Gregarines (Apicomplexa: Eugregarinorida) parasitizing the cave cricket Troglophilus (Orthoptera: Raphidophoridae) in the Slovenian karst

The cave crickets Troglophilus neglectus Krauss, 1879 and T. cavicola (Kollar, 1833) originating from caves in Slovenia were surveyed for gregarines. Two gregarine species were identified. Gregarina troglophili (Golemansky & Lipa, 1991) occurred in both cave cricket species, T. cavicola being reported a new host species. Besides, a new species, Gregarina bernardae sp. n., in­fecting T. neglectus, was identified and described. The two spe­cies often infest the same T. neglectus individuals, but can be well distinguished upon the shape and morphometric indexes of both solitary gregarines and associations. The deutomerite in solitary gamonts of G. troglophili is orbicular to broadly el­liptoid, while in G. bernardae sp. n. it is oblong to dolioform. In associations, the primite deutomerite in G. troglophili is orbicu­lar to broadly elliptoid, while in G. bernardae sp. n. it is shal­lowly oblong to oblong. In contrast to broadly obovoid to finely obdeltoid satellite deutomerite in G. troglophili, it is narrowly dolioform or dolioform to narrowly obdeltoid in G. bernardae sp. n. Both species are new to the faunal list of Slovenia, and to the list of cave-dwelling species in the country. We direct the attention to the parasite diversity of cave-dwelling animals – a promising, but understudied topic that might considerably contribute to the diversity of the subterranean fauna.

Chromosomal and Molecular Diversity in the Simulium ornatum Group (Diptera: Simuliidae) in the Western Tian Shan Range of Central Asia

By any measure, such as abundance, species diversity or geographic range, the Simulium ornatum species group is one of the most successful Palearctic taxa of black flies. To explore potential diversity in this group in the Tian Shan range of Central Asia, we focused on Kyrgyzstan, in which three nominal morphospecies have been recorded. Among our samples, we morphologically identified S. mesasiaticum Rubtsov and a second possible species tentatively identified as S. ferganicum Rubtsov. By analyzing banding patterns of the larval polytene chromosomes, we discovered two fixed inversions, two sex-linked rearrangements, and 19 autosomal rearrangements, including supernumerary B chromosomes. The chromosomal data indicate minimal diversity of only one or two species across the surveyed area of nearly 50,000 km2. Mitochondrial DNA (CO1) sequences fell into three distinct clusters, possibly representing separate species. The chromosomal, molecular, and morphological data indicate that Kyrgyz populations are unique within the S. ornatum group, but the data sets are not entirely congruent. Thus, reconciling data sets and assigning existing names is tentative. Simulium mesasiaticum is linked with undifferentiated sex chromosomes, one of the three CO1 clades, and higher elevations, whereas S. ferganicum is tenuously associated with differentiated sex chromosomes, a separate CO1 clade, and lower elevations. These associations leave one Kyrgyz larva, which is in a third CO1 clade, unlinked to a formal species name. Our analyses also indicate that S. ornatum Meigen sensu stricto, contrary to previous reports, does not occur in Kyrgyzstan and should be deleted from the country’s faunal list.

A new country record of Raorchestes cangyuanensis Wu, Suwannapoom, Xu, Murphy & Che 2019 and additional record of Kurixalus yangi Yu, Hui, Rao & Yang 2018 (Anura: Rhacophoridae: Rhacophorinae) from India

Most studies on the diversity of amphibians in northeast India were based on classical morpho-taxonomy, which have a high probability of errors in species identification. DNA barcoding of amphibians using the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene has been used successfully for the identification of species and detection of cryptic species. In the present study, we carry out DNA barcoding of two rhacophorid species of the genus Raorchestes and Kurixalus that are not readily identifiable to the species level based on their morphology. Our analysis on the 16S rRNA gene revealed that these species were Raorchestes cangyuanensis and Kurixalus yangi, species which were recorded for the first time and second time from India respectively. We discuss on the records of R. longchuanensis from Bangladesh and India, which were based on the misidentification of R. cangyuanensis. We therefore propose to delist this species from the faunal list of Bangladesh and India. We further raise a question as to why the population of Kurixalus from Motuo, Xizang province of China was assigned as K. naso and not the population described as K. yangi, which is morphologically similar to K. naso and is also recorded from a locality close to the type locality of K. naso.

