A contribution to cavernicolous beetle diversity of South China Karst: eight new genera and fourteen new species (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechini).

The specific diversity of Chinese cave fauna of the ground beetle tribe Trechini is further enriched. Eight new genera and species of trechine beetles are reported from limestone caves in southern China karsts: Youtrechus zijunae n. gen., n. sp. (Xianning, southeastern Hubei Province), Wumengius fengi n. gen., n. sp. (Liupanshui, western Guizhou Province), Chenotrechus parvulus n. gen., n. sp. (Laibin, central Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region), Sinaphaenopoides zhaoyiae n. gen., n. sp. (Chenzhou, southern Hunan Province), Ecotrechus ruruiae n. gen., n. sp. Hurites yunxianicus n. gen., n. sp. (Shaoyang, central Hunan Province), Pangaphaenops seraphicus n. gen., n. sp. (Bama, northwestern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region) and Zunotrechus zhaojieyui n. gen., n. sp. (Zunyi, northern Guizhou Province). All the above genera are monospecific. Generic diagnosis of each new genus, with discussions on its possible phylogenetic position within the tribe Trechini, and description of the type species are provided. The following new species of cavernicolous trechines are described: Dongodytes (Dongodytodes) pingjingae sp. n. (Hechi, northern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region), Dongodytes (s. str.) mingruoae n. sp. (Du'an, Hechi, northern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region), Deuveaphaenops (Furongius) huangheae n. sp. (Daozhen, Zunyi, northern Guizhou Province), Shilinotrechus zhangfani n. sp. (Mile, Honghe Hani & Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southeastern Yunnan Province), Guizhaphaenops (s. str.) wanghaoi n. sp. (Qinglong, Qianxinan Buyi & Miao Autonomous Prefecture, southwestern Guizhou Province), and Graciliblemus gui n. sp. (Liping, Qiandongnan Miao & Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southeastern Guizhou Province). Further generic characteristics of the genus Graciliblemus Deuve & Tian, 2016 are added. A distribution map for all above new taxa is given.

Morphological Adaptation of Cave-Dwelling Ground Beetles in China Revealed by Geometric Morphometry (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Trechini).

Cave-dwelling ground beetles in China represent the most impressive specific diversity and morphological adaptations of the cavernicolous ground beetles in the world, but they have not been systematically examined in quantitative terms. The present study focuses on the application of geometric morphological methods to address the morphological adaptations of the tribe Trechini, the most representative group in China. We have employed a geometric morphometry analysis of the head, pronotum, and elytra of 53 genera of Trechini, including 132 hypogean and 8 epigean species. Our results showed that the overall morphological variation of cave carabids has gradually specialized from an anophthalmic to semi-aphaenopsian to aphaenopsian type. There were extremely significant differences (p < 0.01) among four different adaptive types including aphaenopsian, semi-aphaenopsian, anophthalmic, and surface-dwelling Trechini when their adaptability to a cave environment was used as the basis for grouping. Furthermore, there were differences in the phenotypic tree of the head, pronotum, and elytra, and an integrated morphology. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the analysis of the head, pronotum, and elytra of four different adaptive types of ground beetles in order to clarify the morphological adaptations of cavernicolous carabids to the cave environment.

Two new genera and three new species of cavernicolous trechines from the western Wuling Mountains, China (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Trechinae).

Two new genera and three new species of cave-adapted ground beetles belonging to the tribe Trechini are established and described: Wulongiusqilinger gen. nov. and sp. nov. from limestone cave Qiankou Dong (Chongqing: Wulong), Qianotrechuscongcongae sp. nov. from cave Shigao Dong (Chongqing: Nanchuan), and Qianlongiuszhoui gen. nov. and sp. nov. from cave Qianlong Dong (Guizhou: Songtao). Wulongiusqilinger sp. nov. is a small aphaenopsian beetle with a thin and elongated body, while Qianlongiuszhoui sp. nov. is a semi-aphaenopsian with a stout body. Both new genera are not closely related to any genus of Trechini occurring in the South China Karst, and so their systematic positions remain unclear.

Discovery of a new cavernicolous trechine genus and species from a deep pit in Anlong, southwestern Guizhou Province (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae).

Ckacus youcha n. gen. n. sp. is described and illustrated based on a single male discovered in the deep area of Luoshui Dong, a vertical cave in Anlong Xian, southwestern most of Guizhou Province, Southwest China. This new genus seems related to Bathytrechus Uéno, 2005 from Leye Xian, northwestern most Guangxi by its elongate body which is wholly pubescent, the tridentate right mandible and the well-striated elytra with the 1st interval extremely narrowed at apical 1/3, but differs in several important characters. In addition, three individuals of the species Satotrechus rieae Uéno, 2006 were also collected from -340 m to -450 m in the same cave. This species was formerly only known from four caves in Anlong and Ceheng counties.

