DNA barcoding reveals a taxonomic fraud: Note on validity of Propomacrusmuramotoae (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae).

Until the early 2000s, the genus Propomacrus was known to comprise two species, occurring in the Eastern Mediterranean and Southeast China. The discovery of Propomacrusmuramotoae Fujioka in Tibet and subsequently in Bhutan and Nepal, might play a crucial role in bridging the geographical distribution gap of the Euchirini tribe between the Mediterranean and Central China, offering profound insights into its evolution and biogeography. However, all specimens, including the holotype specimen, were sourced from a single insect vendor, with no further specimens found or catalogued in museum collections thereafter. During our examination of a P.muramotoae specimen from a private collection in South Korea, we found its COI gene sequence to be identical to that of P.bimucronatus (Pallas) from Turkey, a species known for its wide distribution and genetic variability across regional populations. This overlap in genetic identity raised significant doubts, further compounded by our detection of deliberate modifications in essential diagnostic features during morphological examination. All three specimens we examined showed crude modifications, including staining and artificial grinding. Despite our inability to access the P.muramotoae type specimens for direct examination-a challenge we attempted to overcome through various means-it is evident that significant fraudulent tampering has occurred with the P.muramotoae specimens. Therefore, a new synonymy is proposed: Propomacrusbimucronatus Pallas, 1781 = P.muramotoae Fujioka, 2007 (syn. nov.). We also advocate for a straightforward verification of the type specimen through molecular analysis of the COI barcode region and morphological re-examination under a microscope for those who have access to the type specimens.

Review of German Spilomicrus Westwood (Hymenoptera, Diapriidae, Spilomicrini).

Background: This study provides an integrative taxonomy-based review for the genus Spilomicrus Westwood in Germany using DNA barcoding and classic morphology. New information: Spilomicrussimplex Tomsik, 1947 is placed in synonymy with S.antennatus Jurine, 1807; Spilomicrusthomsoni Kieffer, 1911 is removed from synonymy with S.hemipterus Marshall, 1868. A lectotype is designated for Spilomicrusnigripes Thomson, 1858. Newly recorded for Germany are the following species: S.thomsoni Kieffer, 1911, S.crassiclavis Marshall, 1868, S.lusitanicus Kieffer, 1910 and S.diversus Chemyreva, 2021. Three species, Spilomicrusbrevimalaris sp. nov., S.flavecorpus sp. nov. and S.politus sp. nov. are described as new to science. The 23 DNA-barcodes with species identification present a substantial addition over the previous German checklist. This study aims to update the number of nationwide known Spilomicrus species from fifteen to twenty. Furthermore, a new key to identify all European Spilomicrus species is provided.

A Revision of the Genus Argolis (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Stenopodainae) from Asia.

The assassin bug genus Argolis Stål, 1861 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Stenopodainae) has a disjunct distribution in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. In the present study, the Asian species of Argolis are revised. Two species are recognized, redescribed, and illustrated, with the following new subjective synonyms and new combination proposed: Argolis Stål, 1861 = Bardesanes Distant, 1909, syn. nov. = Neoklugia Distant, 1919, syn. nov.; A. farinator (Reuter, 1882) = N. typica Distant, 1919, syn. nov. = B. sericenotatus Livingstone & Ravichandran, 1989, syn. nov.; A. signata (Distant, 1909), comb. nov. (transferred from Bardesanes) = Caunus noctulus Hsiao, 1977, syn. nov. Lectotypes for C. farinator, B. signatus, and N. typica are designated. A key to separate the two Asian species of Argolis is provided. The sexual dimorphism, systematic relationships, and distribution of Argolis are discussed. Argolis is newly recorded from Laos, Pakistan, and Vietnam.

Taxonomic Revision of Tipula (Vestiplex Bezzi) Crane Flies (Diptera, Tipulidae) in Taiwan with Descriptions of Six New Species.

