Morphogeographic variations in the genusMesopodopsis Czerniavsky with descriptions of three new species (Crustacea,Mysidacea)

Most of the exceptional morphological features of the genusMesopodopsis are shared withNanomysis, Diamysis, andLimnomysis in a mosaic-like pattern. This group, comprising euryhaline species from fresh-to metahaline waters, has its centre of recent species richness in the Mediterranean to Ponto-Caspian region. Within the genus one may distinguish two morphogeographic groups, Euro-African species with a spine below the statocyst, and Indo-Australasian species without this spine. Detailed study from the entire distribution range indicates thatM. slabberi (van Beneden) should be split into 4 species: the nominal form from the NE-Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Black Sea, with 5–8 segments on the tarsus of the fourth thoracic endopod;M. aegyptia n.sp., widely distributed in the Mediterranean, with 7–9 segments on this tarsus as well as dimorphic setation patterns on the eighth tarsus;M. tropicalis n.sp. from equatorial W-Africa with 5–6 segments and dimorphic setation patterns on the mandibular palp; andM. wooldridgei n.sp. from South African waters with 9–12 segments on the tarsal joint of the fourth thoracic appendage, respectively. A key to the seven known species of the genus is given.     

Revealing the diversity of a once small taxon: the genus Selenoribates (Acari,Oribatida, Selenoribatidae)

Three new intertidal oribatid species, Selenoribates elegans sp. n., Selenoribates quasimodo sp. n. and Selenoribates satanicus sp. n. are described from the archipelago of Bermuda. Selenoribates elegans sp. n. is characterized by its slender body shape, Selenoribates quasimodo sp. n. possesses a hunchback in lateral view and Selenoribates satanicus sp. n. exhibits two horn-like projections on its anterior gastronotic region. Based on these new findings, the number of Selenoribates species doubled at once and the distribution of this genus, formerly limited to the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, includes now occurrences in the Atlantic and Indo-pacific Ocean as well. The morphology of Selenoribates quasimodo sp. n. and Selenoribates satanicus sp. n. deviates conspicuously from the other known members of Selenoribates, thus indicating that not only the number of species but also the anatomy of this genus is more diverse than formerly supposed. Nymphs of Selenoribates quasimodo sp. n. show an interesting case of ontogenetic neotrichy, with gastronotic setae being duplicated with each moult.     

Metacercariae of new trematode species of the genus Diplostomum (Trematoda,Diplostomidae) from fishes of Lake Tana,Ethiopia

Four new species of trematodes of the genus Diplostomum are described from metacercariae found in fishes from Lake Tana in Ethiopia: Diplostomum garrae sp. n. from the lens of Garra dembecha, D. longicollis sp. n. from the lens of Barbus humilis, D. montanum sp. n. from the lens of Barbus humilis, and D. tilapiae sp. n. from the vitreous body of Oreochromis niloticus. The metacercariae of the new species considerably differ in morphology and size from those of all known Holarctic species. It is the first African record of metacercariae of the genus Diplostomum in fish.     

Two new species of the genus Philaenus (Homoptera, Aphrophoridae) from Iran

Two new species of Philaenus from Iran are described. Philaenus elbursianus sp. n. belongs to the Ph. signatus species group from the nominotypical subgenus. Philaenus iranicus sp. n. differs considerably from all the known representatives of the genus and was separated in a new subgenus Gyrurus subgen. n. The occurrence of this highly peculiar species in Iran may indicate that the center of origin of the genus Philaenus lies in this territory and not in the Mediterranean region as it was considered before.     

New records of the genus Iporhogas Granger (Hymenoptera,Braconidae, Rogadinae) from Vietnam,with description of four new species

The genus Iporhogas Granger, 1949 (Braconidae: Rogadinae) is recorded for the first time for Vietnam. Four new species of the genus Iporhogas, viz. Iporhogas albilateralis sp. n., I. contrastus sp. n., I. simulatus sp. n. and I. tricoloratus sp. n., from Vietnam are described and illustrated, and additionally, one species, Iporhogas guangxiensis Chen & He, 1997, is newly recorded for Vietnam’s fauna of the family Braconidae. A key to the five Vietnamese species of the genus Iporhogas and a checklist with distributions of the ten species are provided.     

The Chinese species of the genus Ontsira Cameron (Hymenoptera,Braconidae, Doryctinae)

The Chinese species of the genus Ontsira Cameron, 1900 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Doryctinae) are reviewed. Eleven species are recognized, of which four new species are described from China and South Korea: O. abbreviata sp. n., O. henana sp. n., O. robusta sp. n., and O. rugivertex sp. n. Two species, O. ignea (Ratzeburg) and O. neantica Belokobylskij et Maetô, are recorded in China for the first time. A key to the Asian species of the genus Ontsira is provided.     

