High species diversity of Phintella and Phintella-like spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) in Vietnam revealed by DNA-based species delimitation analyses.

Salticidae (jumping spiders) usually exhibit pronounced sexual dimorphism in adult morphology, particularly body coloration and size and shape of the first legs. Consequently, the male and female from the same species might be erroneously assigned to different species or even different genera, which could generate synonymies in classification if only morphological data were used. Phintella is a species-rich genus of Salticidae, which currently exhibits 76 named species. However, the male-female counterpart is unknown for nearly half of the species. In this study, we used a molecular approach to delineate the species boundaries for Phintella and Phintella-like specimens collected in Vietnam, using morphological information as supporting data. We used three gene fragments (mitochondrial COI, 16S-ND1, and nuclear 28S) and biogeographical considerations for species delimitation. A total of 22 putative species were recognized: 18 species of the genus Phintella, one species of the genus Lechia (L. squamata), and three species of the genus Phinteloides. Eleven undescribed species were discovered, of which seven have a male-female combination, two species have only males, and two species have only females. The crown age of Phintella was estimated at the Serravallian stage of the Miocene after the increase of species number around 16 MYA. The crown ages of most putative species recognized in this study were estimated in the Pleistocene, and the divergence among sister species likely occurred from the mid-Miocene to the Pliocene. Our ancestral range reconstruction results showed that the diversification of our ingroup was governed by progressive dispersal events, i.e., Phintella and their related species in Vietnam diversified while expanding their range on the continent. Our results provide fundamental biodiversity data for a high-diversity genus in Vietnamese Phintella spiders.

The millipede family Polydesmidae Leach, 1816 (Diplopoda, Polydesmida) from Vietnam, with a description of a new cavernicolous species.

The millipede family Polydesmidae Leach, 1816 is reviewed in the scope of the Vietnamese fauna. The distribution of the species, Polydesmusvietnamicus Nguyen, 2009 is extended northward to Ha Giang Province. A new cavernicolous polydesmid, Pacidesmustuachuasp. nov., is described from two caves in northwestern Vietnam, representing the first record of the genus from Vietnam. Extensive illustrations and DNA barcodes are provided for both species, a revised key is presented to all 12 species of Pacidesmus Golovatch, 1991, as well as a key to all eight genera of Asian Polydesmidae.

Integrative taxonomic revision of the genera Nesticella and Howaia in Japan with the description of five new species (Araneae, Nesticidae, Nesticellini).

The Japanese species of the genera Nesticella Lehtinen & Saaristo, 1980 and Howaia Lehtinen & Saaristo, 1980 (Araneae, Nesticidae, Nesticellini) are revised using an integrative taxonomic approach. Their morphology, phylogenetic position within the genera, assignment to species groups, and distribution in mainland Japan and the Ryukyu islands are discussed herein. A phylogenetic and species delimitation analysis was conducted to confirm the boundaries between the putative species that were initially discriminated based on external and genital morphology. As a result of the present study, six species of Nesticella and three species of Howaia are proposed for the fauna of Japan based on the combined results of morphology and molecular analyses. Male and female of the previously known species H.mogera (Yaginuma, 1972), N.brevipes (Yaginuma, 1970), and N.okinawaensis (Yaginuma, 1979) are redescribed and illustrated using type specimens or specimens collected at the type locality. Nesticellaterrestris (Yaginuma, 1970) is resurrected as a valid species and distinguished from the closely related N.brevipes based on morphological and molecular evidence. The male of N.terrestris is described for the first time. We herein describe three new species of Nesticella and two new species of Howaia from different islands in the Ryukyu Archipelago, southwest Japan: N.insulanasp. nov. (♂, ♀) from Yonaguni-jima Island, N.occultasp. nov. (♀) from Ishigaki-jima Island, N.silvicolasp. nov. (♂, ♀) from Yakushima Island, H.albasp. nov. (♂, ♀) from Miyako-jima Island and H.subterraneasp. nov. (♀) from Okinoerabu-jima Island. Nesticellaoccultasp. nov., H.albasp. nov. and H.subterraneasp. nov. dwell exclusively in caves and show extensive morphological adaptation to subterranean life.