The crane fly subgenus Tipula (Vestiplex) Bezzi, 1924 (Diptera, Tipulidae) of Taiwan is taxonomically reviewed, entailing the recognition of 18 species, with six of these species newly described, including T. (V.) diamondisp. nov., T. (V.) formosaesp. nov., T. (V.) gracilianasp. nov., T. (V.) pseudobiserrasp. nov., T. (V.) survilaisp. nov., and T. (V.) taiwanicasp. nov. Three species, T. biaciculifera Alexander, 1937, T. niitakensis Alexander, 1938, and T. pseudobiaciculifera Men, Xue and Wang, 2016, listed previously as members of the subgenus T. (Pterelachisus) Rondani, 1842, are now formally placed as member taxa within T. (Vestiplex). Tipula subnata Alexander, 1949 and T. (V.) longarmata Yang and Yang, 1999 are designated as junior synonyms of T. (V.) coxitalis Alexander, 1935; T. (V.) nokonis Alexander, 1935 is designated as a junior synonym of T. (V.) terebrata Edwards, 1921; and T. (V.) takahashiana Alexander, 1938 is designated as a junior synonym of T. (V.) bicornigera Alexander, 1938. Included in this taxonomic revision are a key to species, species diagnoses for all species, complete descriptions for newly described species, and illustrations of the male genitalia for all species, and for female terminalia when available. DNA barcode sequences for all Taiwanese species of T. (Vestiplex) are provided. Males are associated with conspecific females based on CO1 results and maximum likelihood trees resulting from the analyses are presented. The Taiwan fauna of Tipula (Vestiplex) is highly endemic with 16 of the 18 species restricted to the island. At the species group level, no groups are endemic to Taiwan and the groups show closest biogeographic relationships to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

A Taxonomic Revision of the Genus Cionus (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) from the Oriental Region.

Oriental species of the genus Cionus are herein revised for the first time. Eight species are recognized as distinct based on morphological characters of adults. One species is described as new: C. ottomerkli sp. nov., from India, whereas the name vossi (nom. nov.) is proposed for Cionus flavoguttatus Voss, 1957 (not Stierlin, 1893). The following new synonymy is established: Cionus indicus Desbrochers des Loges, 1890 (=Cionus albosparsus Faust, 1898 syn. nov.). Lectotypes of Cionus albosparsus Faust, 1898; Cionus flavoguttatus Voss, 1957; Cionus indicus Desbrochers des Loges, 1890; Cionus obesus Pascoe, 1883; and Cionus tonkinensis Wingelmüller, 1915, are designated.

Review of the European Eumenes Latreille (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) using morphology and DNA barcodes, with an illustrated key to species.

The European species of the potter wasp genus Eumenes Latreille, 1802 (Vespidae, Eumeninae) are illustrated and a new illustrated key to the 13 recognised species is presented. Eumenesmediterraneusaemilianus Guiglia, 1951 is synonymised with E.papillarius (Christ, 1791) (syn. nov.), E.obscurus André, 1884 and E.andrei Dalla Torre, 1894 with E.pedunculatus (Panzer, 1799) (syn. nov.) and E.crimensis Blüthgen, 1938 with E.sareptanus André, 1884 (syn. nov.).

Revision of the genus Colasia Koch, 1965 (= Belousovia Medvedev, 2007, syn. nov.) (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Blaptini).

The relationship between the genera Colasia Koch, 1965 and Belousovia Medvedev, 2007 within the tribe Blaptini is discussed, and a new synonymy is proposed: Belousovia Medvedev, 2007, syn. nov. of Colasia Koch, 1965. As a result, three new combinations are established: Colasiahelenae (Medvedev, 2007), comb. nov., C.kabakiintermedia (Medvedev, 2007), comb. nov., and C.kabakikabaki (Medvedev, 2007), comb. nov.Colasiaakisoides Koch, 1965 is redescribed, and a lectotype is designated. Three new species of the genus Colasia are described and illustrated from China: C.bijicasp. nov. (Guizhou), C.medvedevisp. nov. (Yunnan), and C.pilosasp. nov. (Yunnan). A distribution map and a key to species of the revised genus Colasia are presented.

