Abstract Non-biting midges (Diptera: Chironomidae) of the genus Polypedilum are among the most species rich and widespread genera of flies present on all continents except Antarctica. In this study, we document the diversity of Polypedilum species in the Neotropical region and describe 21 species new to science. Before this publication, 89 species were known from the region. We provide updated distributional data for 28 of these, describe the pupae for ten species and larvae for eight species, and provide a comprehensive key for adult males of all species from the Neotropical region. We generated 82 DNA barcodes that clustered into 20 defined units, aligning with groupings separated and identified based on morphological characteristics. This study contributes to our understanding of Neotropical Polypedilum diversity through description of novel species and new distributional records.
Manonychus Moser, 1919 is a poorly known South American genus, predominantly occurring in Brazil. Recently, phylogeny confirmed its monophyly and placement in Sericoidini. The taxonomic revision of Manonychus is presented. Its species number increased from 8 to 34 species, out of which 24 are new species: Manonychus androgracilis sp. nov.; M. boraceiensis sp. nov.; M. bravoi sp. nov.; M. brunneoiridis sp. nov.; M. casariae sp. nov.; M. cleideae sp. nov.; M. cordiformis sp. nov.; M. cuiabanus sp. nov.; M. depressus sp. nov.; M. freyi sp. nov.; M. leticiae sp. nov.; M. maranhensis sp. nov.; M. massuttiae sp. nov.; M. mermudesi sp. nov.; M. moroni sp. nov.; M. morretensis sp. nov.; M. moseri sp. nov.; M. paschoali sp. nov.; M. planaltinaensis sp. nov.; M. sandyae sp. nov.; M. stanleei sp. nov.; M. veretrimonodentatus sp. nov.; M. veretrotruncatus sp. nov. and M. virbidentatus sp. nov. The following species formerly placed in Astaena Erichson, 1847 are here transferred to Manonychus: M. micans (Frey, 1973) comb. nov. and M. rotundiceps (Frey, 1973) comb. nov. Based on this study Manonychus is distributed in Brazil except the Amazon region, Bolivia and Paraguay. An identification key to species is presented along with illustrations, distributional data, and maps.
The Dichotomius ( Selenocopris ) carbonarius species group now comprises eleven species, some of which are widely distributed with occurrence from Ecuador to Argentina: Dichotomius carbonarius (Mannerheim, 1829), Dichotomius cuprinus (Felsche, 1901), Dichotomius glaucus (Harold, 1869) Dichotomius luctuosus (Harold, 1869), Dichotomius lycas (Felsche, 1901), Dichotomius opacus (Blanchard, 1846) status. rev. Dichotomius schmidti sp. nov. , Dichotomius dimarei sp. nov. , Dichotomius zenaldoi sp. nov. , Dichotomius aguilari sp. nov. and Dichotomius jarafaeli sp.nov. Lectotypes are designate for D. carbonarius, D. cuprinus, D. glaucus, D. luctuosus , and D. lycas. Dichotomius pseudocuprinus Gandini & Aguilar, 2009 is here proposed as a junior subjective synonym of D. lycas. D. interstitialis is placed in its own species group. Key to the species, diagnoses, and distribution maps are provided. The components of the male genitalia of these species are described and illustrated for the first time.
