Updated Key Research Articles

A new species of planthopper in the genus Anchimothon (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Derbidae) on palms from Costa Rica.

Anchimothon is a small genus of derbid planthoppers known from Mesoamerica and northern South America. Recent survey efforts in the Caribbean basin have documented many new taxa of fulgoroids from palms. During this survey, a novel taxon identified as Anchimothon was collected from palm seedlings at La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica. Here, the novel taxon is described as A. myriei sp. n. with molecular data for the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and18S rRNA providing support for placement of the new species in Anchimothon. An updated key is provided for the current species of Anchimothon.

New Species, New Records, and Updated Key to the Paravelia (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Veliidae) from Brazil.

Simple SummaryTrue bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) of the infraorder Gerromorpha are known as semiaquatic bugs due to their ability to walk on the surface of water. Veliidae is the most diverse family of semiaquatic bugs, including six subfamilies, 61 genera, and more than 960 described species. The genus Paravelia Breddin, 1898 (Veliidae: Veliinae), or broad-shouldered water-striders, occurs in a wide variety of lentic and lotic freshwater habitats, and is represented in Brazil by 38 species. Although the diversity of Paravelia in the country is relatively well known, eight states remain with no records of the genus. Aiming to fill these gaps, several expeditions were carried out between 2018 and 2021. As a result, a new species is described from Pernambuco State, three species are recorded for the first time in Ceará, Pernambuco and Piauí states, and an updated key to the Brazilian species of the genus is provided.The broad-shouldered water-strider genus Paravelia Breddin, 1898 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Veliidae: Veliinae) is currently represented in Brazil by 38 species. Although the diversity of the genus in the country is relatively well known, eight states remain with no records of any species: Acre, Alagoas, Ceará (CE), Paraíba, Paraná, Pernambuco (PE), Piauí (PI), and Tocantins. Aiming to fill these gaps, several expeditions were carried out at conservation areas of the Caatinga biome between 2018 and 2021: Aiuaba Ecological Station (CE), Catimbau National Park (PE), and Serra das Confusões National Park (PI). Paravelia luisi sp. nov., a new species from PE, is described and illustrated. In addition, new records of P. bilobata Rodrigues, Moreira, Nieser, Chen & Melo, 2014, P. digitata Rodrigues & Moreira, 2016, and P. nieseri Moreira & Barbosa, 2012, and an updated key to the Brazilian species of Paravelia are provided. This study increases the number of species of Paravelia known in Brazil to 39 and provides the first records of the genus from three states: PE, with two species, and CE and PI, with one species each.

Two New Species of Betacixius Matsumura, 1914 (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae) from Southwestern China, with an Updated Checklist and Key to Species.

Simple SummaryBetacixius Matsumura, 1914 is a small genus of cixiid planthoppers distributed throughout China, Japan and Vietnam. Despite its rich biodiversity in Southwest China, Betacixius has not been taxonomically well studied in this region. Here, two new species, Betacixius gongshanensis sp. nov. from Yunan Province and B. guizhouensis sp. nov. from Guizhou Province, are described, giving the genus 27 species in total. We believe that the discovery in this study will contribute to further studies on the classification and phylogeny of Cixiidae.In this study, two new species of genus Betacixius Matsumura, 1914 (Fulgoromorpha, Cixiidae), Betacixius gongshanensis sp. nov. from Yunnan Province and B. guizhouensis sp. nov. from Guizhou Province, are described and illustrated. An updated checklist and identification key to known species of the genus Betacixius are provided.

Triumfetta decaglandulata (Grewioideae, Malvaceae), a new species from the Cerrado-Amazon ecotone, Northern Brazil

Triumfetta decaglandulata is described and illustrated as a new species from Brazil. This species is mainly featured as having ten glands on the androgynophore, which is a unique trait among species belonging to genus Triumfetta, as well as lack of membranaceous urceolus and petals. Triumfetta decaglandulata was found in the transition zone between the Cerrado and Amazon biomes, in Northern Brazil, where it grew on the roadside of an anthropogenic pasture area. Taxonomic comments, geographic distribution, habitat, conservation status and an updated identification key of all Brazilian species belonging to genus Triumfetta are also provided.

