Contributions to the knowledge of the Depressariidae, Peleopodidae, Ethmiidae and Fuchsiini (Lepidoptera, Gelechioidea) of Romania, with an annotated checklist

In Romania 102 species of Depressariidae, Peleopodidae, Ethmiidae and Fuchsiini were recorded in the last checklist and its supplement (Rákosy et al. 2003; Rákosy and Goia 2007). The present study deals with a total of 117 species ever recorded from Romania including voucher material studied in this overview: 101 Depressariidae, 2 Peleopodidae, 13 Ethmiidae and 1 Fuchsiini. As a result of the analysis of the studied material the Romanian fauna is currently considered to consist of 114 species, 90 of them are confirmed and 24 requiring confirmation. 13 species are recorded for the first time from Romania: Agonopterix bipunctosa (Curtis, 1850), A. coenosella (Zerny, 1940), A. ferocella (Chrétien, 1910), A. irrorata (Staudinger, 1870), A. lessini Buchner, 2017, A. ligusticella (Chrétien, 1908), A. multiplicella (Erschoff, 1877), A. quadripunctata (Wocke, 1857), Depressaria badiella (Hübner, 1796), D. daucella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), D. sordidatella Tengström, 1848, Exaeretia ledereri (Zeller, 1854) and Anchinia laureolella Herrich-Schäffer, 1854. 2 species are found with unclear taxonomic status: Agonopterix banatica Georgesco, 1965 and Agonopterix dumitrescui Georgesco, 1965. 3 species are formally excluded from the Romanian fauna: Agonopterix agyrella (Rebel, 1917), A. comitella (Lederer, 1855) and Depressaria halophilella (Chrétien, 1908). Additionally, 28 species are first records for different regions of the country and further 15 corrections are made to their distribution within Romania. The examined voucher material is concisely presented by each species, collecting data are presented in detail only in the case of the first records, and a few rarely recorded species, by which the adults, male and occasionally female genitalia are figured.

Typification of the name Kalanchoe scapigera (Crassulaceae subfam. Kalanchooideae)

Britten (1871: 391–398), when treating the genus Kalanchoe Adanson (1763: 248) (Crassulaceae subfam. Kalanchooideae) for the Flora of Tropical Africa (FTA) project, recognised 18 species as indigenous to that part of Africa (see Oliver 1868 for the geographical coverage of the project). Six of these, 30% of the FTA kalanchoes, were based on material that Dr Friedrich [Martin Joseph] Welwitsch (5 February 1806, Maria Saal, Austria–20 October 1872, London, United Kingdom) collected while he was based in Angola (see also Figueiredo et al. 2018). In the case of four of the species, Britten (1871) explicitly linked them to Welwitsch’s manuscript names by stating “Welw. mss.” after the species names. The four species are (here and further on including the species numbers used by Britten): [#5.] K. brachyloba Welwitsch ex Britten (1871: 392); [#7.] K. platysepala Welwitsch ex Britten (1871: 393); [#13.] K. coccinea Welwitsch ex Britten (1871: 395); and [#17.] K. scapigera Welwitsch ex Britten (1871: 397). One other species, [#15.] K. velutina Welwitsch (1871: 396), was described by Welwitsch and a further species, [#10.] K. welwitschii Britten (1871: 394), was named in honour of Welwitsch by Britten, based on material collected by Welwitsch. Welwitsch also provided voucher material for the occurrence of the widespread [#4.] K. laciniata (Linnaeus 1753: 430) De Candolle (1802: tab. 100), [#11.] K. crenata (Andrews 1797: tab. 21) Haworth (1812: 109), and [#16.] K. glandulosa Hochstetter ex Richard (1847: 312) in Angola (Britten 1871).

Estonian Caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera). An annotated checklist

Achecklist of 190 species of Estonian caddisflies is compiled based on literature and voucher material in collections at Estonian University of Life Sciences. 31 species are listed first time for the country while 159 taxa were referred to in literature. Two taxa are rejected as possible misidentifications (Diplectrona felix and Molanna submarginalis). 25 species are listed in Estonian Red Data book. Geographical distribution of Trichoptera both in Estonia and along the east shore of Baltic Sea is reviewed in brief.

An annotated checklist of the chondrichthyans of Papua New Guinea

An annotated checklist of the chondrichthyan fishes (sharks, rays, and chimaeras) of Papua New Guinean waters is herein presented. The checklist is the result of a large biodiversity study on the chondrichthyan fauna of Papua New Guinea between 2013 and 2017. The chondrichthyan fauna of Papua New Guinea has historically been very poorly known due to a lack of baseline information and limited deepwater exploration. A total of 131 species, comprising 36 families and 68 genera, were recorded. The most speciose families are the Carcharhinidae with 29 species and the Dasyatidae with 23 species. Verified voucher material from various biological collections around the world are provided, with a total of 687 lots recorded comprising 574 whole specimens, 128 sets of jaws and 21 sawfish rostra. This represents the first detailed, verified checklist of chondrichthyans from Papua New Guinean waters.

