Beetle evolution in the Asian highlands: insight from a phylogeny of the scarabaeid subgenus Serica (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae)

Abstract.  The phylogeny of the species of the scarabaeid subgenus Serica (genus Serica MacLeay, 1819) was inferred from a parsimony analysis and the use of 117 morphological characters of adults. Successive weighting was employed to further evaluate the phylogenetic relationships, and the geographical changes in the distribution in certain lineages were explored. Four major lineages may be recognized from the strict consensus tree within the ingroup: (1) Calloserica ; (2) Gastroserica + Neoserica ; (3) Lasioserica ; and (4) Serica including the representatives of Taiwanoserica . Pachyserica proved to be monophyletic only after successive weighting based on the retention index. The taxa of Taiwanoserica are nested within the species of Serica . Consequently, Taiwanoserica ( stat.n. ) is ranked as a subgenus of Serica . The clade Serica (subgenus Serica ) comprised the majority of the species included in this study. Serica ( sensu stricto ) species of the Himalayas are a polyphyletic group. Several major younger clades of Serica ( sensu stricto ) are not restricted to just one geographical region, but cover widely distant ranges (such as the Himalaya and eastern Tibet). Dispersal is hypothesized multiple times from the Himalaya to eastern Tibet/Indochina and vice versa, and also between the Japanese islands and eastern Tibet. Several hypotheses are discussed for an important role of the entire Himalaya–south-eastern Tibet orogenic system for the evolution of the subgenus Serica . More recently, the progressive uplift of the Tibetan Plateau provided an efficient barrier to the westward dispersal of eastern Palaearctic species.     

New monogeneans from the bathydemersal southern African endemic catshark,Holohalaelurus regani (Gilchrist, 1922)

The catshark genus Holohalaelurus Fowler is currently represented by five species distributed off the southern and eastern parts of the African coast. Very few parasitological records exist for any of these five species, representing a significant knowledge gap. We report the first monogenean species from the bathydemersal species Holohalaelurus regani (Gilchrist): a new species of Microbothriidae Price, 1936, Leptomicrobothrium holohalaelure n. sp. from the dorsal skin surface, and a new species of Hexabothriidae Price, 1942 representing a new genus, Scyliorhinocotyle narvaezae n. gen., n. sp., from the gill lamellae. Both monogenean records represent the first for any member of the catshark genus Holohalaelurus. Previously we focused on the identification of monogenean taxa of emerging veterinary importance for public aquaria. We now begin a focused effort to document a generally unexplored monogenean biodiversity from diverse marine habitats off South Africa.

     

Revision of the genus Pseudabris Fairmaire (Coleoptera,Meloidae), an endemic to the Tibetan Plateau,with biogeographical comments

The mylabrine genus Pseudabris is endemic to the Tibetan Plateau and includes seven species with overlapping or disjunct ranges. The genus is revised: three new species, P. brevipilosa sp.n., P. latimaculata sp.n., P. regularis sp.n., are described and illustrated, and a key to the species is provided. Molecular evidence supports the placement of Pseudabris within the tribe Mylabrini. Results of a morphology‐based cladistic analysis support the existence of two lineages, one centred mainly on the south central plateau, and the second in the eastern area. Faunistics and bionomics of the genus are summarized, focusing on phenology, elevation, habitat preference and host plants. The endemism of the Tibetan Plateau is discussed, with a special focus on the genus Pseudabris.     

New rodents (Mammalia) from the late Oligocene of Cabeza Blanca (Chubut) and the first rodent radiation in Patagonia

Caviomorph rodents, the New World Hystricognathi, are one of the most characteristic groups of South American mammals. Although they have been in the continent at least since the middle Eocene, those of the Deseadan Land mammal Age (early–late Oligocene) are the best source to understanding their early history due of their good record, large geographic distribution and good temporal calibration of many of the local faunas. Here, we describe the following new taxa from the classical locality of Cabeza Blanca: Octodontoidea Acaremyidae Galileomys baiosn. sp., Octodontoidea incertae sedis Ethelomys loomisin. gen.,n. comb., Acarechimys leucotheaen. sp., Protacaremys? adilosn. sp., Chinchilloidea incertae sedis Loncolicu tretosn. gen., n. sp., Incamys menniorumn. sp., Caviomorpha incertae sedis Llitun notucan. gen., n. sp., Leucokephalos zeffiaen. gen., n. sp. and Cephalomyidae Cephalomys ceciaen. sp. The DP4 of an ‘eocardiid’, Asteromys punctus? is described for the first time. These new taxa allow us to reinterpret the relationships of some of the previously known Deseadan species and genera. They show a great early diversification at least for extra Andean Patagonia, involving at least three of the main caviomorph lineages: octodontoids, chinchilloids and cavioids.     