Four new species of the spider genus Physocyclus Simon, 1893 (Araneae: Pholcidae) from Mexico, with updated taxonomic identification keys

Four new species of the spider genus Physocyclus Simon, 1893 are described from Mexico. Two species are described based on male and female adult specimens: Physocyclus mariachi sp. nov. and P. sikuapu sp. nov. Two species are described only with female adult specimens: P. lyncis sp. nov. and P. pocamadre sp. nov. The biogeographical province with the highest diversity of species is the Balsas Depression, located in the Mexican Neotropic, with 12 species. Physocyclus lyncis sp. nov. belongs to the dugesi species group, whereas the other three new species belong to the globosus species group. The total number of species of Physocyclus is increased to 37, distributed in North America (mainly Mexico) and Central America, with one cosmopolitan species: P. globosus. Updated taxonomic identification keys for males and females are provided.

Description of two new species of the genus Tillicera Spinola (Coleoptera, Cleridae, Clerinae), with new synonyms, new distributional records, and an updated key.

Two species, Tillicerafortissp. nov. and Tilliceraspinosasp. nov., are newly described. New distributional records are presented for Tilliceracallosa Gerstmeier & Bernhard, 2010, Tillicerajavana Spinola, 1844, Tillicerapseudocleroides Gerstmeier & Bernhard, 2010, Tillicerasoror Schenkling, 1902, and Tilliceratonkinensis Gerstmeier & Bernhard, 2010. Cleruspostmaculatus Nakane, 1963 syn. nov. is synonymized with Tilliceraihlei Corporaal, 1949. The presence of sensory organs (sensilla) on the ventral surface of the antennae is discovered in Tillicera and Hemitrachys for the first time. A key to the valid species of Tillicera is provided.

Vochysia sobralii (Vochysiaceae), a new species from Serra do Cachimbo, Pará, Brazil, and updated keys for Vochysia sect. Pachyantha

Vochysia sobralii, a new species of Vochysiaceae endemic to the Serra do Cachimbo, in the state of Pará, Brazil, is described and illustrated in this study. The newly described species is included in Vochysia section Pachyantha, which comprises species with tomentose ovary and without petals. Additionally, two updated identification keys (one dichotomous and other multi-access interactive) for V. sect. Pachyantha, with all ten species, are provided.

Unconditional Authentication Based on Physical Layer Offered Chain Key in Wireless Communication.

Authentication is a critical issue in wireless communication due to the impersonation and substitution attacks from the vulnerable air interface launched by the malicious node. There are currently two kinds of authentication research in wireless communication. One is based on cryptography and relies on computational complexity, the other is based on physical layer fingerprint and can not protect data integrity well. Both of these approaches will become insecure when facing attackers with infinite computing power. In this paper, we develop a wireless unconditional authentication framework based on one-time keys generated from wireless channel. The proposed unconditional authentication framework provides a new perspective to resist infinite computing power attackers. We study the performance of the unconditional authentication framework in this paper. First, a physical layer offered chain key (PHYLOCK) structure is proposed, which can provide one-time keys for unconditional authentication. The physical layer offered chain keys are generated by XORing the physical layer updated keys extracted from the current channel state information (CSI) and the previous chain keys. The security of PHYLOCK is analyzed from the perspective of information theory. Then, the boundary of the deception probability is conducted. It is shown that unconditional authentication can achieve a probability of deception , where is the entropy of the one-time key used for one message. Finally, the conditions for unconditional authentication are listed. Our analysis shows that the length of the key and the authentication code need to be twice the length of the message and the encoding rules of the authentication code need to satisfy the restrictions we listed.

