Monobasic Genus Research Articles

Nadus overlaeti (Navás, 1931) redescribed—new to the fauna of Mozambique, Namibia and Tanzania (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae)

Two species used to be included in the African genus Nadus: Nadus overlaeti (Navás, 1931) and Nadus sudanensis Navás, 1935. Following our revision of the genus, we propose that Nadus sudanensis Navás, 1935 (syn.nov.) should be a new junior synonym of Nadus overlaeti (Navás, 1931). The monobasic genus and species are redescribed. Several photographs illustrate morphological features. The distribution, habitat, and seasonal activity of the species are given.

Phylogenetic relationships and historical biogeography of silkmoths (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) suggest an origin in Southern Gondwana

Silkmoths (Bombycidae) have a disjunct distribution predominantly in the Southern Hemisphere and Asia. Here we reconstruct the phylogenetic history of the family to test competing hypotheses on their origin and assess how vicariance and long-distance dispersal shaped their current distribution. We sequenced up to 5,074 base pairs from six loci (COI, EF1-α, wgl, CAD, GAPDH, and RpS5) to infer the historical biogeography of Bombycidae. The multilocus dataset covering 20 genera (80 %) of the family, including 17 genera (94 %) of Bombycinae and 3 genera (43 %) of Epiinae, was used to estimate phylogenetic patterns, divergence times and biogeographic reconstruction. Dating estimates extrapolated from secondary calibration sources indicate the Bombycidae stem-group originated approximately 64 Mya. The subfamilies Epiinae (South America) and Bombycinae (Australia, Asia, East Palaearctic, and Africa) were reciprocally monophyletic, diverging at c. 56 Mya (95 % credibility interval: 66–46 Mya). The ‘basal’ lineage of Bombycinae — Gastridiota + Elachyophtalma — split from the rest of Bombycinae c. 53 Mya (95 % credibility interval: 63–43 Mya). Gastridiota is a monobasic genus with a relictual distribution in subtropical forests of eastern Australia. The Oriental and African genera comprised a monophyletic group: the Oriental region was inferred to have been colonized from a long-distance dispersal event from Australia to South-East Asia c. 53 Mya or possibly later (c. 36–26 Mya); Africa was subsequently colonized by dispersal from Asia c. 16 Mya (95 % credibility interval: 21–12 Mya). Based on the strongly supported phylogenetic relationships and estimates of divergence times, we conclude that Bombycidae had its origin in the fragment of Southern Gondwana consisting of Australia, Antarctica and South America during the Paleocene. The disjunction between South America (Epiinae) and Australia (Bombycinae) is best explained by vicariance in the Eocene, whereas the disjunct distribution in Asia and Africa is best explained by more recent dispersal events.

Three new monobasic genera and three new species of the New World treehopper tribe Acutalini (Hemiptera, Membracidae, Smiliinae) with a key to all genera.

Three new genera in Acutalini are described, two of which have two discoidal cells (R2+3 and M) in the forewing, as in Euritea Stål. Ceresinoideazackigen. nov. et sp. nov., from Guatemala, differs from other acutalines in having a pair of suprahumeral spines and a stepwise convex pronotum in lateral view. Quinquespinosaseptamaculagen. nov. et sp. nov., which is widely distributed in South America, differs in having a basal cell M and three posterior pronotal spines. Tectiformaguayasensisgen. nov. et sp. nov., from Ecuador, has the pronotum strongly tectiform throughout. A key to all genera of Acutalini is provided.

New Burmese Amber Rove Beetle Fossils Assigned to the Rare Extant Subfamily Coomaniinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae).

