Habitus Images Research Articles

Family-level diversity of Coleoptera (Insecta) from the Nanling Mountains and the Greater Bay Area, China

Coleoptera comprise 198 families and over 440,000 species to date, of which 143 families and over 35,000 species are known in China. Of these, only 64 families have been recorded in Guangdong Province, fewer than in Hong Kong. To investigate the insect diversity of Guangdong, numerous specimens were collected from the Nanling Mountains and the Greater Bay Area using various methods, and over 200,000 specimens of Coleoptera were assigned to families. Thus, a preliminary study of beetles at the family-level in Guangdong is carried out based on the examined specimens and historical records. An updated checklist of beetle families in Guangdong increases the number of families from 64 to 111, in which Eupsilobiidae is recorded for the first time in China and a new species, Eidoreus haizhuensis sp. nov. is described here, demonstrating the importance of persistent collecting with different methods for the study of insect diversity. Habitus images of most of the beetle families occurring in Guangdong are provided. And the updated records are compared in detail with the published records, showing that more families may potentially be found in Guangdong, requiring further field work and taxonomists working on niche groups.

A survey of keys for the identification of newly described insect genera: recommendations for authors, reviewers, editors, and publishers.

Large numbers of new taxa are described annually and while there is a great need to make them identifiable, there seems little consistency in how this might be facilitated. 427 papers published in 2021 and 2022 were surveyed, which described 587 new insect genera. Only 136 of these papers included keys, and these allowed the identification of 233 of the new genera (31.9% of papers and 39.7% of the new genera). The proportion of papers that included a key varied significantly among insect orders but not among the handful of journals wherein the bulk of the new genera were described. Overall, for 17 key-related variables assessed in a binary fashion (optimal vs suboptimal), the average key had almost six criteria that were scored as being suboptimal. For example, less than one-fifth facilitated retracing and less than 12% had illustrated keys where the images were conveniently located close to the relevant key couplets. Progress towards confirming a putative identification was possible in all papers, through the inclusion of a diagnosis, habitus images, or both. Based upon this analysis, and expanding on previous suggestions for key construction, 23 recommendations are made on how to make an identification key maximally useful for users and I indicate the relative ease with which each could be adhered to. Identification keys should accompany all new taxon descriptions, guidelines for effective key construction should be added to journals' instructions to authors, editors and reviewers should check keys carefully, and publishers should be attentive to the needs of users through, for example, permitting duplication of images to make keys easier to use. Recommendations are likely relevant to all levels in the taxonomic hierarchy for all organisms, despite the data being derived from generic-level keys for insects.

A new species of the genus Suhela (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea: Spilomelinae) from the Andaman Islands, India

A new species, Suhela cuneus Rao, Sivaperuman & Mally sp. nov., belonging to the family Crambidae is described from the Indian Andaman Islands. The generic concept of Suhela is revised to include the new species. A differential diagnosis as well as images of adult habitus and both male and female genitalia are provided.

Two new species of Torunotum Hosseini & Cassis 2019 (Hemiptera: Miridae: Deraeocorinae: Hyaliodini) from New Caledonia

Two new species of the Torunotum Hosseini & Cassis, 2019—T. hirsutum sp. nov. and T. flavomaculatum sp. nov.—are diagnosed and described. Photographic images of habitus and male genital structures, as well as scanning electron micrographs of the selected structures of these species, are provided. Additionally, the paper also presents a new locality of Torunotum badius Hosseini & Cassis, 2019, along with photographs of the habitus and the male genitalia.

Contribution to the hyaliodine fauna (Miridae: Deraeocorinae: Hyaliodini) of New Caledonia with a description of two new species and a checklist of New Caledonian plant bugs

Two new species of the Montagneria Akingbohungbe, 1978—M. barbarae sp. nov. and M. nataliae sp. nov.—are diagnosed and described. Photographic images of habitus and genital structures, as well as scanning electron micrographs of the selected structures of both species are provided. The gland openings located on the thorax are figured and discussed. New records of three hyaliodine species, Femurocoris spinosus Carvalho, 1977, Montagneria cuneatus (Distant, 1920), and M. nigroscutellatum (Distant, 1920) in New Caledonia are also presented. Moreover, a checklist of the Miridae species of New Caledonia is given.