First discovery of the ant genus Eburopone Borowiec, 2016 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Dorylinae) in the Oriental realm, with description of a new species from Vietnam.

The doryline ant genus Eburopone Borowiec, 2016 currently contains only one valid species, E.wroughtoni (Forel, 1910) from southern Africa, with a considerable number of undescribed species awaiting formal description in the Afrotropical and Malagasy regions. In the present paper, Eburoponeeasoanasp. nov. is described based on workers and dealate queens from a colony series collected in an evergreen forest on the Dak Lak Plateau of Vietnam (Ea So Nature Reserve, Dak Lak Province). The worker of the new species is morphologically clearly distinguished from E.wroughtoni by the combination of following characteristics: i) frontal line distinct, extending a little beyond mid-length of cranium; ii) anterior (frontoclypeal) margins of torulo-posttorular complex not forming conspicuous lobes protruding over anterior clypeal margin in full-face view; iii) mandibles when closed in full-face view forming only a little space between anterior clypeal margin and mandibles; iv) promesonotal suture faint and inconspicuous; v) abdominal segment III in dorsal view distinctly wider than long, with lateral margins only feebly convex. This represents the first discovery of the genus Eburopone in the Oriental realm, revealing the disjunct distribution of the genus. A partial sequence of the mitochondrial COI gene (658 bp) is provided as a DNA barcode for the new species. A worker-based key to the doryline genera of the Oriental realm is also provided.

A new species and a new record of the genus Otostigmus Porat, 1876 (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha: Scolopendridae) in Vietnam.

Otostigmus consonensis sp. nov. was described from Vietnam, and O. sulcipes Verhoeff, 1937 was recorded for the first time in this country. The new species can be recognized by having 18 antennomeres including 2.32.5 glabrous basal ones, three coxosternal teeth, tergites 520 with complete paramedia sutures, sternites with incomplete paramedian sutures, and the ultimate leg with 1115 prefemoral spines. The fragment of the COI gene was extracted for each species; thus, a new species and a record of O. sulcipes were supported by the COI genetic distances and the corresponding phylogenetic analysis.

Development of an effective hydrogel bait and an assessment of community-wide management targeting the invasive white-footed ant, Technomyrmex brunneus.

BACKGROUND: Ants are one of the most serious household pests. White-footed ants in the genus Technomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are invasive species of increasing global importance as evidenced by recent range expansion, nuisance pest status in residential areas and control difficulties driven mainly by lack of effective bait products. The goal for the current study was to develop an effective hydrogel bait and community-wide management program for controlling the invasive T. brunneus in a residential area of Hachijo Island, Japan. RESULTS: In laboratory insecticide screening, hydrogel baits containing thiamethoxam achieved higher T. brunneus mortality than those containing dinotefuran, imidacloprid, boric acid or fipronil at the concentrations tested. Hydrogel baits containing 0.01% and 0.001% thiamethoxam resulted in ≥90% mortality within seven days. However, the horizontal transfer effect was not strong with either concentration. Field experiments confirmed that hydrogel baits containing 10% and 30% sugar are highly attractive to T. brunneus. The community-wide treatment utilizing hydrogel bait containing 0.001% thiamethoxam and 30% sugar significantly suppressed T. brunneus. Town residents were given the opportunity to participate in the program by applying hydrogel baits around their homes, and a follow-up survey revealed that the residents regarded hydrogel baits as easy to apply and highly attractive and effective against T. brunneus. CONCLUSION: The hydrogel bait and management program developed in this study can be used to suppress T. brunneus. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that a large network of highly motivated and properly trained members of the public can be highly effective in managing invasive ant populations. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Mountainous millipedes in Vietnam. II. A conspicuous Tylopus species from Northern Vietnam (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae).

