Bambusimukaria,a new bamboo-feeding leafhopper genus from China,with description of one new species (Hemiptera,Cicadellidae, Deltocephalinae,Mukariini)

A new genus and species, Bambusimukaria quinquepunctata gen. & sp. n., feeding on bamboo in Guizhou and Fujian, China, are described and illustrated. The characters of crown, frontoclypeus, forewing venations and male genitalia place the new genus in the tribe Mukariini.     

The male genitalia in the subfamily Agathidinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): Morphological information of species on generic level

The morphology of the male genitalia of 46 Agathidinae species belonging to 20 genera has been investigated. Samples from various geographical regions were used to discover the evolution of the male genitalia within the subfamily Agathidinae. Those male genitalia may contain important phylogenetic information at least in certain groups of Braconidae. For the New World, three of four investigated species of Cremnops (C. haematodes, C. montrealensis and C. vulgaris) could suggest the form of the new genus with the other members of New World Cremnops, partly because of the deviating morphology of the male genitalia. Comparative morphology of the male genitalia of Bassus confirms that it is polyphyletic. The status of Lytopylus (L. erythrogaster) is again actualised. Once synonymised as Aerophilopsis, this species could be excluded from other Lytopylus species. The statistical analysis showed that smaller specimens (<6.67 mm) give less details on the morphology of the male genitalia comparing to larger.     

Tricalcaria Han gen. nov., a remarkable new genus with three hind‐tibial spurs belonging to the tribe Trichopterygini,with description of a new species from China (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae)

Tricalcaria Han gen. nov. and its type species Tricalcaria stueningi Han sp. nov. are described from China. Morphological characters, including those of the male and female genitalia, are figured. The main diagnostic characters of Tricalcaria are: hind tibia with three spurs in both male and female; ventral margin of costal protrusion bearing a series of long, hook‐like, sclerotized setae in the male genitalia; female papilla analis modified and bearing over part of its surface broad blade‐like sclerotized setae. The wing pattern, venation, and genitalia of this genus are compared with those of the most closely related genera, Tristeirometa Holloway, 1997, Hypocometa Warren, 1896, and Phthonoloba Warren, 1893. Tribal placement is discussed, with the conclusion that the new genus should be placed in the tribe Trichopterygini.     

A new concept of the generic composition of the geometrid moth tribe Ennomini (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) based on functional morphology of the male genitalia

Two unique apomorphies in the skeleto-muscular apparatus of the male genitalia in a series of genera of the subfamily Ennominae have been discovered: (1) a more or less broad membranous area on the ventral side of the vinculum, partly or completely dividing this sclerite along the sagittal plane, and (2) the paired muscle m ₃ attached distally to the medial invagination of the basal portion of the juxta. Such a structure provides resilient flexion of the ventral portion of the vinculum in the sagittal plane as the valvae are abducted by contraction of muscle m ₃. Based on these apomorphies and taking into account the general morphological pattern in the Ennominae, a new generic composition of the tribe Ennomini including 148 valid genera is proposed. A new diagnosis for Ennomini as a monophyletic group is given, with the following synonymy of the family group names established: Ennomini sensu novo = Urapteridae, syn. n.; = Odopteridi; = Emplocidae, syn. n.; = Oxydiidae, syn. n.; = Pantheridae, syn. n.; = Nephodiinae, syn. n.; = Leuculinae, syn. n.; = Cingiliini, syn. n. The musculature of the male genitalia in Ennomos infidelis and Ourapteryx koreana is described for the first time and that of Tristrophis veneris is revised. The American origin of the tribe Ennomini is hypothesized. The mainly Palaearctic tribe Prosopolophini is regarded as a probable sister group of Ennomini sensu novo.     