Five further species of Graphis reported new to Europe from Portugal

AbstractFive Graphis species are reported as new to Europe from the Mata Nacional do Buçaco, a region in Portugal where graphidoid Graphidaceae are abundant and diverse. The following species were identified: Graphis dendrogramma, G. duplicata, G. gonimica, G. librata and G. pyrrhocheiloides. An updated key is given to the Graphis species known from Europe. All those newly reported were identified with names corresponding to tropical species.

Two new Rinodina lichens from South Korea, with an updated key to the species of Rinodina in the far eastern Asia.

Rinodinasalicis Lee & Hur and Rinodinazeorina Lee & Hur are described as new lichen-forming fungi from forested wetlands or a humid forest in South Korea. Rinodinasalicis is distinguishable from Rinodinaexcrescens Vain., the most similar species, by its olive-gray thallus with smaller areoles without having blastidia, contiguous apothecia, non-pruinose discs, paler disc color, wider ascospores in the Pachysporaria-type II, and the absence of secondary metabolites. Rinodinazeorina differs from Rinodinahypobadia Sheard by areolate and brownish thallus, non-pruinose apothecia, colorless and wider parathecium, narrower paraphyses with non-pigmented and unswollen tips, longer and narrower ascospores with angular to globose lumina, and the absence of pannarin. Molecular analyses employing internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences strongly support the two new species to be unique in the genus Rinodina. An updated key is provided to assist in the identification of all 63 taxa in Rinodina of the far eastern Asia.

Legume additions to the flora of China

Six legume taxa are added to the flora of China. Among them, two native taxa, Pueraria bella and Teyleria barbata, and one naturalized species, Desmodium uncinatum, are reported as newly recorded species, while Flemingia vestita is rediscovered and Flemingia yunnanensis is reinstated based on morphological evidence. Mucuna pruriens var. hirsuta is also newly recorded to China, and M. incurvata is considered as a new synonym of it. Comprehensive descriptions, photographs, conservation status assessments, and some taxonomic notes on these taxa, as well as updated keys to the taxa of Desmodium, Flemingia, Pueraria, and Mucuna subg. Stizolobium distributed in China are also given.

First Report of the Tramp ant Technomyrmex vitiensis Mann, 1921 (Formicidae: Dolichoderinae) in Brazil with Cytogenetic and Sperm Structure Data and an Updated Key to Brazilian Dolichoderinae Genera.

Invasive ants are usually harmful taxa and are considered a potential problem to biodiversity due to their negative ecological impacts, as they can outcompete native ant species. Ten such species are reported in Brazil. In this study, we report for the first time the Asian tramp ant Technomyrmex vitiensis Mann, 1921 at the municipality of Oiapoque, in the Brazilian Amazon. The colony studied contained workers, intercastes, males and larvae, which provided sperm structure and cytogenetic data. Considering the unprecedented report of the genus Technomyrmex as well as the recent finding of the primarily Australian genus Leptomyrmex in Brazil, we present a revised key for the workers of Brazilian Dolichoderinae genera. Technomyrmex vitiensis presented 2n = 16 chromosomes; all metacentrics and comparative cytogenetics on the genus is provided. A single rDNA 18S site located in intrachromosomal region was observed in this species, which is a common trait in ants. The spermatozoa of T. vitiensis had a filiform shape, with 78.13 (± 1.96) μm of total length and 11.43 (± 0.51) μm of nucleus length. Total and nucleus sperm size length fit with the known variation observed in other ant species. The occurrence of T. vitiensis in Brazil is probably a result of traffic between French Guiana and the Amapá state. Cytogenetics and sperm structures of T. vitiensis enhance the biological knowledge of this tramp species. We highlight the scarce knowledge of ant diversity in the state of Amapá and the consequences that the presence of this species may have in this region.

