseudotyrannochthoniidae samples collected across the globe. A matrix was compiled comprising 106 terminals and ~8800 bp, and phylogenetic analyses were performed to uncover relationships. Divergence time and ancestral range estimation analyses were used to reconstruct historical biogeography. Results: Pseudotyrannochthoniidae was monophyletic with high support but relationships among genera did not reflect current taxonomy and instead showed geographical structuring. Pseudotyrannochthoniidae originated in East Asia during the Middle Triassic and began diversifying in the Early Cretaceous. Main Conclusions: Diversity and distributional patterns of dragon pseudoscorpions can be explained by the interplay of continental vicariance through Pangaean breakup, and biome shifts via the spread of temperate habitats in the Cretaceous and their ongoing distributional fluctuations. Pseudotyrannochthoniidae diversification began in the Early Cretaceous as they dispersed with temperate forests across the Northern Hemisphere. Cretaceous vicariance, followed by widespread Holarctic extinction in the Late Tertiary–Quaternary, created their disjunct distribution at northern latitudes. Northern and Southern Hemisphere lineages diverged as Gondwana and Laurasia rifted, and Gondwanan breakup resulted in Afrotropical/Indomalayan and Austral clades. Austral lineages spread with temperate forests, however, cooling caused their disappearance from Antarctica and led to disjunct distributions at low latitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burmese amber preserves a diverse assemblage of Cretaceous arachnids, and among pseudoscorpions (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones), ten species in five families have already been named. Here, we describe a new fossil species from Burmese amber in the pseudoscorpion family Hyidae, providing detailed measurements, photographs and 3D-models from synchrotron scanning. Based on morphology, the new fossil, Hya fynni sp. nov. is placed in the genus Hya, and is nearly identical to extant species in the genus, except for the position of trichobothrium est on the pedipalpal chela, thereby indicating extreme morphological stasis in this invertebrate lineage over the last 99 million years. Hya fynni represents the first described fossil species in Hyidae, and the third described Burmese fossil in the superfamily Neobisioidea. It also joins the garypinid, Amblyolpium burmiticum, in representing the oldest fossil records for extant pseudoscorpion genera. Considering proposed divergence dates, the newly described fossil species bolsters a Gondwanan origin for Hyidae, and provides evidence for the "Late Jurassic Rifting" hypothesis for the Burma Terrane, in which this landmass rifted from Gondwana in the Late Jurassic and collided with Eurasia by the Cretaceous/Eocene. Like Hya species today, H. fynni likely inhabited humicolous microhabitats in tropical forests on the Burma Terrane, supporting ecological niche stasis for this family since the Mesozoic. [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]

Three new pseudoscorpions in the family Pseudotyrannochthoniidae are described from China: Allochthonius hispidus sp. nov. from Chongqing (Wushan County), Spelaeochthonius huanglaoensis sp. nov. from Beijing (Fangshan District), and Spelaeochthonius tuoliangensis sp. nov. from Hebei (Pingshan County). Detailed diagnoses and illustrations of all new species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During a survey on the arachnid fauna in the Central Brazilian Cerrado, Goiás State, a new species of the genus Cheiridium Menge, 1855, was found. This specimen represents the third record of this genus in Brazil, and it is described as a new species, Cheiridium piracanjubae sp. n. The species represents an important record for a biome considered a biodiversity hotspot, but with a still poorly known arachnid fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The hoffi species-group previously comprised only two species, Lechytia hoffi Muchmore, 1975 and Lechytia yulongensis Zhang and Zhang, 2014, of which L. yulongensis is distributed in China. New information: Three species of the genus Lechytia are described from China: Lechytia acutidentata sp. nov. and Lechytia depressidentata sp. nov. from Xizang Autonomous Region and L. yulongensis from Yunnan Province. The female of L. yulongensis is reported for the first time. In addition, a key to the hoffi species-group is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron Formations (IF) are among the most threatened environments due to the extensive mining activities. Mesovoid Shallow Substratum (MSS) in IF represents a poorly known subterranean environment and evaluating its fauna has the potential for expanding knowledge about the distribution of troglobiotic populations. We evaluated the spatiotemporal distribution of the subterranean fauna in the MSS of IF in Brazil. We sampled the MSS invertebrate fauna and described the community patterns of troglobiotic and non-troglobiotic species. A total of 22,821 individuals and 276 morphospecies belonging to two phyla were found: Annelida and Arthropoda. Acariformes, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Blattodea, and