Molecular phylogeny of fungus gnats (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) revisited: position of Manotinae,Metanepsiini, and other enigmatic taxa as inferred from multigene analysis

The phylogeny of selected genera from four subfamilies of fungus gnats (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) – Manotinae, Leiinae, Sciophilinae and Gnoristinae (including Metanepsiini) – is reconstructed based on the combined analysis of five mitochondrial (12S, 16S, COI, COII, cytB) and two nuclear (28S, ITS2) gene markers. Results of the different analyses all support Manotinae as a monophyletic group, with Leiinae as the sister group. Allactoneura DeMeijere is nested in the monophyletic and strongly supported clade of Leiinae. The tribe Metanepsiini is revealed as paraphyletic and the genera Metanepsia Edwards and Chalastonepsia Søli do not appear to be closely related. The genera Docosia Winnertz, Ectrepesthoneura Enderlein, Novakia Strobl and Syntemna Winnertz were placed with a group of genera included traditionally in the Gnoristinae. The monophyly of Dziedzickia Johannsen and Phthinia Winnertz is not supported. The genera of Sciophilinae (excluding Paratinia Mik but including Eudicrana Loew) form a monophyletic group in the Bayesian model.     

Updated checklist of the mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of Belgium

Most information about the systematics and bioecology of Belgian mosquitoes dates back from before 1950, and only scattered information was produced during the last decades. In this paper we review and update the list of mosquito species recorded in Belgium, from first report (1908) to 2015. Six genera and 31 species were recorded so far, including 28 autochthonous species and three invasive alien species recently recorded in Belgium: Aedes albopictus (Skuse 1894), Ae. japonicus japonicus (Theobald 1901), and Ae. koreicus (Edwards 1917). The six genera are Anopheles (five species), Aedes (sixteen species), Coquillettidia (one species), Culex (four species), Culiseta (four species), and Orthopodomyia (one species).     

Towards a natural classification of the subtribe Philonthina (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylinini): a phylogenetic analysis of the Neotropical genera

Philonthina, the largest subtribe of the rove beetle tribe Staphylinini, is a hyperdiverse group in the Neotropical Region, accounting for about half of the genera of the subtribe. Despite such diversity, Neotropical Philonthina have never been analysed phylogenetically, deterring formulation of a modern classification of the Staphylinini. A cladistic analysis of Neotropical Philonthina was performed based on 110 morphological characters and 77 terminal taxa. Representatives of Philonthina from other regions and other main lineages of Staphylinini, Arrowinini and Platyprosopini were included to test their relationships with Neotropical Philonthina. The major results are the monophyly of 11 of the 17 endemic Neotropical genera of Philonthina, the placement of Holisus Erichson (Hyptiomina) into this clade showing a sister group relationship to myrmecophile genera, and the position of Erichsonius Fauvel outside of Philonthina within Staphylinini. Six of the current seven species of Endeius Coiffait & Sáiz group with Neotropical species of Philonthus Stephens. The separation of Gondwana about 65 my and major landscape modifications in the vast interior of northern South America during the past 25 my is proposed to explain the evolution of the endemic Neotropical genera of Philonthina. The following taxonomic changes are proposed: Erichsonius Fauvel, 1874 now placed as incertae sedis in Staphylinini; Endeius Coiffait & Sáiz, 1968, n.syn. of Philonthus Stephens, 1929 and Endeius nitidipennis (Solier, 1849) placed as incertae sedis in Philonthina. The following new combinations are proposed: Philonthus franzi (Sáiz, 1971), comb.n. , Philonthus loensis (Coiffait & Sáiz, 1968), comb.n. , Philonthus lugubris (Sáiz, 1971), comb.n. , Philonthus ovaliceps (Coiffait, 1981), comb.n. , Philonthus punctipennis (Solier, 1849), comb.res. and Philonthus subpunctipennis (Coiffait & Sáiz, 1968), comb.n. Philonthus herberti, n.nov., is proposed for Philonthus franzi Schillhammer, 1998 , which is a junior secondary homonym of Philonthus franzi (Sáiz, 1971).     

