The orbit and its contents

The function of the orbit is to protect and accommodate the globe in order to maximise its function. The bony orbits are paired four-sided conical cavities within the skull each comprising seven bones – ranging from the paper thin ethmoid and lacrimal plate medially to the buttress thick zygoma laterally. The conical shape consists of an apex posteriorly and a base anteriorly forming the outer margin. The medial wall and floor begin to blend towards the apex forming a posteromedial bulge as the orbit takes on a three-walled pyramidal structure. The walls are lined by periosteum (periorbita), which is continuous with the periosteal layer of the dura mater at the apex, the orbital septa and the fascial sheaths of the extraocular muscles. There are five principal openings of the orbit – three principal foramina located at the apex that transmit the neurovascular supply of the orbit and two lesser foramina located on the medial wall.

A new species of Dudgeodes Sartori, 2008 (Ephemeroptera: Teloganodidae) from Megamalai hills of southern Western Ghats, India

Dudgeodes sartorii sp. nov. is described based on nymphs from the Megamalai hills of Western Ghats, Southern India. The nymph of Dudgeodes sartorii sp. nov. can be distinguished from other Indian species of Dudgeodes by i) prothorax with two rounded tubercles; (ii) outer margin of mesothorax with simple setae; (iii) distinct maculae in the distal region of femora; (iv) transverse row of setae on fore femora narrower with blunt apex and (v) dark brownish band on the 5th segment of cerci

First fossil record of the mayfly family Vietnamellidae (Insecta, Ephemeroptera) from Burmese Amber confirms its Oriental origin and gives new insights into its evolution

The small, monophyletic mayfly family Vietnamellidae Allen, 1984 has so far only been known from a few extant species of the genus Vietnamella Tshernova, 1972, which are all distributed in the Oriental Realm (Vietnam, Thailand, China, and India). Herein we report the first fossil record of Vietnamellidae based on a male and female imago from Mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. We establish the new genus Burmellagen. nov. to accommodate these two new Mesozoic specimens. Their attribution to Vietnamellidae is supported by the rounded shape of the hind wings with arched outer margin, the course of thoracic sutures, and characteristics of venation, especially of MP and Cu of the forewings and associated intercalary veins of the cubital field. At the same time, Burmellagen. nov. clearly differs from Vietnamella by a diminished number of longitudinal and cross veins in the hind wings, and by the different shape of male genitalia. This first fossil record of Vietnamellidae supports an age of at least 100 Ma for this taxon.

Two additional new species of Clypeocaenis Soldán, 1978 (Ephemeroptera: Caenidae) from the Western Ghats of Peninsular India

Two new mayfly species of Clypeocaenis (Ephemeroptera: Caenidae) are described based on nymphal and adult characters from Kaveri River, Kodagu, Karnataka, Southern India. The main characteristics that distinguish Clypeocaenis kaveri sp. nov. from other Oriental species are: (i) fore femur with 4 long spines at middle of inner margin, a row of bifid spines at outer margin and row of bifid spines at subapical surface; (ii) dorsal surface of femora with complete transverse row of bifid setae located 3/4 distance from the base; (iii) forceps smaller than penis lobe. The main characteristics that distinguish Clypeocaenis napoklu sp. nov. from other Oriental species are: (i) fore femur with 2 long spines at middle of inner margin and row of thin setae on outer margin; segment 2 with bifid spine at apex.(ii) dorsal surface of femora with incomplete transverse row of bifid setae located 2/3 distance from the base; (iii) forceps little longer than penis lobe. A key for the nymphs of described species has been provided.

Ultrastructure of the egg of Coquillettidia venezuelensis (Theobald) (Diptera: Culicidae)

This study examined the ultrastructural characteristics of the egg of Coquillettidia venezuelensis (Theobald) (Diptera: Culicidae) with the aid of scanning electron microscopy. The eggs are elliptical and blackish, measuring on average 525.3 ± 12.8 μm in length and 94.9 ± 5.14 μm in width, with a length to width ratio of 5.54 ± 0.18. The anterior region of the egg is tubuliform, with a well-developed micropylar collar measuring approximately 2.54 ± 0.33 μm in thickness, the inner side of which is uniformly and deeply excavated, with a depression around the outer margin of the micropylar disc, which has a diameter of 29.4 ± 1.7 μm, an area of 234.4 μm2 ± 401.3 μm2 and a slightly elevated central region measuring 1.7 ± 0.5 μm in diameter that bears the central micropyle.