Richness of the Nearctic Treehopper Fauna (Hemiptera: Aetalionidae and Membracidae)

The indigenous Nearctic treehopper fauna includes 2 families, 6 subfamilies, 20 tribes, 68–72 genera, and 276–280 de-scribed species, of which 1 tribe, 16 genera, and 195 species are endemic. This work provides an alphabetical checklist ofthe species (with distributions as documented in the literature) as well as discussions and two tables summarizing the tax-onomic and regional diversity of this rich, distinctive fauna. The tribes Smiliini and Telamonini (Membracidae: Smilii-nae), which include many specialists on oaks (Quercus spp.), are the two most species-rich tribes. Maps of the Nearcticsubregions document the species richness of each state and province, 22 of which have between 60 and 118 reported spe-cies. The Southwest U.S. has the largest number of genera of the subregions, while both the Southwest and the Centraland Eastern U.S. are highly species rich. Arizona stands apart as an area of exceptional endemism with one genus and 25species known only from within its borders. Among families of auchenorrhynchous Hemiptera, Membracidae rank thirdin total numbers of Nearctic species. This study highlights the need for: (1) improved taxonomic understanding, especiallythrough comprehensive generic revisions; (2) further collecting to fill gaps in geographic sampling; and (3) the preserva-tion of identifiable voucher material, with full data (including geo-cordinates and, where known, host plant data) to document all published research.

Cryptic grey-bellied dunnart (Sminthopsis griseoventer) discovered in South Australia: genetic, morphological and subfossil analyses show the value of collecting voucher material

The assumption that almost all mammal species are known to science has led to a recent trend away from collecting voucher specimens/tissues during field studies. Here we present a case study of a recently discovered cryptic marsupial (Sminthopsis griseoventer) in South Australia (SA) and show how such collections can contribute to rigorous biodiversity and biogeographic assessments. Morphological and genetic (allozyme and mitochondrial control region (CR) sequence data) analyses, including ancient DNA analyses of type material, were applied to 188 voucher specimens and 94 non-vouchered tissues of Sminthopsis held at the SA Museum. These data were used to confirm the presence of S. griseoventer in SA, validate means of identifying it morphologically and describe recent and pre-European distributions. Pelage differences between S. griseoventer and S. dolichura enabled their identification, but external measurements overlapped considerably. Subfossil S. griseoventer were identified from seven deposits and confirmed that in the past the species was more widespread in SA. CR divergences (>1.8%) among Western Australian and SA S. griseoventer suggested its long-term presence in SA. Discrepancies between the mitochondrial and allozyme affinities of S. aitkeni and S. griseoventer, coupled with the lack of obvious morphological differences, indicate that a taxonomic reappraisal of these species is warranted. The study strongly demonstrates an ongoing need for the routine collection of mammal voucher material in biological and environmental impact surveys.

Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) in the State of Pernambuco

INTRODUCTION: Phlebotomine sand flies are small insects of great medical relevance. This article presents an updated list of the phlebotomine sand flies occurring in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil. METHODS: A review of literature published since the 1940s up to May 2010 was conducted and voucher material deposited in reference collections were studied. RESULTS: A total of 37 phlebotomine species have previously been reported as occurring in Pernambuco, but the record of six species needs confirmation. CONCLUSIONS: This work provides an updated list of phlebotomine sand flies of Pernambuco, with some notes on their taxonomy, ecology, distribution and epidemiological relevance.

Occurrence of Lucilla scintilla (R.T. Lowe, 1852) and Lucilla singleyana (Pilsbry, 1890) in the Czech and Slovak Republics – with remarks how to distinguish these two non-native minute snails

Previously only one species of the genus Lucilla was reported from the Czech and Slovak Republics. Since this taxon is currently considered as two distinct species (L. singleyana and L. scintilla), a revision of older Czech and Slovak records was needed. The revision of available voucher material yielded findings of both species in Slovakia, contrary to the Czech Republic where only L. scintilla has been found outdoors. Distribution and detail location of known outdoor records and identification remarks, supplemented with pictures of the shells, are included in this paper.

Taxonomy of the monotypic genus Koehleria Cherbonnier, 1988 (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea: Cucumariidae)

Voucher material recently collected from the 2-Mile Reef at Sodwana Bay (Republic of South Africa), allows the evaluation of the monotypic genus Koehleria Cherbonnier, 1988 and its species K. unica Cherbonnier, 1988 collected from Tul ar (Madagascar). Cherbonnier s (1988) conclusion, that Koehleria is most related to the also monotypic genus Pseudocolochirus Pearson, 1910 is correct, but the differences between Koehleria and Pseudocolochirus are too small to justify the retention of Koehleria. Koehleria is relegated herein to the synonymy of Pseudocolochirus. Such a step decreases the velocity with which monotypic genera are currently described within the Dendrochirotida.