Specimens of a number of undescribed Australian species of Fioriniina have been included in published molecular phylogenetic studies, labelled as belonging to the genus Pseudaulacaspis MacGillivray. We have re-examined all Pseudaulacaspis-like genera found in Australasia and place most Australian species previously placed in Pseudaulacaspis into Albastaspis MacGillivray, treating Anzaspis Henderson as a junior synonym of Albastaspis, new synonymy. We redescribe the adult females of type species of the genera Albastaspis and Trichomytilus Leonardi, along with 7 other species that we are transferring to Albastaspis, namely A. ethelae (Fuller, 1897) new combination, A. formosa (Green, 1904) new combination and A. frenchi (Green, 1915) new combination (ex Chionaspis Signoret); A. casuarinae (Maskell, 1893) new combination and A. pallens (Maskell, 1890) new combination (ex Lepidosaphes Shimer); A. nitida (Maskell, 1892) new combination (ex Pseudaulacaspis); and A. maskellalba new combination and replacement name for both Mytilaspis pallens alba Maskell, 1896, and Lepidosaphes australis Borchsenius, 1966. We describe the adult females of 7 new species of Albastaspis (A. brevis sp. n., A. bunubunuensis sp. n., A. bunya sp. n., A. gloria sp. n., A. gullanae sp. n., A. kamberra sp. n., and A. neocasuarinae sp. n.) and 4 of Poliaspis Maskell (P. hypipamee sp. n., P. brunyensis sp. n., P. melichri sp. n., and P. chamelaucium sp. n.), We also propose 12 other new combinations for Albastaspis: A. agonis (Fuller, 1897) new combination (ex Chionaspis); A. grisea (Maskell, 1890) new combination (ex Lepidosaphes); A. xanthorrhoeae (Fuller, 1897) new combination (ex Poliaspis Maskell); A. australis (Laing, 1925) new combination, A. brimblecombei (Williams, 1973) new combination, A.difissata (Brimblecombe, 1959) new combination, A. eugeniae (Maskell, 1892) new combination, A. grandilobis (Maskell, 1894) new combination, A.hartii (Laing, 1929) new combination and A. hilli (Laing, 1929) new combination (ex Pseudaulacaspis); A. angusta (Green, 1904) new combination and A.cordylinidis (Maskell, 1879) new combination (ex Anzaspis Henderson). We remove one species from Fiorinia Targioni Tozzetti, namely Anamefiorinia expansa (Maskell, 1895), new combination, and two species from Africaspis MacGillivray, Serenaspis rotundiloba (Laing, 1929) new combination and Hemiaspidis wilkeyi (Ben-Dov, 1973) new combination. Poliaspis chathamica Henderson is reported from Australia for the first time. We designate lectotypes for Trichomytilus formosus, Albastaspis nivea, A. casuarinae, A. formosa, A. frenchi, A. maskellalba, A. nitida and A. pallens. We illustrate all the new and redescribed species and provide a key to all 57 known species of Australian Fioriniina. We include a checklist of all species of Fioriniina in Australia and a table listing all Albastaspis species found outside of Australia.
The higher classification of the diverse, globally-distributed arboreal leafhopper subfamily Eurymelinae (sensu lato) was recently revised based on a phylogenetic analysis using molecular and morphological characters. Within the largest tribe, Idiocerini, prior analysis supported recognition of an informal Idiocerus group comprising genera restricted to the Holarctic region. To resolve relationships among genera within this group, test prior generic concepts, and examine the stability of morphological characters previously used to diagnose genera, a more detailed molecular phylogenetic analysis was conducted. A dataset comprising sequences of 13 protein-coding and 2 ribosomal genes from the mitochondrial genome and 28S ribosomal RNA gene for 35 specimens, representing 23 in-group species belonging to 13 genera and 6 out-groups, was analyzed using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. The results consistently supported the monophyly of the Idiocerus group. The genera Chinaocerus Zhang & Li, 2016, Koreocerus Kwon, 1985, Nabicerus Kwon, 1985, Parocerus Vilbaste, 1980, Populicerus Dlabola, 1974 and Rhytidodus Fieber, 1872 were recovered with high support but excluding Balcanocerus Maldonado-Capriles, 1971. Two strongly supported clades were revealed within the Idiocerus group, but we refrain from proposing taxonomic changes due to the limited sample of species available for clades A-B. Alloidiocerus gen. nov. with type species Alloidiocerus leucophilus sp. nov., and Sahlbergotettix Zachvatkin, 1953 are added to this group. Ancestral character state reconstructions based on the molecular phylogeny revealed that most morphological characters previously used to define genera show little or no homoplasy.