A taxonomic and morphological review of the genus Cania Walker, 1855 (Lepidoptera,Limacodidae)

Based on a complex study of morphology of adults, male and female genitalia, functional musculature of male genitalia, and molecular characters, three subgenera were distinguished in the genus Cania: the nominative one, Paracania Solovyev subgen. n. (type species Neaera bilinea Walker, 1855), and Minicania Solovyev subgen. n. (type species C. minuta Holloway, 1986). The genus Cania presently includes 21 species, two of which are described as new ones: C. (Paracania) lourensi Solovyev sp. n. (Philippines: Luzon, Negros, Panay) and C. (Minicania) kitchingi Solovyev sp. n. (Thailand). New synonymies are established: C. bilinea (Walker, 1855) = C. polyhelixa Wu et Fang, 2009 syn. n. and C. robusta Hering, 1931 = C. pseudobilinea Wu et Fang, 2009 syn. n.     

On the distribution of Temnostoma vespiforme (Diptera, Syrphidae) in North America

The occurrence of Temnostoma vespiforme (L.) in the Holarctic Region is questioned. The North American specimens previously determined as T. vespiforme (L.) are re-examined. Their differences from the European specimens in the body coloration and in the morphology of the male and female genitalia are listed.     

Two new species of the genus Morophagoides (Lepidoptera: Tineidae) closely related to the shiitake fungus moth,M. moriutii,from Japan

Two new species of the genus Morophagoides Petersen from Kyushu and the Kanto regions (Gunma and Tokyo Prefs.) of Honshu, Japan, are described. They have been confused with M. moriutii Robinson, a serious pest of the shiitake mushroom, Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler. The new species are clearly separable not only by the male and female genitalia of adult but also by DNA barcodes.     

An illustrated guide to the identification of the known species of Diatraea Guilding (Lepidoptera,Crambidae, Crambinae) based on genitalia

The genus Diatraea Guilding is one of the most economically important groups of moths in the Western Hemisphere. The larvae are stem borers that feed on species of Poaceae, or grasses, such as sugarcane, corn, rice, and sorghum, as well as many other native grasses. Interest in this group has risen considerably since sugarcane and other grasses have been utilized and/or investigated as biofuels. This is the first modern study to treat all 41 valid described species. Most type specimens were examined and we provide a checklist with 19 new synonyms. We provide keys for the identification of most species in this genus based on morphology of the male and female genitalia and modern illustrations of male and female genitalia. We also provide an updated table of species distribution by country.     

A review of the ecological grouping of species of the genus Phyllonorycter Hübner, [1822] (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae: Lithocolletinae), associated with fagaceae

A review of the species belonging to the genus Phyllonorycter Hübner, [1822] (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae), which are trophically associated with fagacean plants, is given, being provided with a new determination key and short diagnoses for 20 species recorded for the fauna of Russia. A contribution to the taxonomy of the genus Phyllonorycter is made based on the comparative morphology of the male genitalia of 54 Palaearctic species developing on Fagaceae, with 13 new taxonomic groups established within this ecological unit. Lectotype of Phyllonorycter suberifoliella (Zeller, 1850) is designated.     

The tribe Bryocorini (Insecta: Heteroptera: Miridae: Bryocorinae): phylogeny,description of a new genus,and adaptive radiation on ferns

A cladistic analysis of the tribe Bryocorini based on 68 morphological characters is conducted. Bryocorini are supported as a monophyletic group with Eccritotarsini as their sister taxon. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, we redefine the tribe Bryocorini to contain the following seven genera: Bryocorella Carvalho, 1956, Bryocoris Fallén, 1829, Bryophilocapsus Yasunaga, 2000, Cobalorrhynchus Reuter, 1906 gen. dist., D iplazicoris gen. nov. , Hekista Kirkaldy, 1902, and Monalocoris Dahlbom, 1851. The genus Bryocorella is transferred to Bryocorini from the tribe Eccritotarsini. The subgenus Cobalorrhynchus is treated as a separate genus. Diplazicoris is described as monotypic to accommodate D iplazicoris lombokianus sp. nov. An updated diagnosis of the tribe, a key to genera, and a diagnosis of each recognized genus are presented. Selected photomicrographs, scanning micrographs, and illustrations of the pretarsus, metepisternal scent efferent system, metafemoral trichobothria, and morphology of head, pronotum, and male and female genitalia are provided. Mapping of the host data on the revealed tree shows that Bryocorini represent one of the very few currently known examples of the adaptive radiation of a fairly large insect group on ferns. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London     

