New records of the genus Eilicrinia Hübner, 1823 (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) in Croatia

New records of the genus Eilicrinia Hübner, 1823 in Croatia are presented and the previous literature records are summarized. Eilicrinia cordiaria (Hübner, 1790) has been recorded in Croatia after an apparent absence of 36 years at six new localities. The species has a scattered distribution in the country, with historical records originating from both Mediterranean and Continental regions while recent reports are limited to northern Croatia, mostly around the rivers Drava and Mura. For Eilicrinia trinotata (Metzner, 1845) the first record from Croatia is presented, from Bansko hill in Baranja region. Both species can be considered as scarce in Croatia and further studies are needed in order to assess their status and distribution.

An estimate of the area of occupancy and population size of Brachycephalus tridactylus (Anura: Brachycephalidae) to reassess its conservation status, with a proposal for conservation measures

Background We are experiencing a global crisis in conservation, which has led to the prioritization of targets, such as nations, regions, and animal groups, which are necessary while resources are disputed. Brazil is a priority not only because of its megadiversity, high rates of endemism, and frequent descriptions of new species but also because of its high levels of deforestation. Among the species groups prioritized for conservation is the anurans (Amphibia: Anura), the population of which is severely declining. One group of anurans is the genus Brachycephalus, which includes 37 endemic species in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest. Some of these species have highly restricted distributions (<100 ha). Thirty new species have been described since 2000, and 55.3% of all species are threatened with extinction. Brachycephalus tridactylus was only recently described and remains restricted to its type locality. Because of its reduced geographical distribution (0.41 km2), it has been proposed to be considered as Vulnerable. The objective of this study is to reevaluate the conservation status of Brachycephalus tridactylus and propose conservation measures. Methods We searched for new populations during 2016–2020, evaluated in loco impacts and potential impacts on the species’ population, and performed an analysis of the density of this population and estimated its size. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria were used to assess the conservation status of the species. Results We recorded the species in seven new localities (from 715–1,140 m above sea level) in the state of São Paulo up to 33 km from the type locality of the species (in state of Paraná). We estimated the area of occupancy as 148.44 km2, densities as one calling male per 4.05 m2 and 130.00 m2, and a total population size of 4,429,722 adult individuals. Based on our finding, we proposed three lines of management: (1) formation of fire brigades, (2) management of residents’ mules in the conservation unit and surrounding areas, and (3) management of degraded areas. We recommend changing the species’ conservation status from Vulnerable to Endangered because of its fragmented distribution and decline in the area of occupancy and in the quality of its habitat. Our results have expanded the species previous geographic distribution and delimited areas without previous records. Our estimates of population density and size are in accordance with those verified for congeners. The conservation of this species benefits the environments and other species that inhabit them, being, therefore, strategic for receiving conservation actions that will spread throughout the ecosystem.

New records of vascular plants in the West Altai

The article presents new data on the distribution in the territory of Western Altai of 20 species of vascular plants from the families Asteraceae, Betulaceae, Boraginaceae, Crassulaceae, Huperziaceae, Grossulariaceae, Lamiaceae, Onagraceae, Orchidaceae, Papaveraceae, Polygonaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rosaceae, Saxifragaceae и Violaceae. All of them were collected in the highlands of the Korgon Range within the Altai Territory. Of these, Potentilla crebridens is reported for the first time for the Altai Territory and Western Altai; for other species, new localities are indicated. For the first time for the Korgon Range within the Altai Territory, Saxifraga terektensis, Viola tigirekica are presented, and the exact location of Potentilla nivea is noted. New localities of rare and protected species were discovered: Callianthemum sajanense, Huperzia appressa, Pyrethrum alatavicum, Saussurea baicalensis, Scutellaria altaica. For each species, the general distribution, ecology data are given, for some species, notes on the difference and differentiation of them from the closest taxa are indicated. If necessary, the locations of the species previously registered in the Western Altai are indicated. For the species included in the “Red Data Book of the Altai Territory”, we provide an information on the approximate number of individuals in the found populations. Based on the analysis of herbarium material, we exclude Potentilla nervosa from the list of flora of the Altai Territory.

Note on Dolichosoma (Dolichomorphus) femorale Morawitz, 1861 (Coleoptera, Melyridae, Dasytinae): taxonomy, anatomy, distribution and presence in Italy

Subgenus Dolichomorphus is transferred from Psilothrix to Dolichosoma. these two genera have been defined based on aedeagical characters rather than on external ones. Dolichosoma (Dolichomorphus) femorale, the only one species belonging to Dolichomorphus (previously a Psilothrix), is now included in genus Dolichosoma. D. (D.) femorale has been re-described, its Euro-Asiatic distribution has been detailed with several new localities reported, emphasis being given to its presence in Italy. A determination key is proposed for the three Dolichosoma species present in Mediterranean Europe.