To the knowledge of the subtribe Pericalina Hope, 1838 (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Lebiinae), with description of new genus, new subgenus and species from Oriental region

A new genus Acoptodera gen. n. is described to place Coptodera piligera Chaudoir, 1883 previously attributed to genus Trichocoptodera Louwerens, 1958, as well as new subgenus Pericalocephala subgen. n. to place remarkable new species from Vietnam: Acoptodera (Pericalocephala) paradoxa sp. n. By the presence of hairs on head, pronotum and elytra, new genus is similar with Trichocoptodera Louwerens, 1958, but can be easely distinguished by flattened pronotum with wide lateral margins and by rounded elytra with serrate edges and fringe of setae on the sides. The status and characters of genera thought to be near relatives of Coptodera genus-group, are briefly discussed. Images of habitus and genitalia are provided.

Faunal inventory and illustrated taxonomic keys to aquatic Coleoptera (Arthropoda: Insecta) of the northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India

Following several surveys of aquatic Coleoptera during 2013–2018 in northern Western Ghats, India, we hereby provide an illustrated checklist with modified keys to the species of families Dytiscidae, Gyrinidae, Noteridae, and Hydrophilidae. To date, we have collected 69 species of true water beetles, adding new occurrence records for two species to the fauna of the state. Keys are modified from the works of various authors. Distribution records are provided with district specific records for Maharashtra. Keys, species lists, and distribution records are based on our survey results. Species were identified following the works of various authors, and affirmed by dissecting male genitalia. Provided with keys are habitus images, images of male genitalia for 59 species, and digital drawings & scanning electron micrographs of taxonomically important structures wherever necessary. These surveys were conducted to revive the work on aquatic beetles that have been neglected for about 40 years, and to prepare a revised checklist.

Uncovering what lies within: The first scientific account of cave-dwelling ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in the Philippines with the description of a new genus, new subgenus, and four new species from Mindanao

For the first time in the Philippines, cave surveys were carried out in search of cave beetles. In this paper we describe a new troglobite genus, Kweba gen. nov., with two new species K. magbabaya sp. nov. and K. diwata sp. nov. We describe a new subgenus: Trogloabacetus subgen. nov. of the genus Metabacetus Bates, 1892, with the addition of two new species, M. (T.) baltazarae sp. nov. and M. (T.) desideratus sp. nov. from various limestone caves of Mindanao Island. Anaulacus (s.str.) fasciatus (Schmidt-Goebel, 1846) is also reported from the cave habitats. A key to the new and related genera, images of habitus and genitalia, and distribution maps are provided.

Taxonomic studies on chalcid wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Chalcididae) of Goa, India, with an illustrated key to genera and species

ABSTRACT This study on the chalcidid wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) reports 26 species belonging to 12 genera and four subfamilies from the state of Goa, India. Of these, 20 species and seven genera are newly recorded from Goa. An illustrated key, synonyms, brief description and habitus images are provided for all the species of Chalcididae found in Goa, India.

Taxonomic study of Korean Diartiger Sharp (Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae: Clavigeritae)

A taxonomic study of Diartiger Sharp has not been performed for the past 30 years in Korea. In this study, Diartiger songxiaobini is recorded for the first time in Korea, and Diartiger fossulatus dentipes is redescribed to facilitate a comparison of Diartiger subgroups and provide a detailed description. Habitus images, diagnostic characters, and a distributional map of the Korean Clavigeritae species were also provided.

Molecular phylogeny, classification, and description of new species of Australian Nuridius Sloane, 1890 (Carabidae: Pterostichini)

The genus Nuridius Sloane is revised and expanded to 10 species including its type species Nuridius fortis Sloane, 1890, three newly described species: Nuridius frickei sp. nov., type locality Peases Lookout, Eungella National Park, QLD, Nuridius pluto sp. nov., type locality Jimna State Forest, QLD, and Nuridius darlingtoni sp. nov., type locality Bulburin National Park, QLD, and six species previously included in Nurus Motschulsky that are here combined in Nuridius: Nuridius curtus (Chaudoir, 1865), Nuridius grandis Sloane, 1910, Nuridius nox (Darlington, 1961), Nuridius medius (Darlington, 1961), Nuridius rex (Darlington, 1961), and Nuridius niger (Chaudoir, 1878). Pachymelas Tschitschérine, 1902 is considered a junior synonym of Nuridius. Bayesian analyses of a combined matrix and partitioned matrices of partial sequences from three loci (28S, COI and CAD) found support for Nuridius as a clade separate from Nurus. The comparative study of morphological features allows for recognition of the 10 species and an identification key is provided. Images of habitus and key external features, along with the aedeagus of each species are provided. All species distributions are mapped, and biogeographical implications discussed. Short notes are given on burrow-making and egg deposition into formed, two-part soil capsules by species of both Nurus and Nuridius. Conservation issues are briefly discussed.

