Nominate Subgenus Research Articles

New species of Empis (s. str.) (Diptera: Empididae) from the Northwest Caucasus

Four new species of the genus Empis belonging to the nominative subgenus are described from the Northwest Caucasus: E. (E.) arkhyziensis sp. nov. (Russia: Karachay-Cherkessia), E. (E.) cherkessica sp. nov. (Russia: Karachay-Cherkessia), E. (E.) temryukiensis sp. nov. (Russia: Krasnodarskiy Territory), and E. (E.) xanthopoda sp. nov. (Russia: Krasnodarskiy Territory). Empis (E.) albopilosa de Meijere, 1935 is recorded from the Caucasus for the first time.

A new Mylabris species from south-eastern Iran and a key to the Iranian species of the nominate subgenus (Coleoptera, Meloidae)

A new species of Mylabris of the nominate subgenus is described and figured. This species is apparently endemic to the south-eastern Iranian province of Kerman and seems to be phenetically very distinct from all other species of this subgenus, primarily because of the unique elytral pattern. A key to the species of the nominate subgenus distributed in Iran is also presented.

The oribatid mite genus \textit{Ceratorchestes} (Acari, Oribatida, Peloppiidae)

The neotropical oribatid mite genus Ceratorchestes comprises four species. A new subgenus, Ceratorchestes (Paraceratorchestes) n. subgen., is proposed. It is distinguishable from the nominate subgenus, Ceratorchestes (Ceratorchestes), by the length of the epimeres III + IV and the localization of setae on epimere IV. A new species, Ceratorchestes (Paraceratorchestes) variabilis n. sp., is described and illustrated. The morphology of the gnathosoma and legs is presentedand represents the first such data for a member of this genus. An identification key to all known species of Ceratorchestes is given.

Three new species of the Homoneura (Homoneura) henanensis species group (Diptera, Lauxaniidae), with a key to Chinese species

The following three species of the nominal subgenus of Homoneura van der Wulp from China are described as new to science:H. (H.) beijingensis sp. nov. H. (H.) caoi sp. nov. and H. (H.) kuankuoshuiensis sp. nov. A key to the species of the H. (H.) henanensis species group from China is presented.

Diversity of the Schizophoria lineage (Brachiopoda: Orthida) in the Lower and Middle Devonian of Poland and adjacent areas

The nominative subgenus of Schizophoria (Brachiopoda, Orthida) is represented in the Lower and Middle Devonian of Poland and of the western Ukraine by six taxa: late Emsian Schizophoria (S.) interstrialis, late Eifelian S. (S.) schnuri biscissa, early Givetian S. (S.) schnuri schnuri, middle to late Givetian S. (S.) schnuri prohibita ssp.n., middle Givetian S. (S.) parvaepunctata and late Givetian S. (S.) sp.n. (unnamed for lack of sufficient material). Morphotypes referable to S. (S.) schnuri biscissa and to S. (S.) schnuri junkerbergiana co-occur in the same outcrop (not necessarily in the same levels), wherefore the separation of these subspecies may be maintained only if they are considered as chronosubspecies (unverifiable on the studied material) but not as geographic variants (hypothesis falsified by the studied material). A lectotype for S. (S.) interstrialis and a neotype for S. (S.) parvaepunctata are selected. Punctae diameter and density (either an important systematic character according to some authors or devoid of such value according to other ones) were investigated: they show important within-individual and within-sample variation, wherefore they cannot serve to distinguish related species. On the contrary, punctae character combinations are sufficiently constant to help differentiate subgenera or groups of species. In the studied material, three clusters are distinguished on the basis of the punctae characteristics: S. (Pachyschizophoria) and S. (S.) parvaepunctata differ between each other and from all other investigated species of S. (Schizophoria); the latter are indistinguishable on the sole basis of punctae characteristics.

Badister Clairville, 1806: A new species and new continental record for the nominate subgenus in Amazonian Perú (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Licinini)

Badister (Badister) amazonus sp. n. is described from Perú, Loreto, 1.0 km SW Boca del Rio Samiria, Vigilante Post 1, 130m, “04°40.5'S, 074°18.9'W" its type locality. It is known also from two other localities in Loreto Department, Perú, in both the Varzea and Igapó river systems. This new species is sufficiently different that a new informal higher taxon, the amazonus species complex, is recognized. An updated key to the Western Hemisphere species of subgenus Badister is provided.

