New and little known species of the dance-fly subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xanthempis</Emphasis> Bezzi,genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Empis</Emphasis> L. (Diptera,Empididae), from the Caucasus

Five new species of the subgenus Xanthempis Bezzi are described from the Caucasus: Empis (Xanthempis) annae sp. n. (Russia: Krasnodar Territory), E. (X.) grichanovi sp. n. (Russia: Krasnodar Territory; Georgia), E. (X.) pseudoconcolor sp. n. (Russia: Krasnodar and Stavropol territories; Georgia: Abkhazia), E. (X.) teberdaensis sp. n. (Russia: Karachay-Cherkessia), and E. (X.) zamotajlovi sp. n. (Russia: Krasnodar Territory and Adygea). The females of E. (X.) alanica Shamshev and E. (X.) kovalevi Shamshev are described for the first time. New data on the distribution of some previously described species are reported. The geographical distribution of Xanthempis is discussed. A key to Xanthempis species from the Caucasus is compiled.     

New species of the tenebrionid-beetle genera <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tagonoides</Emphasis> Fairm., <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gnaptorina</Emphasis> Rtt. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agnaptoria</Emphasis> Rtt. (Coleoptera,Tenebrionidae) from China

Six new species Tagonoides belousovi sp. n., T. yunnana sp. n., Gnaptorina australis sp. n., Agnaptoria elongata sp. n. (Yunnan), A. lecta sp. n., and A. ruida sp. n. (Sichuan), and a new subspecies Gnaptorina potanini minxiana subsp. n. are described from China. Morphological adaptations of tenebrionids of the tribe Blaptini associated with phytophagous habit are discussed.     

Review of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">granulosus</Emphasis> Subgroup of the Weevil Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plinthus</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Curculionidae)

The granulosus subgroup of Plinthus is revised. Plinthus frivaldszkyi Davidian et Savitsky, sp. n. and P. mananauricus Davidian et Savitsky, sp. n. from the Caucasus are described. New data on the morphology and geographic distribution of P. granulosus Reitter, 1884, P. abdurakhmanovi Davidian, 1995, and P. kataevi Davidian, 1992 and a key to five species of the granulosus subgroup are presented.     

New Data on the Taxonomy of the Weevil Subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caucasoplinthus</Emphasis>, Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plinthus</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Curculionidae)

The taxonomic composition of the subgenus Caucasoplinthus Davidian, 1995 is revised. The immunis and granulosus groups are downgraded to subgroups of the silphoides and fallax groups, respectively; the voriseki subgroup is transferred from the fallax to the fausti group. Plinthus attilai Davidian et Savitsky, sp. n. and P. ljudae Davidian et Savitsky, sp. n. are described from Turkey and Abkhazia, respectively. New data on the taxonomy, distribution, and ecology of some little-known species are presented. The following new synonymy is established: Molytes vittatus Motschulsky, 1839 (= Meleus irroratus Reitter, 1884, syn. n., = Meleus faldermanni Faust, 1884, syn. n., = Meleus difficilis Faust, 1884, syn. n.).     

Myrothecium-like (Ascomycota,Hypocreales) species from tropical areas: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Digitiseta</Emphasis> gen. nov. and additions to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Inaequalispora</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Parvothecium</Emphasis>

Inaequalispora and Parvothecium are two myrothecium-like, closely related genera of Hypocreales. They are also morphologically similar, sharing sporodochial conidiomata, penicillate conidiophores, fusiform to ellipsoidal conidia accumulating in a green slimy drop, and hypha-like setoid extensions emerging through the conidial mass. During a revision of myrothecium-like isolates originating from rainforest areas of South America (Ecuador, Brazil) and Southeast Asia (Singapore), multilocus phylogenetic inferences (based on DNA sequence data of ITS, partial nuc 28S, and partial tef1a, rpb2 and tub2) and morphological studies concordantly revealed the occurrence of two undescribed species of Inaequalispora (I. longiseta sp. nov. and I. cylindrospora sp. nov.) and one undescribed species of Parvothecium (P. amazonensesp. nov.). Myrothecium setiramosum, M. dimorphum, and two undescribed taxa form the base of a new lineage, sister to the current Parvothecium lineage. This lineage is recognized as Digitiseta gen. nov., typified by D. setiramosa comb. nov. Digitiseta dimorpha comb. nov. is also proposed, and the new species D. parvodigitata sp. nov. and D. multidigitata sp. nov. are described.     

