Taxonomy of wild pigs (Sus) of the Philippines

Native wild pigs of the Philippines are now in grave danger of extinction. Study of available material indicates that three species are present: Sundaland Sus barbatus on Palawan, and two endemic species, Sus philippensis (with three subspecies, one of them here described as new) on Luzon, Mindanao, Basilan, Leyte, Samar, Catanduanes and Mindoro, and Sus cebifroms on Negros, debit and Panay. Specimens from Jolo. Masbale and Bohol presently remain unallocated to species, and may reflect the occurrence of hybridization.     

A taxonomic review of the Neoserica (sensu lato) abnormis group (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae, Sericini)

The present paper revises the species belonging to the Neoserica (sensu lato) abnormis group, so far known only with two nominal species. Twenty new species are herein described from Indochina and southern China: N. abnormoides sp. n. (Vietnam, China), N. allolaotica sp. n., N. namthaensis sp. n., N. simplicissima sp. n. (Laos), N. thailandensis sp. n. (Thailand), N. alloputaoana sp. n., N. kanphantensis sp. n., N. natmatoungensis sp. n., N. putaoana sp. n., N. taunggyiana sp. n. (Myanmar), N. lamellosa sp. n., N. tonkinea sp. n. (Vietnam), N. bairailingshanica sp. n., N. euyunnanica sp. n., N. huangi sp. n., N. jiangxiensis sp. n., N. trifida sp. n., N. yaoi sp. n., N. yingjiangensis sp. n. (China), N. cardamomensis sp. n. (Indochina and southern China). One new combination is established: Neoserica ponderosa Arrow, 1946, comb. n. The lectotypes of Neoserica abnormis Moser, 1908 and the taxonomically uncertain N. inclinata Brenske, 1898, which very likely also belongs to this species group, are designated herein. A key to the species and to species groups is given, the genitalia of all species including their habitus are illustrated. Maps of species distribution are included.     

Contribution to the Knowledge of the Philippine Freshwater Zooplankton: New Records of Monogonont Rotifera

A total of 50 taxa of monogonont rotifers is recorded from 10 samples collected in different freshwater bodies in Laguna province, Luzon, and Lake Danao, Leyte island, Visayas, the Philippines. Of these, 15 are new to the Philippine fauna. The majority of the species collected, including the new records, are common, cosmopolitan (70%) or tropicopolitan (18%) littoral/periphytic species. The richest taxocoenosis was registered among submerged Ceratophyllum sp. in Lake Danao.     

Four new Mouse Spider species (Araneae,Mygalomorphae, Actinopodidae,Missulena) from Western Australia

Four new species of the Mouse Spider genus Missulena Walckenaer, 1805 (family Actinopodidae) are described from Western Australia based on morphological features of adult males. Missulena leniae sp. n.(from the Carnarvon and Yalgoo biogeographic regions), Missulena mainae sp. n. (Carnarvon), Missulena melissae sp. n. (Pilbara) and Missulena pinguipes sp. n. (Mallee) represent a broad spectrum of morphological diversity found in this genus and differ from other congeners by details of the male copulatory bulb, colour patterns, eye sizes, leg morphology and leg spination. Two of the species, M. pinguipes sp. n. and M. mainae sp. n., are characterised by swollen metatarsi of the fourth legs in males, a feature not previously recorded in the family. A key to males of all named Missulena species from Australia is presented and allows their identification based on external morphology.     

Taxonomic review of Cratocerus Dejean, 1829 (Coleoptera,Carabidae) with the description of six new species

A diagnosis of the South and Central American genus Cratocerus Dejean (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and a key to all species is provided. Eight species are recognized including six species that are newly described: Cratocerus sinesetosus sp. n. from French Guiana and Peru; Cratocerus multisetosus sp. n. from Costa Rica and Panama; Cratocerus tanyae sp. n. from Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Mexico; Cratocerus indupalmensis sp. n. a species widely distributed throughout Central and South America; Cratocerus kavanaughi sp. n. from French Guiana and Peru; and Cratocerus culpepperi sp. n. from Peru. A lectotype for Cratocerus sulcatus Chaudoir is designated. Habitus images are provided along with illustrations and images of male genitalia, female genitalia, and diagnostic morphological characters.     

Three new species of Melloleitaoina Gerschman & Schiapelli, 1960 (Araneae,Mygalomorphae, Theraphosidae) from northern Argentina

Three new species of the monotypic genus Melloleitaoina Gerschman & Schiapelli, 1960 are described from northern Argentina: M. mutquina sp. n., M. uru sp. n. and M. yupanqui sp. n. The female specimen originally described as M. crassifemur is not conspecific with the male holotype and thus is removed from this species and described as M. uru sp. n.; M. crassifemur is redescribed. All species are diagnosed, illustrated and a key to species is provided.     

A review of the genus Strigivenifera Hering, 1937 (Lepidoptera, Chrysopolomidae) with a description of ten new species

Twelve species are considered within the Afrotropical genus Strigivenifera Hering, 1937, and ten of them are described as new ones: S. eborea sp. n.,S. livingstonei sp. n., S. marina sp. n., S. tanja sp. n., S. ocellaris sp. n., S. cruisa sp. n., S. bartschi sp. n., S. oris sp. n., S. tatooifera sp. n., and S. neo sp. n. The species S. albidiscalis (Hampson, 1910) is raised from synonymy with S. venata (Aurivillius, 1895) and considered as a separate species.     