Collembola represented 92.2% of the individuals sampled. Nine troglobiotic morphospecies belonging to four groups were sampled: Araneae (1), Entomobryomorpha (6), Poduromorpha (1), and Pseudoscorpiones (1). We found a high compositional dissimilarity of troglobiotic and non-troglobiotic species in terms of spatial β-diversity (among MSS sites) and temporal β-diversity (among months). The observed spatial β-diversity of troglobiotic species sampled in the MSS is greater than that of non-troglobiotic species. The temporal variation is similar for both groups. The richness difference component contributed more to spatial and temporal β-diversity for troglobiotic species, while higher replacement values for non-troglobiotic species were observed. Average values of temporal β-diversity and the replacement component were greater for non-troglobiotic than for troglobiotic species, while the richness difference component had an opposite pattern. The spatiotemporal β-diversity patterns suggest a medium-to-low connectivity of invertebrate populations that colonize the MSS, favoring the adoption of strategies for conserving broader areas in the context of IF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five new Lagynochthonius species of the pseudoscorpion family Chthoniidae are described, based on morphological characters: Lagynochthonius duo sp. nov., Lagynochthonius gibbus sp. nov., Lagynochthonius hepingensis sp. nov., Lagynochthonius houi sp. nov., and Lagynochthonius sanhuaensis sp. nov. All specimens were collected from epigean habitats in southern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Larca is described from dry habitats in a cave in central Colorado. Like other cave-dwelling species of Larca, the new species Larca boulderica sp. nov., shows relatively modest morphological adaptations, such as pale colouration and slightly elongated appendages, compared with their epigean counterparts. This species is the sixth cave-dwelling species of Larca described from North America and, like other cave-dwelling Larca in North America and Europe, tends to be distributed in more southerly regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphological stasis is a widespread characteristic of pseudoscorpions, suggesting that much cryptic diversity remains unexplored. Here, we revise the polytypic species Dactylochelifer latreillii in the framework of an integrative taxonomic approach, using DNA barcoding, multivariate ratio analysis, geometric morphometry of the male foretarsus, and genitalic morphology. The pattern of mitochondrial variation suggests three species-level entities in central Europe, which widely overlap in morphospace, but differentiate in the structure of the female genitalia, and by their ecology. Dactylochelifer latreillii (Leach) is a halobiont species, occurring exclusively in coastal habitats and in Pannonian salt steppes, and D. l. septentrionalis Beier syn. nov. is a junior synonym of the nominate species. Dactylochelifer degeerii (C. L. Koch) stat. rev. is the oldest available name for an inland species that has long been mistaken for the nominotypical subspecies of D. latreillii. New habitat information suggests a preference for higher shrub vegetation. Dactylochelifer ninnii (Canestrinii) stat. rev. is a halophilic Mediterranean species that extends to the northern limits of the Pannonian basin. The distinctiveness of the Mediterranean "form" was recognized by early naturalists in the 19th century, but was ignored by later authorities in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the recent advent of molecular data to assess the phylogeny of many invertebrate groups, the systematics of the pseudoscorpion family Chernetidae is unresolved, even though it comprises a quarter of the world's generic pseudoscorpion diversity. We derive a preliminary molecular phylogeny of chernetids to assess subfamilial and generic monophyly using mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear (28S rRNA, 18S rRNA, and H3) markers. Three chernetid subfamilies have previously been recognized and Lamprochernetinae, originally defined based on T-shaped spermathecae, is recovered here but expanded to include the Old-World tropical genus Verrucachernes. In contrast, the genera Conicochernes and Calymmachernes of the subfamily Goniochernetinae are nested within the largest subfamily, Chernetinae. Three new subterranean species of the Palearctic genus Lasiochernes are also described from the Dinaric Karst: L. marinae Hlebec & Harvey , sp. nov. L. jalzici Hlebec & Harvey , sp. nov. and L. pavlekae Hlebec & Harvey , sp. nov.. The former two species are single-cave endemics but L. pavlekae sp. nov. is more widespread. The relative lack of genetic structuring in this species, including haplotype sharing between sampling localities, together with a patchy distribution, suggests that its biogeography is probably shaped by multiple vector-mediated dispersal events, rather than geomorphological history. Due to their rarity, we discourage further collecting of Lasiochernes in this subterranean biodiversity hotspot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The pseudoscorpion genus Shravana Chamberlin, 1930, belonging to the family Ideoroncidae Chamberlin, 