New Record of the Egg-larval Parasitoid, Chelonus formosanus Sonan of Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) in the Philippines

The egg-larval parasitoid on fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) have not reported in the Philippines. This paper summarizes the global biological information on two species of Chelonus and their role in the regulation of FAW. The FAW egg masses and larvae were collected in the corn plantations inside the Lipa Agricultural Research Station, Marawoy, Lipa City, Batangas. The collected egg masses and larvae were reared at the Entomology Laboratory of the Department of Agriculture-Regional Crop Protection Center IVA. The larvae of FAW were observed for the emergence of parasitoids. Two cocoons of the parasitoid from the rearing cages were obtained for species determination. Three adults from the emerged parasitoids, each male and female, were initially preserved and labeled. Color images of habitus and other morphological characters of the parasitoid were taken using a DSLR camera attached to an Olympus SZ61-60 microscope. This research found two species that emerged from FAW: Chelonus formosanus and the new record of C. semihyalinus. We also highlight the need for more research in the Philippines on exploring the diversity of indigenous natural enemies, the development of mass-rearing techniques, and their utilization to manage fall armyworms.

First record of the plant bug genus Punctifulvius Schmitz from the Oriental Region, with descriptions of three new species (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Miridae, Cylapinae).

Three new species of the fungal-inhabiting plant bug genus Punctifulvius Schmitz, 1978 (Cylapinae: Fulviini) are described, namely P. aleksanderi n. sp. from Selangor, Malaysia, P. parvus n. sp. from East Kalimantan, Indonesia, and P. sakaerat n. sp. from Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. The present discovery represents the first record of the genus from the Oriental Region. Punctifulvius members are now confirmed to be widespread from the cold temperate climatic zones in the eastern Palearctic regions, across the tropics of the Oriental Region, to the temperate rainforest of Australia. Punctifulvius kerzhneri Schmitz, 1978 is recorded from Taiwan for the first time. The systematic position of Teratofulvioides Carvalho & Lorenzato, 1978 is discussed, and its single species Teratofulvioides punctatus Carvalho & Lorenzato, 1978 is redescribed. Color adult habitus images of Punctifulvius aleksanderi, P. kerzhneri, P. parvus, P. sakaerat, and Teratofulvius punctatus, images of male (P. parvus and P. sakaerat) and female (P. aleksanderi) genitalic structures, as well as scanning electron micrographs of selected structures of P. aleksanderi, P. kerzhneri, P. parvus, P. sakaerat, and T. punctatus are provided. Key to the species of Punctifulvius is given.

Fourteen new species of the genus Nesamblyops Jeannel (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Anillini) from the South Island of New Zealand with redescription of the genus and description of a new subtribe.

