Based on key diagnostic characteristics including the mesopleuron, propodeum, petiole and hind-wing venation, six new species of Stigmus from China are identified: S. dentiserratus Li & Ma, sp. nov., S. nullirugatus Li & Ma, sp. nov., S. rugibrevis Li & Ma, sp. nov., S. rugilongus Li & Ma, sp. nov., S. sulcipervius Li & Ma, sp. nov. and S. tibisulcatus Li & Ma, sp. nov. Detailed descriptions, diagnoses and photographs of diagnostic characteristics are provided for these new species. Additionally, we provide an updated and illustrated identification key to the known Stigmus species in China, along with a checklist. Our contribution provides a comprehensive understanding of the taxonomic diversity of the genus.
The Afrotropical species of Ernoporini are revised based on morphological and molecular data. Three genera are present: Ernoporus Thompson, 1859, Eidophelus Eichhoff, 1875, and Proternoporus Jordal, gen. nov. to accommodate Proternoporus dimorphus Jordal, sp. nov. from Madagascar, and Proternoporus devius (Schedl, 1975), comb. nov., from Republic of South Africa. Altogether, 26 species of Ernoporini are currently valid after the synonyms proposed for Eidophelus grobleri (Schedl, 1962) (=Cryphalomorphus apicalis Schedl, 1971, syn. nov.), Eidophelus spirostachius (Schedl, 1958) (=Cryphalophilus afer Schedl, 1970, syn. nov.), Eidophelus usagaricus (Eggers, 1922) (=Cryphalomorphus hobohmi Schedl, 1955, syn. nov.; =Cryphalomorphus robustus Schedl, 1955, syn. nov.). Eidophelus similaris (Schedl, 1965), comb. ressurr. is removed from its previous synonymy with Eidophelus onyanganus (Schedl, 1941). An illustrated key to all Afrotropical species is included. Molecular data from four gene fragments combined, and a larger pantropical data set for 28S, strongly support a monophyletic Eidophelus, and a separate standing of Proternoporus from Ernoporus and Eidophelus. The largest clade of Afrotropical species of Eidophelus are relatively young (early Miocene) compared to the ancestor for the genus (late Cretaceous). Reconstruction of ancestral areas in a Bayesian framework indicated an origin of Afrotropical lineages from the eastern Palearctic region (multigene, smaller taxon set), or from the Australasian region (28S, larger taxon set). An eastern origin was also supported by a late colonization of Africa from Madagascar and nearby islands in the Indian Ocean.
The subgenus Anthophora (Caranthophora) Brooks, 1988 is a small lineage of Anthophora Latreille, 1803 bees, but despite its small size several problems and a lack of clarity exist. Based on revision of type and non-type material, several advances in understanding can be made, producing a final total of six species. Anthophora (Caranthophora) iole Bingham, 1898 (described from northern India) is found to have a range extending through southern Iran into Oman and the United Arab Emirates, and the mysterious taxon Anthophora albopicta Cockerell, 1917, syn. nov . is synonymised under it. A neotype is designated for Anthophora (Caranthophora) tarsalis Priesner, 1957 which is recognised as a member of subgenus Caranthophora and not subgenus Heliophila Klug, 1807, and Anthophora spinacoxa Brooks, 1988, syn. nov . is synonymised under it. Anthophora (Caranthophora) calcarispina sp. nov . is described from the Ethiopian highlands. This extends the range of this subgenus into the Afrotropical region from its previous strictly Palaearctic distribution, again highlighting Ethiopia as hosting a unique bee fauna containing elements from both biogeographical regions.
A recent rise in Iberian-Balearic records of the otherwise Sahelian/eremic noctuid moth Agrotis herzogi Rebel, 1911, fosters a need to interpret the origins, causes and outcomes of these arrivals. Based on all available evidence in the form of occurrence data in the area, its status as a resident species or only a temporary arrival and its phenology are discussed. To date, although the occurrences of the species in the area span a wide range, from Lisbon to Alicante and once in the Balearic Islands, there is a temporal and effective predominance of records in the south-west of the Iberian Peninsula. These occurrences can, moreover, be reasonably correlated with prevailing characteristic weather conditions and can reasonably be traced back to source areas in North Africa from October to April. No evidence of resident populations has yet been found. This pattern may be generalised to a number of other species previously found in North Africa that are now being recorded in the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula.
