Preliminary notes on the genus Aeschnosoma Selys 1870 (Odonata: Anisoptera: Corduliidae s. str.)

Three new species of the genus Aeschnosoma are briefly described and illustrated. A. pseudoforcipula n. sp. and A. heliophila n. sp., both from the Brazilian Central Plateau are respectively related to the two Amazonian species A. forcipula Hagen in Selys 1871, and A. auripennis Geijskes 1970. A. louissiriusi n. sp. from Northern Brazil is not closely related to any known species. Based on larval and adult derived characters, the genus Aeschnosoma appears closely related to the Australian genus Pentathemis Karsch 1890, and also to the Madagascan genus Libellulosoma Martin 1907. The clade Aeschnosomata nov. is erected to receive the three genera. Some putative plesiomorphies would place this clade sister group of the remaining Corduliidae s.str.     

Revision of the genera Nemotha Wood-Mason, 1884 and Tricondylomimus Chopard, 1930 stat. rev., with description of a new species (Dictyoptera: Mantodea)

The oriental species previously included in the rarely collected genus Nemotha Wood-Mason, 1884 (Mantodea: Iridopterygidae) are revised. N. coomani (Chopard, 1930) and N. mirabilis Beier, 1933 strongly differ from the type species N. metallica (Westwood, 1845) by family-level morphological features, but share a unique type of forefemoral armament with the genera Hapalopeza Stål, 1877 and Amantis Giglio-Tos, 1915, suggesting Nemotha is of a polyphyletic nature. The genus Tricondylomimus Chopard, 1930 is resurrected from synonymy to accommodate T. coomani, T. mirabilis n. comb. and the species which is newly described in this article, T. intermedius n. sp. The monotypic genus Pseudogousa Tinkham, 1937 and its species P. sinensis Tinkham, 1937 are synonymized with Tricondylomimus and T. mirabilis, respectively. The genus Tricondylomimus is placed in Iridopterygidae, while Nemotha is transferred to Hymenopodidae: Anaxarchini.     

The first Praesiricidae (Hymenoptera) from Northeast China

A new subfamily Rudisiricinae Gao, Rasnitsyn, Ren & Shih, n. subfam. and a new genus Rudisiricius Gao, Rasnitsyn, Ren & Shih, n. gen. with three new species R. belli Gao, Rasnitsyn, Ren & Shih n. sp., R. crassinodus Gao, Rasnitsyn, Ren & Shih, n. sp., and R. celsus Gao, Rasnitsyn, Ren & Shih, n. sp. are described and illustrated from the family Praesiricidae. The type specimens were collected from the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation, northeastern China. The new subfamily also includes Aulidontes Rasnitsyn from the Upper Jurassic of Karatau in Kazakhstan. This is the first record of Praesiricidae in China. These well-preserved nearly-complete new fossils reported here provide additional material and structure characters about this family, which helps filling some gap in the evolution of Lower Hymenoptera.     

New and earlier unnoted mealybugs and felt scale (Homoptera: Coccinea: Pseudococcidae,Eriococcidae) from Morocco

Two new species of mealybugs (Pseudococcidae), Puto (Ceroputo) chetverikovi n. sp. and Fonscolombia toubkalensis n. sp., are described and illustrated. Thirteen other species are noted for the first time to fauna of Morocco or to Africa as a whole. Additionally, one species of closely related family Eriococcidae, Acanthococcus ericae (Signoret, 1875), is also reported for the first time to Morocco.     

A revision of the Chinese Catops Paykull 1798 of the Catops fuscus species group (Coleoptera: Leiodidae: Cholevinae)

Five species of the Catops fuscus species group are reported from China. Three species are newly described: C. hlisnikovskyi n. sp. from the Beijing municipality and Jiangsu province, C. schuelkei n. sp. from Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, and C. smetanai n. sp. from Sichuan and Yunnan provinces. Female of C. sasajii Nishikawa 2007 is described and the species is reported from Hubei, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces for the first time. Catops nigricans (Spence 1813) is reported for the first time from China (Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region). Important morphological characters are illustrated and the distribution of all species in China is mapped. Preliminar phylogenetic analysis separates (C. hlisnikovskyi n. sp.+C. fuscus fuscus Panzer 1794) as a sister clade to C. nigricans+(C. sasajii+(C. schuelkei n. sp.+C. smetanai n. sp.)), with C. paramericanus Peck & Cook 2002 as outgroup.     