The first fossil record of endemic murid rodents from the Philippines: A late Pleistocene cave fauna from northern Luzon

Excavations in Callao Cave, in the lowland (ca. 85 m elevation) Cagayan River Valley of northeastern Luzon, Philippines, have produced the first fossils of any endemic genera of Philippine murid rodents. Three dentaries dated to the Late Pleistocene, between ca. 50,000 and 68,000 BP, are referred to the genera Batomys and Apomys; the former is a member of the endemic “Phloeomys Division” of Philippine murids, and the latter of the “Chrotomys Division,” also endemic to the Philippines. Batomys is currently known from five extant species from Luzon, Mindanao, and Dinagat islands; the two species known from Luzon differ in size and dental and mandibular morphology from the two fossil mandibles, and both occur only at elevations above 1350 m. Apomys is currently known from two subgenera on Luzon; the fossil is a member of the nominate subgenus, which contains two species on Luzon, one of which, Apomys microdon, is conspecific with one fossil. We hypothesize that the Batomys fossils represent a different species from the living taxa, but we do not name it due to the fragmentary nature of the specimens. These Apomys and Batomys represent the first fossil small mammals from the main body of the Philippine archipelago (east of Huxley's Line), and the Batomys are the first suspected extinct Pleistocene small mammal from the Philippines. The fossils indicate greater species richness and broader distributions than at present within this distinctive and diverse endemic radiation of mammals.

New taxa, new synonymies and new host records in the louse genus Halipeurus (Insecta: Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) parasitic on petrels (Aves: Procellariiformes)

I describe and illustrate five new species of chewing lice in the genus Halipeurus, parasitic on petrels from the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans. They are: Halipeurus confusus n. sp. from Pterodroma nigripennis; H. pricei n. sp. from Pterodroma brevipes and Pt. leucoptera; H. atlanticus n. sp. from Pterodroma cahow and Pt. madeira; H. pelagodromae n. sp. from five subspecies of Pelagodroma marina; and H. vincesmithi n. sp. from Oceanodroma matsudairae. I discuss the morphological similarities of the currently recognised subgenera of Halipeurus and propose to synonymise them—Synnautes Thompson, 1936 and Anamias Timmermann, 1965—under the nominate subgenus. I propose two new synonymies at species level: Halipeurus sawadai Nakagawa, 1959 and Halipeurus angusticeps fosteri Edwards, 1961 both as junior synonyms of Halipeurus angusticeps (Piaget, 1880). Also, I propose to merge H. subclavus Timmermann, 1961 and Halipeurus spadix Timmermann, 1961 as subspecies of H. spadix. I report several new host-louse records for other Halipeurus species, and present additional information and illustrations for H. raphanus Timmermann, 1961, H. fallacis Timmermann, 1960, H. nesofregettae Timmermann, 1961 and H. spadix subclavus Timmermann, 1961 based on their type material and other specimens. Lectotypes of Lipeurus pelagicus Denny, 1842 and Lipeurus languidus Kellogg & Kuwana, 1902 are designated.

Combined molecular and morphological phylogeny of Eulophidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea), with focus on the subfamily Entedoninae.

A new combined molecular and morphological phylogeny of the Eulophidae is presented with special reference to the subfamily Entedoninae. We examined 28S D2-D5 and CO1 gene regions with parsimony and partitioned Bayesian analyses, and examined the impact of a small set of historically recognized morphological characters on combined analyses. Eulophidae was strongly supported as monophyletic only after exclusion of the enigmatic genus Trisecodes. The subfamilies Eulophinae, Entiinae (=Euderinae) and Tetrastichinae were consistently supported as monophyletic, but Entedoninae was monophyletic only in combined analyses. Six contiguous bases in the 3e' subregion of the 28S D2 rDNA contributed to placement of nominal subgenus of Closterocerus outside Entedoninae. In all cases, Euderomphalini was excluded from Entiinae, and we suggest that it be retained in Entedoninae. Opheliminae n. stat. is raised from tribe to subfamily status. Trisecodes is removed from Entedoninae but retained as incertae sedis in Eulophidae until its family placement can be determined new placement. The genera Neochrysocharisstat. rev. and Asecodesstat. rev. are removed from synonymy with Closterocerus because strong molecular differences corroborate their morphological differences. Closterocerus (Achrysocharis) germanicus is transferred to the genus Chrysonotomyian. comb. based on molecular and morphological characters.