The genus Kuwania Cockerell, commonly known as oak red scale insects, comprises species living in bark crevices of host plants, primarily Fagaceae. Most species are distributed in the Oriental and Palearctic regions. Based on specimens collected from China, this study describes three new species: the adult females and intermediate-stage female nymphs of K. clandestina Zheng & Wu, sp. nov. and K. hainanensis Zheng & Wu, sp. nov., and the adult female of K. hiemalis Zheng & Wu, sp. nov. Additionally, the adult female of K. pasaniae Borchsenius, 1960 is redescribed, and its adult male and intermediate-stage female nymph are described for the first time. An identification key to the adult females of all known Kuwania species is provided.
The Himalayas and adjacent regions, with exceptional ecological richness, harbor remarkable biodiversity. In this study, two genera of the scorpionfly family Panorpidae—Lulilan Willmann, 2022 and Phine Willmann, 2022—are recorded from Xizang, China, for the first time, both previously known only from Bhutan and Nepal, including two new species: L. chumbi sp. nov. and P. linyejiei sp. nov. L. furcatus (Hardwicke, 1823), originally known from Nepal, is newly recorded from Xizang, China. Lulilan cornutus (Esben-Petersen, 1915), comb. nov. from Assam, India, is transferred from the genus Neopanorpa van der Weele, 1909. Three new species of Neopanorpa are also described: N. dinggyensis sp. nov., N. ganmatsangpo sp. nov., and N. yadongensis sp. nov. In addition, two new genera, Sahyadrinorpa gen. nov. and Yinorpa gen. nov., are erected, with Panorpa appendiculata Westwood, 1841 and Y. brevistyla sp. nov. as their respective type species. Seven species are transferred from Neopanorpa: S. appendiculata (Westwood, 1841), comb. nov., S. denticulata (Rust & Byers, 1976), comb. nov., S. echinata (Rust & Byers, 1976), comb. nov., S. indica (Rust & Byers, 1976), comb. nov., S. hirsuta (Crampton, 1931), comb. nov., S. salai (Navás, 1929), comb. nov., and S. zebrata (Esben-Petersen, 1915), comb. nov. These findings increase the known species count of Panorpidae in the Himalayas and adjacent regions from 32 to 38 and the number of genera from three to five, significantly improving knowledge of insect diversity in the Himalayas and highlighting the southern slope of the Himalayas as a key corridor for speciation and biogeographic connectivity within the family.
A taxonomic study of the Japanese Ceratocombus Signoret, 1852 was resumed for the first time in over 100 years, with descriptions of three new species from the Ryukyu Islands: C. (Ceratocombus) ishigaki sp. nov., C. (Xylonannus) meridianus sp. nov. and C. (X.) trimaculatus sp. nov. These new species were assigned to the subgeneric placement, based on the presence of ocular setae, type of vestiture on the pronotum, tarsal formula and venation of the forewing, as noted by previous authors. Habitus images and line drawings of diagnostic features, including genital structures, are provided. Subgeneric assignments and bionomics were discussed for the three new species. A key to Japanese species of the genus and a checklist of the congeners known in the Palaearctic and Oriental Regions are also provided.
A previously unknown species of the Asian endemic sweat bee genus Gnathonomia Pauly, 2005 is described. The new species, so far only known from the male, is illustrated and studied using both morphological and molecular information. Using whole genome sequencing and phylogenomic analyses, a hypothesis on the evolutionary history of the new species is established, evidence for the close relationship to other Gnathonomia is provided and a summary of the morphological basis of the genus concept, which now has 12 described species, is given. The new species has unusual morphological features and is only known from the type specimen collected in Vietnam.
Anthomyia Meigen, 1803 is the largest anthomyiid genus in the Neotropical region, with 27 described species. Some species are still known only from their original descriptions and need redescribing, including missing information on male genitalia. Herein, we redescribe Anthomyia lindigii Schiner, 1868, including male and female habitus images, and male and female genitalia; redescribe A. punctipennis Wiedemann, 1830, including female habitus photos and notes on the type. The type series of A. diversa Wiedemann, 1830 is examined and its synonym is revised. Lectotypes are designated for all three species. It is shown that A. diversa syn. nov., is a senior synonym of Delia sanctijacobi (Bigot, 1885). Reversal precedence is invoked to maintain stability of nomenclature and prevailing usage declaring Delia sanctijacobi (Bigot, 1855) nomen protectum and Anthomyia diversa Wiedemann, 1830 nomen oblitum.
