Paroster extraordinarius sp. nov., a new groundwater diving beetle from the Flinders Ranges, with notes on other diving beetles from gravels in South Australia (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)

The first groundwater (stygobitic) diving beetle is reported from South Australia. Paroster extraordinarius sp. nov. (Dytiscidae: Hydroporini) is described and figured. Its morphology and mitochondrial DNA sequences place it in the hydroporine genus Paroster Sharp. Phylogenetic analysis shows that the new species is imbedded in a clade of stygobitic species from the Yilgarn area of Western Australia. The evolution of this species is discussed and compared with observations on the behaviour and distribution of other dytiscid beetles found in subterranean habitats in South Australia.     

A new species of Borgatomelissa Patiny, 2000 from eastern Morocco: Borgatomelissa flavimaura n. sp. (Hymenoptera,Andrenidae)

Until now, two species of Borgatomelissa Patiny, 2000 have been described, both from loci typici located in the Near East and eastern Africa. Borgatomelissa brevipennis (Walker, 1871), the most widespread taxon, has also been found in the southern Sahelo-Sudanian belt of the Sahara. A third species from eastern Morocco is described in the present study: Borgatomelissa flavimaura n. sp. In addition to taxonomic insights, the new species sheds a new light on the biogeography of the genus.     

Larinus berti sp. n. (Coleoptera,Curculionidae, Lixinae) from North Africa

A new species, Larinus berti sp. n. is described from Morocco and assigned to subgenus Cryphopus Petri, 1907 (Curculionidae: Lixinae; Lixini). Diagnostic characters of the new species are large size, elongate-ovate body, bisulcate sub-quadrangular rostrum, triangularly raised dorsum of rostrum, flat subgena and submentum, Y-shaped apodeme of sternite VIII of female and thin nodulus of spermatheca.     

Eucamaragnathus desenderi, a new ground beetle species from Africa (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

Eucamaragnathus desenderisp. n., a new ground beetle species of the tribe Hiletini, is described from eastern and southern Africa and dedicated to the recently deceased Belgian carabidologist Konjev Desender. The new taxon is known so far from localities in Zambia (Mukuku, southeast of Mansa) and in South Africa (Bothaville, south of Klerksdorp). The new species belongs to the Eucamaragnathus castelnaui group and is characterized by shape of pronotum, smooth or sparsely punctate pronotal transverse impression, characters of male genitalia and elytral striae continued to the apex. Illustrations of the habitus, the median lobe and its internal sac and several other morphological features are presented. An updated identification key to the African Eucamaragnathus species is given.     

Papuadessus pakdjoko – a new genus and species of rheobiont diving beetle from New Guinea of potential use for environmental impact assessments (Coleoptera,Dytiscidae)

Papuadessus pakdjoko n.gen., n.sp. is described from New Guinea. This species is well characterised by its coloration and the shape of the male genitalia. It is not yet possible to identify closer relatives of this species based on morphological evidence. The new species is a rheobiont, and only occurs at the edge of medium-sized to large rivers in gravelly and sandy substrates. Sites with mud or other finer substrates were unihabited by P. pakdjoko. It is concluded that this species could, therefore, be a good indicator to use in environmental impact assessments, especially where logging and large scale mining strongly increase the input of fine substrates to rivers.     

An aberrant species of Nipponocercyon from Sichuan, China (Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae, Sphaeridiinae)

A detailed examination of specimens of Cryptopleurum sichuanicum Ryndevich, 2005 from high altitudes of Sichuan Province, China, revealed that the species belongs in the genus Nipponocercyon Satô, 1963 previously endemic to Japan. The species is here transferred in Nipponocercyon, and Nipponocercyon sichuanicus (Ryndevich, 2005), comb. n. is redescribed and compared with Nipponocercyon shibatai Satô, 1963. The male genitalia of Nipponocercyon sichuanicus is described for the first time. An adapted diagnosis of Nipponocercyon is provided, and reasons for the inclusion of Nipponocercyon sichuanicus into Nipponocercyon and the general distribution of the genus are discussed.     

