Description of Prozorovia, a new genus from Pakistan and India (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini).

The genus Wittia de Freina, 1980 was described for Bombyx aureola Hbner, [1803] (a junior synonym of Wittia sororcula (Hufnagel, 1766)), which in the modern sense is a paraphyletic taxon containing three groups of species. This study (1) describes a new genus, Prozorovia gen. nov., for three Indian species belonging to the genus Wittia previously; (2) describes the female of Prozorovia kailashi (Singh & Kirti, 2016) comb. nov. for the first time (this species was described based on two males); (3) reports on the first record of P. kailashi comb. nov. from Pakistan; and (4) illustrates the male external morphology and the male genitalia of P. kailashi comb. nov.

New records of Lasiocampidae (Lepidoptera) from Zanzibar Island with taxonomic notes and description of one new species of Odontopacha Aurivillius, 1909.

Seven genera and seven species of Lasiocampidae are newly recorded from the Zanzibar Island (Unguja): Bombycopsis C. & R. Felder, 1874 with Bombycopsis nigrovittata Aurivillius, 1927; Pallastica Zolotuhin & Gurkovich, 2009 with an unidentified species; Dollmania Tams, 1930 with an unidentified species; Mallocampa Aurivillius, 1902 with Mallocampa leighi Aurivillius, 1922; Eucraera Tams, 1930 with Eucraera witti Prozorov, 2016; Philotherma Möschler, 1887 with Philotherma montibia Strand, 1912; and Odontopacha Aurivillius, 1909 with Odontopacha fenestrata Aurivillius, 1909. The species are followed with taxonomic notes updating the status and distribution of the taxa. Bombycopsis nigrovittata is shown to have the maximum p-distance of 0.3% in cytochrome c oxidase I from Bombycopsis pallida Joannou & Krüger, 2009. Two specimens of Pallastica sp. from Zanzibar are different in wing coloration but identical genetically, both are 0.8-1.2% far from sequenced specimens collected in southern Malawi and eastern Zimbabwe and altogether 3.0-3.8% far from the Zambian and Malawian populations considered to be Pallastica pallens (Bethune-Baker, 1908). The barcoding revealed two distinct lineages of Dollmania in Tanzania with a p-distance of 3.5-3.7% between them, neither can be attributed to either Dollmania marwitzi (Strand, 1913) or Dollmania reussi (Strand, 1913) until the primary types or fresh topotypes are sequenced. The species Ph. montibia is taken out from the synonymy to Philotherma rosa (Druce, 1887) and is stated to be a bona species because of the difference in wing pattern and p-distance of 5.7-5.9%. A new species of the genus Odontopacha - Odontopacha dargei sp. n. - is described from southern Kenya and northern Tanzania where it occurs sympatrically with O. fenestrata. It differs from O. fenestrata by the paler coloration with the spotted external fascia on both wings and a p-distance of 3.04-3.65%. Lectotypes for D. marwitzi and Ph. montibia are established. Mallocampa leighi is recorded from Tanzania for the first time. Females of Chrysopsyche lutulenta Tams, 1923 earlier recorded from Zanzibar Island are figured and the species is recorded from DRC for the first time.

Cryptic taxonomic diversity and high-latitude melanism in the glossiphoniid leech assemblage from the Eurasian Arctic.

The family Glossiphoniidae is a diverse and widespread clade of freshwater leeches, playing a significant role in functioning of aquatic ecosystems. The taxonomy and biogeography of leeches from temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions attracted much attention of zoologists, while their taxonomic richness and distribution in the Arctic are poorly understood. Here, we present an overview of the Eurasian Arctic Glossiphoniidae based on the most comprehensive occurrence and DNA sequence datasets sampled to date. This fauna contains 14 species, belonging to five genera and three subfamilies. One genus and five species are new to science and described here. The world's northernmost occurrences of glossiphoniids are situated on the Taymyr Peninsula at 72° N, although further records at higher latitudes are expected. Most Arctic leeches are characterized by broad ranges crossing several climatic zones (e.g., Glossiphonia balcanica and G. nebulosa), although the distribution of two new species may be confined to the high-latitude areas. The Taymyr Peninsula with the nearby Putorana Plateau represents the most species-rich area (totally 9 species), while the European Arctic, Iceland, Kolyma Highland, and Chukotka Peninsula house depleted faunas (2-4 species per subregion). Finally, we show that the high-latitude melanism is a common phenomenon in glossiphoniid leeches.

