Palaearctic Research Articles

Diversity of hirudin and hirudin-like factor genes in the North-African medicinal leech, Hirudo troctina.

Medicinal leeches of the genus Hirudo inhabit large areas of the Palaearctic realm. The distribution range of Hirudo troctina includes the southern Iberian peninsula and the northwestern regions of Africa. H. troctina is used for medical purposes, but only very little is known about the components of its salivary gland secretion. Hirudins, bivalent inhibitors of thrombin, are probably the best known leech-derived bioactive factors. Hirudin-like factors (HLFs) represent another class of salivary gland components that share characteristic genetic and structural markers with hirudins. Hirudin is not a single entity but exists in at least four different variants. However, there are differences among the European members of the genus Hirudo with respect to the actual number of hirudin and HLF genes that are present within their genomes. Here, we describe the identification and molecular cloning of 11 genes that encode for putative hirudin and HLF variants in H. troctina. Three of the genes consist of exons and introns that originate from different "archetype" genes and are likely the result of recombination events. The diversity of hirudin and HLF genes in H. troctina surpasses that of all other European members of the genus Hirudo. The putative hirudin variants and representatives of the HLFs of H. troctina were expressed as recombinant proteins, purified and functionally characterized for their thrombin-inhibiting potencies. Phylogenetic analyses based on hirudin and HLF gene sequences of the leech genera Hirudo, Hirudinaria, and Whitmania supported the hypothesis that hirudins and HLFs diverged early in leech evolution.

Two new species of Parascatopse Cook, 1955 (Diptera: Scatopsidae) from China, with a key to species in the Palearctic and Oriental Regions

Two new species of the genus Parascatopse are reported from China: P. rotunda sp. nov. and P. concava sp. nov.. A key to the species of Parascatopse in the Palearctic and Oriental Regions is also provided.

Phylogenomic analyses of hamsters (Cricetinae) inferred from GBS data and mitochondrial genomes.

Accurate species delimitation and identification is crucial for species conservation, providing a foundation for studies on evolutionary biology, ecology, and essentially all biological disciplines. The subfamily Cricetinae (Cricetidae, Rodentia), known as hamsters, is widely distributed in the Palearctic region. At present, there are nine genera and 18 species of hamsters are recognized worldwide, although the taxonomic status of certain taxa remains unclear. In this study, we collected 146 hamster specimens representing 14 species and generated new mitochondrial genomes and nuclear genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to explore their relationships among these hamsters using multiple species delimitation approaches. Results showed: (1) strong phylogenetic support for the classification of Urocricetus, Nothocricetulus, and Cansumys as separate genera; (2) Urocricetus contained two separate species, U. kamensis and U. lama, with U. alticola and U. tibetanus considered synonyms of U. lama; (3) U. kamensis and U. lama are separated by the Nujiang River, with the matching divergence time suggesting that the formation of the river was the primary evolutionary factor driving the species differentiation, and (4) genetic differentiation occurred within the Tscherskia genus, which included two cryptic species.

Review of the genus Anthobium Leach, 1819 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Omaliinae) of Western Palaearctic region

Taxonomic and faunistic data for seven species of the atrocephalum and two species of the fusculum groups of the genus Anthobium Leach, 1819 of the Western Palaearctic region are presented. Three species are redescribed and illustrated: North African A. longicorne (Fauvel, 1886), Iberian A. moczarskii (Scheerpeltz, 1961) and Caucasian A. tenue (Eppelsheim, 1881). Five new synonymies are proposed: A. atrocephalum (Gyllenhal, 1827) = Lathrimaeum gracilicorne Luze, 1905 syn. n., = L. abantense Fagel, 1968 syn. n., = L. urgelense Fagel, 1968 syn. n., A. melanocephalum (Illiger, 1794) = L. hamatum Luze, 1905 syn. n., and A. unicolor (Marsham, 1802) = L. deinekini Roubal, 1913 syn. n. Lectotypes for Lathrimaeum deinekini Roubal, 1913, L. longicorne Fauvel, 1886 and L. tenue Eppelsheim, 1881 are designated. The habitus and aedeagi of A. atrocephalum, A. ganglbaueri (Luze, 1905), A. metallicum (Luze, 1905) and A. unicolor are provided. Aedeagi of A. longicorne, A. metallicum and A. moczarskii are illustrated for the first time. A key of Western Palaearctic species of Anthobium is presented. Distributional maps of all redescribed species are given. Several species are recorded for the first time: A. atrocephalum from Morocco, Azerbaijan and Iran, A. melanocephalum from Azerbaijan, A. moczarskii from Portugal, A. tenue from Russia, and A. unicolor and A. ganglbaueri (Luze, 1905) from Georgia.

