Catalog of the horse-flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) of Chile

A catalog of the Tabanidae from Chile is provided. All valid names and synonyms for the 116 species and 25 genera known for the country including information about name, author, year of publication, page number, type species, type locality and references are listed. The species Dasybasis albohirta (Walker) is cited for the first time for Chile. The type locality of Dasybasis nigrifrons (Philippi) is corrected to Chile (Todos Los Santos Lake). The dates of the description of Tabanus nigrifrons Philippi (now Dasybasis), and Pangonia australis Philippi (now Pseudoscione) are corrected from their original description by Philippi; the original description dates for Tabanus andicola (now Dasybasis), and Tabanus magellanicus (now synonym junior of Dasybasis trita (Walker)) are corrected from 1865 to 1862. Three species previously recorded from Chile are deemed to have been misidentified or misrecorded from Chile: Esenbeckia (E.) cisandeana Wilkerson & Fairchild and Esenbeckia (E.) enderleini Kröber, and Esenbeckia (E.) testaceiventris (Macquart, 1848). The genus Dasybasis Macquart is the richest genus in Chile, with 33 species. Seven genera (Mycteromyia Philippi, Promycteromyia Coscarón & Philip, Archeomyotes Philip & Coscarón, Austromyans Philip & Coscarón, Chaetopalpus Philippi, Pseudomelpia Enderlein, and Sixtomyia Krolow, Henriques & González), three subgenera (Esenbeckia (Astomyia) Burger, E. (Palassomyia) Fairchild, and Protodasyapha (Protodasyapha) Enderlein), and 64 species are known only from Chile. There are also one subgenus (Protodasyapha (Curumyia) Coscarón), and 36 specie with distribution shared only between Chile and Argentina.

Nomenclator, geographic and stratigraphic distribution of the family Triphoridae (Mollusca: Gastropoda)

The microgastropod family Triphoridae is one of the five most diverse marine molluscan families. It likely hosts a few thousand species worldwide, but its taxonomy has long been considered challenging due to the high diversity and subtle morphological characters needed for species delimitation. Consequently, only a small portion of the species appears to be formally described to date. However, further taxonomic work should be based on robust knowledge on the numerous names introduced so far. In this perspective, we have here compiled a list of all published names that can be attributed to the fossil and extant Triphoridae. We list 958 species and 75 genus names, of which 771 are known as extant species and 146 as fossil species, 41 are known from both fossil and extant records. We provide information on type locality and horizon, type material, synonymy and homonymy. Importantly, based on the review of hundreds of publications, we provide a preliminary overview of the geographic and stratigraphic distribution.

Identity of Carex trichodes Steud. ex Boott and Carex lateriflora Phil. (subgen. Psyllophorae, sect. Junciformes, Cyperaceae) from Southern South America

The identity of Carex trichodes, a species only known from the collection of the type material made in 1854 is clarified after finding it in the wild in the vicinity of the type locality. It is concluded that C. trichodes was proposed based on stressed plants corresponding to the same taxon later described as C. lateriflora.

Phylogenetic position of Tropidophorus assamensis Annandale, 1912 with updated morphological data and distributional records

The poorly known northeastern water skink Tropidophorus assamensis is only known from the type locality (Harigaj Range, Sylhet District) in Bangladesh, and few localities in Assam and Mizoram States, north-eastern India. Little is known about the biology including the systematics of the species. In this study, we present for the first time, genetic data (16s rRNA) and inferred its phylogenetic position. In addition to this, we provide updated morphological data along with new distributional records of the species from Mizoram State of north-east India.

