Phylogenetic Systematics and Biogeography of the Neoephemeridae (Ephemeroptera: Pannota)

A revision of species of the pannote Holarctic and Oriental mayfly family Neoephemeridae is presented. Three genera are recognized in a strictly phylogenetic classification. Potamanthellus [=Neoephemeropsis Ulmer syn. n.] includes P. caenoides (Ulmer) comb. n., P. amabilis (Eaton) [=N. cuaraoensis Dang syn. n.], P. ganges sp. n., P. chinensis (Hsu) [=P. rarus (Tiunova and Levanidova) syn. n.], P. edmundsi sp. n., and the Oligocene fossil Potamanthellus rubiensis Lewis. Neoephemera [=Leucorhoenanthus Lestage syn. n.] includes N. maxima (Joly), N. purpurea (Traver), N. youngi Berner, N. bicolor McDunnough, and N. compressa Berner. Ochernova gen. n., includes O. tshernovae (Kazlauskas) comb. n. Taxa are described, illustrated and keyed. Species cladistics and biogeography are presented.     

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.     

Synonymy of Etiennea Matile-Ferrero with Hemilecanium Newstead (Hemiptera: Coccidae), based on morphology of adult females, adult males and first-instar nymphs, and description of a new potential pest species from the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan

The genus Etiennea Matile‐Ferrero is synonymized with Hemilecanium Newstead (Hemiptera: Coccidae). We base this decision on a morphological comparative study of adult females, adult males and first‐instar nymphs (crawlers), including a phylogenetic analysis. We recovered a sister group relationship between the type species of the two genera, Etiennea villiersi Matile‐Ferrero and Hemilecanium theobromae Newstead; that is, each was more closely related to the other than either was to other species in their respective genera. All species hitherto included in Etiennea are transferred to Hemilecanium: H. bursera (Hodgson & Kondo) comb. nov., H. cacao (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. candelabra (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. capensis (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. carpenteri (Newstead) comb. nov., H. cephalomeatus (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. combreti (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. ferina (De Lotto) comb. nov., H. ferox (Newstead) comb. nov., H. gouligouli (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. halli (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. kellyi (Brain) comb. nov., H. madagascariensis (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. montrichardiae (Newstead) comb. nov., H. multituberculum (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. petasus (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. sinetuberculum (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. tafoensis (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. ulcusculum (Hodgson) comb. nov., and H. villiersi (Matile‐Ferrero) comb. nov. Keys to the adult females of all 26 species and known adult males and first‐instar nymphs are provided. The adult males and first‐instar nymphs of H. theobromae Newstead and E. villiersi Matile‐Ferrero are for the first time fully described and illustrated. One new potential pest species of Hemilecanium, H. uesatoi Kondo & Hardy sp. nov., which was collected on three islands of the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan, is described and illustrated based on the adult female, adult male and first‐instar nymph. We discuss evidence that H. uesatoi is a new introduction to the Ryukyu Archipelago. The first‐instar nymphs of Hemilecanium can be divided into two distinct morphological groups, the petasus group and the theobromae group.     

The West Indian species of Encyrtidae described by L. D. Howard, 1894 and 1897 (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea)

Abstract. The following species of encyrtids described by Howard (1894, 1897) from St Vincent and Grenada are redescribed or dealt with in some other way. The current generic placements and synonymies are indicated in parentheses. Archinus occupants (Archinus), Aphycus amoenus (Metaphycus comb.n.), Aratus scutellatus (= brasiliensis Subba Rao syn.n., Zeteticontus), Blastothrix insolitus ( Anagyrus comb .n. ), Bothriothorax insularis (Zeteticontus), Cerchysius terebratus (Anagyrus), Cerchysius pulchricornis (Anagyrus), Chieloneurus funiculus (= cupreicollis Ashmead syn.n., Cheiloneurus), Cheiloneurus nigrescens (= longisetaceus De Santis syn.n., Cheiloneurus), Copidosoma diversicomis (Apoanagyrus comb.n.), Encyrtus argentipes (Zaomma), Encyrtus crassus (= Encyrtus gargaris Walker syn.n. = Giraultella lopesi Costa Lima & Ferreira syn. n, Coelopencyrtus comb.n.), Encyrtus conformis (Encyrtus), Encyrtus convexus (= Encyrtus nitidus (Howard) syn. n.), Encyrtus flaviclavus (Encyrtus), Encyrtus hirtus (Hunterellus comb.n.), Encyrtus moderatus (= Adelencyrtus femoralis Compere & Annecke syn. n. = Adelencyrtus miyarai Tachikawa syn. n., Adelencyrtus comb.n.), Encyrtus nitidus (= Protyndarichus proximus De Santis syn. n., Protyndarichus comb.n.), Encyrtus quadricolor (Encyrtus), Encyrtus rotundiformis (Psyllaephagus comb.n.), Encyrtus sordidus (Forcipestricis comb.n.), Encyrtus submetallicus (Ooencyrtus), Habrolepoidea glauca (Habrolepoidea) and Homalopoda cristata (Homalopoda). Xiphomastix De Santis is synonymized with Anagyrus Howards (syn. n.), both included species ( X. nigriceps De Santis and X. bellator De Santis) being transferred to the latter. Propsyllaephagus Blanchard is synonymized with Psyllaephagus Ashmead (syn.n), Aratiscus laevigatus De Santis is transferred to Zeteticontus Silvestri (comb n.) and a key to the South American species of the genus is provided.     