New genera and new species of leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Polyphaga: Chrysomelidae) from Lowermost Eocene French amber

Three new monotypical genera of leaf beetles are described: Aoriopsis eocenicus n. gen, n. sp. and Acolaspoides longipes n. gen., n. sp. from the subfamily Eumolpinae, and also Crepidocnema yantarica n. gen., n. sp. from the subfamily Alticinae. Short reviews of known fossil records of the mentioned subfamilies are given and position of the new genera discussed.     

New records of Polypedilum Kieffer (Diptera: Chironomidae) from India

Adult males of Polypedilum (Polypedilum) exterflexus n. sp., P. (Tripodura) rectangulum n. sp. and life stages of P. (Tripodura) pruina Freeman are described from India. In addition, one species, Polypedilum clavipennae n. sp. with all the life stages not assigned to any one of the existing subgenera is also described, and it may be justified to erect it as a new subgenus in future.     

Remarkable cave-adapted ground beetles of the tribe Pterostichini from China: a new subgenus and three new species (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

A new subgenus, Huaius n. subgen. of the genus Pterostichus, is described to deal with the following three new species of ground beetles which were recently discovered from limestone caves in Central China: Pterostichus (Huaius) caoi n. sp. (Cave Lijia Dong in Yichang, Hubei Province), Pterostichus (Huaius) tiankeng n. sp. (Cave Xigou Dong in Hanzhong, Shaanxi Province) and Pterostichus (Huaius) yuae n. sp. (Cave Didonghe Dong in Hanzhong, Shaanxi Province). This new subgenus is not closely allied to any lineage of Chinese Pterostichus. The pronotal structure of Huaius has the most peculiar morphological characteristics, lacking lateromarginal borders and without grooves on the portion of basal foveae. All members of Huaius are de-pigmented, almost blind and extremely troglomorphic. This is the first report of cave-adapted pterostichine beetles from Asia.     

A new genus and a new subgenus of cavernicolous beetles from Furong Jiang valley,southwestern China (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae)

A new genus and a new subgenus of semi-aphaenopsian trechine beetles are described from Furong Jiang valley in the bordering areas of Chongqing Shi (Municipality) and Guizhou Province, southwestern China: Deuveaphaenops Tian & Huang, n. gen. (type species: Deuveaphaenops qimenxicus Tian & Huang, n. sp. from Qimenxia Cave II, Wulong Xian, Chongqing) and Furongius Tian & Huang, n. subgen. (type species: Deuveaphaenops (Furongius) gelaophilus Tian & Huang, n. sp. from cave Xianmi Dong, Daozhen Xian, Guizhou). Deuveaphaenops probably belongs to the complex of Cathaiaphaenops, Qianotrechus, Guizhaphaenops and Sinotroglodytes.     

New Middle Permian insects from Salagou Formation of the Lodève Basin in southern France (Insecta: Pterygota)

Summary

New insects are described from the Middle Permian (Guadalupian) of Salagou Formation in the Lodève Basin (Languedoc region, France). Palaeopterans are represented by new odonatopterans viz. Huangiopterum lodevense n. gen., n. sp. and Huangiopterum species B, attributed to clade Panodonata (Huangiopteridae n. fam.), already recorded through the family Saxonagrionidae in the same formation, and a diaphanopterodean Martynovia cf. halli Beckemeyer 2004 (Martynoviidae) known from the Lower Permian of Oklahoma. Archaeorthopterans are supplemented by Bethouxia ariegensis n. gen., n. sp., Paralongzhua elongata n. gen., n. sp., Lodevolongzhua incompleta n. gen., n. sp., the caloneurodean Jarmiloptera mouralensis n. gen., n. sp., and a cnemidolestodean cf. Tococladus sp. (Tococladidae). Permophyllum rotundatum n. sp. (?Tettigoniidae) demonstrates the first presence of Orthoptera with wings probably mimicking Peltaspermales reproductive organs in Late Palaeozoic possibly analogous to the known crypsis of roachoid tegmina with pteridosperm pinnules. Frequent occurrence of hardly identifiable grylloblattid wing fragments support their significant role in term of abundance and diversity of the Permian faunas. New taxa based on wing venation pattern as Genera and species undetermined A, B (Liomopteridae), Permobaharellus salagousensis n. gen., n. sp. (family uncertain), Lodevophlebia reticulata n. gen., n. sp. (Sylvaphlebiidae), Oborella lodevensis n. sp. (Euryptilonidae), and Genus and species undetermined C, were described. Paoliida is represented by a paoliid gen. et sp. indet. and three anthracoptilids Strephocladus gandi n. sp., Strephocladus mouralensis n. sp., Lodevocladus subtilis n. gen., n. sp. The first record of miomopteran Palaeomantis sp. (Paleomanteidae) from Salagou Formation is presented. Acercarian insects are represented by the first record of Thripida and diverse new hemipterans, namely Euroscytina lutevanorum n. gen., n. sp. (Cicadomorpha: Scytinopteridae), Prosbole dio n. sp., Prosbole garrici n. sp., Pervestigia cf. veteris Becker-Migdisova 1961 (Prosbolidae), Archescytina species A (Paleorrhyncha: Archescytinidae) and Permopsyllidium lesclansis n. sp. (Sternorrhyncha: Psylloidea: Protopsyllidiidae). Entomofauna from the Salagou Formation demonstrate highly diverse insect communities with some taxa linked to early and late Permian ones known from assemblages in Euramerica and Russia, such as Obora (Czech Republic), Wellington Formation (Kansas and Oklahoma, USA), and Tshekarda (Ural, Russia).     

