Australasian Region Research Articles

Isn’t a Call Enough? What Is the Purpose of Psychologically Assessing Cross-Cultural Mission Workers?

Psychological assessments are routinely conducted by many cross-cultural mission organizations when recruiting candidates. This qualitative research aimed to clarify the purpose of these assessments, to provide a way forward to improving them. It is part of a larger project which has investigated the use of psychological assessments in the Australasian region. A subsample of six chief executive officers (CEOs), six-member care specialists, and six professional assessors consented to a 1-hour interview about the purpose of psychological assessments. Thematic analysis was used to extract the key themes, and the data from each group were triangulated to form overarching themes. The results suggested each group approached purpose from their professional standpoint. CEOs focused on missiology, member care specialists on pastoral care, and assessors on psychological frameworks for understanding candidates. Five key purposes were identified for these assessments: (1) screening risk, (2) candidate self-awareness and growth, (3) fit for role, (4) discerning call, and (5) normalizing prevention of harm. These assessments are a key part of the discernment process for ministry. They need to be improved based on our increased understanding of the purpose they can potentially serve in ameliorating harm to people who volunteer for cross-cultural work.

A new species of Synsphyronus (Pseudoscorpiones: Garypidae) from eastern Australia

The pseudoscorpion genus Synsphyronus is widely distributed in the Australasian region, with 40 species described from Australia, two from New Zealand and one from New Caledonia. This paper describes a new species from New South Wales, S. inglisorum, sp. nov., that inhabits the bark of eucalypt trees.

Checklist of the Mammal Collection Preserved at the University of Palermo under the Framework of the National Biodiversity Future Center

The latest reorganization of the Vertebrate collections preserved at the “Pietro Doderlein” Museum of Zoology of the University of Palermo (Italy) has made it possible to draw up a check-list of the Mammal taxa present in the stuffed (M), fluid-preserved (ML) and anatomical (AN) collections. The intervention was planned under the National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC) agenda, focused on the enhancement of Italian natural history museums. The growing interest in museum collections strongly demands databases available to the academic and policy world. In this paper, we record 679 specimens belonging to 157 specific taxa arranged in 58 families and 16 orders. Most of the species (75.1%) come from the Palaearctic Region (southern Mediterranean and North Africa), with a minority of taxa coming from the Afrotropical (7.8%), Neotropical (4.6%), Indo-Malayan (3.4%) and Australasian (1%) regions. Among the 24% of the taxa listed in the IUCN categories as threatened (VU, EN, CR, RE) the specimens of the Sicilian wolf, a regional endemic subspecies that became extinct in the last century, stand out. Even if small (<1000 specimens), the collection of mammals of the Museum of Zoology is an important asset for research on biodiversity in the Mediterranean area, representing an international reference for those wishing to conduct morphological and genetic studies in this area.

Cowpea (Vigna Savi.) is a promising crop for Ukraine: importance, biological and ecological features and productive potential of plants

Purpose. To carry out an analysis of domestic and foreign scientific literature sources, information resources and the results of previous studies, based on which to evaluate the biological and ecological features and productive potential of plants Vigna genus and to determine their prospects for introduction in Ukraine. Methods. In the process of research, inventory information of NBG collection funds, catalogs of botanical gardens of Ukraine, directories, registers of varieties were used. Printed and electronic scientific periodicals and searchable scientific databases (Scopus, Web of Science, Pubmed, Researchgate, Research4Life, Science Direct, Google Scholar) were involved in the information search. The work used methods of introduction, analysis, systematization, comparison, and generalization of information data. Results. In the course of the screening of literary sources, it was found that the center of origin of plants of the genus Vigna is considered to be West Africa. Archaeological finds of these representatives date back to the IV millennium BC. Today, their natural and cultigenic ranges cover the Holarctic, Paleotropical, Neotropical and Australian realms. The genus Vig­na includes 105 species of plants, of which about 10 species are known in culture today, which are characterized by high heat, drought, acid and salt resistance, capable of providing high productivity of above-ground phytomass (3500–4500 kg/ha of absolutely dry matter) and productivity seeds (over 2000 kg/ha). Due to its rich biochemical composition (accumulates proteins, starch, vitamins, micro- and macroelements), it is actively used as a food, medicinal, fodder crop both in its homeland and almost all over the world. Conclusions. Thus, plants of species of the genus Vigna are promising potential crops of the 21st century. Their high adaptive capacity to biotic and abiotic factors of the environment, productive potential testifies to their prospects for introduction and acclimatization throughout the world, the selection of resistant genotypes capable of effectively resisting the challenges of modern climate changes and preventing a possible food crisis.

Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis: frequency and long-term outcome in Western Australia

Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (S-JIA) is a rare but potentially life threatening autoinflammatory condition of childhood. Given the limited data on S-JIA from the Australasian region, we investigated the epidemiological characteristics and long-term disease outcome in S-JIA. All hospitalised patients under the age of 16 years registered with ICD-10-AM code M08.2 in in the period 1999–2014 were identified in longitudinally linked administrative health data across all Western Australian (WA) hospitals. Incidence and point prevalence estimate were per 100,000 population with Poisson regression to analyse the incidence trend. Readmissions with S-JIA as primary diagnosis were considered flares with rates for flare and other complication reported per 100 person years with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Annual S-JIA incidence was 0.61/100,000 (CI 0.28–1.25) (46 incident cases, 71.7% girls, median age 6.5 years) and stable over time as S-JIA point prevalence reached 7.15/100,000 (CI 5.29–7.45) at the end of study. Most incident cases were diagnosed in winter and spring, but documented preceding infections were rare. During a median follow-up of 8 years, disease flares occurred in 24% of patients with higher flares rate in boys (58.3; CI 44.5–74.9) than girls (14.7; CI 9.9–20.9). No deaths occurred and arthroplasty was the main, but uncommon S-JIA complication (4%). However, readmission (86.3; CI 76.4–97.2) and ED visit (73.3; CI 64.2–83.4) rates for illnesses other than S-JIA were substantial. S-JIA is as rare in WA as in other regions and while s-JIA incurred no deaths in the era of biologics, it associated with a significant long-term burden of (co-) morbidity.

Estimating the intra-puparial period of Hydrotaea spinigera (Stein,1910) (Diptera: Muscidae) with morphological and gene expression changes

Hydrotaea spinigera (Stein, 1910) (Diptera: Muscidae) is a forensically important sarcosaprophagous species widely distributed throughout the Oriental and Australasian regions. At the advanced decomposition stage or the skeletonize stage, the immature stages of H. spinigera, especially the pupae, can still be found in large quantities and could be used as important indicators to estimate the minimum postmortem interval (PMImin). However, there have been no studies on the intra-puparial period of this species. Herein, we studied morphological and differential gene expression changes during the intra-puparial development of H. spinigera, aiming to accurately estimate the intra-puparial age of H. spinigera. The intra-puparial morphological changes of H. spinigera were observed at seven constant temperatures ranging from 16 °C to 34 °C and divided into 12 sub-stages. Structures that could be used to estimate the intra-puparial age, such as compound eyes, mouthparts, antennae, thorax, legs, wings, and abdomen, were observed in detail, and the developmental process of each structure was divided into 5 to 10 stages. The time range of each sub-stage, or when a structure appeared, was recorded. For the gene expression section, the most suitable reference genes were screened by geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and ΔCt methods. Based on the selected reference genes, real-time quantitative PCR (RT qPCR) was used to detect the expression changes of the white and hsp90 genes with developmental time at 19 °C, 25 °C, and 31 °C. Results showed that the trend of hsp90 gene expression under different temperatures was not consistent, while white genes exhibited regular changes during development, and could thus be used for age estimation of H. spinigera. This study provides an important basis for forensic entomology to use morphological and differential gene expression for estimating the age of H. spinigera during the intra-puparial period. Moreover, the combination of the two methods can produce a more accurate minimum postmortem interval (PMImin) estimate compared to when each method is used separately.

A new and some interesting species of ptyctimous mites (Acari, Oribatida) from different countries of the all worldly zoogeographical regions

In the paper, we presented ptyctimous mites collected from Nearctic (Canada, USA), Neotropical (Dominicana), Palaearctic (Scotland, Italy, Russia, Nepal, Egypt), Afrotropical (Ethiopia, Gabon, Congo, Mozambique, Madagascar, Réunion), South Africa, Oriental (Maldives, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, China) and Australasian (Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand) regions. Information of Mesoplophora (Parplophora) flavida Niedbała, 1985 and M. (P.) polita Niedbała, 1985 phoretic on different insects (Coleoptera: Passalidae) are presented. A new species Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) additus Niedbała sp. nov., is described from Madagascar. Supplementary descriptions and some remarks of ten species from six genera are given (including two paratypes of previously synonymous species). Information on the distribution and location of 85 species of 18 genera is also presented. Fifty-three species were found for the first time in the zoogeographical region or given country.