A conspicuous Tylopus species is described from Northern Vietnam, namely T.helicorthomorphoides sp. nov. The new species is clearly diagnosed by the gonopodal solenophore completely sheathing the solenomere, both being coiled three times, and the absence of spine z and process h of the gonopod. Fragments of the COI and 16S rRNA genes were extracted, and the phylogenetic analysis also supports the new species.

Two new cave Hyleoglomeris species (Glomerida, Glomeridae) from northern Vietnam.

Two new glomerid species from caves in Cao Bang Province, Northern Vietnam, namely, Hyleoglomerishalang Kuroda, Nguyen & Eguchi, sp. nov. and Hyleoglomerisalba Nguyen, Kuroda & Eguchi, sp. nov., are described. The former is characterized by a distinct body color pattern; telopods with a large, quadrate, medially concave, sparsely setose, central syncoxital lobe; and syncoxital horns approximately 1.5-2.0 times as long as the lobe. The latter is distinguished by its completely troglobiotic form without eyes, an unpigmented body, and a roundly triangular syncoxital lobe of telopods. An identification key is also provided for the cave glomerids of Vietnam.

Two new species of the dwarf centipede genus Nannarrup Foddai, Bonato, Pereira & Minelli, 2003 (Chilopoda, Geophilomorpha, Mecistocephalidae) from Japan.

The genus Nannarrup Foddai, Bonato, Pereira & Minelli, 2003 is a monotypic genus established on the basis of the possibly introduced species N.hoffmani Foddai, Bonato, Pereira & Minelli, 2003, from New York, USA. In the present study, in a field survey conducted throughout Japan, Nannarrup-like specimens were collected from Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. These specimens clearly showed the diagnostic characteristics of the genus but were morphologically distinct from N.hoffmani. Furthermore, morphological analysis and DNA barcoding revealed that these specimens could be assigned to two distinct undescribed species. On the basis of these results, N.innuptus Tsukamoto, sp. nov. and N.oyamensis Tsukamoto, sp. nov. are described. The three Nannarrup species can be distinguished from each other on the basis of the following combination of characteristics: presence or absence of a pair of smooth or weakly areolate areas along the posterior part of the paraclypeal sutures; the width-to-length ratio of the denticle on the trochanteroprefemur; the pigmentation of the denticle on the tarsungulum. Moreover, the field survey resulted in the collection of exclusively female specimens of N.innuptus Tsukamoto, sp. nov., which shows the possibility of parthenogenesis of this species.

Revision of Taiwanese and Ryukyuan species of Pristepyris Kieffer, 1905, with description of a new species (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae).

The pristocerine genus Pristepyris comprises 38 valid species recorded worldwide, except in the Australian Region. Of them, three species, namely P.mieae (Terayama, 1995), P.tainanensis (Terayama, 1995) and P.takasago (Terayama, 1996), have been recorded from Taiwan and three species, i.e. P.ishigakiensis (Yasumatsu, 1955), P.minutus (Yasumatsu, 1955) and P.ryukyuensis (Terayama, 1999), from the Ryukyus in Japan. In the present study, the species-level classification of both Taiwanese and Ryukyuan species of Pristepyris was revised using newly-collected specimens by the external and male genital morphological as well as molecular phylogenetic analysis. Overall, six species of Pristepyris were recorded from Taiwan and the Ryukyus. Among these, five were previously recorded for the region and were revised here: P.ishigakiensis, P.mieae, P.ryukyuensis, P.tainanensis and P.zhejiangensis. Additionally, a new species, P.seqalu sp. nov., is herein described and illustrated. Furthermore, the species P.minutus is transferred to Eleganesia and P.takasago is synonymized under P.minutus. Due to the new combination of Pristepyrisminutus, a key to Taiwanese and Ryukyuan species of the genus Eleganesia, based on male morphology, is provided in Appendix 1. We confirmed for the first time the correspondence between the male and female species of P.zhejiangensis by molecular data. High compatibility in species delimitation patterns, suggested by the morphological and molecular phylogenetic approaches, highlighted the significance of the former approach for accurately classifying aged voucher specimens of Pristocerinae in public collections.

