Oriental Region Research Articles

A New Species of the Genus <i>Pogonus</i> Dejean (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae) from the North Malabar Region in South India

Tribe Pogonini of the carabid subfamily Trechinae is represented by a single genus Pogonus Dejean, 1821 with a single species Pogonus biroi Csiki, 1907 in the Oriental region. A new species, Pogonus malabrensis sp.nov., is described from the north Malabar region in south India with a key to the Oriental species of the genus.

AugmentA: Patient-specific augmented atrial model generation tool.

Digital twins of patients' hearts are a promising tool to assess arrhythmia vulnerability and to personalize therapy. However, the process of building personalized computational models can be challenging and requires a high level of human interaction. We propose a patient-specific Augmented Atria generation pipeline (AugmentA) as a highly automated framework which, starting from clinical geometrical data, provides ready-to-use atrial personalized computational models. AugmentA identifies and labels atrial orifices using only one reference point per atrium. If the user chooses to fit a statistical shape model to the input geometry, it is first rigidly aligned with the given mean shape before a non-rigid fitting procedure is applied. AugmentA automatically generates the fiber orientation and finds local conduction velocities by minimizing the error between the simulated and clinical local activation time (LAT) map. The pipeline was tested on a cohort of 29 patients on both segmented magnetic resonance images (MRI) and electroanatomical maps of the left atrium. Moreover, the pipeline was applied to a bi-atrial volumetric mesh derived from MRI. The pipeline robustly integrated fiber orientation and anatomical region annotations in 38.4±5.7s. In conclusion, AugmentA offers an automated and comprehensive pipeline delivering atrial digital twins from clinical data in procedural time.

BANGLADESH WILDLIFE: A CALL TO ARREST ITS DECLINATION THROUGH REMEDIAL POLICIES AND MANAGEMENT

Bangladesh, located between latitudes 20°34' to 26°38' north and longitudes 88°01' to 92°41' east, is the most densely populated country in the world with 1,252 people per one square kilometre; this is almost three times as dense as its neighbour, India (Ritchie, 2020), other than the island countries like Singapore, and others. So, Bangladesh is not likely to have a large array of wildlife, including both megafauna and macrofauna, and flora. However, because of its very zoo-geographic location in the Indo-Malayan realm of the Oriental Region (Cox, 2001), Bangladesh supports at least three major terrestrial habitats and similar number of aquatic environments. These have allowed the country to have astounding number of wildlife and plants, e.g., about 125 species of Mammals, 718 species of Birds, 2500 species of arthropods and 5700 species of vascular plants. However, it is not satisfied status because already lost few charismatic megafaunas such as, all three species of Asian rhinoceroses, water buffalo, swamp deer, two species of peafowls, swamp partridge, Bhadi Hans (white-winged duck, Khan, 1983a, 1983b, 2003), marsh crocodile, etc. Existing study posits that the country has already lost about 10% of its mammals, 3% birds and 4% of reptile species and an unknown number of amphibians, fishes, and invertebrates as well as plants. Another 14% of animal species are endangered (Khan, 2012). The same may very well be true for the plants.Currently the Forest Department, which has its own forestry policy from as early as 1979, has failed to develop such a policy for wildlife although it is trying to manage the wildlife of the country from the inception of Bangladesh in 1971.The department lacks in right workforce trained in wildlife with proper degree in relevant subjects. A few people that work there does not see progressions in their service carrier.The wildlife conservation policy followed round the world does not conform to the forestry policy of Bangladesh.So, Bangladesh must have a concrete wildlife and its sustainable management policy to conserve the wildlife wealth through creating a proper wildlife department to implement such a policy and save the wildlife from further killing or loss of wildlife through managerial failures or mismanagement.

Systematic study of the subgenus Aphantorhaphopsis of the genus Siphona in East Asia and the Oriental Region (Diptera: Tachinidae)

Nineteen species of the subgenus Aphantorhaphopsis Townsend, 1926 of the genus Siphona Meigen, 1803 from East Asia and the Oriental Region are revised. Of these, 14 species are classified into three species groups based mainly on the male postabdomen: the S. perispoliata group, the S. selecta group and the S. siphonoides group. Autapomorphies of each species group are defi ned and illustrated. Ten species are described as new: Siphona (Aphantorhaphopsis) apicisetosa sp. nov., S. (A.) coactilis sp. nov., S. (A.) curta sp. nov., S. (A.) curvata sp. nov., S. (A.) expleta sp. nov., S. (A.) hongkongensis sp. nov., S. (A.) kanmiyai sp. nov., S. (A.) matsumotoi sp. nov., S. (A.) nepalensis sp. nov., and S. (A.) seminigra sp. nov. A key is provided for the 19 East Asian and Oriental species.

