Orthonotomyrmex Ashmead, 1906 is one of the most morphologically distinct subgenera in the genus Camponotus Mayr, 1861 with a marginated propodeum, nodiform petiole and punctate sculpturing covering most of the body. Here, we propose a new species complex native to Southeast Asia, the Camponotus selene–complex. We also propose the elevation of Camponotus obtusatus (Emery, 1895) as a valid species, the synonymisation of C. lasiselene syn. nov. with C. obtusatus and describe a new species, Camponotus orthogonius sp. nov. from Hong Kong SAR. The type series was collected within multiple neighbouring twigs from a singular fallen tree suggesting a polydomic colony structure. Keys to the known species of the selene–complex are provided for both minor and major workers. We also provide new distribution data for Camponotus obtusatus stat. nov. and Camponotus siamensis Jaitrong & Jeenthong, 2022 from Fujan Province, China and Laos, respectively. The proposal of the new selene–complex serves to facilitate future revisions Orthonotomyrmex when more Afrotropical specimens are available to better diagnose the subgenus. The discovery of C. orthogonius sp. nov., alongside newly–reported range extensions, reinforces the potential of further arboreal ant species discoveries in Southeast Asia.
An acrocerid breeding record of an unidentified Ogcodes Latreille, 1796 species from the huntsman spider Gnathopalystes taiwanensis Zhu & Tso, 2006 captured and reared in Taiwan is provided, representing the first breeding record of Acroceridae from Sparassidae. The obtained male Ogcodes is compared to the male holotype of Ogcodes taiwanensis Schlinger, 1971, being currently the sole described representative of the genus known to occur in Taiwan. A species list of the four Acroceridae species known from Taiwan is provided, all of them being endemic to the island.
A new species of the genus Sphingonotus Fieber, 1852 is described, Sphingonotus (Sphingonotus) axeli sp. nov. from the Salvage Islands. The synonymy of Sphingonotus (Neosphingonotus) asper (Brullé, 1840) with Sphingonotus (Neosphingonotus) pachecoi (Bolívar, 1908) is established and an updated list of currently known taxa from the other Macaronesian Islands is provided.
Tiny ants of the genus Solenopsis Westwood, 1840 are increasingly found in greenhouses of Europe and were identified as Solenopsis canariensis Forel, 1893 and S. carolinensis Forel, 1901 by type investigation and Numeric Morphology-Based Alpha-Taxonomy (NUMOBAT). The 29 workers of the two species, including the type specimens, are clearly separable by principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis, with p > 0.999 for each individual. The type specimen of Solenopsis texana r. truncorum Forel, 1901 was clearly allocated to the S. carolinensis cluster and was considered a junior synonym of the latter. The type specimens of Solenopsis pollux var. texana Emery, 1895 and Solenopsis saudiensis Sharaf & Aldawood, 2011 were clearly allocated to the S. canariensis cluster and recognized as junior synonyms. The identity of Solenopsis abdita Thompson, 1989 could not be clarified with certainty due to the absence of type specimens from any of the published depositories and an insufficient original description. It is supposed to be a synonym of Solenopsis canariensis based on an image of the petiole shape in Thompson’s description. The zoogeographic origins of the two focal species are apparently the New World tropics and subtropics. The current picture of distribution shows that both species have the potential for wider global spread as tramp species. To date, no reports are known that these apparently soil- and litter-foraging species can occur as pests in greenhouses or outdoor habitats. This paper offers criticism of the frequent use of inapplicable investigation methods for the study of very small ants and emphasizes the imperative of adapting the methodology to the small size of the specimens.