Piestinae are flat rove beetles found under tree bark, in rotting wood and, occasionally, in leaf litter. Siagonium Kirby & Spence, 1815 is an extant genus of Piestinae with species in the Holarctic region. The main objective of this study was to test the monophyly of Siagonium and to investigate its relationship with the other genera of Piestinae. Twenty-four terminal taxa and 51 morphological characters were used in the analyses. Siagonium is paraphyletic, and forms a clade with Piestoneus Sharp, 1889. Siagonium+Piestoneus is supported by eight synapomorphies, two of which are non-homoplastic. We synonymize Piestoneus, including its four species, with Siagonium. The current Southeast Asia was indicated as the ancestral range for Siagonium. Dispersal and vicariance events are discussed, including the Beringian bridge. Additionally, the genus is redescribed and illustrated, and a checklist is provided.
Lathrotelinae are a small subfamily of crambid moths that is distributed mainly in the tropics. The known larvae feed in the roots of monocots, and some cause economic damage to cultivated plants. The unity of Lathrotelinae has been recognized only recently, and the regular addition of genera calls for clarification of their relationships. A cladistic analysis of the subfamily is performed to provide diagnoses for genera and to justify nomenclatural acts. A key to genera using external and internal characters is provided. The analysis recovers Lathrotelinae as the sister-group of Midilinae, which is corroborated by evidence from biogeography and larval feeding behavior. Acropentiini Hayden trib. nov., Lathrotelini Clarke trib. nov., and Indoteles Hayden gen. nov. are proposed. Banepa Moore, 1888 is transferred from Acentropinae to Lathrotelinae. Leechia South, 1901 syn. nov. is synonymized with Acropentias Meyrick, 1890, and Neobanepa Hampson, 1919 stat. nov. is recognized as a subgenus of Acropentias. Auchmophoba Turner, 1913 syn. nov., Petta Warren, 1895 syn. nov., and Trigamozeucta Meyrick,1937 syn. nov. are synonymized with Sufetula Walker, 1859. New combinations include Acropentias (Acropentias) bilinealis (South, 1901) comb. nov., Acropentias (Acropentias) exquisitalis (Caradja, 1927) comb. nov., Acropentias (Acropentias) sinuosalis (South, 1901) comb. nov., Sufetula alternata (Warren, 1895) comb. nov., Sufetula costastrigalis (Hampson, 1896) comb. nov., Sufetula radiciformis (Meyrick, 1937) comb. nov., Sufetula sufetuloides (Hampson, 1919) comb. nov., and Sufetula tynnuta (Turner, 1913) comb. nov. Species are newly described to stabilize the results: Indotelespyraustoides Hayden sp. nov., Indoteles bellalis Hayden sp. nov., Acropentias (Neobanepa) costaricensis Hayden sp. nov., Acropentias (Neobanepa) colombiensis Hayden sp. nov., and Acropentias flavens Hayden sp. nov. A lectotype is designated for Pyralopsis peruviensis Dognin, 1905. Styphlolepis Hampson, 1896 and Dolichobela Turner, 1932 are transferred from Midilinae to Glaphyriinae.
Anthomyia Meigen is the largest anthomyiid genus in the Neotropical Region, with 28 described species, including 12 known species from Brazil. However, only a few phylogenetic studies have been performed on this genus. Here, we provide a phylogenetic analysis based on morphological evidence, including 18 Anthomyia species, an identification key, diagnosis, and wing drawings; the first description of male of Anthomyia xanthopyga (Albuquerque); images from the type material of 10 Anthomyia species; and new records of Anthomyia species from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. In addition, we propose a new synonym, Anthomyia paulistensis (Albuquerque) syn. nov. as a junior synonym of Anthomyia aurifacies (Albuquerque).
