Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics
Volume:10 Issue: 4, Oct 2024

New taxonomic and faunistic data on spiders of Ecuador are provided, based on a small set of previously unstudied specimens collected at Tiputini Biodiversity Station in Orellana. These specimens belong to five species in three families: Anapistula tiputiana sp. n. (♀; Symphytognathidae) and Pseudanapis yasunica sp. n. (♂; Anapidae) are described as new to science, and the hersiliids Neotama obatala Rheims & Brescovit, 2004, Ypypuera crucifera (Vellard, 1924) and Y. vittata (Simon, 1887) are newly recorded in Ecuador. Illustrations are provided for all treated species.

Two species of Austronomia Michener, 1965 (Hymenoptera: Halictidae, Nomiinae), namely A. goniognatha (Cockerell, 1919) and A. takauensis (Friese, 1910), are reported from India for the first time. Eleven Nomiinae bee species, Austronomia capitata (Smith, 1875), Austronomia himalayana (Nurse, 1902), Austronomia notiomorpha (Hirashima 1978), Austronomia pseudoscutellata Pauly, 2009, Hoplonomia incerta (Gribodo, 1894), Lipotriches ceratina (Smith, 1857), Lipotriches phenacura (Cockerell, 1911), Macronomia antennata (Smith, 1875), Nomia crassipes (Fabricius, 1798), Pachynomia nathani Pauly, 2009, Steganomus fulvipennis Cameron, 1898 are added to the West Bengal bee fauna. A checklist of Nomiinae bees comprising 30 species from West Bengal along with floral association is documented.

New record of carabid species Loxoncus renitens (Bates, 1886) from Indian mainland with additional records of subspecies Idiomelas fulvipes indus Kataev, 1997 from the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka with notes on their geographical distribution are provided.

The ecological aspects, distribution, and possible conservation of a syrphid hoverfly, Axona chalcopyga (Wiedemann, 1839) is poorly known due to their rare records. Three female individuals of A. chalcopyga were discovered in the Gelam forests of Terengganu state, which is the first record in Peninsular Malaysia. Here, we provided a pictorial description of the female. We also noted the functional role of the hoverfly as a potential pollinator candidate for the Gelam trees by visiting its flowers.

A new species, Epitranus longicaudatus sp. nov., is described with illustrations from South India, expanding the genus Epitranus Walker to 73 species globally and 18 from India. The new species is compared with the congeneric species E. salinae Narendran, originally described from Malaysia. Both E. longicaudatus sp. nov. and E. salinae are easily identified within the monotypic subfamily in having large metasoma, more than twice as long as petiole and having gastral terga following the first, telescopic and retracted beneath the first. E. salinae is also diagnosed and illustrated using digital images for the first time. These two species complex is the largest of all described Epitranus.

A new species of the jumping spider genus Carrhotus Thorell – Carrhotus piperus sp. nov. – is described based on the male holotype collected from Tamil Nadu, India. Detailed description and illustrations are provided. The new species can be separated from the closely related taxa by the prolateral protrusion of the bulb arising from an 8 o’clock position and directed dorsad, and the retrolaterally directed beak-shaped embolus. The number of known Carrhotus species reaches to 10 and 37 in India and in the world, respectively. A key to species of the genus Carrhotus from India is also presented.

One new species and three new records of Tomocerus have been reported for the first time from India. The new species Tomocerus sikkimensis sp. nov. discovered from Gangtok, Sikkim (India) has been illustrated and described here. The new species differs from others in dental spine number, arrangement and mucro teeth number. Tomocerus (Ocreatomurus) qinae Yu, Yan & Liu, 2016, Tomocerus (Tomocerus) minor (Lubbock, 1862) and Tomocerus (Ocreatomurus) paraspinulus Gong, Qin & Yu, 2018 are the first time reported from the Indian states Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal respectively. A key to the Indian species of Tomocerus has also been provided.

Surveys of scale insects (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha) infesting date palms (Phoenix dactylifera L., Arecaceae) in Iran represented the occurrence of 10 species belonging to five families. The recorded species were: Asterolecaniidae - Palmaspis phoenicis (Ramachandra Rao); Diaspididae - Aonidiella orientalis (Newstead), Fiorinia phoenicis Balachowsky, Parlatoria blanchardi (Targioni Tozzetti) and Parlatoria crypta McKenzie; Monophlebidae - Pseudaspidoproctus hyphaeniacus (Hall); Phoenicococcidae - Phoenicococcus marlatti Cockerell; and Pseudococcidae - Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell), Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green), and Formicococcus phoenicis Moghaddam & Zarghami sp. nov., a new species of mealybug feeding on the roots of the date palm, is described and illustrated based on the adult female. An annotated list of these species is presented.