1930, currently contains 13 species. To date, no ideoroncid species has been recorded from China. New information The family Ideoroncidae Chamberlin, 1930 is reported from China for the first time. A new species of the genus Shravana Chamberlin, 1930, collected from Xizang Autonomous Region, China, is described under the name of Shravana zhui Gao & Zhang, sp. nov. on the basis of both sexes. The finding of this new species expands the distribution range of this family in Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a memorial issue honoring Richard F. Ayrey, a US scorpiologist who passed away in 2024. The article provides a brief biography of Ayrey, highlighting his passion for nature and scorpions. It also mentions his contributions to the field, including the description of two new genera and 19 species of scorpions. Ayrey was well-respected in the scientific community and his work was published in various journals. The article includes personal anecdotes from colleagues and friends who remember Ayrey fondly. The text is a collection of personal reflections and anecdotes about a scorpion taxonomist named Rich Ayrey. The authors express their admiration for Rich's passion, enthusiasm, and dedication to studying scorpions. They recount memorable experiences they had with Rich, including discovering new scorpion species and going on field trips together. The authors also mention the scorpion taxa that Rich described and named after himself. Overall, the text pays tribute to Rich's contributions to the field of scorpion taxonomy and his impact on those who knew him. This document appears to be a collection of figures and references related to the work of Rich Ayrey, a researcher in the field of scorpion biology. The figures include maps and photographs of scorpion species and their type localities. The references list various publications by Ayrey, describing new species of scorpions and contributing to the field of scorpion biology. The document also includes personal reflections from individuals who knew Ayrey, highlighting his dedication [Extracted from the article]

A new species Olpium caputi sp. nov. from Tahiti is described here based on external characters. This is the first record of the family Olpiidae Banks, 1895 from French Polynesia. Additionally, the genus Paratemnoides Harvey, 1991 is recorded from French Polynesia for the first time with the full description of new-found specimens of Paratemnoides assimilis (Beier, 1932). New localities of Geogarypus longidigitatus (Rainbow, 1897) are added. An identification key to pseudoscorpions of French Polynesia is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing systematic conservation plans depends on a wealth of information on a region's biodiversity. For 'dark taxa' such as arthropods, such data are usually very incomplete and in most cases left out from assessments.Sky islands are important and often fragile biodiversity hotspots. Southern Appalachian high‐elevation spruce–fir forests represent a particularly threatened sky‐island ecosystem, hosting numerous endemic and threatened species, but their arthropods remain understudied.Here we use voucher‐based megabarcoding to explore genetic differentiation among leaf‐litter arthropod communities of these highlands, and to examine the extent to which they represent dispersed communities of more or less coherent species, manageable as a distributed unit. We assembled a dataset comprising more than 6000 COI sequences representing diverse arthropod groups to assess species richness and sharing across peaks and ranges. Comparisons were standardised across taxa using automated species delimitation, measuring endemism levels by putative species.Species richness was high, with sites hosting from 86 to 199 litter arthropod species (not including mites or myriapods). Community profiles suggest that around one fourth of these species are unique to single sky islands and more than one third of all species are limited to a particular range. Across major taxa, endemicity was lowest in Araneae, and highest in neglected groups like Isopoda, Pseudoscorpionida, Protura and Diplura.Southern Appalachian sky islands of spruce–fir habitat host significantly distinct leaf‐litter arthropod communities, with high levels of local endemicity. This is the first work to provide such a clear picture of peak and range uniqueness for a taxonomically broad sample. Ensuring the protection of a sizeable fraction of high‐elevation litter species richness will therefore require attention at a relatively fine spatial scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the pseudoscorpion genus Ditha Chamberlin, 1929, is described from Kerala State, India. A detailed morphological description, diagnostic features, and illustrations of Ditha (Paraditha) shivanparaensis Jeong, Harms & Johnson, sp. nov. are provided. The current distribution of all the known Ditha species is mapped, and an identification key for the genus is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pseudoscorpiones fauna of North America is diverse, but in regions like the southern Appalachian Mountains, they are still poorly documented with respect to their species diversity, distributions and ecology. Several