Oriental Region Research Articles

Integrative taxonomy of a new Belciana species (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Dyopsinae) from northern Thailand

ABSTRACT A new species of the Oriental tropical genus Belciana Walker, 1862, Belciana jeremyi sp. n., is described from northern Thailand, Lampang Province. The new species is closely related to Belciana hemodi (Felder & Rogenhofer, 1874). Adults, male and female genitalia as well as multi-locus molecular data of the new and related species are presented. The genus Belciana most probably originated in the Oriental region during the Miocene and radiated in the late Miocene, about 11 Mya. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FF769B71-2F17-479A-939A-7AF0E74320BD

A new flightless genus of Thaumastodinae from Australia (Coleoptera: Limnichidae).

Austramastodus apterus gen. et sp. nov. from the Cape Range Peninsula, Australia (Western Australia) is described. This is the first Thaumastodinae recorded from continental Australia and the only terrestrial member of the subfamily not associated with any permanent aquatic habitat. It is probably closely related to Pseudeucinetus Heller, 1921, which is widespread in the Paleartic, Oriental and Australian regions. The new genus is apterous and characterized by the transverse head, widely separated eyes (space between them being larger than an eye diameter) and non-forwardly projecting frons. A key to all known genera of Thaumastodinae is provided.

2D approach to reconstruct the evolutionary history of clevelandellids (Ciliophora, Armophorea) inhabiting the hindgut of the Panesthiinae cockroaches

AbstractThe ciliate order Clevelandellida unites endosymbionts of the digestive tract of a variety of invertebrates and vertebrates. In the present study, the primary and secondary structures of nuclear and hydrogenosomal rRNA molecules were employed to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships and to estimate the divergence times of clevelandellids inhabiting the hindgut of the Panesthiinae cockroaches. The secondary structure information was incorporated in phylogenetic analyses using two different strategies, viz., indirectly through 2D‐guided alignments and directly through so‐called pseudo‐protein data. Nuclear and hydrogenosomal markers carried a consistent phylogenetic signal and robustly supported the monophyletic origin of the family Clevelandellidae as well as of its four genera. According to Bayesian relaxed molecular clock analyses, the last common ancestor (LCA) of the family Clevelandellidae very likely emerged during the Late Cretaceous in the Oriental region. Its descendants most likely expanded to Australia in concert with the Neogene colonization and radiation of their host Panesthiinae cockroaches. Taking into account the time‐calibrated phylogenies and the fact that early branching members of the order Clevelandellida inhabit the digestive tracts of amphibians, it is tempting to speculate that the LCA of the Clevelandellida evolved in ectothermic vertebrates. Amphibians could have brought clevelandellids to the land, where they may have been transmitted to the cockroach digestive tract upon feeding on amphibian faeces.

The East Indies reptile tick Amblyomma helvolum Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae), taxonomy, biology and new host records, including the first record of human infestation

Amblyomma helvolum is a widespread, generalist ectoparasite of reptiles in the oriental region, and has the potential to become highly invasive should it be inadvertently introduced outside its native range through the exotic pet trade. All life stages of A. helvolum are re-characterised morphologically and the first examples of nanism (dwarfism) and gynandromorphy (male and female tissue in one animal) for the species are described. Eighteen new hosts records are presented for A. helvolum, including the first case of human infestation. The taxonomy, distribution, ecology, phenology, disease associations, and invasion biology of the species are also discussed.

New faunistic and taxonomic data on oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) of Thailand

This study is based on oribatid mite materials collected from the vicinities of Phatthaya city and the Samet Island in Thailand; 18 species from 14 genera and 11 families are registered, of these, nine species are recorded from the Thai fauna for the first time. A new species of the genus Dolicheremaeus (Otocepheidae) – D. phatthayaensis sp. n. – is described. The supplementary description of Galumna paracalcicola Ermilov et Anichkin, 2014 is presented based on specimens from Thailand. Identification keys to the known representatives of the genera Dolicheremaeus from Thailand and Galumna from the Oriental region are presented. Galumna indica Hafeez Kardar, 1989 and G. striata Hafeez Kardar, 1989 are combined in the genus Setogalumna.

Phylogenetic relationships of a novel bat fly species infesting the geographically widespread Old World fruit bat, Rousettus leschenaultii, in Southern Asia.