Guaranyperla Froehlich, 2001 (Gripopterygidae: Plecoptera), endemic to southeastern Brazil, includes three species (G. guapiara, G. beckeri and G. nitens Froehlich, 2001). This genus remains insufficiently studied due to challenges in collecting adults and limited type-material. Our study addresses unresolved taxonomic issues within the genus, led by incomplete semaphoront series and similarities with the related genus Tupiperla Froehlich, 1969 in the adult stage. Using morphological and molecular data, along with species delimitation analysis, we provide a new diagnosis for the genus and species of Guaranyperla, including the reclassification of Tupiperla barbosai Avelino-Capistrano & Nessimian, 2013. All species delimitation methods based on COI suggest that nearly every Guaranyperla population from streams throughout Southeastern Brazil studied represents a distinct species, thus separating G. barbosai comb. nov., G. nitens, G. guapiara, G. froehlichi sp. nov., G. puri sp. nov., and two other species that were not confidently assigned to any valid species. Additionally, it was possible to associate nymphs and adults of most studied species based on COI. We corroborate the morphological species concept of G. beckeri, and provide redescriptions for G. nitens and G. guapiara. Furthermore, we provide the description of two new species, updated geographical records, and images for all species. Results suggest that the diversity of Guaranyperla is still underestimated and further species descriptions should not rely solely on single semaphoronts or genders. Our study establishes molecular and morphological foundations for future studies on the to a broader of
Landrevinae are nocturnal, forest-dwelling crickets, that live underneath tree bark. To clarify their diversity in India, we reconsider the taxonomic definition of the genus Landreva Walker, 1869, known from India, Sri Lanka, Vanuatu, and Costa Rica. We assert that Landreva is monotypic for Landreva insignis Walker, 1869 from Sri Lanka, as this is the only species described by Walker (1869) when defining the genus. Based on the genitalic structures and their potential endemicity to the Indian subcontinent, all the species described previously in Landreva are here moved to a new genus, Ajareta Desutter-Grandcolas & Jaiswara, n. gen., type species Ajareta kervasae Desutter-Grandcolas & Jaiswara, sp. nov., with the following new combinations: Ajareta angustifrons (Chopard, 1936) n. comb. (Sri Lanka), Ajareta clara (Walker, 1869) n. comb. (Sri Lanka), Ajareta ebneri (Chopard, 1969) n. comb. (India, East Himalayas, Sikkim), Ajareta hemiptera (Bolivar, 1900) n. comb. (India, Tamil Nadu), Ajareta indica (Vasanth, 1993) n. comb. (India, Assam), Ajareta kuveni (Fernando, 1957) n. comb. (Sri Lanka), Ajareta semialata (Chopard, 1928) n. comb. (India, Karnataka), Ajareta subaptera (Chopard, 1925) n. comb. (Sri Lanka), Ajareta talus (Fernando, 1958) n. comb. (Sri Lanka) and Ajareta zola (Fernando, 1957) n. comb. (Sri Lanka). Three new species are also described from Southern India, i.e., Ajareta kervasae Desutter-Grandcolas & Jaiswara sp. nov. from Karnataka, and Ajareta sairandhriensis Jaiswara & Bhaskar sp. nov. and Ajareta meridionalis Desutter-Grandcolas sp. nov., both from Kerala. The Landreva species described from outside the Indian Region are moved to different genera: Landreva rica Otte, 2007, described from Costa Rica, is assigned to the neotropical genus Perutrella Gorochov, 2011 (Oecanthidae, Tafaliscinae, Tafaliscina) forming the com-bination Perutrella rica (Otte, 2006) n. comb. Landreva erromanga Otte, 2006, described from Vanuatu, is transferred to landrevine genus Eleva Otte, 1988 with the following combination Eleva erromanga (Otte, 2006) n. comb.
Two distinctive, new species of the satyrine subtribe Pronophilina, Pronophila freitasi sp. nov. and Lasiophila lalka sp. nov. are described from the western slopes of the Andes in northern Peru. A preliminary phylogeny of the two genera based on target enrichment data is presented. The discovery of two new species underlines the importance of the region of the Huancabamba Deflection as a centre of endemism of cloud forest butterflies.
A cladistics analysis of the high-altitude tarantulas of the genus Hapalotremus was carried out for the first time with a matrix of 21 taxa and 69 morphological characters using both equal and implied weights. Two consistent topologies were obtained with a concavity = 10.541, resulting from a sensitivity analysis. Both cladograms suggest Hapalotremus as monophyletic. Hapalotremus synapomorphies are females with spermathecae consisting in a single oval receptacle and tibia of the first pair of legs of males very short. Hapalotremus is composed of 15 species including a new species: Hapalotremus munaycha sp. nov. This new species was found to be the sister species of H. vilcanota and is distributed in central Peru at elevations about 4000 m.a.s.l. on interandean valleys. The new species distinguishes from the other known species of the genus by the intense white color on legs, carapace and cheliceae, together with a male palpal bulb carrying a slightly developed prolateral superior keel and the subapical keel ending with two very small teeth. Also, females of Hapalotremus munaycha sp. nov. are characterized by the spermathecae with very wide basal portion and small apical projections pointing upwards.
