A new species of Maladera Mulsant & Rey, 1871 from Iran (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Sericini) and a review of the distribution of the genus in Iran

A new species of Maladera Mulsant & Rey, 1871 is described from Iran: M. kermanensis sp. n. The habitus and genitalia of the new species are illustrated. Additional records of Maladera species and a checklist of the species occurring in Iran including a map of their distribution are given.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:812B8D62-2DD5-42CF-8BCD-F576CF3D2A7E     

Inferring larval taxonomy and morphology in Maladera species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Sericini) using DNA taxonomy tools

Based on a comparative molecular study of scarab chafers we matched adult and larval instars to identify and describe unknown larvae of Sericini. Here, we use for the first time a two‐fold DNA taxonomy approach based on: (i) mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers of a local sample (from Nepal) of adults and larvae, in combination with character and tree‐based species delimitation methods; and (ii) a global search of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) sequences with GenBank data. In the latter analysis we used a sequence of a specimen that resulted in the first analysis conspecific with the larvae of Maladera affinis (Blanchard) as the query sequence in GenBank, and checked in a minimum evolution tree whether larva–adult matches from the local approach were altered through interference with other taxa of the worldwide database. Both approaches unambiguously identified the unknown larvae as belonging to M. affinis and Maladera cardoni (Brenske). Based on this robust framework of taxonomic identification we could associate names to the larval morphology of the third larval instar of these two Nepalese Maladera species, which are both known for their economical importance in agriculture. They are described here in detail and are compared with known related taxa, especially with Maladera castanea (Arrow).     

An update to the taxonomy of the genus Gastroserica Brenske (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae, Sericini)

Based on the examination of newly collected material and additional specimens housed in Chinese collections, our knowledge of Gastroserica Brenske, 1897, is expanded. Here, seven new species are described, including habitus photographs and illustrations of the male genitalia: Gastroserica haoyui sp. n. (China: Zhejiang Prov.), G. fengduana sp. n. (China: Sichuan Prov.), G. wenzhui sp. n. (China: Guangxi Prov.), G. damingshanica sp. n. (from China: Guangxi Prov.), G. jinxiuensis sp. n. (China: Guangxi Prov.), G. liboensis sp. n. (China: Yunnan Prov.) and G. carolusi sp. n. (Laos). Additionally, we provide a distribution map of the new taxa and new distribution records of the known taxa.     

A new species of plume moth (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) from Jordan

The species Hellinsia jordanica Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich sp. n. is newly described from Jordan.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:EED698C9-1943-41BC-A503-13A2128A62C5     

Two new species from the Mexican Pacific Slope and new distributional records of Onthophagus Latreille, 1802 (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae)

Two new species of Onthophagus Latreille, 1802 from the Pacific Slope of Mexico are described and illustrated: Onthophagus gonzaloi Moctezuma, Hernández & Sánchez-Huerta, sp. nov., and Onthophagus yescaensis Moctezuma, Hernández & Sánchez-Huerta, sp. nov. New records for Onthophagus browni Howden & Cartwright, 1963 from the Mexican states of Jalisco (the southernmost locality known to date) and Zacatecas are provided.urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:51AA52C6-41BF-4A8B-9BC9-D78600EDB32E.     

First non-feeding Sericini beetles (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae): new genus from Amazonia and phylogenetic position

Organisms Diversity & Evolution - Two unusual scarab species discovered from two localities in the Amazonian Basin are described. We used comparative morphology and phylogenetic analysis to...     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Five new species of Stenothemus Bourgeois from Guangxi,China (Coleoptera,Cantharidae)

Five new species of Stenothemus Bourgeois, 1907 from Guangxi, China are described, S. normalis sp. nov., S. flavicans sp. nov., S. nigripennis sp. nov., S. elongaticeps sp. nov. and S. maculaticollis sp. nov.. They are illustrated with habitus photos and aedeagi of males, also abdominal sternites VIII and internal genitalia of females. A key for the identification of the above species is provided.     

A new species of the genus Chrysolina Motschulsky, 1860 from Turkey (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Chrysomelinae)

A new leaf beetle species, Chrysolina (Lopatinica) kabalaki sp. n., from Northeast Turkey is described and compared with closely related species. Habitus and male genitalia of the species are photographed. A key is provided for the species.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:89CEE108-138D-4D38-837D-A8C3682BB773     

A taxonomic review on the species of Tetraserica Ahrens, 2004, of China (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae, Sericini)

A review on the Chinese species of Tetraserica Ahrens, 2004, is presented. The lectotype of Tetraserica tonkinensis (Moser, 1908), comb. n. is designated. Twenty-nine new Tetraserica species are described from China and adjacent regions: Tetraserica anhuaensis sp. n., Tetraserica changjiangensis sp. n., Tetraserica changshouensis sp. n., Tetraserica damaidiensis sp. n., Tetraserica daqingshanica sp. n., Tetraserica fikaceki sp. n., Tetraserica graciliforceps sp. n., Tetraserica jinghongensis sp. n., Tetraserica leishanica sp. n., Tetraserica liangheensis sp. n., Tetraserica linaoshanica sp. n., Tetraserica longipenis sp. n., Tetraserica longzhouensis sp. n., Tetraserica maoershanensis sp. n., Tetraserica mengeana sp. n., Tetraserica menglongensis sp. n., Tetraserica pingjiangensis sp. n., Tetraserica ruiliana sp. n., Tetraserica ruiliensis sp. n., Tetraserica sculptilis sp. n., Tetraserica shangsiensis sp. n., Tetraserica shunbiensis sp. n., Tetraserica sigulianshanica sp. n., Tetraserica tianchiensis sp. n., Tetraserica wandingensis sp. n., Tetraserica wangtongensis sp. n., Tetraserica xichouensis sp. n., Tetraserica yaoanica sp. n., Tetraserica yaoquensis sp. n. A key to the Chinese Tetraserica species is given, species distribution as well as the habitus and male genitalia of all species are illustrated.     

