Five new Uropodina species from New Caledonia (Acari: Mesostigmata)

Five new species – Deraiophorus pinesensis sp. nov., Oplitis hallidayi sp. nov., Castriidinychus neocaledonicus sp. nov., Trigonuropoda neocaledonica sp. nov. and Trigonuropoda fendai sp. nov. – are described and illustrated on the basis of specimens collected in New Caledonia. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2F6876E3-948B-4EDC-93EF-4623033BD71E     

A new species of Exitomelita (Amphipoda: Melitidae) from a deep-water wood fall in the northern Norwegian Sea

The recently erected amphipod genus Exitomelita (Tandberg et al., 2012) has so far been found only associated with the deep-water hydrothermal vent field “Loki's Castle” in the Norwegian-Greenland Sea. There it was found on the black smoker chimney walls as well as within fields of the tubeworm Sclerolinum contortum in sulphide- and methane-rich sediments surrounding the vent field. A new species has now been found in a large wood fall of pine at 2800 m depth close to this vent field. This group of amphipods is apparently confined to reduced habitats, and our data support the theory that the vent fauna in this area is closely related to fauna found on cold seeps and wood falls in the northernmost Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. Here we present morphological and molecular data and a short discussion of the habitat of the new species, in addition to a comparison with the previously described species of Exitomelita.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2B0B3CC2-AB6A-4006-83BB-182280CB22B8     

Genus Pseudolepturges Gilmour (1957) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae): a new species from Bolivia,key to the species of the genus and first reports of a possible Pseudomyrmex ant mimic in longhorn beetles

A new species of Pseudolepturges from Bolivia is described and illustrated; a key to the species is also provided. Based on the similar body size, orange-yellowish colour, behaviour, and close co-occurrence on a Triplaris americana tree, we suggest that Pseudolepturges triplarinus sp. nov. is a mimic of the ant Pseudomyrmex triplarinus.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6DF38C64-6986-4A79-8D9A-645DA89149F2     

Two new species of the genus Pseudolaelaps Berlese, 1916 (Acari: Mesostigmata: Pseudolaelapidae) from Europe,with an updated key to known species

Pseudolaelaps calvescens sp. nov. and Pseudolaelaps schweizeri sp. nov. (Acari: Pseudolaelapidae) are described based on female specimens from leaf litter and soil of forest habitats in Italy (surroundings of Bergamo) and Switzerland (surroundings of Basel), respectively. The British specimens referred to Pseudolaelaps doderoi are revised, and considered to be a misidentification of P. schweizeri sp. nov. An identification key to known species of the genus Pseudolaelaps is provided.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:92F3907A-9C0A-4309-8D1E-BC5F3E7D937B     

The ninth brachypterous Onthophagus Latreille (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) of the world: a new species from Mexico

A new brachypterous species of Onthophagus from Mexico, belonging to the New World chevrolati species group, is described and illustrated. Illustrations of the male and female dorsal habitus, and genitalia are provided. The relationships with other brachypterous species that occur in Guerrero (Mexico) are discussed. Placement of the new species in the chevrolati group key is provided. Additionally, new locality records for O. inflaticollis Bates are provided.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:747118CE-6A93-401A-8625-5A75479980AD     

Integrative taxonomy of Thalerosphyrus Eaton, 1881 (Ephemeroptera,Heptageniidae) in Thailand

ABSTRACT

A comprehensive revision of the genus Thalerosphyrus in Thailand is assessed. Four species are recognised: T. flowersi, T. sinuosus, T. vietnamensis and one new species, Thalerosphyrus thailandensis sp. nov., which is described here. A morphological comparison of the described species is provided. A Maximum Likelihood (ML) consensus tree based on 658 bp of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene of five species was performed. Uncorrected p-distances strongly support the identity of these species, originally based on morphology, and show differences of 8.4–29.8% between species and 1.4–6.3% within species.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:850FB31C-2B6A-4AB2-92D5-3413B193F196     

Colonial ascidians from the Foveaux Strait region of New Zealand

Colonial ascidians collected from wharf piles and natural substrata from Bluff Harbour and Stewart Island in the South Island of New Zealand are described in this paper. Two species, Lissoclinum violaceum sp. nov. and Didemnum marineae sp. nov. are new to science and described for the first time. The ascidian fauna in this region is a mixed assemblage of southern species, species with a New Zealand-wide distribution, and two species with trans-Tasman affinities.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:37DC0D4B-8FB9-4F1D-A5A0-E9CAB3203447     

A taxonomic review of the genus Gibbotettix with description of one new species (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae)

During an investigation of species diversity in the Lengshuihe Nature Preserve, Jinsha County, Guizhou Province, China, in August of 2015, a new species of the rare genus Gibbotettix was discovered. Gibbotettix vallis Zha and Wen sp. nov. is introduced, described and photographed, and compared with other species. A taxonomic review of the genus Gibbotettix is provided and a key to all known species of the genus is given.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:74D8DCB9-A31E-4E4D-A2E8-692A54A81317     

New species of Streblosoma (Thelepodidae,Annelida) from the Mediterranean Sea: S. pseudocomatus sp. nov., S. nogueirai sp. nov. and S. hutchingsae sp. nov.