The genus Alepia Enderlein, 1937 is recorded for the first time in Ecuador, with the description of five new species, namely, A. cylindrica sp.n. , A. kiskata sp.n. , A. sparta sp.n. , A. striata sp.n. , and A. sunqua sp.n. , with the first geographical records of A. alcobregma Quate, 1999, A. caceresi Quate & Brown, 2004, and A. ferruginea Quate & Brown, 2004. In addition, this publication makes available the first DNA barcodes ( COI gene) for the newly described species, the newly recorded species, and three unnamed species, totaling 11 barcoded species. The three molecular species delimitation methods (ASAP, bPTP, and Species Identifier) employed in the study demonstrate the effectiveness of COI barcodes for species delimitation within the genus. Moreover, the results cover the current state of DNA barcoding for Alepia species and showcase the importance of an integrative taxonomy approach to enhance species hypothesis.
Dilaridae is a distinctive Neuroptera family with remarkable characters, such as sexually dimorphic antennae and the elongated ovipositor. This family comprises four genera and 115 so far described species, ranging across main zoogeographical realms except the Australian one. Due to limited dispersal capacity, dilarid species are often distributed in a relatively narrow area. Despite inhabiting diverse ecosystems, only two dilarid species have been known from Africa so far: one from northern Africa (western Palearctic realm) and one from southern Africa (Afrotropical realm). In this study, we provide re-descriptions and illustrations of the two African dilarid species, i.e., Dilar bolivari Navás, 1903, and Neonallachius krooni (Minter, 1986), with the first record of N. krooni from northern East-Africa. Additionally, we summarized all the records of the three genera of Dilaridae from the Old World and present the distribution map. Furthermore, we discuss the historical biogeography of the family.
The Idioscopus clypealis species group includes the most important and widespread leafhopper pests of mango in the Asian and Australian regions. This group includes two previously described species that are very similar in their external and male genital morphology. To evaluate previous morphology-based species in this group we used DNA sequence data from three gene regions to conduct molecular species delimitation analyses using three common methods, jMOTU, ABGD and bPTP. Analyses of COI data alone and combined COI, 16S and 28S data recovered two well-supported clades comprised of I. clypealis and I. nagpurensis , and two additional clades representing two additional new species in this group. Idioscopus nagpurensis is newly recorded from China. Two new species are described and illustrated ( Idioscopus suprabasalis sp. nov. and I. poecilis sp. nov. ). A key to identifying males in this study is provided. Several COI sequences from samples identified as I. nagpurensis by our analysis are incorrectly identified as I. clypealis in the NCBI database.
Mesozoic oxyteline rove beetles from amber are poorly known. Here we describe and illustrate the first fossil belonging to the extant oxyteline genus Ochthephilus Mulsant & Rey 1856, Ochthephilus wui sp. nov. , based on a single specimen from mid-Cretaceous amber from northern Myanmar. The species is placed in Ochthephilus based on a combination of morphological characteristics: densely pubescent body, eyes not extending onto ventral portion of head, prominent temples, subulate maxillary palpomere 4 at base enlarged as broad as apex of 3, open procoxal fissure, distinct epipleural ridge, spineless tibia, and 5-segmented tarsi with closely associated basal three tarsomeres and with lobes on tarsomere 4. The discovery of O. wui in Burmese amber suggests that Ochthephilus is probably an ancient group.