Despite tremendous global diversity, little is known about Nomada bees. Nomada (Pachynomada) includes 14 species, all within the Nearctic region. Nomada (Pachynomada) asteris is a rare Kansas native that is described from a single female specimen collected in 1908 and 12 male specimens collected in 1949. The discovery of a putatively healthy population of N. asteris on the outskirts of Lawrence, KS, and a second female museum specimen in the collection at the University of Kansas marks 96 years since the female and 77 years since the male have been observed. An interesting observation was made on the aggregatory roosting behavior of male N. asteris, and is documented here for the first time. This observation marks the first formal description of aggregatory behavior of Nomadinae. These results highlight the importance of both observational surveys and museum specimens in the ongoing pursuit of understanding bee biology, behavior, and diversity, and signify a need for more-thorough modern survey efforts.
This study provides an overview of the species of Hylaeus (Paraprosopis), in the Palaearctic region and adjacent areas. A total of 37 species are identified, each of which is presented with a morphological diagnosis and comparative description, and illustrations of the faces of both sexes and the main features of the male terminalia. In addition, information on the distribution is given. Identification keys for specific geographic areas are provided for the species. A more detailed study in the Canary Islands revealed three new species, Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) gomerensis Haeseler, sp. nov., H. (Paraprosopis) hierro Haeseler, sp. nov., and H. (Paraprosopis) palmensis Haeseler, sp. nov. Two known species are excluded from the subgenus Paraprosopis: Hylaeus omanicus Dathe, 1995 – now placed in subgenus Prosopis, comb. nov.; Hylaeus krombeini Snelling, 1980 from Sri Lanka is provisionally placed as subgenus incertus.
The Palaearctic species of Diploplectron W. Fox, 1893 are reviewed and a key for species recognition is provided. Diploplectron iranicum sp. nov. from Iran and the hitherto unknown female of Diploplectron pulawskii Kazenas, 1975 are described. A distribution map of all Palaearctic species is given.
The previously unknown queen of Stiphromyrmex robustus (Mayr, 1868) is described. The taxonomic position of the fossil genera Stiphromyrmex Wheeler, 1915, Enneamerus Mayr, 1868, and Thanacomyrmex Chény, Wang & Perrichot, 2019 is discussed, and their placement in the Myrmecina genus-group of the tribe Crematogastrini Forel, 1893 is confirmed. A key for the identification of fossil genera and species of this genus-group is provided.
The genus Lophotettix Hancock, 1909 belongs to a small subfamily of Tetrigidae, Lophotettiginae Hancock, 1909. To date, it included six species that are rarely observed and lack reliable distribution data. In this paper, we describe a new species, L. verhaaghi sp. nov., from Peru and provide a digital 3D model of its holotype. The new species resembles L. alticristatus but has rounded lateral lobes and fewer projections on the anterior margin of the pronotal crest. The distribution patterns of Lophotettiginae across multiple zones of endemism in the Amazonian region are discussed.