Systematic revision of the genus Cerocoma Geoffroy, 1762 (Coleoptera: Meloidae: Cerocomini)

The taxonomy of the Palaearctic genus Cerocoma is revised using a classical morphological approach. A catalogue to species with current synonyms, type information and repositories is provided as well as diagnostic keys to species (male and female) and subspecies (only male), illustrations of male dimorphic and diagnostic characters and detailed distribution data, including literature and collection records. The biology of Cerocoma is summarised, based on available literature and original field observations. Three new species are described and figured: Cerocoma confusa sp.n. (= C. syriaca Auctorum), C. longiseta sp.n. and C. martae sp.n. New status is assessed for two taxa: C. latreillei sterbai stat.n. and C. marginiventris stat.n. New synonymies are proposed as follows: C. syriaca Abeille de Perrin, 1880 = C. barthelemyi Baudi, 1878 syn. nov.; C. latreillei schah Kaszab, 1968 = C. latreillei sterbai Mařan, 1944 syn. nov.; C. scovitzi mirabilis Dvořák, 1993 = C. scovitzi intermedia Mařan, 1944 syn. nov. Adult morphological characters and molecular datasets (nuclear ITS2 and mitochondrial 16S) are used, separately and combined, to carry out the first attempt to elucidate the Cerocoma phylogeny, using Maximum Parsimony and Bayesian Inference. The resulted phylogeny supports the arrangement of Cerocoma into five subgenera: Cerocomina, Mesocerocoma and Metacerocoma as previously defined; the nominate subgenus, restricted to the species group of C. schaefferi Linnaeus, 1758; and Meloides Piller & Mitterpacher, 1783, recently resurrected on morphological data only.

Revision of the Afrotropical Mylabrine GenusLydocerasMarseul, 1870 (Coleoptera: Meloidae)

The blister beetle genus Lydoceras Marseul, 1870, tribe Mylabrini, is revised. Its four species are redescribed and figured. Faunistic and ecological records of each species also are summarized. Results of a morphology-based cladistic analysis show Lydoceras lictor (Gerstacker, 1885) and L. fasciatus (Fabricius, 1775) as most closely related. These two species and L. flavosellatus (Fairmaire, 1887) are placed in the nominate subgenus. The group occurs in eastern Africa and western Arabian Peninsula. The highly distinctive L. stanleyanus (Duvivier, 1890), endemic to central Africa, is placed in the resurrected subgenus Denierus Pic.

Five new species and a new subgenus of the mite genus Premicrodispus (Acari, Heterostigmata, Microdispidae) from Turkmenistan

A new monotypic subgenus, Premicrodispulus subgen. n., with the type species Premicrodispus reductus sp. n., and four new species of the nominative subgenus of the mite genus Premicrodispus, P. (Premicrodispus) paradoxus sp. n., P. (P.) heterocaudatus sp. n., P. (P.) obtusisetosus sp. n., and P. (P.) incisus sp. n., collected in soils of Turkmenistan are described. The subgenus Premicrodispulus subgen. n. differs from the nominative subgenus in the presence of 3 setae on genu I (seta l″ absent) and 1 seta on genu II (setae d and l″ absent). Premicrodispus (Premicrodispus) paradoxus sp. n. differs from all the species of the genus in the presence of solenidion on tarsus III. P. (P.) heterocaudatus sp. n. is most similar to P. longisetosus (Mahunka, 1970), but differs in the setae ps3 distinctly longer than ps1 (in P. longisetosus, ps3 and ps1 are similar in length). P. (P.) obtusisetosus sp. n. is most similar to P. montanus Khaustov, 2006, but differs in obtuse setae c1, e, and f (in P. montanus, these setae are pointed); P. (P.) incisus sp. n. is most closely related to P. longisetosus (Mahunka, 1970), but differs in the presence of distinct excavations on the posterior margin of tergites C and D (in P. longisetosus, excavations are absent).