A new oligolectic bee species of the genus Rhophitulus Ducke (Hymenoptera,Andrenidae) from South Brazil

The genus Rhophitulus Ducke, 1907 is a large and complex group of bees of the tribe Protandrenini comprising small, slender, mostly black ground-nesting species that are restricted to South America. We describe a new species of Rhophitulus from Parque Nacional São Joaquim, Urubici, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Rophitulus ater sp. nov. is distinctive and easily distinguished from other species of the genus by a unique combination of morphological characters in both sexes, but especially by the following: dull black body, coarsely and densely punctate integument, basal area of metapostnotum depressed and areolate rugose, posterior margin of hind tibia and pygidial fimbria of female with blackish pilosity, and characters of the male genitalia with hidden sterna. The new species is closely associated with Blumenbachia catharinensis (Loasaceae), which is restricted to cloud forest of the southeastern rim of Serra Geral. Flowers of B. catharinensis are pollen and nectar resources and mating sites for the new species.     

Revision of the genus Stichillus Enderlein of Japan (Diptera: Phoridae)

The genus Stichillus in Japan is revised. Three species are recognized: S. japonicus (Matsumura), S. spinosus Liu and Chou and S. cylindratus sp. nov. Stichillus brunneicornis Beyer is excluded from the Japanese fauna. These Japanese species are described and keyed. The male genitalia and the female terminalia are illustrated. Some unique characters of the male genitalia in the genus are reported, and morphology of the male genitalia and the female terminalia is discussed.     

The Functional Significance of Chiral Genitalia: Patterns of Asymmetry,Functional Morphology and Mating Success in the Praying Mantis Ciulfina baldersoni

Genital asymmetry is relatively common and widespread throughout the animal kingdom. The functional significance of genital asymmetry is however, poorly understood for most species. Male praying mantids of the genus Ciulfina are remarkable in possessing complex and directionally asymmetric genital phallomeres in some species, and chirally dimorphic/antisymmetric genitalia in others. Here we explore the chiral dimorphism in male genitalia of Ciulfina baldersoni which appear to exhibit genital antisymmetry. We test whether genital orientation influences mating success, copulation duration and the attachment duration of spermatophores. Additionally we investigate genital interactions between male and females using x-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Lastly we assess whether genital asymmetry is associated with non-genital morphological asymmetry of a range of traits. Our results highlight the complex functional morphology of genitalia in this praying mantis species and yet demonstrate no functional difference between dextral and sinistral morphs other than the direction of attachment with both morphs enjoying equal levels of mating success. Chiral morphs also did not strongly associate with any other forms of asymmetry. We therefore conclude that genital chirality in Ciulfina baldersoni is a likely case of antisymmetry with no functional significance to genital orientation, and is likely to be selectively neutral.     

Tsukiyamaia,a new genus of the tribe Baorini (Lepidoptera,Hesperiidae, Hesperiinae)

Skippers of the tribe Baorini are evidently a monophyletic group in the subfamily Hesperiinae. In this study, a new Baorini member Tsukiyamaia albimacula gen. n. et sp. n. is described from north Myanmar, southwest China and north Vietnam. Despite its peculiar and striking wing-pattern, this new genus has some important characters of Baorini, such as a broad and bifid uncus and a well-developed gnathos. Based on an analysis of male genitalia and the molecular phylogenies inferred from both mitochondrial and nuclear genes (28 taxa, total aligned length: 2968 bp), it is proposed that the genus Tsukiyamaia is closely related to the genus Polytremis, which has high species diversity in China. This study not only describes a new skipper but also highlights that Tsukiyamaia is important in clarifying phylogenetic relationship of Polytremis and its allies.     

Description of new species of two genera Dayus Mahmood and Znana Dworakowska from Thailand (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae)

Two genera, Dayus Mahmood, 1967 and Znana Dworakowska, 1994 of the leafhopper tribe Empoascini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae) are reviewed. One new species of each genus, Dayus furcatus sp. nov. and Znana furca sp. nov., are described from Thailand. A checklist and distribution summary of Dayus Mahmood species is given. Male habitus photos and illustrations of male genitalia of the two new species and notes on allied species are also provided.