A new species of Symphyla, Scolopendrellopsis parisii n. sp. (Myriapoda, Symphyla, Scolopendrellidae), is described from soil collected along the Samoggia stream embankment in northern Italy. The species is characterized by a unique combination of morphological features, including an undivided third tergite, antennae with 14 to 17 antennomeres bearing characteristic sensory organs, reduced first legs, and distinctive chaetotaxy and cerci morphology. Detailed morphological observations obtained using differential interference contrast microscopy were complemented by a partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) barcode sequence. Comparisons with morphologically similar congeners demonstrate that S. parisii n. sp. can be reliably distinguished from all previously described species of Scolopendrellopsis. This represents the first new symphylan species described from Italy in approximately five decades and contributes to the growing knowledge of the diversity and taxonomy of this poorly studied group of soil arthropods.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1E732122-EE26-4E2B-86AD-076615A4F2B0
The main aim of this research was to investigate site selection for two types of Eurasian badger (Meles meles) setts (main and secondary) in relation to environmental factors (soil type and vegetation structure) and distances to meadows, rivers, human settlements, and public roads in the Stobrawa Landscape Park (SLP, southwestern Poland). A total of 53 badger setts were identified, comprising 31 main setts (58,5%) and 22 secondary setts (41,5%). The environmental variables that most clearly differentiated main and secondary setts were distance to water sources and soil type. Our results indicate that forest type influenced the locations of main setts but was not significantly associated with the locations of secondary setts. Regarding soil type, significant differences were observed between the soil types used for secondary setts and the overall distribution of these soil types in the SLP. We applied various analytical approaches to evaluate sett distribution relative to six habitat and landscape variables. Main setts were located farther from public roads and human settlements, but closer to meadows and water. In the case of secondary settlements, it was revealed that they were situated closer to meadows, where the other conditions (buildings, roads, and water) were not significant. In conclusion, main setts were situated closer to water, whereas secondary setts were farther from water and closer to meadows; the tendency for setts to occur farther from buildings and roads appeared to reflect terrain characteristics rather than species-specific habitat preferences.
Spider egg sacs provide a valuable system for investigating offspring protection strategies. In this study, we examined both the silk and egg components of egg sacs from two model spiders, Pardosa sp. and Parasteatoda sp. chosen for their contrasting ecotypes, parental-care strategies, and egg sac organization. Egg sac morphology, elemental composition, and fatty-acid (FA) profiles were characterized using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) and gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry and flame-ionization detection (GC-MS/GC-FID). SEM revealed that Pardosa sp. produced dense, highly organized silk, whereas Parasteatoda sp. formed a looser silk matrix but exhibited a denser layer of chorionic microstructures on the egg surface than Pardosa sp. EDX showed that both silk and eggs were composed primarily of C, N, and O, with smaller contributions of K, Cl, Na, Al, and Mg, and elemental maps revealed their spatial distribution within the analysed structures. GC-MS/GC-FID identified 29 FAs in eggs and 17 in silk, ranging from C9 to C20. Egg samples were dominated by 16:0, 16:1, 18:0, 18:1 ω7c/ω9c, 18:2 ω6,9c, and 20:4 ω6,9,12,15c, whereas silk samples contained mainly 13:0, 14:0, 14:1, 15:0, 16:0 anteiso, 16:0, 17:0 anteiso, 18:3 ω6c, 18:2 ω6,9c, 18:1 ω9c, and 18:0. Although FA profiles were broadly similar between species, species-specific differences were observed in eggs (9:0, 17:1 ω8c, 20:2 ω6,9c, 18:1 ω7c, 18:1 ω5c) and silk (16:0 anteiso, 16:1 ω9c, 17:0 anteiso, 9:0, 15:0). Some of the identified FAs have been reported in the literature to exhibit antimicrobial potential. Overall, these findings expand current knowledge of the structural and biochemical diversity of spider egg sacs and provide a further basis for future in vitro studies on the biological significance of egg sac components.
Historically, Pachycheles sculptus was considered a widely distributed species in Chinese waters with significant morphological plasticity. In this study, we describe a new species, Pachycheles nanhaiensis sp. nov. discovered in the coral reefs of the Xisha Islands, South China Sea. Based on an integrative taxonomic approach combining morphological examination and molecular analyses (COI, 16S, and Cytb), our results demonstrate that the Xisha population constitutes a distinct evolutionary lineage. Pachycheles nanhaiensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from its most similar congener P. sculptus by the straight and oblique anterior margin of the carpus proximal tooth (distinctly angled in P. sculptus), fewer setae on the ambulatory legs, and a non-anteriorly produced lobe on the cheliped merus. Molecular species delimitation consistently supports the validity of the new taxon. Currently, the new species appears to be restricted to the oceanic coral reefs of the Xisha Islands, while P. sculptus sensu stricto inhabits the mainland coastal waters.
This paper presents the description of three new species of aphids (Hemiptera, Aphidomorpha) belonging to the family Lachnidae: Lachnus miocaenicus sp. nov. L. fusus sp. nov. and Cinara cerasina sp. nov. based on fossils originating from Rubielos de Mora (Spain) and Vishnevaya Balka (Russia) deposits, dated from the Miocene. The discussion focuses on the reasons for the late appearance of fossil representatives of Lachnidae, mostly belonging to recent genera, in the context of molecular dating of this aphid group.