Simple SummaryThe rove beetle subfamily Coomaniinae is incredibly rare, currently comprised of one described and several undescribed species of the genus Coomania in Southeast Asia and Northern Australia. Contrary to most rove beetle groups, the subfamily is only known based on a handful of specimens. Coomaniinae is the sister group to the subfamily Staphylininae, which, in contrast, is mega-diverse and abundant in terrestrial habitats globally. In this paper we describe three new species of Coomania preserved as fossils from Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber (ca. 99 million years old).The Mesozoic, ca. 99-million-year-old Burmese amber is an incredible source of fossil beetles that have been very actively studied in recent times and have already significantly improved our knowledge about the evolution of the large family of Staphylinidae, the rove beetles. Nevertheless, new extinct taxa of high phylogenetic interest are being discovered, among which the following three rove beetle species are described here: Coomania megistos sp. nov., Coomania enkarsios sp. nov. and Coomania yini sp. nov. These fossils preserved enough morphological characters to be identified as members of the rove beetle lineage formed by Staphylininae and allied subfamilies. Based on the fragments of morphology available for observation, they are hypothesized to be the extinct members of the extant rare monobasic subfamily Coomaniinae, sister to the recently mega-diverse and abundant Staphylininae. Limitations of the available fossil material prompted us to place the new species in the extant, monobasic genus Coomania Cameron, 1939, pending a more refined generic placement when more characters become available via additional material or advanced examination techniques. The odd morphology and rarity of the extant members of Coomaniinae restricted to Southeast Asia and Northern Australia make them an enigmatic subfamily among the hyper-diverse Staphylinidae. The newly described fossils, albeit without sufficient details concealed by imperfect preservation, shed some light on the past diversity of Coomaniinae and its divergence from Staphylininae.

Mitochondrial genomes of two wild silkmoths, Samia watsoni and Samia wangi (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae), and their phylogenetic implications

The wild silkmoth genus Samia HĂźbner, 1819 (Saturniidae) contains a number of economically important species in industrial silk production. However, the interspecific relationships within the genus remain unclear. We sequence the mitogenomes of Samia watsoni OberthĂźr, 1914 and Samia wangi Naumann & Peigler, 2001. Both mitogenomes are annotated and found to be cyclized, with 37 genes (13 PCGs, 2 rRNA genes and 22 tRNA genes). Using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods, we analyze these mitogenomes together with a further 68 downloaded from GenBank (65 Bombycoidea and 5 Lasiocampidae as the outgroup) to investigate the phylogenetic relationships both within the genus and those among the three families of the 'SBS' group: Bombycidae, Saturniidae and Sphingidae. The results show that within Samia, S. ricini is closely related to S. canningi, and not S. cynthia of which it has previously been considered to be a subspecies. Although arguments have been proposed to treat S. ricini and S. canningi as conspecific, we choose to accept the morphological arguments and continue to treat them as two separate species. Samia watsoni is corroborated as the sister group of all other Samia species, but nevertheless should be included within Samia rather than being placed in its own monobasic genus. Our analysis recovers the following relationship among the three families of the 'SBS' group: (Saturniidae + (Bombycidae + Sphingidae)). This agrees with previous studies based on analysis of mitogenomes but continues to contradict the results derived from phylogenomic analysis of nuclear genomes.

The genus Crostis Casey (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Baridinae) in North America.

The originally monobasic genus Crostis Casey, 1922 (type species Crostis subexplanata Casey, 1922 from Brazil) is redefined based on two named and approximately 15 unnamed species occurring between the southern United States and northern Argentina. Three oblong-ovate northern species here grouped informally as the Crostis boreas species group are described: Crostis boreas Prena Anderson new species from Arkansas and Texas in the U.S.A. and Quertaro and Tamaulipas in Mexico, Crostis boreodes Prena Anderson new species from Guanajuato and Michoacn in Mexico, and Crostis caperata Prena Anderson new species from Chiapas in Mexico. The South American Baridius thoracicus Kirsch, 1875 is transferred from Lamprobaris Champion, 1908 to Crostis, as Crostis thoracica (Kirsch) new combination.

Taxonomic problems with Gynaikothrips and related genera (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae): the ficorum/uzeli complex and taxa endemic to Australia.