Exocelina baliem sp. n., the only known pond species of New Guinea Exocelina Broun, 1886 (Coleoptera,Dytiscidae, Copelatinae)

Exocelina baliem sp. n. is described from the Baliem Valley in the Central Mountain Range of New Guinea (Papua Province, Indonesia). Having striolate elytra, different structure and setation of the male and female genitalia and tarsomeres, and inhabiting swampy ponds, the new species differs from all known New Guinea species, which have smooth elytra and are stream associated. It forms a monophyletic group with the Australian Exocelina ferruginea (Sharp, 1882) and New Caledonian Exocelina inexspectata Wewalka, Balke & Hendrich, 2010, based on shape of the paramere and structure of the male tarsi. Habitus, protarsomeres, and male and female genitalia are illustrated, comparing some structures with Exocelina ferruginea and two New Guinea stream species. We briefly discuss the biogeographic relevance of this discovery.     

Conservation strategies for poorly surveyed taxa: a dung beetle (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) case study from southern Africa

Despite being the focus of an international research effort spanning decades, the spatial distribution of southern African scarab beetles remains poorly documented. As well as reinforcing the magnitude of the challenge facing biodiversity scientists, this raises real concerns about best practice conservation strategies in the absence of detailed distribution information. However, dung beetles appear to be well represented in established conservation areas. This apparent contradiction could be ascribed to anthropogenic transformation, successful conservation efforts, the presence of dung generalists and reserve-biased or mesic-biased dung beetle collection efforts. It is suggested that all of the above contribute to the observed pattern to varying degrees. The implications of selecting areas that are either rich in species, contain rare species or contain taxonomically distinct species from a group whose taxonomy is well known but for which inadequate distribution data exist are explored. Best practice, in the face of inadequate data, appears to revolve around a subtle interplay between advantages and disadvantages associated with data interpolation techniques, reserve selection algorithms that use criteria more robust than database rarity (such as taxonomic distinctiveness) and the long-term economic costs of proceeding with the data at hand versus investing in biological surveys.     

Nesticus baeticus sp. n., a new troglobitic spider species from south-west Europe (Araneae, Nesticidae)

We describe a new species of carcinoecium-forming sea anemone, Stylobates birtlesisp. n., from sites 590-964 m deep in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia. An anemone of this genus settles on a gastropod shell inhabited by a hermit crab, then covers and extends the shell to produce a chitinous structure termed a carcinoecium. Stylobates birtlesisp. n. is symbiotic with the hermit crab Sympagurus trispinosus (Balss, 1911). The nature of marginal sphincter muscle and nematocyst size and distribution distinguish Stylobates birtlesi sp. n. from other species in the genus. The four known species of Stylobates are allopatric, each inhabiting a separate ocean basin of the Indo-West Pacific. We also extend the known range of Stylobates loisetteae in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Western Australia.     

Revision of the genera Nemotha Wood-Mason, 1884 and Tricondylomimus Chopard, 1930 stat. rev., with description of a new species (Dictyoptera: Mantodea)

The oriental species previously included in the rarely collected genus Nemotha Wood-Mason, 1884 (Mantodea: Iridopterygidae) are revised. N. coomani (Chopard, 1930) and N. mirabilis Beier, 1933 strongly differ from the type species N. metallica (Westwood, 1845) by family-level morphological features, but share a unique type of forefemoral armament with the genera Hapalopeza Stål, 1877 and Amantis Giglio-Tos, 1915, suggesting Nemotha is of a polyphyletic nature. The genus Tricondylomimus Chopard, 1930 is resurrected from synonymy to accommodate T. coomani, T. mirabilis n. comb. and the species which is newly described in this article, T. intermedius n. sp. The monotypic genus Pseudogousa Tinkham, 1937 and its species P. sinensis Tinkham, 1937 are synonymized with Tricondylomimus and T. mirabilis, respectively. The genus Tricondylomimus is placed in Iridopterygidae, while Nemotha is transferred to Hymenopodidae: Anaxarchini.     