The first complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Cacopsylla citrisuga (Yang & Li), a new insect vector of Huanglongbing in Yunnan Province, China.

Cacopsylla citrisuga (Yang & Li) is an important pest-threatening Citrus and Poncirus plants (Rutaceae) and a newly identified insect vector of citrus Huanglongbing. The complete mitochondrial genome of C. citrisuga was 14,906 bp in length, with 37 genes, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs). The phylogenetic trees inferred from Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood analyses confirmed C. citrisuga as a member of the genus Cacopsylla. Our phylogenetic analyses suggested that the Cacopsylla is paraphyletic, and confirmed C. citrisuga as a member of clade-I under Cacopsylla. The complete mitochondrial genome of C. citrisuga will provide important information for the phylogeny and evolution analysis of Cacopsylla.

A contribution to the knowledge of cave-adapted ground beetles from Guiyang, central Guizhou Province, southwestern China (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Trechini).

A new genus and two new species of cavernicolous trechines are reported from central Guizhou Province, southwestern China. Haixiaphaenops gen. nov. is established to place a new species discovered in two limestone caves in northern Qingzhen Shi: H.jinxiaohongae sp. nov. (Dawan Dong cave and Changtu Dong and Dawan Dong caves). This new genus is allied to Zhijinaphaenops Uéno & Ran, 2002. Zhijinaphaenopszhaofeii sp. nov. is described from Zhangkou Dong cave in northern Jiuzhuang Zhen of Xifeng County. In addition, two new localities of the species Zhijinaphaenopsjingliae Deuve & Tian, 2015, and two new localities of SinaphaenopschengguangyuaniMa et al. 2020 are provided. A distribution map for all cavernicolous trechine beetles known in Guiyang is provided.

Two new species of cavernicolous trechines from central Guizhou and northwestern Guangxi, China (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae).

Two highly modified new species of cave-adapted trechine beetles are described from Guizhou Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region: Sinaphaenops (Sinaphaenops) chengguangyuani n. sp. (Guizhou: Longli: cave Shuijing Dong), belonging to the banshanicus species group of the genus Sinaphaenops Uéno Wang, 1991; Giraffaphaenops brevicephalus n. sp. (Guangxi: Leye: cave Dalongguan Dong), being the third species of the genus Giraffaphaenops Deuve, 2002, with a shorter but broader head than its congeners. Keys to identify the species of the banshanicus species group and the genus Giraffaphaenops are provided respectively.

Contributions to the knowledge of the genus Tonkinaphaenops Deuve, 2013 from China and Vietnam (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae).

Cavernicolous trechine beetles of the genus Tonkinaphaenops Deuve, 2013, known so far only from Vietnam, are reported for the first time from southern China, and new data are also provided regarding this genus from northern Vietnam. Two new Chinese species, T. yinquanicus sp. nov. from cave Yinquan Dong and T. jingxicus sp. nov. from cave Nianluo Dong in Jingxi County, southwesternmost Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, are described and illustrated, together with the descriptions of two new Vietnamese species: T. anthonyi sp. nov. from the cave Hang Dõi and T. impunctatus sp. nov. from the cave Hang Ran in Cao Bang province. A key to all known species of Tonkinaphaenops is also provided.

Contribution to the knowledge of the cavernicolous beetle genus Aspidaphaenops Uéno from Guizhou (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae).

The hypogean ground beetle genus Aspidaphaenops Uéno, 2006 is reviewed. Some new information of A. reflexus Uéno, 2006 is provided, including the male genital characteristics as well as a new locality. Two new species are described and illustrated from southwestern Guizhou Province, southwest China: A. xiongda n. sp. (Guizhou: Anlong: Fengyan Dong), A. dudou n. sp. (Guizhou: Xingyi: Xiaozi Dong). A key to all Aspidaphaenops species is also provided.

A contribution to Dongodytes (s. str.) Deuve, 1993 (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Trechinae).

The hypogean genus Dongodytes Deuve, 1993, one of the most cave-adapted genera of ground beetles, is distributed in northern Guangxi, ranging from Mashan through Du'an, Bama, and Fengshan to Tian'e. Review of nominate subgenus Dongodytes Deuve, 1993, with new records for D. fowleri Deuve, 1993 and D. grandis Uéno, 1998 are provided. Meanwhile, Dongodytes tonywhittenisp. n. is described from a limestone cave in Bama County. This interesting species is dedicated to the late Dr. Tony Whitten, a well-known cave biodiversity conservationist in Asia. A key to all species of Dongodytes (s. str.) is also provided.