Ancistrocerus shibuyai (Yasumatsu, 1938), stat. restit. (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae), an overlooked trans-Palaearctic species

Ancistrocerus shibuyai (Yasumatsu, 1938), stat. restit. was hitherto considered a subspecies of A. trifasciatus (Müller, 1776) distributed in Russia (Eastern Siberia, Far East), Mongolia, China (North-East), Korean Peninsula, and Japan, while A. trifasciatus trifasciatus was known to have a nearly trans-Palaearctic distribution. Due to minor but distinct morphological differences between A. shibuyai and A. trifasciatus, the former one is hereby recognized as a separate species. Based on the extensive material examined, A. shibuyai is shown to be widely distributed in the boreal zone of the Palaearctic region; particularly, the species is recorded for the first time from Austria, Ukraine, European part of Russia, Urals, Western Siberia, and Kazakhstan. Ancistrocerus trifasciatus var. moeschleri Blüthgen, 1938, syn. nov. and A. balticus Budrys & Orlovskytė, 2023, syn. nov. are synonymized with A. shibuyai. Distribution and biology of both A. shibuyai and A. trifasciatus are briefly discussed. A lectotype is designated for Odynerus trifasciatus orientalis Kostylev, 1938.

First discovery of snow scorpionflies (Mecoptera: Boreidae) from China

Snow scorpionflies are notable for their unusual activity during the cold winter months as adults. Although widely distributed in boreal or high-altitude areas of the Palearctic and Nearctic Regions, their presence in China has not been documented until now. This paper reports the first discovery of three species of snow scorpionflies, Boreus altaicus Nikolajev, 2015, B. beybienkoi Tarbinsky, 1962, and B. transiliensis Nikolajev, 1998 from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwestern China, and provides new insights into their morphology and biology. These discoveries increase the number of known Mecoptera families in China from three to four.

Genome-Wide Development and Characterization of Microsatellite Markers in the Great Web-Spinning Sawfly Acantholyda posticalis.

The great web-spinning sawfly Acantholyda posticalis is notorious for damaging Pinus forests across the Palearctic region. At present, uncertainties persist regarding its intraspecies variation and presumed subspecies. To use as tools for future studies, herein we developed genome-wide microsatellite markers for A. posticalis. Through searching, rigorous manual screening, and amplification trial, 56 microsatellite markers were obtained from the genome sequences. We characterized these markers across two populations from Shandong province (SD) and Heilongjiang province (HLJ) in China, and carried out cross-amplification in three related species. Out of the 56 markers tested, 10, 31, and 15 were categorized into high, moderate, and low polymorphic levels, respectively, based on their polymorphic information content (PIC) values. Meanwhile, 28, 19, and 4 microsatellite loci were successfully cross-amplified in Cephalcia yanqingensis, C. chuxiongica, and C. infumata, respectively, which could serve as potential molecular markers for their further studies. STRUCTURE and PCoA analyses revealed two distinct clusters corresponding to SD and HLJ, respectively, indicating a high resolution of these markers. Therefore，the 56 microsatellite markers identified here have the potential to serve as efficient tools for unraveling intraspecies variation and evolutionary history of A. posticalis.