A new cardinalfish, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Verulux solmaculata</Emphasis> (Perciformes: Apogonidae), from Papua New Guinea and Australia

Verulux solmaculata sp. nov., a new cardinalfish based on 88 specimens collected from Papua New Guinea and Australia, differs from V. cypselurus, the only other known member of the genus, by the following characters: higher modal numbers of pectoral fin-rays (16 vs. 15 in the latter) and developed gill rakers (14 vs. 13), a broader black band extending over 3–5 (mode 4) rays on each lobe of the caudal fin (vs. 1–3, mode 2), and a black blotch on the caudal-fin base (vs. blotch absent).     

Revision of the shield-bug genera <Emphasis Type="Italic">Holcostethus</Emphasis> Fieber and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Peribalus</Emphasis> Mulsant et Rey (Heteroptera,Pentatomidae) of the Palaearctic Region

A complex of the heteropteran genera centering around Peribalus Mulsant et Rey and Holcostethus Fieber is considered. The genus Dryadocoris Kirkaldy reveals no relationship with the above genera and is believed to represent a separate clade of the family Pentatomidae. The genera Peribalus and Holcostethus are revised. The former includes three subgenera: Peribalus s. str. with two species, Asioperibalus subgen. n. (type species Cimex inclusus Dohrn) with six species, and Tianocoris subgen. n. (type species Holcostethus manifestus Kiritshenko) with two species. Holcostethus embraces two subgenera: Holcostethus s. str. and the monotypic Enigmocoris subgen. n. (type species H. fissiceps Horváth). Two new species are described: Peribalus tianshanicus sp. n. from the Tien Shan Mts. and P. przewalskii sp. n. from the northern part of China (Huan He River). P. capitatus Jakovlev and P. vernalis (Wolff) are downgraded to subspecies of P. strictus (F.). P. ovatus Jakovlev is synonymized with P. inclusus (Dohrn). Two new monotypic genera related to the revised complex of genera are established, Paraholcostethus gen. n. (type species Peribalus breviceps Horváth) and Himalayastethus gen. n. (type species H. pilosus sp. n. from Kashmir). A key to, and morphometric characters for all the taxa considered are provided. The key characters, including both male and female genitalia, are illustrated, and distributional maps are given.     

A review of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">merkli</Emphasis> group of the weevil genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plinthus</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Curculionidae)

The merkli group of the weevil genus Plinthus is revised. Plinthus navarsati Davidian et Savitsky, sp. n. is described from Northeastern Turkey. New data on the morphology and geographical distribution of P. merkli Frivaldszki, 1894, P. cavazzutii Meregalli, 1985, and P. latipennis Meregalli, 1985 are given, with a key to all the four species of the merkli group.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Adlardia</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">novaecaledoniae</Emphasis> n. g., n. sp. (Digenea: Cryptogonimidae) from the fork-tailed threadfin bream <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nemipterus furcosus</Emphasis> (Val.) (Perciformes: Nemipteridae) off New Caledonia

Adlardia novaecaledoniae n. g., n. sp. (Digenea: Cryptogonimidae) is described from the fish Nemipterus furcosus (Val.) (Perciformes: Nemipteridae) from off New Caledonia (South Pacific). Adlardia n. g. is distinguished from all other cryptogonimid genera by the combination of an elongate body, the presence of oral spines, intestinal caeca that open via ani at the posterior end of the body, a highly lobed ovary, oblique testes that are located in the mid-hindbody, vitelline follicles that extend from midway between the testes and ovary to midway between the ovary and ventral sucker, and an excretory vesicle that bifurcates dorsal to the ovary and reunites immediately anterior to the pharynx. A. novaecaledoniae n. sp. is the only cryptogonimid that has been reported with an excretory vesicle that reunites anterior to the pharynx. Siphoderina elongata (Gu &; Shen, 1979) Miller &; Cribb, 2008 is transferred to Adlardia as A. elongata (Gu &; Shen, 1979) n. comb. based on morphological and ecological (host group) agreement with A. novaecaledoniae. Bayesian inference analysis of LSU rDNA revealed that A. novaecaledoniae nested well within a clade containing cryptogonimid taxa known almost exclusively from haemulid and lutjanid fishes, suggesting that host-switching between teleosts of the Haemuloidea, Lutjanoidea and Sparoidea may have been common in the evolutionary history of this system.     

