European Journal of Taxonomy

New species and records of Zebragryllus Desutter-Grandcolas & Cadena-Castañeda, 2014 (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Gryllinae) from the Brazilian Amazon rainforest

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 01:31:33 -0700

Zebragryllus Desutter-Grandcolas & Cadena-Castañeda, 2014 is a Neotropical genus of field crickets that inhabits the leaf litter of the Amazon rainforest. The genus has six species and is characterized by the distinct ‘zebra’ pattern displayed by some of them. The species are recorded in French Guiana, Peru, and Colombia. Here, we describe two new species of the genus from the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, the first record of the genus for Brazil. We expand the records of Z. guianensis Desutter-Grandcolas, 2014 and Z. nouragui Desutter-Grandcolas, 2014 to Brazil. We also describe but do not name two females corresponding to two new species, provide an up-to-date key for species of Zebragryllus, and discuss the potential distribution for the genus.

Two new species of the genus Macrothele Ausserer, 1871 from Yunnan Province, China (Araneae: Macrothelidae)

Meng-Meng Zhang, Ya-Ying Wu, Yu Zhao, Zi-Zhong Yang — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 02:21:13 -0700

Two new species of the genus Macrothele Ausserer, 1871 are described from Yunnan Province, China: Macrothele nullispine sp. nov. and M. auriculata sp. nov. Detailed descriptions, photos of morphological characteristics, DNA barcode sequences and genetic distances of the new species are provided.

Diversity and distribution of intertidal Microporella (Bryozoa: Cheilostomatida) from California

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 00:12:03 -0700

Seven species of the cheilostome bryozoan genus Microporella were identified across 15 rocky intertidal sites spanning 940 km of the California coast, from Mill Creek in the Montereyan Pacific Transition Region north to Point Saint George in the Mendocinian Region. Colonies of Microporella were found encrusting boulders and mollusc shells. Among these species, three are new to science, namely Microporella dentata Chowdhury & Di Martino sp. nov., M. pauciperforata Chowdhury & Di Martino sp. nov. and M. rota Chowdhury & Di Martino sp. nov. Three other species, M. californica, M. setiformis, and M. umbonata have previously been recorded from other localities in California. Finally, Microporella neocribroides, originally described from off Kodiak Island, Alaska, and subsequently found in Hokkaido, Japan, was recorded in California for the first time. An additional new species, M. similis Chowdhury & Di Martino sp. nov., was identified through the re-examination of museum material previously attributed to M. cribrosa and M. californica. These newly acquired data allowed for a more comprehensive examination of the distribution of species, intraspecific variability, and potential predator-induced teratologies in certain species, thanks to the availability of numerous colonies from various sites and the re-examination of museum records. Altogether, this study increases the known Recent diversity of Microporella in California’s waters to a total of 18 species.

New genera of stiletto flies endemic to Madagascar (Therevidae: Therevinae)

Michael E. Irwin, Shaun L. Winterton — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 02:11:34 -0700

Two new endemic genera of Therevinae are described from Madagascar. Rinhatiana gen. nov. contains three new species (R. arctifestuca gen. et sp. nov., R. cracentis gen. et sp. nov. and R. latifestuca gen. et sp. nov.) as well as R. distincta (Lyneborg, 1976) comb. nov., which is transferred from Stenopomyia Lyneborg, 1976. Tianarinha gen. nov. is described containing two new species, T. goodmani gen. et sp. nov. and T. micet gen. et sp. nov. All species are diagnosed and figured along with distribution data.

A revision of the South American species of the cleptoparasitic bee genus Triepeolus Robertson, 1901 (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Thomas M. Onuferko, Molly G. Rightmyer, Gabriel A.R. Melo, Arturo Roig-Alsina — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 01:05:25 -0700

The cleptoparasitic bee genus Triepeolus Robertson, 1901 (Hymenoptera: Apidae) is revised for species occurring in South America. A total of nine species are confirmed from the continent, of which T. tuberculifer Onuferko, Rightmyer & Roig-Alsina sp. nov. is newly described. Four new synonymies are proposed: T. aguilari Moure, 1955 syn. nov. and T. megadelphus Cockerell, 1914 syn. nov. under T. buchwaldi (Friese, 1908); T. bilineatus Cockerell, 1949 syn. nov. under T. flavipennis (Friese, 1916); and Epeolus merus Brèthes, 1909 syn. nov. under T. nemoralis (Holmberg, 1886). Males of T. alvarengai Moure, 1955 and T. rufotegularis (Ashmead, 1900) and females of T. atoconganus Moure, 1955 and T. cecilyae Packer, 2016 are described for the first time. Lectotypes are designated for the following (all originally described under Epeolus Latreille, 1802 but now recognized as Triepeolus): E. buchwaldi, E. flavipennis, E. osiriformis Schrottky, 1910 and its junior synonym E. luteipes Friese, 1916, and E. rufotegularis. Diagnoses and complete descriptions/redescriptions are provided for all species, along with a fully illustrated dichotomous identification key (with Portuguese and Spanish versions available as supplementary material) to distinguish them based on external morphological features. Additionally, known collection records and information about the ecology of the treated species are presented.

