New species and records of Pseudolanurgus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) from Tanzania and Madagascar

The recently established genus Pseudolanurgus Jordal, 2021 included one species from Democratic Republic of the Congo and two from Madagascar. Two more species are here described as new to science: Pseudolanurgus mystax sp. nov. from the United Republic of Tanzania and Pseudolanurgus asperatus sp. nov. from Madagascar. A key to all five species is provided along with photos of all species.

Paralysiella testudinis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from the cloaca of a toad-headed turtle (Mesoclemmys nasuta)

A bacterial strain designated 26BT, which had been isolated from the cloaca of a toad-headed turtle, was subjected to a comprehensive taxonomic study. Comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences demonstrated that strain 26BT is a member of the family Neisseriaceae . Based on highest similarity values, Neisseria animaloris DSM 21642T (95.15 %), Alysiella filiformis ATCC 15532T (95.06 %), Uruburuella testudinis 07_OD624T (94.71 %), Uruburuella suis CCUG 47806T (94.66 %) and Alysiella crassa DSM 2578T (94.64 %) were identified as the closest relatives. Average nucleotide identity values based on the blast algorithm (ANIb) indicated that U. suis (76.10/76.17 %), Neisseria shayeganii 871T (74.34/74.51 %), Stenoxybacter acetivorans (73.30/73.41 %), N. animaloris (72.98/72.80) %, A. filiformis (71.14/71.21 %) and A. crassa (70.53/71.15 %) are the next closest relatives. Like ANIb, genome-based phylogeny did not suggest the affiliation of strain 26BT with any established genus. The polyamine pattern consisted of the major compounds putrescine, 1,3-diaminopropane and spermidine and the major quinone was ubiquinone Q-8. In the polar lipid profile, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and an ornithine lipid were predominant. The fatty acid profile contained predominantly C16 : 1 ω7c, C12 : 0, C14 : 0, C16 : 0 and C12 : 0 3OH. The size of the genome was 2.91 Mbp and the genomic G+C content was 54.0 mol%. Since these data do not demonstrate an unambiguous association with any established genus, we here propose the novel genus Paralysiella with the type species Paralysiella testudinis gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain is 26BT (=CCM 9137T=LMG 32212T).

A revision of the genus Pochyta Simon, with descriptions of new species (Araneae: Salticidae: Thiratoscirtina)

Thiratoscirtina is an African endemic subtribe of aelurilline jumping spiders. Among the 18 genera belonging here, the genus Pochyta Simon, 1901 and its ten currently recognized species is yet to be revised, and the described species have been not studied from a taxonomical perspective. We examined all the species thought to belong here based on the type material. The limits of the genus are redefined. Pochyta moschensis Caporiacco, 1947 is proposed as the junior synonym of Natta horizontalis Karsch, 1879. Pochyta simoni Lessert, 1925 is transferred to the newly established genus Kibo gen. n., and a new combination Kibo simoni comb. n. is proposed for it. Both P. albimana Simon, 1902 and P. pannosa Simon, 1903 are proposed as a junior synonym of P. spinosa Simon, 1901, the type species. P. occidentalis Simon, 1902 is proposed as a junior synonym of P. pulchra (Thorell, 1899). Lectotypes are designated for Pochyta insulana and P. simoni. Seven new species are described: Pochyta aurantiaca sp. n. (♂♀), P. equatorialis sp. n. (♂♀), P. lucida sp. n. (♀), P. maddisoni sp. n. (♂♀), P. tendicula sp. n. (♂)—all from Gabon, P. konilokho sp. n. (♂) from Guinea, and P. minuta sp. n. (♀) from Nigeria. The yet unknown females of Pochyta fastibilis Simon, 1903, P. major Simon, 1902 and P. pulchra (Thorell, 1899) are described for the first time. New distribution data for some species are given.

A review of Madagopsina Feijen, Feijen & Feijen (Diptera, Diopsidae) with description of a new species, key to the species, and discussion of intrageneric relationships

For the recently established genus Madagopsina (Diopsidae, stalk-eyed flies), Madagopsina makayensis Feijen, Feijen & Feijen, sp. nov. is described from Madagascar. A concise catalogue is given for the genus and an identification key is presented for its six species. The differential character states are listed for the two species groups of the genus: the Madagopsina apollo species group and the Madagopsina apographica species group. The intrageneric relations are discussed based on morphology, geometric morphometrics analysis of wing shape, and allometric data for eye span against body length. Each of these three procedures places the new species in the M. apollo species group with Madagopsina parvapollina as its closest relative. New records are presented for M. apographica and M. parvapollina.

A new genus and two new species of melicharid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) associated with wood-decaying fungi and mycophagous erotylid beetles (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) in Europe

We describe a new genus in the mite family Melicharidae, Mycomelichares Mašán & Joharchi gen. nov., to accommodate two new species, Mycomelichares polypori Mašán & Joharchi sp. nov. and Mycomelichares reductus Mašán & Joharchi sp. nov. on the basis of specimens collected on wood-decaying fungi and/or mycophagous beetles of the genera Triplax Herbst and Tritoma Fabricius (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) in Slovakia and European part of Russia, respectively. Moreover, two previously described Proctolaelaps species—P. cyllodi Samšiňák, 1960 and P. slovacus Mašán, 1998 are transferred to the newly established genus. The new genus is characterized by specific characters in tritosternum (enlarged and brush-shaped, having their laciniae thickened, basaly fused and distally densely pilose), chelicerae (slightly dish-shaped digits with long, narrow and sharp denticles), ventral hypostome (setae h1 enlarged, thickened and distally flattened), setation (tendency towards placement of R series setae on soft integument, and reduction of some setae on idiosoma and legs), and unusual ecological specialisation on fungal substrates. Mycomelichares polypori sp. nov. is adapted to the life in sporophores of the basidiomycete bracket fungus, Polyporus squamosus (Polyporaceae). Mites of this species can be abundantly found on the lower fertile surface of the fungus, including large spore-bearing pores. Furthermore, keys to the melicharid genera reported from Palaearct, and the species of the genus are provided.