Worldwide host associations of the tick genus Ixodes suggest relationships based on environmental sharing rather than on co-phylogenetic events

BackgroundThis study aims to capture how ticks of the genus Ixodes gained their hosts using network constructs. We propose two alternative hypotheses, namely, an ecological background (ticks and hosts sharing environmentally available conditions) and a phylogenetic one, in which both partners co-evolved, adapting to existing environmental conditions after the association took place.MethodsWe used network constructs linking all the known pairs of associations between each species and stage of ticks with families and orders of hosts. Faith’s phylogenetic diversity was used to evaluate the phylogenetic distance of the hosts of each species and changes occurring in the ontogenetic switch between consecutive stages of each species (or the extent of the changes in phylogenetic diversity of hosts for consecutive stages of the same species).ResultsWe report highly clustered associations among Ixodes ticks and hosts, supporting the influence of the ecological adaptation and coexistence, demonstrating a lack of strict tick-host coevolution in most cases, except for a few species. Keystone hosts do not exist in the relationships between Ixodes and vertebrates because of the high redundancy of the networks, further supporting an ecological relationship between both types of partners. The ontogenetic switch of hosts is high for species with enough data, which is another potential clue supporting the ecological hypothesis. Other results suggest that the networks displaying tick-host associations are different according to the biogeographical realms. Data for the Afrotropical region reveal a lack of extensive surveys, while results for the Australasian region are suggestive of a mass extinction of vertebrates. The Palearctic network is well developed, with many links demonstrating a highly modular set of relationships.ConclusionsWith the obvious exceptions of Ixodes species restricted to one or a few hosts, the results point to an ecological adaptation. Even results on species linked to groups of ticks (such as Ixodes uriae and the pelagic birds or the bat-tick species) are suggestive of a previous action of environmental forces.Graphical

Global expansion of a solitary‐social tropical spitting spider shaped by multiple long‐distance dispersals

The spitting spider Scytodes fusca is a species complex well known for its unusual hunting technique which involves spitting a venomous sticky silken substance over its prey. Previous studies supposed that S. fusca was native to Central and South America but had expanded to the tropics of almost every continent. We aimed to test the hypothesis of a Neotropical origin for this spider followed by a secondary dispersal to other regions, and to discuss how population expansion occurring in the tropics was driven. We investigated the population structure and spatiotemporal biogeography of the species complex through the culmination of 22 years of comprehensive global sampling using the mitochondrial and nuclear loci (COI, 16S, 18S, 28S, H3 and ITS2). The S. fusca species complex is divided into two clades. One clade comprises the haplotypes from Australasian regions and a haplotype from Baja Peninsula, Mexico. The other is composed of the haplotypes from all analyzed regions including Asia, Australia, the Americas and Madagascar. Populations from the Americas and Madagascar exhibit a lower genetic diversity compared with the Australasian population, and both have different population demographic histories. The initial divergence within the species complex started during the early Miocene. Diversifications of both clades occurred during the late Miocene. One haplotype was recently and widely dispersed into Southeast Asia, South Asia, Australia, the Americas and Madagascar. Our results elucidate the history of the global spread of the S. fusca species complex, suggesting a Malay Archipelago origin, two expansion routes and its multiple dispersals into the Americas. These stem from a common native source population, as well as from Australia, Fiji, French Polynesia or Turks and Caicos bridgeheads. Our data support the view that the expansion of the S. fusca species complex from Australasia to America and Madagascar was facilitated by long‐distance jump dispersal events.

Highly Evolvable: Investigating Interspecific and Intraspecific Venom Variation in Taipans (Oxyuranus spp.) and Brown Snakes (Pseudonaja spp.).

Snake venoms are complex mixtures of toxins that differ on interspecific (between species) and intraspecific (within species) levels. Whether venom variation within a group of closely related species is explained by the presence, absence and/or relative abundances of venom toxins remains largely unknown. Taipans (Oxyuranus spp.) and brown snakes (Pseudonaja spp.) represent medically relevant species of snakes across the Australasian region and provide an excellent model clade for studying interspecific and intraspecific venom variation. Using liquid chromatography with ultraviolet and mass spectrometry detection, we analyzed a total of 31 venoms covering all species of this monophyletic clade, including widespread localities. Our results reveal major interspecific and intraspecific venom variation in Oxyuranus and Pseudonaja species, partially corresponding with their geographical regions and phylogenetic relationships. This extensive venom variability is generated by a combination of the absence/presence and differential abundance of venom toxins. Our study highlights that venom systems can be highly dynamical on the interspecific and intraspecific levels and underscores that the rapid toxin evolvability potentially causes major impacts on neglected tropical snakebites.