Anthomyza gilviventris in Palaearctic Region: integrative taxonomy, variability and habitat associations of North European population (Diptera: Anthomyzidae)

Anthomyza gilviventris Roháček & Barber, 2016, hitherto known only from the Nearctic Region, is recorded from the Palaearctic Region (NE Sweden) for the first time. Specimens from the Swedish population have been compared with those of A. gilviventris from Canada and the USA and those of A. tschirnhausi Roháček, 2009 from the Kamchatka Peninsula (Far East of Russia). Both morphological and molecular analyses (BI and RAxML, based on seven DNA markers: 12S, 16S, 28S, COI, COII, CytB, ITS2) confirmed that the Swedish specimens belong to A. gilviventris. Because no specimen of A. tschirnhausi has been available for molecular study, the most diagnostic morphological characters used for separation of this species from A. gilviventris have been re-evaluated with respect to Swedish specimens, and their variability discussed. However, these differences, although stable, are relatively small and, consequently, the possibility that they fall within the limits of a single variable species has not been entirely eliminated. New biological information (habitat and host-plant associations) on the Swedish population of A. gilviventris is presented.

Review of Hygrogeus Mulsant & Rey, 1880 and Trichodromeus Luze, 1903, with descriptions of three new genera from the eastern Palaearctic Region (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Anthophagini: Omaliinae)

Five genera of the “Hygrogeus” complex of the omaliine tribe Anthophagini Thomson, 1859 are (re-)described and illustrated: Hygrogeus Mulsant & Rey, 1880, Trichodromeus Luze, 1903, Asiageodromicus gen. n., Himalodromeus gen. n. and Microhygrodromicus gen. n. The genus Hygrogeus contains three species: H. aemulus (Rosenhauer, 1847), known from the Middle European Alps, and two species with uncertain generic status from Kashmir: H. minor Coiffait, 1983 and H. rugosicollis Coiffait, 1983. The genus Trichodromeus contains 21 species distributed in the eastern Palaearctic Region. Four species of Trichodromeus are (re-)described and illustrated: T. kumaonensis (Champion, 1925) (India), T. ketmeniensis (Bordoni, 1985) (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan), T. penicillatus (Reitter, 1900) (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan), and T. telnovi sp. n. (Nepal). A new synonymy is established: T. ketmeniensis = T. ovchinnikovi Shavrin & Klimenko, 2008 syn. n. Eight new combinations are proposed: T. alticola (Coiffait, 1983) comb. n. (from Hygrogeus), T. chinensis (Cheng & Peng, 2019) comb. n. (from Hygrogeus), T. gulmargensis (Coiffait, 1983) comb. n. (from Hygrogeus), T. languidus (Coiffait, 1983) comb. n. (from Hygrogeus), T. longipalpis Coiffait, 1983 comb. n. (from Geodromicus Redtenbacher, 1857), T. meurguesae Coiffait, 1979 comb. n. (from Hygrogeus), T. montanus (Coiffait, 1983) comb. n. (from Hygrogeus), and T. sulcicollis (Coiffait, 1983) comb. n. (from Hygrogeus). The habitus of T. pusillus (Coiffait, 1983), and habitus and aedeagi of T. armatus (Cameron, 1941) and T. jaegeri Shavrin, 2021 are illustrated. The genus Asiageodromicus gen. n., distributed mainly in the Himalayan Region and Tibet, contains nine species. Eight species of them were previously attributed to the crassipalpis group (Shavrin 2019) of Geodromicus: A. amplissimus (Shavrin, 2019) comb. n., A. crassipalpis (Champion, 1920) comb. n., A. dolpoensis (Coiffait, 1982) comb. n., A. namucoicus (Cheng & Peng, 2020) comb. n., A. palpalis (Coiffait, 1977) comb. n., A. spadiceus (Shavrin, 2019) comb. n., A. subquadratus (Cheng & Peng, 2020) comb. n., and A. trapezipennis (Coiffait, 1979) comb. n. Two species are (re-)described and illustrated: A. dolpoensis and A. weiperti sp. n. (eastern Nepal). The Himalayan genus Himalodromeus gen. n. contains three species. All these species are (re-)described and illustrated: H. cyanipennis (Cameron, 1924) comb. n. (from Hygrogeus), known from India and Nepal, H. grandis sp. n. (Pakistan) and H. reductus sp. n. (Nepal). A new synonymy is proposed: H. cyanipennis = Hygrogeus coeruleipennis Coiffait, 1983 syn. n. Lectotypes for Hygrogeus cyanipennis Cameron, 1924 and Hygrogeus cyanipennis atrocaeruleus Champion, 1925 are designated. The genus Microhygrodromicus gen. n. contains two new species from Yunnan (China): M. exiguus sp. n. and M. politus sp. n. Keys for genera of the “Hygrogeus” complex, all species of Asiageodromicus gen. n., Himalodromeus gen. n. and Microhygrodromicus gen. n. are provided. Distributional maps of T. jaegeri Shavrin, 2021, T. ketmeniensis, T. penicillatus, T. telnovi sp. n., and all species of the new genera are given. Five species are recorded for the first time: A. crassipalpis, H. cyanipennis and T. jaegeri from Nepal, T. penicillatus from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, and T. pusillus from Pakistan.