A Review of the Fauna of the Planthopper Family Lophopidae (Homoptera,Fulgoroidea) from Vietnam with Descriptions of New Genera and Species and with Taxonomic Notes

Six new species are described from Vietnam, Apia simplexsp. n., Bisma angulatasp. n., Pitambara trypetoidessp. n., Sarmatoca cathemerinagen. et sp. n., Maracota soulieraegen. et sp. n., and Serida castaneasp. n., and Zeleja thoracalissp. n. from Malaysia. Two new genera, Maracotagen. n. (type species M. soulierae sp. n.) and Sarmatocagen. n. (type species S. cathemerina sp. n.), and a new subgenus Zelomachasubgen. n. (type species Zeleja thoracalis sp. n.) in the genus Zeleja are erected. The genus Binaluana Soulier-Perkins et Stroiński is downgraded to a subgenus of Zeleja Melichar. The genus Silvispina Wang et Soulier-Perkins with an uncertain systematic position is attributed to the subfamily Lophopinae and the tribe Lophopini. The placement of the genus Elasmoscelis Spinola (and, correspondingly, the tribe Elasmoscelini) in the subfamily Menoscinae, the genus Epiptyxis Gerstaecker in the tribe Menoscini, and the genus Jivatma Melichar in the tribe Lophopini is substantiated. New records of 11 species are given from Vietnam, some being first records for this country.     

Two new species and new records of the genus Spinolyprops Pic, 1917 from the Oriental Region (Coleoptera,Tenebrionidae, Lupropini) *

Two new species of the genus Spinolyprops Pic, 1917 (Tenebrionidae, subfamily Lagriinae Latreille, 1825) are described from Thailand and China (Spinolyprops cribricollis sp. n., Spinolyprops thailandicus sp. n.). The species characters within the genus are discussed, photographs of all seven Oriental species are added, a species key for the Oriental species is compiled, and a map with the distributional patterns is provided.     

Diversity and Systematics of Schizomavella Species (Bryozoa: Bitectiporidae) from the Bathyal NE Atlantic

Eight NE Atlantic and Mediterranean species, which were originally assigned to the genus Schizoporella (Family Schizoporellidae) when introduced, are redescribed and stabilized by typification. Seven of these species are transferred to the bitectiporid genus Schizomavella: S. fischeri, S. glebula, S. neptuni, S. obsoleta, S. richardi, S. triaviculata, and S. triaviculata var. paucimandibulata, which is here raised to species rank. The eighth species, Schizoporella fayalensis, is transferred to the lanceoporid genus Stephanotheca. Schizomavella obsoleta and S. glebula are considered junior subjective synonyms of S. fischeri and S. richardi, respectively. Two new species are described: Schizomavella rectangularis n. sp. from the Strait of Gibraltar, and Schizomavella phterocopa n. sp. from the Great Meteor Bank. A new subgenus, Calvetomavella n. subgen. is established as a result of a phylogenetic analysis based on morphological characters; it includes S. neptuni, S. triaviculata, S. paucimandibulata and S. phterocopa n. sp., together with Schizomavella discoidea and Schizomavella noronhai. The rest of the species remain in the nominotypical subgenus Schizomavella.     

Revision of the Neotropical bark mantis genus Liturgusa Saussure, 1869 (Insecta,Mantodea, Liturgusini)

The praying mantis genus Liturgusa Saussure, 1869 occurs only in Central and South America and represents the most diverse genus of Neotropical Liturgusini (Ehrmann 2002). The genus includes bark dwelling species, which live entirely on the trunks and branches of trees and run extremely fast. All species included within the genus Liturgusa are comprehensively revised with a distribution stretching from central Mexico, the island of Dominica to the southeastern regions of Brazil and southern Bolivia. All known species are redescribed to meet the standards of the new treatment of the genus (11 species). Three new genera are described including Fuga gen. n., Velox gen. n., and Corticomantis gen. n. for species previously included in Liturgusa as well as Hagiomantis. Liturgusa mesopoda Westwood, 1889 is moved to within the previously described genus Hagiomantis Audinet Serville, 1838. A total of 19 species are newly described within Liturgusa, Fuga, and Velox including L. algorei sp. n., L. bororum sp. n., L. cameroni sp. n., L. cura sp. n., L. dominica sp. n., L. fossetti sp. n., L. kirtlandi sp. n., L. krattorum sp. n., L. manausensis sp. n., L. maroni sp. n., L. milleri sp. n., L. neblina sp. n., L. purus sp. n., L. stiewei sp. n., L. tessae sp. n., L. trinidadensis sp. n., L. zoae sp. n., F. grimaldii sp. n., and V. wielandi sp. n. Four species names are synonymized: Liturgusa peruviana Giglio-Tos, 1914, syn. n. = Liturgusa nubeculosa Gerstaecker, 1889 and Hagiomantis parva Piza, 1966, syn. n., Liturgusa sinvalnetoi Piza, 1982, syn. n., and Liturgusa parva Giglio-Tos, 1914, syn. n. = Mantis annulipes Audinet Serville, 1838. Lectotypes are designated for the following two species: Liturgusa maya Saussure & Zehntner, 1894 and Fuga annulipes (Audinet Serville, 1838). A male neotype is designated for Liturgusa guyanensis La Greca, 1939. Males for eight species are described for the first time including Liturgusa cayennensis Saussure, 1869, Liturgusa lichenalis Gerstaecker, 1889, Liturgusa guyanensis La Greca, 1939, Liturgusa maya Saussure & Zehntner, 1894, Liturgusa nubeculosa Gerstaecker, 1889, Fuga annulipes (Audinet Serville, 1838), Corticomantis atricoxata (Beier, 1931), and Hagiomantis mesopoda (Westwood, 1889). The female of Fuga fluminensis (Piza, 1965) is described for the first time. Complete bibliographic histories are provided for previously described species. The spelling confusion surrounding Liturgusa/Liturgousa is resolved. Full habitus images for males and females are provided for nearly all species. Habitus and label images of type specimens are provided when possible. Diagnostic illustrations of the head and pronotum for males and females are provided for all species when possible. Illustrations of male genital structures are provided for all species for which males are known. Measurement data, including ranges and averages, are provided for males and females of all species. Combined male and female genus and species level dichotomous keys are provided with a Spanish translation. A complete table of all examined specimens lists label data, museum codes, repositories, and other specimen specific information. A KML file with all georeferenced locality records is downloadable from mantodearesearch.com for viewing in Google Earth. Natural history information is provided for species observed by the author.     