A nearly complete database on the records and ecology of the rarest boreal tiger moth from 1840s to 2020.

Global environmental changes may cause dramatic insect declines but over century-long time series of certain species' records are rarely available for scientific research. The Menetries' Tiger Moth (Arctia menetriesii) appears to be the most enigmatic example among boreal insects. Although it occurs throughout the entire Eurasian taiga biome, it is so rare that less than 100 specimens were recorded since its original description in 1846. Here, we present the database, which contains nearly all available information on the species' records collected from 1840s to 2020. The data on A. menetriesii records (N = 78) through geographic regions, environments, and different timeframes are compiled and unified. The database may serve as the basis for a wide array of future research such as the distribution modeling and predictions of range shifts under climate changes. It represents a unique example of a more than century-long dataset of distributional, ecological, and phenological data designed for an exceptionally rare but widespread boreal insect, which primarily occurs in hard-to-reach, uninhabited areas of Eurasia.

Phylogeography and ecology of bumble bees on Kolguev Island, a remote European Arctic landmass.

The bumble bee fauna of the Russian Arctic is rather poorly known. Kolguev Island, a remote insular territory in the Barents Sea, is one of the deficiently studied areas. In this study, material on Kolguev's bumble bees is re-examined, phylogeographic data analysed, putative scenarios explaining the origin of the bumble bee fauna on the island discussed, and the biology and phenology of these insular populations described. Five bumble bee species, i.e., Bombusflavidus, B.lapponicus, B.jonellus, B.pyrrhopygus, and B.balteatus, were recorded on this island. All of these species are widespread throughout the Eurasian Arctic. Bumble bee populations on Kolguev Island are characterised by a low level of molecular divergence from mainland populations. Based on paleogeographic reconstructions and phylogeographic patterns, it is hypothesised that the bumble bees appeared on this island in the Early Holocene. The lack of rodents (lemmings and voles) sharply decreases the number of available nesting places for bumble bees on Kolguev Island.

A new species of the lichen moth genus Tigricollis Singh amp; Kirti, 2016 (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae) from eastern Indonesia.

N/A.

Male of Spilarctia mikeli Bolotov, Kondakov amp; Spitsyn, 2018, an endemic species from Flores Island, Lesser Sunda Archipelago (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae).

The Lepidoptera fauna of the island of Flores (Lesser Sunda Archipelago, Indonesia) shares a large proportion of endemic species, which may reach 80100% in several groups (Zolotuhin Witt 2005; Nässig et al. 2009; Zolotuhin 2009; Nässig Bouyer 2010; Yakovlev 2015; Spitsyn Potapov 2020; Spitsyn Bolotov 2020). A plethora of new species was described from this island during the last 15 years, e.g. the tiger moth Spilarctia mikeli Bolotov, Kondakov Spitsyn, 2018 (Zolotuhin Witt 2005; Yakovlev 2006; Spitsyn Bolotov 2020a, b, c). This species was described based on a single female specimen collected in West Flores (Bolotov et al. 2018). In the present paper, we describe the male of Spilarctia mikeli for the first time, and illustrate variability of marking patterns of both the male and the female of this species.

Three new species of the genus Nudina Staudinger, 1887 from northern Indochina (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini).

Three new species of the genus Nudina Staudinger, 1887 are described from northern Indochina: N. ankistro Volynkin, Huang, Bolotov Spitsyn, sp. nov. (Northern Myanmar), N. harpago Volynkin Huang, sp. nov. (Northern Vietnam) and N. witti Spitsyn, Volynkin, Huang Bolotov, sp. nov. (Northern Vietnam and Northern Myanmar). The new species represent a separated species-group which is established and characterized.