The global epidemiological significance of bats and their blood-sucking ectoparasites is increasingly recognized. However, relevant data are scarce from Pakistan where the Palearctic and Oriental zoogeographic regions meet. In this study, 200 bats belonging to five species were examined for the presence of ectoparasites in Pakistan. Bat flies were found only on Leschenault's fruit bat (Rousettus leschenaultii). The prevalence of infestation did not correlate with habitat type and host traits including age, reproductive status, and sex. All bat flies represented the same Eucampsipoda species which was shown to be morphologically different from all species of its genus with known south Asian distribution and belonged to a separate phylogenetic group. These results highlight the existence of a hitherto undescribed bat fly species in southern Asia, which is not shared by the fruit bat species (R. leschenaultii) and insectivorous ones (e.g., Rhinopomamicrophyllum) thus probably playing a role only in intraspecific transmission of pathogens.

Two new erythraeid mites (Acari: Trombidiformes: Erythraeidae) from China: one based on larvae, another one based on larvae and adult

The erythraeid species can be assigned with larva or adult only, or both under current Erythraeidae taxonomy. The present study describes two new erythraeid species from Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau (Oriental region). Marantelophus neodubifurcatus sp. nov. is based on larvae that were off-host when collected, while Erythraeus (Zaracarus) mossesus sp. nov. is based on a female adult, which was preying on an ant when collected, and larvae which were her offspring. The genus Marantelophus is divided into two species groups based on the odontus with or without a subterminal tooth, and M. neodubifurcatus sp. nov. belongs to the group with the subterminal tooth. The larval members of the subgenus Erythraeus (Zaracarus) are divided into five species groups, and E. (Z.) mossesus sp. nov. belongs to the group with the characters such that AL without swelling near bases, and fn BFe = 2-2-2.

Four new Diptilomiopus mite species (Acari: Diptilomiopidae) from China

Four new eriophyoid mite species of the genus Diptilomiopus Nalepa (Acari: Diptilomiopidae) from China are described and illustrated. They are D. cotoneastrus sp. nov. on Cotoneaster acutifolius Turcz. (Rosaceae), D. clidemioidus sp. nov. on Boehmeria clidemioides var. diffusa (Wedd.) Hand.-Mazz. (Urticaceae), D. quinatus sp. nov. on Vitex quinata (Lour.) F.N.Williams (Lamiaceae), and D. macropodus sp. nov. on Daphniphyllum macropodum Miq. (Daphniphyllaceae). All new species are distributed in the Oriental Region of China. They are vagrants on the leaves causing no apparent symptom to their host plants. We further provided mitochondrial cox1 gene sequences for the four new species.

Distribution, Morphometrics and DNA barcoding of Archotermopsis wroughtoni Desneux (Termopsidae: Blattodea) in District Mansehra, Pakistan

Archotermopsis wroughtoni is a primitive termite species with distinct biological and behavioral features. Despite its presence in temperate regions worldwide, including the Oriental region, there is a lack of data on the current distribution of this species in the Mansehra district of Pakistan. Samples were collected from forested areas, including the Kaghan, Naran, Mahandri, and Shogran valleys. The distribution of A. wroughtoni was determined by observing decayed and fallen wooden logs, and host plants were identified to assess the species’ host preference. Morphometric identification was performed following relevant literature, and the barcoding technique of mtDNA COII was used to authenticate the species. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted using the neighbor-joining and maximum parsimony methods. The study revealed the presence of A. wroughtoni in the forests of northern Mansehra, where it preferred tree species such as Cedrus deodara and Pinus excelsa for nest construction and foraging. The findings of this research will contribute to future studies on the biology and ecology of A. wroughtoni and aid in developing conservation strategies for this species and other social insects.

A review of Asian species of the genus Platymetopus (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Harpalini).

Based on the examined material and literature data, the Asian fauna of the genus Platymetopus Dejean, 1829 includes four species endemic to the Oriental region and East Asia, and one subspecies of the Afrotropical P. figuratus Boheman, 1848 (P. f. pictus Andrewes, 1923) distributed both in Afrotropical East Africa and South Asia east to India and Sri Lanka. The endemic Asian species are: P. flavilabris (Fabricius, 1798), P. tritus Bates, 1889, P. rugosus (Nietner, 1857) and P. quadrimaculatus Dejean, 1829. Platymetopus flavilabris is treated as a polytypical species with four subspecies: P. f. flavilabris, P. f. thumbergi Quensel, 1806, P. f. laticeps Dejean, 1829, stat. n. and P. f. punctulatus (MacLeay, 1825). The distinctive characters, synonymy and distribution of all taxa are discussed. Platymetopus rugosus obscurofemoratus subsp. n. is described from Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. The following synonymy is proposed: P. flavilabris flavilabris = P. keiseri Louwerens, 1956, syn. n.; and P. f. punctulatus = P. subrugosus Schauberger, 1938, syn. n. A key to all species and subspecies of the genus known from Asia is provided. The taxonomic position of Platymetopus is discussed which probably represents a lateral branch descending from Selenophori-like ancestor independently of Harpali genus group.