A new genus of praying mantis,Chlorocalis n. gen., with two new species from the Greater Mekong region (Mantodea: Mantidae)

A new genus of praying mantis is described, Chlorocalis n. gen., with two species, C. maternaschulzei n. sp. and C. prasina n. sp. from the Greater Mekong Region. Chlorocalis is placed in Mantidae and can be immediately recognized by the presence of dark brown (male) or yellow-whitish (female) oblique stripes on the forewings, a large conical bulge on the clypeus, two large conical bulges on either side of the inferior margin of the lower frons, and the male genitalia with two distal processes on the ventral phallomere. Chlorocalis maternaschulzei is a widespread lowland species with records as west as Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand, and as east as mount Núi Chúa in southern Central Vietnam. We consider this species to be of Least Concern. In contrast, C. prasina is a narrow-range mountain endemic of the Vietnamese Central Highlands in the Annamite range and is assessed by us to be Vulnerable. The new findings demonstrate the still very poor knowledge on praying mantis species diversity in South-East Asia and the urgency to resolve this taxonomic deficiency in the face of biodiversity loss.     

Tunicothrix rostrata n. g., n. sp., a new urostylid ciliate (Ciliophora, Stichotrichia) from the Yellow Sea

The morphology and infraciliature of a new ciliate, Tunicothrix rostrata n. g., n. sp., isolated from the Yellow Sea, are investigated using live observation and protargol impregnation. Tunicothrix rostrata measures about 160 x 40 mum in vivo, and has a frontal beak-like protrusion, a conspicuous cortical alveolar layer, two right marginal rows, and usually three distinct midventral pairs. The discovery of T. rostrata enables us to reconsider the classification of Erniella wilberti, a curious ciliate with obscure midventral pairs. Both species are highly similar in overall appearance and nuclear and ciliary pattern. Thus, they are united in a new genus of the family Urostylidae, Tunicothrix, and E. wilberti is transferred to Tunicothrix: Tunicothrix wilbertiLin and Song, 2004 n. comb. By contrast, Erniella filiformis, type species of Erniella, has several ventral rows and does not belong to the urostylids. Tunicothrix rostrata is easily distinguished from T. wilberti by its beak-like anterior protrusion and by the distinctly elongated right marginal row 2, which curves anteriorly on the dorsal side of the cells. Tunicothrix is closely related to Parabirojimia, differing by the invariably two (vs. five-eight) right marginal rows and the conspicuous (vs. ordinary) alveolar layer, a unique feature in urostylid ciliates.     

Morphological delineation and distribution patterns of four newly described species within the Synura petersenii species complex (Chrysophyceae,Stramenopiles)

The Synura petersenii species complex represents a common, cosmopolitan and highly diverse taxon of autotrophic freshwater flagellates. In this paper, we describe and characterize four new species (S. borealis, S. heteropora, S. hibernica and S. laticarina) that have been identified during our extensive sampling of freshwater habitats in 15 European countries. Morphometric analyses of siliceous scales led to the significant phenotypic differentiation of all four newly described species, and their separation from other related species of the S. petersenii complex. Two of these newly described species (S. hibernica and S. borealis) can be clearly distinguished by characteristic large colonies consisting of elongated, lanceolate-shaped cells. Development of strongly elongated, narrow cells in S. hibernica could be explained by the adaptation of this species to oligotrophic conditions. Though morphologically distinct, S. borealis possesses an exceptionally high degree of genetic diversity, possibly indicating recent speciation and evolutionary diversification within this taxon. Three of the four newly described species exhibit restricted biogeographic distribution. The evolutionarily related S. borealis and S. laticarina occur only in Northern Europe, and seem to be adapted to colder areas. The most remarkable distribution pattern was observed for S. hibernica, which has a geographic distribution that is restricted to western Ireland.     

A new genus of Entiminae from North Africa,supported by a phylogenetic analysis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae)

The genus Holcophloeus gen. nov. is here proposed to include Trachyphloeus cruciatus Seidlitz, 1868, and two new species native to North Africa, based on a phylogenetic analysis and an evaluation of the diagnostic characters. The taxonomic position of Holcophloeus in relation to the tribes Trachyphloeini Lacordaire, 1863, and Holcorhinini Desbrochers, 1898, is discussed, and the new genus is attributed to the Holcorhinini. Holcophloeus laurae sp. nov. from south‐eastern Morocco and Holcophloeus weilli sp. nov. from northern Libya are described and illustrated and a key to the species of the new genus is given. The lectotype of Trachyphloeus cruciatus Seidlitz, 1868, is designated. The genus Massimiellus Borovec, 2009, is transferred from Trachyphloeini to Holcorhinini. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London     

Helophorus erzurumicus sp. n., a new species from Turkey and some notes on H. ponticus Angus, 1988 (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae)

A new species of Helophorus Fabricius, 1775 is described from Erzurum, northeastern Turkey: Helophorus erzurumicus. In addition, distributional and morphological notes on H. ponticus Angus, 1988 are presented.     