Two new gonad-infecting species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Philometra</Emphasis> Costa, 1845 (Nematoda: Philometridae) from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trachinus</Emphasis> spp. (Osteichthyes: Trachinidae) in the Gulf of Hammamet,Tunisia

Based on light and scanning electron microscopical studies, two new gonad-infecting species of Philometra Costa, 1845, P. draco n. sp. and P. radiata n. sp. (Nematoda: Philometridae), are described from the marine perciform fishes Trachinus draco (Linnaeus) and T. radiatus (Linnaeus) (both Trachinidae), respectively, in the Gulf of Hammamet, off the northeastern coast of Tunisia. Philometra draco n. sp. and P. radiata n. sp. can be separated from other gonad-infecting species of this genus by the structures associated to the gubernaculum (e.g. dorsal protuberance, smooth field separating the dorsolateral longitudinal parts), as well as by the length of the body, spicules and gubernaculum. Philometra radiata n. sp. can be distinguished from P. draco n. sp. in having the dorsal side of the gubernaculum distal end provided with a median longitudinal smooth field demarcated by two dorsolateral lamellate parts. These two new species are the first philometrid species described from fishes of the family Trachinidae.     

Three New Species of Dance Flies of the Subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Empis</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Polyblepharis</Emphasis>) (Diptera,Empididae) from Kazakhstan and Eastern Siberia

Three new species of dance flies (Diptera, Empididae) of the subgenus Polyblepharis Bezzi, 1909 of the genus Empis Linnaeus, 1758 are described and illustrated: E. (P.) bartakisp. n. (Kazakhstan), E. (P.) dulkeitisp. n. (Russia (Krasnoyarsk Territory)), and E. (P.) ozerovisp. n. (Kazakhstan).     

A review of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thinodromus lunatus</Emphasis> species-group (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae)

The Thinodromus lunatus species group is revised. The following new species are described: Thinodromus (s. str.) cattiensis sp. n. from Vietnam, Thinodromus (s. str.) forsteri sp. n. from southern Thailand, Thinodromus (s. str.) himalayensis sp. n. from Nepal and northern India, Thinodromus (s. str.) inconspicuus sp. n. from southern China, Thailand, and Vietnam, and Thinodromus (s. str.) spotus sp. n. from southern China. The following new synonymy is established: Thinodromus (s. str.) deceptor (Sharp, 1889) = Thinodromus (s. str.) gravelyi (Bernhauer, 1926), syn. n.; = Thinodromus (s. str.) reitterianus (Bernhauer, 1938), syn. n. Lectotypes are designated for Trogophloeus lunatus Motschulsky, 1857, Trogophloeus pustulatus Bernhauer, 1904, Trogophloeus socius Bernhauer, 1904, Trogophloeus sumatrensis Bernhauer, 1915, Trogophloeus lewisi Cameron, 1919, Trogophloeus gravelyi Bernhauer, 1926, Trogophloeus reitterianus Bernhauer, 1938, and Trogophloeus unipustulatus Cameron, 1941. A key is presented to all the species of the Thinodromus lunatus group.     