Ten species from Australia in or related to the genus Gynaikothrips are discussed. Variation among specimens of the pest species on Ficus trees, the ficorum/uzeli complex, is examined with the conclusion that recognition of these two species remains questionable. Two species related to this complex are newly recorded from Australia, insulsus Priesner and luzonensis Priesner, and edentatus Priesner is placed as a syn.n. of ficorum. Two new Gynaikothrips are described, jasmini sp.n. and platypodae sp.n., and additamentus Karny is transferred from Gynaikothrips to Eilapinothrips gen.n. A new species of Agynaikothrips is described as the third known member of this genus, lorieni sp.n., and Liothrips umbratus Hood comb.rev. is returned to this original genus from Gynaikothrips. Two species described in Gynaikothrips from the Philippines, capitulatus Reyes and pedanus Reyes, are transferred to the genus Teuchothrips. The monobasic genus, Aiganothrips Bhatti, is considered a syn.n. of Gynaikothrips, and the monobasic genus, Jennythrips Bhatti, is considered a syn.n. of Liothrips.

Pennathrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), a new panchaetothripine genus from New Caledonia.

The Pacific island of New Caledonia is located about 1500km East of Australia just north of the Tropic of Capricorn. It has a rich endemic flora involving more than 5000 plant species (Endemia.nc 2021; Guillaumin 1948), but the only account of the Thysanoptera fauna apart from some new species descriptions is a check-list of 44 genera and 68 species (Bournier Mound 2000). Here we describe a new monotypic genus of Panchaetothripinae that has been collected twice in New Caledonia, in 1992 and 2012, but without any information on possible host associations. This genus shares character states with a monobasic genus from New Zealand, but more particularly with a genus of four species endemic to Australia. The Thripidae fauna of New Zealand appears to be well-studied (Mound et al. 2017), with only one or two undescribed species known in collections. The Australian Thysanoptera fauna has also been studied extensively in the past 20 years (Mound Tree 2020), and few undescribed species of Thripidae are known. In contrast, the Thysanoptera fauna of New Caledonia appears to be largely unexplored, and description here of this new genus serves to emphasize the uniqueness of this fauna. Photographs of the habitus and morphological characters were taken on the technical platform at CBGP (Centre de Biologie pour la Gestion des Populations) using a KEYENCE VHX-5000 digital microscope and a Leica DM5500, and at CSIRO, Canberra using a Leica DM2500 with Nomarski illumination.

Review of the genera Berlesia Canestrini, 1884, and Katydiseius Fain amp; Lukoschus, 1983, the subfamily Katydiseiinae Fain amp; Lukoschus, 1983, and their family group relationships (Acari: Mesostigmata: Gamasina), with description of three new species parasitic on gryllacridid crickets (Orthoptera).

The gamasine genus Berlesia Canestrini, 1884, is revived and further diagnosed, based on descriptions of adult females, males and nymphs of three new species (B. hospitabilis sp. nov., B. multisetosa sp. nov., B. vorontsovi sp. nov.) ectoparasitic on raspy crickets of three genera of Gryllacrididae (Ensifera) from Australia and the Philippines. A tight sister relationship of Berlesia with the monobasic genus Katydiseius Fain Lukoschus, 1983, known only from a pseudophylline katydid in Malaysia, is proposed. The subfamily Katydiseiinae Fain Lukoschus, 1983 (previously included in the family Otopheidomenidae in the superfamily Phytoseioidea) is redefined to include only those two genera, and moved to the dermanyssoid family Laelapidae, while its previously other monobasic genus, Eickwortius Zhang, 1995, is retained tentatively in the family Otopheidomenidae. Among other taxa relevant to Katydiseiinae reviewed here, Berlesia cultrigera Berlese, 1910a is transferred to the genus Orthopteroseius Mo, 1996, at present Otopheidomenidae, as Orthopteroseius cultrigerum (Berlese) comb. nov., and Berlesia nuda Berlese, 1910b is transferred to the genus Prasadiseius Wainstein, 1972, at present Otopheidomenidae, as Prasadiseius nudum (Berlese) comb. nov. A key to the two genera and five species recognized as belonging in Katydiseiinae is presented. Notable morphological traits of Berlesia, including only deutonymphs equipped with well-developed claws and males with dimorphically more elongated salivary stylets, are discussed. The one known life cycle of a species of Berlesia, B. hospitabilis sp. nov., includes protonymphipary, followed by a fully functioning deutonymph, and male copulation with pharate females-traits, rarely or not known among gamasine mite associates of invertebrates. The possible significance of elongate spermatodactyls and male reduced feeding are explored.