A new species of Merismomorpha Girault, 1913 (Chalcidoidea, Pteromalidae) from the Palaearctic region

A new species of Merismomorpha Girault, 1913, M. ulleungensis Tselikh, Rasplus & Ku, sp. nov., is described and illustrated from the Palaearctic region (Russian Far East and South Korea). An updated diagnosis of the genus is given, as well as a comparison to the closely related genus Pterosemopsis Girault, 1917.

Lights on tardigrade biodiversity: integrative redescription of Eremobiotus alicatai (Eutardigrada, Isohypsibiidae) with new insights on its morphology, phylogeny, and biogeography

AbstractCurrent knowledge on the genus Eremobiotus still remains limited. Only three species are known, mainly recorded in the Palaearctic region, with Eremobiotus alicatai representing the most common species. In the present study, an integrative re-description of E. alicatai based on the examination of a topotypic population from Sicily (Italy) is given, the morphological characters of which perfectly correspond to those of the type series collected in 1969. A second population of E. alicatai, from Tuscany (Italy), was also investigated from the morphological and the molecular point of view, allowing examining the intraspecific variability of the species. A re-analysis of the morphology of specimens of the type series, along with a morphological analysis of specimens of the two investigated populations of E. alicatai, allowed for an update and correction of certain morphological traits in the species. The topotypic and the Tuscanian populations were both investigated through a molecular approach: COI, ITS2, 18S, and 28S gene sequences were obtained, allowing to update the Isohypsibioidea phylogeny and to discuss the correct placement of the genus Eremobiotus. Moreover, the definition of the morphology of the claws of Eremobiotus-type and new observations regarding the buccal opening are discussed.

New genus, species, and faunistic records of the tribe Ripidiini (Coleoptera: Ripiphoridae) from the mainland of China

Anatoripidius cylindricus gen. & sp. nov., a new genus and species of Ripidiinae Gerstaecker, 1855 from Guangdong, China, is described and illustrated. The new genus is distinguished from other ripidiine genera by the combined characters that include postocular ommatidia missing, mouthparts strongly reduced, 11-segmented antennae, and others dealing with hind wings, and tarsal formula. A key to the extant genera of Ripidiini from the Palaearctic and Oriental regions is presented. Furthermore, Ripidius longicollis (Schilder, 1923) is newly recorded for the mainland of China, as well as redescribed and illustrated.

