On the taxonomy of the Genus Coenosia Meigen, 1826 (Diptera,Muscidae) in the Russian Fauna,with a Description of Coenosia tschernovi sp. n.

Coenosia tschernovi sp. n. is described and illustrated from the Altai and Tuva republics. Coenosia nigrotincta Hennig, 1961 and C. xuei Cui et Li, 1996, are redescribed; the latter species is recorded from Russia for the first time. The new “apukaensis” group is erected for several similar Asian species. Coenosia altaica Sorokina, 2009 is considered a junior synonym of C. subgracilis Xue et Cui, 2001. Supplements to the key to the Siberian representatives of Coenosia Meigen, 1826 (Sorokina, 2009), to include new and recently found species, are given.     

A new species of the grass fly (Diptera,Chloropidae), Incertella tschernovi sp. n., from the Kyzyl Kum Desert

A new grass fly species belonging to the subfamily Oscinellinae, Incertella tschernovi sp. n., is described from the Kyzyl Kum Desert, Uzbekistan. The new species is closely related to I. brevicosta Nartshuk, 1975, shares short costal vein of the wing and in the vein M sharply bent toward the anterior wing margin.     

Hover-flies of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Melanostoma</Emphasis> closely related to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Melanostoma dubium</Emphasis> (Diptera,Syrphidae)

Two new species of the genus Melanostoma Schin., 1860, closely related to M. dubium (Zetterstedt, 1838), are described, and a key to the species of this group is given. Melanostoma clausseni sp. n. and M. tschernovi sp. n. are closely related to M. dubium (Zett.), but differ in the uniformly black abdomen and legs. Melanostoma clausseni sp. n. differs from M. tschernovi sp. n. in the lustrous mesonotum and finely pruinose frons and face (in M. tschernovi, the face, frons, and mesonotum are covered with gray pruinosity). Holotypes of the new species are deposited in the collection of the Siberian Zoological Museum (Novosibirsk).     

Eine Ammoniten-Fauna aus der Badamu-Formation (Unterbajocium,sauzei- Zone) westlich von Kerman (Zentraliran)

A fauna of small-sized ammonites is described from the Upper Badamu Formation west of Kerman, including 15 species. Following species are new: “Pelekodites”kermanensis n. sp., “Pelekodites”nodosus n. sp.,Lissoceras (Microlissoceras) badamui n. sp.,Etropolia sapunovi n. sp. The fauna is closely related to the west and northwest European realm. It corresponds to thesauzei zone. Kurzfassung: Aus der oberen Badamu-Formation wird eine insgesamt kleinwüchsige Ammoniten-Fauna mit 15 Arten beschrieben, darunter die neuen Arten: »Pelekodites«kermanensis n. sp., »Pelekodites«nodosus n. sp.,Lissoceras (Microlissoceras) badamui n. sp.,Etropolia sapunovi n. sp. Die Fauna hat eindeutig einen west- bis nordwesteuropäischen Charakter und gehört dersauzei- Zone an.     

Six new species of Philiris R?ber, 1891 (Lepidoptera,Lycaenidae) from Papua New Guinea

Six new species of the large lycaenid genus Philiris Röber, 1891 (Philiris petriei sp. n., Philiris bubalisatina sp. n., Philiris baiteta sp. n., Philiris radicala sp. n., Philiris hindenburgensis sp. n. and Philiris parsonsi sp. n.), from Papua New Guinea, are described and illustrated, as are the early stages of the former taxon, with Litsea sp. near callophyllantha K. Schum (Lauraceae) recorded as the larval food plant. The holotypes of all but the latter are deposited in the ANIC, with that of P. parsonsi located in the BMNH. The external facies and male genitalia of all new species are compared in detail to putative known related species, and the types of these, in nearly all cases, are also illustrated.     

