Taxonomic studies of the Lygephila lubrica (Freyer, 1842) species complex with notes on other species in the genus (Lepidoptera,Erebidae, Toxocampinae)

The taxa of the Lygephila lubrica (Freyer, 1846) species complex are revised. The genital features of all known taxa are described and illustrated, with special reference to the structure of the vesica. Genitalia of Lygephila lubrica from different places in Russia, Central Asia and China are studied, illustrated and compared with different Mongolian populations. Lygephila kazachkaratavika, described as a subspecies, is raised to a species level, stat. n. Neotypes of Lygephila lubrosa (Staudinger, 1901), Lygephila lubrosa kazachkaratavika Stshetkin YuL & Stshetkin YuYu, 1994 [1997] and Lygephila lubrosa orbonaria Stshetkin YuL & Stshetkin YuYu, 1994 [1997] are designated. The female genitalia of the type of Lygephila lupina (Graeser, 1890) is described and illustrated for the first time, and Lygephila mirabilis (Bryk, 1948) treated here as a junior subjective synonym, syn. n.     

Three new species of Epicephala Meyrick (Lepidoptera,Gracillariidae) associated with Phyllanthus microcarpus (Benth.) (Phyllanthaceae)

Three new species of Epicephala Meyrick, 1880 are described based on specimens reared from fruits of Phyllanthus microcarpus (Benth.): Epicephala microcarpa sp. n. and Epicephala laeviclada sp. n. from Guangxi and Hainan, and Epicephala tertiaria sp. n. from Guangdong and Guangxi. Photographs of adults and illustrations of genital structures are provided.     

A new parasitoid of Bazaria turensis (Lepidoptera,Pyralidae): Campoplex bazariae sp. n. (Hymenoptera,Ichneumonidae)

A new solitary endoparasitoid of the larva of Bazaria turensis Ragonot, 1887 (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) in Qinghai province, China, Campoplex bazariae Sheng, sp. n., belonging to the subfamily Campopleginae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae), is reported. Illustrations of the new species are provided.     

Three new genera of Neotropical Mimallonidae (Lepidoptera,Mimallonoidea, Mimallonidae) with descriptions of three new species

Three new genera of Mimallonidae are described. The monotypic genus Tostallo gen. n. is erected to contain “Perophora” albescens Jones, 1912, which was previously placed in the preoccupied genus Perophora Harris, 1841 and was never formally moved to a valid genus. Perophora is a junior homonym of Cicinnus Blanchard, 1852, but the name albescens is not appropriately placed in Cicinnus due to external and genitalia characteristics entirely unique to the species albescens. The female of Tostallo albescens comb. n. is described and both sexes are figured for the first time. Auroriana gen. n. is erected to contain Auroriana florianensis (Herbin, 2012), comb. n. previously described as Cicinnus florianensis, and two new species: Auroriana colombiana sp. n. from Colombia and Auroriana gemma sp. n. from southeastern and southern Brazil. The female of Auroriana florianensis is described and figured for the first time. Finally, the monotypic genus Micrallo gen. n. is erected to include a new species, Micrallo minutus sp. n. described from northeastern Brazil.     

Rediscovered parasitism of Andrena savignyi Spinola (Hymenoptera,Andrenidae) by Stylops (Strepsiptera,Stylopidae) and revised taxonomic status of the parasite

Parasitism of Andrena (Suandrena) savignyi Spinola (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae) by Stylops Kirby (Strepsiptera: Stylopidae) has been recorded only once, and from an individual collected in Egypt almost a century ago, with the parasite described as Stylops savignyi Hofeneder. The recent rediscovery of this Stylops from an individual of Andrena savignyi permits a reinterpretation of the species and its affinities among other Stylops. The bee was collected at flowers of Zilla spinosa (Turra) Prantl. (Brassicaceae) in Amariah, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Based on DNA barcode sequences from material sampled across Africa, Asia, and Europe, it is apparent that Stylops savignyi is conspecific with Stylops nassonowi Pierce, and we accordingly synonymize this name (syn. n.), with the latter representing the senior and valid name for the species. A differential diagnosis is provided for Stylops nassonowi and the morphology of the female is described, as well as the first instars.     

Denopelopia amicitia,a new Tanypodinae from Brazil (Diptera,Chironomidae)

A new species of Denopelopia from Brazil is described based on adult male and pupa. The male of the new species can be distinguished from all other species of the genus by the genitalia and fore-tibial spur morphology. The pupa is very similar to those of Denopelopia atria, but it can be distinguished by the absence of distinct constrictions in the respiratory atrium of the thoracic horn. Generic diagnosis to male and pupa of Denopelopia is emended and keys to male and pupae of known species are provided.     

First record and redescription of the terrestrial isopod Hemilepistoides messerianus Borutzky, 1945 (Isopoda,Oniscidea) from Iran

In the present study, Hemilepistoides messerianus Borutzky, 1945 is reported from Iran for the first time. This species is redescribed and diagnostic characters of both males and females are illustrated. This species is characterized by the tuberculation of all parts of the dorsal surface of the body and the male pleopod endopodite I with a triangular lobe at apex. A map with the distribution of species is presented.     

Ectomyelois Heinrich, 1956 in China,with descriptions of two new species and a key (Lepidoptera,Pyralidae, Phycitinae)

Only three species belonging to the genus Ectomyelois Heinrich, 1956 are recorded from China, of which two species, Ectomyelois bipectinalis sp. n. and Ectomyelois furvivena sp. n. are described as new. We discuss the status of Ectomyelois that has been treated as a junior synonym by previous authors; we treat it as a valid genus, revised status, based on characters of the venation and female genitalia. Photographs of the adults and illustrations of the genitalia are given, along with a key to the three known Chinese species.     