Cephenniini with prothoracic glands and internal cavities: new taxa,enigmatic characters and phylogeny of the Cephennomicrus group of genera (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae, Scydmaeninae)

Genera of the Cephennomicrus group of the Cephenniini (Scydmaenitae) are revised, and the following new taxa are described: Trichokrater gen.n. , Trichokrater ekkentros sp.n. (type species of Trichokrater) (Borneo), Cephennococcus gen.n. , Cephennococcus kuchingensis sp.n. (type species of Cephennococcus) (Borneo), Cephennococcus kenyirensis sp.n. (West Malaysia), Cephennococcus crassus sp.n. (Borneo), Cephennococcus minutissimus sp.n. (West Malaysia), Pomphopsilla gen.n. , Pomphopsilla luhya sp.n. (type species of Pomphopsilla) (Kenya) and Pomphopsilla soror sp.n. (Kenya). Unique subcuticular pockets with setose openings on the pronotum of Trurlia and Trichokrater are identified as glandular structures. Enigmatic internal prothoracic cavities are described for the first time in Scydmaeninae (in Cephennococcus, Pomphopsilla and a female of an undescribed genus from Sulawesi); their fine structure and function remain unknown. Parsimony‐based cladistic analysis of the adult morphology of genera of Cephenniini provided robust evidence for a monophyly of the Cephennomicrus group, composed of Cephennomicrus, Cephennula, Lathomicrus, Pomphopsilla, Cephennococcus, Trurlia, Trichokrater and two undescribed Oriental genera known from females only; this distinct and well‐supported lineage is a sister group of Cephennodes + Hlavaciellus. The genus Cephennomicrus represented in the analysis by species belonging to three previously postulated species groups is not monophyletic, and a comprehensive study comprising more taxa is necessary to reclassify this heterogeneous group.     

Species Diversity of Japanese Clusiidae (Diptera: Acalyptrata) with description of 12 new species

The Japanese Clusiidae are revised and 23 species, including 12 species new to science, are recognized and keyed. Clusiodes angulosus n. sp., Clusiodes discostylus n. sp., Clusiodes tobi n. sp., Clusiodes usikumuri n. sp., Craspedochaeta varicolor n. sp., Heteromeringia crenulata n. sp., Heteromeringia quadrispinosa n. sp., Heteromeringia sexramifera n. sp., Heteromeringia yamata n. sp., Phylloclusia quadrivittata n. sp., Sobarocephala uncinata n. sp., and Tetrameringia borealis n. sp. were described as new. Distribution records were compiled and mapped. Transitional climatic zone between the warm and cool temperate zones is possibly suggested as one of the most richest temperate area in terms of Japanese clusiid species richness. Hendelia beckeri Czerny 1903, Paraclusia japonica Sasakawa 1957, and Clusiodes plumosus Sasakawa 1964 are broadly distributed over all the Japanese temperate forests, but these are not always most abundant species. The clusiid assemblage was heterogeneous in the species composition among various forest types. The femalebiased sample caught by Malaise traps and distinction of clusiid species composition between temperate and subtropical zones are also pointed out.     

New biting midges from the Cretaceous amber of Lebanon (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

New Ceratopogonidae from the Early Cretaceous amber of Hammana (Central Lebanon) are studied. Five new species (Lebanoculicoides daheri sp. nov., Protoculicoides krzeminskii sp. nov., Archiaustroconops annae sp. nov., Archiaustroconops hammanensis sp. nov., and Archiaustroconops dominiakae sp. nov.) are characterized, described, illustrated, and compared with other Cretaceous taxa. New keys for species of the three genera Lebanoculioides, Protoculicoides, and Archiaustroconops, but also for all genera of Lebanese fossil biting midges, are proposed.     

Descriptions of new taxa of the Clausiliidae from Turkey (Mollusca: Stylommatophora)

Summary

Several new taxa of the Clausiliidae were described From Turkey: Dobatia multidentifera n. sp., Albinaria monocristata n. sp., Albinaria basalifera n. sp., Roseniella (Chavchetia) n. subgen., Roseniella (Chavchetia) rufina n. sp., Armenica euprepes truncata n. ssp., Armenica multispirata n. sp., Armenica bicarinata grisea n. ssp., Kazancia n. gen., and Kazancia monticola n. sp. Investigations were made of the genital morphology of some species, and the arrangement of the taxa in Nordsieck’s classification (H, NORDSIECK 1979) is discussed.     