Der Eichenkernkäfer, Platypus cylindrus (Fabricius, 1792), ist eng an die Gattung Eiche (Quercus spp.) gebunden, deren Arten ökologisch, kulturell und wirtschaftlich von großer Bedeutung sind. Er ist ein tief in das Xylem eindringender Ambrosiakäfer, der sich primär von seinen mutualistischen Nahrungspilzen ernährt. Nach Jahrzehnten, in denen der Eichenkernkäfer in Deutschland kaum beachtet wurde, wird sein Vorkommen seit einigen Jahren wieder vermehrt beobachtet, vor allem an frisch gefällten oder lagernden Eichenstämmen während seiner Flugzeit von Mitte Juni bis September. Dies kann zu einer erheblichen technischen Entwertung des betroffenen Eichenholzes führen. Durch den Klimawandel, insbesondere infolge der zunehmenden Schwächung von Eichenbeständen durch Hitze- und Trockenstress sowie andere Schadinsekten gewinnt er wieder an forstwirtschaftlicher Bedeutung. Deshalb fasst dieses Review den aktuellen Kenntnisstand zur Taxonomie, Biologie, Lebensweise, Symbiose und forstlichen Bedeutung von P. cylindrus zusammen, beleuchtet historische Gradationen und analysiert, wie Klimawandel und weitere Schadinsekten dessen Rolle als potenzieller Schadorganismus verstärken. Basierend auf einer umfassenden Literaturrecherche und der Analyse historischer Quellen wurde der Kenntnisstand systematisch aufbereitet. Ergänzend wurden eigene hochauflösende Bildaufnahmen zur detaillierten morphologischen Darstellung von P. cylindrus erstellt sowie die Geschichte und Lebensweise der Ambrosiakäfer aufgearbeitet. Neben der Biologie und Symbiose wurden historische Gradationen dokumentiert, die bereits im 20. Jahrhundert zu massiven technischen Entwertungen von Eichenstämmen führten. Solche Schäden stellen bis heute eine große Herausforderung für Forstwirtschaft und Sägewerksindustrie dar, da befallenes Holz seine Nutzbarkeit verliert. Der Klimawandel verändert Flugzeiten und schwächt Wirtsbäume, wodurch P. cylindrus verstärkt Chancen zur Besiedlung vorgeschädigter oder absterbender Eichen erhält. Platypus cylindrus kann mehrere Laubbaumarten besiedeln, auch wenn er eine klare Präferenz für die Gattung Quercus hat. P. cylindrus stellt aufgrund seiner engen Pilzsymbiosen und seines sich möglicherweise erweiternden Wirtsspektrums ein wertvolles Modellsystem für Insekt-Pilz-Wechselwirkungen dar, gleichzeitig aber auch ein potenzielles Risiko für die Forstwirtschaft. Eine integrierte Betrachtung seiner Biologie, seiner Rolle als Indikator für klimabedingte Stressphasen in Wäldern sowie seiner wirtschaftlichen Bedeutung ist erforderlich, um fundierte Strategien zum Schutz und Erhalt von Eichenwäldern zu entwickeln.
Pachymelus Smith, 1879, is a small bee genus comprising 21 species restricted to sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. Despite the small size of the genus, several uncertainties persist within the subgenus Pachymelus (Pachymelopsis) Cockerell, 1905, which contains five species and is restricted to sub-Saharan Africa. Based on a revision of museum material and inspection of contemporary collections, a number of changes are implemented. Pachymelus bettoni (Cockerell, 1910), described in the male sex, was incorrectly considered to be a distinct species; it is actually the male of Pachymelus (Pachymelopsis) conspicuus Smith, 1879, syn. nov., and is returned to synonymy with it. Pachymelus (Pachymelopsis) armatipes (Friese, 1911), stat. rev. is returned to species status, having been incorrectly considered conspecific with P. conspicuus. Pachymelus (Pachymelopsis) haladai sp. nov. is described from Ethiopia. A lectotype is designated for Habropoda capensis Cameron, 1905 (= Pachymelus festivus (Dours, 1869)) from material that was previously considered lost; the species is newly reported from East Africa (Kenya), and the status of Afromelecta lieftincki Eardley, 1991 is discussed. The type locality of Pachymelus (Pachymelopsis) abessinicus (Friese, 1912) is clarified, moving from Uganda to Kenya, which is shown to host five of the now six members of this subgenus. These revisions further illustrate the need for greater survey effort and taxonomic revision of bees in dry parts of Eastern Africa.