Three new species of the genus Biasticus Stål, 1867 (Insecta, Heteroptera, Reduviidae, Harpactorinae) from Central Highlands, Vietnam.

Three new assassin bug species of the genus Biasticus Stål, 1867 are recognized in Vietnam based on morphological examination, morphometric and molecular phylogenetic analyses, and described as Biasticustaynguyenensis Ha, Truong & Ishikawa, sp. nov., Biasticusgriseocapillus Ha, Truong & Ishikawa, sp. nov., and Biasticusluteicollis Ha, Truong & Ishikawa, sp. nov. The conspecific male and female associations of the new species were confirmed by phylogenetic analyses and DNA barcoding of the mitochondrial 16S rDNA and COI genes. All three new species are presently restricted to the Central Highlands, Vietnam (Kon Chu Rang NR, Gia Lai Province, and Chu Yang Sin NP, Dak Lak Province).

Erratum: Corrigendum: Three new species of the genus Biasticus Stål, 1867 (Insecta, Heteroptera, Reduviidae, Harpactorinae) from Central Highlands, Vietnam. ZooKeys 1118: 133-180. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1118.83156.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1118.83156.].

Taxonomic notes on leptonetid spiders from the Ryukyu Archipelago with the description of two new species and the first record of the genus Longileptoneta from Japan (Araneae: Leptonetidae).

The species belonging to the family Leptonetidae living in the Ryukyu Archipelago, Southwestern Japan, are herein discussed. Two species, Longileptoneta yamasakii sp. nov. and Masirana suzukii sp. nov., are described as new to science on the basis of both male and female. The new species were collected in caves in Yonaguni-jima Is. and Okinawa-honto Is., respectively the westernmost and largest islands of the Ryukyu arc. Longileptoneta yamasakii sp. nov. represents the first record of the genus Longileptoneta Seo, 2015 from Japan. The male and female of another leptonetid species previously known from the Ryukyus, Masirana longipalpis Komatsu, 1972, are redescribed and illustrated in detail. The internal genitalia of the female are shown and described for the first time.

Mountainous millipedes in Vietnam. I. Two new species of the family Paradoxosomatidae from Mount Fansipan (Diplopoda, Polydesmida).

Two new paradoxosomatid millipede species were discovered at the high elevations of Mount Fansipan in northwestern Vietnam. They are named as Orthomorphoides sapa sp. nov. and Hylomus solenophorus sp. nov. In addition to their morphological descriptions, sequences from fragments of two mitochondrial genes, COI and 16S rRNA, are also provided for both new species.

A new amphibious species of the genus emScolopendra/em Linnaeus, 1758 (Scolopendromorpha, Scolopendridae) from the Ryukyu Archipelago and Taiwan.

In Japan and Taiwan, five valid species of the genus Scolopendra Linnaeus, 1758 have been described: S. morsitans Linnaeus, 1758, S. subspinipes Leach, 1816, S. mutilans Koch, 1878, S. japonica Koch, 1878, and S. multidens Newport, 1844. Recently, an undetermined species was found in the Ryukyu Archipelago and Taiwan. Using molecular phylogenetic analyses with mitochondrial COI and 16S rRNA and nuclear 28S rRNA and 18S rRNA genes as well as conventional morphological examination, we successfully discriminated this sixth species as an independent lineage from S. subspinipes, S. mutilans, and other named congeners from East and Southeast Asia. Therefore, the species was described as S. alcyona Tsukamoto Shimano, sp. nov. Several situational evidences suggest that this species prefers streamside environments and exhibits amphibious behavior.

A new Rhopalomeris species (Diplopoda: Glomerida: Glomeridae), and notes on the phylogenetic relationships between glomeridans in Vietnam.