An annotated list of the genus Chlaenius Bonelli, 1810 (Coleoptera: Carabidae) of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China

An annotated list of 14 species of the genus Chlaenius Bonelli, 1810 of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China and adjacent regions is given. Five taxa are newly recorded from China: Ch. (Chlaeniellus) melampus Ménétriés, 1849, Ch. (Ch.) tenui-limbatus Ballion, 1871, Ch. (Achlaenius) tristis tristis (Schaller, 1783), Ch. (Trichochlaenius) steveni (Quensel, 1806), and Ch. (Epomis) circumscriptus (Duft-schmid, 1812). One species, Ch. (s. str.) pallipes (Gebler, 1823), is excluded from the faunal list of Xinjiang, and one species, Ch. (Ch.) nigricornis (Fabricius, 1787), is presumably included in the list. Ch. (Ch.) chrysothorax Krynitzky, 1832 is considered as distinct species, not as subspecies of Ch. kindermanni Chaudoir, 1856. A new synonymy is established: Chlaenius chrysothorax Krynitzky, 1832 = Chlaenius chloodes Andrewes, 1935, syn. n. Chlaenius tristis is trans¬ferred to the subgenus Achlaenius Mandl, 1992 from the subgenus Chlaeniellus Reitter, 1908 on the base of structure of the apical gonocoxite. The re-description of the poorly known Ch. (Chlaeniellus) semenowi Tschitschérine, 1896 is given; its type locality is clarified. The similarity of Ch. (Trichochlaenius) steveni with Ch. (Eochlaenius) suvorovi (Semenov, 1912) is shown based on the structure of the apical gonocoxite. A key to species of the genus Chlaenius from Xinjiang is compiled.

The cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadoidea: Cicadidae) of Madagascar including a new tribe, five new genera, twelve new species, four new species synonymies, five revised species status, ten new combinations, new tribal assignments for four genera, one new subtribe synonymy, a checklist and key to the species

The known cicada fauna of Madagascar is identified. Yanga mahajangaensis n. sp., Nelbroma betrokaensis n. gen., n. sp., Trismarcha parva n. sp., Abroma bezamahafalyensis n. sp., Abroma falcata n. sp., Timbaltransversa pronotosigillata n. gen., n. sp., Malagasia argentea n. sp., Malagasia italivianaensis n. sp., Malagasia rubrastragala n. sp., Deremeces andringitraensis n. gen., n. sp., Malgachialna rubracosta n. sp., and Cephalalna tulearensis n. sp. are described as new. The genera Mouldspsaltria n. gen., and Orientafroinsularis n. gen. are described as new with the reassignment of Mouldspsaltria madegassa (Boulard, 1996) n. comb., Orientafroinsularis elenae n. comb., rev. stat., Orientafroinsularis hova (Distant, 1905b) n. comb., Orientafroinsularis loici (Boulard, 2000) n. comb., Orientafroinsularis martini (Distant, 1905b) n. comb., Orientafroinsularis matilei (Boulard, 2000) n. comb., Orientafroinsularis nigrans (Distant, 1904) n. comb., Orientafroinsularis pulverulenta (Distant, 1905b) n. comb., Orientafroinsularis seychellica (Dmitriev, 2020) n. comb., rev. stat., and Orientafroinsularis seychellensis (Boulard, 1999) n. comb., rev. stat. to these new genera. Yanga argyrea (Melichar, 1896) rev. stat. is removed from subspecies status of Yanga pulverea (Distant, 1882) and returned to species rank. Antankaria pulverulenta madegassa Boulard, 1999 n. syn. and Chremistica pulverulenta madagascariensis Boulard, 2001 n. syn. are considered synonyms of Orientafroinsularis pulverulenta (Distant, 1905b) n. comb. eliminating the potential homonym based on “madagascariensis”. Antankaria pulverulenta seychellensis Boulard, 1999 and Chremistica pulverulenta seychellensis Boulard, 2001 n. syn. are considered synonyms, elevated to species rank and reassigned to the new genus to become Orientafroinsularis seychellensis (Boulard, 1999) n. comb., rev. stat. Chremistica elenae elenae Boulard, 2001 rev. stat. is shown to be a synonym of Chremistica elenae madagascariensis Boulard, 2001 n. syn. and is a distinct species from Chremistica elenae seychellica Dmitriev, 2020 rev. stat. with both elevated to species rank and transferred to the new genus to become Orientafroinsularis elenae (Boulard, 2001) n. comb., rev. stat. and Orientafroinsularis seychellica (Dmitriev, 2020) n. comb., rev. stat. Antankariini n. tribe is formed for former Malagasy members of the Cryptotympanini Handlirsch, 1925. Four genera are reassigned to Malagasiini Moulds & Marshall, 2018, Anopercalna Boulard, 2008 from Taphurini Distant, 1905d, Cephalalna Boulard, 2006a from Chlorocystini Distant, 1905c, Malgotilia Boulard, 1980b from Parnisini Distant, 1905c and Viettealna Boulard, 1980a from Lamotialnini Boulard, 1976. There are no remaining members of Chlorocystini or Taphurini in Madagascar after the generic reassignments and these tribes are removed from the Madagascar fauna. Anopercalnina Boulard, 2008 n. syn. is made a junior synonym to Malagasiini Moulds & Marshall, 2018. An updated faunal list is provided to summarize recent changes to the assignment of taxa. The currently known cicada fauna of Madagascar is comprised of 65 species from 25 genera, eight tribes and three subfamilies.

