Revision of the Exechia parva group (Diptera: Mycetophilidae)

Exechia is a diverse genus of small fungus gnats, widespread in the Holarctic Region, while the fauna is largely unknown elsewhere, such as in the Afrotropical and Oriental Region. Members of Exechia can be arranged into several species groups, based on homologies in the male and female terminalia. The Exechia parva group is delimited, based on male terminalia possessing a pair of gonocoxal lobes on the apicoventral gonocoxal margin. Eight previously-described species can be placed in this group, of which six are from the Holarctic Region, while one is recorded each from the Oriental and the Afrotropical Regions. The Exechia parva group was reviewed and found to include 33 species, of which 24 were described as new to science and six were re-described. Identification keys to 32 species for males and nine species for females are provided together with illustrations and photos of male and female terminalia. Species delimitations were based on morphological examination of 94 male and female specimens, as well as DNA barcodes obtained from 124 specimens. Molecular and morphological species delimitations were mostly congruent, except in two cases where two species were delimited within a single Barcode Index Number (BIN). We found that each species is only known from a single zoogeographical region and that several species complexes are largely congruent with zoogeographical divisions, indicating that intercontinental barriers may have a strong impact on the species diversity of the group.

First record of the cimicomorphan family Plokiophilidae (Hemiptera, Heteroptera) from China, with description of a new species of Plokiophiloides

Plokiophiloides bannaensissp. nov., is described from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, representing the first record of the family Plokiophilidae from China. The new species also represents the first record of the genus Plokiophiloides in the Oriental Region, a second zoogeographical region besides the Afrotropical Region. Photographs of the live individuals inhabiting a spider web within natural habitats, male and female habitus, wings of adult, male genitalic structures, female abdomen structures and scanning electron micrographs of forewing, head, thorax and legs are provided. A key to all known species of Plokiophiloides is presented, with a distribution map.

A subjective global checklist of the extant non-marine Ostracoda (Crustacea)

We present an updated, subjective list of the extant, non-marine ostracod genera and species of the world, with their distributions in the major zoogeographical regions, as well as a list of the genera in their present hierarchical taxonomic positions. The list includes all taxa described and taxonomic alterations made up to 1 July 2018. Taxonomic changes include 17 new combinations, 5 new names, 1 emended specific name and 11 new synonymies (1 tribe, 4 genera, 6 species). Taking into account the recognized synonymies, there are presently 2330 subjective species of non-marine ostracods in 270 genera. The most diverse family in non-marine habitats is the Cyprididae, comprising 43.2% of all species, followed by the Candonidae (29.0%), Entocytheridae (9.1%) and the Limnocytheridae (7.0%). An additional 13 families comprise the remaining 11.8% of described species. The Palaearctic zoogeographical region has the greatest number of described species (799), followed by the Afrotropical region with 453 species and the Nearctic region with 439 species. The Australasian and Neotropical regions each have 328 and 333 recorded species, respectively, while the Oriental region has 271. The vast majority of non-marine ostracods (89.8%) are endemic to one zoogeographical region, while only six species are found in six or more regions. We also present an additional list with ‘uncertain species’, which have neither been redescribed nor re-assessed since 1912, and which are excluded from the main list; a list of taxonomic changes presented in the present paper; a table with the number of species and % per family; and a table with numbers of new species described in the 20-year period between 1998 and 2017 per zoogeographical region. Two figures visualize the total number of species and endemic species per zoogeographical region, and the numbers of new species descriptions per decade for all families and the three largest families since 1770, respectively.