Typhlocybinae of New Zealand (Homoptera: Cicadellidae)

Two tribes of the subfamily Typhlocybinae are represented in New Zealand, as follows. Erythroneurini: the cosmopolitan genus Zygina is represented by 4 endemic species—toetoe, ramsayi n.sp., dumbletoni, and agni n.sp.—plus zealandica, which occurs in Australia also. Typhlocybini: Typhlocyba froggatti, T. lethierryi, Ribautiana tenerrima, Eupteryx melissae, Kybos smaragdula, and K. betulicola are introduced Northern Hemisphere elements; Matatua montivaga n.gen.&sp. is endemic; M. maorica (formerly Dikraneura maorica), also endemic, is of uncertain identity in the absence of male specimens. Keys are given for the separation of all taxa, the genera and species are described, and all species except Matatua maorica are figured.     

Myrtlemiris,a new genus and new species of Australian plant bugs (Insecta: Heteroptera: Miridae): systematics,phylogeny and host associations

A new Australian genus of Orthotylinae, Myrtlemiris Cheng, Mututantri & Cassis gen.n. , is described, with nine included species described as new to science (M. agnew sp.n. , M. astartephila sp.n. , M. meanarra sp.n. , M. newmanensis sp.n. , M. rubrocuneatus sp.n. , M. russulatus sp.n. , M. silveirae sp.n. , M. tesselatus sp.n. , M. yalgoo sp.n. ). A phylogenetic analysis based on 39 morphological characters is presented for all Myrtlemiris species and 6 outgroup taxa. This analysis establishes Myrtlemiris as monophyletic, defined by a broad apophysis on the left paramere. A key to species is provided and diagnostic characters are illustrated. Myrtlemiris is endemic to southwest Western Australia. Host plants for Myrtlemiris species are near restricted to the myrtaceous tribe Chamelaucieae.     

Revision of the genus Adorodocia Brenske 1893 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Rutelinae: Adoretini) endemic to Madagascar

Summary. The Adoretini of the Malagasy endemic genus Adorodocia Brenske 1893 is revised. Fourteen new species and one new subspecies are described and compared with their most closely related species: A. constricta n. sp., A. cuccodoroi n. sp., A. flava n. sp., A. liliae n. sp., A. marginata n. sp., A. peyrierasi n. sp., A. pseudoconstricta n. sp., A. pseudoflava n. sp., A. pseudostrigata n. sp., A. recta n. sp., A. robusta n. sp., A. sogai n. sp., A. vadoni n. sp., A. viettei n. sp. and A. vittaticollis flavipes n. ssp. The synonymy between Adoretus strigatus Waterhouse 1878, and Pseudadorodocia aenigma Arrow 1901, is confirmed. Thus, based on the results of this study, the genus Adorodocia includes 16 species, and one of them is represented by two subspecies. Diagnostic characters to separate the species in the genus deal mostly with the shape of parameres, color of body and legs, shape of pronotum and female eighth tergite, setation of pronotum and elytra. Key to species, diagnoses and distribution for each species are provided. Endophallus and female genitalia are illustrated for the first time for this genus.     

Discheramocephalini,a new pantropical tribe of featherwing beetles (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae): description of new taxa and phylogenetic analysis

Abstract Two new genera and eight new species of featherwing beetles (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae) possessing a remarkable horizontal perforation of the mesoventral keel are described: Skidmorella vietnamensis sp.n. (Vietnam), S. memorabilis sp.n. (Indonesia), S. serrata sp.n. (Vietnam), Fenestellidium capensis gen. et sp.n. (South Africa, type species), F. kakamegaensis sp.n. (Kenya), Cissidium okuensis sp.n. (Cameroon), Dacrysoma usambarensis gen. et sp.n. (Tanzania, type species) and D. felis sp.n. (Madagascar). A phylogenetic analysis of 24 taxa and 37 parsimony‐informative characters supports the hypothesis of a single origin of the mesoventral perforation, thus uniting Discheramocephalus, Skidmorella, Africoptilium, Fenestellidium, Cissidium and Dacrysoma into a pantropically distributed clade, for which a new tribe Discheramocephalini (type genus Discheramocephalus) is proposed. Identification keys to Discheramocephalini genera and, in some cases, to species are provided. Each new species is illustrated with scanning electron microscopy images.     