Revision of the genus Helastia sensu stricto with description of a new genus (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae)

Abstract

Helastia Guenée, 1868 is redefined and redescribed. New Zealand species previously placed in that genus but not congeneric with the type species are reassigned to either the available genera Epyaxa Meyrick, 1883, Asaphodes Meyrick, 1885 and Xanthorhoe Hübner, [1825] or placed in a newly described genus, Gingidiobora. Six Australian species placed in Xanthorhoe are shown to be congeneric with three New Zealand species, previously placed in Helastia and here transferred to Epyaxa.

Eight new species are described in Helastia: Helastia alba n. sp.; H. angusta n. sp.; H. christinae n. sp.; H. cryptica n. sp.; H. mutabilis n. sp.; H. ohauensis n. sp.; H. salmoni n. sp.; H. scissa n. sp. The following new combinations and synonymies are proposed: Asaphodes chlorocapna (Meyrick, 1925) n. comb.; A. citroena (Clark, 1934) n. comb.; A. glaciata (Hudson, 1925) n. comb.; A. ida (Clark, 1926) n. comb; Epyaxa agelasta (Turner, 1904) n. comb.; E. centroneura (Meyrick, 1890) n. comb.;

E. epia (Turner, 1922) n. comb.; E. hyperythra (Lower, 1892) n. comb.; E. lucidata (Walker, 1862) n. comb.; E. sodaliata (Walker, 1862) n. comb.; E. subidaria (Guenée, 1857) n. comb.; E. venipunctata (Walker, 1863) n. comb.; Gingidiobora nebulosa (Philpott, 1917) n. comb.; G. subobscurata (Walker, 1862) n. comb.; Helastia clandestina (Philpott, 1921) n. comb.; H. corcularia (Guenée, 1868) n. comb. (= Larentia infantaria Guenée, 1868 n. syn.); H. expolita (Philpott, 1917) n. comb.; H. siris (Hawthorne, 1897) n. comb.; H. triphragma (Meyrick, 1883) n. comb.     

The maple leaf-cutter moth and its allies: a revision of Paraclemensia (Incurvariidae s.str.)

. The Holarctic genus Paraclemensia Busck, 1904, is revised and eight species are recognized: cyanella (Zeller) [= europaea Davis] (Europe), caemlea (Issiki) comb.n. (Japan), viridis sp.n. (Japan), oligospina sp.n. (Japan), cyanea sp.n. (Japan), acerifoliella (Fitch) [= hiteiceps (Walker); = iridella (Chambers)] (U.S.A. and Canada), incerta (Christoph) comb.n. (Siberia and Japan) and monospina sp.n. (Japan). The monophyly of the genus is demonstrated and the phylogeny and biogeography of the species are discussed. P. acerifoliella from North America is regarded as most closely related to two of the eastern Palaearctic species, incerta and monospina. A key to species is provided, and adults and male and female genitalia are described and illustrated (or references are given to illustrations published elsewhere). Three lectotypes are designated. The genus-group name ‡ Tschabia Issiki is demonstrated to be nomenclaturally unavailable.     