Three new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plagioporus</Emphasis> Stafford, 1904 from darters (Perciformes: Percidae), with a redescription of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plagioporus boleosomi</Emphasis> (Pearse, 1924) Peters, 1957

A form of Plagioporus Stafford, 1904 is described from the intestine of three North American species of darters (Perciformes: Percidae) from River West Twin, Wisconsin, USA, that we consider to be conspecific with Plagioporus boleosomi (Pearse, 1924) Peters, 1957 based on similarities in the sucker ratio, extent of the forebody, shape and position of the testes, vitellarium distribution and terminal genitalia. Three new species of Plagioporus are described from the intestine of darters as follows: Plagioporus fonti n. sp. from Percina nigrofasciata Agassiz in Florida, USA, Plagioporus limus n. sp. from Etheostoma squamosum Distler in Arkansas, USA and Plagioporus aliffi n. sp. from Etheostoma blennioides newmanni Miller in Arkansas, USA. Morphologically Plagioporus fonti n. sp., Plagioporus limus n. sp. and Plagioporus aliffi n. sp. are most similar to one another and to P. boleosomi, Plagioporus lepomis Dobrovolny, 1939 and ‘P. etheostomae’, a nomen nudum for a species described from Etheostoma blennioides Rafinesque in Kentucky, USA, all of which are collectively distinguished from congeners in having a combination of confluent vitellarium in the post-testicular space and absence of vitelline follicles with their entire length distributed in the forebody. Plagioporus fonti n. sp., P. limus n. sp. and P. aliffi n. sp. are respectively distinguished from one another and their closest congeners in having the anterior extent of the vitellarium in the anterior half of forebody to slightly anterior to the ventral sucker as opposed to one approximately at the level of the posterior margin of the ventral sucker, possession of an excretory vesicle reaching the anterior testis as opposed to one only reaching the posterior testis and having a longer than wide oral sucker and a wider than long ventral sucker. A Bayesian inference (BI) analysis of partial 28S rDNA sequences was conducted using the three new species and 24 sequences of opecoelids retrieved from GenBank, including ten species of Plagioporus. Plagioporus aliffi n. sp., Plagioporus fonti n. sp. and P. boleosomi comprised a moderately supported sister group to a clade containing all species of Plagioporus except Plagioporus limus n. sp. and Plagioporus shawi (Mcintosh, 1939) Margolis, 1970. Plagioporus limus and in turn P. shawi were resolved as sister to all other congeners with high and moderate support, respectively.     

A new species of the jewel-beetle subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acmaeodera</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ptychomus</Emphasis>) Marseul, 1866 from Oman (Coleoptera,Buprestidae: Polycestinae: Acmaeoderini)

A new species of buprestid beetles, Acmaeodera (Ptychomus) koshtali sp. n. (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Polycestinae) from Oman is described, illustrated, and compared with the closely related species A. (P.) arabica Gory, 1840 and A. (P.) sancta Théry, 1926 which are also recorded from the Arabian Peninsula.     

Detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rickettsia</Emphasis> spp. in ticks parasitizing toads (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhinella marina</Emphasis>) in the northern Brazilian Amazon

This study evaluated rickettsial infection in ticks collected on toads from the northern Brazilian Amazon (Amapá state), where to our knowledge there are neither records of ticks from amphibians nor rickettsial infections in ticks. During 2016–2017, a total of 22 free-living toads were captured and identified as Rhinella marina. Overall, 12 (54.5%) toads were parasitized by a total of 97 ticks (6 males, 39 females, 31 nymphs, 21 larvae), giving a mean intensity of 8.1 ticks per infested toad. Two tick species were morphologically identified: Amblyomma rotundatum Koch (31 females, 14 nymphs), and Amblyomma dissimile Koch (6 males, 8 females, 17 nymphs). The 21 larvae were morphologically denoted as Amblyomma sp. Five toads were co-infested by A. rotundatum and A. dissimile. Morphological identifications were confirmed by nucleotide sequencing of fragments of the mitochondrial genes 16S rDNA, 12S rDNA and/or COX1. A total of 54 ticks were analyzed for the presence of rickettsial DNA. Eleven (9 females and 2 nymphs) out of 14 A. rotundatum ticks contained Rickettsia bellii. None of the 25 specimens of A. dissimile (6 males, 6 females, 13 nymphs) contained amplifiable rickettsial DNA. From 15 Amblyomma sp. larvae, a pool of 10 individuals contained Rickettsia sp. strain Colombianensi. Sequencing of the 16S rDNA amplicon derived from the positive pool yielded a sequence of A. dissimile. We detected Rickettsia sp. strain Colombianensi for the first time in Brazil. Prior records of this agent were restricted to Colombia and Honduras. In addition, we report the presence of A. rotundatum for the first time in the state of Amapá, where the only other record of A. dissimile was registered over 20 years ago.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Paralepidapedon variabile</Emphasis> sp. n. (Trematoda,Lepocreadioidea, Lepidapedidae) and other representatives of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paralepidapedon</Emphasis> from Antarctic fish

