Tiger beetles of Romania (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Cicindelinae) in the Collections of “Grigore Antipa” National Museum of Natural History, Bucharest

The paper deals with eleven species and subspecies of tiger beetles of Romania. The specimens preserved in the collections of “Grigore Antipa” National Museum of Natural History were revised. Distribution maps based on the examined material are presented for each species.

The “Spaghetti Project”: the final identification guide to European Terebellidae (sensu lato) (Annelida, Terebelliformia)

This paper is the conclusion of the “Spaghetti Project” aiming to revise French species of Terebellidae sensu lato (s.l.) belonging to the five families: Polycirridae, Telothelepodidae, Terebellidae sensu stricto (s.s.), Thelepodidae and Trichobranchidae. During this project, 41 species were observed, 31 of them new for science: eight species of Polycirridae, eleven species of Terebellidae s.s., three species of Thelepodidae and nine species of Trichobranchidae. We provide a comprehensive key for all European species of terebellids with a focus on the important diagnostic characters for each family. Finally, we discuss issues on taxonomy, biodiversity and cryptic and pseudo-cryptic species of polychaetes in European waters, based on results obtained during this project.

New records of oribatid mites from Michoacán state, Mexico

Eleven species of oribatid mites are reported from Michoacán state, Mexico for the first time: Ceratozetidae: unidentified species of Adoribatella Woolley, 1967; Damaeidae: Belbodamaeus (Lanibelba) palaciosi (Iglesias & Guzmán, 2012); Eremobelbidae: Eremobelba piffli Mahunka, 1985; Microzetidae: Acaroceras (Acaroceras) similis Balogh, 1962; Nothridae: Nothrus anauniensis Canestrini & Fanzago, 1877; Oppiidae: unidentified species of Cheloppia Hammer, 1971; Oppiella (Oppiella) nova (Oudemans, 1902); Pseudoamerioppia barrancensis (Hammer, 1961); Ramusella (Insculptoppia) merimna (Balogh & Mahunka, 1977); Wallworkoppia cervifer (Mahunka, 1983); and Scheloribatidae: Scheloribates (Scheloribates) elegans Hammer, 1958. The genera Cheloppia and Adoribatella are reported for the first time from Mexico.

Revision of Indian species of Phanuromyia Dodd, 1914 (Platygastroidea, Scelionidae) with descriptions of new species

The species of the genus Phanuromyia Dodd, 1914, belonging to the subfamily Telenominae are egg parasitoids of planthoppers belonging to the families Issidae, Flatidae, Fulgoridae and Ricaniidae (Hemiptera: Fulguroidea). So far eleven species of Phanuromyia are known from India. Fifteen new species of Phanuromyia Dodd are described here: P. chalukyasp. nov., P. cherasp. nov., P. cholasp. nov., P. gangasp. nov., P. hoysalasp. nov., P. kadambasp. nov., P. kakatiyasp. nov., P. kanvasp. nov., P. nirvighnasp. nov., P. pallavasp. nov., P. pandyasp. nov., P. rashtrakutasp. nov., P. satavahanasp. nov., P. tuluvasp. nov. and P. vakatakasp. nov. A key to females of all the Indian species of Phanuromyia is provided.

A new species and a key to eleven species of the genus Conophyma Zubovsky, 1898 (Orthoptera, Acridoidea, Catantopidae, Conophyminae) from China

A new species and a key to eleven species of of the genus Conophyma Zobovsky, 1898 from China is described in this paper. The new species Conophyma lini sp. nov. is similar to C. xiai Zhang et al, 2015, but differs from latter by: vertex longer, apex narrower; minimum width of interspace 1.6 times length in mesosternum; posterior margin of epiproct waved, with angular projection in the middle, furculae small and width of Epiphallus 2.5 times high. Type specimens are deposited in the Northwest Plateau Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, Qinghai 810001, China.

Flesh fly (Diptera: Sarcophagidae): male terminalia, diversity and expanded geographical distribution from India

Despite its veterinary, medical and forensic importance, the biodiversity of sarcophagid flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) has remained poorly investigated in India. We have performed a survey of Sarcophagidae species in connection with a study conducted on Diptera, which exposed the flesh fly diversity in and around the campus of the University of Calicut, Kerala, India. The survey was conducted using traps baited with decomposing fish and chicken liver and by the sweeping method. Eleven species were collected, including four species recorded from this state for the first time, one of which is new to the Indian mainland and the second record after Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve. Male terminalia of Sinonipponia bengalensis, Parasarcophaga choudhuryi, Boettcherisca karnyi, and Boettcherisca nathani are illustrated. This result expands the knowledge on the geographical distribution and habitat occupancy of sarcophagid species as well as their forensic relevance and provides a background for future systematic investigations.