The identity of Hyastenus pleione (Herbst, 1803) and description of a new species from China (Decapoda, Brachyura, Majoidea, Epialtidae)

The poorly known epialtid crab, Hyastenus pleione (Herbst, 1803), from the Indian Ocean is re-described on the basis of the type material. Large sized specimens of a similar looking species from China are here assigned to a new species. The new species differs from H. pleione in having fewer large granules on the carapace, a blunt distal angle of the basal antennal article with the outer margin slightly constricted medially, possessing only one branchial granule along the lateral margin of the carapace, and has a relatively more elongate male first gonopod with the subdistal part weakly dilated.

First record of the genus Boholina (Copepoda, Calanoida, Pseudocyclopidae) in Vietnam, with description of a new species from an anchialine cave in Tra Ban Island

A new species, Boholina reductasp. nov., was found in a brackish pool within an anchialine cave in Tra Ban Island in Bai Tu Long Bay, north Vietnam. The new species is clearly distinguished from all the six species currently known in the genus Boholina by the following unique characteristics: reduction of the septum between gonopores; narrow and pointed rostrum; basal segment of mandibular palp armed with three setae; maxillule without seta on the basal exite, and exopod with 11 setae; second and third endopodal segments of the maxilliped bearing three setae each; exopod of male right leg 5 2-segmented, with two strong and one vestigial spines on the outer margin of the distal segment; and last exopodal segment of female leg 5 bearing only one spine on the outer margin. We provide a description of the new species, along with detailed illustrations and scanning electron microscopy photographs. The identification key to Boholina species is updated as well. This is the first record of the genus Boholina from Vietnam.

A new species of the genus Chiromyza Wiedemann (Diptera, Stratiomyidae) from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Seven species of the genus Chiromyza Wiedemann are recorded in Brazil: C. brevicornis (Lindner, 1949), C. enderleini (Lindner, 1949), C. leptiformis (Macquart, 1838), C. ochracea Wiedemann, 1820, C. stylicornis (Enderlein, 1921), C. viridis Bezzi, 1922 and C. vittata Wiedemann, 1820. Herein I describe a new species, Chiromyza raccai sp. nov., based on 88 specimens (41 males, 47 females) from the Atlantic Rain Forest mountains of State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in the city of Miguel Pereira. The new species is distinguished from the related species C. ochracea and C. vittata by the structure of male terminalia. Chiromyza raccai sp. nov. has the distal region of the phallus rounded with two conspicuous apical setae, C. ochracea has the distal surface of the phallus wide and flatness, and C. vittata has the distal surface of the phallus rounded with outer margin rugose.

A new species of the shrimp genus Typton Costa, 1844 (Malacostraca, Decapoda, Palaemonidae) from the Cabo Verde Archipelago

A new species of sponge-dwelling palaemonid shrimp of the genus Typton Costa, 1844 is described based on specimens collected in Enseada de Corais da Matiota, São Vicente Island, Cabo Verde. Typton anaramosae sp. nov., is the twentieth species known in this genus and is morphologically most similar to T. prionurus from the western Atlantic and T. granulosus and T. serratus from the eastern Pacific, all four sharing the serrated distal part of the outer margin of the uropodal exopod and the absence of a median tooth on the posterodorsal margin of the sixth pleonite. The more specific features, which distinguish the new species from its related congeners are discussed.

To the knowledge of the Near East species of the genus Odocnemis Allard, 1876 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Helopini)

A brief review of the eight species of the genus Odocnemis Allard, 1876 from the Near East (Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Egypt) is given. All species (excluding probably O. intrusicollis from Cyprus) belong to the praelonga species-group. Odocnemis evae sp. n. is described from Lebanon. The new species is similar to O. praelonga Baudi di Selve, 1876 by the presence of a mucron in females and to O. moabitica Sahlberg, 1908 by the presence of teeth and granules on inner side of metatibiae (at least in large specimens). It differs from both species by the shiny body, the presence a tooth on the outer margin of male pro- and mesotrochanters and by the structure of the aedeagus (very narrow apical piece with ball-like apex). Redescriptions, full bibliographic information and key to the species are given. Odocnemis punctata Allard, 1876 is recorded for Israel for the first time.