Polyketide Synthase and Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetase Gene Clusters in Type Strains of the Genus Phytohabitans

(1) Background: Phytohabitans is a recently established genus belonging to rare actinomycetes. It has been unclear if its members have the capacity to synthesize diverse secondary metabolites. Polyketide and nonribosomal peptide compounds are major secondary metabolites in actinomycetes and expected as a potential source for novel pharmaceuticals. (2) Methods: Whole genomes of Phytohabitans flavus NBRC 107702T, Phytohabitans rumicis NBRC 108638T, Phytohabitans houttuyneae NBRC 108639T, and Phytohabitans suffuscus NBRC 105367T were sequenced by PacBio. Polyketide synthase (PKS) and nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) gene clusters were bioinformatically analyzed in the genome sequences. (3) Results: These four strains harbored 10, 14, 18 and 14 PKS and NRPS gene clusters, respectively. Most of the gene clusters were annotated to synthesis unknown chemistries. (4) Conclusions: Members of the genus Phytohabitans are a possible source for novel and diverse polyketides and nonribosomal peptides.

Madangella koumacensis, a new species of palaemonid shrimps (Decapoda: Palaemonidae) from New Caledonia

A second species of the recently established genus Madangella Frolová & Ďuriš is described from New Caledonia. Although the single available specimen lacks both second pereiopods, the new species distinctly differs from the only other representative of the genus, M. altirostris Frolová & Ďuriš, 2018 from Papua New Guinea, and can be easily distinguished from the latter by the more elongate and distally tapering rostrum, two subterminal ventral rostral teeth, the carpus of the first pereiopod being subequal to the merus length, and the sixth pleomere being short and stout, distinctly less than 2 times longer than deep. The examined specimen was confirmed as representative of a species separate from M. altirostris also by molecular comparisons of the 16S rRNA and COI mtDNA gene markers. The genus Madangella thus currently consists of two southwestern Pacific species.

A Vivid Orange New Genus and Species of Braconid-Mimicking Clearwing Moth (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) Found Puddling on Plecoptera Exuviae

A clearwing moth with a distinct orange, black and white colour pattern was found sucking up fluids from Plecoptera (stonefly) exuviae on rocks, surrounded by water, on a river bank in Thailand. During this process, known as puddling, the sesiid ejected brown liquid, indicating that it was not imbibing water alone. The behaviour was documented via video recording. Morphological and DNA analyses indicate that the moth is a new genus and species of the tribe Osminiini and it is described herein as Aurantiosphecia piotrii genus et species nova. Two species of Aschistophleps Hampson, 1893 have been transferred to the newly established genus. The barcode sequence of the cytochrome c oxidase I gene was obtained with universal invertebrate primers after two sets of standard Lepidoptera primers failed to generate a product. Sections on behaviour, conditions of occurrence and possible mimicry models are included. The unique colouration and body posture of A. piotrii suggest that it is a braconid wasp mimic, with the mimicry model potentially also being the sesiid’s parasitoid.

A pilot phylogeny study of Nemobiinae inferred from 18S, 28s and COI genes, with descriptions of two new genera and a new species from Hainan, China (Orthoptera: Grylloidea: Trigonidiidae)

The phylogenetic tree of Chinese Nemobiinae species was reconstructed based on one mitochondrial COI fragment and two nuclear ribosomal loci (18S and 28S). According to both of concatenated and coalescent trees, Dianemobius, Polionemobius and Pteronemobius (except P. jianfenglingensis Liu & Shi) were shown to be monophyletic with highly nodal supports. As to P. jianfenglingensis, it should be moved into a newly established genus, Giganemobius Shen & He gen. nov. In addition, a new mute species named as Qionemobius hsterus Shen & He gen. nov. & sp. nov. was reported. It differs from other genera by having six apical spurs on hind tibia, but lacking forewings. The type specimens are deposited in Museum of Biology, East China Normal University (ECNU).

Setaphyes elenae sp. nov., a new species of mud dragon (Kinorhyncha: Allomalorhagida) from Skagerrak (north-eastern Atlantic Ocean)

Meiofauna sampling in the proximity of Syd-Hällsö Island (Strömstad, Sweden) revealed a new species of Kinorhyncha from the Skagerrak. The species, Setaphyes elenae sp. nov., is distinguished from its congeners by the arrangement of the middorsal cuticular specializations (it has shortened, distally rounded middorsal processes on segments 1 and 9 and middorsal elevations throughout segments 2–8), as well as by the presence of paired laterodorsal setae on segments 3, 5, 7 and 9 and ventromedial setae on segments 3, 5 and 7 in both males and females. The finding of a new species from the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean, provides new valuable information for the recently established genus in the Allomalorhagida.