Early Emsian ammonoids from the eastern Anti-Atlas (Morocco) and their succession

From 20 sections in the Tafilalt (eastern Anti-Atlas, Morocco), 13 early Emsian ammonoid species of the families Mimosphinctidae, Mimoceratidae, Teicherticeratidae, Mimagoniatitidae, and Auguritidae have been discovered. The following taxa are newly described:Chebbites n. gen.,Chebbites reisdorfi n. sp.,Chebbites undosus n. sp.,Gracilités maghribensis n. sp., Palaeogoniatitinae n. subfam.,Irdanites n. gen.,Irdanites kaufmanni n. sp.,Irdanites korni n. sp.,Lenzites gesinae n. sp.,Weyeroceras n. gen.,Weyeroceras angustus n. sp. In addition, specimens ofErbenoceras solitarium, Metabactrites formosus, andRuanites obliquecostatus are described and figured from Morocco for the first time. The ammonoid generaConvoluticeras, Erbenoceras, Mimosphinctes, Palaeogoniatites, Talenticeras, andTeicherticeras and the families Mimosphinctidae, Mimoceratidae, Teicherticeratidae, and Mimagoniatitidae are reviewed.Taskanites andLaganites are regarded as subjective junior synonyms ofConvoluticeras. In Morocco, the early Emsian ammonoid succession differs from what can be expected from a phylogenetic point of view. Several species belonging to different families of various phylogenetic stages appear within one stratigraphical unit. In contrast to previous opinions however,Gyroceratites laevis appears stratigraphically earlier thanMimagoniatites fecundus, which agrees in this case with the phylogenetic succession of the taxa. Stratigraphical data from early Emsian ammonoids are still insufficient as basis for a more detailed stratigraphical subdivision of the early Emsian.     

New species of Alaus Eschscholtz, 1829 (Coleoptera: Elateridae,Agrypninae, Hemirhipini)

Four new species of Alaus Eschscholtz, 1829 are described: A. cinnamomeus n. sp., A. latlpennls n. sp., A. serlceus n. sp. and A. thoracopunctatus n. sp. Three species removed from Chalcolepldlus Eschscholtz, 1829, are transferred to this genus: A. allcll (Pjatakowa, 1941) n. comb., A. haroldl (Candèze, 1878) n.comb. and A. unlcus (Fleutiaux, 1910) n. comb. The characters of external morphology of these seven species and male and female genitalia, when available, are described and illustrated. An identification key for all species of the genus is included: A. allcll (Pjatakowa, 1941) n. comb., A. calcarlpllosus Casari, 1996, A. cinnamomeus n. sp., A. haroldl (Candèze, 1878) n. comb., A. latlpennls n. sp., A. lusclosus (Hope, 1832), A. melanops Leconte, 1863, A. myops (Fabricius, 1801), A. nobllls Sallé, 1855, A. oculatus (Linnaeus, 1758), A. patrlclus (Candèze, 1857), A. plebejus Candèze, 1874, A. serlceus n. sp., A. thoracopunctatus n. sp., A. tricolor (Olivier, 1790), A. unlcus (Fleutiaux, 1910) n. comb., A. veracruzanus Casari, 1996 and A. zunianus Casey, 1893.     

Philopotaminae of Madagascar (Trichoptera: Philopotamidae)

The Malagasy fauna includes two genera of Philopotaminae: Wormaldia McLachlan 1865 and an endemic new genus, Ranarijaodes n. gen. The Malagasy and African (sensu stricto) lineages of Wormaldia are distinct. Apomorphic characters (the shape of the phallic apparatus for the African species and the splitting of the median lobe of the tenth tergite for the Malagasy species) confirm their separation. New captures are reported for two of the four previously known species of Wormaldia. Seven new species are described: Wormaldia ambahibeae n. sp., W. faharoa n. sp., W. fahatelo n. sp., W. randriamasimananai n. sp., W. fahefatra n. sp., W. legrandi n. sp. and W. fahadimy n. sp. Ranarijaodes n. gen. is close to Dolophilodes Ulmer 1909. It is described for the three new species Ranarijaodes fiana n. sp., R. angapi n. sp. and R. atsimo n. sp. The 14 Malagasy species of Philopotaminae are endemics of the island. Their geographical distributions and ecological preferences are described and discussed.     