Description of the female of Chelis ferghana Dubatolov, 1988, an endemic moth species of the Tien Shan Range in Central Asia (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae).

Seven Arctiine genera have recently been synonymized with the genus Chelis Rambur, 1866 using a comprehensive multi-locus phylogeny (Rönkä et al. 2016). The genus Chelis s. str. contains nine species, the ranges of which cover temperate and subtropical areas of Eurasia from the Iberian Peninsula to the Pacific Ocean coast (Dubatolov de Vos 2010, Ortiz et al. 2016). Two species, i.e. Chelis ferghana Dubatolov, 1988 and C. strigulosa (Böttcher, 1905), are endemic to the Tien Shan Mountain Range. These taxa can be distinguished by morphological differences in the apical part of the valva.

Integrative taxonomy, biogeography and conservation of freshwater mussels (Unionidae) in Russia.

Freshwater mussels are ecosystem engineers and keystone species in aquatic environments. Unfortunately, due to dramatic declines this fauna is among the most threatened globally. Here, we clarify the taxonomy and biogeography of Russian Unionidae species based on the most comprehensive multi-locus dataset sampled to date. We revise the distribution and assess the conservation status for each species. This fauna comprises 16 native species from 11 genera and 4 tribes: Anodonta, Pseudanodonta (Anodontini); Amuranodonta, Beringiana, Buldowskia, Cristaria, Sinanodonta (Cristariini); Middendorffinaia, Nodularia, Unio (Unionini); and Lanceolaria (Lanceolariini). No country-level endemic species are known in Russia, except for Buldowskia suifunica that may also occur in China. Sinanodonta woodiana, a non-native species, was introduced from China. Russia comprises the northern parts of Western and Eastern Palearctic subregions. The first subregion with six species encompasses a huge area from the western boundary of Russia to the Lena Basin in Siberia. The second subregion with 10 species covers the Amur Basin, rivers east of the Lena Basin, coastal basins of the Japan Sea, and the North Pacific Islands. The fauna of Russia primarily includes widespread generalist species that are here considered Least Concern (LC). However, Buldowskia suifunica and Sinanodonta lauta have restricted distributions and are assessed here as Vulnerable (VU) and Endangered (EN), respectively.

Redescription of Amerila abdominalis (Rothschild, 1933), a little-known species of tiger moth from Southeast Asia (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae).

The genus Amerila Walker, 1855 is widely distributed from Africa to Australia with the maximum diversity in Africa (Häuser 1993, Häuser Boppré 1997). Three species in this genus are recorded from Indochina (Dubatolov de Vos 2010), including A. astreus (Drury, 1773) and A. omissa (Rothschild, 1910). These two are common and widely distributed, and their external morphology is well studied (Holloway 1988, Cerný Pinratana 2009, Bucsek 2012) and their genitalia are illustrated in the book of Dr. J.D. Holloway (1988). However the third one, A. abdominalis (Rothschild, 1933) is a rather poorly known species. The morphology of this species is known only from its original description (Rothschild 1933). There are no published images of genitalia of this species, and its female morphology is unknown. The image of a male of A. abdominalis was published by Bucsek (2012). Here, we give the detailed description of the morphology of A. abdominalis, including the male and female genitalia.

Freshwater mussels house a diverse mussel-associated leech assemblage.

Freshwater mussels (Unionida) are one of the most imperiled animal groups worldwide, revealing the fastest rates of extinction. Habitat degradation, river pollution and climate change are the primary causes of global decline. However, biological threats for freshwater mussels are still poorly known. Here, we describe a diverse ecological group of leeches (Hirudinea: Glossiphoniidae) inhabiting the mantle cavity of freshwater mussels. So far, examples of mussel-associated leech species are recorded from East Asia, Southeast Asia, India and Nepal, Africa, and North America. This group comprises a dozen glossiphoniid species with a hidden life style inside the mantle cavity of their hosts largely overlooked by researchers. We show that the association with freshwater mussels evolved independently in three leech clades, i.e. Batracobdelloides, Hemiclepsis, and Placobdella, at least since the Miocene. Seven mussel-associated leech species and two additional free-living taxa are described here as new to science.