Taxonomy of the Tetramorium weitzeckeri species group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Afrotropical zoogeographical region

The taxonomy of the Tetramorium weitzeckeri species group is revised for the Afrotropical zoogeographic region. The revision is based on morphology and morphometrics of the worker caste. Twenty six species are recognised of which twelve are described as new: Tetramorium bendai sp. n., Tetramorium boltoni sp. n., Tetramorium intermedium sp. n., Tetramorium kakamega sp. n., Tetramorium mkomazi sp. n., Tetramorium philippwagneri sp. n., Tetramorium renae. n., Tetramorium robertsoni sp. n., Tetramorium rubrum sp. n., Tetramorium susannae sp. n., Tetramorium tanaense sp. n., and Tetramorium trirugosum sp. n.. Tetramorium akengense (Wheeler, W.M. 1922) is revived from synonymy and Tetramorium tersum Santschi, Tetramorium (Xiphomyrmex) kivuense Stitz, and Xiphmyrmex kivuense st. atrinodis Santschi are proposed as junior synonyms of Tetramorium edouardi Forel. All other earlier synonymisations are confirmed here. The species group is redefined and subdivided into three species complexes which are defined and discussed: the Tetramorium edouardi complex (9 species), the Tetramorium muralti complex (8 species), and the Tetramorium weitzeckeri complex (9 species). An illustrated identification key to the Afrotropical species is presented, and for each species diagnosis, description, and taxonomic discussion are provided. Biogeography and important morphological characters of diagnostic value are discussed.

Ticks (Acari: Ixodida) of the genus Haemaphysalis Koch, 1844 in Senegal: a review of host associations, chorology, and identification

The Haemaphysalis genus (Acari, Ixodidae) in Senegal is reviewed. This embodies a summary of specimens collected from vertebrate hosts over three decades. 454 collections were performed over this period (408 from mammals and 46 from birds), representing a total of 5752 ticks in different developmental stages. Seven Haemaphysalis spp. were collected, identified, and inventoried including: H. (Kaiseriana) rugosa, H. (Ornithophysalis) hoodi, H. (Rhipistoma) houyi, as well as four other species belonging to the leachi group, namely H. (Rhipistoma) leachi, H. (Rh.) moreli, H. (Rh.) muhsamae and H. (Rh.) spinulosa. Vertebrate hosts of Haemaphysalis species were identified and listed in different ecological zones of Senegal. An identification key of the haemaphysalids of Senegal is proposed, which is also applicable to the haemaphysalid fauna of the Occidental sub-region of the Afrotropical zoogeographical region. The role of these species as potential vectors of zoonotic diseases in Senegal is also discussed.

A taxonomic revision of the genus Sirthenea (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae) of the Old World

This paper presents a taxonomic revision of 28 described species of the genus Sirthenea Spinola, 1837 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Peiratinae) distributed in the Afrotropical, Oriental, Palearctic, Oceanian and Australian zoogeographical regions. The following new synonymies are proposed: Sirthenea africana Distant, 1903 = S. rapax Horváth, 1909, syn. nov. = S. leonina Horváth, 1909, syn. nov. = S. bequaerti Schouteden, 1913, syn. nov. = S. leontovitchi Schouteden, 1931, syn. nov.; Sirthenea picescens Reuter, 1887 = S. atrocyanea Horváth, 1909, syn. nov.; S. rodhaini Schouteden, 1913 = S. collarti Schouteden, 1931, syn. nov. = S. angolana Villiers, 1958, syn. nov.; S. flavipes (Stål, 1855) = S. clavata Miller, 1948, syn. nov. = S. bharati Sucheta & Chopra, 1988, syn. nov. = S. koreana Kerzhner & Lee, 1996 syn. nov. = S. melanota Cai & Lu, 1990, syn. nov. = S. nigripes Murugan & Livingstone, 1990, syn. nov.; S. obscura (Stål, 1866) = S. glabra (Walker, 1873), syn. nov. A neotype is designated for S. picescens Reuter, 1887. Three species, S. erythromelas (Walker 1873), S. fulvipennis (Walker, 1873) and S. sobria (Walker, 1873), are excluded from the genus Sirthenea. Two new species from the Oriental Region, S. kali sp. nov. (India) and S. setosa sp. nov. (Malaysia) are described. Identification keys are provided for the subgenera and species from each zoogeographical region treated. Drawings of dorsal habitus and genitalic structures, drawings and images of selected morphological characters, and distribution maps of all valid species are presented.