Pythiopina,an enigmatic subtribe of darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pedinini): taxonomic revision,microtomography, ecological niche models and phylogenetic position

Morphological, anatomical, and distributional data concerning the S outh A frican endemic beetle subtribe P ythiopina (T enebrionidae: P edinini) are revised. Five species, representing two genera, are recognized. Included in this total is one new species (Meglyphus mariae K amiński sp.n. ). The following species are placed in synonymy: Meglyphus ciliatipes [=Meglyphus calitzensis syn.n. ]; Meglyphus laenoides [=Meglyphus andreaei syn.n. ; =Meglyphus namaqua syn.n. ]. Microtomographic models for all valid P ythiopina species, including the holotype of the newly described species, are presented and analysed. Endoskeleton morphology (specifically characters of the tentorium and metendosternite) proved to be informative at the specific and generic levels. An identification key is provided to all known species of the subtribe. Environmental niche models are presented for the majority of species. A molecular phylogeny of P edinini based on six genetic loci (28S : D 1–D 3 region; 28S : D 4–D 5 region, COII , A rgK , CAD 2, wg) was also produced to explore the phylogenetic position of P ythiopina. This analysis is the first to include representatives of all seven subtribes of P edinini, and supports a sister relationship between P ythiopina and the P alaearctic subtribe D endarina. Results also suggest the existence of a second pair of sister taxa within P edinini (in addition to M elambiina) with an amphitropical A frican distribution. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:285AD87A‐46B1‐4FE9‐BC57‐949EA1F70D49 .     

NOTES ON SOME FORSIUS‘ TYPES OF ASIAN SAWFLIES (HYMENOPTERA: TENTHREDINOIDEA) WITH DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES*

Abstract Some types of E. Asian sawfly species described by Forsius in 1931 are examined. One new species is described based on the paratypes of a species described by Forsius: Eutomostethus forsiusi sp. nov. Three new combinations are provided: Nesoselandria annamitica (Forsius 1931) comb. nov., Birmindia gracilis (Forsius 1931) comb. nov. and Eutomostethus sikkimensis (Forsius 1931), comb. nov., two synonyms are proposed: Birmindia gracilis (Forsius 1931) =Birmindia albipes Malaise 1947, syn. nov. and Indotaxonus tricoloricornis (Konow, 1898) =Conaspidia dubiosa Forsius 1931, syn. nov.     

The high‐Andean Jivarus Giglio‐Tos (Orthoptera,Acridoidea, Melanoplinae): systematics,phylogenetic and biogeographic considerations

The high‐Andean genus Jivarus Giglio‐Tos from Ecuador, Colombia and Peru is revised. Morphological cladistic analysis indicated that Jivarus montanus and the new species digiticercus sp.n. and rugosus sp.n. must be treated as a separate genus, Maylasacris gen.n. The remaining species included in the analysis are assigned to the genus Jivarus, for which the following six species groups are identified: americanus group, antisanae group, carbonelli group, cohni group, pictifrons group and jagoi group. Twenty‐nine species are recognized for Jivarus, with ten described as new: J. rectus sp.n. , J. megacercus sp.n. , J. spatulus sp . n. , J. auriculus sp.n. , J. riveti sp.n. , J. sphaericus sp.n. , J. discoloris sp . n. , J. profundus sp.n. , J. ronderosi sp.n. and J. guarandaensis sp.n. The following new synonymies are proposed: Jivarus albolineatus Ronderos with J. antisanae (Bolivar) syn.n. , J. cerdai Ronderos and J. osunai Ronderos with J. alienus (Walker) syn.n. , and J. rubriventris Ronderos with J. ecuadorica (Hebard) syn.n. ; the new combinations Jivarus ecuadorica (Ronderos) comb.n. and Maylasacris montanus (Ronderos) comb.n. are proposed. Keys to the species of the genera and a review of the morphological characters defining the taxa are provided. Patterns of distribution of the clades coincide with the geography of the northern Andes of Colombia and Ecuador. Areas of endemism of the Jivarus species groups and Maylasacris are delimited by both the high‐altitude curves, including transverse zones, and the drier climates of the intra‐Andean valleys, clearly indicating recent, post‐glacial palaeogeography, as shown also in vegetation distributions. This paper has been formatted with many embedded links to images of type and paratype specimens, maps based on geo‐referenced specimen data and species keys available on the Orthoptera Species file online ( http://orthoptera.speciesfile.org ).     

New and little known species of gray moths (Lepidoptera,Gelechioidea, Blastobasidae) from Eurasia

Some additional data on the taxonomy of Blastobasidae are reported. Four new Palaearctic species are described: Blastobasis ponticella sp. n. from the Crimea, North-Western Caucasus, and Transcaucasia; B. centralasiae sp. n. from Central Asia; Hypatopa ibericella sp. n. from the Iberian Peninsula, and Pseudohypatopa beljaevi sp. n. from the Russian Far East (Primorskii Territory). Based on examination of the type material, the following new synonymies are established: Blastobasis phycidella (Zeller, 1839) [= B. roscidella (Zeller, 1847), syn. n.]; Hypatopa inunctella (Zeler, 1839) [= Hypatima haliciella Klemensiewicz, 1898; =Hypatima fuscella Klemensiewicz, 1898, syn. n.]. Blastobasis magna Amsel, 1852, stat. n., originally described as a subspecies of B. roscidella, is considered a distinct species with the range extending throughout the Western Mediterranean.     