A new pill millipede, Rhopalomeris nagao sp. nov., is described from Vietnam. It is recognized by the following combination of characters: antennal tip with numerous sensory cones; telopods with short prefemoral and femoral trichosteles, with long, straight and acute tuberculiform femoral process, and with shorter lobuliform tibial process; syncoxial lobe being slightly concave medially, syncoxial horns being longer than lobe. A fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene is also provided for the new species. The K2P genetic distance of the COI between the new species and other Vietnamese glomeridans is from 10.7% to 16.9%. Two genera, Hyperglomeris and Hyleoglomeris, are considered to be non-monophyletic, but more data and samples will be needed for confirmation.

A review and notes on the phylogenetic relationship of the centipede genus Otostigmus Porat, 1876 (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha: Scolopendridae) from Vietnam.

The genus Otostigmus Porat, 1876 is reviewed based on recent material collected from parts of Vietnam. A total of nine species are documented and imaged. The phylogeny of the genus Otostigmus is analyzed based on a 603-bp dataset of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. The average K2P genetic distance between Otostigmus species is 19%, and eight of nine species are considered to be monophyletic, except O. amballae. The phylogenetic relationship between Otostigmus species necessitates a deeper study with more samples and genetic data. In addition, an identification key to all Otostigmus species is provided for the fauna of Vietnam.

Investigation of Termite Attack on Cultural Heritage Buildings: A Case Study in Aceh Province, Indonesia.

Surveys of the conditions of termite attack were conducted in two regencies, Pidie and Greater Aceh, Aceh Province, Indonesia (40 houses in each location). Interviews were also conducted with home owners to collect data on the building history; culture, such as daily life in the house; the frequency and intensity of termite attacks; and traditional knowledge for avoiding and/or suppressing termite attacks. We found that 51% of traditional houses were infested by two termite species: Coptotermes gestroi and Nasutitermes matangensis. The lower parts of traditional houses were frequently attacked and severely damaged by termites. Previous land use and the ages of the traditional houses affected the intensity of the termite attacks. Several measures for avoiding and/or suppressing termite attacks on cultural heritage buildings are also proposed.

Revision of Taiwanese and Ryukyuan species of Propristocera (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), with description of a new species.

The genus Propristocera Kieffer was very recently revived from the synonymy of the genus Apenesia Westwood, and consists of a total of 25 valid species recorded from the Afrotropical, Oriental and Palaearctic regions. Only two of its species, P. formosimonticola and P. pingtungensis, have been previously recorded from Taiwan. In this study, we examined species of Propristocera collected from Taiwan and the Ryukyus based on external morphology, male genital morphology and molecular phylogenetic analyses, gene markers: nuclear 28SrDNA, mitochondrial COI. In consequence, four species were recognized. Propristocera okinawensis had its record expanded from the Ryukyus to Taiwan, whereas P. kusigematii previously known from the Ryukyus was synonymized under P. pingtungensis, which was known from Taiwan. Furthermore, one new species, Propristocera seediq sp. nov., was discovered in Taiwan and the Ryukyus.

Discovery of a new ant species of the elusive termitophilous genus Metapone in Singapore (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae), with the first detailed description of male genitalia of the genus.

A new species of the rare ant genus Metapone, Metapone murphyi sp. nov., is described based on museum material consisting of a single nest series (workers, queens, and males) collected from a decayed coconut palm stump on Pulau Sakra, previously an offshore island south of mainland Singapore. Workers can be distinguished from other named congeners mainly by the following characters: 1) subpetiolar lamella subrectangular; 2) short median longitudinal ventral subpetiolar edge and roundly obtuse posteroventral subpetiolar angle; 3) outer margin of posterior subpetiolar face in posteroventral view forming a continuous, U-shaped, translucent, laminate carina; and 4) petiole subtrapezoidal in dorsal view with extended blunt tooth-like posterolateral corners. Detailed description and illustrations of male genitalia of the genus are given for the first time. The key to Asian species of Metapone is updated to include the new species.