Molecular evidence for the assignment of the Cameroonian freshwater crab genus Louisea Cumberlidge, 1994, to the Afrotropical subfamily Potamonautinae Bott, 1970 (Crustacea: Potamoidea: Potamonautidae)

The family Potamonautidae Bott, 1970, currently comprises 19 genera assigned to two subfamilies (Potamonautinae Bott, 1970, and Deckeniinae Hilgendorf, 1869) based on morphological and molecular studies (Cumberlidge 1999; Daniels et al. 2006a, 2015; Cumberlidge et al. 2008; Cumberlidge & Ng 2009). All members of this family are endemic to the Afrotropical zoogeographical region that includes most of continental Africa plus the continental islands of Madagascar, the granitic Seychelles, Socotra, and the southern Arabian Peninsula. Seven genera from sub-Saharan Africa are presently assigned to Potamonautinae (see Cumberlidge et al. 2008; Daniels et al. 2015): Erimetopus Rathbun, 1894, Liberonautes Bott, 1955, Louisea Cumberlidge, 1994, Potamonautes Bott, 1970, Potamonemus Cumberlidge & Clark, 1992, Sudanonautes Bott, 1955, and Platythelphusa A. Milne-Edwards, 1887. Twelve genera from West and East Africa, Seychelles, and Madagascar are assigned to Deckeniinae (see Cumberlidge et al. 2008; Meyer et al. 2014; Daniels et al. 2015): Deckenia Hilgendorf, 1869, Seychellum Ng, Števčić & Pretzmann, 1995, Globonautes Bott, 1959, Afrithelphusa Bott, 1969, Boreas Cumberlidge & Sternberg, 2002, Foza Reed & Cumberlidge, 2006a, Hydrothelphusa A. Milne-Edwards, 1872, Madagapotamon Bott, 1965, Malagasya Cumberlidge & Sternberg, 2002, Marojejy Cumberlidge, Boyko & Harvey, 2000, Skelosophusa Ng & Takeda, 1994, and Glabrithelphusa Meyer, Cumberlidge & Koppin, 2014.

Taxonomic identity of invasive rabbits in Cuba: first record of Eastern Cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus (Mammalia: Lagomorpha)

In islands of the West Indian zoogeographical region, rabbits are not native, and wild populations are the result of introductions. Oryctolagus cuniculus is the only lagomorph listed among the introduced mammals of the Cuban archipelago. We analyzed specimens of wild rabbits and we report the occurrence of Sylvilagus floridanus for the first time in Cuba. Capture data suggest that their distribution is currently limited to the west-central region of the island. However, the niche models showed high climatic suitability throughout the majority of Cuba, suggesting a high expansion probability.

Some additions to the mealybug fauna (Homoptera: Coccinea: Pseudococcidae) of the Canary Islands

Five species of mealybug (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) were found to be new for the Canary Islands and more widely – for Macaronesia or for the whole Hesperian (Mediterranean-Macaronesian) zoogeographical region. In addition one species, Phenacoccus guanchorum sp. nov., is described and illustrated as new for science.

The roles of environmental factors on reptile richness in Iran

Iran is usually considered as a bridge between Oriental and African zoogeographical region, and also the 20th global biodiversity hotspot. Herpetofauna of the Iranian Plateau has a high diversity compared to other areas in the region and has always been interesting for herpetologists in terms of biogeography, ecology and zoogeography. In this study, distribution maps of 215 terrestrial reptilian species (of which 50 were endemic to Iran) were digitized and the species richness patterns were correlated with 13 environmental factors using spatial analyses methods. Our results showed that the hotspot regions for all reptilian species are concentrated on south and southwest of Iran. This result is consistent with the Irano-Anatolian biodiversity hotspot. Based on spatial analyses, species richness in the area is affected by seven environmental variables which are associated with temperature and probably interpreted as the most important factor on reptile richness in Iran.