Several wolf spiders exhibit a peculiar geographical distribution. One good example of this is Pardosa aenigmatica Tongiorgi, 1966, recently recognized in Italy and the Middle East but missing in the Balkans. A comparison of populations from the disjunctive areas revealed that they would be better described as two distinct species. As a result, here we describe Pardosa sepidehae sp. nov. The paper includes detailed descriptions and comparative illustrations of male and female copulatory organs for the newly discovered species and P. aenigmatica. Pardosa sepidehae sp. nov. is distributed in the Middle East, whereas P. aenigmatica remains endemic to the Apennine Peninsula.
Xenocylapidius Gorczyca, 1997 is a genus of Cylapinae comprising five species occurring in Australia and three known from New Caledonia. In this paper, we describe two additional species of this genus, X. rutkowskii sp. nov. and X. wanati sp. nov., from New Caledonia. The male of X. gressitti is described for the first time, and new locality records for X. tamasi are presented. Habitus images, scanning electron micrographs of the selected structures, as well as female genitalia of the new taxa are provided.
A new species of the endemic Indian genus Capitothrips Bhatti, C. kalapani sp. nov. is described from specimens collected on Asplenium nidus (Aspleniaceae) and Mimosa pudica (Fabaceae). Previously, the genus was known only from its type species, C. subramanii Bhatti, from southern India. The discovery of C. kalapani represents the second known species of the genus and considerably extends its geographical range from mainland India to the Andaman Islands. The bamboo-associated genus Clypeothrips Nonaka & Jangvitaya, previously known only from Southeast Asia, is recorded from India for the first time based on Clypeothrips tibialis Nonaka & Jangvitaya collected from bamboo. This record is consistent with the previously reported association of the genus with bamboo habitats. In addition, Megalurothrips longus Hu & Feng is reported from India for the first time based on specimens collected from an orchid. This record is noteworthy because the present collection, as well as previously reported plant associations of the species, are unrelated to Fabaceae, the principal host family reported for most Megalurothrips species. These findings contribute to our understanding of the underexplored thrips diversity of the Andaman Islands. The records are consistent with the biogeographical connections of the Andaman Islands with the Indo-Malayan region and highlight the importance of continued taxonomic exploration in this biodiversity-rich island group.
Herein two new species of Lepidocyrtus with rounded dental tubercle are described, L. (Setogaster) asensillatus sp. nov. and L. (Cinctocyrtus) labrusbichaetus sp. nov., both from Northeastern Brazil. Lepidocyrtus (S.) asensillatus sp. nov. resembles Lepidocyrtus biphasis Mari-Mutt, 1986 and Lepidocyrtus dispar Mari-Mutt, 1986 by truncate unguiculus, but the new species differs by body color pattern, labral 'm' and 'p' rows ciliate, basomedian labial field with 2 'M' chaetae and Abd II devoid of m3 mac. Lepidocyrtus (C.) labrusbichaetus sp. nov. resembles some other Neotropical species with acuminate unguiculus, but can be readily distinguished from them by its bifurcated a2 chaeta on the labrum. A comparison between the 37 American species of Lepidocyrtus with dental tubercle and an identification key to them are also provided. Following the description of these two new taxa, a total of 11 Lepidocyrtus species are now recognized in Brazil, of which seven are endemic.
Fossil ants from Late Eocene European ambers provide a uniquely rich record of early myrmecofaunal diversity. Among the poneromorph subfamilies, Amblyoponinae and Proceratiinae remain comparatively understudied, and several historical taxonomic placements require revision. Here, we re-examine the identity of Proceratium eocenicum Dlussky, 2009, originally described from Baltic amber and previously attributed to Proceratiinae. Based on a detailed reassessment of the holotype, paratype, and two newly discovered males from Rovno amber, we demonstrate that P. eocenicum does not belong to Proceratiinae but instead fits within Amblyoponinae, and we formally transfer it to the genus Stigmatomma Roger, 1859 (Stigmatomma eocenicum comb. nov.). Diagnostic features supporting this reassignment include the number of antennal segments, shape of mandibles, presence of notauli, position of the mesopleural oblique furrow and helcium position, as well as forewing venation. We also provide additional morphological data for males of Bradoponera meieri Mayr, 1868 and evaluate their placement within Proceratiinae. Finally, we present an illustrated key to all known ant subfamilies and Amblyoponinae and Proceratiinae species from Late Eocene European ambers.These results refine our understanding of poneromorph diversity and character evolution in the Eocene ant fauna.