Morphological phylogeny and classification of Winthemiini (Diptera: Tachinidae: Exoristinae)

Winthemiini is a worldwide tribe in the subfamily Exoristinae (Diptera: Tachinidae) with 200 species in 16 genera. We confirm the monophyly of Winthemiini and examine relationships among the constituent genera based on a parsimonious analysis of adult morphological characters for 53 species representing 12 out of 16 currently recognized Winthemiini genera. As a result, Winthemiini is divided into three major clades, with relationships as follows: ((Rhaphiochaeta [Ossidingia, Nemorilla]) ((Hemisturmia [Avibrissosturmia, Triodontopyga]) ([Smidtia, Winthemia])). A revised classification system for Winthemiini is proposed, recognizing 12 genera. Four new synonymies are proposed – Diotrephes and Chesippus as junior synonyms of Smidtia, and Hemisturmiella and Parachetolyga as junior synonyms of Winthemia – along with four new combinations: Winthemia brasiliana (Guimarães) comb.n. , W. metopia (Bischof) comb.n. , Smidtia atriventris (Walker) comb.n. , and S. notialis (Reinhard) comb.n.     

The European and eastern Nearctic fungus-gnats in the genus Ectrepesthoneura (Mycetophilidae)

Abstract. The validity and composition of Ectrepesthoneura Enderlein are discussed and it is contrasted with the related genus Tetragoneura Winnertz. The occurrence of mid-tibial sense organs in these genera and elsewhere in the subfamily Sciophilinae is considered. The European Ectrepesthoneura are revised and the secondary sexual characters of the male legs newly described. Two sgecies, E.pubescens (Zetterstedt ) = messaurensis Plassmann, syn.n. and E.colyeri sp.n., are added to the British list. The Nearctic species are discussed and the two eastern species dealt with fully: the male of E.bicolor (Coquillett) is newly recognized and Elaffooni sp.n. described. Some western Nearctic Tetragoneura probably belong correctly to Ectrepesthoneura but examination of types showed that T.quintana Cole, T.longicauda van Duzee and the eastern Nearctic T.pimpla Coquillett belong to Dziedzickia Johannsen in its present broad usage. The Palaearctic Ectrepesthoneura gracilis Edwards also probably has closer affinities with Dziedzickia than with its present assignment. The Japanese Ectrepesthoneura described by Sasakawa (1961) are excluded as they are probably Sciaridae.     

Molecular phylogeny of the fungus gnat subfamilies Gnoristinae and Mycomyinae,and their position within Mycetophilidae (Diptera)

The phylogeny of the fungus gnat family Mycetophilidae (Diptera) is reconstructed with a focus on the species‐rich and taxonomically difficult subfamilies Gnoristinae and Mycomyinae. The multigene phylogenetic analyses are based on five nuclear (18S, 28S, CAD, MCS, ITS2) and four mitochondrial (12S, 16S, COI, CytB) gene markers. The analyses strongly support the monophyly of Mycetophilidae and the subfamilies Manotinae, Sciophilinae, Leiinae, and Mycomyinae, although Gnoristinae is paraphyletic with respect to Mycetophilinae. All the genera and groups of genera included are supported as monophyletic, except for Acomoptera Vockeroth, Boletina Staeger, Dziedzickia Johannsen, Ectrepesthoneura Enderlein, and Neoempheria Osten Sacken. Ancestral character state reconstructions were applied to two morphological features present in Gnoristinae and Mycomyinae (i.e. presence of setae on wing membrane and wing vein R₄) in order to assess their evolution. The wing vein R₄ appears as an unstable character, spread throughout different clades. A dated phylogeny of the family Mycetophilidae showed that most of the subfamilies of Mycetophilidae originated and diversified during the Cretaceous. The youngest subfamilies, originated in the Paleogene, appear to be Mycomyinae and Mycetophilinae.     