Recent research on the genus Lithostege Hübner, 1825 has raised questions about the taxonomic status of Lithostege amseli Wiltshire, 1967. Examination of the recently rediscovered holotype confirms its validity as a distinct species. Furthermore, we have now clarified the taxonomy of Lithostege amoenata Christoph, 1885, a species that was previously misinterpreted. Additionally, two new species of the genus Lithostege from Afghanistan and Tajikistan are described here (L. hausmanni sp. n. and L. viidaleppi sp. n.). The wing patterns and genitalia structures of the discussed species are illustrated, and their diagnostic characteristics are discussed.

The larvae of certain species in the Noctuidae family cause significant economic damage annually. Due to the importance of this group, specimens of the subfamily Noctuinae, specifically from the tribe Leucaniini, collected from the Fars, Ilam, Kerman and Khuzestan provinces were studied. As a result, among the nine identified and studied species from the genera Mythimna and Leucania, four species from Khuzestan province, three species from Ilam province and one species from Fars province were registered as new provincial records. Additionally, the distribution of Leucania (Leucania) herrichii Herrich-Schäffer, 1849 was confirmed for the first time in Iran. Further studies on this tribe in different parts of Iran are recommended.

Lotic systems are rapidly changing due to anthropogenic impacts, making it crucial to note the diversity and abundance of Odonates for effective conservation of these running waters. Our study aimed to assess and compare the Odonate communities in two adjacent rivers, Medjerda and Cheref, in Souk Ahras, northeastern Algeria collected during the period from January 2022 to August 2023. In total, 27 species belonging to 7 families and 17 genera were recorded, with three rare species in Numidia, and three Maghrebian endemic species, including Gomphus lucasii (Selys, 1850) listed as “Vulnerable” in the IUCN Mediterranean Red List. Coenagrion mercuriale (Charpentier, 1840), a locally endangered species, was abundantly present in the Medjerda River. Additionally, the presence of the desert species Trithemis kirbyi (Selys, 1891) in Medjerda confirms their northward expansion within Algeria. The Libellulidae were the most dominant family with 11 species. Our findings revealed no significant differences in terms of biodiversity indices (Richness, Simpson, Shannon, & Pielou's evenness) between the two rivers. However, significant dissimilarities were observed in Odonate assemblages likely due to habitat and environmental variations. Many factors, such as water pumping, overgrazing, untreated wastewater, and riverbank development, which influence Odonate species, were observed in the two rivers. Consequently, an urgent conservation plan should be put in place to preserve water resources and biodiversity in the region. This study highlights the need for continued monitoring and conservation efforts, especially for rare and threatened species in the face of increasing anthropogenic pressures on these aquatic ecosystems.

In recent years, the research on the Iranian Chrysididae has been extremely prolific, thanks to the efforts of different teams. After the first checklist published by Rosa et al. (2013), more than one hundred taxa of cuckoo wasps have been recorded as new for Iran, including nine taxa described as new for science. Moreover, major modifications impacted the taxonomy of the family with two genera revaluated (Chrysellampus Semenov-Tian-Shanskij, 1932 and Colpopyga Semenov-Tian-Shanskij, 1954), Pseudochrysis Semenow, 1891 reintroduced for Pseudospinolia Linsenmaier, 1951; the description of the genus Morphochrysis Rosa & Pavesi, 2023 and several taxonomical changes to species level which were published and that deeply changed the first checklist, namely. As a consequence of all these fragmented changes, we propose a new, updated checklist of the Iranian species, to summarize all the new findings published in the last years. We describe eleven new species for science, Chrysis amerii Rosa & Farhad, sp. nov., C. chamrosh Rosa, sp. nov., C. crenulata Rosa, sp. nov., C. edentata Rosa & Baiocchi, sp. nov., C. peri Rosa & Baiocchi, sp. nov. and C. titanica Rosa, sp. nov. (succincta group), C. mediasignata Rosa, sp. nov. (leachii group), C. heimi Rosa, sp. nov. (maculicornis group), C. simurgh Rosa, sp. nov. (subsinuata group), Chrysura filidichroa Rosa, sp. nov. (dichroa group) and Hedychridium personatum Rosa, sp. nov. with its own new species-group. We report twenty-six new records of Chrysidinae for Iran: Chrysidea disclusa (Linsenmaier, 1959); Chrysis afghanica Linsenmaier, 1968; C. cylindrica Eversmann, 1858; C. echidna Semenov-Tian-Shanskij, 1967; C. grohmanni bolivari Mercet, 1902; C. klio Balthasar, 1953; C. laetula Semenov-Tian-Shanskij & Nikol'skaya, 1954; C. leuconoe Semenov-Tian-Shanskij, 1967; C. maracandensis Radoszkowski, 1877; C. mirabilis Radoszkovsky, 1877; C. mossulensis Abeille de Perrin-du Buysson, 1887; C. pseudobrevitarsis Linsenmaier, 1951; C. robertsi Rosa, 2020; C. rutilans Olivier, 1791; C. turcomana Semenov-Tian-Shanskij & Nikol'skaya, 1954; Chrysura laodamia laodamia (du Buysson, 1900); Euchroeus pellucidus (Radoszkowski, 1877); Hedychridium bytinskii Linsenmaier, 1959; H. mochii Strumia, 1994; H. plagiatum (Mocsáry, 1883); Hedychrum concinnum (Mocsáry, 1909); H. semicyaneum Mocsáry, 1889; Spinolia stchurovskyi (Radoszkowski, 1877); Spintharina extrema (Semenov-Tian-Shanskij & Nikol’skaya, 1954), and S. houskai (Balthasar, 1953). The current number of known taxa has therefore increased from 185 (179 species and 6 subspecies) to 315 (306 species + 9 subspecies). Hedychrum persicum Mocsáry, 1914 stat. nov. is upgraded to species rank. Chrysis chrysophora Semenow, 1892 and Hedychrum cyaneum Brullé, 1846 are considered nomina dubia and the latter as incertae sedis. Chrysis dawahi Strumia, 2012 is considered nomen nudum. The majority of chrysidid species in Iran (77.64%) are found exclusively in the Western Palearctic region. Among these, 21% are restricted to the Western Palaearctic. A thorough discussion is also provided on unreliable and doubtful species records.