Community structures, including butterfly diversity, are shaped by both biotic and abiotic factors, with forest type exerting a significant influence. The Arabuko Sokoke Forest (ASF), the largest remaining coastal forest fragment in Kenya and East Africa, is rich in biodiversity and endemic species. Given its varied forest types, ASF provides a unique opportunity to examine how these differences affect butterfly community structure. This study aims to investigate how vegetation diversity and structure influence butterfly community structures and species richness within ASF. We conducted butterfly and woody plant surveys during the dry season across four distinct forest types in ASF: Cynometra forest, Brachystegia woodland, mixed forest and the forest edge. Butterfly populations were sampled using transects measuring 10 m × 100 m and woody plant species were surveyed along overlapping transects. A total of 6,050 butterfly individuals were recorded, representing 86 species across 38 genera and five families. The woody vegetation comprised 178 species, belonging to 78 genera and 34 families. Significant differences in butterfly species abundance were observed across the forest types, though no significant differences were found in species richness. Beta diversity analyses revealed consistently high community dissimilarity across all forest types, driven predominantly by balanced variation in species abundances rather than nestedness. Brachystegia forest exhibited the highest total beta diversity, while forest edge exhibited the lowest. This indicates that species turnover, rather than richness differences, is the primary mechanism structuring butterfly communities at the landscape scale in Arabuko Sokoke Forest. Butterfly species diversity showed a strong correlation with plant species diversity. Additionally, butterfly wingspan size varied significantly amongst forest types. Our findings underscore the crucial role of natural plant forest diversity in supporting butterfly diversity and highlight the synergistic functions of the mixed forest and Brachystegia forest as key habitats. There is need for conservation strategies that account for multiple dimensions of biodiversity. While mixed forest serves as a reservoir of high species richness and abundance, Brachystegia forest offers critical value through their contribution to beta diversity at the landscape level. These results highlight the fundamental importance of conservation efforts directed to protect high plant diversity and structural heterogeneity to provide a broad spectrum of ecological niches and habitat connectivity for butterflies. Such strategies will enhance butterfly diversity and contribute to effective conservation in fragmented forests and especially in Arabuko Sokoke Forest.
The generic placement of four South American species currently assigned to the lined flat bark beetle genus Laemophloeus Dejean (sensu lato) (Cucujoidea, Laemophloeidae) is re-assessed based on the examination of type material. As a result, the following species are hereby transferred to the genus Charaphloeus Casey: Charaphloeus aeneus (Grouvelle, 1876), comb. nov.; C. deletus (Grouvelle, 1896), comb. nov.; C. gounellei (Grouvelle, 1896), comb. nov.; and C. pilatei (Grouvelle, 1876), comb. nov. Taxonomic and nomenclatural notes are provided and lectotypes are designated for all four species. Distributional data are also synthesised. Based on the type and additional material, C. pilatei is re-described and illustrated in detail including diagnostic characters of the mouthparts and genitalic structures and its known distribution is expanded.
Carabidae (Coleoptera, Adephaga) are one of the most diverse and widely studied beetle families. Crete along with its satellite islets is a Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot that hosts a unique faunistic assemblage. In this work, we present the first part of our findings regarding the ground beetles of Crete after almost 40 years of continuous research. We report 24 species new to the Cretan biodiversity, while also comment on the distributions of rare or problematic species. Spatial and ecological data are provided for all the 29 species discussed. Most of the species recorded for the first time in Crete are linked to wetlands and, more specifically, coastal saline habitats. Therefore, issues concerning their conservation have risen, due to the pressure of the economic development of the Cretan coastline. The genera Anaulacus W.S. Macleay, 1825 and Paranchus Lindroth, 1974, as well as the species Anaulacus ruficornis (Chaudoir, 1850) and Paranchus albipes (Fabricius, 1796), are noted in this study as new taxa for the Greek fauna. Genus Anaulacus is also new for the fauna of the Balkan Peninsula. Sirdenus grayii (Wollaston, 1862) is cited with its first specified record from Greece.
Entomological collections face significant challenges in storing and preserving dissected structures of insects (especially the most delicate and tiny ones). For pinned specimens, few alternatives are available to keep dissected parts along with their source specimens, with pinnable microvials commonly used. However, world suppliers for these special microvials are scarce and their cost may reasonably impact the budget of less wealthy institutions. To provide a low-cost alternative, we designed a reliable entomological dissection microvial, based on materials easily found in most local office and laboratory equipment suppliers. Our microvials are based on two main items, Polypropylene (PP) microcentrifuge tubes and Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) hot-melt glue. Their manufacturing process is very simple and is described and illustrated in detail. The proposed microvials tend to have good ability for archiving, since the materials used for their main parts (PP and EVA) show good chemical adhesion and PP microcentrifuge tubes can safely contain most common preserving solutions for an indefinite time. Their endurance was tested under normal use conditions in our collection for the past five years and materials showed no degradation. Moreover, all components are classified as non-toxic and are safe for manipulation, storage and disposal by any educational or research facility. Finally, they fit into the category of sustainable solutions once they are long-lasting, reusable and can be manufactured from used microvials that would be discharged.