Beetles of the family Carabidae comprise one of the larger families of Coleoptera, yet their higher-level phylogeny has remained poorly resolved. We present a taxonomically densely sampled molecular phylogenetic analysis of Adephaga, with emphasis on Carabidae and its hyperdiverse and most problematic subfamily, Harpalinae. Our dataset includes 529 carabid species and 101 other adephagan species; sequence data comprises five nuclear gene fragments. We sample nearly all notable carabid lineages, including obscure and phylogenetically enigmatic genera. Our results provide an improved framework of carabid phylogenetic relationships. We recover well-supported placements for numerous lineages not previously included in molecular analyses, document several cases of non-monophyly among long-recognized tribes, and identify several unexpected but consistently recovered relationships within Harpalinae. Enigmatic groups such as Geobaenini, Amorphomerini, Idiomorphini, and Agonicina, which had not previously been included in a molecular phylogenetic analysis, are placed, suggesting or clarifying their affinities and revealing previously unrecognized clades. Some traditionally recognized taxa, including Pterostichini, Morionini and Oodini, show strong or moderate evidence of non-monophyly. Based on these results, we propose a revised classification of Carabidae to tribal level. We further re-examine various morphological character evidence to reassess hypotheses of character state evolution and to identify morphological synapomorphies relevant to both extant and fossil taxa. Together, dense taxon sampling, multilocus molecular data, and renewed integration of morphology provide a stable and testable hypothesis of carabid relationships, and a foundation for future evolutionary research and classification of one of the most diverse lineages of beetles.
Here we describe seven new Sericini species (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Sericinae) from Myanmar: Lasioserica kanpetlet sp. nov., Amiserica mogok sp. nov., A. curvifemorata sp. nov., Neoserica schillhammeri sp. nov., N. minshia sp. nov., Gynaecoserica loisau sp. nov., and G. shwetharyar sp. nov. We provide images of habitus and male genitalia for the new species and provide further new records for the genera Serica MacLeay, 1819, Lasioserica Brenske, 1896, Amiserica Nomura, 1974, and Gynaecoserica Brenske, 1896.
A new genus of idiocerine leafhoppers (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha, Cicadellidae) from China, Chinaica Zhang, gen. nov ., is described, with two new species: Chinaica myrica Zhang, sp. nov ., (the type species) and Chinaica viraktamathi Zhang, sp. nov . Specimens were collected from waxberry, Myrica rubra (Lour.) Siebold & Zucc. (Myricaceae). The new genus is distinguished by its external morphology and male genital structures and is compared to similar genera.
Babinskaiidae is an extinct family of the lacewing superfamily Myrmeleontoidea. Currently, 22 species in 16 genera have been recorded only from three Cretaceous localities. Here, we report a new genus and two new species of Babinskaiidae from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber, namely Milubabinskaia zhiqiae gen. et sp. nov . and Stenobabinskaia chenjieae sp. nov . Milubabinskaia gen. nov . resembles Electrobabinskaia Lu, Zhang & Liu, 2017 and Pseudobabinskaia Makarkin, 2018 in the presence of a pair of processes on the female sternum 6, but its wing venation aligns more closely with Burmobabinskaia Lu, Zhang & Liu, 2017. Stenobabinskaia chenjieae sp. nov . is characterized by the medial fusion of the RP stem with RA in both fore- and hind wings, the presence of a straight oblique presectoral crossvein, and the presence of marginally forked MP2 in the hind wing. These new discoveries provide further evidence for understanding the species and morphological diversity of Babinskaiidae.
The sawfly fauna of Greenland is reviewed, based on specimens collected in 2025 and a re-examination of material in museum collections. Ametastegia pallipes (Spinola, 1808) and Euura vaga (Fabricius, 1781) are recorded from Greenland for the first time. Pristiphora laricis (Hartig, 1837) is confirmed to be well established in a restricted area of South Greenland. Euura obscuripes (Holmgren, 1883) is the valid name for the nominal taxa described from Greenland as Nematus borealis Marlatt, 1892 (new synonym) and Amauronematus groenlandicus Malaise, 1933 (new synonym). Greenlandic specimens of Euura cornuta (Lindqvist, 1962) have formerly been misidentified as Amauronematus viduatus (Zetterstedt, 1838) or A. nitidipleuris Malaise, 1931. Now including a total of only nine recorded species, the sawfly fauna is extremely species-poor, thus fitting the general pattern exhibited by most groups of insects in Greenland. Genetic sequencing and existing distribution data indicate that most species are likely to have reached Greenland from the West Palaearctic. The possibility that some of them may have been accidentally introduced by humans is discussed.