Dactylogyridean monogeneans of the siluriform fishes of the Old World

This is a catalogue and discussion of the known dactylogyridean monogenean genera of siluriform fishes of the Old World. Of a total of 38 nominal genera, only 19 are considered valid. Seventeen of these 19 genera are currently in the Ancyrocephalidae (containing the Ancyrocephalinae and Ancylodiscoidinae), whilst the other two (Neocalceostoma and Neocalceostomoides) are in the Neocalceostomatidae. The 17 genera are Anchylodiscus, Ancylodiscoides, Bagrobdella, Bifurcohaptor, Bychowskyella, Chauhanellus, Cornudiscoides, Hamatopeduncularia, Mizelleus, Paraquadriacanthus, Pseudancylodiscoides, Protoancylodiscoides, Quadriacanthus, Schilbetrema, Schilbetrematoides, Synodontella and Thaparocleidus. Clariotrema Long, 1981 and Neobychowskyella Ma, Wang & Li, 1983 are considered synonyms of Bychowskyella Akhmerov, 1952, Anacornuatus Dubey, Gupta & Agarwal, 1992 is considered a synonym of Quadriacanthus Paperna, 1961, Mizellebychowskia Gupta & Sachdeva, 1990 is considered a synonym of Neocalceostoma Tripathi, 1959 and Hargitrema Tripathi, 1959 is treated as a synonym of Hamatopeduncularia Yamaguti, 1953. It is proposed that the Ancylodiscoidinae be raised to family status within the order Dactylogyridea to accommodate these 17 `ancyrocephalid' genera from siluriforms, together with Malayanodiscoides and Notopterodiscoides from notopterids. A key and the diagnostic characteristics of the 19 recognised dactylogyridean genera from catfishes plus two from notopterids, together with a list of species and synonyms, are included. New combinations made in this work are Thaparocleidus avicularia (Chen, 1987) n. comb., T. calyciflorus (Chen, 1987) n. comb., T. choanovagina (Luo & Lang, 1981) n. comb., T. dissimilis (Chen, 1988) n. comb., T. leiocassis (Reichenbach-Klinke, 1959) n. comb., T. meticulosa (Chen, 1987) n. comb., T. parasoti (Zhao & Ma, 1999) n. comb., T. persculpus (Chen, 1987) n. comb., T. valga (Chen, 1987) n. comb. and T. wulingensis (Yao & Wang, 1997) n. comb. [all from Silurodiscoides] and Bychowskyella glyptothoraci (Ma, Wang & Li, 1983) n. comb. [from Neobychowskyella].     

Updated checklist of the mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of Croatia

Improvement of morphological and molecular identification methods allows the detection of new species of mosquitoes. The mosquito fauna of Croatia currently includes 52 species, belonging to eight genera, including Anopheles (12 species), Aedes (24 species), Coquillettidia (one species), Culex (seven species), Culiseta (six species), Orthopodomyia (one species), and Uranotaenia (one species). This is an updated checklist, which includes five new species found in Croatian mosquito fauna. Two of these are invasive mosquito species, Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1895) and Aedes japonicus (Theobald 1901), which are spreading across Europe and Croatia. The other three species, Culex laticinctus (Edwards 1913), Culex torrentium (Martini 1925), and Anopheles daciae (Linton, Nicolescu & Harbach 2004) are autochthonous species which haven't been recorded so far. Since there are several more invasive species spreading across Europe, we assume that this is not the final list.     

A critical review of Antarctic Conoidea (Neogastropoda)

ABSTRACT

The Antarctic Conoidean fauna is critically reviewed based on published data and specimens in the collections of the USNM, IORAS and MNHN. Forty-two species and subspecies of the superfamily Conoidea are recorded as occurring within the Antarctic Convergence (excluding the fauna of the Kerguelen Islands) and are attributed to 14 genera and seven families. These include the new taxa: Antarctospira n. gen. (type species—Leucosyrinx badenpowelli Dell, 1990); Drilliola antarctica n. sp.; Pleurotomella (Pleutoromella) tippetti n. sp.; Pleurotomella (Anomalotomella) petiti n. sp.; Xanthodaphne pastorinoi n. sp. Aforia watsoni is introduced as a new name for Pleurotoma (Surcula) lepta Watson, 1881, non Pleurotoma lepta Edwards, 1861. A lectotype is designated for Conorbella antarctica (Strebel, 1908). New combinations are also proposed. Antarctospira badenpowelli (Dell, 1990), n. comb. (previously assigned to Leucosyrinx); Antarctospira principalis (Thiele, 1912), n. comb. (previously assigned to Typhlomangelia); Antarctospira mawsoni (Powell, 1958), n. comb. (previously assigned to Leucosyrinx); Typhlodaphne paratenoceras (Powell, 1951), n. comb. (previously assigned to Leucosyrinx); Belalora weirichi (Engl, 2008), n. comb. (previously assigned to Oenopota); Pleurotomella (Anomalotomella) innocentia (Dell, 1990), n. comb. (previously assigned to Typhlodaphne); Pleurotomella (Anomalotomella) nipri (Numanami, 1996), n. comb. (previously assigned to Typhlodaphne); Xanthodaphne raineri (Engl, 2008), n. comb. (previously assigned to Pleurotomella); Aforia hedleyi (Dell, 1990), n. comb. (previously assigned to Pontiothauma). The majority of Antarctic conoidean taxa have hypodermic marginal teeth. Although there is a similar relative abundance of conoideans in Antarctic waters to that seen in other well-studied faunas, the low number of conoideans is indicative of the general impoverishment of the gastropod fauna in the region. Fourteen percent (2 of 14) of conoidean genera that occur within the Antarctic Convergence are endemic to Antarctic waters, as are 82% (34 of 42) of the species. Most taxa have very broad bathymetric ranges, some extending from bathyal to hadal depths. The greatest species diversity was at bathyal depths.     