Fourteen new species of flightless litter ground beetles of the tribe Anillini, genus Nesamblyops, from the South Island of New Zealand, are described. The only hitherto described species from the South Island, Nesamblyops subcaecus (Broun), is similar to the new species from Southland, N. viator n. sp. (type locality: New Zealand, South Island, Fiordland, Resolution Island), based on the structure of male genitalia. The species assembly inhabiting the northwest corner of the South Island comprises two partly sympatric groups composed of three related allopatric species each. The first group includes N. canaanensis n. sp. (type locality: New Zealand, South Island, Nelson, Abel Tasman National Park, Canaan area), N. hobbit n. sp. (type locality: New Zealand, South Island, Nelson, Kahurangi National Park, Mt Domett), and N. ovipennis n. sp. (type locality: New Zealand, South Island, Nelson, Kahurangi National Park, Mt Arthur). The second group represents another lineage and contains N. rotundicollis n. sp. (type locality: New Zealand, South Island, Nelson, Kahurangi National Park, Onekaka area), N. solitarius n. sp. (type locality: New Zealand, South Island, West Coast, western foothills of Victoria Range, Capleston area), and N. subrufus n. sp. (type locality: New Zealand, South Island, West Coast, Upper Buller Gorge, Dublin Terrace). Three additional species known from the northwest corner of the South Island, based on the structure of male genitalia, are unrelated to each other and remaining species of the region. These are N. karamea n. sp. (type locality: New Zealand, South Island, West Coast, Kahurangi National Park, the Karamea River Gorge area), N. montanus n. sp. (type locality: New Zealand, South Island, Nelson, Kahurangi National Park, Lake Sylvester area), and N. kuscheli n. sp. (type locality: New Zealand, South Island, Nelson, Kahurangi National Park, Mt Arthur). The latter species is presumably closely related to the species from the central parts of the West Coast, N. moorei n. sp., (type locality: New Zealand, South Island, West Coast, Ngahere area, Mawhera Forest). Additionally, the central part of the West Coast is inhabited by a small group of two species, N. disjunctus n. sp. (type locality: New Zealand, South Island, West Coast, E slope of the Paparoa Range, Fletcher Creek area), and N. victoriae n. sp. (type locality: New Zealand, South Island, West Coast, Victoria Range, Capleston area). According to the structure of the male genitalia, this group represents a separate lineage within the genus. The most unusual structure of male genitalia belongs to a species without eyes, a trait previously unknown in Nesamblyops, N. magnificus n. sp. (type locality: New Zealand, South Island, Coastal Otago, Allison Conservation Area) that inhabits the southeast corner of the South Island. Digital images of habitus, body parts, drawings of genitalia, as well as distribution maps are provided for all described species. Morphological evidence of the isolated position of Nesamblyops within the tribe Anillini is discussed, with a focus on the morphological comparison of Nesamblyops with the members of Anillini, Tachyini, Bembidiini, Zolini, and Sinozolini, and on the data of published molecular analyses. A new subtribe for the representatives of the genus, Nesamblyopina, n. subtr., is proposed; the newly discovered morphological characters have been incorporated in the redescription of the genus.

Two new species of the Longitarsusviolentus group from China (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini).

Two new species of Longitarsus Latreille, 1829 from China are described: L.pekingensis Liang, Konstantinov & Ge, sp. nov. (Beijing) and L.xinjiangensis Liang, Konstantinov & Ge, sp. nov. (Xinjiang). Images of dorsal and lateral habitus, pronotum, head, and male and female genitalia are provided. The records of Longitarsusviolentus Weise, 1893 and Longitarsusweisei Guillebeau, 1895 in China are discussed. Holotypes of L.marguzoricus Konstantinov in Konstantinov & Lopatin, 2000 and L.violentoides Konstantinov in Konstantinov & Lopatin, 2000 are illustrated with images of pronotum and median lobe of aedeagus. A key to species of L.violentus species group is provided.

New data on the leaf beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) of Middle Asia

Oulema duftschmidi (Redtenbacher, 1874), Phyllotreta astrachanica Lopatin, 1977 and Ph. procera (Redtenbacher, 1849) are recorded for the rst time for Uzbekistan; Longitarsus stragulatus dichrous Khnzorian, 1962 is recorded for the rst time for Tajikistan. The geographic distribution of Acolastus pallidus (Lopatin, 1958) and Aphilenia ornata Reitter, 1889 has been clari ed. For all the taxa considered, images of the adult habitus and male genitalia (for some of them) are given.

Two new micropterous species of the genus Sunius from Andalusia (Spain) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae)

Two new species of the genus Sunius Stephens, 1829 are described from southern Spain: Sunius tricoliensis sp. nov. and Sunius lauxaensis sp. nov., both found in the same mountain massif, Sierra Gorda de Loja, Granada, Andalusia, but at different altitudes. Colour images of the adult habitus, forebody, sternite VIII, and aedeagus are provided for both species.

Notes on plant bugs (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Miridae) from Madagascar with a description of new species of the cylapine tribe Fulviini and checklist of Madagascan mirids.

A new species of Fulvius StlF. attenboroughi sp. nov.is diagnosed and described. Schmitzofulvius bigibber Gorczyca, 1998 is redescribed. Photographic images of habitus and genital structures, as well as scanning electron micrographs of selected structures of both species, are provided. Fulvius kerzhneri Gorczyca, 2000 is diagnosed. New records of a few plant bugs species (Collaria elsae Matocq, 2021, C. cf improvisa Reuter, 1893, F. kerzhneri, Linnavuoricoris madagascariensis Chrot, 2013, Malagasycoelum dracula Kim & Jung, 2020 and S. bigibber) from Madagascar and the checklist of Madagascan Miridae are also presented.

Anthrenus (Anthrenus) mumbaiensis sp. nov. from India and a morphometric examination of Anthrenus (Anthrenus) festivus (Coleoptera, Dermestidae, Anthrenini).