families have been reported from these mountains and neighbouring areas. Here we analyse barcoding data of 136 specimens collected in leaf litter, most of them from high-elevation coniferous forest. We used ASAP as a species delimitation method to obtain an estimation of the number of species present in the region. For this and based on interspecific genetic distance values previously reported in Pseudoscorpions, we considered three different genetic Kimura two-parameter distance thresholds (3%/5%/8%), to produce more or less conservative estimates. These distance thresholds resulted in 64/47/27 distinct potential species representing the families Chthoniidae (33/22/12 species) and Neobisiidae (31/25/15) and at least six different genera within them. The diversity pattern seems to be affected by the Asheville Depression, a major biogeographic barrier in this area, with a higher diversity to the west of this geographic feature, particularly within the family Neobisiidae. The absence of representatives from other families amongst our studied samples may be explained by differences in their ecological requirements and occupation of different microhabitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of the pseudoscorpion genus Pararoncus Chamberlin, 1938 are described from Korea. Detailed descriptions, habitus pictures, and illustrations of Pararoncus leonardi sp. nov. and P. taeyoungi sp. nov. are provided. The current distribution of the genus Pararoncus is mapped and a taxonomic key for all species is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The location of Israel at the junction of three continents leads to a unique fauna of both Palearctic and Afrotropical zoogeographic origins. Following systematic revisions over the past sixty years and the discovery of new species, the only available key to the pseudoscorpions of Israel has become outdated. We provide here an up-to-date checklist of the pseudoscorpion species of Israel including distribution maps, and the first illustrated identification key of the Israeli fauna based on morphological characters. Prior to our study, this fauna comprised twelve families, 26 genera and 52 morphospecies, including several "subspecies". We increase this number and list 61 pseudoscorpion morphospecies that belong to 28 genera and fourteen families. Most species are Palearctic and Mediterranean, and only a few are Afrotropical. Two families new to Israel are reported here for the first time: Syarinidae and Cheiridiidae. Both families are cosmopolitan and have representatives in the Mediterranean region. The putative new species are presented here at a genus level and will be described separately elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An observation of phoresy by pseudoscorpions on a scorpion host is recorded for the first time worldwide. Pseudoscorpions of the endemic species Nannowithius wahrmani (Beier, 1963) (Pseudoscorpiones: Withiidae) were observed phoretic on the endemic scorpion species Birulatus israelensis Lourenço, 2002 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in Israel. Both are myrmecophiles of harvester ants of the genus Messor Forel, 1890. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes and illustrates a new species of arachnid, the pseudoscorpion Stenolpium sayrii sp. nov., collected at Pucllana, an archaeological site in the city of Lima, Peru. With this description, the total number of known Stenolpium species worldwide reaches eight, and in Peru specifically, it increases to seven. The discovery of this new species in Peru's most populous city serves as an exemplar highlighting the extensive scope for further research on Peruvian fauna in general, particularly on its arachnids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Epichernes Muchmore, 1982 has three Neotropical species with specific rodent hosts. Epichernes vickeryae sp. nov. is here described from Monteverde, Puntarenas, Costa Rica: the specimens were collected from a spiny pocket mouse Heteromys nubicolens. The new species, named E. vickeryae, is closer to E. navarroi by the position of trichobothria setae ist and isb, which are adjacent and the number of teeth on the movable finger, known from Mexico. The new species is characterized by trichobothrium ist adjacent to isb, femur L/B 1.71–1.85, it has 22–31 external accessory teeth, 58 teeth on fixed finger and 62 on movable finger. The carapace ranging from 1.12 mm to 1.33 mm in length, central tergites with 21–22 setae, chelicera with five setae on the hand, sb and b denticulate. The new species represents the second known species of Epichernes from Costa Rica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudoscorpions are arachnids featuring three nymphal instars before reaching the adult age. Instars can be mostly recognized based on the number of trichobothria which lie along the chelal axis: as the individual grows, further trichobothria are added. The study of the post-embryonic growth based on trichobothria position has been the most widely used approach. However, other body parts can be subjected to particular growth patterns that need to be explored to fully understand post-embryonic development processes. Rigorous numerical approaches that allow