In the Ross Sea and Amundsen Sea, four representatives of the genus Paralepidapedon—Paralepidapedon cf. dubium Prudhoe et Bray 1973 sensu Sokolov et Gordeev 2013, P. lepidum (Gaevskaya et Rodyuk 1988), Paralepidapedon sp., and P. variabile sp. n.—were found in demersal fishes Muraenolepis marmorata and Macrourus whitsoni. Paralepidapedon variabile sp. n. is described from Muraenolepis marmorata in the Amundsen Sea. Paralepidapedon variabile sp. n. differs from other species of the genus Paralepidapedon by the position of the anterior border of the vitellarium at the level of the anterior edge of the ventral sucker or genital pore and by the highly variable shape of the testes: from roundish with a smooth edge to sinuate–lobate. Paralepidapedon lepidum was found for the first time in the Antarctic.     

First record of the tick <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ixodes</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pholeoixodes</Emphasis>) <Emphasis Type="Italic">kaiseri</Emphasis> in Turkey

Nymphs and larvae belonging to Ixodes spp. were collected from a red fox in Turkey. The ticks were identified morphologically and molecularly (16S rDNA PCR and phylogenetic analysis) as I. kaiseri. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses show that our I. kaiseri isolate is very similar to I. kaiseri isolates collected from Germany, Serbia, Romania, and Hungary. Therefore, the existence of I. kaiseri has been demonstrated for the first time in Turkey. More studies relating to the regional distribution and vectorial competence of I. kaiseri are needed.     

Revision of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Melamphaes</Emphasis> (Melamphaidae). 5. Oligo-raker species: <Emphasis Type="Italic">M. indicus</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">M. eurous</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">M. typhlops</Emphasis>

Three oligo-raker species (?19 rakers on the first gill arch) of the genus Melamphaes out of the “M. typhlops” group are considered. The validity of M. indicus Ebeling is restored. This species inhabits equatorial and tropical waters of the Indian Ocean and the western part of the Pacific Ocean. M. eurous sp. n., which is related to M. indicus, is described from equatorial waters of the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean. M. typhlops (Lowe) inhabiting the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean, from the equatorial zone about to 45° N, is redescribed.     

From Eastern Arc Mountains to extreme sexual dimorphism: systematics of the enigmatic assassin bug genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xenocaucus</Emphasis> (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Tribelocephalinae)

The Eastern Arc Mountains (EAM) have long been recognized as an area of extraordinary endemic biodiversity but have remained understudied compared to other biodiversity hotspots. The tribelocephaline assassin bug genus Xenocaucus China & Usinger, 1949, currently comprises two species known from the Uluguru Mountains of the EAM and Bioko Island in the Gulf of Guinea. Both species are based on single apterous and apparently eyeless female specimens. Based on collections resulting from extensive leaf litter sampling in Tanzania and Ethiopia, we here describe six new species, five based on females (Xenocaucus chomensis, n. sp., Xenocaucus kimbozensis, n. sp., Xenocaucus nguru, n. sp., Xenocaucus rubeho, n. sp., and Xenocaucus uluguru, n. sp.) and Xenocaucus ethiopiensis, n. sp., for which we discovered a macropterous male with well-developed eyes in addition to the apterous females. Molecular phylogenetic analyses indicate that Xenocaucus ethiopiensis, n. sp., is the sister taxon to the Tanzanian clade and support morphology-based species concepts. Divergence dating shows that diversification in the Tanzanian clade started ～15 mya, with the youngest species-level split occurring ～8 mya. Three species occur across multiple mountain ranges in the EAM or occur also on Mt. Hanang, and biogeographic analyses suggest a complex history of Xenocaucus in East Africa.