Anoplocaryum: A newly recorded genus of Boraginaceae from China

Anoplocaryum (Boraginaceae), a small genus previously known from Russia and Mongolia, is newly recorded from China. The specimen was discovered in the rock crevices of Zhangjiakou City, Hebei province, China, and was identified as A. helenae Volot. based on both morphological and molecular data. This study updates our knowledge on the geographic distribution of the genus Anoplocaryum. Two taxonomic keys were provided to distinguish Anoplocaryum and Chinese related genera, also to index taxa in Anoplocaryum.

New species of Andropromachus (Phasmatodea: Lonchodidae: Necrosciinae: Necrosciini) from Yunnan Province, China

The genus Andropromachus (Lonchodidae: Necrosciinae: Necrosciini) is a small genus of stick insects including four species with a distribution in northern Vietnam and south-western China. A new species of stick insects Andropromachus gulinqingensis sp. n. is described from Yunnan Province of China. Diagnostic characters of the new species are illustrated and an identification key to male and female Andropromachus is provided along with a checklist for all described species.

Redescription of Minosiella intermedia Denis, 1958 (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) withfirst description of the male

Minosiella Dalmas, 1921 is a small genus of Gnaphosinae spiders comprising only six species known from western Palaearctic, ranging from Algeria to Afghanistan (Platnick, 2009). Males of this genus can be easily recognized thanks to strong cymbial spines (Figs 1–3, 9–11). Four species of Minosiella are known from both sexes, and two from females only. One of the latter, Minosiella intermedia Denis, 1958 was reported from Turkmenistan and from the Aral Sea (Ovtsharenko & Fet, 1980; Krivokhatski & Fet, 1982; Mikhailov, 1997). Although this species was reported several times from the former Soviet Union and not less than 450 specimens of M. intermedia have been collected in Karakum Desert (Krivokhatski & Fet, 1982), the male of this species was not described yet.

New species and records of the Neotropical genus Cyrnellus (Trichoptera: Polycentropodidae) and the re-establishment of C. minimus and C. marginalis

Cyrnellus is a small genus of Polycentropodidae distributed in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions, absent from the Chilean subregion. Two new species are here described: C. boliviensis sp. nov. and C. guyanensis sp. nov. Cyrnellus minimus Banks 1913 considered as a junior synonym of Cyrnellus fraternus (Banks 1905) by Flint (1971) and C. marginalis (Banks 1930) considered as a junior synonym of Cyrnellus fraternus by Flint (1964) are revalidated at the specific level. We provide a key and illustrations for adult males and nine new country records for Bolivia.

First record of Cnemidochroma phyllopus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in the province of Corrientes, Argentina and potential distribution in the southern part of South America

Cnemidochroma Schmidt, 1924, a small genus of the tribe Callichromatini endemic in South America, comprises six species of which the only one recorded in Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil is C. phyllopus (Guérin-Méneville, 1844). The aim of this study was to estimate potential suitable areas for C. phyllopus to provide further knowledge on its current distribution. A dataset of 43 records was compiled and species distribution modelling was employed linking these occurrences with bioclimatic variables. Results indicate higher suitability conditions along the Atlantic coast of Brazil, reaching north Uruguay and extending inland to Paraguay and northern parts of Argentina. In addition, we report a new distributional record from Corrientes, Argentina.

Discovery of Kribiodorum Kieffer (Diptera: Chironomidae) in the Neotropical region: a new species from Brazilian Amazon rainforest

Kribiodorum is a small genus of non-biting midges, currently composed of only five nominal species, one Nearctic, two African and two Oriental. The objective of this study is to provide the first report of this genus to the Neotropical region and to describe a new species, based on male and female from southern Amazonas state, Brazil. Kribiodorum amazonicum sp. n. is easily distinguished from the congeneric species by the color pattern of the wings and legs and by the morphology of the genitalia.

Six new braconid wasps of the genus Colastomion Baker, 1917 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Rogadinae) from Vietnam

The relatively small genus Colastomion Baker, 1917 is newly recorded for Vietnam’s braconid fauna and six new species are described and fully illustrated, viz. Colastomion asperum Long, sp. n; Colastomion cephonodes Long & PVLam, sp. n.; Colastomion citrum Long, sp. n.; Colastomion neuterum Long, sp. n.; Colastomion nigroconfusum Long & Pham, sp. n. and Colastomion vietnamenese Long, sp. n. Based on both females and males, a key to the new species from Vietnam is given. Diagnostic characters of the new species are also analyzed and compared with other Colastomion species from the Oriental region. Additionally, the first host record for the new species, C. cephonodes sp. n., is provided as this new species is reared from caterpillars of the coffee hawkmoth, Cephonodes hylas (Linnaeus, 1771).

Species Delimitation of Asteropyrum (Ranunculaceae) Based on Morphological, Molecular, and Ecological Variation

Objectively evaluating different lines of evidence within a formalized framework is the most efficient and theoretically grounded approach for defining robust species hypotheses. Asteropyrum Drumm. et Hutch. is a small genus of perennial herb containing two species, A. cavaleriei and A. peltatum. The distinction of these two species mainly lies in the shape and size of leaf blades. However, these characters have been considered labile and could not differentiate the two species reliably. In this study, we investigated the variation of the leaf blades of 28 populations across the whole range of Asteropyrum using the landmark-based geometric morphometrics (GMM), sought genetic gaps within this genus using DNA barcoding, phylogenetic reconstruction and population genetic methods, and compared the predicted ecological niches of the two species. The results showed that the leaf form (shape and size) was overlapped between the two species; barcode gap was not detected within the genus Asteropyrum; and little ecological and geographical differentiation was found between the two taxa. Two genetic clusters detected by population genetic analysis did not match the two morphospecies. The results suggest that there are no distinct boundaries between the two species of Asteropyrum in terms of morphology, genetics and ecology and this present classification should be abandoned. We anticipate that range-wide population genomic studies would properly delineate the species boundaries and help to understand the evolution and speciation within Asteropyrum.

Redefinition of Steriphodon Abeille de Perrin, 1895 (Coleoptera: Anthicidae), with a new species description, checklist, and key to species

Steriphodon Abeille de Perrin, 1895, a small genus of Eurygeniinae (Anthicidae) is reviewed. Critical morphology of the genus is reassessed and discussed. An annotated checklist, key to species and new records are provided. Steriphodon ottomerkli sp. nov. from the Balochistan Province, Pakistan is described and illustrated.