meaningful statistical inference within growth regressions are now available. The recently described Mediterranean species Geogarypus italicus Gardini, Galli & Zinni, 2017 gave the authors the chance to review studies carried out in the past with the modern statistical approach mentioned above. Results confirm the main hypothesis about the growth process of the chelal axis but showed some differences that may be related to taxonomical aspects. Moreover, the study of body allometry during postembryonic growth showed that not all body parts undergo the same trend from protonymphs to males, on one side, and to females, on the other. Finally, the study of proportions between body parts through the analysis of ratios between their linear measurements pointed out a marked sexual dimorphism of pedipalps in spite of similar sizes and proportions of other body regions. The analysis led us to think that more interesting information could come from applying this approach to multispecies studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty new species of the genus Bisetocreagris Ćurčić, 1983 are described from caves in the provinces of Guizhou (B. baiyunensis sp. nov., B. baimensis sp. nov., B. bangenensis sp. nov., B. daxingensis sp. nov., B. diaojiangensis sp. nov., B. dongjiensis sp. nov., B. duolangpingensis sp. nov., B. ganxiaoensis sp. nov., B. guanyinensis sp. nov., B. matuoensis sp. nov., B. sanhensis sp. nov., B. shahensis sp. nov., B. shangshanensis sp. nov. and B. yaolinensis sp. nov.), Yunnan (B. mahnerti sp. nov. and B. tuanjiensis sp. nov.), Sichuan (B. tianyangensis sp. nov.), Chongqing (B. xianduhensis sp. nov.), Hubei (B. changchaoensis sp. nov.) and Guangxi (B. xiniuyanensis sp. nov.). An identification key is provided to all known Chinese cave-inhabiting representatives of the genus Bisetocreagris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the Paleogene, the Holarctic experienced drastic climatic oscillations, including periods of extensive glaciation. These changes had a severe impact on both the flora and fauna causing widespread extinction and range shifts with some taxa retreating to refugia in the Mediterranean Basin. Here we provide evidence for this hypothesis using fossils from the pseudoscorpion family Garypinidae Daday, 1889 (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones). This family comprises 21 extant genera from all continents except Antarctica but is restricted to low mid-latitudes (<44°N) in the Northern Hemisphere. We provide the second record of garypinids from the European succinite ambers of the Eocene by describing the first extinct genus in Garypinidae, Baltamblyolpium gen. nov., which includes two species: Baltamblyolpium gizmotum sp. nov. from Baltic amber and Baltamblyolpium grabenhorsti sp. nov. from Bitterfeld amber. The new genus exhibits a morphology that closely resembles Neoamblyolpium Hoff, 1956 from western North America and the genus Amblyolpium Simon, 1898, which is widespread but includes taxa restricted to Mediterranean refugia in Europe. The discovery of a new fossil genus of Garypinidae from Europe confirms that the family was found at more northerly latitudes during the Eocene, however, extinction and range contraction resulted in their present-day relictual distribution in southern Europe like many other lineages that once thrived in the European "Baltic amber forest" of the Eocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to disperse has continually shaped both the distribution and diversification of biota, and it affects the survival of the species with respect to wide-ranging habitat loss. As a response, organisms unable to spread by their own means often developed surrogate dispersal strategies. Pseudoscorpions possess small body sizes and cannot actively disperse over large distances and geographic barriers; therefore, they have adopted other ecological strategies. They are either sedentary and remain confined to stable environments or passively disperse via phoresy and are capable of inhabiting a wide variety of habitats, including temporary ones. In this paper, we use barcoding data to investigate the genetic diversity of four widely distributed and relatively morphologically uniform Cheliferidae genera Chelifer, Dactylochelifer, Rhacochelifer and Hysterochelifer. We aim to (i) test whether the genera harbor cryptic diversity and (ii) evaluate whether the genetic structure of the species parallels their dispersal capabilities and habitat preferences (i.e., ecological strategies). In general, we uncovered independent lineages within all analyzed genera, which indicates their need for a thorough and integrative taxonomic revision. More specifically, we detected a varying degree of genetic structuring among the lineages. Known phoretic species, as well as some species and delimited lineages that are not known to use this manner of dispersal, showed a complete lack of geographical structure and shared haplotypes over large distances, while other taxa had restricted distributions. We argue that genetic structure can be used as a proxy to evaluate species' dispersal manner and efficacy. Our results also suggest that taxa inhabiting stable environments might use phoresy for their