Rhapsody in emerald: phylogenetic framework for Lestidae with reference to the systematic position of Chalcolestes Kennedy

We reconstruct a phylogenetic framework for the zygopteran family Lestidae based on a molecular dataset comprised of sequence data from the genes COI, 16S, 18S, 28S, and ITS1+2 from 41 ingroup taxa and 8 outgroup taxa with emphasis on the systematic position of the genus Chalcolestes Kennedy. We recover Lestidae as monophyletic with good statistical support. The family falls into two subequal clades. One, comprising the genus Sympecma Burmeister and Lestes Leach sensu lato (including the genus Archi­lestes Selys) is poorly to moderately supported. While the other, comprising the genera Austrolestes Tillyard, Indolestes Fraser, Orolestes McLachlan, and Chalcolestes is strongly supported. Chalcolestes is recovered as sister to the Oriental genus Orolestes with strong support. Our results thus support that Chalcolestes is a valid genus not closely related to Lestes. Monophyly of Lestes requires inclusion of the New World genus Archilestes, and our results support the need for a thorough revision of Lestes.

Revised nomenclature of the sea pen genus Balticina Gray, 1870 (= Halipteris Kölliker, 1870) (Anthozoa: Octocorallia)

The pennatulacean genus Balticina has had a long and confusing taxonomic history, with serious nomenclatural problems that remain unresolved. Owing to disagreements about authorships and dates of publication, the names Pavonaria, Norticina and Halipteris have all been used as valid in place of Balticina, or else been regarded as its junior synonyms, even simultaneously. In this paper, after an extensive literature review, we determine the authorships and dates for all the taxa involved in accordance with the provisions of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature and establish Balticina Gray, 1870 (=Halipteris) and Balticinidae Balss, 1910 (=Halipteridae) as the valid genus and family names, respectively, for this group of sea pens. We also propose the replacement name Rakollikeria for the preoccupied genus name Pavonaria Kölliker, 1870 (Balticinidae) (nec Schweigger, 1819 - Funiculinidae).

Toward a Stable Global Noctuidae (Lepidoptera) Taxonomy

Noctuidae are one of the world’s most diverse, ecologically successful, and economically important animal lineages with over 12,000 species in ~1,150 genera. We inferred a phylogeny using eight protein-coding genes for the global fauna, greatly expanding upon previous attempts to stabilize Noctuidae higher classification by sampling 341 genera (nearly half represented by their type species) representing 70/76 widely recognized family-group taxa: 20/21 subfamilies, 32/35 tribes, and 18/20 subtribes. We evaluated 17 subfamily-level taxa in detail, discussing adult and larval morphology, life histories, and taxonomic implications of our results. We significantly alter concepts of Acontiinae, Condicinae, Eustrotiinae, Metoponiinae, and Stiriinae. Our results supported recognition of two new subfamilies: Cobubathinae Wagner & Keegan, 2021 subf. nov. and Cropiinae Keegan & Wagner, 2021 subf. nov. Other nomenclatural changes we made are as follows. We moved: ‘Acontia’ viridifera (Hampson, 1910), ‘Azenia’ virida Barnes and McDunnough, 1916, Aleptinoides, Austrazenia, Chalcoecia, Megalodes, and Trogotorna to Chamaecleini in Acontiinae; Apaustis to, and reinstated Emmelia as a valid genus in Acontiinae; Allophyes and Meganephria to Cuculliinae; ‘Plagiomimicus’ navia (Harvey, 1875), Airamia, Alvaradoia, Hypoperigea, Neotarache, and Mesotrosta to Condicinae; Axenus, Azenia, Metaponpneumata, Sexserrata, and Tristyla to Metoponiinae; ‘Paramiana’ canoa (Barnes, 1907) to Noctuinae; Aucha, Cobubatha, and Tripudia to Cobubathinae; Anycteola and Supralathosea to Oncocnemidinae; Cropia to Cropiinae; Desmoloma to Dyopsinae; Eviridemas and Gloanna to Bryophilinae; Fota and Stilbia to Stiriinae; and Copibryophila, Homolagoa, and Tyta to Noctuidae incertae sedis. We conclude with discussion of instances where current understanding of noctuid biogeography and life histories were changed by our results.

Tachyporinae Revisited: Phylogeny, Evolution, and Higher Classification Based on Morphology, with Recognition of a New Rove Beetle Subfamily (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

Tachyporinae are one of the most phylogenetically problematic subfamilies in the mega-diverse rove beetle family Staphylinidae. Despite its high diversity and abundance in forest micro-environments, with over 1600 species worldwide, several previous studies had refuted the monophyly of this subfamily and its largest tribe, Tachyporini. Based on the results of morphology-based phylogenetic analyses and direct examination of specimens encompassing two extinct and all forty extant genera, a new suprageneric classification of Tachyporinae is proposed here, with the removal of the tribe Mycetoporini into a newly recognized subfamily Mycetoporinae stat. nov. Four tribes with two subtribes are arranged within Tachyporinae sensu nov.: Tachyporini sensu nov. (Tachyporina stat. nov., sensu nov. and Euconosomatina stat. rev., sensu nov.), Vatesini sensu nov., Deropini, and Tachinusini stat. rev., sensu nov. (= Megarthropsini syn. nov.). Urolitus syn. nov. is placed as a junior synonym of Sepedophilus, and Palporus stat. nov. is raised to a distinct genus from a subgenus of Tachyporus sensu. nov., and †Mesotachyporus syn. nov. is treated as synonym of the latter. Mycetoporine Bobitobus stat. rev. is resurrected from synonymy with Lordithon sensu nov., and considered as a valid genus. My revised classification provides a novel framework for taxonomic inventories and ecological studies of these groups.