Faunal features of caddisflies (Insecta, Trichoptera) in Konavle region (Croatia) with notes on DNA barcoding and conservation biology

Throughout this research, 230 Trichoptera specimens were collected in the area of Konavle area, the southernmost region of Croatia. Altogether 21 species, 15 genera and 11 families were identified. DNA barcoding covered 41 specimens represented with 15 species collected in the Konavle region. The highest number of species was recorded at two localities: the spring of the River Ljuta (13) and a spring in the village Vodovađa (8). The highest number of taxa (4) was recorded within the following two families: Hydroptilidae and Hydropsychidae. From a faunistic point of view, the most interesting species in Konavle region are: Agapetus cf. kampos Oláh (the first record for Croatia), Hydroptila martini Marshall (the first record for the Mediterranean part of Croatia), Oxyethira falcata Morton (the first record for Croatia), Tinodes andrasi Oláh (type locality of the species is River Ljuta), Diplectrona cf. afra McLachlan (the first record from the Mediterranean part of Croatia) and Micropterna wageneri Malicky (the second record for Croatia). The first DNA barcoding data for the species Agapetus cf. kampos Oláh and Tinodes andrasi Oláh were entered into the BOLD database. The area of Konavle represents one of the most interesting regions for the fauna of Trichoptera and can be considered as a ”hotspot” for caddisflies in Croatia. Thus, it is necessary to install high standards for their protection.

Distributional range expansion of the parasitic wasp Lirata batesella (Westwood, 1874) (Hymenoptera, Eucharitidae)

This study is focused on the expansion of the distributional range of Lirata batesella (Westwood, 1874) (Hymenoptera, Eucharitidae) and based on a single female specimen deposited at Coleção Entomológica do Laboratório de Sistemática e Bioecologia de Predadores e Parasitoides of the Instituto Biológico, in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo state, Brazil. Santarém, in Pará state, Brazil, the type locality, is the only known distribution record for the species. Here, we provide a new distribution record for L. batesella, in Luiz Antônio, São Paulo state, about 2,200 km south of the type locality, which represents a significant increase in its distribution range. A map showing the geographical distribution of L. batesella based on the new record and literature is provided.

Seven new species of Rhynchobombyx Aurivillius, 1909 from Congolian lowland forests (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae)

Seven new species of the Afrotropic Lasiocampidae genus Rhynchobombyx are described and illustrated: Rh. gavinfilippone Prozorov, Saldaitis & Müller sp. n., Rh. avadomenicarocchio Prozorov, Saldaitis & Müller sp. n., Rh. julianjameseaton Prozorov, Saldaitis & Müller sp. n., Rh. anthonychristophereaton Prozorov, Saldaitis & Müller sp. n., Rh. nicolasroberteaton Prozorov, Saldaitis & Müller sp. n., Rh. arijakefriend Prozorov, Saldaitis & Müller sp. n., Rh. madisonellafriend Prozorov, Saldaitis & Müller sp. n. All species originate from the poorly studied Congolian lowland forests ecoregion of Congo and Democratic Republic of the Congo. Lectotype and paralectotype of Rh. nasuta Aurivillius, 1909 are designated here, the species type locality is specified.

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.

The definitive rediscovery of Telmatobius halli (Anura, Telmatobiidae) at its historic type locality and its synonymy with T. dankoi and T. vilamensis

Telmatobius halli was the first representative of its genus to be described exclusively for Chile, yet for 85 years no new individuals could be located due to the vagueness with which its type locality was described. The type series was collected by one of the members of the International High Altitude Expedition to Chile (IHAEC) of 1935. Recently, three studies successively claimed to have located the type locality in different places. The third study proved, according to the chronicles of the IHAEC, that the actual locality is Miño, at the origin of the Loa River, where currently there are no published records of Telmatobius. In this study, additional documentary antecedents and graphic material are provided that corroborate that Miño is indeed the type locality of T. halli. Additionally, the recently rediscovered Telmatobius population from Miño and the environment it inhabits are described. The external characteristics of the frogs are consistent with the description of T. halli. Furthermore, molecular phylogenetic analyses were performed that showed that T. halli, T. dankoi, and T. vilamensis, all known only from their type localities in Chile, comprise a clade without internal resolution. A detailed comparison of the diagnoses of the three species revealed that the few phenotypic differences between these taxa were based on characteristics that vary widely within and between populations of the genus, hence their conspecificity is proposed. The implications of this synonymy for the taxonomy, biogeography, and conservation of the Telmatobius from the extreme south of its distribution in Chile are discussed.