One new genus and six new species (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Meconematini) from Yunnan, China

The paper reported one new genus and six new species from Yunnan, China. The new genus, Neoteratura gen. nov. is similar to the genus Alloteratura Hebard, 1922, but differs from the latter by: apical segment of maxillary palpus slightly shorter than subapical one; humeral sinus indistinct; tegmina shorter, not reaching or slightly surpassing apex of abdomen, but longer than hind wings; male genitalia sclerotized, simple; cercus divided into two branches, or with branches. It resembles the genus Borneratura Gorochov, 2008, but differs from the latter by: tegmina and hind wings shorter; male genitalia sclerotized, cercus with branches.

Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Eocene amber from the Rovno region, Ukraine

Culex ekaterinae sp. nov. is described based on an adult male embedded in amber from the Rovno region, northwestern Ukraine. The new species is compared with its presumed closest known relative, i.e. Culex erikae Szadziewski et Szadziewska, 1985 described from adults in Baltic amber. The two species exhibit distinct differences in the size of the main body parts, including the antenna, maxillary palpus and proboscis, as well as in the venation of the wing, the structure of the ungues and male genitalia—characters crucial in the diagnosis of adult mosquitoes. A redescription of Culiseta gedanica Szadziewski et Giłka, 2011, to date known from a single adult male, is presented based on a male in amber from Voronki, Rovno region. A tabulation of fossil Culicidae with their geological ages is provided.

A case of gynandromorphy in Ducetia japonica (Thunberg, 1815) (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae)

In this paper, we described an example of gynandromorphy in a katydid, Ducetia japonica. Its color is brown, while normal individuals are green. Its left maxilla is smaller, and left maxillary palpus is shorter. Left forewing as male is shorter than right one as female. Hindwing is also shorter in left. Cercus, epiproct and subgenital plate are left in male and right in female.

Klimaszewskia, a new genus of the tribe Tyrini from the Oriental region (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae)

A new genus and species of the pselaphine tribe Tyrini, Klimaszewskia punctata gen. et sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Java, Indonesia. Klimaszewskia gen. nov. differs from all other genera of Tyrini primarily by the long, extended maxillary palpus having the fourth palpomere that is mesally expanded near the base, and has an elongate and narrowed apical region, combined with the presence of an antebasal sulcus of the pronotum, and the long first visible tergite. A single female with much larger body size from Nepal, representing a second species of the new genus, is briefly characterized but left unnamed.

First instar larvae of endemic Australian Miltogramminae (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)

The first instar larva of a species of the Australian endemic genus Aenigmetopia Malloch is described for the first time, along with the first instar larvae of three other Australian species representing the genera Amobia Robineau-Desvoidy and Protomiltogramma Townsend. Larval morphology was analysed using a combination of light microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The following morphological structures are documented: pseudocephalon, antennal complex, maxillary palpus, facial mask, modifications of thoracic and abdominal segments, anal region, spiracular field, posterior spiracles and details of the cephaloskeleton. Substantial morphological differences are observed between the three genera, most notably in the labrum and mouthhooks of the cephaloskeleton, sensory organs of the pseudocephalon, spinulation, sculpture of the integument and form of the spiracular field. The first instar larval morphology of Aenigmetopia amissa Johnston, Wallman, Szpila & Pape corroborates the close phylogenetic affinity of Aenigmetopia Malloch with Metopia Meigen, inferred from recent molecular analysis. The larval morphology of Amobia auriceps (Baranov), Protomiltogramma cincta Townsend and Protomiltogramma plebeia Malloch is mostly congruent with the morphology of Palaearctic representatives of both genera.

Reinertia, a New Subgenus of the Genus Aedes Meigen and Its Type Species Aedes (Reinertia) suffusus (Diptera: Culicidae), Newly Recorded From Bhutan

A new subgenus, Reinertia Somboon, Namgay & Harbach, of the genus Aedes Meigen and its type species, Ae. suffusus Edwards, are described from specimens reared from larvae and pupae found in a tree hole in Bhutan. The scutum of the adults is mostly covered with narrow pale falcate scales. The proboscis, maxillary palpus, tibiae, and tarsi are dark-scaled. The gonocoxite of the male genitalia bears a unique setose basomesal sclerite. The larva closely resembles larvae of the subgenus Downsiomyia Vargus in having setae 4–6-C with numerous branches and inserted more or less on level with seta 7-C, abdominal seta 12-I is present and the comb is composed of 6–10 spine-like scales arranged in an irregular row. Surprisingly, Reinertia shares features of the adult habitus, male genitalia, and larva with the Palearctic subgenus Dahliana Reinert, Harbach & Kitching. However, in phylogenetic analyses of the mitochondrial COI gene of species representing 38 subgenera of Aedes and six other genera of the tribe Aedini Neveu-Lemaire, Reinertia was not associated with Dahliana or Downsiomyia. In both maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses of the data, Ae. suffusus was recovered as the weakly supported sister of a clade composed of five species of the subgenus Protomacleaya Theobald. In the absence of strong support, and because Protomacleaya is an unnatural group of species that resemble each other phenetically by virtue of what they lack, Ae. suffusus cannot be placed in the subgenus Protomacleaya. Thus, the morphological and molecular data attest the uniqueness of Ae. suffusus and its recognition as a monobasic subgeneric lineage.