ABSTRACT

In the framework of faunistic research conducted along the Apulian coast of Italy, three new species of thelepodid polychaetes are reported: Streblosoma pseudocomatus sp. nov., S. nogueirai sp. nov. and S. hutchingsae sp. nov. The taxonomic position of S. comatus is clarified and emended as Thelepus comatus. The described species are characterised by their C-shaped arrangement of uncini. The species are compared with their closest congeners and a synoptic table is provided for the species of Streblosma with C-shaped tori.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7AE78305-6949-46F3-B61A-D93792038F7A

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:03051972-0F29-4256-8804-93DB75081777

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:9BCE7F71-81DD-43FE-8C95-DD7A572B9973

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:BEC2919B-4CAD-4314-B829-79E02C5D53A3     

Two new earthworm species from Belize (Oligochaeta: Acanthodrilidae)

In 2001 the Soil Biodiversity Group of the Natural History Museum, London collected Oligochaeta material from bromeliad epiphytes and litter samples in Belize. This material remained unidentified until being passed to the Annelida curator in 2010. Elaborating this material resulted in discovery of two earthworm species new to science Eutrigaster (Graffia) georgei sp. nov. and Kaxdrilus sherbutti sp. nov. belonging to the family Acanthodrilidae (Benhamiinae) and Acanthodrilidae (Acanthodrilinae) respectively. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6BEB9E5A-7D54-4E48-913D-EF76D7DACC16     

Pseudeburia,a New South American genus of longhorned beetle (Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae: Bothriospilini)

Based on the terminalia structures, the species Eburia albolineata Fisher 1944 is transferred from Eburiini (Cerambycoinia) to Bothriospilini (Trachyderoinia) in a new genus: Pseudeburia gen. nov.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1C803D54-8B84-4800-A91B-04F5EC8DBA8D     

Nesomyrmex micheleae,a new ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Dhofar Governorate,Oman, with a synoptic list,distribution map and key to the Arabian Nesomyrmex

ABSTRACT

A new species of the myrmicine ant genus Nesomyrmex Wheeler, 1910, N. micheleae Sharaf sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Oman based on the worker caste. The new species is a member of the N. angulatus species group and can be diagnosed by the golden yellow gaster that contrasts with the dark brown body; the irregular longitudinal rugulose sculpture on the cephalic surface; and the finely punctate mesonotum and propodeal dorsum. A synoptic species list, an updated key and a distribution map to the Arabian Nesomyrmex species are presented. Continued ant species discoveries are central to large-scale diversity patterns, conservation biology and macroecology.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FBCEACA7-E543-4B10-AB9D-D63319DCB31F http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1D2EC498-3B2E-43CD-A3C0-1C6C237471E2     

Four new species of the genus Synosis Townes (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) from the eastern Andes of Peru and key for the New World species

Synosis Townes is a widely distributed genus of the family Ichneumonidae; most species recorded occur in the Old World and only two were formerly known to occur in the New World. Herein we describe Synosis rubinus sp. nov., Synosis cosnipatensis sp. nov., Synosis gauldi sp. nov. and Synosis townesi sp. nov. collected in various Peruvian cloud forests. A generic diagnosis and a key to the species occurring in the New World is also presented. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8E5FA67F-F80A-4D78-8E5E-7CC8D6662396     

New species of gnaphosid spiders (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) from the Western Ghats of India

Three new species of the family Gnaphosidae are diagnosed and illustrated: Hitobia procula sp. nov. (only male), Synaphosus iunctus sp. nov. (only female) and Urozelotes patulusus sp. nov. (both male and female). The genera Hitobia and Synaphosus are recorded for the first time from India.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B0090C55-5C3A-4D8A-A543-EFE945F09332     

Aquatic insects in the forest canopy: a new genus of moth flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) developing in slime on aerial roots

Many hemiepiphytic plants secrete a thick layer of mucilage to limit desiccation and protect against fungal pathogens. With its stable moisture and protected location, this mucilage constitutes a potentially attractive microhabitat for small animals; however, until now, no animal species have been recorded from it. Larvae of a psychodid fly were collected from the mucilage of a hemiepiphytic Araceae in Braulio Carillo National Park, Costa Rica. Rearing of the larvae yielded specimens of pupae and one adult male described here as Mucomyia emersa Kvifte and Curler gen. nov. sp. nov. An additional species from Costa Rica, Mucomyia browni Kvifte sp. nov., is described based on adult males from the Zurquí de Moravia forest reserve. Mucomyia belongs to tribe Psychodini, which comprises both habitat generalists and specialists. The new species are morphologically similar to those in Philosepedon s. str. and Eurygarka, both of which are known to develop in snail carrion. It is premature to speculate about whether or not species in the new genus are restricted to hemiepiphyte mucilage.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:37CD136B-53D8-4D3E-A34A-3BE4859045E5     

The tetrigid genus Eucriotettix Hebard (Orthoptera: Scelimeninae) from China with description of two new species

Two new species of the tetrigid genus Eucriotettix Hebard from China, namely Eucriotettix tridentatus sp. nov. and Eucriotettix torulisinotus sp. nov. are described. The distribution and an updated key to the species of the genus from China is given.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E7E5EA3B-92ED-450F-9D1C-74569148D4F8     

A new species of Ameroseius Berlese from Brazil,redescriptions of Ameroseius plumosus (Oudemans) and Ameroseius plumigera (Oudemans) (Acari: Mesostigmata: Ameroseiidae) based on the examination of type material

Ameroseius Berlese is the most numerous genus of family Ameroseiidae Evans (in Hughes 1961). Species of this genus have been reported from many regions around the world. A few species of this genus are known from Brazil. Ameroseius mineiro Narita, Bernardi and Moraes, sp. nov. is described based on the morphology of adult females and males collected from guano in caves of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. This is the second Ameroseius species described from Brazil. The holotypes of Ameroseius plumosus (Oudemans) and Ameroseius plumigera (Oudemans) were examined, given their close similarity with the species described in this paper, and they are here redescribed. A key is provided to separate these and other most similar species. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:17A7D831-EC49-4D65-B06B-5E13EF52C696