First report of gynandromorph mayfly, Centroptella ghatensis Kluge, 2021, from India

In this contribution, we report a gynandromorph mayfly for the first time from India. The gynandromorph traits were visible in the subimaginal stage of the species Centroptella ghatensis Kluge, 2021 collected in the southern Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu. It is the second record of a gynandromorph mayfly from the family Baetidae in the Oriental Region.

Review of the tribe Ctenotillini (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) from Oriental and Palaearctic regions

Seven species in the genera Ctenotilla Bischoff, 1920, Cephalotilla Bischoff, 1920, Denistilla gen. n. (type species Mutilla pauli André, 1898), Lehritilla Lelej, 2005, and Williamstilla gen. n. (type species Ctenotilla guangdongensis Lelej, 1992) are reviewed and two new genera are described. New combinations are proposed for Cephalotilla porcella (Turner, 1911), comb. n., Denistilla pauli (André, 1898), comb. n., Lehritilla ianthis (Turner, 1911), comb. n., L. locascioi (Lelej, 2005), comb. n., and Williamstilla guangdongensis (Lelej, 1992), comb. n. The genus Cephalotilla is newly recorded from Oriental Region, the genus Pristomutilla Ashmead, 1903 is excluded from Oriental fauna. Denistilla pauli (André, 1898) is newly recorded from India. Keys to the seven species of one Palaearctic and four Oriental genera are provided.

The first record of the Far Eastern grass-carrying wasp Isodontia nigella (F. Smith, 1856) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae: Sphecinae) from the Crimea

Isodontia nigella (F. Smith, 1856) is native to the Eastern Palaearctic, Oriental region, and Australia. A sheaf of reed canes installed as a trap nest in the Crimea was occupied with 73 nests of this species in 2021. The nests contained one to eight cells separated by partitions made of packed fragments of grass stalks and blades; the closing plug was made of the same materials. In some cases, there was no visible partition between two subsequent cells. The prey consisted of three orthopteran species with the predomination of the tree cricket Oecanthus pellucens (Scopoli, 1763) amounted to 95.1% of the identified specimens; three to 15 victims were stored per cell. Sex ratio was strongly male-biased, about 1♀:4♂. The species had two generations per year. Prepupae of the second generation overwintered and imagines emerged in 2022: males on 12–19 June, females on 17 June–5 July. Melittobia acasta (Walker, 1839) and an unidentified bombyliid fly were recorded as parasitoids that damaged only three cells. The reproductive success of the wasp was 65.2%; most deaths of the progeny were for unknown causes. This is the first record of I. nigella in Europe, outside its native range. Isodontia nigella is the second invasive species of the genus in Europe after I. mexicana (de Saussure, 1867) and the fifth invasive species of the family Sphecidae in the Crimea.

Review of the genus Sparasion Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea: Sparasionidae) of the Oriental region with descriptions of new species from India

BackgroundThe genus Sparasion, endoparasitoids of Tettigoniidae, occur in the Nearctic, Palearctic, Afrotropical and Oriental regions. It is absent in the Neotropics and Australasia. Of the thirteen species found in the Oriental region only a single species is from India.ResultsTwo new species groups - Sparasion bilahari species group and Sparasion manavati species group - are proposed for species from the Oriental region. Thirty-six species are described and illustrated of which twenty-four are new: Sparasion albopilosellus Cameron, 1906 (Pakistan); S. bhairavi Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. bhupali Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. bihagi Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. bilahari Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. cellularis Strand, 1913 (Taiwan); S. coconcus Kozlov and Lê, 2000 (Vietnam); S. coeruleus Kieffer, 1905 (Sumatra); S. cullaris Kozlov and Lê, 2000 (Vietnam); S. darbari Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. deepaki Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. domes Kozlov and Lê, 2000 (Vietnam); S. elbakyanae Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. formosus Kieffer, 1910 (Taiwan); S. hindoli Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. kalyani Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. kanakangi Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. karivadana Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. lividus Johnson, Masner & Musetti, 2008 (Philippines); S. manavati Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. meghmalhari Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. micromerus Kozlov and Lê, 2000 (Vietnam); S. pahadi Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. philippinensis Kieffer, 1913 (Philippines); S. ratnangi Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. rupavati Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. salagami Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. shulini Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. sinensis Walker, 1852 (China); S. sivaranjini Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. syamalangi Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. todi Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. travancoricus Mani and Sharma, 1981 (India); S. vanaspati Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. visvambari Veenakumari, sp. n. (India) and S. zeelafi Veenakumari, sp. n. (India). Keys to Oriental species of Sparasion are furnished. Intrasexual colour morphs among females of Sparasion is reported. Lectotype is designated for Sparasion cellularis Strand.ConclusionsTwenty-four new species are added to the Indian fauna of Sparasion. Previously described species of Oriental Sparasion are redescribed and illustrated. Keys are furnished for all Oriental species.