Taxonomy, Habitat Preference, and Niche Overlap of Two Arrow-Poison Flea Beetle Species of the Genus Polyclada in Sub-Saharan Africa (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae).

Coupling the geographic distribution and the ecological requirements of species often supports taxonomy and biogeography. In this contribution, we update the distribution of two flea beetle species of ethno-entomological interest, Polyclada bohemani and P. pectinicornis, by analyzing original data. In addition, we supply their main morphological diagnostic characters, describing their aedeagal and spermathecal shapes for the first time. We also assess their niche differences in terms of climatic and vegetation needs, by means of ecological niche modelling and remote sensing techniques. Several new localities were identified to improve knowledge of the geographical distribution of both species. Moreover, we located a wide climatic suitability overlap in East Africa for these two flea beetle species, while in other areas they show a clear separation. Our analysis also reports that P. bohemani is associated with areas of denser tree cover than P. pectinicornis. Finally, the lectotypes of Diamphidia bohemani Baly, 1861, Clytra pectinicornis Olivier, 1791, and Diamphidia compacta Fairmaire, 1887 are here designated and the new synonymy Clytra pectinicornis Olivier = Diamphidia compacta Fairmaire syn.nov. is proposed.

Characterization, Comparison of Four New Mitogenomes of Centrotinae (Hemiptera: Membracidae) and Phylogenetic Implications Supports New Synonymy.

To explore the phylogenetic relationships of the subfamily Centrotinae from the mitochondrial genome data, four complete mitogenomes (Anchon lineatus, Anchon yunnanensis, Gargara genistae and Tricentrus longivalvulatus) were sequenced and analyzed. All the newly sequenced mitogenomes contain 37 genes. Among the 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) of the Centrotinae mitogenomes, a sliding window analysis and the ratio of Ka/Ks suggest that atp8 is a relatively fast evolving gene, while cox1 is the slowest. All PCGs start with ATN, except for nad5 (start with TTG), and stop with TAA or the incomplete stop codon T, except for nad2 and cytb (terminate with TAG). All tRNAs can fold into the typical cloverleaf secondary structure, except for trnS1, which lacks the dihydrouridine (DHU) arm. The BI and ML phylogenetic analyses of concatenated alignments of 13 mitochondrial PCGs among the major lineages produce a well-resolved framework. Phylogenetic analyses show that Membracoidea, Smiliinae and Centrotinae, together with tribes Centrotypini and Leptobelini are recovered as well-supported monophyletic groups. The tribe Gargarini (sensu Wallace et al.) and its monophyly are supported.

Multilocus phylogeny and species delimitation suggest synonymies of two Lucanus Scopoli, 1763 (Coleoptera, Lucanidae) species names.

Phylogenetic relationsships of four nominal Lucanus Scopoli, 1763 species, L.swinhoei Parry, 1874, L.continentalis Zilioli, 1998, L.liuyei Huang & Chen, 2010, and L.wuyishanensis Schenk, 1999, are assessed based on mitochondrial (16S rDNA, COI) and nuclear (28S rDNA, Wingless) genes. The genetic distance is 0.0072 between L.swinhoei and L.continentalis, and 0.0094 between L.wuyishanensis and L.liuyei. Three species-delimitation approaches (ABGD, PTP, and GMYC) consistently showed L.swinhoei + L.continentalis and L.wuyishanensis + L.liuyei as two MOTUs. A new synonymy, L.liuyei = L.wuyishanensis, is proposed. Synonymy of L.swinhoei over L.continentalis is confirmed.