Anomala trapezifera species-group: a burst of diversity (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae)

The species Anomala aereiventris n. sp., A. aspersa n. sp., A. atrivillosa n. sp., A. clarivillosa n. sp., A. contusa n. sp., A. eusticta n. sp., A. hiata n. sp., A. latifalculata n. sp., A. leopardina n. sp., A. levicollis n. sp., A. longisacculata n. sp., A. m-fuscum n. sp., A. perspicax n. sp., A. piccolina n. sp., A. globulata n. sp., A. stillaticia n. sp., A. subridens n. sp., A. subusta n. sp., A. tenoriensis n. sp., A. tuberculata n. sp. and A. vallisneria n. sp. from Costa Rica are described. These species and A. polygona Bates 1888, A. trapezifera Bates 1888 and A. vulcanicola Ohaus 1897 are placed in a new species-group, named after A. trapezifera, whose diagnosis is provided. Their distribution patterns are discussed.     

Notes on some corydiid species from China,with the description of a new genus (Blattodea: Corydioidea: Corydiidae)

This article presents the diversity of cockroach family Corydiidae from China. Epipolyphaga wukong Qiu, Che et Wang, n. gen., n. sp., is described. Habitus and detailed characters of the new taxa are illustrated. A comparison between the new genus and the morphologically similar genus Eupolyphaga Chopard is given. The genus Tivia Walker and the species Eucorydia westwoodi (Gerstaecker) are newly recorded from China. The Corydioidea chapter in Cockroaches of Southeastern China by Liu et al. is revised. A key to genera and a checklist of Chinese Corydiidae are provided.     

Contributions à la réorganisation systématique des Peritelini ouest-paléarctiques. IX. Révision du genre Meira Jacquelin du Val 1852 (Coleoptera : Curculionidae : Entiminae)

The genus Meira Jacquelin du Val 1852 is revised, four lectotypes and a neotype are designated, a new synonymy is proposed and four new species from France – one from Alpes-Maritimes (Meira alpina n. sp.), two from Var (M. echinoides n. sp. and M. teloniensis n. sp.), one from Vaucluse (M. germanni n. sp.) and one from Italy, from Abruzzo (M. osellai n. sp.) are described,. Synonyms, bibliographic and ecological data are provided. Whole-body photos of the types of the old species and of the four new species, drawings of systematically important characters, keys and distribution maps are also presented.     

Four new species of Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) from Brazil and updated identification keys

Four new species of longhorn beetles are described from Brazil: Coleoxestia diamantina n. sp. (Cerambycinae, Cerambycini), from Bahia; Mirador bravoi n. sp. (Cerambycinae, Ectenessini), from Bahia; Compsibidion antonietae n. sp. (Cerambycinae, Neoibidionini), from Goiás, Bahia and São Paulo; and Amphicnaeia quadrifasciata n. sp. (Lamiinae, Apomecynini) from Bahia. Coleoxestia diamantina and Compsibidion antonietae are included in previous keys.     

A revision of the genus Paronthobium from New Caledonia (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Epilissini)

A revision of the New Caledonian genus Paronthobium Paulian 1984 is presented. Anonthobium Paulian 1984 is synonymized with Paronthobium Paulian 1984 after evaluating the diagnostic characters originally introduced by Paulian to separate them. Upon examination of the type specimens, Onthobium caledonicum Paulian 1935 is separated from O. simplex Fauvel 1903 and restored as valid. Anonthobium moui Paulian 1984 is synonymized with Anonthobium micros Paulian 1984. Fifteen new species are described: P. adio n. sp., P. daghfousi n. sp., P. dierkensi n. sp., P. farino n. sp., P. iac n. sp., P. julieni n. sp., P. memaoya n. sp., P. minutum n. sp., P. nasutum n. sp., P. orientale n. sp., P. peckorum n. sp., P. petchecara n. sp., P. subdentatum n. sp., P. taom n. sp. and P. tchingou n. sp. The genus Paronthobium is now composed of 22 species. Illustrations of parameres and of male protibiae are provided for each species. Distribution maps and a key to species are given.     