Love is in the air and beyond the ocean: Taxonomic review of Neotrogaspidia Lelej (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae: Trogaspidiini) in Northeast Asia highlights its unique distributional pattern

The genus Neotrogaspidia Lelej, 1996 is a small group of velvet ants with five species from the Australasian, Oriental and Palearctic Regions. The type species, N. pustulata (Smith, 1873) (♂♀), is the only Northeast Asian species known at present. In this paper, N. elpinice (Mickel, 1933), stat. resurr. et comb. nov. (♂♀) is resurrected from the junior synonym of N. pustulata. Two new combinations are proposed for N. circumcincta (André, 1896), comb. nov. (♂♀) from Orientidia Lelej, 1996 and N. recticarinata (Chen, 1957), comb. nov. (♂) from Trogaspidia Ashmead, 1899. New synonymies are proposed for N. elpinice with T. aestivalis Hammer, 1949, syn. nov. and T. maritima Chen, 1957, syn. nov., and N. circumcincta with T. yuliensis Tsuneki, 1972, syn. nov. and Krombeinidia agricola Williams, 2019, syn. nov. An updated genus diagnosis and a key to all described species are provided. New records include N. circumcincta from Laos and Vietnam, N. pustulata from North Korea, and N. recticarinata from Taiwan. The inflated endophallus of the male genitalia of N. pustulata is illustrated. A potential host record, habitat records and mating observations of Neotrogaspidia are presented. The historical process of formation of the distributional patterns of this genus in Northeast Asia is discussed.

The first fossil lace bug (Heteroptera: Tingidae) from New Zealand

The first fossil lace bug (Tingidae) from New Zealand is described from the earliest Miocene Foulden Maar Fossil-Lagerstätte in Otago. The single specimen, observable in ventral position in finely laminated lacustrine diatomite, belongs to Tingidae based on the areolate (lace-like) paranotum and hemelytra and the presence of sternal laminae. The incomplete preservation does not allow for a definite identification of the genus, and the fossil is provisionally identified as Tingidae gen. et sp. indet. This new record adds the family Tingidae to the Miocene Heteroptera fauna of New Zealand and the Australasian region. Uwe Kaulfuss [uwe.kaulfuss@uni-goettingen.de], Department of Animal Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073 Göttingen, Germany Ernst Heiss [aradus@aon.at], Tiroler Landesmuseum, Josef-Schraffl-Strasse 2a, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.

Phylogenetic relationships in the Eugongylini (Squamata: Scincidae): generic limits and biogeography

Skinks (Family Scincidae) are the most diverse family of lizards (~1745 described species worldwide), and the Australasian region (Australia, New Caledonia, New Zealand) is a recognised global hotspot (>600 species) for skinks. Here we focus on determining the phylogenetic relationships and biogeography within the tribe Eugongylini, one of three lineages in the region. We used mtDNA (ND2) and nuclear (RAG-1, c-mos) DNA sequences and phylogenetic analyses to reveal the presence of three well-supported lineages of Australian Eugongylini. We found a sister relationship between the monotypic genera Eroticoscincus and Harrisoniascincus, and that the monotypic Anepischetosia has close affinities with Carinascincus coventryi and Pseudemoia. C. coventryi represents a separate lineage from the main Carinascincus radiation. Emoia was not found to be monophyletic, with Emoia s.s. part of an Australian lineage, and the remainder of the genus representing an older divergence within the tribe. The widespread and speciose Cryptoblepharus represented a well-supported lineage within an Australian lineage. Our analyses confirm previous suggestions that four Sphenomorphus species (louisiadensis, minutus, bignelli, and aignanus) are misplaced, and are part of the Eugongylini. Our phylogenetic analyses support the hypothesis that the origin of the tribe lies in Asia, with dispersal events to Africa, Australasia, and Oceania.