A taxonomic re-assessment of the widespread oriental bumblebee Bombus flavescens (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Bombus flavescens Smith is one of the most widespread bumblebee species in the Oriental region. Due to colour polymorphisms, this species or species-complex has been a challenge for taxonomy. This study aims to assess the taxonomic status of the flavescens-complex using evidence from COI barcodes and morphology. We then reconstruct its biogeographic history from a phylogenetic analysis of populations across the current range, combining COI with 16S and nuclear PEPCK data. Despite a large range of polymorphisms across its distribution, the results show that B. flavescens is a single species based on algorithmic species delimitation methods, and it is clearly separated from its sister species, B. rotundiceps Friese. We suggest that B. flavescens diverged from its sister lineage in the Himalaya and dispersed into Southeast Asia in the Pleistocene. Conservation of the widespread B. flavescens will need to consider its several unique island populations.

First record of the genus Eulomalus (Coleoptera: Histeridae) from late Eocene Baltic amber

ABSTRACT We describe the first fossil species of the extant genus Eulomalus (Coleoptera: Histeridae: Dendrophilinae: Paromalini) from the Eocene Baltic amber. Eulomalus balticus sp. nov. has a flattened body shape typical for the Histeridae living under the bark of decaying trees. The newly described species is the only European representative of the genus, which is presently distributed chiefly in the Indomalayan realm. http://urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7D6209FE-5D98-4580-9CF6-E409CA27E536

New species of oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) with auriculate pteromorphs from Indonesia

The oribatid mite genera Carinogalumna (Galumnidae) and Neoribates (Parakalummidae) are recorded for the first time in Indonesia. Two new species—Carinogalumna widyastutiae sp. nov. and Neoribates (Neoribates) klarneri sp. nov.—are described from soil and litter in rubber and oil palm plantation systems on the island of Sumatra. An identification key to the 28 known species of Neoribates from the Oriental region is provided.

Resource deposit, characterization and energy saving potential of olive pomace as a promising aggregate for energy efficient earth bricks in eastern Morocco

The lack of data regarding olive pomace leads to problems of poor management of it. The objective of this research is to propose an innovative management approach within the framework of the circular economy to valorize the abundance of olive pomace in the eastern region of Morocco, particularly in the field of construction. To achieve our objective, a statistical study on the abundance of olive pomace in the Oriental region of Morocco was conducted, followed by the application of several methods to identify the raw material and characterize the composite materials. Initially, soil and olive pomace were identified through tests of particle size distribution, X-ray diffraction, and microstructural characterization using a scanning electron microscope. After identifying the raw materials, the thermo-mechanical properties of earth-based composites reinforced with different mass proportions of olive pomace (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40wt%) were determined. The experimental results highlighted that the physical properties of the raw material, such as the particle size of olive pomace, have an influence on reducing the thermal conductivity by 55.68% and increasing the compressive strength by 81.7% of the composites. The evaluation of the proposed approach was conducted through numerical fluid dynamics simulations to assess the efficiency of a bio-sourced hybrid wall. An improvement of 4.3 h in the time lag was observed by adding 40wt% olive pomace to a wall. By increasing the thickness of this layer to 9 cm, an additional improvement of 9 h was observed. Earth bricks made from olive residue are an environmentally-friendly thermal insulation material, in line with a circular economy approach.

Deflecting and routing nematicons via orientation programmable liquid crystal array.

By designing a liquid crystal cell with comb electrode structure, the alignment modulation of nematic liquid crystal in the cell can be realized after the electric field is applied. In different orientation regions, the incident laser beam can deflect at different angles. At the same time, by changing the incident angle of the laser beam, the reflection modulation of the laser beam on the interface of the liquid crystal molecular orientation change can be realized. Based on the above discussion, we then demonstrate the modulation of liquid crystal molecular orientation arrays on nematicon pairs. In different orientation regions of liquid crystal molecules, nematicon pairs can exhibit various combinations of deflections, and these deflection angles are modulable under external fields. Deflection and modulation of nematicon pairs have potential applications in optical routing and optical communication.