Two new species of the genus Endelus Deyrolle, 1864 from China (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

The genus Endelus Deyrolle, 1864 belongs to the subfamily Agrilinae, tribe Aphanisticini. Two new species, E. (E.) violaceithorax sp. n. from Hainan Island and E. (E.) wangi sp. n. from Guangxi and Yunnan, are herein described and illustrated. A key to separate species of the subgenus Endelus Deyrolle, 1864 from China is provided.www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CF144204-86FB-401D-AF75-B740CCD020DC.     

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.     

Conservation status of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prodontria</Emphasis> (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) species in New Zealand

The genus Prodontria (Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae), which comprises 16 described species, is an endemic southern New Zealand genus occupying lowland and coastal habitats, inter-montane basins and alpine environments. Many of the species have a limited distribution and face potential threats from habitat change and predation. The only species to be formally protected is P. lewisii Broun, commonly known as the Cromwell Chafer, which is now restricted to a 81-ha reserve in Central Otago. One undescribed lowland species might be extinct as a result of habitat modification. The current status of Prodontria species, the known distribution of species and potential threats are discussed. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Descriptions of two new species of Histeridae (Coleoptera) in Korea

Two new species [Tribalus (Tribalus) koreanus Ôhara and Ahn new species and Gnathoncus koreanus Ôhara and Ahn new species] are described from the Chungnam National University Insect Collection in Korea. Hololepta (Hololepta) higoniae Lewis is new to the Korean fauna. We also provide a revised key of Korean Histeridae and illustrations of diagnostic characters of these two new species.urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:00D922EF-AD40-460F-BF59-D4C9B3654077.     

Description of a new genus and two new species of Corioxenidae from Jordan (Insecta: Strepsiptera)

Abstract

Two new species of twisted-wing insects (Strepsiptera) of the family Corioxenidae, Proceroxenos jordanicus n.gen., n.sp., and Dundoxenos breviphlebos n.sp., are described from Jordan. Identification keys to the subfamilies of the Corioxenidae, the genera of the subfamily Uniclavinae, and the species of the genus Dundoxenos are provided. A list of all described species of Corioxenidae is given, including information on geographic distribution, and host species when available.     

The phylogeny of Sericini and their position within the Scarabaeidae based on morphological characters (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Abstract. To reconstruct the phylogeny of the Sericini and their systematic position among the scarabaeid beetles, cladistic analyses were performed using 107 morphological characters from the adults and larvae of forty‐nine extant scarabaeid genera. Taxa represent most ‘traditional’ subfamilies of coprophagous and phytophagous Scarabaeidae, with emphasis on the Sericini and other melolonthine lineages. Several poorly studied exoskeletal features have been examined, including the elytral base, posterior wing venation, mouth parts, endosternites, coxal articulation, and genitalia. The results of the analysis strongly support the monophyly of the ‘orphnine group’ + ‘melolonthine group’ including phytophagous scarabs such as Dynastinae, Hopliinae, Melolonthinae, Rutelinae, and Cetoniinae. This clade was identified as the sister group to the ‘dung beetle line’ represented by Aphodius + Copris. The ‘melolonthine group’ is comprised in the strict consensus tree by two major clades and two minor lineages, with the included taxa of Euchirinae, Rutelinae, and Dynastinae nested together in one of the major clades (‘melolonthine group I’). Melolonthini, Cetoniinae, and Rutelinae are strongly supported, whereas Melolonthinae and Pachydemini appear to be paraphyletic. Sericini + Ablaberini were identified to be sister taxa nested within the second major melolonthine clade (‘melolonthine group II’). As this clade is distributed primarily in the southern continents, one could assume that Sericini + Ablaberini are derived from a southern lineage. Plausibly, ancestors of Sericini + Ablaberini and Athlia were separated by a vicariance event, such as the separation of the African plate from the rest of Gondwana, whereas Sericini and Ablaberini probably diversified during the early Tertiary, with dispersal of some basal Sericini to South America.     

Two new false click-beetles from China (Coleoptera: Elateroidae: Eucnemidae)

Thambus planifrons Muona & Meng sp. nov. and Otho rutriclypeus Muona & Meng sp. nov. are described from China. Both genera are recorded for the first time from China. Except for the European T. friwaldszkyi Bonvouloir, 1871, and the Japanese T. curvicaria Hisamatsu, 1956, all other previously known species belonging to Otho were from the Americas. Eight Otho species have been described from disparate parts of Asia earlier.urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:10B667F6-F11E-454B-9653-D66A2D7ABFA1.