All examples of Anthrenus (Anthrenus) festivus were borrowed from the Natural History Museum, London for dissection to provide good images of external and internal features. Images of habitus, ventrites and antennae are presented along with aedeagus and sternite IX. The purpose of this was to provide clear information for future comparative taxonomic studies. During the examination of the specimens, a new species was discovered that had been collected in Bombay (Mumbai) in the late 19th century. Images of external and internal features of the holotype (male) and paratype (female) are provided. The new species is named Anthrenus (Anthrenus) mumbaiensis after the location of collection. Collection data from the study specimens, Andreas Herrmann's private collection, the literature, and verifiable images on iNaturalist were used to generate a distribution map. The map showed that A. festivus is found mainly in coastal regions of the western Mediterranean.

Taxonomic revision of the genus Parena Motschulsky, 1860(Coleoptera, Carabidae, Lebiini, Metallicina).

The present contribution revises the genus Parena Motschulsky, 1860, a group of arboreal carabid beetles with 46 recognized species, distributed in Tropical Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the north and east coastal Australasia. We re-evaluate the infrageneric taxonomy of the genus and redefine three subgenera: Parena s. str., Bothynoptera Schaum, 1863 and Crossoglossa Chaudoir, 1872, based on the morphological characters of external features, male genitalia and female ovipositors. Under these three subgenera, we define 14 species groups to contain all known species. Keys for the identification of all subgenera, species groups, and species are provided, along with diagnostic characters, included species, geographical distribution, brief discussion on monophyly and relationships for each subgenus and species group, ample species descriptions, distribution maps, habitus images, and genitalia illustrations. The previous alpha-taxonomy of the genus Parena is defective, and several species were described without genital morphological comparisons with their real adelphotaxon. Based on careful examination of a large amount of type materials, we propose 19 new synonyms: P. rufotestacea Jedlička, 1934, as a junior synonym of P. cavipennis (Bates, 1873); P. perforata (Bates, 1873), P. nepalensis Kirschenhofer, 1994, and P. kunmingensis Kirschenhofer, 1996, as junior synonyms of P. dorsigera (Schaum, 1863); P. wrasei Kirschenhofer, 2006, as a junior synonym of P. kurosai Habu, 1967; P. nantouensis Kirschenhofer, 1996 and P. kataevi Kirschenhofer, 2006, as junior synonyms of P. tesari (Jedlička, 1951); P. yunnana Kirschenhofer, 1994, as a junior synonym of P. shapingensis Xie & Yu, 1993; P. albomaculata Habu, 1979, as a junior synonym of P. malaisei (Andrewes, 1947); P. koreana Kirschenhofer, 1994, as a junior synonym of P. monostigma (Bates, 1873); P. phongsalyensis Kirschenhofer, 2011, as a junior synonym of P. quadrisignata Mateu, 1977; P. sellata (Heller, 1921), P. hastata (Heller, 1921), P. sellatoides (Jedlička, 1940), P. fasciata var. unicolor Louwerens, 1949, and P. sumatrana Kirschenhofer, 2011, as junior synonyms of P. fasciata (Chaudoir, 1872); P. nigrolineata nipponensis Habu, 1964 and P. schillhammeri Kirschenhofer, 2006, as junior synonyms of P. nigrolineata (Chaudoir, 1852); and P. alluaudi Jeannel, 1949, as a junior synonym of P. madagascariensis (Alluaud, 1917). Furthermore, the specific status of P. scutata (Alluaud, 1917) is resurrected from synonym with P. plagiata Motschulsky, 1864. Parena sticta (Andrewes, 1947) is excluded from Parena and a new combination is suggested: Peliocypas stictus (Andrewes, 1947) comb. nov. A total of eight new species are described: P. (Crossoglossa) sciakyi sp. nov. (type locality: Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands), P. (Bothynoptera) heteronycha sp. nov. (type locality: Houaphan, Laos), P. (Bothynoptera) emarginata sp. nov. (type locality: Muli, Sichuan, China), P. (Bothynoptera) gonggaica sp. nov. (type locality: Hailuogou, Sichuan, China), P. (Bothynoptera) triguttata sp. nov. (type locality: Kangding, Sichuan, China), P. (Parena) picipes sp. nov. (type locality: Trus Madi, Borneo), P. (Parena) fulva sp. nov. (type locality: Dodoma, Tanzania), and P. (Parena) ruficornis sp. nov. (type locality: Lobaye, the Central African Republic). Several of these new species are very rare in collections, with four of them known from females only.