The Ant Genus Cardiocondyla (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): The Species Groups with Oriental and Australasian Origin

The world-wide fauna of the genus Cardiocondyla is assessed to have 79 currently recognized species and is subdivided into 14 informal species groups plus three monotypical clades. It is argued that the phylogenetic placement of Cardiocondyla next to the genus Ocymyrmex Emery, 1886 as proposed by Blaimer et al. (2018) is doubtful. The main body of the paper is a species-level taxonomic revision of those six species groups and the one monotypical clade which have their centers of origin in the Oriental and Australasian regions. The fauna of this area comprises 26 species eleven of which are described as new: Cardiocondyla schulzi n.sp., C. argentea n.sp., C. semiargentea n.sp., C. argyrotricha n.sp., C. latifrons n.sp., C. micropila n.sp., C. allonivalis n.sp., C. excavata n.sp., C. goroka n.sp., C. subspina n.sp. and C. sulcata n.sp. Recognized as junior synonyms were: Cardiocondyla tsukuyomi Terayama, 1999 and C. breviscapus Seifert, 2003 of C. minutior Forel, 1899 and C. brevispinosa (Donisthorpe, 1948) of C. paradoxa Emery, 1897. Each confirmed species is characterized by verbal descriptions, 18 numerically recorded phenotypic characters, z-stack images in three viewing positions, the key, a differential diagnosis and, if available, a brief life history. Exploratory and hypothesis-driven data analyses of phenotypic characters support the separation of the cryptic species Cardiocondyla minutior Forel, 1899, C. goa Seifert, 2003 and C. tjibodana Karavajev, 1935, two of which have dispersed as tramp species to the New World. Missing development of postzygotic isolation due to very strong prezygotic barriers is indicated in the closely related species Cardiocondyla latifrons n.sp. and C. micropila n.sp. which produce fertile hybrids in laboratory rearings but apparently do not hybridize in a natural context even if nesting in close neighborhood. The strong prezygotic isolation is supposed to be generated by the prevalence of intranidal mating and the difficulty for a mated heterospecific gyne to become accepted in a foreign colony.

A large-scale view of marine heatwaves revealed by archetype analysis

Marine heatwaves can have disastrous impacts on ecosystems and marine industries. Given their potential consequences, it is important to understand how broad-scale climate variability influences the probability of localised extreme events. Here, we employ an advanced data-mining methodology, archetype analysis, to identify large scale patterns and teleconnections that lead to marine extremes in certain regions. This methodology is applied to the Australasian region, where it identifies instances of anomalous sea-surface temperatures, frequently associated with marine heatwaves, as well as the broadscale oceanic and atmospheric conditions associated with those extreme events. Additionally, we use archetype analysis to assess the ability of a low-resolution climate model to accurately represent the teleconnection patterns associated with extreme climate variability, and discuss the implications for the predictability of these impactful events.

Film practitioners’ perspectives on Australasia-China co-production

Film as a medium has become a tool to carry out the mission to serve the purposes of both economic gain and cultural communication in China (China Film Association, 2020). In addition, the “14th Five Year Plan” on China’s film development report highlighted that Chinese films will serve diplomatic outreach, promote co-productions and strengthen the international influence of Chinese cinema while demonstrating Chinese values (China Film Administration, 2021). The academic scholarship on Sino-foreign co-production has focused primarily on the textual analysis of co-produced films and China’s soft power (for example, Peng, 2015). In the existing scholarship, what has not been significantly researched and rarely addressed are the practitioners’ insights and practical experiences in Sino-foreign film co-production. Filling the gaps in this area, this PhD research project examines Sino-foreign co-production in the Australasian region to provide a comprehensive understanding of the practitioners’ perspectives, ideas, experiences, and strategies. Looking briefly at the critical review of related studies, in this presentation, I focus on an in-depth qualitative analysis of interview data with film practitioners and industry personnel who have worked in co-production film projects with China in the Australasian region. I explore and analyse the practitioners’ strategies and negotiations that have taken place in a few examples.

Rhagophthalmidae Olivier, 1907 (Coleoptera, Elateroidea): described genera and species, current problems, and prospects for the bioluminescent and paedomorphic beetle lineage.