A new species of Themus (Themus) Motschulsky from Yunnan,China and a redescription of T. (T.) testaceicollis Wittmer, 1983 (Coleoptera,Cantharidae)

A new species is described, Themus (Themus) dimorphus sp. n. from Yunnan, China. Themus (Themus) testaceicollis Wittmer, 1983 is redescribed and compared with the new species. The two species are illustrated with habitus and genitalia of both sexes and abdominal sternites VIII of female.     

The taxonomic status of Dugesia biblica from Israel and Turkey (Platyhelminthes,Tricladida, Dugesiidae)

The taxonomic status of Dugesia biblica (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Dugesiidae) from Israel and Turkey is problematic due to its morphological similarity with Dugesia sicula since these nominal species present overlapping characters. In this study we analyzed histological preparations of specimens of these two nominal species and also compared mitochondrial COI gene sequences from Israeli populations to the already known haplotype composition of Dugesia sicula. We concluded that these animals belong to the same species and therefore we consider Dugesia biblica to be a junior synonym of Dugesia sicula. This implies that the distribution range of Dugesia sicula is even wider than previously thought, and that the species is present all around the Mediterranean Basin and on many of its islands.     

Ashea megacephala Kim & Ahn (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae), a new gyrophaenine genus and species from Peru

Ashea megacephala, a new Peruvian genus and species is described. The specimens were collected on mushrooms and mushroom-associated trees. This genus can be readily distinguished from the other genera of the subtribe Gyrophaenina by the large head and the three indistinctly articulated labial palpomeres. A key to the known genera of Gyrophaenina is provided. A habitus photograph and illustrations of diagnostic characters are also presented.     

Male secondary sexual structures and the systematics of the Thereus oppia species group (Lepidoptera,Lycaenidae, Eumaeini)

The Thereus oppia species group includes species with and without a scent pad, which is a histologically and morphologically characterized male secondary sexual structure on the dorsal surface of the forewing. To assess the hypothesis that these structures are lost evolutionarily, but not regained (Dollo’s Law), the taxonomy of this species group is revised. Thereus lomalarga sp. n., and Thereus brocki sp. n., are described. Diagnostic traits, especially male secondary structures, within the Thereus oppia species group are illustrated. Distributional and biological information is summarized for each species. Three species have been reared, and the caterpillars eat Loranthaceae. An inferred phylogeny is consistent with the hypothesis that scent pads in the Thereus oppia species group have been lost evolutionarily twice (in allopatry), and not re-gained.     

Systematic review of the firefly genus Scissicauda (Coleoptera,Lampyridae, Amydetinae) from Brazil

The Amydetinae genus Scissicauda McDermott, 1964 is reviewed and redescribed. We describe Scissicauda balena sp. n. from Brazil as new, and provide illustrations of the structural features and a key to species of both sexes.     

Morphology of juvenile stages of Kuschelina bergi (Harold) with biological information (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae, Alticini)

Kuschelina bergi (Harold, 1881) is being studied to be evaluated as a natural enemy of Phyla nodiflora var. minor (Hook.) N. O’Leary & Múlgura (Verbenaceae), an invasive weed in Australia. Eggs, and 1^st and 3^rd instar larvae are described and illustrated for the first time. The following characters distinguish Kuschelina bergi: presence of two medial setae in prosternum, mesosternum and metasternum, absence of tubercle on sternum I and eight setae in abdominal segment IX. The 3^rd instar larvae of Kuschelina bergi resemble Kuschelina gibbitarsa (Say) larvae: the body shape and details of mouthparts are similar, but the morphology of the mandible is different, as is the tarsungulus which has a single seta. Differences between Kuschelina bergi and other known larvae of Oedionychina are discussed. New biological data based on laboratory rearing and field observation are also presented and discussed.     

DNA barcoding reveals twelve lineages with properties of phylogenetic and biological species within Melitaea didyma sensu lato (Lepidoptera,Nymphalidae)

The complex of butterfly taxa close to Melitaea didyma includes the traditionally recognized species Melitaea didyma, Melitaea didymoides and Melitaea sutschana, the taxa that were recognized as species only relatively recently (Melitaea latonigena, Melitaea interrupta, Melitaea chitralensis and Melitaea mixta) as well as numerous described subspecies and forms with unclear taxonomic status. Here analysis of mitochondrial DNA barcodes is used to demonstrate that this complex is monophyletic group consisting of at least 12 major haplogroups strongly differentiated with respect to the gene COI. Six of these haplogroups are shown to correspond to six of the above-mentioned species (Melitaea didymoides, Melitaea sutschana, Melitaea latonigena, Melitaea interrupta, Melitaea chitralensis and Melitaea mixta). It is hypothesized that each of the remaining six haplogroups also represents a distinct species (Melitaea mauretanica, Melitaea occidentalis, Melitaea didyma, Melitaea neera, Melitaea liliputana and Melitaea turkestanica), since merging these haplogroups would result in a polyphyletic assemblage and the genetic distances between them are comparable with those found between the other six previously recognized species.     

The Australian millipede Dicranogonus pix Jeekel, 1982 (Diplopoda,Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae): a species with and without paranota

Dicranogonus pix Jeekel, 1982 occurs in Victoria and Tasmania, Australia, including the islands in eastern Bass Strait between the two States. There is only slight gonopod variation across this range, but Dicranogonus pix populations with and without paranota are separated in Bass Strait by the ca 50 km-wide gap between the Kent and Furneaux Groups of islands.