Macroevolution and shifts in the feeding biology of the New World scarab beetle tribe Phanaeini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)

Abstract The New World scarab beetle tribe Phanaeini contains coprophagous, necrophagous, mycetophagous and suspected myrmecophilous species. We analyse the largest tribal molecular dataset assembled, incorporating, for the first time, the enigmatic monobasic genus Megatharsis, the thalassinus group of the subgenus Coprophanaeus (Metallophanaeus), and the subgenus Dendropaemon (Eurypodea) (formerly Tetramereia), unveiling their macroevolutionary and biogeographical history in light of Cenozoic abiotic changes and inferring shifts in feeding biology through time. We recover the contentious genus Gromphas outside an otherwise monophyletic Phanaeini. We infer Megatharsis in a clade containing the apparent myrmecophilous genus Dendropaemon, within the Coprophanaeus clade, and demonstrate that the subgenus Coprophanaeus (Metallophanaeus) is polyphyletic, whilst species groups within the subgenus Coprophanaeus (Coprophanaeus) are monophyletic. Our divergence time analyses and ancestral range estimation indicate an eastern South American origin for Phanaeini in the early Eocene, with subsequent colonization of Central America and the Nearctic during the Oligocene, long before a Panamanian land bridge. A shift to necrophagy in Coprophanaeus is possibly linked to increasing Neotropical small vertebrate diversity since the Eocene and, astonishingly, myrmecophily evolved from necrophagy 35 Mya. These drastic shifts in lifestyle are not concordant with variations in diversification rates and appear unlinked to Quaternary extinction of large mammals.

After 157 years, a second specimen and species of the phylogenetically enigmatic and previously monobasic genus Nototylus Gemminger & Harold, 1868 (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Nototylini).

The enigmatic beetle tribe Nototylini (Carabidae) is revised and a key to species is provided. Two species from South America are included in the genus. One species, Nototylusfryi (Schaum), is reviewed and a second, Nototylusballi Erwin & Kavanaugh, sp. nov., is described as new. Each species is known from a single specimen, neither of which is in good condition. The possible function of what appears to be a unique antennal grooming structure on the front femur is discussed.

Three new Brazilian species of the sharpshooter genus Amblyscarta Stål, 1869 and redescription of A. unifasciata (Fabricius, 1803) comb. nov. (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellini).

Three new Brazilian species of the sharpshooter genus Amblyscarta Stål, 1869 are described and illustrated: A. elianeae sp. nov. (states of Paraná and Minas Gerais), A. souzalopesi sp. nov. (State of Rio de Janeiro), and A. pinna sp. nov. (State of Mato Grosso). The first two species are from the Atlantic Forest, whereas the third is from the Amazon Forest. Cicada unifasciata Fabricius, 1803 is redescribed and transferred to Amblyscarta based on specimens from Guyana and northern Brazil (Amazon Forest). This Fabrician species is the type of the monobasic genus Strictogonia Melichar, 1926, which is thus considered a junior synonym of Amblyscarta. A diagnosis of Amblyscarta is added, as well as brief notes on the phenology of A. elianeae. This paper provides the first detailed descriptions and illustrations of the female terminalia of Amblyscarta species.

Dactylobasis gen. nov. from colombia, a new genus of Zygoptera with Teinobasini affinities (Odonata: Coenagrionidae).

A new monobasic genus Dactylobasis is erected for D. demarmelsi sp. nov. (Holotype male, COLOMBIA, Chocó Department, Salero 05°19'01" N 76°36'52" W, alt. 129m, 10 VIII 2005. L. A. Pérez leg. UARC), is described and illustrated. The new genus is considered a member of the Teinobasini by the presence of an articulated ventral spur at the base of cercus in male. Generic characters are: mesanepisternum entirely metallic green, each with a horn in both sexes, propleuron laterally swollen with a spinulose conical posterior projection; male paraproct long with ventral branch at half of its length. Dactylobasis demarmelsi is probably endemic to the Biogeographic province of Chocó.