Gondwanan Gymnochilini (Coleoptera: Trogossitidae): generic concepts,review of New Zealand species and long‐range Pacific dispersal

Members of Leperina Erichson (Trogossitidae: Gymnochilini) from New Zealand, New Caledonia and Lord Howe Island are morphologically similar to members of the endemic Juan Fernandez Island genus Phanodesta Reitter, sharing at least one obvious character, elytral carinae that are beaded and contain well‐defined punctures. To test the monophyly of Leperina and Phanodesta, we reconstructed phylogenetic relationships of the genera of the tribe Gymnochilini by a cladistic analysis of 22 terminals and 47 adult characters rooted with one genus of trogossitine. Leperina is rendered paraphyletic by the placements of Seidlitzella Jakobson and Phanodesta. Kolibacia n.gen. (type species Leperina tibialis Reitter) is described for east Palaearctic species included formerly in Leperina (two new combinations); New Zealand Leperina and other species from New Caledonia and Lord Howe Island (Ostoma pudicum Olliff) are transferred to Phanodesta (six new combinations); and the remaining species are retained in Leperina. The following species are described as new: Phanodesta carinata n.sp., P. manawatawhi n.sp., P. oculata n.sp. and P. tepaki n.sp. Leperina ambiguum Broun is transferred to Grynoma Sharp resulting in a new combination and three new synonymies for New Zealand trogossitines: Leperina interrupta Brookes n.syn. and Leperina sobrina (White) n.syn. [= Phanodesta farinosa (Sharp)], and Trogosita affinis White n.syn. (= Tenebroides mauritanicus Linnaeus). A key to the New Zealand species and a checklist for the species of the Kolibacia, Leperina and Phanodesta are provided. The derived placement of Juan Fernandez Phanodesta in the phylogeny is evidence for long‐distance dispersal from Australasia. A tally of all Juan Fernandez Islands Coleoptera shows derivation mostly from Chile and South America, with few from the southern Pacific region, rarely from Australasia.     

A review of the palaearctic species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hadrodactylus</Emphasis> Förster (Hymenoptera,Ichneumonidae, Ctenopelmatinae) with a description of five new species

30 Palaearctic species of Hadrodactylus are considered. 2 species-group with 6 subgroups are distinguished. 5 new species from the Eastern Palaearctic Region are described: Hadrodactylus arkit sp. n. (Kyrgyzstan), H. caucasicus sp. n. (Caucasus), H. nitidus sp. n., H. sibiricus sp. n., and H. taigensis sp. n. (Eastern Siberia and Far East of Russia). A new combination and a new synonymy Xenoschesis incarnator Aubert, 1985 (recte Hadrodactylus, comb. n.) = Hadrodactylus fugax almator Aubert, 1996, syn. n. are established. An annotated list of species is given with data on the distribution in Russia and adjacent territories. A key to 30 Palaearctic species is given.     

Systematic revision of Hoggicosa Roewer, 1960, the Australian ‘bicolor’ group of wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae)

The Australian wolf spider genus Hoggicosa Roewer, 1960 with the type species Hoggicosa errans (Hogg, 1905) is revised to include ten species: Hoggicosa alfi sp. nov. ; Hoggicosa castanea (Hogg, 1905) comb. nov. (= Lycosa errans Hogg, 1905 syn. nov. ; = Lycosa perinflata Pulleine, 1922 syn. nov. ; = Lycosa skeeti Pulleine, 1922 syn. nov. ); Hoggicosa bicolor (McKay, 1973) comb. nov. ; Hoggicosa brennani sp. nov. ; Hoggicosa duracki (McKay, 1975) comb. nov. ; Hoggicosa forresti (McKay, 1973) comb. nov. ; Hoggicosa natashae sp. nov. ; Hoggicosa snelli (McKay, 1975) comb. nov. ; Hoggicosa storri (McKay, 1973) comb. nov. ; and Hoggicosa wolodymyri sp. nov. The Namibian Hoggicosa exigua Roewer, 1960 is transferred to Hogna, Hogna exigua (Roewer, 1960) comb. nov. A phylogenetic analysis including nine Hoggicosa species, 11 lycosine species from Australia and four from overseas, with Arctosa cinerea Fabricius, 1777 as outgroup, supported the monophyly of Hoggicosa, with a larger distance between the epigynum anterior pockets compared to the width of the posterior transverse part. The analysis found that an unusual sexual dimorphism for wolf spiders (females more colourful than males), evident in four species of Hoggicosa, has evolved multiple times. Hoggicosa are burrowing lycosids, several constructing doors from sand or debris, and are predominantly found in semi‐arid to arid regions of Australia. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 158 , 83–123.     