Radiation of the microcaddisfly genus Orthotrichia (Trichoptera, Hydroptilidae) in Australia

Orthotrichia is the most species rich of the hydroptilid genera found in Australia, and is postulated to be a relatively recent arrival from the Oriental Region. The genus has an almost worldwide but patchy distribution, represented by close to 280 species among which the Australian fauna of 55 species represents around 20%. In an attempt to understand the radiation of the genus in Australia, this paper explores the morphology and biology of Australian species and discusses a number of contrasts with reports on the biology of congeners in the Northern Hemisphere. The possible significance of these differences in Australian representatives of the genus is suggested to have played a role in the ‘success’ of the genus in the region. The value of life history studies to our understanding of biodiversity and biogeography is emphasized.

New arboreal mite species of Oribatulidae and Oripodidae (Acari, Oribatida, Oripodoidea) from Vietnam

ABSTRACT Two new oribatid mite species—Phauloppia dilatata sp. nov. (Oribatulidae) and Pirnodus partiarus sp. nov. (Oripodidae)—are described, based on adults collected from tree branches of Haldina cordifolia in southern Vietnam. The genus Pirnodus is recorded for the first time in the Oriental region. The generic diagnoses for Phauloppia and Pirnodus are revised. The identification keys to the Oriental representatives of Phauloppia and the known representatives of Pirnodus are provided. Pseudopirnodus madegassus is transferred to Pirnodus; the initial placement of Pirnodus domrowi in Pirnodus is confirmed. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:298B44CE-C965-4B10-8B0F-A3CDB9BAFD57

Geometric Morphometric Analysis of Genus Chaetocnema (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticini) with Insights on Its Subgenera Classification and Morphological Diversity

In taxonomy, qualitative methods are commonly used to analyze morphological characters, which can lead to dramatic changes in higher taxa. Geometric morphometrics (GM) has proven to be useful for discriminating species in various taxonomy groups. However, the application of geometric morphometrics in supraspecies classification is relatively scarce. In this study, we tested the controversial two subgenera classification of Chaetocnema with geometric morphometrics; a total of 203 Chaetocnema species representing 50% of all known species from around the world were selected for the analysis. We analyzed the shape of the pronotum, elytron, head, aedeagus, and spermatheca. The results showed that the two traditional subgenera distinctly differed from each other; therefore, we propose using two subgenera arrangements to facilitate the understanding and taxonomy of the Chaetocnema species (especially in the Oriental, Palearctic, and Nearctic regions). Additionally, the morphological diversity of the abovementioned structures of Chaetocnema was analyzed, and it was found that the highest morphological diversity was in the spermatheca, which was greater than that in the aedeagus. Our research demonstrated that GM could be useful for detecting morphological delimitation of the supraspecies taxa. It also showed that GM methods are applicable to insects as small as 2 mm in body size.

Host associations of the Asian monitor lizard tick Amblyomma varanense (Supino, 1897) (Ixodida: Ixodidae), with a new host record from the Philippines

Amblyomma varanense (Supino) (Ixodida: Ixodidae) is a reptile-associated bont tick native to the Oriental and Australasian zoogeographic regions. This species is primarily ectoparasitic on monitor lizards (Varanidae) and snakes but has been reported to occasionally occur on turtles and mammals. Prior to the research described here, only one collection of A. varanense had been reported from the Philippines. Herein, we present a second Philippines collection of A. varanense as well as updated host records across this tick’s geographic range and an overview of associated microbes with zoonotic potential.