A new species, new genus and new records of heterostigmatic mites (Acari: Heterostigmata) phoretic on scarab beetles of the subfamily Orphninae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae).

During the study of heterostigmatic mites phoretic on beetles of the subfamily Orphninae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), ten species from five families were found. One species, Premicrodispus hajiqanbari sp. nov. (Acari: Microdispidae) phoretic on Orphnus luminosus Benderitter, found in Central African Republic is described as new for science. A new monobasic genus Scarabadania gen. nov. with type species Bakerdania tenuispina Sevastianov, 1974 is created in the family Neopygmephoridae. Troxodania problematica (Mahunka, 1975) comb. nov. (from Bakerdania) and Pseudopygmephorus peritrematus (Mahunka, 1979) (Acari: Neopygmephoridae) are redescribed. Moreover, Trochometridium tribulatum Cross, 1965 (Acari: Trochometridiidae), Troxodania problematica (Mahunka, 1975) comb. nov. and Aegyptophorus shibinensis Sevastianov and Abo-Korah, 1984 (Acari: Neopygmephoridae) are recorded from Sri Lanka for the first time. Finally, Scarabadania tenuispina (Sevastianov, 1974) comb. nov. and Pygmodispus odontotarsus Sevastianov, 1975 (Acari: Scutacaridae) are recorded from Africa for the first time.

Subspecies-level systematics and affinities of Cheimas Thieme-an endemic genus of the subparamo of the Venezuelan Cordillera de Mérida (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Satyrinae).

The validity of the monobasic neotropical butterfly genus Cheimas Thieme (Nymphalidae, Satyrinae, Satyrini, Pronophilina) is discussed, and confirmed based on morphological and molecular data. Cheimas opalinus (Staudinger), endemic to the Venezuelan Cordillera de Mérida, and considered prior to this study to be monotypic and restricted to the central part of the range, is demonstrated to be polytypic and more widely distributed. Five subspecies are recognised, differing mostly in their dorsal patterns, in particular the shape and colour of hindwing greenish-blue patch. Mitochondrial DNA sequences (COI) were obtained for three of them. The nominate subspecies is found in the central part of the range, in the Sierra Nevada and La Culata. The other subspecies are found as follows: C. opalinus dominici n. ssp.; in the Santo Domingo valley in the centre-north; C. opalinus cristalinus n. ssp. in the north; C. opalinus iosephi n. ssp. on the eastern slopes, and C. opalinus rosalinus n. ssp. in the southern Páramo El Batallón massif. A hybrid zone between the latter two subspecies was detected in the northern part of the Batallón massif based on unusual individual variation and intermediate phenotypes. All the populations of Cheimas opalinus occur in the forest-paramo ecotone at 2800-3400 m a.s.l., with the notable exception of C. opalinus cristalinus n. ssp. found also in mid-elevation forests down to 2300 m a.s.l.

Review of the enigmatic genus Boalda with transfer of pulcherrima Köhler from Nephelistis and description of two new species (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Schaus (1929: 49) described Boalda gyona in a monobasic genus known only from the holotype taken in Santa Catarina, Brazil. Biezanko et al. (1957) reported the species from Uruguay. A number of specimens of Boalda similar to gyona were collected recently in Paraguay, at least two of which match the anomalous Argentinian taxon Nephelistis pulcherrima Köhler (1947: 77-78). Herein the genus Boalda is reviewed, with one new species described from the Paraguayan samples, and with N. pulcherrima transferred Boalda. A singleton specimen from Parque Nacional Cerro Corá, Dpto. Amambay, Paraguay, is figured but not described as a distinct species because of a lack of additional specimens.

A new species of Naryciodes Matsumura, 1931 (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae)from Korea.

The genus Naryciodes was originally proposed as a monobasic genus (type species: Naryciodes posticalis Matsumura) by Matsumura (1931) in Tineidae. About fifty years later, the genus was transferred to Limacodidae by Inoue (1982) because the larvae possess an autapomorphic character of Limacodidae: the lack of crochets on the prolegs (Epstein et al. 1999).