dispersal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neobisium (Neobisium) courtiali n. sp. is described from France (Department of Puy-de-Dôme) and compared with Neobisium (Neobisium) pauperculum Beier, 1959 from Spain (Cantabria and Asturias), with which it shares its small size and from which it differs above all in having partially granular pedipalpal femur and hand and slenderer pedipalps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pseudoscorpion family Garypinidae is globally distributed with 79 species in 21 genera and several species represented by Mesozoic and Eocene fossils. This was recently included with the family Larcidae in a unique superfamily, Garypinoidea but there are no phylogenetic hypotheses for the group. Sequence data were obtained for 14 species in 8 genera and numerous outgroup taxa that formed the basis for a preliminary molecular phylogeny. A new subfamily classification is proposed with Protogarypininae, subfamily nov. comprising five genera mostly found in the southern hemisphere, Amblyolpiinae subfamily nov. comprising two genera and Garypininae for the remaining genera. Several new taxa are described including the first Australian species of Aldabrinus , A. rixi sp. nov., a new genus from South-East Asia, Nobilipinus , comprising Nobilipinus nobilis (With, 1906), N. vachoni (Redikorzev, 1938) (that is removed from the synonymy of G. nobilis) and five new species, N. affinis , N. galeatus , N. karenae , N. kohi and N. tricosus , and Solinus pingrup sp. nov. from south-western Australia. Paraldabrinus Beier, 1966 is newly synonymised with Aldabrinus , and Indogarypinus Murthy and Ananthakrishan, 1977 is newly synonymised with Solinus. The holotype of Garypinus mirabilis With, 1907 from Hawaii is redescribed but found to be a tritonymph, rendering the generic identity uncertain. ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E15E4705-0697-4208-9338-A778343996CA The globally distributed pseudoscorpion family Garypinidae is included with the family Larcidae in a unique superfamily, Garypinoidea but there are no phylogenetic hypotheses for the group. Sequence data were obtained for 14 species in 8 genera, and numerous outgroup taxa that allowed for a preliminary molecular phylogeny. A new subfamily classification is proposed within Garypininae and includes two new subfamilies, Protogarypininae and Amblyolpiinae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In animals where both males and females have high costs associated with reproduction, it is not rare that both sexes evaluate their potential mate conditions to make the most beneficial choice according to their preferences. Parasite‐mediated selection theories predict that individuals would evaluate the ability of their potential mates to resist parasites and decide whether to accept or reject mating based on that information. These studies of parasite‐mediated sexual selection had been carried out through the traditional sex roles perspectives. Our study species in this article is one with indirect sperm transfer, the pseudoscorpion Lustrochernes argentinus, and we evaluated mating on the health condition (infected or not) of both males and females. Our hypothesis is that the presence of gregarines in potential mates influences mate choice and for that, we analyzed (1) if gregarine‐infected individuals suffer a higher proportion of rejection by their uninfected partners and (2) if spermatophore use success is lower when any of the individuals are infected. We tested this in a behavioral laboratory trial, comparing rejection by the male and the female and spermatophore use in four experimental groups. We found that both males and females suffer a higher probability of rejection when infected with gregarines; the maximum probability of sperm uptake success is when both individuals are healthy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive revision of the Class Arachnida in the fossil record of Mexico was presented. According to data collected, fossil arachnids comprise seven orders, 38 families, 53 genera, and 41 named/valid species: two nomina dubia, one nomen dubium, and 24 incertae sedis. Forty-one species represent fossil diversity of Arachnida: one Amblypigi, 25 Araneae, one Mesostigmatha, two Pseudoscorpiones, ten Sarcoptiformes, one Scorpiones, and one Trombidiformes. The work also includes an online database (www.riquelmelab.org.mx) of the catalog for consultation and permanent updating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two Stenohya species belonging to the family Neobisiidae are diagnosed, described, and illustrated from China: Stenohya spinata sp. nov. from Chongqing Municipality, and Stenohya huangi Hu & Zhang, 2012 from Fujian Province. The male of S. huangi is reported for the first time. Diagnostic characters of this species are restricted based on the holotype and the new specimens. In addition, a key and a distribution map of the Stenohya species from China are provided, and the potential function of the exaggerated sexual dimorphic pedipalp in the genus Stenohya is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty new species of the genus BisetocreagrisĆurčić, 1983 are described from caves in the provinces of Guizhou (B. baiyunensis