<p class="HeadingRunIn"><strong>A new species of <em>Pedicia </em>s.str.<em> </em>(Diptera: Pediciidae) from the North Caucasus, Russia</strong></p>

A new species, Pedicia (Pedicia) savtshenkoi, is described from Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Russia. This species of nominative subgenus Pedicia is discovered for the first time in the Caucasus. A key to males of West Palaearctic species of Pedicia (Pedicia) is presented.

The taxonomic status of some Atlanto-Mediterranean species in the subgenusHolothuria(Echinodermata: Holothuroidea: Holothuriidae) based on molecular evidence

Molecular and morphological data were used to evaluate the taxonomic status of the species Holothuria tubulosa Gmelin, 1790, Holothuria stellati Delle Chiaje, 1823, Holothuria mammata Grube, 1840, and Holothuria dakarensis Panning, 1939, belonging to the nominate subgenus Holothuria (Holothuria) (family Holothuriidae) from the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. A 16S rRNA marker distinguished three well-supported clades with clear genetic differentiation amongst them. The morphometric characters, although they reflected the clades, showed great variability, and some specimens from different clades overlapped. The morphological data and the literature suggest that the clades correspond to H. dakarensis (from Cape Verde Islands), H. mammata (from the AtlantoMediterranean area) and H. tubulosa (from the Mediterranean Sea). Holothuria stellati is considered here to be a junior subjective synonym of H. tubulosa. Great morphological intraspecific variation within H. tubulosa and H. mammata explains the confusion in the literature. Holothuria tubulosa includes specimens with distinctive ossicles, but others are similar to H. mammata. In these cases, the presence or absence of Cuvierian tubules proved a reliable indicator to the identity of these species; unfortunately this character is difficult to assess in preserved material. According to the results of discriminant analysis we propose a set of ossicle morphometric variables that permit the optimum assignation of individuals to the clades. Our results present a new perspective on the taxonomic status of species in Holothuria (Holothuria), and show how a molecular approach, combined with a morphological approach, can solve taxonomic problems.

Two new species of nocturnal bees of the genus Megalopta (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) with keys to species

Megalopta Smith, 1853, is a Neotropical genus of nocturnal or crepuscular bees. Two subgenera are recognized with most of its nearly 30 species placed in the nominate subgenus. Species of Megalopta s. str. are more commonly collected than species of Noctoraptor Engel et al. 1997, all presumably parasites of Megalopta s. str. Two new species of Megalopta are described here: M. (Megalopta) tetewana, n. sp., from Mexico and M. (Noctoraptor) huaoranii, n. sp., from Ecuador. Identification keys to the Central American species of Megalopta s. str. and the species of the parasitic subgenus Noctoraptor are presented.

Empoasca (Empoasca) paraparvipenis n. sp. and some new records of the subgenus from China (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae: Empoascini)

Empoasca (Empoasca) paraparvipenis Zhang and Liu n. sp. is described and illustrated from Guizhou, Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces (SW. China), and three species of the nominate subgenus are reported for the first time from China. A species checklist of the subgenus is also provided.

New records of Erythmelus (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) from the Neotropical region, with description of a new species from Argentina

Several new records of the fairyfly genus Erythmelus Enock (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) are reported from Argentina, Chile, and Guatemala, since the review by Triapitsyn et al. (2007). Erythmelus (Erythmelus) yuzhanin Triapitsyn sp. n., is described from Córdoba Province, Argentina. A key to the clavatus species group of the nominate subgenus is provided.

Taxonomy of European Damaeidae (Acari: Oribatida) I. Kunstidamaeus Miko, 2006, with comments on Damaeus sensu lato

The diagnosis of the genus Kunstidamaeus Miko, 2006 is given and a new generic concept within Damaeus sensu lato is proposed. Epidamaeus, Kunstidamaeus and Spatiodamaeus are given generic status, whereas Adamaeus, Paradamaeus and the nominal subgenus Damaeus s. stricto are considered to be subgenera of the genus Damaeus. The type species K. lengersdorfi (Willmann, 1932) including the immature stases is redescribed and its geographic distribution and ecology is discussed. The neotype of K. lengersdorfi is designated. Together with the type species, the genus Kunstidamaeus includes seven known European species: K. tenuipes (Michael, 1885), K. tecticola (Michael, 1888), K. nivalis (Kulczynski, 1902), K. nidicola (Willmann, 1936), K. diversipilis (Willmann, 1951), K. granulatus (Willmann, 1951), and K. longisetosus (Willmann, 1953).