Isthmiophora Lühe, 1909 and Euparyphium Dietz, 1909 (Digenea: Echinostomatidae) re-defined,with comments on their nominal species

The validity of Isthmiophora Lühe, 1909 in relation to Euparyphium Dietz, 1909 is discussed and confirmed. Isthmiophora melis Schrank, 1788) [the type-species] and I. inermis (Fuhrmann, 1904) n. comb. are redescribed, and diagnoses are given for both genera, along with lists of their presently-accepted constituent species which are commented upon where necessary. A similar list of species previously allocated to these genera is also presented with comments on their current status. A key to the species of Isthmiophora is included. New combinations for species previously attributed to Euparyphium are: Isthmiophora inermis (Fuhrmann, 1904) n. comb., I. beaveri (Yamaguti, 1958) n. comb., I. lukjanovi (Chertkova, 1971) n. comb., I. citellicola (Kadenatsii in Skrjabin & Bashkirova, 1956) n. comb., I. hortensis (Asada, 1926) n. comb., Echinostoma pindchi (Khan & Chishti, 1985) n. comb., Echinoparyphium tripathii (Gupta & Gupta, 1982) n. comb., E. hirundonis (Fischthal & Kuntz, 1976) n. comb., and Hypoderaeum longitestis (Verma, 1936) n. comb. Species attributed to Euparyphium which are here considered species inquirendae are: E. lobata Farooq & Yousuf, 1986 sp. inq., E. ochoterenai Cerecero, 1943 sp. inq., E. sobolevi Ryzhikov, 1965 sp. inq., and E. taiwanense Fischthal & Kuntz, 1976 sp. inq.     

The Lepocreadiidae (Digenea) of fishes of the north-east Atlantic: review of the genera Opechona Looss, 1907 and Prodistomum Linton, 1910

The genera Opechona Looss and Prodistomum Linton are redefined: the latter is re-established, its diagnostic character being the lack of a uroproct. Pharyngora Lebour and Neopechona Stunkard are considered synonyms of Opechona, and Acanthocolpoides Travassos, Freitas & Bührnheim is considered a synonym of Prodistomum. Opechona bacillaris (Molin) and Prodistomum [originally Distomum] polonii (Molin) n. comb. are described from the NE Atlantic Ocean. Separate revisions with keys to Opechona, Prodistomum and ‘Opechona-like’ species incertae sedis are presented. Opechona is considered to contain: O. bacillaris (type-species), O. alaskensis Ward & Fillingham, O. [originally Neopechona] cablei (Stunkard) n. comb., O. chloroscombri Nahhas & Cable, O. occidentalis Montgomery, O. parvasoma Ching sp. inq., O. pharyngodactyla Manter, O. [originally Distomum] pyriforme (Linton) n. comb. and O. sebastodis (Yamaguti). Prodistomum includes: P. gracile Linton (type-species), P. [originally Opechona] girellae (Yamaguti) n. comb., P. [originally Opechona] hynnodi (Yamaguti) n. comb., P. [originally Opechona] menidiae (Manter) n. comb., P. [originally Pharyngora] orientalis (Layman) n. comb., P. polonii and P. [originally Opechona] waltairensis (Madhavi) n. comb. Some species are considered ‘Opechona-like’ species incertae sedis: O. formiae Oshmarin, O. siddiqii Ahmad, 1986 nec 1984, O. mohsini Ahmad, O. magnatestis Gaevskaya & Kovaleva, O. vinodae Ahmad, O. travassosi Ahmad, ‘Lepidapedon’ nelsoni Gupta & Mehrotra and O. siddiqi Ahmad, 1984 nec 1986. The related genera Cephalolepidapedon Yamaguti and Clavogalea Bray and the synonymies of their constituent species are discussed, and further comments are made on related genera and misplaced species. The new combination Clavogalea [originally Stephanostomum] trachinoti (Fischthal & Thomas) is made. The taxonomy, life-history, host-specificity and zoogeography of the genera are briefly discussed.     