On the taxonomic position of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Issus reticulatus</Emphasis> Bervoets, 1910 (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Issidae) from Baltic amber

A new genus Bolbossus gen. n. is erected in the tribe Parahiraciini for Issus bervoetsi Gnezdilov et Bourgoin, nom. n. pro Issus reticulatus Bervoets, 1910 (nom. praeocc., non Issus reticulatus Herrich-Schäffer, 1835) described from the Baltic amber of Kaliningrad Province in Russia. The genus Issites Haupt, 1956 is assigned to the nominotypical subtribe of the tribe Issini Spinola. Bolbossus bervoetsi (Gnezdilov et Bourgoin) is the first species of the Oriental tribe of the family Issidae discovered in Europe. This finding implies the dispersal of taxa from the Oriental Region to the Western Palaearctic during the Eocene. Other fossil Issidae are briefly discussed.     

Freshwater fish otoliths from the Deccan Trap associated sedimentary (Cretaceous-Tertiary transition) beds of Rangapur,Hyderabad, District,Andhra Pradesh,India

The present paper describes 12 species of fish otoliths recovered by washing and screening processes from the Deccan Trap associated sedimentary (Intertrappean) beds exposed near Rangapur, Hyderabad District, Andhra Pradesh, India. The present collection of otoliths contains four major groups: Clupeomorpha (“Clupeidarum” sp.), Osteoglossomorpha (“Osteoglossidarum” deccanensis sp. nov., “O”. intertrappus sp. nov. and “Notopteridarum” nolfi sp. nov.), Protacanthopterygii (“Salmoniformorum” rectangulus sp. nov.), and Percomorpha (Dapalis sp., “Apigonidarum” ovatus sp. nov., “Serranidarum” sp., “Percoideorum” ellipticus sp. nov., “P.” rangapurensis sp. nov., “Percoideorum” sp. 1 and “Percoideorum” sp. 2). This collection of otoliths represents freshwater lacustrine deposition of the sediments. The age of the Intertrappean beds is considered Uppermost Cretaceous to Palaeoncene on the basis of freshwater ostracode (Paracypretta jonesi, Mongolianella hislopi and Candoniella sp.) and charophyte (Platychara perlata and Nemegtichara sp.) assemblages.     

The tipuloid dipterans (Diptera,Tipulidae, Limoniidae) from the Putorana Plateau,with a description of Dactylolabis tschernovi sp. n.

The first data are presented on the tipuloid dipterans from the Putorana Plateau, the Central Siberian Plateau: the crane-flies, Tipula (Arctotipula) oklandi Al., Tipula (Pterelachisus) tundrensis stackelbergiana Lack., Tipula (Vestiplex) arctica Curt., and Tipula (Yamatotipula) lionota Holm.; and the limoniids, Dactylolabis (Dactylolabis) novaezemblae (Al.) and Dactylolabis (Dactylolabis) tschernovi sp. n. A new species, Dactylolabis (D.) tschernovi sp. n., is described from the adult males and females. The male of the new species is very similar to those of Dactylolabis (Dactylolabis) carbonaria Sav. and Dactylolabis (Dactylolabis) satanas Sav. but can be distinguished from the former by the presence of a distinct throat, by the coloration of the head, femora, tibiae, and abdominal segments, as well as by the spear-shaped interbase of the hypopygium; and from the latter species, by the fully developed wings and by the absence of large spines at the base of the interbases.     

A new species of the genus Physetopoda Schuster, 1949 (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) from the United Arab Emirates

Physetopoda tschernovi Lelej, sp. n. is described from the United Arab Emirates. The male of new species from the Ph. portschinskii species-group differs from all the known Palaearctic Physetopoda species in having wide transversally rugose notauli and in the longitudinally rugose scuto-scutellar sulcus (smooth in other species).     

Two new chironomid species (Diptera,Chironomidae) from Wrangel Island

Two new species from Wrangel Island, Orthocladius (Eudactylocladius) tschernovi sp. n. and O. (E.) ushakovskiensis sp. n. (Orthocladiinae), are described and illustrated from on the male adults. Orthocladius (E.) tschernovi sp. n. is closely related to O. (E.) fuscimanus (Kieffer) and O. (E.) musester Sæther, but can be distinguished from both by an almost straight transverse sternapodema, a rounded triangular superior volsella, and a long phallapodema, as well as by the presence of a subapical crista dorsalis of the gonostylus and by the shape of the anal point. Orthocladius (E.) ushakovskiensis sp. n. differs from all the known species of the subgenus in the absence of superior and inferior volsellae and in the shape of both short gonostylus and the short and wide anal point.     