The fauna of caves and other subter-ranean habitats of North Carolina, USA

Over 1,500 caves have been documented in North Carolina, however, cave fauna in the Blue Ridge Mountains and Piedmont regions of North Carolina have been overlooked historically compared to the cave-rich karst terrains in the Appalachian Valley and Ridge and Interior Low Plateau to the west. Here, we provide the first comprehensive faunal list of caves and other subterranean habitats in the state based on over 40 years of periodic surveys and compilation of literature, biodiversity databases, and museum records. We report 475 occurrences from 127 caves, springs, and wells in 29 counties, representing 5 phyla, 17 classes, 43 orders, 90 families, 124 genera, and at least 164 species. Vertebrate fauna comprised 32 species, including 4 fishes, 9 salamanders, 1 lizard, 4 snakes, 2 birds, and 12 mammals (8 bats). Diverse invertebrate groups included spiders (11 families and 18 genera), springtails (7 families and 9 genera), segmented worms (3 families and 8 genera), and snails (6 families and 9 genera). At least 25 taxa are troglobites/stygobites (cave obligates), including 5 species of cave flatworms, 5 cave springtails, and 5 cave amphipods. Most troglobitic/stygobitic fauna documented in this study are endemic to North Carolina. Counties with the greatest cave biodiversity include Rutherford, McDowell, Swain, Henderson, Polk, and Avery counties. Over 20 species documented are of conservation concern, including 14 troglobites and 3 federally-listed bats. Although not as diverse as adjacent states, caves and other subterranean habitats in North Carolina support a diverse community of invertebrates and vertebrates. Our review serves as a base line for future cave biological surveys in the state and highlights the importance of subterranean habitats for North Carolina biodiversity.

Diversity of minute tree-fungus beetles (Coleoptera: Ciidae) of primeval and managed beech forest of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve

The study of factors that affect to the biodiversity of forest insects has not lost its relevance for several decades. As obligate fungicolous, minute tree-fungus beetles (Coleoptera, Ciidae) are one of the main destructors of saproxylic fungi. Since primeval forests are characterized by different age of tree stands and a large volume of dead wood of different stages of decomposition – the number of saproxylic fungi, and, as a consequence, minute tree-fungus beetles, show a high variety. In managed forests, selective felling and removal of dead wood is carried out, which leads to the loss of habitats and, as a consequence, to the impoverishment of the biodiversity of minute tree-fungus beetles. The fauna of minute tree-fungus beetles of primeval beech forest of the Uholsky massif of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve and managed 150-year-old beech forest from adjacent territories has been studied. According to the literature, at the beginning of our research the fauna of Ciidae were consisted 34 species of fauna of the Ukrainian Carpathians, and 11 species were known for the beech primeval forests of the Uholka Shyrokyi Luh preservation massif of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve (CBR). The material was collected with the combined window-type traps (polytrap) during the growing season 2017-2018. In general, 3302 specimens of minute tree-fungus beetles, belonging to 31 species from 8 genera, were collected and identified. For the first time for the region of the Ukrainian Carpathians were indicated such species: Cis rugulosus Mellie, 1848, Cis striatulus Mellie, 1848, Ennearthron pruinosulum (Perris in Abeille, 1864) and Rhopalodontus strandi Lohse, 1969. Taking into account our research and literature data, the faunal list of minute tree-fungus beetles for the Ukrainian Carpathians include 38 species. The species richness of beech primeval and 150-year-old managed forest is close in value, and the relative density of individuals in primeval forest is three times higher than its value in managed forest. Thus, 30 species from 8 genera (2442 individuals) have been identified for primeval beech; for managed beech forest – 28 species from 8 genera (860 specimens of minute tree-fungus beetles). Primeval beech forests are an important center for the diversity of minute tree-fungus beetles, because of the 38 species known from the Ukrainian Carpathians, 31 species have been registered in the Uholsky massif of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve.

The cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) of Suriname including the description of two new species, five new combinations, and three new records

The known cicada fauna of Suriname is identified. Zammara guyanensis n. sp., and Proarna proximorubrovenosa n. sp. are described as new. The taxa Zammara eximia Erichson, 1848, Cicada thalassina Germar, 1830, Cicadetta surinamensis (Kirkaldy, 1909), Cicada collaris Degeer, 1773 and Cicada melanoptera Gmelin, 1789 (=Cicada marginata Degeer, 1773) are reassigned to become Zammaralna eximia (Erichson, 1848) n. comb., Hyantia thalassina (Germar, 1830) n. comb., Taphura surinamensis (Kirkaldy, 1909) n. comb., Alocha collaris (Degeer, 1773) n. comb. (Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae: Cicadellini), and Homalodisca melaoptera (Gmelin, 1789) n. comb. (Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae: Proconiini), respectively. The first records of Fidicina christinae Boulard & Martinelli, 1996, Guyalna bicolor (Olivier, 1790), and Majeorona truncata Goding, 1925 are provided. Included are the first Suriname records for the genera Guyalna Boulard & Martinelli, 1996, Majeorona Distant, 1905c, and Hyantia Stål, 1866. The taxon Neotibicen tibicen tibicen (Linnaeus, 1758) is removed from the fauna of Suriname with references to this taxon considered misidentifications of Fidicina mannifera (Fabricius, 1803). Cicada collaris Degeer, 1773, and Cicada melanoptera Gmelin, 1789 (=Cicada marginata Degeer, 1773) are reassigned to the Cicadellidae and also removed from the cicada faunal list. The currently known cicada fauna of Suriname is comprised of 15 species from nine genera, three tribes and two subfamilies. The known cicada fauna diversity is increased 50% with this work.

Early Miocene marsupialiforms, gymnures, and hedgehogs from Ribesalbes-Alcora Basin (Spain)

Materials from the localities of Araia d'Alcora in the Ribesalbes-Alcora Basin (Spain, early Miocene, Biozone C, MN4) have yielded an assemblage of erinaceids and metatherians, relatively rich for an Iberian site. The most common erinaceid is the gymnure Galerix symeonidisi Doukas, 1986, present in almost all of the studied sites. Other erinaceids in the faunal list are possibly an indeterminate species of the genera Lantanotherium Filhol, 1888 and Atelerix Pomel, 1848, in what constitutes one of their oldest occurrences in Europe. Metatherians are represented by the herpetotheriid Amphiperatherium frequens erkertshofense (Koenigswald, 1970). The material described here was partially published by Furió and colleagues in 2012. We complete it with new material from the known localities and with material from new sites. We describe for the first time the lower dentition of this taxon in this basin, thus increasing knowledge of the high variability of its decidual molars. In addition, the climatic preferences of the species A. frequens (von Meyer, 1846), which was probably less strict in its humidity requirements than previously thought, are also discussed.

New Coleoptera records from eastern Canada, with additions to the fauna of Manitoba, British Columbia, and Yukon Territory

One-hundred-eleven new provincial and territorial Coleoptera records are reported from New Brunswick (64), Nova Scotia (20), Prince Edward Island (5), Quebec (14), Manitoba (3), British Columbia (3), and Yukon Territory (2) for the 26 following families: Carabidae, Dytiscidae, Histeridae, Staphylinidae, Scarabaeidae, Buprestidae, Eucnemidae, Elateridae, Cantharidae, Erotylidae, Monotomidae, Cryptophagidae, Passandridae (first record of this family from New Brunswick), Laemophloeidae, Nitidulidae, Anamorphidae, Coccinellidae, Latridiidae, Mordellidae, Tenebrionidae, Cerambycidae, Chrysomelidae, Anthribidae, Brentidae, Dryophthoridae, and Curculionidae. Among these are ten new Canadian records: Heterosternuta oppositus (Say, 1823) (Dytiscidae) (New Brunswick), Gyrophaena blatchleyi Seevers, 1951 (Staphylinidae) (Quebec), Acropteroxys lecontei Crotch, 1873 (Erotylidae) (Manitoba), Placonotus falinorum Thomas, 2011 (Laemophloeidae) (Quebec), Adelina pallida (Say, 1824) (Tenebrionidae) (Quebec), Poecilocera harrisii (J.L. LeConte, 1851) (Chrysomelidae) (New Brunswick), Plesiobaris albilata (LeConte, 1876) (Curculionidae) (Quebec, New Brunswick), Pseudopityophthorus asperulus (LeConte, 1868) (Curculionidae) (Nova Scotia), Hylurgops palliatus (Gyllenhal, 1813) (Curculionidae) (New Brunswick), and Heteroborips seriatus (Blandford, 1894) (Curculionidae) (Nova Scotia). Plesiobaris disjuncta Casey reported as new for Canada in New Brunswick and Quebec by Webster et al. (2012a) is actually P. albilata (LeConte) and thus P. disjuncta is removed from the faunal list of Canada. Eleven species from New Brunswick not previously reported in literature were found on the online platforms BugGuide.Net and iNaturalist and are reported in this publication. This highlights the importance of online platforms dedicated to recording wildlife observations and citizen science in detecting new species records. Data is also presented for seven species from Quebec and two species from New Brunswick reported by Bousquet et al. (2013) without any supporting information for their occurrence in these provinces. Among the species reported here, 32 are adventive.