The First Record of Calvolia summersi (Mostafa, 1970) (Acari: Winterschmidtiidae) from the Oriental Region and a new record of host association with Xylocopa (Ctenoxylocopa) fenestrata (Fabricius, 1798) with a review on Xylocopa-mite associations in India

Mites have long been associated with bees, often showing a close relationship with particular taxa, probably due to a co-evolutionary process. The present study is the first confirmation on the occurrence of the mite species Calvolia summersi (Mostafa, 1970) in India and its association with Xylocopa fenestrata (Fabricius, 1798), a large carpenter bee species. The mite species was previously reported from Brazil in association with Zethus, a neotropical potter wasp genus. C. summersi is isolated and studied from different populations of X. fenestrata in Sagar Islands, West Bengal, the biggest island of mangrove Sundarban deltaic complex. A literature-based review of the Xylocopa-mite associations from India is provided herewith to understand the diversity and pattern of mite species on Xylocopa host selection in the country. Instigating a baseline study of Xylocopa-mite association is recommended to demark the status of dynamism for better conservation and protection.

Six new species of the leafhopper subgenus Pediopsoides (Pediopsoides) (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Eurymelinae, Macropsini) from China.

The nominate subgenus Pediopsoides (Pediopsoides) Matsumura, 1912 is widely distributed in the Oriental region but has high species diversity only in southern China. The present paper describes and illustrates six new species of Pediopsoides (Pediopsoides) namely, P. (P.) ailaoshanensis Li & Dai, sp. nov., P. (P.) quadrispinosus Li & Dai, sp. nov., P. (P.) flavus Li & Dai, sp. nov., and P. (P.) pianmaensis Li & Dai, sp. nov. all collected in Yunnan Province, southwestern China, P. (P.) maoershanensis Li & Dai, sp. nov., found in Guangxi Autonomous Region, southern China, and P. (P.) huangi Li & Dai sp. nov., from Taiwan, previously incorrectly recorded as a new name by Li & Dai, 2018 in Dai et al. 2018: 203 for P. (P.) femorata Huang & Viraktamath, 1993 (nec Pediopsisfemorata Hamilton, 1980). Two new junior synonyms of Sispocnis Anufriev, 1967 are proposed, i.e., Digitalis Liu & Zhang, 2002, syn. nov. and Neosispocnis Dmitriev, 2020, syn. nov.

The earliest fossil record of the extant rove beetle genus Phloeocharis from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber of northern Myanmar and its biogeographic implications (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Phloeocharinae)

Phloeocharis Mannerheim is the largest genus within the problematic rove beetle subfamily Phloeocharinae, with a single extinct and 44 recent species recorded from the Holarctic region. Until now, the oldest fossil record of Phloeocharis was known from Late Cretaceous (Turonian) amber from New Jersey, USA. Here we describe †Phloeocharis burmana n. sp. from mid-Cretaceous (Albian–Cenomanian) Kachin amber from northern Myanmar, as the earliest extinct species of this genus. Our finding also sheds light on the biogeography of Phloeocharis, since no recent or extinct species have so far been recorded from the Oriental Region. Furthermore, the discovery of †P. burmana n. sp. extends the Mesozoic diversity of the phloeocharine rove beetles both taxonomically and morphologically, particularly from Kachin amber.

Intrapuparial development and age estimation of Sarcophaga peregrina (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) for postmortem interval estimation

Sarcophaga peregrina Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) is a widely distributed species in the Palearctic, Oriental and Australian regions. Numerous studies and case reports have confirmed the value of this species in forensic investigations, but methods for estimating the age of the intrapuparial period of this species are lacking. In this study, S. peregrina pupae were sampled at 16 °C, 19 °C, 22 °C, 25 °C, 28 °C, 31 °C, and 34 °C. Morphological changes within the puparium were observed under a stereomicroscope. The results of the study showed that S. peregrina could complete its intrapuparial development at each of the seven tested constant temperatures. As the temperature increased, the average minimum duration of the intrapuparial period of S. peregrina decreased from 706.7 ± 28.1 h at 16 °C to 170.7 ± 4.6 h at 34 °C. The intrapuparial morphological changes of S. peregrina can be divided into 12 sub-stages. While some structures such as the compound eyes, mouthparts, antennae, thorax, legs, wings, and abdomen can be used individually to estimate intrapuparial age, we observed all these structures with local magnification photographs and classified the developmental process of these structures into 6–11 stages. The time range for the appearance of each sub-stage or structure was recorded in detail. The results of this study provide important basic data for estimating the minimum postmortem interval using the intrapuparial morphology of S. peregrina.

Gorczyciana sulawesica-a remarkable new plant bug genus and species(Heteroptera: Miridae: Cylapinae) from Indonesia.

Gorczyciana gen. nov., a new remarkable genus of the subfamily Cylapinae, tribe Fulviini, is described from Indonesia. The new species Gorczyciana sulawesica sp. nov. from Sulawesi is documented with photographic images, SEM micrographs of the selected body parts, and female genitalic structures. Identification key to the cylapine tribes and genera of the tribe Fulviini of the Oriental Region is also given.