Six new species of Handaoia Seyrig, 1952 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Phygadeuontinae): the first to be described from the New World

Handaoia Seyrig, 1952 is a small genus of Phygadeuontinae currently represented by eleven described species from Madagascar, Tanzania and Europe, and can be recognized by the combination of the distally expanded and ventrally flattened antennal flagellum, complete posterior transverse carina of the mesosternum, isolated ‘pit’ (episternal scrobe) in the mesopleuron, and a single bulla in fore wing vein 2m-cu. Most species have a distinctive combined area basalis and area superomedia on the propodeum. The following six new species from Central and South America are described and illustrated: H. cuscoensis Bordera sp. nov. from Peru, H. fritzi sp. nov. from Brazil, H. mercedensis Bordera sp. nov. from Peru, H. plaumanni sp. nov. from Brazil, H. ruizcancinoi Bordera sp. nov. from Mexico, and H. urceus sp. nov. from Brazil. A key to the New World species is provided.

Revision of the Australian bee fly genus Meomyia Evenhuis, 1983, with description of three new species (Bombyliidae, Bombyliinae, Bombyliini)

The endemic Australian bee fly genus Meomyia Evenhuis is revised, including six described species and three newly described: Meomyia hortorum sp. nov., Meomyia kochae sp. nov., Meomyia melanocincta sp. nov. Bombylius tetratrichus Walker is excluded from Meomyia and placed in Dissodesma Bowden & Li. Meomyia is characterised by the slender and elongate antennal flagellum, and the black abdominal band and dense black tuft on apex of abdomen. A key to species of Meomyia is provided. Species are found in southern Australia.

Revision of the Australian bee fly genus Sisyromyia White, 1916 (Bombyliidae, Bombyliinae, Acrophthalmydini)

We review Sisyromyia White (Bombyliidae, Bombyliinae), a remarkable Australian endemic bee fly genus, which includes 11 species, including six species we describe as new here: Sisyromyia albisquama sp. nov., Sisyromyia angustivitta sp. nov., Sisyromyia elongata sp. nov., Sisyromyia maculipennis sp. nov., Sisyromyia umbra sp. nov., Sisyromyia vittata sp. nov. The genus can be easily distinguished from other Australian genera in the subfamily by having a one-segmented antennal flagellum, subapex of flagellum with some long hairs; a pale median stripe present on the abdomen consisting of dense, decumbent short scales, cell r5 open; cell br nearly as long as cell bm, crossvein m-m located on base of cell dm; crossvein m-m long, nearly as long as crossvein r-m. We also recognized one new synonym, and propose a new combination for Sisyromyia binghi Evenhuis. A key to species of Sisyromyia is provided, and we extensively illustrate their internal and external morphology.

Revision of the Australian bee fly genus Pilosia Hull, 1973 (Bombyliidae, Bombyliinae) from Western Australia

A restricted Western Australia bee fly genus Pilosia Hull (Bombyliidae, Bombyliinae) is reviewed with the description of two new species, Pilosia incana Bowden & Li sp. nov. and Pilosia flava Li & Yeates sp. nov., and the type species, Pilosia flavopilosa Hull, 1973 is identified as a new junior synonym of Pilosia immutatus (Walker, 1849). This genus can easily be distinguished from other Australian genera in the subfamily by having a three-segmented antennal flagellum, a closed cell cup and a haired mediotergite. A recent morphological phylogeny of Australian Bombyliinae suggested Pilosia is sister to all the remaining Bombyliinae genera (Li & Yeates, 2018). A key to all three known species of Pilosia is provided

New and little-known species of isopods (Crustacea, Isopoda) from the eastern Mediterranean

New species of Anthuridae and Cirolanidae (Crustacea, Isopoda) are described from the coasts of Cyprus and Lebanon, Mediterranean. Mesanthura pacoi sp. nov. is the first species of the genus found in the Mediterranean; its pale color, usually without dorsal spots, and the setation of the apical segment of the maxillipedal palp, are unique in this genus. Atarbolana beirutensis sp. nov. differs from the rest of species of this genus due to its uropodal exopod shaped like an elongated spoon, rather than a cylinder. This is the first record of the genus Atarbolana in the Mediterranean. The two species of Cirolana described have flat penes, absent in C. cranchi and C. manorae, the other two species found in this study; C. bitari sp. nov. has a depressed body and articles of antennal flagellum with one tuft of simple setae on the anterodistal angle, while in C. zibrowiusi sp. nov. the body is cylindrical, slightly depressed, and the articles of the antennal flagellum have two tufts of simple setae. In addition, one female specimen of Pseudocerceis, identified as P. cf. seleneides is described; it is the first record of this genus in the Mediterranean.