Taxonomy of the Palearctic socially parasitic Temnothorax (Myrmoxenus) ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

The ant genus Temnothorax is one of the most diverse in the Palearctic region, comprising several species with different life histories and uncertain taxonomic backgrounds. Socially parasitic Temnothorax ant species were typically described decades ago, primarily based on traditional morphological traits. In some aspects, these species have come back into the spotlight in recent years, necessitating a comprehensive taxonomic revision of the species of the genus. In this paper, we present a quantitative morphology-based taxonomic revision of the Temnothorax corsicus species group (formerly called Myrmoxenus genus) based on the analysis of 20 continuous morphometric traits collected from 394 worker and 19 traits from 473 gyne individuals belonging to 240 samples. Based on morphometric analyses, we propose junior synonymy for Temnothorax tamarae (Arnol'di, 1968) under T. ravouxi (André, 1896), and T. microcellatus (Soudek, 1925) is revived and is considered a senior synonym of T. menozzii (Finzi, 1924). Detailed descriptions, measurements, distribution, and host usage of all ten species are given. Dichotomous keys to workers, known gynes, and photographs of all species are presented.

Discovery of a novel Mediterranean Haemaphysalis (Ornithophysalis) doenitzi group tick species infesting Falco eleonorae on Antikythira Island, Greece.

Eleonora's falcon (Falco eleonorae Géné, 1839) is a well-known long-distance migrant of the Afro-Palaearctic flyway, a summer breeder of the Mediterranean region and North-west Africa and a winter resident of Madagascar and surrounding areas, thus characterized as a double endemic. Within the context of a long-term monitoring and conservation programme on Antikythira Island, Greece, which accommodates one of the largest concentrations of breeding pairs of Eleonora's falcons globally, birds were subjected to regular inspections for the presence of ticks from 2017 to 2023. In total, 104 adults and 149 nymphs (all belonging to Haemaphysalis genus) were collected. All ticks, apart from 2 nymphs, exhibited broadly salient palpi and did not possess the pronounced palpal segment 2 spurs or spur-like angles that are characteristic of adults, nymphs and most larvae of Rhipistoma, thus placed them in the Ornithophysalis subgenus. Following comprehensive morphological assessment and genetic analysis of the mitochondrial genome by means of next-generation sequencing of both adult and nymphal stages of the ticks, our empirical findings substantiate the delineation of a previously unclassified species. This taxonomic assignment situates the newly described species within the Ornithophysalis subgenus and the Haemaphysalis doenitzi group, marking its presence for the first time within the Western Palaearctic region.

Pathways for accidental biocontrol: The human-mediated dispersal of insect predators and parasitoids.

Introductions of insect predators and parasitoids for biological control are a key method for pest management. Yet in recent decades, biological control has become more strictly regulated and less frequent. Conversely, the rate of unintentional insect introductions through human activities is rising. While accidental introductions of insect natural enemies can potentially have serious ecological consequences, they are challenging to quantify as their movements go largely unobserved. We used historical border interception records collected by the US Department of Agriculture from 1913 to 2018 to describe the diversity of entomophagous insects transported unintentionally, their main introduction pathways, and trends in host specificity. There were 35,312 interceptions of insect predators and parasitoids during this period, representing 93 families from 11 orders, and 196 species from these families. Commodity associations varied, but imported plants and plant products were the main introduction pathway. Most interceptions originated with commodities imported from the Neotropical, Panamaian, and Western Palearctic regions. Among the intercepted species, 27% were found in material originating from more than one country. Two thirds of species were polyphagous host generalists. Furthermore, 25% of species had already been introduced intentionally as biological control agents internationally, and 4.6% have documented negative impacts on native biodiversity or human society. Most of the intercepted species that have not established in the United States are host generalists or have at least one known host species available. The unintentional transport of diverse natural enemy insects has the potential to cause substantial ecological impacts, both in terms of controlling pests through accidental biocontrol and disrupting native communities. Characterizing the insects being transported and their introduction pathways can inform biosecurity practices and management.