Pollinators on the polar edge of the Ecumene: taxonomy, phylogeography, and ecology of bumble bees from Novaya Zemlya.

The High Arctic bumble bee fauna is rather poorly known, while a growing body of recent molecular research indicates that several Arctic species may represent endemic lineages with restricted ranges. Such local endemics are in need of special conservation efforts because of the increasing anthropogenic pressure and climate changes. Here, we re-examine the taxonomic and biogeographic affinities of bumble bees from Novaya Zemlya using historical samples and recently collected materials (1895-1925 vs. 2015-2017). Three bumble bee species inhabit the Yuzhny (Southern) Island and the southern edge of Severny (Northern) Island of this archipelago: Bombusglacialis Friese, 1902, B.hyperboreus Schönherr, 1809, and B.pyrrhopygus Friese, 1902. Bombusglacialis shares three unique COI haplotypes that may indicate its long-term (pre-glacial) persistence on Novaya Zemlya. In contrast, Bombushyperboreus and B.pyrrhopygus share a rather low molecular divergence from mainland populations, with the same or closely related haplotypes as those from Arctic Siberia and Norway. A brief re-description of Bombuspyrrhopygus based on the newly collected topotypes is presented. Habitats, foraging plants and life cycles of bumble bees on Novaya Zemlya are characterized, and possible causes of extremely low bumble bee abundance on the archipelago are discussed. The species-poor bumble bee fauna of Novaya Zemlya is compared with those in other areas throughout the Arctic. The mean bumble bee species richness on the Arctic Ocean islands is three times lower than that in the mainland Arctic areas (3.1 vs. 8.6 species per local fauna, respectively). General linear models (GLMs) indicate that this difference can be explained by specific environmental conditions of insular areas. Our findings highlight that the insularity is a significant factor sharply decreasing species richness in bumble bee assemblages on the Arctic Ocean archipelagoes through colder climate (lower summer temperatures), prevalence of harsh Arctic tundra landscapes with poor foraging resources, and in isolation from the mainland.

Species Richness, Molecular Taxonomy and Biogeography of the Radicine Pond Snails (Gastropoda: Lymnaeidae) in the Old World.

The radicine pond snails represent a species-rich and widely distributed group, many species of which are key vectors of human and animal trematodoses. Here we clarify the taxonomy, distribution and evolutionary biogeography of the radicine lymnaeids in the Old World based on the most comprehensive multi-locus molecular dataset sampled to date. We show that the subfamily Amphipepleinae is monophyletic and contains at least ten genus-level clades: Radix Montfort, 1810, Ampullaceana Servain, 1881, Peregriana Servain, 1881, Tibetoradix Bolotov, Vinarski & Aksenova gen. nov., Kamtschaticana Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1984, Orientogalba Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1985, Cerasina Kobelt, 1881, Myxas G. B. Sowerby I, 1822, Bullastra Bergh, 1901, and Austropeplea Cotton, 1942. With respect to our phylogeny, species-delimitation model and morphological data, the Old World fauna includes 35 biological species of radicines. Tibet and Eastern Europe harbor the richest faunas, while East Asia and Africa appear to be the most species-poor areas. The radicine clade could have originated near the Cretaceous - Paleocene boundary. The Miocene great lakes in Eurasia seems to be the most important evolutionary hotspots shaping spatial patterns of recent species richness. Finally, we present the first DNA barcode reference library for the reliable molecular identification of species within this group.

Barsine podbolotskayae sp. n. from Flores Island, Lesser Sunda Archipelago, Indonesia (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae).

Herein Barsine podbolotskayaesp. n. (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae) is described from Flores Island, Lesser Sunda Archipelago, Indonesia. This local endemic species externally resembles Barsine exclusa Butler, 1877 from Sundaland and the Andaman Islands but differs by marking patterns and male genitalia structure.