The Obs-Services and their potentials for biodiversity data assessments with a test of the current reliability of photo-identification of Coleoptera in the field

The current reliability of species identifications by the Nature Identification API (NIA) of the app ObsIdentify is tested with a Coleoptera (Insecta) sample set from Germany. Seventy-five photographic beetle records taken with a smartphone camera under “average user” conditions are analysed in terms of correctness of the app’s identification result on various taxonomic levels, the displayed confidence level of the identification and the time until validation of the results. More than 60% of samples were identified correctly at the species level, but only 53% were validated within a month. The mechanisms by which users can upload pictures of their observations to be identified by the artificial intelligence and the validation process by experts are briefly explained. Regional specifics and further opportunities for data usage as well as currently existing problems are discussed and improvements are suggested. The expert validation of records is identified as a huge quality advantage of the Obs-Services. They are generally found to be a promising tool for lay people and professional institutions, despite still existing deficiencies such as identification failure in mutilated specimens, cryptic and rare species, doubtful species rarity ratings as well as the still insufficient capacity of validation. Experts and institutions are encouraged to volunteer as validators and collaborators.

Chyromyidae from Cyprus with descriptions of new species of Aphaniosoma Becker (Diptera: Brachycera, Acalyptratae)

An account is given of the Chyromyidae (Diptera) of Cyprus. First records are given for 15 species in the genus Aphaniosoma Becker, one in Gymnochiromyia Hendel and three in Chyromya Robineau-Desvoidy. Two species are described as new to science: Aphaniosoma cypriense sp. n. and A. pteropus sp. n. The possible origin of this fauna and its affinity with that of neighbouring countries is discussed.

A new genus of Microveliinae from New Guinea, with a discussion of multiple independent occurrences of “dwarf males” in Veliidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera)

A new genus of Microveliinae from New Guinea, Shaverdinia gen. n., with two new species, S. shaverdella sp. n. (type species) and S. balkei sp. n., is described. Important characters are a long pronotum of the apterous morph, short tarsi bearing simple claws, a forewing without spots, with four closed cells and in males a long protibial grasping comb and a proctiger that bears an asymmetrical process on the right side. In addition, Shaverdinia gen. n. is characterized by a strong size dimorphism, males being much smaller than females. In New Guinea and Australia this character is shared by Phoreticovelia Polhemus & Polhemus, 2000, but this genus does not exhibit any of the aforementioned characteristics. Microvelia gestroi Kirkaldy, 1901 is discussed. A worldwide overview on size dimorphism in Veliidae is added.

Records of Anthicidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) from Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China, with new descriptions and records

New data on the Anthicidae (ant-like flower beetles) from Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region are presented. Three new species are described and illustrated, namely Anthicus (s. str.) lobanovi sp. n., Nitorus uyghur sp. n. and Stricticomus kucha sp. n. Anthicus laetus L.Medvedev, 1974 is redescribed. Four new regional records are presented.

An additional new species and records of Neoperla Needham, 1905 (Plecoptera, Perlidae) from the Philippines

We report a new species and new records of Neoperla species from the Philippines. Neoperla pangantihoni sp. n. from Palawan is described, and for the first time, a stonefly species, N. atropennis Banks, 1924, is recorded from Camiguin. We also provide supplementary descriptions for N. recta Banks, 1913, N. sabang Sivec & Stark, 2011, and N. salakot Sivec & Stark, 2011. Furthermore, these morphological diagnoses are coupled with COI barcodes analyzed using pairwise distances and a statistical haplotype network.

Additional records and new species of Hydraena Kugelann, 1794 (Insecta: Coleoptera: Hydraenidae) from Balabac and Palawan, Philippines

Three new species of the genus Hydraena Kugelann, 1794 of the Philippine Island of Palawan are described in detail, namely H. angelitofelipepunoi sp. n., H. buschietanni sp. n., and H. perpusilla sp. n., along with faunistic records of further species of the genus from previously unexplored areas of Balabac and Palawan. The genital characters of the new species are illustrated by digital line drawings. Photographs of their habitus and type localities are provided. The habitat conditions of their collection sites are assessed and implications of the usefulness of Hydraena species as monitoring organisms for the conservation of vulnerable habitats are briefly discussed. An updated checklist of the Hydraena of Greater Palawan is provided which now comprises 15 described species, of which 13 are endemic to this intra-Philippine island complex.

Functional Morphology of the Flight Apparatus of Ephemera vulgata (Ephemeroptera: Ephemeridae) and Implications for the Evolution of Flight in Insects

The mesothoracic flight apparatus of preserved and freshly killed specimens of Ephemera vulgata is examined in detail by means of functional morphological examinations. The basic drive mechanism of the forewing of Ephemera vulgata constitutes a four-bar kinematic chain, which encompasses the whole mesothorax. Based on this reassessment, the operating principles of the different subsystems of the flight apparatus of the mayfly were newly analysed. As in the Neoptera, the indirect dorsolongitudinal downstroke and dorsoventral upstroke muscles rotate the wing around an axis which runs through the main wing joint of the fulcrum. In contrast to the Neoptera, the wing is driven via the posterior notal wing process and fourth axillary. A strong direct subalar muscle is able to move the subalare (together with the pleural ridge) inwards and to affect the wingstroke via a bistable click mechanism in this unusual way. The axillary sclerites, two frontal first axillaries and one caudal fourth axillary, permit the radioanal plate to rotate forward–backward on the fulcrum. This motion system, which is superimposed on the kinematic chain mechanism, permits alterations of the wingstroke plane. A short muscle of the radioanal plate allows adjusting the passive pronation of the wing during the downstroke and achieving an increase of the aerodynamical angle of attack. The step-by-step derivability of basal flight mechanisms of the main groups of Pterygota indicates a paranotal origin of the wings. The possibility that the Ephemeroptera and Neoptera constitute sister groups is discussed.