New Apioninae (Coleoptera: Brentidae) in Dominican amber

The following new species of Apioninae weevils (Coleoptera: Brentidae) are described from Dominican amber. Toxorhynchus leptorhinusn. sp., Toxorhynchus robustusn. sp., Toxorhynchus amphioculusn. sp., Toxorhynchus atriartusn. sp., Toxorhynchusatriantenusn. sp. and Toxorhynchus hispaniolicusn. sp. are members of the Toxorhynchus decoloratum species group. Toxorhynchus microsomusn. sp., Toxorhynchus stenelytrusn. sp., Toxorhynchus dominicanusn. sp., Toxorhynchus convexusn. sp., Toxorhynchus fuscocorpusn. sp., Toxorhynchus hispidulusn. sp. and Toxorhynchus convexoculusn. sp. are members of the Toxorhynchus sordidum species group. A new subtribe, Stenapiina n. subtribe of the tribe Toxorhynchini, is erected. New species Apionion homochrononn. sp.,Apionion kallimosumn. sp.,Apionion formoculusn. sp. and Stenapion levigatumn. sp. are described. The dominate species of the genus Toxorhynchus and especially those in the Toxorhynchus decoloratum and Toxorhynchus sordidum species groups in Dominican amber are now absent from the West Indies. A systematic update of extant representatives of Apioninae in Hispaniola is provided.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2D4A59DB-E804-4B45-8773-C027A8AD5A02     

A revision of the Afrotropical genus Dhatrichia (Trichoptera, Hydroptilidae)

Five previously described species of Dhatrichia Mosely, 1948 are recognized: D. inasa Mosely, 1948 from Yemen; D. bipunctata Statzner, 1977 from Zaire; D. lerabae (Gibon, Guenda & Coulibaly, 1994) comb. n. from Burkina Faso and Ghana; and D. cinyra Wells & Andersen, 1995 and D. divergenta Wells & Andersen, 1995 from Tanzania. A sixth species D. feredougoubae Gibon, 1987 from the Ivory Coast and Ghana is transferred to Microptila Ris, 1897 comb. n. In addition, nine new species are described and illustrated as males: D. ankasaensis sp. n., D. botiensis sp. n., D. hunukani sp. n., D. minuta sp. n., D. paraminuta sp. n. and D. wliensis sp. n. from Ghana, D. anderseni sp. n. from Tanzania, and D. madagascarensis sp. n. and D. giboni sp. n. from Madagascar. Females are associated, described and illustrated for all species, except D. inasa and D. giboni. The larvae and pupae of D. ankasaensis, D. hunukani, D. lerabae, D. minuta and D. wliensis are described and illustrated as the first known immatures of the genus. Keys to known larvae, pupae, males and females are provided. A phylogenetic analysis of the genus revealed four species groups. The most plesiomorphous taxa are West African, followed by East African and Malagasian taxa. A sister group relationship between the Eburneo–Ghanean and the Sudanian biogeographical regions is encountered twice. Among several possible sister taxa, the sister group turned out to be Kumanskiella Harris & Flint, 1992 and Microptila Ris, 1897 in part, combined. Implications for generic classification and biogeography are outlined. A morphometric principal component analysis revealed good separation of the sexes by the number and shape of antennal segments, and by eye size. Other measures are strongly dependent on overall size, and show best separation of females between species and species groups. A functional fit between male inferior appendages and secondary sexual characters in female sternite VIII is demonstrated for all species with associated females.     

New Nemonychidae,Brentidae and Curculionidae (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) from the Turonian of Kzyl-Dzhar (Kazakhstan)

Five new genera, Turononemonyxn. gen. (type species: Turononemonyxsamsonovin. sp.) (Nemonychidae: ? Cretonemonychinae: ? Cretonemonychini), Falsotanaosn. gen. (type species: Falsotanaos convexusn. sp.), Pretanaosn. gen. (type species: Pretanaosocularisn. sp.), Longotanaosn. gen. (type species: Longotanaosrasnitsynin. sp.) from Brentidae: Apioninae: Tanaini) and Turonerirhinusn. gen. (type species: Turonerirhinuskaratavensisn. sp.) from Curculionidae (Erirhininae: Erirhinini), and seven new species, Falsotanaosconvexusn. sp., Paratanaos samsonovin. sp., Pretanaos ocularisn. sp., Longotanaos rasnitsynin. sp., Turonerirhinus karatavensisn. sp., Turonerirhinuspunctatusn. sp. and Turonerirhinus poinarin. sp., are described from Kzyl-Dzhar locality (Kazakhstan, Upper Cretaceous, Turonian).http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:13E0316E-C229-471A-90AA-2D71253B12F9