A world review of the bee fly tribe Usiini (Diptera, Bombyliidae) — Part 3: Parageron Paramonov s. lat. ‒ Corrigendum

David Gibbs — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0700

The present corrigendum corrects a nomenclatural error regarding Apolysis bicolor (Efflatoun, 1945) comb. nov. in the “Excluded species” section Gibbs (2023: 148).

A new cryptic species of Polybiidae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Portunoidea) from the East Atlantic, with considerations on the genus Polybius

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0700

The use of integrative taxonomy has confirmed the existence of a new distinct crab species, cryptic, within the group of the former genus Liocarcinus, now Polybius, closely related to P. holsatus, P. vernalis and P. marmoreus. Previous reports have considered it to be the Atlantic form of P. vernalis, or as a species “affinis” or “comparable to” P. holsatus. Diagnostic morphological characters are presented for identification and the morphological variability in these species, mainly within P. vernalis (the most related) is analysed. Furthermore, based on molecular and other previous data, a new combination (genus change) is proposed. This new species, Polybius dioscurus sp. nov., lives on infralittoral sandy bottoms, coexisting with the other species mentioned, in the temperate and subtropical zone of the North Atlantic Ocean, including the Alboran Sea (westernmost Mediterranean).

Two new species of Strandesia Stuhlmann, 1888 (Crustacea: Ostracoda) from Thailand, with first record of a male S. martensi Savatenalinton, 2015

Sukonthip Savatenalinton — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 00:41:54 -0700

Two new species of Strandesia Stuhlmann, 1888 are described from the northeastern part of Thailand: S. karanovicae sp. nov. and S. amnatcharoenensis sp. nov. Strandesia karanovicae is characterized by a tumid carapace in dorsal view, a small anterior overlap, the absence of a dorso-subapical seta on the first segment of the antennule (A1), a large aesthetasc Y on the antenna, an α seta shape with a needle-like tip and a large β seta on the mandibular palp (Md-palp), serrated bristles on the maxilla, a long h1 seta on the second thoracopod (T2) and a slender caudal ramus (CR). Strandesia amnatcharoenensis has a small compressed posterior part of the right valves (RV) which makes it closely related to S. pholpunthini Savatenalinton, 2015. The new species can be distinguished primarily by a considerably small anterior overlap of the left valve over the right valve (RV), a postero-ventral flange of the RV, a remarkably large claw Ga of the CR and the chaetotaxy of the limbs, especially A1, Md-palp and T2. In addition, in the present study, the sexual population of S. martensi Savatenalinton, 2015 is recorded for the first time, and thus the first description of the male is provided here. Moreover, the morphological examination of both males and females revealed differences between asexual and sexual females and also points to the fact that S. martensi is a mixed reproduction species. This is the first record of the mixed reproductive mode in the genus Strandesia or even in the Cypricercinae.

Jambu, a new genus of tarantula from Brazil (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Theraphosinae)

Laura T. Miglio, Carlos Perafán, Fernando Pérez-Miles — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0700

The genus Jambu gen. nov. is proposed based on two new species: Jambu paru gen. et sp. nov. and Jambu manoa gen. et sp. nov. Hapalopus butantan is transferred to Jambu; consequently, Jambu butantan gen. et comb. nov. is proposed. The geographic distribution of J. butantan is extended on the basis of new material collected. The new genus and the new species are here diagnosed, described and illustrated. The shape of the genitalia of Jambu resembles that of Hapalopini but differs from most of them by the presence of type IV urticating setae. The presence of this type of urticating setae allows us to hypothesize that this new genus is phylogenetically related with Grammostolini. Males of Jambu differ from those of other genera of Grammostolini by the presence of a paraembolic apophysis on the palpal bulb. Females also differ from those of other Grammostolini by the spermathecae morphology, with one medial lamp-shaped or heart-shaped receptacle. The homology of some features and the taxonomic placement of the new genus are discussed.

A new genus of Cicadellini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) from the Oaxacan Cloud Forest, with taxonomic notes on allied red-striped genera

Jorge Adilson Pinedo-Escatel, Edith Blanco-Rodríguez — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0700

Cicadellinae is a relatively large subfamily of leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) with a cosmopolitan distribution with most genera known to occur in the Neotropics. Mexico houses nearly 16% of the total genera and most are endemic, inhabiting threatened native forests. Here, a new unusual Mexican genus, Christopherus gen. nov., is described to accommodate a new species of Cicadellini, C. mictlantecuhtli sp. nov., collected in the endangered Cloud Forest of Sierra Juárez, Oaxaca State of Mexico, based on dry-pinned museum specimen data. The new taxa can be separated from other Neotropical Cicadellini genera easily using male genitalia features: (i) pygofer without processes, (ii) segment 10^th without processes, (iii) paraphysis absent, and (iv) edeagus with single basal atrial process elongate and asymmetrical. The monotypic genus Gillonella with its type species, G. ampulla Nielson & Godoy, 1995, are redescribed. A detailed extensive morphological description and discussion to distinguish the new genus from allied red-striped Neotropical genera in Mexico, Central America, and South America are given. Distributional data for new taxa within Mexican forests is also provided.