Four new species of troglomorphic Coecobrya Yosii, 1956 (Collembola, Entomobryidae) from Thailand based on morphological and molecular evidence, with an updated key of Thai troglomorphic species

Four new species of troglomorphic Coecobrya Yosii, 1956 are described from caves located in the central and northeastern regions of Thailand. Coecobrya whittenisp. nov. and C. troglobiasp. nov. are from Khon Kaen province, C. ellisisp. nov. is from Phetchabun province and C. phitsanulokensissp. nov. is from Phitsanulok province. They all exhibit remarkable troglobitic characters i.e. elongated antennae, legs and furca, slender claw complex and large body size. Coecobrya whittenisp. nov. is similar to C. troglobiasp. nov. and they were found a distance of only 3.4 km from each other. However, they are mainly different in the number of An mac on dorsal head and number of chaetae of Th. II. Likewise, C. ellisisp. nov. is similar to C. phitsanulokensissp. nov.. However, they differ in the number of An mac on the dorsal head, the number of central mac on Abd. II, central mac on Abd. IV, lateral mac on Abd. IV and the number of inner teeth of the claw. Moreover, C. ellisisp. nov. has orange pigment dots on the body, a unique character, considering that all other troglomorphic Coecobrya species in Thailand are devoid of pigmentation. The results of the molecular approach based on two partial mitochondrial markers (COI and 16S rDNA) and a nuclear gene fragment (28S rDNA) supported the results of morphological species discrimination in separating the four nominal populations as valid species. An updated dichotomous key of Thai troglomorphic Coecobrya species is also given.

Updated Key to the North American Species of Euceratocerus LeConte, with a New State Record for Euceratocerus gibbifrons White (Coleoptera: Ptinidae) from North Carolina, USA

Euceratocerus gibbifrons White is reported as a new state record for North Carolina. Specimens were collected in Union County by operating a UV (black light) trap at an aging log pile. Photos of the dorsal habitus, lateral habitus, and antennae of males and females of all three US species (E. gibbifrons, Euceratocerus hornii LeConte, and Euceratocerus parvus White) are presented along with an illustration of the only species known from Mexico (Euceratocerus argenteus White). Photos of the dorsal habitus, lateral habitus, and anterior view of the head and antennae of the holotype of E. hornii are presented. Illustrations of the antennae of most species are also provided. These images are included in an updated key to the Euceratocerus LeConte species of North America. The confused taxonomic history of Euceratocerus and the possibility of synonyms are addressed.

Descriptions of three new North American species and an unknown female in the family Ammoplanidae (Hymenoptera), with updated keys to the genera

Three new species, Ammoplanus yanegai sp. nov., Timberlakena vitrea sp. nov., and Mohavena woolleyi sp. nov., are described in the Hymenoptera family Ammoplanidae. Also, the unknown female of Parammoplanus penrosei N. Smith, 2012b is described. Updated keys to these genera are included.

Four new species of Pilargidae (Annelida: Pilarginae) from the Gulf of Thailand.

Four new species belonging to the Family Pilargidae, Ancistrosyllis kornkanokae sp. nov., A. nakkaritae sp. nov., Cabira saithipae sp. nov., and C. thailandica sp. nov. were collected from 927 m depth in soft sediments in the Songkhla Sea, Gulf of Thailand. Ancistrosyllis kornkanokae sp. nov. can be distinguished from other species in the genus by the presence of a small median antenna on the prostomium; two pairs of elongate tentacular cirri; and short limbate neurochaetae with unidentate curved pointed tips. Ancistrosyllis nakkaritae sp. nov. is characterized by having a conspicuous median antenna and elongate lateral antennae longer than palps; and short limbate neurochaetae with bifid tips. While Cabira saithipae sp. nov. is characterized by the presence of the first notopodial hook at chaetiger eight, large, conical papillae ont chaetigers 717 and the presence of both short, recurved tipped and short, curved tip chaetae in anterior chaetigers. Cabira thailandica sp. nov. is distinguished from other species in the genus by the first notopodial hooks occurring at chaetiger seven and the presence of long, non-limbate capillary neurochaetae with bidentate tips. Updated keys to the genera Ancistrosyllis and Cabira are also provided.

Description of three new species of Gomphomastacinae (Orthoptera: Eumastacoidea) from the east of Qinghai-Tibet plateau, China.