A new record of Lestica bibundica Leclercq, 1972, from Togo is presented. Photos of L. bibundica , a distribution map of all species of Lestica from tropical Africa, and a determination key of females are given.
Two new genera and species of Ripipterygidae Ander, 1939 are described from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber of Northern Myanmar. Ozymandipteryx campana gen. et sp. nov. is remarkable for its absent or very reduced metatarsus. In modern species of Tridactyloidea, a reduced metatarsus can only be found in the Tridactylidae Brullé, 1835 genera Ellipes Scudder, 1902 and Xya Latreille, 1809, but not in Ripipterygidae. Magnidactylus robustus Xu et al., 2020, type species of the genus, is found to share the character of a fully reduced metatarsus (apical spurs were previously misinterpreted as metatarsus), but M. robustus differs from O. campana in several important characters and hence remains a separate genus. However, a new genus Yakkhapipteryx is erected to include the other two former Magnidactylus species M. mirus Gu et al., 2022 (Yakkhapipteryx mirus comb. nov.) and M. gracilis Gu et al., 2022 (Yakkhapipteryx gracilis comb. nov.), which both have a metatarsus in normal condition. Another newly described taxon is Ciconipteryx bidactylus gen. et sp. nov. This species is the first fossil Ripipterygidae with only two dactyls on its protibia, a feature it shares with the modern species Mirhipipteryx pulicaria (Saussure, 1896). Ciconipteryx bidactylus stands out due to its long mid- and hindlegs in relation to its body size. This character may have enabled it to perform very efficient jumps. The new species add to the diversity of Ripipterygidae from Kachin amber, expanding our knowledge of this little studied family and raising new possibilities for interpreting their evolutionary history.
Discrete color morphs of ants, in the case reported here morphs with whitish versus blackish gaster pigmentation, may be misinterpreted as different species. This became clear in a morphometric study including 91 worker individuals of Tapinoma jandai sp. nov., Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius, 1793) and Tapinoma pygmaeum (Dufour, 1857). The three species are clearly separable by a principal component analysis of 17 morphological characters under exclusion of pigmentation characters. This result is confirmed by a clear separation in a linear discriminant analysis with the classification of any specimen being confirmed with posterior probabilities of p > 0.9994. The study showed that just the holotype series of Tapinoma pithecorum Seifert, 2022 is a rare color variant of Tapinoma pygmaeum and consequently the former taxon is a junior synonym of the latter. In contrast, all remaining samples that formed the basis of the description of Tapinoma pithecorum are recognized as an undescribed species which is introduced here as Tapinoma jandai sp. nov. A consideration of 14 taxa of minute species showing similarities to the new species revealed that none of these is suspected of representing a senior synonym of T. jandai sp. nov. and that Tapinoma indicum Forel, 1895 should be transferred to the genus Ravavy Fisher, 2009. Based on examples in Formica, Camponotus, Cardiocondyla and the two cases reported here, it is argued that ant classification by simple color patterns is under increased risk of misclassification.
A new case of hemidystrophy in Trogidae is here described and illustrated. The teratological specimen was identified as a male of Omorgus (Omorgus) alternans (MacLeay, 1827), being the first record of a teratological specimen of a trogid from Australia. While teratological cases provide limited taxonomic insights, they offer significant understanding of the environmental influences on insect development. The study emphasizes the importance of documenting such anomalies, contributing to the broader knowledge of developmental biology in insects, particularly within the under-researched Australian Trogidae