Ordovician chitinozoans and review on basin stratigraphy, biostratigraphy and paleobiogeography of northern Argentina along the Proto-Andean margin

Ordovician strata exposed across the Cordillera Oriental and the Sierras Subandinas in northwestern Argentina were part of a large retroarc foreland basin developed along the Proto-Andean margin within the Central Andes in South America. A revised chitinozoan biostratigraphy along and across-strike for the Tremadocian, Floian, Dapingian, Katian and Hirnantian stages, calibrated with other fossil groups in the basin, allow pinpointing the most characteristic events that affected the basin fill testing global versus local controls in accommodation, and suggesting comparisons with other peri-Gondwanan records. According to the chitinozoan data, the glacially-related Ordovician deposits in northwestern Argentina are restricted to the Hirnantian, and unconformably overlie late Katian deposits. In the Caspalá area (Cordillera Oriental), an interval with synsedimentary deformation and reworked chitinozoans correlate with glacially-related deposits in other sites of the eastern part of the basin (Río Capillas and Mecoyita areas). A glacial waning stage is determined by a thin interval of organic‐rich black shales with sparse dropstones at the top of the Zapla Formation, containing Spinachitina oulebsiri associated with Desmochitina gr. minor, which together are typical latest Hirnantian components in other regions of Gondwana. Our study strengthens the foreland systems tract for the Ordovician Central Andean Basin with a volcanically fed interarc and foredeep depozone to the west (Puna region); a lower-accommodation forebulge depozone in the central area (mostly the Cordillera Oriental region); and a backbulge depozone (Sierras Subandinas and Sierras de Santa Bárbara) extending as far as the eastern Paraná Basin (reaching Paraguay and Brazil). Contemporaneous unconformities driven by global sea-level fluctuations were amplified or reduced due to deepening-narrowing or widening-shallowing, allowing contrasted accommodation, respectively associated to loading and relaxation. Ordovician chitinozoans from the Central Andean Basin indicate Northern, Western and peri-Gondwanan affinities, although locally some more cosmopolitan species described in Baltica, Avalonia and South China, are also recorded.

Ostracods from the Kunming area of SW China, with description of two new species and male records of Cypridopsis vidua (O.F. Mller, 1776).

Previous studies of the Recent non-marine ostracods of Yunnan Province in southwestern China yielded 42 species, among which only 18 species were reported based on living material. Such a low number is likely to underestimate the species diversity of ostracods in Yunnan, considering the geographical disparity among its different parts. In this study, we report 11 nominal species and one species left in open nomenclature from 22 samples collected from the Kunming area in eastern-central part of Yunnan. Among these species, seven are new to the province, including Notodromas semiovata n. sp., Chrissia acuminata n. sp., and the first records of the male of Cypridopsis vidua (O.F. Mller, 1776) outside the USA. A review of previous literature indicates that, with the exception of the two new species, all the other 23 species have Palaearctic (PA) distributions, while only 14 have Oriental (OL) distributions. Such a composition contradicts previous vertebrate-based zoogeographical subdivisions of China in which Yunnan was included in the OL region, and adds to the argument that the geographical distributions of various invertebrate groups need to be investigated to map the PAOL boundary in China more appropriately.

Redescription and new record of Paracapillaria (Ophidiocapillaria) najae (Nematoda: Trichuroidea) in the monocled cobra Naja kaouthia from central Thailand: morphological and molecular insights.

The parasitic nematode Paracapillaria (Ophidiocapillaria) najae De, 1998, found in the Indian cobra Naja naja is redescribed and re-illustrated in the present study. The monocled cobra Naja kaouthia was discovered to be a new host for this parasite in central Thailand. A comprehensive description extending the morphological and molecular characteristics of the parasites is provided to aid species recognition in future studies. The morphometric characters of 41 parasites collected from 5 cobra specimens are compared with those described in the original studies. Phylogenetic analyses using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 and nuclear 18S ribosomal RNA genes were performed to provide novel information on the systematics of P. najae. Similar characteristics were observed in the examined nematode samples, despite being found in different hosts, confirming their identity as P. najae. The molecular genetic results support the species status of P. najae, indicating P. najae is well defined and separated from other related nematode species in the family Capillariidae. Morphological descriptions, genetic sequences, evolutionary relationships among capillariids and new host and distribution records of P. najae are discussed. Paracapillaria najae specimens found in the Thai cobra had some morphological variation, and sexual size dimorphism was also indicated. Paracapillaria najae was found to infect various cobra host species and appeared to be common throughout the Oriental regions, consistent with its hosts' distribution.

A New Species of Megastigmus and First Record of the Genus and Megastigmidae Family from the Paradise of the Maldives Archipelago.