Samotherium Major, 1888 (Giraffidae) skullsfrom the late Miocene Maragheh fauna (Iran)and the validity of Alcicephalus Rodler & Weithofer, 1890

Samotherium Major, 1888 (Giraffidae) is recorded from several late Miocene localities, primarily in the Balkans, the northern Black Sea region, Anatolia, central Asia and China. The first complete cranial material, with several mandibular rami, and postcranials of Samotherium are described here from the Middle Maragheh sequence in northwest Iran. The Maragheh taxon appears metrically and morphologically similar to the smaller Samotherium taxon from the Samos Island (Greece) referred to as S. boissieri Major, 1888, type species of the genus. These new data trigger further discussion about the Iranian Samotherium record, including Alcicephalus Rodler & Weithofer, 1890, which was recently resurrected as a valid genus in the Maragheh fauna. Our analysis of the material referred to this genus indicates that Samotherium is the most likely attribution for the Maragheh A. neumayri Rodler & Weithofer, 1890. Differences between S. boissieri and S. neumayri are more pronounced in postcranial elements than in cranial and dental ones and need further investigation.

Unraveling the nomenclatural puzzle of the collared and white-lipped peccaries (Mammalia, Cetartiodactyla, Tayassuidae)

The nomenclatural history of the collared and white-lipped peccaries, two well-recognized taxonomic entities, has been confusing. From the 18th century to the beginning of the 20th century, several genera were created, most of them without an explicit designation of type species. Due to differing opinions as to whether the two species should be included in a single genus or, if separate genera were recognized, which generic name should be applied to each of the two taxa, the validity of generic and specific names oscillated until even recently. This paper aims to solve these nomenclatural issues by reviewing the different taxonomic arrangements of these two peccaries and applying appropriately the International Code on Zoological Nomenclature. We contend that the valid generic name for the white-lipped peccary is Tayassu Fischer, 1814 (type Sus pecari Link, 1795), while Dicotyles Cuvier, 1816 (type Dicotyles torquatus Cuvier, 1816) is the valid genus for the collared peccary, with Pecari Reichenbach, 1835 as its junior synonym.

A new species of the genus Sinohaplotropis Cao et Yin, 2008 (Orthoptera, Acridoidea, Pamphagidae) from Amur River, Russia

The genus Sinohaplotropis Cao et Yin, 2008 is a valid genus and not a synonym of Haplotropis Saussur, 1888. A new species Sinohaplotropis amurensis sp. nov. is described in this paper from Russia. The new species is similar to Sinohaplotropis erenchuanensis Cao et Yin, 2008, but differs from latter by subgenital plate of male triangular, with large bifurcate apex in dorsal view, pronotum longer reaching first abdominal tergite, top of Kraus` organ narrow and interspace of mesosternum straight in the middle. Type specimen is deposited in the Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, China.

Annotated catalogue of the Hymenoptera of Russia. Volume II. Apocrita: Parasitica

Hymenoptera is one of the largest insect orders, with a world fauna approximately of 160 thousand species in more than 8420 genera from 94 extant families, a Palaearctic fauna of 50–60 thousand estimated species, and a Russian fauna of 15.3 thousand species in 1999 genera from 78 families. The modern classification of Hymenoptera is given. The second volume treats the all recent groups of parasitoids (11 superfamilies, 43 families, 1466 genera, about 10.6 thousand species) recorded in the fauna of Russia. The sections for each of the 43 families include characteristics, number of taxa, references, and an annotated catalogue of the genera and species (subspecies) recorded from the fauna of Russia. For each valid genus, the type species, synonymy, short characterization, and number of species are given. For each valid species the synonymy, known host (often to genus or family level only) or sometimes host plants and distribution (in Russia and in general) are provided. The book is illustrated using geoschemes for Russia, Europe, and China. The large bibliography helps to assess the level of study of each family. The index of scientific names of Hymenoptera (more than 21 thousand names) will be useful for parasitoid taxa searching.

Taxonomic revision of the genus Tarmia Lindsey, 1925 stat. rev. (Hesperiidae: Hesperiinae: Hesperiini: Moncina) with the description of a new species from the Andes

The genus Tarmia Lindsey, 1925, long considered a junior synonym of Phanes Godman, 1901, is here revised and its status is revalidated based on morphological evidence. Two Andean species are included in Tarmia: the type species, T. monastica Lindsey, 1925 comb. rev., and a new species herein described, Tarmia greeneyi A. Warren, Medeiros, Dolibaina & O. Mielke sp. nov., from Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. The male’s symmetrical valvae and aedeagus with a twisted median portion, and the very wide ductus bursae of the female genitalia support Tarmia as valid genus apart of Phanes. Illustrations of the main diagnostic characters of both sexes and a distribution map are provided for the species of Tarmia.