Chaetotaxy ontogeny of Bdella (Acari: Prostigmata: Bdelloidea) with morphological descriptions of all life stages of B. xini sp. nov. from China

Chaetotaxy is an important character especially in mites and can be applied in species diagnosis, phylogenetics, ontogeny, and so on. Chaetotaxic ontogeny of Bdella was carried out through comparing both immature and adult descriptions of eight Bdella species, including a new species, B. xini sp. nov., from China. Based on these species, chaetotaxy changes in Bdella mainly focused on ventral hypostomal setae (vh), setae on palpal basifemur, aggenital setae (ag), genital setae (g), anal setae (ad) and leg setae.

Reassessing species boundaries in the Syagrus glaucescens complex (Arecaceae) using leaf anatomy

The Syagrus glaucescens complex comprises three species: Syagrus glaucescens Glaz. ex Becc., Syagrus duartei Glassman, and Syagrus evansiana Noblick. Recently, a new population of S. evansiana that possesses a high degree of endemism was reported in the Serra do Cabral mountain. Here we intend to study the leaf anatomy of the S. glaucescens complex and confirm whether this newly found population (from now on called Syagrus aff. evansiana) belongs to S. evansiana or not. Specimens were collected to investigate their leaf anatomy, which showed distinct differences between S. aff. evansiana and S. evansiana. The midrib anatomy revealed novelties for the S. glauscecens complex, proving useful for species diagnosis. Features such as accessory vascular bundles around the vascular system of the midrib and the number of collateral bundles are diagnostic for species identification. In addition, morphological and anatomical analyses indicated a correlation with the species occurrence. We found greater similarity between S. glaucescens and S. duartei, while S. evansiana and S. aff. evansiana are more alike. Here, we propose a new identification key based only on the leaf anatomy. Despite their morphological similarities, S. aff. evansiana and S. evansiana presented differences in leaf anatomy, which — when associated with their geographical isolation — suggests a fourth taxon in the complex.

Megascolia (Regiscolia) bidens (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae), a new distributional record for Continental Greece

Megascolia (Regiscolia) bidens (Linnaeus, 1767) (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae), previously known to inhabit Dodecanese Islands, is recorded for the first time in the Saronic Gulf and Greek mainland. The species distribution and ecology are briefly discussed. A short species diagnosis is provided to assist further data collection.

New records of Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) associated with Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in cherry and berry crops from Argentina

New records of the ectoparasitoid Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae (Rondani) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) associated with Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in the provinces of Tucumán, Río Negro and Neuquén are cited. Detections occurred in blueberry, raspberry and cherry crops. The records from Río Negro and Neuquén constitute the southernmost report of the species. Diagnosis and prevalence of the parasitoid are briefly discussed

Suidae Transition at the Miocene-Pliocene Boundary: a Reassessment of the Taxonomy and Chronology of Propotamochoerus provincialis

The Miocene-Pliocene (Turolian-Ruscinian) transition represents a fundamental interval in the evolution of Euro-Mediterranean paleocommunities. In fact, the paleoenvironmental changes connected with the end of the Messinian salinity crisis are reflected by a major renewal in mammal faunal assemblages. An important bioevent among terrestrial large mammals is the dispersal of the genus Sus, which replaced all other suid species during the Pliocene. Despite its possible paleoecological and biochronological relevance, correlations based on this bioevent are undermined by the supposed persistence of the late surviving late Miocene Propotamochoerus provincialis. However, a recent revision of the type material of this species revealed an admixture with remains of Sus strozzii, an early Pleistocene (Middle Villafranchian to Epivillafranchian) suid, questioning both the diagnosis and chronological range of P. provincialis. Here we review the late Miocene Suidae sample recovered from the Casino Basin (Tuscany, central Italy), whose taxonomic attribution has been controversial over the nearly 150 years since its discovery. Following a comparison with other Miocene, Pliocene, and Pleistocene Eurasian species, the Casino Suidae are assigned to P. provincialis and the species diagnosis is emended. Moreover, it is recognized that all the late Miocene (Turolian) European Propotamochoerus material belongs to P. provincialis and that there is no compelling evidence of the occurrence of this species beyond the Turolian-Ruscinian transition (MN13-MN14).

Accommodating trait overlap and individual variability in species diagnosis of Ischnosiphon (Marantaceae)

Recognition and delimitation of taxonomic categories of biological organisms are still challenging and full of controversy. We used Ischnosiphon as a model to unravel the importance of morphometrics as individual-based variables to disentangle the morphological variability of plant species. Ischnosiphon spp. continue to be problematic for users, taxonomists and ecologists, due mainly to the huge morphological variability, the species criteria and circumscription proposed for many taxa and the many habitat and vegetative macro-morphological characters lacking in most currently available exsiccates. Twenty-three morphometric variables were sampled from 228 individuals, belonging to 22 Ischnosiphon spp. Principal components and discriminant multivariate analyses were used to describe and identify patterns of morphological variation in Ischnosiphon. Individual-landmark assessment analysed with multivariate methods captured morphometric intraspecific diversity and morphological variability in Ischnosiphon spp., along with the continuous variation of important morphological traits. By examining the morphology of Ischnosiphon spp. through individual-landmark assessment, we demonstrate that different morphological species concepts used today in the identification of the species are difficult to apply. We propose a replicable and analytical framework to accommodate individual variability in species diagnosis in morphologically diverse plant groups.

A new Pseudopyrochroa Pic, 1906 from Yunnan, China with a key to adultPseudopyrochroa males from the Province and correction on type repository for Frontodendroidopsis pennyi Young (Coleoptera: Pyrochroidae: Pyrochroinae)

A new species of the fire-colored beetle genus Pseudopyrochroa Pic, 1906, is described from northwestern Yunnan Province, China. The new species, Pseudopyrochroa grzymalae, is superficially similar to P. cardoni (Fairmaire), known from Kashmir and Sikkim. A complete species diagnosis is presented along with a key to adult males of the five known Yunnan Pseudopyrochroa species. The repository for the holotype of Frontodendroidopsis pennyi Young is corrected from the California Academy of Sciences to the Institute of Zoology, Bejing.

A new species of the genus Mawenzhena Alexis & Delpont (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Goliathini) from South Korea

Genus, Mawenzhena Alexis & Delpont (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Goliathini), is reported from Korean Peninsula for the first time with the description of a new species, Mawenzhena Koreana J.H. Kim & Jung, sp. nov. Description of the new species, diagnosis for the members of the genus and a key to the Korean genera of the subtribe Coryphocerina are provided together with photographs of adult specimens and male genitalia.

New records of two species of parasitic isopods (Isopoda: Cymothoida: Bopyridae: Athelginae) associated with hermit crabs from the south Atlantic

Two species of bopyrid isopods from the subfamily Athelginae are recorded from new localities in northeastern Brazil. Parathelges foliatus Markham, 1972 was recorded for the first time from Brazil, in the state of Ceará, parasitising the hermit crab Clibanarius symmetricus (Randall, 1840). Pseudostegias atlantica Lemos de Castro, 1965 is recorded from the state of Ceará, parasitising Clibanarius antillensis Stimpson, 1859. Illustrations, species diagnosis and an updated distribution map are given for each species.