Gall midges of the supertribe stomatosematidi (Diptera,Cecidomyiidae) in the Palaearctic region,with descriptions of new taxa from the late Eocene Rovno Amber. 2. The genera <Emphasis Type="Italic">Didactylomyia</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rovnodidactylomyia</Emphasis> gen. n.

One new genus (Rovnodidactylomyia Fedotova et Perkovsky, gen. n.) and four new species (Didactylomyia dlusskyi sp. n., Rovnodidactylomyia zosimovichi gen. n. et sp. n., R. sidorenkoi sp. n., and R. iconica sp. n.) are described from an amber sample of the late Eocene Period (Rovno District, Ukraine). Two species from a Baltic amber sample of the late Eocene Period, described earlier in the genus Bryocrypta, are attributed to the genus Rovnodidactylomyia (R. girafa (Meunier, 1904) comb. n. and R. capitosa (Meunier, 1904)). The first fossil species of the genus Didactylomyia is described for the first time; two contemporary Palaearctic species are recorded. Keys to the species of the genus Didactylomyia are given.     

New Kinorhyncha from Florida coastal waters

Four new species of Kinorhynchs are described from the West Atlantic coast off Fort Pierce, Florida, USA. They are the following: Antygomonas gwenae n. sp., Echinoderes riceae n. sp., Echinoderes adrianovi n. sp. and Pycnophyes norenburgi n. sp. All species were collected at the same locality called “20 miles station.” Samples were processed for standard granulometric data, yielding an estimated average particle diameter of 250 μm. The diagnostic characters and the general morphology of the new species are discussed in depth as well as the diversity and distribution of Kinorhyncha in the area.     

Thrips (Thysanoptera) in the Meadows of Kaliningrad Province

The insect order Thysanoptera is one of the less known in Kaliningrad Province. In the course of investigations, plants were collected in May–September of 2013–2016 in the motley-grass communities from 22 localities in different landscape regions of Kaliningrad Province. From the plants in the laboratory a total of 1362 adults of 29 thrips species from three families of two suborders were collected. Thirteen species are recorded from Kaliningrad Province for the first time: Dendrothrips saltatrix, Mycterothrips consociatus, Odontothrips loti, O. meliloti, O. confusus, Platythrips tunicatus, Sericothrips bicornis, Thrips brevicornis, Th. nigropilosus, Th. pillichi, Th. trehernei, Haplothrips niger, and H. leucanthemi. Most of the species revealed are hortobionts, except for Mycterothrips consociatus and Dendrothrips saltatrix which live on deciduous trees. All the species are known from Poland; M. consociatus, O. meliloti, and Th. pillichi are not known from Lithuania. The largest numbers of the species are associated with the plant families Fabaceae, Asteraceae, and Apiaceae; the most widely distributed in Kaliningrad Province are Thrips major, Th. tabaci, Th. fuscipennis, and Frankliniella intonsa.     

Bivalves from Carboniferous glacial deposits of western Argentina

Late Palaeozoic glaciation of Gondwana affected ecosystems and caused provincialism in the earth’s biota. Periglacial seas favored the origin of endemic genera and species, and remarkable differences exist with faunas of the Palaeoequatorial realm. Carboniferous glacimarine deposits are almost everywhere associated with theLevipustula levis “cold” fauna. These bio- and lithofacies are ubiquitous along the peri-Gondwana belt that stretches from western Argentina to eastern Australia, including central Patagonia and Antarctica. Both glacial sediments and theLevipustula levis Zone are assumed to date from the beginning of the Namurian to an indeterminated part of the early Westphalian. The bivalve fauna associated with the Carboniferous glacial deposits of western Argentina is described, including four new species:Promytilus grandis n. sp.,Leptodesma (Leiopteria) aredesi n. sp.,Oriocrassatella andina n. sp., andMyofossa calingastensis n. sp. Six insufficiently preserved species are left in open nomenclature:Leptodesma (Leiopteria) n. sp.,Euchondria n. sp.,Schizodus n. sp.,Promytilus sp.,Cypricardinia? sp., andStreblopteria? sp.; it proved even impossible to decide whether a badly damaged incomplete specimen belongs toMyonia orVacunella. Five other species, which are known from single specimens, are assigned tentatively to the generaPhestia, Atomodesma, Pyramus, Vacunella, andPleurophorella.     