Rhagophthalmidae are a small beetle family known from the eastern Palaearctic and Oriental realms. Rhagophthalmidae are closely related to railroad worms (Phengodidae) and fireflies (Lampyridae) with which they share highly modified paedomorphic females and the ability to emit light. Currently, Rhagophthalmidae include 66 species classified in the following 12 genera: Bicladodrilus Pic, 1921 (two spp.), Bicladum Pic, 1921 (two spp.), Dioptoma Pascoe, 1860 (two spp.), Diplocladon Gorham, 1883 (two spp.), Dodecatoma Westwood, 1849 (eight spp.), Falsophrixothrix Pic, 1937 (six spp.), Haplocladon Gorham, 1883 (two spp.), Menghuoius Kawashima, 2000 (three spp.), Mimoochotyra Pic, 1937 (one sp.), Monodrilus Pic, 1921 (two spp. in two subgenera), Pseudothilmanus Pic, 1918 (two spp.), and Rhagophthalmus Motschulsky, 1854 (34 spp.). The replacement name Haplocladongorhami Kundrata, nom. nov. is proposed for Diplocladonhasseltii Gorham, 1883b (described in subgenus Haplocladon) which is preoccupied by Diplocladonhasseltii Gorham, 1883a. The genus Reductodrilus Pic, 1943 is tentatively placed in Lampyridae: Ototretinae. Lectotypes are designated for Pseudothilmanusalatus Pic, 1918 and P.marginalis Pic, 1918. Interestingly, in the eastern part of their distribution, Rhagophthalmidae have remained within the boundaries of the Sunda Shelf and the Philippines demarcated by the Wallace Line, which separates the Oriental and Australasian realms. This study is intended to be a first step towards a comprehensive revision of the group on both genus and species levels. Additionally, critical problems and prospects for rhagophthalmid research are briefly discussed.

Effect of the invasion history of the giant African snail (Lissachatina fulica) on its realized climatic niche

AbstractThere is almost a century of difference among Indo‐Malayan, Australasian, and Neotropical regions in establishment of non‐native populations of the giant African snail (Lissachatina fulica). Using potential distribution models and environmental principal component analysis (PCA‐env), we first tested whether an expansion of the realized climatic niche of L. fulica occurred. The models showed geographical differences between the native and non‐native areas, especially in the Neotropical region, where the last introduction of mollusks occurred. Because PCA‐env showed a 60% expansion and 40% overlap between the native and global areas, we next investigated whether the expansion of the realized climatic niche of L. fulica was influenced by its geographical spread. Precipitation had the highest contribution in most models, but temperature was the variable that best explained the projected spread from the current Neotropical distribution. The current Neotropical distribution was better explained when the climatic conditions of the Indo‐Malayan and Australasian regions from which the species arrived in the Neotropics were included. PCA‐env showed 74% expansion between the native and Indo‐Malayan–Australasian areas and 97% expansion between the native and Neotropical areas. In conclusion, the spread between biogeographic regions and the existence of similar climatic conditions between the native and non‐native distributions would produce the observed climatic niche of L. fulica.

The first species of Nemestrinidae (Diptera) endemic to Madagascar: A remarkable new species of Atriadops Wandolleck, 1897

A new species of Nemestrinidae, Atriadops irwini Barraclough sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Sakaramy in the far north of Madagascar at about the same latitude as the Comoros Islands. The species was collected in lowland tropical forest by Dr Michael Irwin. Atriadops Wandolleck, 1897, is a small genus of Nemestrinidae in the subfamily Trichopisideinae. Six named species are distributed across the Australasian, Oriental, Afrotropical and Neotropical Regions. Atriadops irwini sp. nov. is thus only the seventh species in the genus (the first new species described in almost 70 years) and the second valid species from the Afrotropical Region. This is the first record of Atriadops from Madagascar, where the new species is the only endemic nemestrinid. Nycterimyia capensis Bezzi is the only other nemestrinid recorded from Madagascar, but it also occurs in South Africa (where it was first described) and Kenya. The world fauna of Atriadops is discussed and all known larval host records are listed.

New Australasian Parathalassiinae (Diptera: Dolichopodidae sensu lato)

One species of Chimerothalassius Shamshev & Grootaert, namely C. marshalli sp. nov. is described from New Zealand, and two other species, namely C. riparius sp. nov. and C. sinclairi sp. nov. are described from New Caledonia. Two species of Microphorella Becker, namely M. bungle sp. nov. and M. viticula sp. nov., are described from Australia. These new parathalassiine descriptions increase the Australasian species diversity of Chimerothalassius and Microphorella to four species each. In addition, the genus Eothalassius Shamshev & Grootaert is recorded from New Caledonia based on a single female, and the male genitalia of the Australian species M. iota Colless is newly illustrated. A key to the genera and species of male Parathalassiinae in the Australasian Region is also provided.