Taxonomic review of the robber flies of the genus Nusa (Asilidae: Laphriinae) in the Palaearctic region with description of a new species from southern Iran

Nusa kermani Mohebban & Gharali sp. nov. a new species of the genus Nusa Walker, 1851, is described and illustrated based on specimens collected from the southern Iran (Kerman province). The unique morphological characteristics of the new species are compared with closely related species and a dichotomous key to the six species of the genus known from the Palaearctic region is provided. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8253A48D-7774-4762-8C59-5C5A9671F944

Chromosome-level genome provides insights into evolution and diving adaptability in the vulnerable common pochard (Aythya ferina)

The common pochard (Aythya ferina) is a freshwater diving duck found in the Palearctic region that has been classified as vulnerable by the IUCN due to continuous and rapid population declines across their distribution. To gain a better understanding of its genetic mechanism of adaptive evolution, we successfully sequenced and assembled the first high-quality chromosome-level genome of A. ferina using Illumina, Nanopore and Hi-C sequencing technologies. A total assembly length of 1,130.78 Mbp was obtained, with over 98.81% (1,117.37Mbp) of sequence anchored to 35 pseudo-chromosomes. We predicted 17,232 protein-coding genes, 95.9% of which were functionally annotated. We identified 339 expanded and 937 contracted gene families in the genome of A. ferina, and detected 95 genes that have been positively selected. The significantly enriched Gene Ontology and enriched pathways were related to energy metabolism, immune, nervous, and sensory systems, suggests that these factors likely played an important role in its evolution. Importantly, we recovered signatures of positive selection on genes related to vasoconstriction that may be associated with thermoregulatory adaptations of A. ferina for underwater diving. Overall, the high-quality genome assembly and annotation in this study provides valuable genomic resources for ecological and evolutionary studies, as well as toward the conservation of A. ferina.

New species and records of Paraphloeostiba Steel, 1960 and Xanthonomus Bernhauer, 1926 from the eastern Palaearctic, Oriental and Papuan regions (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Omaliinae)

New taxonomic and faunistic data for nine species of Paraphloeostiba Steel, 1960 and one species of Xanthonomus Bernhauer, 1926 (X. guineensis Shavrin, 2024) from the eastern Palaearctic, Oriental and Papuan regions are provided. Three new species of Paraphloeostiba are described and illustrated: P. acrolochaoides sp. nov. and P. brevicula sp. nov. from Papua New Guinea, and P. zingiberiphila sp. nov. from Malaysia (Sabah). Four species are recorded for the first time: P. gayndanensis (MacLeay, 1873) from Guangxi Province of China, Laos and Japan (Amami-Ōshima), P. papuana (Cameron, 1931) and P. riedeli Shavrin, 2024 from Papua New Guinea, and P. steeli Shavrin, 2024 from Indonesia (Sulawesi).

A newly recognized family Platypezidae Fallén, 1815 (Diptera: Platypezoidea) with genus Lindneromyia Kessel, 1965 in South Korea

Platypezidae, known as the flat-footed flies, is a relatively small-sized fly family comprising 264 species in 19 genera worldwide. The family was newly recognized in South Korea with two species, Lindneromyia argyrogyna and L. kerteszi; the latter one as the very first record from the Palaearctic region. Diagnoses, descriptions and photographs of diagnostic characters are provided based on the examination of the Korean specimens.

Description of a new species of potter wasp (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae) from Northeast India

Pseumenes Giordani Soika, 1935 is a small genus of potter wasps occurring in Oriental, Australian and Palearctic Regions. Only one species, Pseumenes depressus (de Saussure, 1855) is known so far from India. A new species, Pseumenes siangensis sp. nov. from Arunachal Pradesh, is described. The morphological affinities of the new species are discussed. The new species is compared with the closely related P. depressus as well as P. laboriosus. Since P. depressus is similar to P. laboriosus, comparisons were made between P. laboriosus and P. siangensis sp. nov. The apical teeth of the propodeum are medium sized and blunt in P. siangensis sp. nov. (long and sharp in P. laboriosus); the posterior part of the first tergite is densely punctate in the middle P. siangensis sp. nov. (almost impunctate in P. laboriosus). The clypeus without a median black spot in P. siangensis sp. nov. (with median black spot in P. laboriosus).