The Chinese species of the genus Ontsira Cameron (Hymenoptera,Braconidae, Doryctinae)

The Chinese species of the genus Ontsira Cameron, 1900 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Doryctinae) are reviewed. Eleven species are recognized, of which four new species are described from China and South Korea: O. abbreviata sp. n., O. henana sp. n., O. robusta sp. n., and O. rugivertex sp. n. Two species, O. ignea (Ratzeburg) and O. neantica Belokobylskij et Maetô, are recorded in China for the first time. A key to the Asian species of the genus Ontsira is provided.     

A taxonomic revision of the Neoserica (sensu lato) pilosula group (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae, Sericini)

Nine new species of the Neoserica (sensu lato) pilosula Moser, 1915, group are described from China: Neoserica curvipenis sp. n., N. emeishanensis sp. n., N. lincangensis sp. n., N. ludingensis sp. n., N. lushuiana sp. n., N. rangshuiensis sp. n., N. shennongjiaensis sp. n., N. tianeana sp. n., and N. weibaoshanica sp. n. The lectotype of Neoserica pilosula Moser, 1915, is designated. Habitus and male genitalia are illustrated, a key to the species of the group and a map of species distribution are given.     

Discovery of Steninae from Ningxia,Northwest China (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae)

A study on the Steninae of Ningxia Autonomous Region is presented. Sixteen species are recognized, including new province records for 11 species and four new species: Stenus biwenxuani sp. n., Stenus liupanshanus sp. n., Dianous yinziweii sp. n., Dianous ningxiaensis sp. n. Habitus photos of the new species, illustrations of diagnostic characters of all species and a key to species of the Steninae recorded from Ningxia are provided.     

New records of the genus Iporhogas Granger (Hymenoptera,Braconidae, Rogadinae) from Vietnam,with description of four new species

The genus Iporhogas Granger, 1949 (Braconidae: Rogadinae) is recorded for the first time for Vietnam. Four new species of the genus Iporhogas, viz. Iporhogas albilateralis sp. n., I. contrastus sp. n., I. simulatus sp. n. and I. tricoloratus sp. n., from Vietnam are described and illustrated, and additionally, one species, Iporhogas guangxiensis Chen & He, 1997, is newly recorded for Vietnam’s fauna of the family Braconidae. A key to the five Vietnamese species of the genus Iporhogas and a checklist with distributions of the ten species are provided.     

Gill parasites of the genus Cichlidogyrus Paperna, 1960 (Monogenea,Ancyrocephalidae) from Tilapia guineensis (Bleeker, 1862), with descriptions of six new species

A study of gill parasites of Tilapia guineensis (Bleeker, 1862) (Cichlidae) from different locations in West Africa (Senegal, Guinea, the Ivory Coast and the Congo) revealed the presence of twelve species of Cichlidogyrus Paperna, 1960 (Monogenea). Six have been recorded previously from T. zillii (Gervais, 1848) or Tristamella simonis (Günther, 1864) and six are considered new species: C. agnesi n. sp., C. bilongi n. sp., C. gallus n. sp., C. flexicolpos n. sp., C. louipaysani n. sp. and C. vexus n. sp. In the first three species cited, we report the presence of an auxiliary plate in the male copulatory complex which is characteristic of the species C. aegypticus Ergens, 1981, a parasite of Tilapia zillii.     

A taxonomic review of the Neoserica (sensu lato) septemlamellata group (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae, Sericini)

In the present paper the species belonging to the Neoserica (sensu lato) septemlamellata group, that included so far only four known species, are revised. Here we describe eleven new species originating mainly from Indochina and Southern China: N. daweishanica sp. n., N. gaoligongshanica sp. n., N. guangpingensis sp. n., N. igori sp. n., N. jiulongensis sp. n., N. plurilamellata sp. n., N. weishanica sp. n., N. yanzigouensis sp. n. (China) N. sapaensis sp. n. (China, Vietnam), N. bansongchana sp. n., N. takakuwai sp. n. (Laos). The lectotypes of Neoserica septemlamellata Brenske, 1898 and N. septemfoliata Moser, 1915 are designated. Keys to the species and species groups are given, the genitalia of all species and their habitus are illustrated and distribution maps are included.     

Limacodid moths (Lepidoptera,Limacodidae) of Taiwan,with descriptions of six new species

A list of species of Limacodidae from Taiwan is given (58 species, 43 genera). Six new species are described: Calauta obscura sp. n., Ceratonema apodina sp. n., Trichogyia concava sp. n., Neiraga fulva sp. n., Sansarea formosana sp. n., and Griseothosea rufula sp. n. The species Mastumurides bicolor (Shiraki, 1913) comb. n. is transferred from the genus Thosea Walker, 1855, thus forming a new generic combination.     

On the Cyprideis species flock (Crustacea, Ostracoda) in Lake Tanganyika, with the description of four new species

Four new species, belonging to three genera, of ostracods from Lake Tanganyika are described: Mesocyprideis nitida sp.nov., Romecytheridea belone sp.nov., R. plegma sp. nov. and Cyprideis loricata sp. nov. The Cyprideis species flock of Lake Tanganyika now consists of 17 formally described species (16 endemic) in 6 genera (4 endemic). The geographical and ecological distribution of the four species is briefly discussed and some supplementary remarks on the radiation of the Cyprideis species flock in Lake Tanganyika are offered.