A review of the Nearctic species of Erythmelus (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), with a key and new additions to the New World fauna

The 12 Nearctic species of the fairyfly genus Erythmelus Enock (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) are revised, and the described species in the Neotropical region are reviewed. A key to females of the 30 named, valid species of Erythmelus in the New World is provided. Erythmelus vladimir S. Triapitsyn & Fidalgo is transferred from subgenus E. (Parallelaptera) Enock to the nominate subgenus as E. (E.) vladimir comb. n. Erythmelus dentatus Ogloblin is synonymized under E. (E.) brachialis Ogloblin, E. empoascae Subba Rao is synonymized under E. (E.) flavovarius (Walker), E. flandersi Doutt is synonymized under E. (E.) picinus (Girault), E. gracilipes (Girault) and E. io (Girault) are synonymized under E. (E.) gracilis (Howard), and E. longicornis Dozier is synonymized under E. (E.) noeli (Dozier). A lectotype is designated for E. (E.) picinus. The following new species are described: E. (E.) burtik S. Triapitsyn (Canada), E. (E.) coviellai S. Triapitsyn (Argentina), E. (E.) fidalgoi S. Triapitsyn (Argentina), E. (E.) gak S. Triapitsyn (Chile), E. (E.) klopomor S. Triapitsyn (USA), E. (E.) logarzoi S. Triapitsyn (Argentina), E. (E.) mikrob S. Triapitsyn (Canada), E. (E.) mudrila S. Triapitsyn (Mexico and USA), E. (E.) podaypodnos S. Triapitsyn (Bolivia), and E. (E.) toreador S. Triapitsyn (Argentina). A synopsis of the included species is given, with emphasis on their distributional records and known host associations in the families Miridae and Tingidae (Hemiptera).

Molecular phylogeny of the genus Alticola (Cricetidae, Rodentia) as inferred from the sequence of the cytochrome b gene

Central Asian mountain voles Alticola is one of the least known groups of voles both in evolution and life history. This genus includes three subgenera Alticola s.str., Aschizomys and Platycranius, and belongs to the tribe Clethrionomyini comprising also red‐backed voles Clethrionomys and oriental voles Eothenomys. In order to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships within Alticola and to examine its position within the tribe, mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b) gene variation was estimated, and the results were compared with morphological and palaeontological data. Maximum likelihood (ML), neighbor‐joining (NJ), maximum parsimony (MP) and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses show that the genus Alticola does not appear to be a monophyletic group since the representatives of Aschizomys branch within Clethrionomys, whereas two other subgenera (Alticola and Platycranius) form a separate monophyletic clade. Flat‐headed vole Alticola (Platycranius) strelzowi is nested within the nominative subgenus showing close association with A. (Alticola) semicanus. Surprisingly, the two species of Aschizomys do not form a monophyletic group. The results of the relaxed‐clock analysis suggest that the Alticola clade splits from the Clethrionomys stem in early Middle Pliocene while basal cladogenetic events within Alticola s.str. dates back to the late Middle to early Late Pliocene. A scenario of evolution in Clethrionomyini is put forward implying rapid parallel morphological changes in different lineages leading to the formation of Alticola‐like biomorphs adapted to mountain and arid petrophilous habitats.Corresponding author: Vladimir S. Lebedev, Zoological Museum, Moscow State University, B. Nikitskaya 6, 125009 Moscow, Russia. E‐mail: wslebedev@hotmail.com Anna A. Bannikova, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Vorobievy Gory, 119992 Moscow, Russia. E‐mail: hylomys@mail.ru Alexey S. Tesakov, Geological Institute RAS, Pyzhevsky 7, 119017 Moscow, Russia. E‐mail: tesak@ginras.ru Natalia I. Abramson, Zoological Institute RAS, Universitetskaya nab. 1, 199034 St Petersburg, Russia. E‐mail: lemmus@zin.ru