Filaires Splendidofilariinae de lézards: nouvelles espèces,redescription, cycle chez phlébotome

Four new species of Splendidofilariinae from different families of lizards are described: Thamugadia wertheimae n. sp., from Acanthodactylus b. boskianus from Israel, Madathamugadia versterae n. sp., from Mabuya capensis from the Northern Transvaal; M. bissani n. sp., from Mabuya quinquetaeniata from Mali; and M. ineichi n. sp., from Pseudocordylus microlepidotus melanotus from the Orange Free State. The life-cycle of M. ineichi is described. It occurs in a Phlebotomus species and is similar to the two known life-cycles in the genus. The new combination Madathamugadia huambensis (Petit, Bain, Gomes & Touratier, 1983) is proposed for the filarial worm from Mabuya aff. quinquetaeniata in Angola, previously placed in the genus Piratuboides (Oswaldofilariinae). Pseudothamugadia physignathi, from Physignathus lesueurii in Australia, is redescribed. In New Guinea, this filarid, or a closely related species, is a parasite of Chlamydosaurus kingii. The presence of splendidofilariines in lizards from southern and western Africa is a new finding. These Ethiopian species show several original characteristics but exhibit affinities with the two Madathamugadia spp. from Malagasy. M. ineichi appears to be a primitive form with a well-developed buccal capsule and well-developed pre- and post-cloacal papillae. Two lines appear to derive from this group: the first is characterised by the reduction of the post-cloacal papillae and comprises the eight species of Madathamugadia in the Ethiopian and Mediterranean regions; the second line is characterised by a reduction of the pre-cloacal papillae and includes the four species of Thamugadia in the Mediterranean region. Morphologically, Pseudothamugadia appears to be closely related to Madathamugadia.     

Pachyseris inattesa sp. n. (Cnidaria,Anthozoa, Scleractinia): a new reef coral species from the Red Sea and its phylogenetic relationships

A new scleractinian coral species, Pachyseris inattesa sp. n., is described from the Red Sea. Despite a superficial resemblance with some species in the agariciid genus Leptoseris with which it has been previously confused, P. inattesa sp. n. has micro-morphological characters typical of the genus Pachyseris. This genus, once part of the Agariciidae, is comprised of five extant species and is widely distributed throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific. It is currently incertae sedis as a result of recent molecular analysis and appears to be closely related to the Euphylliidae. A molecular phylogenetic reconstruction including P. inattesa sp. n., the genus type species P. rugosa, and P. speciosa, all present in the Red Sea, was performed using the mitochondrial intergenic spacer between COI and 16S-rRNA. The results confirm that P. inattesa sp. n. is a monophyletic lineage closely related to the other Pachyseris species examined.     

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.     

Two new species of Neoperla (Plecoptera,Perlidae) from Dabie Mountains of China

Two new species of the stonefly genus Neoperla, N. nigromarginata sp. n. and N. similiflavescens sp. n., are described from Dabie Mountains of Central China in the Liankangshan National Nature Reserve. The new species are compared with related congeners.     

Four new Mouse Spider species (Araneae,Mygalomorphae, Actinopodidae,Missulena) from Western Australia

Four new species of the Mouse Spider genus Missulena Walckenaer, 1805 (family Actinopodidae) are described from Western Australia based on morphological features of adult males. Missulena leniae sp. n.(from the Carnarvon and Yalgoo biogeographic regions), Missulena mainae sp. n. (Carnarvon), Missulena melissae sp. n. (Pilbara) and Missulena pinguipes sp. n. (Mallee) represent a broad spectrum of morphological diversity found in this genus and differ from other congeners by details of the male copulatory bulb, colour patterns, eye sizes, leg morphology and leg spination. Two of the species, M. pinguipes sp. n. and M. mainae sp. n., are characterised by swollen metatarsi of the fourth legs in males, a feature not previously recorded in the family. A key to males of all named Missulena species from Australia is presented and allows their identification based on external morphology.