Integrative taxonomic revision of the New Caledonian endemic genus Taophila Heller (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Eumolpinae)

There are 96 endemic species of Eumolpinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) described from New Caledonia, but some estimates propose that the actual number could be at least twice this figure. Not surprisingly, when a particular species assemblage has been revised, the number of species in that group increases significantly. Here, we revise the New Caledonian endemic genus Taophila Heller, 1916, the best studied in this fauna and currently known to include eleven species, one in the subgenus Jolivetiana Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso, 2014, and ten in the nominal subgenus. The analysis of morphological differences in a large sample of Taophila and the validation of the resulting species hypotheses in an integrative fashion based on a phylogenetic analysis of partial mtDNA sequences (cox1 and rrnS) resulted in the addition of eleven more taxa. Taxonomic splits mainly reinterpreted the previous observation of mtDNA paraphyly affecting T. subsericea Heller, 1916, shown to represent a complex of species mostly distinguishable by diagnostic differences among females. The new species described are: T. bituberculata n. sp., T. carinata n. sp., T. dapportoi n. sp., T. davincii n. sp., T. draco n. sp., T. goa n. sp., T. hackae n. sp., T. samuelsoni n. sp., T. sideralis n. sp., T. taaluny n. sp. and T. wanati n. sp. These additions and the synonymy T. subsericea Heller = Stethotes mandjeliae Jolivet, Verma & Mille, 2010 n. syn., bring to 21 the total number of species in Taophila. Moreover, we also found the first evidence of mtDNA introgression between species of New Caledonian Eumolpinae, resulting from putative recent hybridization of T. subsericea and T. dapportoi where these species coexist. We describe a model incorporating the mtDNA genealogy of T. subsericea about the conditions that may have favored the secondary geographic encounter required for the hybridization of these species.

Integrated taxonomy supports the identification of some species of Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) from Georgia

The present study reports results of a survey carried out mostly on Citrus sp. and Rubus sp. in Georgia. Morphological and molecular (12S rRNA, COI and CytB mtDNA markers) data were analysed in a framework of integrative taxonomy. Eleven species were identified and among them seven are new for the Georgian fauna. Euseius stipulatus and Phytoseius finitimus were the most abundant species during this survey. We assume that Amblyseius eharai, only reported from eastern Asia, was most probably introduced. Neoseiulus californicus, retrieved from uncultivated vegetation, was almost certainly originating from commercial strains. DNA sequences comparisons disclosed phylogenetic closeness between Amblyseius andersoni and Transeius wainsteini, despite these species (i) being morphologically well differentiated and (ii) classified in different genera, thereby questioning the reliability of the genus Transeius. General morphological characters, including measurements, are provided for species for which diagnoses were doubtful.

Species list of ground-dwelling ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Nhecolândia, Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

This study provides a list of the ground-dwelling ant species in Nhecolândia, Pantanal, Mato Grosso Sul, Brazil. The Pantanal is the largest tropical wetland in the world and is currently under strong anthropic pressure. Ground-dwelling ants were collected in three sites: (1) a forest regeneration area; (2) a pasture area; and (3) an area of secondary native vegetation. In each site, 120 samples were collected using pitfall traps in the dry and rainy seasons of 2016. Additional samplings were performed with Winkler extractors (30 leaf-litter samples) and manually, also in dry and rainy seasons of 2016. In total, we collected 172 species, which, summed with the additional records from literature, raise the number of ant species recorded in Nhecolândia to 184 in 42 genera and nine subfamilies. Eleven species were recorded for the first time in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Also, the survey adds two new species records to Brazil. Besides contributing to the inventory of the ant species present in the Pantanal biome, the present study provides an important resource for future conservation plans for this threatened ecoregion.

Middle Permian ostracods (Crustacea) from the Guadalupe Mountains, West Texas, USA

Middle Permian (Guadalupian) ostracods are described from the Williams Ranch Member of the Cutoff Formation (Roadian) and the McKittrick Canyon Member of the Bell Canyon Formation (Capitanian) from two sections exposed in Culberson County, Guadalupe Mountains, West Texas. Their taxonomy is discussed and adds to the scientific understanding of marine ostracod biodiversity and palaeobiogeography during the Middle Permian. Ostracod assemblages are represented by 51 species of 26 genera and 15 families. Eleven species are newly described: Healdia mckittrickensis Crasquin sp. nov., Healdia cutoffella Crasquin sp. nov., Aurikirkbya guadalupensis Crasquin sp. nov., Hollinella (Hollinella) williamsranchensis Crasquin sp. nov., Geisina culbersonensis Crasquin sp. nov., Paraparchites pecosensis Crasquin sp. nov., Bairdia elcapitanensis Forel sp. nov., Ceratobairdia mescaleroella Forel sp. nov., Ceratobairdia sexagintaduella Forel sp. nov., Ceratobairdia pratti Forel sp. nov., and Denticupachydomella bellcanyonensis Forel sp. nov. The diagnosis of the genus Denticupachydomella is emended. The palaeobiogeographic distribution of the species is analyzed and exemplifies the taxon exchanges between Tethyan and Panthalassic localities in the Permian. The eastern margin of the Palaeo-Tethyan realm is shown to have played a major role in radiation of taxa in the Permian.