A new huriine genus and notes on morphological characters (Araneae: Salticidae: Salticinae)

Huriini Simon, 1901 currently consists of six genera and 17 species, distributed exclusively in South America. In this work, the huriine genus Guriurius Marta, Bustamante, Ruiz & Rodrigues, gen. nov. is proposed with two new species herein described: Guriurius minuano Marta, Bustamante, Ruiz & Rodrigues, sp. nov. (type species) and Guriurius nancyae Marta, Bustamante, Ruiz & Rodrigues, sp. nov. The female of Atelurius segmentatus Simon, 1901 is described and illustrated for the first time. Scoturius dipterioides Perger & Rubio, 2018 is transferred to Atelurius Simon, 1901 due to the morphological similarity of copulatory ducts of epigyne, and Hurius pisac Galiano, 1985 is transferred to Simonurius Galiano, 1988 due to the similarities in body shape and female genitalia. Simonurius campestratus (Simon, 1901) is synonymized with Simonurius quadratarius (Simon, 1901). The interpretation of genitalic characters in Huriini is discussed. In addition, we provide new distributional records for Admesturius bitaeniatus (Simon, 1901), Ad. mariaeugeniae Bustamante & Scioscia, 2014, Ad. schajovskoyi Galiano, 1988, At. segmentatus Simon, 1901, Scoturius tigris Simon, 1901, Hurius aeneus (Mello-Leitão, 1941), and Simonurius gladifer (Simon, 1901). Except for Urupuyu Ruiz & Maddison, 2015, all huriine genera are rediagnosed in the new context of tribe and genus composition.

On the clubionid spiders (Araneae, Clubionidae) from Xishuangbanna, China, with descriptions of two new genera and seven new species.

Clubionid spiders from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, China are studied. A total of seven genera and 13 species have been found, including two new genera with one new species each, i.e., Ramosatidia Yu & Li, gen. nov., with R.situ Yu & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀) as the type species and Sinostidia Yu & Li, gen. nov., with S.shuangjiao Yu & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀) as the type species. Five additional new species are Sinostidiadujiao Yu & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), Matidiaxieqian Yu & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), Nusatidiachangao Yu & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), N.mianju Yu & Li, sp. nov. (♀), and N.subjavana Yu & Li, sp. nov. (♀). The following genera and species are reported from China for the first time: Malamatidia Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001, Pteroneta Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001, Malamatidiazu Jäger & Dankittipakul, 2010, Nusatidiaaeria (Simon, 1897), N.camouflata Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001, Porrhoclubionapteronetoides (Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001), and Pteronetaultramarina (Ono, 1989). Malamatidiachristae Jäger & Dankittipakul, 2010 syn. nov. is a junior synonym of Malamatidiazu. Nusatidiarama Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001 syn. nov. is synonymised with N.aeria (Simon, 1897).

Psychodidae (Diptera) of Azerbaijan and Georgia - faunistics with biodiversity notes.

Records of 46 Psychodidae (Sycoracinae 1, Trichomyiinae 1, Psychodinae 44) species/subspecies are presented in this paper based on specimens collected by sweep-netting in Azerbaijan and Georgia in 2019. Nine species are recorded for the first time since their original description; 12 species are new for Transcaucasia; 22 species are new for Azerbaijan; and 17 species are new for Georgia. Saraiella ressli montana Jezek, 1990 is proposed as a synonym of S. ressli Wagner, 1983, syn. nov. Knowledge of some aspects of the ecology and biogeography of selected (especially rare) species has been expanded and a clear pattern was found in species richness, rare species, and new records in relation to land use, habitat diversity, and preservation of the environment surrounding the sampling site.

Taxonomic studies on the sac spider genus Clubiona (Araneae, Clubionidae) from Xishuangbanna Rainforest, China.