Discovery of a most remarkable cave-specialized trechine beetle from southern China (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Trechinae).

Xuedytes bellus Tian & Huang, gen. et sp. n. is described from a limestone cave in Du'an Karst of Guangxi, a kingdom of cavernicolous trechine beetles in southern China. From a morphological point of view, Xuedytes Tian & Huang, gen. n. seems to be the most extremely cave-adapted trechines in the world. Superficially, it looks much like Giraffaphaenops Deuve, 2002 in general body shape, in particular the structure of the prothorax, but simultaneously it is similar to Dongodytes (s. str.) Deuve, 1993, based on elytral characters, including chaetotaxy. Hence the new genus seems to represent a lineage intermediate between Giraffaphaenops and Dongodytes (s. str.).

Contributions to the knowledge of subterranean trechine beetles in southern China's karsts: five new genera (Insecta, Coleoptera, Carabidae, Trechinae).

Recent discoveries reveal that southern China's karsts hold the most diverse and morphologically modified subterranean trechine beetles in the world, albeit the first troglobitic blind beetle was only reported in the early 1990's. In total, 110 species belonging to 43 genera of cavernicolous trechines have hitherto been recorded from the karsts of southern China, including the following five new genera proposed below: Shiqianaphaenops Tian, gen. n., to contain two species: Shiqianaphaenops majusculus (Uéno, 1999) (= Shenaphaenops majusculus Uéno, 1999, comb. n.), the type species from Cave Feng Dong, Shiqian, Guizhou, and Shiqianaphaenops cursor (Uéno, 1999) (= Shenaphaenops cursor Uéno, 1999, comb. n.), from Cave Shenxian Dong, Shiqian, Guizhou; and the monotypic Dianotrechus Tian, gen. n. (the type species: Dianotrechus gueorguievi Tian, sp. n., from Cave Dashi Dong, Kunming, Yunnan), Tianeotrechus Tian & Tang, gen. n. (the type species: Tianeotrechus trisetosus Tian & Tang, sp. n., from Cave Bahao Dong, Tian'e County, Guangxi), Huoyanodytes Tian & Huang, gen. n. (the type species: Huoyanodytes tujiaphilus Tian & Huang, sp. n., from Longshan, Hunan) and Wanhuaphaenops Tian & Wang, gen. n. (the type species: Wanhuaphaenops zhangi Tian & Wang, sp. n., from Cave Songjia Dong, Chenzhou, Hunan).

Du'an Karst of Guangxi: a kingdom of the cavernicolous genus Dongodytes Deuve (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Trechinae).

Recent cave biodiversity surveys carried out in Du'an County and its adjacent areas of northwestern Guangxi, China, have revealed some exciting scientific findings. In a very limited area seven new species of the cavernicolous trechine genus Dongodytes Deuve, 1993 were found and are described: Dongodytes(s. str.)elongatussp. n., Dongodytes(s. str.)troglodytessp. n., Dongodytes(s. str.)lanisp. n., Dongodytes (Dongodytodes) brevipenissp. n., Dongodytes (Dongodytodes) jinzhuensissp. n., Dongodytes (Dongodytodes) inexpectatussp. n. and Dongodytes (Dongodytodes) yaophilussp. n. Diagnoses and notes on the genus, subgenera, and two known species in Du'an Karst, Dongodytes(s. str.)baxian Tian, 2011 and Dongodytes (Dongodytodes) deharvengi Tian, 2011, are also given. A key to subgenera and all species of Dongodytes is provided. To date, Dongodytes becomes one of the richest in species genera of subterranean carabid trechines in China with 12 species which are arranged into two subgenera. Dongodytes (s. str.) Deuve is composed of seven species, four of which from Du'an County, each of other three from Bama, Fengshan and Tian'e Counties, respectively. All species of the subgenus Dongodytodes Tian, 2011 are recorded from Du'an Karst. By having 10 species (nine Dongodytes and one Libotrechus Uéno, 1998), Du'an Karst holds the richest specific diversity of cavernicolous Trechinae in China. Dongodytes species are distributed in a very limited area of the river Hongshui He drainages in northwestern Guangxi, and the river acts as a natural barrier of Dongodytes dispersal at only a specific level. However, all members of Dongodytodes are recorded from the eastern or northern bank of Hongshui He.