Achieving a commonly accepted phylogeny of the grasshopper family Pamphagidae proves to be challenging using only morphology-based analysis. So far, discussions about status and phylogenetic placement of taxa within this family did not yield a clear picture of evolutionary history of the Pamphagidae. However, a large amount of DNA sequences has been amassed in the available databases, offering a good opportunity to utilize molecular methods to clarify phylogenetic relationships among the Pamphagidae. Analyzing sequences of two mitochondrial genes, COI and COII, we constructed a new phylogenetic tree for three (out of five) subfamilies of the Pamphagidae. Total of 83 Pamphagidae species were used in the analysis. These subfamilies form six clades; while most species fall into their recognized genera and tribes, the relationships between some tribes and subfamilies fail to concur with a currently accepted phylogeny. Our data suggest a separate position of the tribe Tropidauchenini as opposed to the rest of the subfamily Pamphaginae, while the tribe Nocarodeini appears to represent a higher taxonomic rank than a tribe, which might suggest its possible position as subfamily. The current paper is the first step on a road to a comprehensive phylogenetic study of the Pamphagidae family. The differences in commonly accepted classification compared to our data suggests that further study is necessary to uncover true evolutionary story of this complex family of Orthoptera insects.
Epeorus ( Belovius ) carinatus Braasch & Soldán, 1984 was thought to be distributed only in Vietnam until it was recently reported in southern China. However, some morphological variations are also recognized among its Chinese populations. Here, an integrative taxonomic approach, which is combined with genetic analysis based on COI (mtDNA) and morphological evidence, is used to investigate the variation of this species in China. The results show that E. ( B ) carinatus previously reported in China actually comprises two species: the originally identified E. ( B ) carinatus and a new species, E. ( B. ) dentatus sp. nov. Both male imaginal and nymphal stages of two species are described herein. Morphologically, these two species can be distinguished from each other by (1) nymphal labrum and mandible, (2) coloration of abdominal terga on both male imaginal and nymphal stages, (3) coloration of wings and (4) shapes of genitalia of male imagines.
Gonatopus Ljungh, 1810, third most diverse genus within the Dryinidae, exhibits marked sexual dimorphism, posing challenges in associating sexes. This study focuses on Gonatopus pinhalensis Martins, 2020, a species with limited sexual association records. Through DNA barcoding, we establish the first sexual association for this species, utilizing specimens obtained from different hosts. The male and female specimens exhibited a 1.92% pairwise difference in their mitochondrial COI sequences, confirming their conspecificity. Morphological description for the male and additional material are provided, emphasizing external features due to limited information on male genitalia. Host associations with Amplicephalus sp., Copidinomus vittulatus, Stirellus picinus, Graminella striatella, and Metadelphax argentinesis were documented. The study highlights the significance of DNA barcoding in overcoming challenges posed by the sexual dimorphism of Gonatopus species. This research contributes to the understanding of Dryinidae fauna, not only in Brazil but also in the Neotropic, emphasizing the need for further breeding studies and continued molecular techniques application.
The Asopinae are a group of stink bugs (Pentatomidae) distinctive by having predatory feeding habits, preying on other insects, especially larvae of butterflies, moths, and beetles. Many species are common, and due to their alimentary strategies, some are objects for application in biological control programs. Podisus Herrich-Sch & auml;ffer is the most diverse genus of Asopinae, distributed in the Neotropical and Nearctic regions, and their species have received attention in applied studies since the second half of the 20th century. However, the systematics of Podisus is still overlooked, and the lack of robust taxonomic information and poor species delimitation lead to misidentifications. We searched for the type specimens of Podisus deposited in the NHMUK, NHRS, MNHN, and RBINS collections in order to validate the taxonomic status of the species, and to proceed with the necessary taxonomic updates. We propose four new synonymies: Podisus volxemi Distant new junior synonym of Podisus crassimargo (St & aring;l); Ornithosoma rivierei Kormilev and monotypic genus Ornithosoma Kormilev as new junior synonyms of Podisus semialbus Walker and genus Podisus respectively. Podisus dufouri Bergroth and Podisus punctiger St & aring;l are revalidated, and Podisus cornutus (Dallas) is treated as species inquirenda. Five new species are described and fully illustrated: Podisus amboroensis Brugnera, sp. nov., Podisus awajun Brugnera, sp. nov., Podisus bororo Brugnera Grazia, sp. nov., Podisusguarani Brugnera & Grazia, sp. nov., and Podisus quechua Brugnera & Sampaio, sp. nov.. We highlight the importance of the examination of type material, historical specimens, and descriptions in the taxonomy of Podisus, and suggest caution in the identification of species due to the expressive number of incongruences found in previous studies.