Spiders of the genus Clubiona Latreille, 1804 from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, China are studied. A total of 47 species is reported and illustrated, including 14 new species and two new synonyms. Twelve of the new species belong to four species groups: C. dengpao Yu & Li, sp. nov., C. subdidentata Yu & Li, sp. nov., C. tixing Yu & Li, sp. nov., C. xiaoci Yu & Li, sp. nov., C. xiaokong Yu & Li, sp. nov., C. yejiei Yu & Li, sp. nov., C. zhaoi Yu & Li, sp. nov. and C. zhigangi Yu & Li, sp. nov. from the C. corticalis group; C. mii Yu & Li, sp. nov. and C. subtongi Yu & Li, sp. nov. from the C. ternatensis group; C. banna Yu & Li, sp. nov. from the C. filicata group; and C. menglun Yu & Li, sp. nov. from the C. trivialis group. The remaining two new species, C. shuangsi Yu & Li, sp. nov. and C. wangchengi Yu & Li, sp. nov., are not readily assignable to any of the existing species groups. The female of C. cochlearis Yu & Li, 2019, the female of C. tiane Yu & Li, 2019, the female of C. bicornis Yu & Li, 2019, the male of C. lala Jäger & Dankittipakul, 2010 and the true female of C. suthepica Dankittipakul, 2008 are described for the first time. Two new synonyms are: C. vukomi Jäger & Dankittipakul, 2010 syn. nov. = C. circulata Zhang & Yin, 1998; C. melanothele Thorell, 1895 syn. nov. = Clubiona melanosticta Thorell, 1890. A checklist of Clubiona species from Xishuangbanna is provided. The DNA barcodes of almost all of the species were obtained for species delimitation, matching of sexes and future use.

Preliminary faunistic study on the rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) of Republic of Dagestan, with some additional information from northern Caucasus.

A checklist of rove beetles recorded from the Republic of Dagestan (221 species) is given, with 47 new records from this region. The genus Oedichirus Erichson, 1839 (Oedichirus rubronotatus Pic, 1903) and species Stenus turk Puthz, 1972 are new additions to the fauna of Russia. Two new synonyms are established: Xantholinus dagestanicus Bordoni, 2011 syn. nov. and X. circassicus Bordoni, 2011 syn. nov. (both =Xantholinus variabilis Hochhuth, 1851).

A review of the subfamily Methochinae from Taiwan (Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae) with description of a new species and redescription of the known species.

Eleven species of Methocha Latreille from Taiwan are revised. Methocha cirrhocrus Narita Mita, sp. nov. is described and illustrated. The previously unknown male of M. maai Lin, 1966 is described. Methocha taoi Lin, 1966 is newly synonymized under Methocha areolata Lin, 1966. The genus Karlissa Krombein, 1979 is newly recorded from Taiwan, and a new combination is proposed for Methoca (sic!) tricha Strand, 1913, which is transferred to the genus Karlissa Krombein. A key to the species based on males and females is given.

Taxonomy of the North Moroccan and Iberian species of the subgenus Amblypteraca/ (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pimeliinae: Pimelia/).

The subgenus Amblypteraca Mas-Peinado, Buckley, Ruiz García-París, 2018 of Pimelia Fabricius, 1775, is restricted to the southern Iberian Peninsula and western Maghreb (northern and western Morocco). The distribution of Amblypteraca throughout the African-European edges overlaps largely with the geographic range of the subgenus Amblyptera, which is sister to the clade grouping subgenera Amblypteraca and Ecphoroma Solier, 1836. Delimiting species boundaries in the speciose genus Pimelia is often challenging, and the taxonomic status of some groups within the aforementioned subgenera is still a matter of debate. Here, we aim to stabilize some of the available names in Amblypteraca, and to correct some previous misidentifications. For that purpose, we discuss the composition and taxonomic structure within Amblypteraca by (i) assessing the phylogenetic congruence between mitochondrial and nuclear markers, and (ii) examining external morphological traits in 568 Amblypteraca specimens under the light of the phylogenetic hypotheses proposed here. Based on our results, Amblypteraca consists of three species: P. rotundipennis Kraatz, 1865, P. fairmairii Kraatz, 1865 and P. chrysomeloides Pallas, 1781. Both molecular and morphological data revealed four lineages within P. chrysomeloides: P. chrysomeloides chrysomeloides, distributed on both sides of the Strait of Gibraltar; P. chrysomeloides fornicata Herbst, 1799 from Portugal (Troia region); P. chrysomeloides bathyglypta Antoine, 1949, restricted to a narrow strip between Larache and Arbaoua (northern atlantic Moroccan coast), and P. chrysomeloides subris Koch, 1941 from Kenitra-La Mamora forest (Morocco). We designate a neotype of Tenebrio chrysomeloides Pallas, 1781 and propose the synonymy of P. chrysomeloides (Pallas, 1781) = P. obesa Solier, 1836 syn. n. Pimelia tristis Haag-Rutenberg, 1875, previously misidentified and included in Amblypteraca, is now transferred back to Amblyptera. Further studies with ad hoc sampling designs and analytical tools would be in need to delimit the exact geographic ranges of these taxa, and to analyse the patterns of diversity within and among species and subspecies.