Generic revision and phylogeny of Microweiseinae (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

The monophyly and phylogenetic relationships of the subfamily Microweiseinae were investigated. Twenty‐three in‐group taxa, representing all known genera of Microweiseinae (except for Microcapillata Gordon) were included in a cladistic analysis, based on 45 adult morphological characters. The parsimony analysis of the resulting data matrix supported the monophyly of Microweiseinae, Carinodulini, Serangiini and Microweiseini (inclusive of Sukunahikonini). The recognition of Sukunahikonini renders Microweiseini paraphyletic, and consequently both tribes were synonymized, retaining Microweiseini as a senior family‐group name ( syn.n. ). Genera and tribes of Microweiseinae are diagnosed thoroughly, illustrated and keys to their identification are provided. The following nomenclatural changes were made: Hikonasukuna Sasaji and Orculus Sicard are synonymized with Scymnomorphus Weise ( syn.n. ); Gnathoweisea Gordon is synonymized with Microweisea Cockerell ( syn.n. ); Hikonasukuna monticola Sasaji and Orculus castaneus Sicard are transferred to Scymnomorphus ( comb.n. ); Smilia planiceps Casey, Gnathoweisea hageni Gordon, Gnathoweisea ferox Gordon, Gnathoweisea micula Gordon and Gnathoweisea texana Gordon are transferred to Microweisea ( comb.n ). Three new genera are described: Allenius gen.n. for Allenius californianus sp.n. (type species) from Mexico and Allenius iviei sp.n. from U.S.A.; Gordoneus gen.n. (type species Gnathoweisea schwarzi Gordon from U.S.A.); and Cathedrana gen.n. (type species Cathedrana natalensis sp.n. from South Africa). The first African member of Carinodulini, Carinodulina ruwenzorii sp.n. is described. The genera Microweisea, Coccidophilus, Serangium and Delphastus are well‐known predators of sternorrynchous Hemiptera, such as scale insects (Diaspididae) and whiteflies (Aleyrodidae), and play a significant role in agricultural ecosystems as biocontrol agents. Host data and biological records are summarized for each genus.     

Mealybugs of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dysmicoccus</Emphasis> Ferris (Homoptera,Pseudococcidae) of the fauna of Russia and adjacent countries

A key to six species of the genus Dysmicoccus from the former USSR is given, provided with comprehensive information on the nomenclature, morphology, and taxonomy of the widely variable D. walkeri. The following new synonymies are established: D. walkeri Newstead (= D. kazanskyi Borchs., syn. n.; = glandularis Baz., syn. n.; = badachshanicus Nurm., syn. n.; = innermongolicus Tang in Tang and Li, syn. n.). Lectotype of D. kazanskyi is designated. Dysmicoccus multivorus (Kir.) is considered in the revision of the genus Trionymus Berg (Danzig, 1997), the rest species are discussed in the monograph of the Far Eastern fauna (Danzig, 1980).     

The genus Alphitobius Stephens (Coleoptera,Tenebrionidae, Alphitobiini) in Africa and adjacent islands

All species of the genus Alphitobius Stephens, 1829 (Alphitobiini Reitter, 1917, subfamily Tenebrioninae Latreille, 1802) from Africa and adjacent islands are revised. New species: Alphitobius capitaneus sp. n. from Kenya. New synonyms: Cryptops ulomoides Solier, 1851, syn. n. of Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer, 1796); Alphitobius rufus Ardoin, 1976, syn. n. of Alphitobius hobohmi Koch, 1953); Peltoides (Micropeltoides) crypticoides Pic, 1916, syn. n. of Peltoides (Micropeltoides) opacus (Gerstaecker, 1871), comb. n. Homonym: Alphitobius ulomoides Koch, 1953 = Alphitobius arnoldi nom. n. New combinations from Alphitobius: Ulomoides basilewskyi (Ardoin, 1969), comb. n.; Peltoides (Micropeltoides) opacus (Gerstaecker, 1871), comb. n. Figures of all examined species are added and a species key is compiled.