Three new species of bristletails of the families Meinertellidae and Machilidae (Archaeognatha) from Ukraine and Southern Russia

Two new species of Machilinus Silvestri, 1905 (M. petrophilus Kaplin, sp. nov., M. obscurus Kaplin, sp. nov.) from Ukraine and one new species of Charimachilis Wygodzinsky, 1939 (C. rostoviensis Kaplin sp. nov.) from Southern Russia are described. The new species of Machilinus belong to the subgenus Machilinus s. str. with 1 + 1 eversible vesicles on urocoxites II–VII, and urostyli with apical spines; to the group “rupestris” with 2nd and 3rd articles of male maxillary palpus without ventral spines (M. obscurus sp. nov.), and with spines on these articles (M. petrophilus sp. nov.). Machilinus petrophilus sp. nov. differs from M. rocai Bach, 1975 in the color and ratio of length to width of compound eyes, the presence of numerous short chaetae on the clypeus, the structure of the lateral apophysis on the 2nd article of the male maxillary palpus, and the number of ventral spines on the legs. Machilinus obscurus sp. nov. differs from the other species of the group “rupestris” in the color of compound eyes, the presence of numerous short chaetae on the male frons and clypeus, and in other features. Charimachilis rostoviensis sp. nov. (Machilidae) most closely resembles C. ukrainensis Stach, 1958. Charimachilis rostoviensis sp. nov. differs from C. ukrainensis in the shape of posterior angle of urosternites, and ratios of lengths of urostyli and urocoxites.

Revision of the genus Parvimysis (Mysida, Mysidae) with descriptions of five new species from coastal waters of the Caribbean

Detection of previously unknown, dimorphic setal patterns on the carpus of the fifth thoracic endopod in types of Parvimysis bahamensis Brattegard, 1969, representing the type species of the genus Parvimysis Brattegard, 1969, required revision of this genus together with taxonomic verification of materials previously assigned to this species from all around the Caribbean. Study of this material together with new samples from marine waters of Curaçao led to the detection of five new species. Four of these species have a dimorphic carpus of the fifth endopod and are here described as P. pricei sp. nov., P. laminata sp. nov., P. brattegardi sp. nov., and P. ornata sp. nov. One species with non-dimorphic setal patterns is described as P. nuda sp. nov. Two species groups are defined based on structural differences of the carapace, mandibular and maxillary palpus, oostegites and telson: the P. bahamensis group with six species from marine waters of the Caribbean and an additional one from brackish-freshwaters of Surinam, versus the P. amazonica group with seven species from freshwaters of Amazonia. A key to the 14 species currently known from the genus Parvimysis is provided.

Changes in Morphometric Traits of Ground Beetles Along Urbanization Gradients

Urbanization has a significant impact on abiotic and biotic factors in nature. We examined the morphometric characters of four carabid species (Abax parallelepipedus, Carabus scheidleri, Carabus violaceus, and Pterostichus oblongopunctatus) along urbanization gradients in and around the cities of Vienna (Austria) and Debrecen (Hungary). We found significant differences among urban, suburban, and rural areas in the parameters of antennomers, the maxillary palpus, the labial palpus, and the length of the tibia and the elytra of the carabids studied. We also found significant differences between males and females based on the parameters of antennomers, the maxillary palpus, the labial palpus, the femur, and the elytra. An interaction between urbanization and sex was found in the case of antennomers, the maxillary palpus, the labial palpus, the femur, and the elytra. Our findings suggested that in the cases of species from Carabini tribus the parameters of antennomers, the maxillary palpus, and the elytra could be useful for assessing the effects of urbanization because these morphometric characters responded sensitively to the environmental stress, whereas the most useful parameters are those of antennomers and the tibia for the species of Pterostichini tribus. Our findings also revealed that females are more sensitive to environmental stress than males.

Association between host species choice and morphological characters of main sensory structures of Culicoides in the Palaeartic region

Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) serve as vectors of several mammalian and avian diseases, including bluetongue, Schmallenberg, African horse sickness, avian malaria and Oropouche. Host preference investigations are necessary to assess the transmission routes of vector-borne diseases and to inform mitigation strategies. A recent study examining the main sensory structures (palps and antennae) of Culicoides species suggests that they be classified as ornithophilic or mammalophilic according to their feeding habits. We analyzed Culicoides host preferences according to the literature and carried out a multiple correspondence analysis linking these preferences with morphological data. Seven out of 12 variables were found to be reliable predictors of host preference in Culicoides species: Antenna Flagellomer-Sensilla Coeloconica-Number: (7–10) and (11–13); Antenna Flagellomer-Sensilla Coeloconica IV–X: presence; Palpus-size: wide and/or narrow opening and shallow pit; Palpus-Shape: strongly swollen; Antenna-Short sensilla trichodea-distal part segment IV to X-Number: 2 seta each. Our results demonstrate that the presence of sensilla coeloconica and the maxillary palpus can be used to separate ornithophilic and mammalophilic or ornithophilic/mammalophilic species.