Review of Aderidae Csiki, 1909 (Insecta: Coleoptera) of Cabo Verde.

The Aderidae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea) of Cabo Verde (or Cape Verde in English transcription) Archipelago in the Central Atlantic Ocean is revised based on an examination of types and additional material. Four species are confirmed for the archipelago, three of the genus Cobososia Collado et Alonso-Zarazaga, 1996 and one of the genus Aderus Stephens, 1829. We also propose to transfer Anthicus reductus Wollaston, 1867 (Anthicidae: Anthicinae: Anthicini) to the genus Cobososia (Aderidae), as Cobososia reducta (Wollaston, 1867) comb. nov. and demonstrate, that Cobososia angulithorax (Desbrochers des Loges, 1881) is conspecific with Cobososia reducta (Wollaston, 1867) syn. nov. Finally, we present new records and an illustrated identification key to the ant-like leaf beetles of Cabo Verde.

Cabardites, a new genus for the "Adites" maculata (Poujade, 1886) species-group, with descriptions of five new species from northern Indochina and eastern China (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini).

The new genus Cabardites gen. n. is erected for the Adites maculata (Poujade, 1886) species-group with Asura limbata Wileman, 1911 as the type species. Four new species are described: Cabardites phifa Volynkin Cerný, sp. n. (North Thailand), C. auco Volynkin Cerný, sp. n. (North Vietnam), C. guanyin Volynkin Cerný, sp. n. (East China), C. tiendung Volynkin Cerný, sp. n. (North Vietnam) and C. varanagara Volynkin Cerný, sp. n. (North Thailand). Cabardites pica (Wileman, 1911), stat. comb. n. is excluded from the synonymy with C. limbata stat. rev. comb. n. and raised to the species level. Parasiccia fuscipennis Hampson, 1914 is synonymized with C. pica. Parasiccia karenkonis Matsumura, 1930 is excluded from the synonymy with C. maculata (Poujade, 1886), comb. n. and its belonging to the genus Metaemene Hampson (Erebidae, Boletobiinae) proposed by Poole (1989) is confirmed: Metaemene karenkonis (Matsumura, 1930), comb. rev. A new combination is established: Cabardites maculata (Poujade, 1886), comb. n. The lectotypes are designated for Parasiccia maculata var. formosibia Strand, 1917 and Asura limbata Wileman, 1911. Adults, male and female genitalia of all species of the genus are illustrated.

Types of Chrysididae (Insecta, Hymenoptera) deposited at the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule in Zürich.

A catalogue of the chrysidid type specimens housed at the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule in Zürich with revision and discussion of their status is presented. Selected images of the primary types are given. The new replacement name Chrysis robertsi Rosa nom. nov. pro Chrysis viridicyanea Linsenmaier, 1959, nec Giebel, 1862 is given. Ellampus subauratus Mocsáry, 1890 spec. resurr. is restored from the previous synonymy with Philoctetes sareptanus (Mocsáry, 1889). The new synonymy Ellampus schulthessi subauratus Mocsáry, 1890 = E. conifer Semenov-Tian-Shanskij, 1932 syn. nov. is proposed.