The grasshopper Subfamily Gomphomastacinae (Orthoptera: Acridoidea: Eumastacidae) is widely distributed in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and Central Asia. This paper describes three new species: Ptygomastax nihilsulcus Ge, sp. nov. Phytomastax pentaspinula Ge, sp. nov. and Pentaspinula unispinula Ge, sp. nov. of the subfamily from the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, along with an updated identification key of species of the related genera. Detail figures of the body and genitalia of the new species are also provided.

Neohydatothrips from China, with one new species and one new record (Thysanoptera: Thripidae).

Neohydatothrips sophorae sp. n. is described from Western China. The new Sericothripinae species is characterized by the bicoloured body with the abdominal tergites bearing a posteromarginal craspedum. N. reticulatus (Kudo) is newly recorded in China. An updated key is provided to 18 species of Neohydatothrips from China.

The scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) of Iran with the description of Mahabadphora aesthesphora as a new genus and species.

Scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) are mega-diverse and often synanthropic insects that play superb roles in various ecosystems. Identification of this group of insects is challenging due to their small size, morphological identification difficulties, niche diversity, and lack of taxonomic keys. To pave the way, an in-depth investigation was directed toward the scuttle flies in Iran using morphological and molecular data. A dichotomous key was also developed to identify the genus and species of the phorids reported in the country. The faunistic findings revealed the presence of about 22,000 (13,903 male and 8,097 female) phorid materials organized into 11 genera. Megaselia species (n = 13768), made up about 99% of the specimens studied. Moreover, 71 morphologically defined species belonging to nine genera were molecularly characterized using COI, 28S rRNA, and Arginine kinase datasets. Excluding four Megaselia Rondani, 1856 species, our results specified that morphologically delimited species were in agreement with the molecular analyses inferred from the COI/28S rRNA and COI/Arginine kinase sequences with genetic distances and phylogenetic trees. According to the results of the present study and previously published data, the Phoridae recorded for Iran are a total of 97 species that are ordered in 13 genera and three subfamilies, including Chonocephalinae, Metopininae and Phorinae. By comparing the known world phorid genera, a new monotypic genus of scuttle flies, Mahabadphora aesthesphora gen. nov., sp. nov., was identified based on its morphological and molecular characteristics and included in an updated key. Our results could comprehensively determine the taxonomic status of scuttle flies in Iran, scrutinize their phylogenetic structures and facilitate their identification.

Five new species of freshwater crabs of the genera Ghatiana Pati & Sharma, 2014 and Sahyadriana Pati & Thackeray, 2018 from India (Decapoda: Brachyura: Gecarcinucidae)

We recognize two new species of Ghatiana Pati & Sharma, 2014, and three new species of Sahyadriana Pati & Thackeray, 2018, from the Western Ghats of India. Ghatiana durrelli n. sp. is characterized mainly by the proportionately narrower adult carapace, the relatively broader male pleonal somite 6, and the relatively stouter terminal segment of the male first gonopod. Ghatiana rouxi n. sp. is differentiated from congeners by its proportionately narrower adult carapace with the gently convex lateral margins. Sahyadriana inopinata n. sp. is characterized by a suite of characters that includes the visible epibranchial tooth, the relatively slenderer and longer terminal segment of the male first gonopod, and the subovate and relatively smaller adult vulva that is positioned a clear distance from the suture between thoracic sternites 5 and 6. Sahyadriana keshari n. sp. differs from the allied S. waghi (Pati in Pati, Thackeray & Khaire, 2016) by the relatively stouter terminal segment of the male first gonopod, and the relatively larger adult vulva, which is positioned close to the suture between thoracic sternites 5 and 6. Sahyadriana tamhini n. sp. most resembles S. alcocki (Pati in Pati, Thackeray & Khaire, 2016) but can be differentiated by its relatively longer, distally distinctly narrow terminal segment and the sinuous inner margin of the subterminal segment of the male first gonopod, and the relatively closely positioned and larger adult vulvae. Ghatiana and Sahyadriana now include 10 species and 13 species, respectively. An updated key is provided for both genera.