Neotropical spittlebugs related to Neaenini (Hemiptera, Cercopidae)and the origins of subfamily Cercopinae.

The Central American tribe Neaenini, originally comprising only the monobasic genus Neaenus Fowler, was thought to be transitional between Cercopinae and Aphrophorinae. The genus is here enlarged by 5 (1 unnamed) additional species including 2 in a distinctive new subgenus Neaniskus. Keys are presented to 5 species of Neaenus, to 12 allied Neotropical genera and their 57 species: 12 of Tomaspisinella Lallemand, 1927 (=Hemitomaspis Lallemand, 1949, syn.nov. and 3 distinctive new subgenera Meretricula, Merinx and Merulatomus), 14 species of Microsargane Fowler, 1897 (=Ecothera Melichar, 1915, syn.nov., with 2 distinctive new subgenera Microrhaphe and Microtholia) and 31 species of Zuata Fennah, together with 2 species of Helioptera gen. nov. and 6 monobasic genera (Liparonotum gen. nov., Marcion Fennah, Menytes gen. nov., Microclimax gen. nov., Microlaqueus gen. nov. and Simorhina Jacobi). The small Neotropical genera Tomaspisina Distant and Olcotomaspis Lallemand (with 2 new combinations and subgenus Hyalotomaspis Lallemand, stat.nov.) appear to be allied to the large old-world genus Phymatostetha Stål rather than to any new-world Cercopinae. A check list is presented to these 13 genera and their 76 species (of which 30 are new to science and 5 of Zuata are new synonyms). Males are described for 5 species previously known from females but males of 9 (in 6 genera) are still unknown. Male genitalia define a new tribe of Cercopinae, Microsarganini (Microsargane was formerly placed in Aphrophorinae) that also includes Liparonotum, Microclimax and Microlaqueus. Almost half of the genera are monobasic without synapomorphies to Aphrophorinae, suggesting that these genera (including several genera resembling both Aphrophorinae and Cercopinae) represent relict lineages at the base of the subfamily Cercopinae.

New taxa of Carpomyini, with special emphasis on Goniglossum (Diptera: Tephritidae: Trypetinae).

Goniglossum Rondani, hitherto a monobasic genus, is reinstated from synonymy under Carpomya Costa. A second species, Goniglossum liat n. sp., is described nearly two centuries after the description of the first species and 160 years after the description of Goniglossum. G. liat is described from Israel (also known from Turkey) and compared with G. wiedemanni (Meigen), an essentially European species, which is the type-species of Goniglossum and the only other known congener. The two species differ in details of the mesonotal and pleural color pattern (e.g., tip of scutellum with three small black spots in G. wiedemanni, whereas with one large spot in G. liat), structure of the male and female terminalia (e.g., the aculeus of G. wiedemanni is distinctly narrower apically than that of G. liat, and its tip has significantly fewer teeth), and host plant associations (Bryonia alba L. and B. dioica Jacq. are hosts of G. wiedemanni, whereas Bryonia cretica L. and B. syriaca Boiss. are hosts of G. liat). Myiopardalis Bezzi is also reinstated from synonymy under Carpomya. C. tica Norrbom, originally described in Carpomya, is transferred to Norrbomella, new genus, as its type and only included species.

A new genus of mites of the subfamily Platyseiinae associated with Azteca ant galleries in Cecropia trees in Costa Rica (Acari: Mesostigmata: Blattisociidae)

The genus Calyptoseius gen. nov. of the subfamily Platyseiinae Evans is described, based on adults and nymphs of one newly described species associated with ants of the genus Azteca occupying hollow stems of Cecropia in lowland rainforests of Costa Rica. Several unusual morphological attributes are noted, particularly the autapomorphic presence of four elongated setae on each of telotarsi II to IV. Some perspectives of these mites in the Cecropia-Azteca association are discussed, including a possible dispersal link via nematoceran flies to gain access to such an unusual habitat. The definition of the previously monobasic genus Cheiroseiulus is augmented, and also modified in view of an undescribed species at hand, and the subfamily definition is modified to account for morphological aspects of the new genus. A key to the genera of the Platyseiinae is given.