Feather mites (Astigmata: Psoroptidia) parasitising the rock ptarmigan <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lagopus muta</Emphasis> (Montin) (Aves: Galliformes) in Iceland

Four new species of feather mites are described from the Icelandic rock ptarmigan Lagopus muta islandorum (Faber) in Iceland. These are Metamicrolichus islandicus n. sp., Myialges borealis n. sp. (Epidermoptidae), Strelkoviacarus holoaspis n. sp. (Analgidae) and Tetraolichus lagopi n. sp. (Pterolichidae). This is the first report on feather mites associated with the Icelandic rock ptarmigan. Brief comments on the systematics and biology of corresponding feather mite genera are given. For two species, originally described in Pterolichus Robin, 1868 (Pterolichidae), new combinations are proposed, i.e. Tetraolichus gaudi (Černy, 1971) n. comb. and T. microdiscus (Trouessart, 1887) n. comb.     

Total evidence phylogenetic analysis and reclassification of Euschistus Dallas within Carpocorini (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae: Pentatominae)

Robust phylogenetic hypotheses have become key for studies addressing the evolutionary biology and ecology of various groups of organisms. In the species‐rich heteropteran superfamily Pentatomoidea, phylogenies at lower taxonomic levels are still scarce and mostly employ exclusively morphological data. In this study, we conducted a total evidence phylogeny focusing on the tribe Carpocorini (Pentatomidae), using morphological data and four DNA markers (COI, Cytb, 16S and 28S rDNA; ～2330 bp; 32 taxa) in order to investigate the relationships within Euschistus Dallas, one of the most speciose pentatomid genera, and between Euschistus and related genera. Our hypotheses generated by maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference show that the current taxonomic composition and classification of Euschistus and allied genera are in need of revision. Euschistus was recovered as nonmonophyletic, with the subgenera forming four independent lineages: Euschistus (Euschistus) and Euschistus (Lycipta) Stål are sister groups; Euschistus (Euschistomorphus) Jensen‐Haarup is more closely related to Dichelops Spinola and Agroecus Dallas; and Mitripus Rolston is divided into two clades closely related to Sibaria Stål and Ladeaschistus Rolston. We chose not to change the classification of E. (Euschistomorphus) until further data become available, and propose to split Euschistus into three genera with the exclusion of Euschistus (Mitripus) and all of its species. Here we elevate Mitripus to genus rank to include M. acutus comb.n. , M. convergens comb.n. and M. legionarius comb.n. , and propose Adustonotus Bianchi gen.n. to include A. anticus comb.n. , A. latus comb.n. , A. tauricornis comb.n. , A. grandis comb.n. , A. hansi comb.n. , A. paranticus comb.n. , A. irroratus comb.n. and A. saramagoi comb.n. We also provide identification keys to the genera Adustonotus gen.n. , Ladeaschistus, Mitripus n. rank and Sibaria, here defined as the Mitripus genus group, and to the species of Mitripus and Adustonotus gen.n. Our results provide insights into the current status of the classification of the Pentatomidae, suggesting the need for phylogenetic analyses at different taxonomic levels within stink bugs. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E09D2675‐0F2B‐4AAE‐9837‐257E0B18BC52 .     