Iranian mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) include 73 species across eight genera. The fauna of mosquitoes in Guilan Province comprises 34 species classified into seven genera. A faunistic study of mosquitoes was conducted with emphasis on an aggressive biter mosquito reported by local people in Anzali and Rasht Cities of Guilan Province, northern Iran. Collections were made by hand catches using manual aspirators, light traps, BG lure traps and ovitraps during August–November 2023 in all 17 counties of the province. Species identification was carried out using morphological keys and molecular analysis of the barcode region of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. In total, 29 larvae and 896 adult specimens were collected which were not recognized as a species previously known to occur in the province. The aggressive biter mosquito was morphologically identified as Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1895). The sequences of the barcode region of the COI gene of the species were generated for the first time in the country. This species was collected in 14 counties of the province. Thus, the mosquito fauna of Guilan Province increased to 35 species.

Microgastrines are diverse group of endoparasitoid wasps attacking caterpillars (Lepidoptera). Despite their importance in biological control, there is still no consensus concerning the phylogeny relationships among taxa. Although previous phylogenetic analyses have advanced the overall understanding of phylogenetic relationships of Microgastrinae, the small numbers of sampled taxa have led to disagreement in taxonomic assignments. In the present study, we performed a molecular genetic survey using both mitochondrial and nuclear data, increasing the taxons' sampling, to clarify the generic relationships and improve the inferences of the taxonomic status within Microgastrinae. We reconstructed a phylogenomic tree of Microgastrinae with sequences that exist up till now, from fifty-five genera for COI and thirty genera for 28S rDNA, both new and from previous studies. Several species and genera have been sequenced for the first time. In this study, we identified some of the closest phylogenetic relatives of Microgastrinae genera by analyzing DNA sequences from the mitochondrial COI and 28S rDNA. Most clades of the current findings correspond to the latest morphological classification of Microgastrinae. New clades and several well-supported clades, conform to the most previously recorded clades and provide an increased understanding of the Microgastrinae evolution. Based on molecular examination, Pholetesor psedocircumscriptus Abdoli, 2019 is synonymized with Pholetesor circumscriptus (Nees, 1834).

A new species of cicada, Platylomia jini Wang sp. nov. (Hemiptera, Cicadidae, Cicadinae) is described from Yunnan, China. Illustrations of the habitus and diagnostic characters of the new species are presented. It most resembles P. shaanxiensis Wang & Wei, 2014 from Shaanxi, China. Diagnostic characters of the two species are compared in detail. Platylomia insignis Distant, 1912 and P. operculata Distant, 1913 are commented on their distributions in China, and P. strongata Lei, 1997 is proposed as an unavailable name and a nomen nudum. In addition, an updated list of all 23 known species of the genus Platylomia are presented.

New data on the Chrysididae fauna from Yemen are presented. Based on recently collected material, eleven species are recorded for the first time in the country: Elampus afer (Mocsáry, 1889); Hedychridium scutellare (Tournier, 1878); Hedychrum coelestinum Spinola, 1838; Holophris coriacea (Dahlbom, 1850); Holopyga subglabrata Linsenmaier, 1994; H. vicissituda Linsenmaier, 1994; H. parvicavitale Linsenmaier, 1994; Chrysidea pumila (Klug, 1845); Chrysis elegantula Spinola, 1838; C. nilensis Linsenmaier, 1959; Chrysis robertsi Rosa, 2020. Notably, Elampus afer, Hedychrum coelestinum and Holophris coriacea, previously considered African species, are now documented in the Arabian Peninsula for the first time. Additionally, five species new to science are described: Hedychridium eudaimon sp. nov. (from Yemen and Saudi Arabia); Hedychrum harteni sp. nov.; Chrysis bilqis sp. nov. (leachii group); Chrysis felix sp. nov., and Chrysis yemenita sp. nov. (succincta group). Furthermore, the male of Trichrysis longispina (Mocsáry, 1912) is illustrated for the first time.