Evacanthinae (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae) is a moderately small cosmopolitan subfamily of leafhoppers. The fauna of Guatemala and Mexico remains poorly documented, and few members of this subfamily have been recorded from dense forest habitats. Here, three species of Evacanthinae in the genus Pentoffia: P. petenensis Pinedo-Escatel, sp. nov. from Pet & eacute;n (Guatemala), P. tlaxomulco Pinedo-Escatel, sp. nov., and P. manantlanensis Pinedo-Escatel & Blanco-Rodriguez, sp. nov. from Jalisco (Mexico), are described based on recently collected material. The discovery of P. petenensis represents the first record of the genus in Central America feeding on Tectona grandis (Lamiaceae). Detailed illustrations of external and internal morphological features are provided, together with a diagnosis to distinguish all new species from other Neotropical congeners. An updated dichotomous key to all known species of the genus, an annotated species list, distributional notes, and a distribution map are also provided.
Antennal cleaning behaviour in Archaeognatha is documented for the first time, supported by photographs and video observations of a male Petrobiellus akkesiensis (Machilidae, Petrobiellinae) collected from Hokkaido, Japan. These observations indicate that the long-standing notion that antennal cleaning behaviour is absent in Archaeognatha may apply only to Machilinae. During antennal cleaning, the foreleg was positioned near the mouthparts with its tip directed mesally, suggesting that the foreleg assists the mouthparts to hold the antenna during the cleaning process.
The dictyopterine net-winged beetle genus Punicealis Kazantsev, 1990 is re-described and reviewed. The external female genitalia of four of its six species are studied for the first time. Colour photographs of the habitus of all Punicealis species and details of their morphology, including photos of the male and female copulatory organs, are presented. An identification key to all Punicealis species is provided.
A new crane fly species, Tipula (Vestiplex) longistila sp. nov. is described and illustrated from North Korea. Additionally, Tipula (Vestiplex) dhalma Starkevich & Podenas, 2011, previously known from the Far East of Russia and Tipula (Vestiplex) verecunda Alexander, 1924, previously known only from Jeju Island (South Korea), are newly recorded from North Korea. An updated identification key to the Tipula (Vestiplex) crane flies of the Korean Peninsula is provided.
Two new species of Entomoculiini, Allotyphlus (s. str.) pavesii and Entomoculia (s. str.) cassiopaea, from the Ionian Island of Kérkyra, are described. While the first taxon belongs to a homogeneous group of five species already known from the island, the second represents a remarkable finding, as it exhibits intermediate characters between the genera Entomoculia (s. str.) and Allotyphlus (Moreotyphlus). It is herein assigned to the former genus, making it the easternmost known species and the first record of the genus in both the country and the Balkan Peninsula.
German fauna of Heteroptera is quite large with ca. 900 species and very diverse ecologically, including many potential bioindicators and species of economic importance. However, until recently the study of German Heteroptera was hampered by a lack of up-to-date identification manuals, since the last such work that covered all the country’s fauna was completed by Eduard Wagner in 1967 and in the meantime became seriously outdated. Now, with the publication by Niedringhaus et al., there is finally a solid foundation for work of zoologists, ecologists, environmental consultants, naturalists, photographers, educators and all others interested in Heteroptera taxonomy and faunistics. The new volume — building up on Niedringhaus et al. (2020) which contained a general introduction to Heteroptera and their families as well as an identification key down to the genus level — now makes it possible to identify the true bugs of Germany down to the species level. Here, the authors not only provide dichotomous keys and (mostly original) drawings illustrating diagnostic characters — one of the strong suits of the book is that it includes photographs of almost every German species of Heteroptera, either living specimens or collection specimens in the case of rare species (and even of many nymphs, which are summarized in an appendix at the end of the volume). This, in itself, is already a big help for species identification. Every species’ profile is completed with concise summaries on ecology, distribution maps and phenological data, making the volume an encyclopaedia on true bugs. The book is of such considerable size that this could be a hindrance in the field — but it allows the authors to keep the keys and pictures of several related species on the same page, which facilitates comparison very much. The most obvious weakness of the work by Niedringhaus et al. is that it is written in German only, although many readers outside of Germany might be interested in it. However, in the times when machine translation tools are readily available for mobile phones this might not be a very big hindrance. Furthermore, the manual of such scope will inevitably be worthy of minor improvements in diagnostic characters or keys here and there. Nevertheless, the work by Niedringhaus et al. raises research on true bugs of Germany to a new level, offers great help for experts and lowers the entry barrier for beginners — that gives hope that Heteroptera will become more popular objects of study in Germany and elsewhere in Europe in the future. And — last but not least — this book is a perfect memorial to Ekkehard Wachmann, who passed in September 2023 when the new volume was still in preparation, and whose lifelong commitment to the true bugs of Germany advanced the study of these insects like no other.