Molecular data reveal convergent reproductive strategies in iceryine scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Monophlebidae), allowing the re-interpretation of morphology and a revised generic classification

Abstract The scale insect tribe Iceryini (Coccoidea: Monophlebidae) is a group of relatively large and polyphagous insects found worldwide. Currently, the tribe contains about 80 named species placed in seven genera, which are diagnosed largely on features associated with egg protection. We reconstruct the phylogeny of the Iceryini on the basis of nucleotide sequence data from nuclear ribosomal (18S and D2, D3 and D10 regions of 28S) and protein‐coding (histone H3) gene regions of 40 iceryine species representing six of the seven genera and seven outgroup taxa, mostly from two other tribes of Monophlebidae. Bayesian and maximum parsimony analyses recover a monophyletic tribe and clades that correspond more to geography than to the existing morphology‐based classification. Gueriniella Fernald is sister to the rest of the Iceryini and the genera Crypticerya Cockerell, Icerya Signoret and Steatococcus Ferris are not monophyletic. Our data imply that the distinctive iceryine reproductive strategies, such as protecting eggs in a waxy ovisac or inside a marsupium, are poor indicators of relationships. On the basis of molecular relationships and the re‐examination of morphological characters, we recognize only five genera of Iceryini –Crypticerya, Echinicerya Morrison, Gigantococcus Pesson & Bielenin, Gueriniella and Icerya – and substantially revise the generic concepts of Crypticerya, Gigantococcus and Icerya. We provide a key to the genera based on adult females. We redescribe and illustrate the adult female and first‐instar nymph of the type species Crypticerya rosae (Riley & Howard), Echinicerya anomala Morrison, Gigantococcus maximus (Newstead) (adult female only), Gueriniella serratulae (Fabricius) and Icerya seychellarum (Westwood). We recognize Auloicerya Morrison as a junior synonym ( syn.n. ) of Icerya, and transfer the two Auloicerya species to Icerya as I. acaciae (Morrison & Morrison) comb.n. and I. australis Maskell comb.rev. We recognize Steatococcus and Proticerya Cockerell as junior synonyms ( syn.n. ) of Crypticerya. From Steatococcus, we transfer five species to Crypticerya [C. mexicana Cockerell & Parrott comb.rev. , C. morrilli (Cockerell) comb.n. , C. tabernicola (Ferris) comb.n. , C. townsendi Cockerell comb.rev. , C. tuberculata (Morrison) comb.n. ], four species to Gigantococcus [Gi. euphorbiae (Brain) comb.n. , Gi. gowdeyi (Newstead) comb.n. , Gi. madagascariensis (Mamet) comb.n. , Gi. theobromae (Newstead) comb.n. ] and three species to Icerya [I. assamensis (Rao) comb.n. , I nudata Maskell comb.rev. , I. samaraia (Morrison) comb.n. ]. From Icerya, we transfer 14 species to Crypticerya [C. brasiliensis (Hempel) comb.n. , C. colimensis (Cockerell) comb.n. , C. flava (Hempel) comb.n. , C. flocculosa (Hempel) comb.n. , C. genistae (Hempel) comb.n. , C. littoralis (Cockerell) comb.n. , C. luederwaldti (Hempel) comb.n. , C. minima (Morrison) comb.n. , C. montserratensis (Riley & Howard) comb.n. , C. palmeri (Riley & Howard) comb.n. , C. rileyi (Cockerell) comb.n. , C. similis (Morrison) comb.n. , C. subandina (Leonardi) comb.n. , C. zeteki (Cockerell) comb.n. ] and nine species to Gigantococcus [Gi. alboluteus (Cockerell) comb.n. , Gi. bimaculatus (De Lotto) comb.n. , Gi. brachystegiae (Hall) comb.n. , Gi. longisetosus (Newstead) comb.n. , Gi. nigroareolatus (Newstead) comb.n. , Gi. pattersoni (Newstead) comb.n. , Gi. schoutedeni (Vayssière) comb.n. , Gi. splendidus (Lindinger) comb.n. , Gi. sulfureus (Lindinger) comb.n. ]. From Crypticerya, we transfer seven species to Icerya [I. clauseni (Rao) comb.n. , I. jacobsoni Green comb.rev. , I. jaihind (Rao) comb.n. , I. kumari (Rao) comb.n. , I. mangiferae (Tang & Hao) comb.n. , I. natalensis (Douglas) comb.rev. , I. nuda Green comb.rev. ] and five species to Gigantococcus [Gi. bicolor (Newstead) comb.n. , Gi. cajani (Newstead) comb.n. , Gi. caudatus (Newstead) comb.n. , Gi. ewarti (Newstead) comb.n. , Gi. rodriguesi (Castel‐Branco) comb.n. ]. Both I. hyperici (Froggatt) and Palaeococcus dymocki (Froggatt) are syn.n. of I. nudata (all previously placed in Steatococcus). We recognize I. maynei Vayssière as a syn.n. of Gi. nigroareolatus, I. tremae Vayssière as a syn.n. of Gi. schoutedeni and I. townsendi plucheae Cockerell as a syn.n. of C. townsendi. We revalidate the species name I. crocea Green stat.reval. In addition, we transfer I. taunayi Hempel to Laurencella Foldi (Monophlebidae: Llaveiini) as L. taunayi (Hempel) comb.n. Four species, Coccus hirticornis Boyer de Fonscolombe, I. chilensis Hempel, I. insulans Hempel and I. paulista Hempel, are considered incertae sedis. We designate lectotypes for C. rosae, E. anomala and I. candida (a junior synonym of I. seychellarum). Following this revision, we recognize 74 species of Iceryini, distributed as follows: 22 in Crypticerya, one in Echinicerya, 19 in Gigantococcus, two in Gueriniella and 30 in Icerya.     