Ecnomus of Madagascar,species without modified spur (Trichoptera: Ecnomidae)

The 11 Malagasy species of the genus Ecnomus McLachlan, 1864 that do not belong to the psychomyiellodes species group are studied. One of them (Ecnomus salgiel Malicky, 2015) was recently described from Nosy Be Island. Ten are new and described: Ecnomus felix n. sp., E. dobignyi n. sp., E. matsaboryi n. sp., E. granjoni n. sp., E. commersoni n. sp., E. menavavae n. sp., E. ikopaensis n. sp., E. rubermortis n. sp., E. evidens n. sp., and E. tendroensis n. sp. All are endemic to Madagascar. Their distributions on the island are briefly described according to ecological data.     

New psychopsoid Neuroptera from the Early Cretaceous of Baissa,Transbaikalia

Two new genera and fi ve new species of the psychopsoid Neuroptera (one of which is unnamed) are described from the Early Cretaceous locality at Baissa, Transbaikalia, Russia: Epipsychopsis fusca n. gen., n. sp., E. variegata n. sp. (Psychopsidae), Pseudopsychopsis gradata n. gen., n. sp., P. baissensis n. sp. (Brongniartiellidae), and Sophogramma sp. (Kalligrammatidae).     

Review of subtribe Pterellina Rohdendorf, 1967 (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) of Middle East with descriptions of twelve new species

Summary

Based on a revision of large recent collections housed at the Natural History Museum (London), Tel Aviv University and in the private collection of Yu. Verves and L. Khrokalo (Kyiv, Ukraine), new distributional data and an updated list with comments of 28 species of Middle Eastern Sarcophagidae of the subtribe Pterellina are presented. Seventeen of them are recorded for Israel, 11 for Egypt, four for Iran, two each for the Palestinian Authority, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, and one each for Jordan and the UAE. No data are known for the territories of Bahrain, Cyprus, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Syria and Yemen. Twelve species new to science are described, including nine from Israel (Chaetapodacra montana n. sp., Eremasiomyia bicolor n. sp., E. deserta n. sp., E. fuscata n. sp., Protomiltogramma bidentata n. sp., P. serrata n. sp., Pterella hermonica n. sp., P. indigens n. sp., P. zefatica n. sp.), two from Egypt (Chaetapodacra griseola n. sp., Eremasiomyia alba n. sp.) and one from Saudi Arabia (Protomiltogramma arabica n. sp.). The male of Eremasiomyia nigra Rohdendorf, 1935 is described for the first time. One new combination of specific name is proposed ? Protomiltogramma immunita (Villeneuve, 1923), n. comb. Original keys for the identification of genera and species are proposed. An annotated list of all world genera and species and compiled data on larval habits of Pterellina are included.     

Phylogeny and systematics of the Acrapex apicestriata (Bethune-Baker, 1911) species complex (Lepidoptera,Noctuidae, Noctuinae,Apameini, Sesamiina) with the description of eight new species from the Afrotropics

Twelve morphologically similar species of Acrapex Hampson 1894, (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Noctuinae, Apameini, Sesamiina), from Western, Central and Eastern Africa are reviewed. Eight of these species are new to science and are described: Acrapex akunamatata n. sp. and A. incrassata n. sp. from Kenya; A. gracilis n. sp., A. iringa n. sp., A. lukumbura n. sp. and A. rungwe n. sp. from Tanzania; A. soyema n. sp. from Ethiopia; and A. zoutoi n. sp. from Benin. All 12 species belong to a species complex that we hereby define as the Acrapex apicestriata group. Host-plants for three of the new species are recorded: Setaria incrassata (Hochst.) Hack. for Acrapex incrassata; Cymbopogon pospishilii (K. Schum.) C.E. Hubb. for A. rungwe; and Andropogon perligulatus Stapf. for A. zoutoi. We also conducted molecular phylogenetic analyses (using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference) on a six gene multimarker molecular dataset (four mitochondrial and two nuclear gene fragments; 4581 nucleotides in length) consisting of 15 Acrapex species (including seven species from the apicestriata group) and four outgroups species from the subtribe Sesamiina (from genera Busseola Thurau 1904, Sciomesa Tams & Bowden 1953, Pirateolea Moyal, Le Ru, Conlong, Cugala, Defabachew, Matama-Kauma, Pallangyo & Van den Berg 2010 and Sesamia Boisduval & Guenée 1852). Both maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses yield a similar and well-supported topology, which supports the monophyly of the apicestriata group.