The insect antenna: segmentation, patterning and positional homology

The basic mechanism by which the antennal flagellum is subdivided into flagellomeres is probably the same in all insects, irrespective of whether the process occurs in the embryo, in the eye/antenna imaginal disc, or through a series of post-embryonic increments punctuated by moults. The ultimate origin of (all?) flagellomeres is the first antennomere following the pedicel, from which split off in apical direction new primary flagellomeres, each of which is eventually the source of secondary flagellomeres, according to specific spatial and temporal patterns subject to heterochrony. Only a detailed knowledge of the underlying segmentation processes could provide the ultimate background for determining positional homology between flagellomeres of two antennae with different number of antennomeres. The antennae of the Heteroptera are likely re-segmented, as their second antennomere seems to include a flagellar component. The larval antennae of the holometabolans are temporal serial homologues of those of the adult, but their segmental composition is problematic. Significant progress will be done by understanding what differentiates antennomeres that divide, either embryonically or post-embryonically, from those that do not; and by discovering whether the spatial and temporal pattern of division along the flagellum depends on local cues, or on signals travelling along the whole proximo-distal axis of the appendage.

Taxonomy and ecology of a new species of Corynura (Hymenoptera: Halictidae: Augochlorini) from Chile and Argentina

We describe a new species of Corynura Spinola, a socially polymorphic genus within the bee tribe Augochlorini (Halictidae). We present a detailed description of both sexes of Corynura (Corynura) moscosensis n. sp. González-Vaquero, images of diagnostic morphological structures and antennal sensilla, floral associations, distributional data and notes on its nesting biology. Corynura moscosensis n. sp. is similar in appearance to C. (C.) chloromelas (Alfken), but it can be distinguished by the sculpturing of the mesoscutum and the hair types on the propodeum in the female, and by the genitalia and extent of the area exclusively covered by sensilla placoidea on the antennal flagellum of the male. A lectotype is designated for C. chloromelas. A Chilean Patagonian population of C. moscosensis n. sp. was observed to dig spatially clumped nests in an earth bank with a moderately hard and humid soil. The presence of multiple females within single nest tunnels is unusual and may preliminary suggest nest-sharing, but more data are necessary to define the social organization of this species. The species appears to be polylectic. Bee nests were attacked by satellite flies and possibly velvet ants.

Structure of the antennal sensilla in the genera Molanna and Molannodes (Trichoptera, Molannidae)

Sensilla on the antennal flagellum are studied in 6 species of the genus Molanna (M. nigra, M. submarginalis, M. uniophila, M. moesta, M. angustata, and M. albicans) and one species of Molannodes: M. tinctus (Molannidae). Ventrolateral surfaces of basal flagellomeres in molannids are provided with peculiar sensory fields devoid of long trichoids. These fields differ from species to species and have species-dependent morphological features. There are 5 types of sensilla found on the flagellum: Long serrated and ridge-bearing trichoids, short curved smooth trichoids, mushroom-like pseudoplacoids, basiconic and coronal. Functional asymmetry of pheromone communication occurs in Molanna where the volatiles produced only by females coincide with sex-dependent dimorphism of antennae. The structures of the sensory fields and sensilla, especially the pseudoplacoids, are species-specific and can be used for the species discrimination and studies of species relationships. Comparative analysis shows the importance of the characters of both the antennal morphology and the sensilla distribution for taxonomic studies and reconstructions of phylogeny.

Diversity of the olfactory sensilla in caddisflies (Trichoptera)

Antennal segments in Trichoptera are provided with various sensilla showing the maximal diversity on the antennal flagellum. Comparative studies of cuticle parts of sensilla provide rich material on various sensory structures. Preliminary results of a comparative study of the antennal surface in 28 families of Trichoptera reveal more than 17 structural types of the cuticular microstructures. Some of them (microtrichia, scales, and 2 specialized types of trichia) are apparently not sensilla. The diversity of sensory structures is illustrated and discussed in connection with taxonomy and evolution.