Semiaquatic bugs: phylogeny and classification of the Hebridae (Heteroptera: Gerromorpha) with revisions of Timasius, Neotimasius and Hyrcanus

Various characters of semiaquatic bugs belonging to the family Hebridae are analysed with respect to their taxonomic and phylogenetic importance. The cladistic relationships of the genera are discussed and a cladogram included. A classification is presented which divides the family into two sub-families and resurrects Lipogomphus Berg as a valid taxon (to include L. lacuniferus Berg (type-species), L.accola (Drake & Chapman) comb.n. for Merragata accola, L.brevis (Champion) comb.n. for Merragata brevis, and L.leucosticta (Champion) comb.n. for Merragata leucosticta). The following new taxa of hygropetric hebrids are described: Timasius livens sp.n. (Thailand), T.minor sp.n. (Pakistan, N. India), T.miyamotoi sp.n. (Thailand), T.major sp.n. (N.India), T.ventralis sp.n. (N. India), T. miyamotoi sp.n. (S. India), T.rupestris sp.n. (N. India), T.falcifer sp.n. (N. India), T.championi sp.n. (N. India), T.himalayensis sp.n. (N. India), Neotimasius orientalis gen.n., sp.n. (S. India), Hyrcaninae subfam.n. , Hyrcanus dispar sp.n. (N. India), H.saxatilis sp.n. (Thailand) and H.varicolor sp.n. (Java, Sumatra). Other species of the genera Timasius and Hyrcanus are redescribed and the generic position of one species changed: Hebrus (s.str.) atratus (Distant) comb.n. for Timasius atratus.     

Molecular insights into the phylogeny of Blapstinina (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini)

The monophyly of the North and South American endemic subtribe Blapstinina (Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) is tested through phylogenetic analyses using five molecular markers [nuclear ribosomal 28S (28S), cytochrome oxidase subunit II (COII), arginine kinase (ArgK), carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase domain of rudimentary (CAD), wingless (wg)]. Representatives of several opatrinoid subtribes were taken into consideration, including other geographically overlapping endemic genera, namely Ammodonus, Ephalus and Pseudephalus (all previously considered representatives of Ammobiina). A comparative study of morphology was performed to assess resulting phylogenetic hypotheses. Analyses support the monophyly of Blapstinina; however, they also strongly indicate that Ammodonus should be included within the subtribe. Mecysmus is nested within Blapstinus and therefore, a new synonymy, Blapstinus (= Mecysmus syn.n. ), and the following combinations are introduced: Blapstinus advena comb.n. , B. angustus comb.r. , B. laticollis comb.n. , B. parvulus comb.n. , B. tenuis comb.n. Morphological analysis showed a close affiliation between Ephalus and Pseudephalus. Based on these results, Pseudephalus is synonymized with Ephalus [Ephalus (= Pseudephalus syn.n. )], and the following combination is introduced: Ephalus brevicornis comb.n. Recovered topologies also strongly support transferring Ephalus stat.n. into Opatrina, making the distribution of Opatrina amphi-Atlantic.