Megastigmidae comprises more than 200 species in 12 genera. Megastigmus has a worldwide distribution with more than 150 species. Over 80% of these species are recorded from the Australian and Palearctic region, with a few from Afrotropical and Oriental regions, but none from the Neotropical region. We describe a new species of Megastigmus obtained from the seeds of Pemphis acidula in the Maldives Archipelago. This is the first mention of Megastigmidae having as a host plant a species from Lythraceae. It is also the first recorded association of Chalcidoidea with the genus Pemphis and the first mention of Megastigmidae and Megastigmus in the Maldives Archipelago. We provide a detailed description of the species, focusing on its morphology, using both light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Megastigmus irinae Popescu n. sp. is a strictly phytophagous species, with each larva consuming a single seed. Currently, M. irinae is an endemic species found only in the Maldives Archipelago. However, considering the distribution of its host plant, P. acidula, which ranges from East Africa to Southeast Asia, Australia, Micronesia, and French Polynesia, we anticipate that future research could significantly expand the known range of this interesting new species.

Four New Caddisfly Species of Marilia Müller, 1880 (Trichoptera: Odontoceridae) from a Tailings Dam Disaster Area, Rio Doce basin, Brazil

Marilia is the most diverse genus of the caddisfly family Odontoceridae, being distributed throughout the Oriental, Australasian and Neotropical regions. Herein, we describe four new Neotropical species from the Atlantic Forest, Rio Doce basin, Brazil. This basin was partly affected by a flood of 50 million m3 of mud and mining debris in 2015. Due to this disaster, numerous monitoring activities have been carried out to assess the impact generated. Material from one of these attempts was used to describe the new species: Marilia aranan sp. nov., Marilia krenak sp. nov., M. maxakali sp. nov. and M. mukurin sp. nov. Additionally, we provide a new state record of M. guaira from Minas Gerais. Marilia aranan sp. nov. was collected in tributaries as well as in the impacted area 7 years after the disaster. Marilia guaira and M. krenak sp. nov. were collected only in the impacted area. The other species were found only in tributaries. Odontoceridae are considered highly sensitive to disturbance. The presence of Marilia species suggests that parts of the riverbed have recovered from the fine tailing sediments and also highlights the importance of tributaries in the recolonization process.

A new mayfly of Heptageniidae (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) in mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber, northern Myanmar

Heptageniidae (Ephemeroptera) is found in various biogeographical realms such as the Holarctic, Afrotropical, and Oriental regions, and is considered to be relatively species-rich. However, the family's fossil records are sparse. In this paper, a new genus and species of Heptageniidae, Burmaheptagenia zhouchangfai gen. et sp. nov., is introduced based on a male imago that was found in mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber. The distinguishing features of Burmaheptagenia zhouchangfai gen. et sp. nov. include a mesothoracic furcasternum with a convergent anterior medial depression, a prosternum that is rounded and lacks transverse or longitudinal ridges, a 4-segmented hindtarsus, and the presence of penes with lateral sclerites. This new mayfly displays morphological traits of both Rhithrogeninae and Ecdyonurinae and might be a stem group of the two subfamilies.

A new genus in the braconid subfamily Miracinae from the Oriental region, with descriptions of seven new species from India and Sri Lanka.

A new genus in the braconid subfamily Miracinae is described from the Oriental region including a new species from south India. Additionally, six new species of the genus Centistidea Rohwer is described from India and Sri Lanka. Taxonomic keys to separate the new genus from other miracine genera, to the extant species of Rugosimirax gen. nov. and to the Oriental species of Centistidea are provided.

New species of Serpinema (Nematoda: Camallanidae) from the scorpion mud turtle Kinosternon scorpioides (Testudines: Kinosternidae) from eastern Amazon, Brazil

The genus Serpinema Yeh, 1960 allocates parasitic nematodes of freshwater turtles distributed across the Oriental, Neotropical, and Palearctic regions. Five of 10 valid species of the genus Serpinema occur in the Neotropical region, and three have been recorded parasitizing Kinosternon scorpioides Linnaeus, 1766. In the present work, we describe a new species of Serpinema, a gastrointestinal parasite of K. scorpioides from the Brazilian Amazon, using light and scanning electron microscopy. Serpinema pelliculatus n. sp. differs from other species of the genus by the number and distribution of caudal papillae and spicule morphology. The new species is the seventh recorded for the Neotropical region.