Seven new species and two new subspecies of Sclerocypris SARS, 1924 from Africa,with new records of some other Megalocypridinids (Crustacea,Ostracoda)

Sclerocypris dayae n.sp., S. dedeckkeri n.sp., S. dumonti n.sp., S. zelaznyi n.sp. and S. zelaznyi etoshensis n.ssp. are described from South — West Africa (Namibia). S. exserta makarikarensis n.ssp. originates from the endorheic pan system Makarikari in Botswana. S. woutersi n.sp. was described from Lake Albert where it is quite common. S. virungensis n.sp. is known from the Virunga National Park, south of Lake Edward (Zaire). The latter two species are closely related and from part of the flabella-species group. S. longisetosa n.sp., described from a marsh near Kisumu (Kenya), is an enigmatic species, holding an isolated position in the genus due to an aberrant T1.Present address: Rijksuniversiteit Gent, Laboratorium voor ecologie der dieren, zoögeografte en natuurbehoud (Institute for Ecology), K. L. Ledeganckstraat 35, B9000 Gent, Belgium.     

Anabolia anatolica sp. n., a New Species of Genus Anabolia Stephens (Trichoptera,Limnephilidae) from Southern Anatolia

In the present study a new species of the genus Anabolia, A. anatolica sp. n. from the Taurus Mountains in southern Anatolia is described and illustrated. The new species is related to A. laevis Zetterstedt, 1840 from northern Europe and is a glacial relict species of Pleistocene origin.     

Acanthodasys paurocactus sp. n., a new species of Thaumastodermatidae (Gastrotricha, Macrodasyida) with multiple scale types from Capron Shoal, Florida

A new species of Acanthodasys (Gastrotricha, Macrodasyida, Thaumastodermatidae) is described from sublittoral sediments off the Atlantic coast of Florida. Acanthodasys paurocactussp. n. is a relatively small species (to 450 μm long) with a strap-shaped outline, a series of anterior, lateral, and ventrolateral adhesive tubes, paired caudal pedicles with posterior adhesive tubes, and a morphologically diverse cuticle. The cuticle contains both spined and unspined scales. Unspined scales are present in two general shapes: lanceolate and eye shaped, with some transitional shapes. All scales have a thickened rim and depressed central region; some scales of both shapes bear either one or more central bumps, a parallel ridge, or a perpendicular ridge that gives the appearance of a cross-shaped pattern under transmitted light. Spined scales are somewhat quadrangular in shape and bear uniancres to 15 μm long with a cross-shaped sectional profile. The new species is now one of five described species to possess both spined and spineless scales, and only one of two species to possess two types of spineless scales (the second species is an incompletely described specimen from Norway).     

Monomorium dryhimi sp. n., a new ant species (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of the M. monomorium group from Saudi Arabia, with a key to the Arabian Monomorium monomorium-group

A new ant species, Monomorium dryhimi, is described based on workers from a single colony collected in Al Bahah, Asir Province, Saudi Arabia. This is the fourth species of the Monomorium monomorium-group collected from Arabian Peninsula, and appears to be closely related to Monomorium holothir Bolton, 1987, from Kenya. It can be distinguished by the following characters: head in profile with a weakly convex dorsal surface and a clearly convex ventral surface; eyes of moderate size with maximum diameter EL 0.19-0.25 × HW and with 6 ommatidia in the longest row; body colour yellow to light brownish yellow. In some individuals, head and gaster slightly but conspicuously darker than rest of body. Second halves of first and second gastral tergites with two characteristic brownish transverse bands. An identification key to the workers of the Arabian species of the Monomorium monomorium-group is presented. Scanning electron micrographs are given to illustrate the new species.