sp. nov., B. baimensis sp. nov., B. bangenensis sp. nov., B. daxingensis sp. nov., B. diaojiangensis sp. nov., B. dongjiensis sp. nov., B. duolangpingensis sp. nov., B. ganxiaoensis sp. nov., B. guanyinensis sp. nov., B. matuoensis sp. nov., B. sanhensis sp. nov., B. shahensis sp. nov., B. shangshanensis sp. nov. and B. yaolinensis sp. nov.), Yunnan (B. mahnerti sp. nov. and B. tuanjiensis sp. nov.), Sichuan (B. tianyangensis sp. nov.), Chongqing (B. xianduhensis sp. nov.), Hubei (B. changchaoensis sp. nov.) and Guangxi (B. xiniuyanensis sp. nov.). An identification key is provided to all known Chinese cave-inhabiting representatives of the genus Bisetocreagris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Catatemnus Beier, 1932 is reported for the first time from China and includes six new species: C. huae sp. nov. from Hainan Island, C. laminosus sp. nov., C. ramus sp. nov., C. scaber sp. nov., and C. tengchongensis sp. nov. all from Yunnan Province, and C. tibetanus sp. nov. from Xizang Autonomous Region. Descriptions and illustrations of all the new species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During a survey of caves in a seasonally dry tropical forest area in northeastern Brazil, a new species of the genus Maxchernes was discovered and it is formally described here. The new species, named Maxchernes kapinawai sp. n., has affinities with M. iporangae, known from São Paulo State, Southeast Brazil. The new species, obtained from Pernambuco State, Northeastern Brazil, is characterized by the robust pedipalps, the measurements of pedipalpal femur, and patella different from other known Maxchernes species, in addition to the number of chelal teeth and males larger than females. This new species also represents the north-most record of Maxchernes genera so far. Ecological and conservation comments are included, as well as a map including reports known about the previous species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous large forests intermingled with small patches of open ecosystems (e.g. peatlands) are typical in temperate mountain regions. They are usually removed when cities are installed, but patches remain inside. Moreover, the constant growth of cities threatens the surrounding natural landscapes. Urbanization and land-use change generates degradation of natural habitats, and loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. In this context, we assessed arachnid diversity in non-urban, peri-urban and urban forests and peatlands in Ushuaia city (Argentina) to evaluate the effect of urbanization in these habitats. We evaluated spider abundance, richness, Exponential of Shannon Entropy (Exp(H)), Simpson Diversity (D), similarity indices and composition. Also, we explored the association between spider assemblage, urbanization categories in each habitat type and local characteristics. We installed 115 pitfall traps, and collected 2589 individuals identified in 50 species from 14 families (including Opiliones and pseudoscorpions). Urbanization had significant effects on abundance and D in both habitat types, with higher abundances in non-urban than urban and peri-urban, and higher D in peri-urban than no-urban and intermediate values in urban. Meanwhile, richness, Exp(H) and D differed between habitats, with consistent higher values in peatlands than forests. At species level, composition was different among urbanization categories, with some species lost (species that only occur in non-urban category) and gains (species that only occur in urban and peri-urban categories). In both habitats, spider assemblages of urbanizations were better correlated with vascular plant cover, with woody debris + litter cover most significantly and positively related to spiders in non-urban forests, and bryophyte cover more related to spiders in non-urban peatlands. We conclude that urban forest fragments and peatlands were able to conserve some of the arachnid diversity characteristic of natural habitats, but homogenization mediated by urbanization exists, which could affect arachnid community functions and conservation. Implication for insect conservation Our results show that urbanized habitats must undergo long-term monitoring, because although certain species are preserved, some specialists were present only in natural remnants, while others showed an affinity with urbanized habitats only. The species replaced due to possible inter-specific competition, niche modification, or both can lead to the impoverishment of the arachnid fauna. Therefore, urban planning should consider strategies to preserve and restore these semi-natural habitats to promote the conservation of these natural predators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new cave-adapted chthoniid pseudoscorpions from four karst caves of Yunnan Province (China) are described, including detailed diagnosis and illustrations: Tyrannochthonius calvatus sp. nov. from an unnamed cave and Dongtianfu Cave (Fuyuan County), T. capito sp. nov. from Xianren Cave (Xichou County), and Lagynochthonius daidaiensis sp. nov. from Daidai Cave (Qiubei County). All three species are endemic to Yunnan. Tyrannochthonius calvatus sp. nov., lacking the carapaceal antero-median setae and having intercalary teeth on the movable chelal finger only, is a peculiar chthoniid species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phoresy of the pseudoscorpion Haplochelifer philipi (Chamberlin, 1923) in a phoretic association with Acrocinus longimanus was observed in Bocas del Toro Province, Panama. A phoretic female found under the elytra of the beetle. This is the first time that H. philipi has been reported in Panama. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Pseudoscorpions are a wide-spread, but often-overlooked group of animals. They are generally of small body size and rather homogeneous appearance. The genus Lamprochernes is well-defined, but delineating species within the genus can be quite challenging. It comprises several morphologically similar species with wide and overlapping distributions, commonly found under tree bark and in anthropogenic habitats such as composts and manure heaps. In this paper, we implemented an integrative approach combining molecular, cytogenetic and morphological analyses in order to assess species boundaries in European Lamprochernes populations. Our results uncover an existence of a new Lamprochernes species—Lamprochernes abditus sp. nov., which can be distinguished from its closest relative only by molecular and cytogenetic differences, or alternatively, by a complex multivariate morphometric analysis involving other Lamprochernes species. Our results also suggest that the genus Lamprochernes likely uses phoresy (a non-permanent interaction in which one organism (phoront) attaches itself to another (host) for the purpose of travel) very efficiently for its dispersal. Pseudoscorpions represent an ancient, but homogeneous group of arachnids. The genus Lamprochernes comprises several morphologically similar species with wide and overlapping distributions. We implemented an integrative approach combining molecular barcoding (cox1), with cytogenetic and morphological analyses in order to assess species boundaries in European Lamprochernes populations. The results suggest ancient origins of Lamprochernes species accompanied by morphological stasis within the genus. Our integrative approach delimited three nominal Lamprochernes species and one cryptic lineage Lamprochernes abditus sp. nov. Despite its Oligocene origin, L. abditus sp. nov. can be distinguished from its closest relative only by molecular and cytogenetic differences, or alternatively, by a complex multivariate morphometric analysis involving other Lamprochernes species. The population structure and common haplotype sharing across geographically distant populations in most Lamprochernes species suggest that a phoretic manner of dispersal is efficient in this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nested within the Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot, the Dinaric Karst of the western Balkans is one of the world's most heterogeneous subterranean ecosystems and renowned for its highly diverse and mostly endemic fauna. The evolutionary processes leading to both endemism and diversity remain insufficiently understood, and large-scale analyses on taxa that are abundant in both subterranean and surface habitats remain infrequent. Here, we provide the first comprehensive molecular study on Croatian pseudoscorpions, a lineage of arachnids that is common and diverse in both habitats. Phylogenetic reconstructions using 499 COI sequences derived from 128 morphospecies collected across the Dinaric Karst show that: (i) occurrence in karstic microhabitats boosters speciation and endemism in the most diverse genera Chthonius C.L. Koch, 1843 (37 morphospecies) and Neobisium Chamberlin, 1930 (34 morphospecies), (ii) evidence for ongoing diversification is found in many species and species complexes through low optimal thresholds (OTs) and species delineation analyses, and (iii) landscape features, such as mountain ranges, correlate with patterns of genetic diversity in the diverse genus Neobisium. We present two synonymies: Protoneobisium Ćurčić, 1988 = Neobisium, syn. nov., and Archaeoroncus Ćurčić and Rađa, 2012 = Roncus L. Koch, 1873, syn. nov. Overall, our study suggests that karstic microhabitats promote diversification in soil- and cave-dwelling arthropods at all taxonomic levels, but also provide important refugia for invertebrates in past and present periods of environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new troglomorphic pseudotyrannochthoniid pseudoscorpion species collected from karst caves in Guizhou Province are described with detailed diagnoses and illustrations: Allochthonius bainiensis sp. nov. from Liangfeng Cave (Xishui County), Allochthonius pandus sp. nov. from Daozuo Cave (Xishui County), Allochthonius xinqiaoensis sp. nov. from Sanjie Cave (Fenggang County), and Spelaeochthonius wulibeiensis sp. nov. from Wulibei Cave (Weining County). Spelaeochthonius wulibeiensis sp. nov. represents the first record of the genus in China. The diagnostic features of these four new cave-adapted (troglomorphic) species are presented and discussed, as well as compared with closely related species. The data on their distribution, habitat and ecology of the species are also given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]