Compression fossil Mymaridae (Hymenoptera) from Kishenehn oil shales, with description of two new genera and review of Tertiary amber genera

Compression fossils of three genera and six species of Mymaridae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) are described from 46 million year old Kishenehn oil shales in Montana, USA. Two new genera are described: Eoeustochus Huber, gen. n., with two included species, Eoeustochus kishenehn Huber (type species) and Eoeustochus borchersi Huber, sp. n., and Eoanaphes, gen. n., with Eoanaphes stethynioides Huber, sp. n. Three new species of Gonatocerus are also described, Gonatocerus greenwalti Huber, sp. n. , Gonatocerus kootenai Huber, sp. n., and Gonatocerus rasnitsyni Huber, sp. n. Previously described amber fossil genera are discussed and five genera in Baltic amber are tentatively recorded as fossils: Anagroidea, Camptoptera, Dorya, Eustochus, and Mimalaptus.     

A new species of Oribatid mite,Punctoribates tschernovi sp. n. (Acariformes,Oribatida, Punctoribatidae), from Azerbaijan

A new species, Punctoribates tschernovi sp. n. (Oribatida, Punctoribatidae), is described from the forests in Azerbaijan. The new species differs from the similar Punctoribates sphericus Shaldybina, 1987 in a larger size, the presence of notogastral setae and a small tooth at the end of the rostrum, a smooth anterior edge of the tutorium, and an elongated porose area Aa.     

Late Carnian (Tuvalian,Tropites dilleri zone) ostracods (Crustacea) from the Mufara Formation (Monte Scalpello,Central-Eastern Sicily,Italy)

Ostracod association from the Upper Triassic (Tropites dilleri zone of the Carnian stage) of the sedimentary succession (Mufara Formation) exposed along the east side of Monte Scalpello (Catenanuova, central eastern Sicily) has been studied for the first time. The specimens, silicified, are rare but well preserved and often consist of complete carapaces. They belong to eight families: Healdiidae, Cavellinidae, Bairdiidae, Acratiidae, Bythocyprididae, Pontocyprididae, Judahellidae, Glorianellidae. Twenty-three taxa have been listed; the family Bairdiidae is the most represented among all the others with fifteen species. Four species are new: Bairdia scaliae n. sp., Acratia maugerii n. sp., “Anchistrocheles” gemmellaroi n. sp. and Judahella? montanarii n. sp. Other species are left in open nomenclature because of the lack of specimens.     

Revision of the Chinese Cleptes (Hymenoptera,Chrysididae) with description of new species

The genus Cleptes Latreille, 1802 from China is revised and illustrated for the first time. Seventeen species of Cleptes are recorded. Nine species are new to science, Cleptes albonotatus sp. n., Cleptes eburnecoxis sp. n., Cleptes flavolineatus sp. n., Cleptes helanshanus sp. n., Cleptes niger sp. n., Cleptes shengi sp. n., Cleptes sinensis sp. n., Cleptes tibetensis sp. n., and Cleptes villosus sp. n.,and two species are reported as new to China, Cleptes metallicorpus Ha, Lee & Kim, 2011, and Cleptes seoulensis Tsuneki, 1959.     

Megapedetes aegaeus N. SP. (Pedetidae) et a propos d'autres “rongeurs africains” dans le Miocene d'Anatolie

Three species of so-called “African rodents” (Megapedetes aegaeus n. sp., Phiomyidae indet. and Dakkamys sp.) have been recently discovered in Western Anatolia in the Middle Miocene localities of Bayraktepe, Chios and Yeni Eskihisar. The first species alone is described and discussed in this paper. The occurence of such rodents in Anatolia leeds to an evaluation of the special paleogeographic position of Africa to Asia at this time.