Longhorned beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) of southeastern Mongolia with particular emphasis on the genus Anoplistes Audinet-Serville, 1833 (Cerambycinae: Trachyderini)

New data on the distribution, bionomy, and taxonomy of the longhorned beetles that occur in the poorly studied region of southeastern Mongolia (Ömnögovi, Dornogovi, and Sükhbaatar aimags) are presented together with a list of all taxa that are known from this area. The literature records for all known species from this area were summarized, verified, and mapped. Chlorophorus caragana Xie & Wang, 2012 is recorded from Mongolia for the first time. New localities of some little-known taxa that are endemic to Mongolia and adjacent territories, such as Anoplistes halodendri minutus Hammarström, 1892, Anoplistes kaszabi Karpiński, 2020, and Eodorcadion gorbunovi Danilevsky, 2004 are given. High-quality stacked images of several unique species, e.g., Anoplistes gobiensis (Namkhaidorzh, 1973), Ch. caragana, and Chlorophorus obliteratus (Ganglbauer, 1889) are presented for the first time along with photographs of their habitats. New remarks on highly complex taxonomic issues concerning some species in the genera Anoplistes, Chlorophorus, and Eodorcadion are also provided.

A contribution to the knowledge of cave-adapted ground beetles from Guiyang, central Guizhou Province, southwestern China (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Trechini)

A new genus and two new species of cavernicolous trechines are reported from central Guizhou Province, southwestern China. Haixiaphaenopsgen. nov. is established to place a new species discovered in two limestone caves in northern Qingzhen Shi: H. jinxiaohongaesp. nov. (Dawan Dong cave and Changtu Dong and Dawan Dong caves). This new genus is allied to Zhijinaphaenops Uéno &amp; Ran, 2002. Zhijinaphaenops zhaofeiisp. nov. is described from Zhangkou Dong cave in northern Jiuzhuang Zhen of Xifeng County. In addition, two new localities of the species Zhijinaphaenops jingliae Deuve &amp; Tian, 2015, and two new localities of Sinaphaenops chengguangyuaniMa et al. 2020 are provided. A distribution map for all cavernicolous trechine beetles known in Guiyang is provided.

Late Ediacaran occurrences of the organic-walled microfossils Granomarginata and flask-shaped Lagoenaforma collaris gen. et sp. nov.

New occurrences of flask-shaped and envelope-bearing microfossils, including the predominantly Cambrian taxon Granomarginata, are reported from new localities, as well as from earlier in time (Ediacaran) than previously known. The stratigraphic range of Granomarginata extends into the Cambrian System, where it had a cosmopolitan distribution. This newly reported Ediacaran record includes areas from Norway (Baltica), Newfoundland (Avalonia) and Namibia (adjacent to the Kalahari Craton), and puts the oldest global occurrence of Granomarginata in the Indreelva Member (< 563 Ma) of the Stáhpogieddi Formation on the Digermulen Peninsula, Arctic Norway. Although Granomarginata is rare within the assemblage, these new occurrences together with previously reported occurrences from India and Poland, suggest a potentially widespread palaeogeographic distribution of Granomarginata through the middle–late Ediacaran interval. A new flask-shaped microfossil Lagoenaforma collaris gen. et sp. nov. is also reported in horizons containing Granomarginata from the Stáhpogieddi Formation in Norway and the Dabis Formation in Namibia, and flask-shaped fossils are also found in the Gibbett Hill Formation in Newfoundland. The Granomarginata–Lagoenaforma association, in addition to a low-diversity organic-walled microfossil assemblage, occurs in the strata postdating the Shuram carbon isotope excursion, and may eventually be of use in terminal Ediacaran biostratigraphy. These older occurrences of Granomarginata add to a growing record of body fossil taxa spanning the Ediacaran–Cambrian boundary.

Grylloblattidan insects from Sperbersbach and Cabarz (Germany), two new early Permian and insect-rich localities

New fossil insect specimens from two new localities in Germany, namely Sperbersbach and Cabarz (Goldlauter Formation; early Permian), belonging to the Grylloblattida, are described. Abundant material is assigned to Pictoborella clara n. gen. n. sp., regarded as closely related to Pictoborella germanica (Prokop et al., 2012) n. comb., from the Saar-Nahe Basin (Germany; early Permian). Liomopterum fuscatum n. sp., represented by fewer specimens, is delimited based on previously published and new data on various Liomopterum spp. Two other Liomopteridae, Uralioma thuringiensis n. sp. and Liomopterites sperbersbachensis n. sp., each known from a single forewing, are also described. Finally, Cabarzopterum magnificus n. gen. n. sp., with unclear familial affinities, is described based on three forewings. The assemblages of grylloblattidan insects at Sperbersbach and Cabarz are generally similar, with differences probably related to different depositional environments and local paleoclimatic conditions. UUID: http://zoobank.org/25ae125c-6a17-415f-8cf0-4c0507e4f89d