Western Palaearctic Species Research Articles

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.

Zoogeographical composition of macroinvertebrates in low-mountain lakes of the Russian Altai

In 2022 the taxonomic and zoogeographic composition of the macrozoobenthos of six lowland lakes of the Russian Altai: Aya, Beloe, Kireevo, Kolyvanskoe, Koksha and Svetloye was investigated. In the studied lakes 156 species of zoobenthos from 9 classes of invertebrates were identified. The largest number of species is characteristic of the insect class. Chironomids and oligochaetes dominated in terms of frequency of occurrence in the lakes. Of the oligochaetes, the family Tubificidae (68%) was more frequently observed. Tubificidae (68%), chironomids — subfamilies Chironominae (91%) and Tanypodinae (66%). The maximum species diversity of zoobenthos was observed in lakes Beloe (81 species) and Koksha (76 species), the least number of species was found in lakes Aya (41 species) and Kireevo (52 species). Lakes Beloe — Kireevo — Kolyvanskoe and Koksha — Svetloye are the most similar in composition of benthic invertebrates. The most original was the taxonomic composition of the deepest lake Aya. According to the taxonomic composition of the fauna of bottom invertebrates, most lakes (Aya, Beloe, Kireevo, Kolyvanskoe) were closer to plain water bodies, two lakes (Koksha, Svetloe) combined features of both plain and mountain lakes. Zoogeographic analysis of the fauna of benthic invertebrates of foothill lakes revealed 12 types of distribution. Holarctic (39%), Palaearctic (23%) and Western Palaearctic species (21%) were predominant in the lake fauna. Comparative analysis of the fauna of the identified homotopic and heterotopic species showed that the most extensive areas are found only among homotopic primary aquatic archaic taxa. Zoogeographic analysis of the studied lakes indicate their proximity to the border of the Western and Eastern Palearctic.

Species of the Western Palaearctic Genus Tetralonia Spinola, 1838 (Hymenoptera, Apidae) with Atypical Pollen Hosts, with a Key to the pollinosa-Group, Description of New Species, and Neotype Designation for Apis malvae Rossi, 1790

The long-horn bee genus Tetralonia consists of 35 Western Palaearctic species that are associated mostly with the family Asteraceae as host plants. A minority of the species are, however, exclusively associated with other host plants that have particularly large pollen grains, such as those in the plant families Caprifoliaceae, Malvaceae, and Onagraceae. This work presents a taxonomic account and morphological description of the assemblages of Tetralonia species with atypical (non-Asteraceae) host plants. It includes a key to the pollinosa-group, which contains most of the species, a description of three regionally restricted new species, namely T. eoacinctella Dorchin sp. nov., T. epilobii Dorchin sp. nov., and T. stellipilis Dorchin sp. nov., a lectotype designation for Eucera cinctella Saunders, 1908 [=Tetralonia cinctella (Saunders, 1908)], and a neotype designation for Apis malvae Rossi, 1790 [=Tetralonia malvae (Rossi, 1790)]. In addition, the name Eucera macroglossa Illiger, 1806 is confirmed as a synonym of Apis malvae Rossi, 1790; Tetralonia macroglossa ssp. xanthopyga Alfken, 1936 is officially placed in synonymy with Apis malvae Rossi, 1790; and Macrocera confusa Pérez, 1902 is listed as a doubtful synonym of Tetralonia scabiosae Mocsàry, 1879 (syn. nov.).

Phylogenomic species delimitation of the twisted‐winged parasite genus Stylops (Strepsiptera)

AbstractThe twisted‐winged parasite genus Stylops has a history of different species concepts with varying host specificity resulting in diverse species diversity estimates in different regions of the Holarctic. The adoption of a supergeneralist species concept in Europe, proposing synonymization of all Western Palaearctic Stylops species, did not facilitate taxonomic clarity and obscured the available life‐history data in the region for decades. Lack of molecular data has allowed divergent opinions on species hypotheses and little opportunity for evaluating them in this morphologically challenging genus. To solve these discrepancies and gain novel information about host associations, we applied whole‐genome sequencing to 163 specimens, representing a significant portion of putative European species. We evaluate the existing and conflicting species hypotheses with molecular species delimitation using Species bOundry Delimitation using Astral (SODA) and use a maximum likelihood phylogeny to investigate host associations of the species. Furthermore, we evaluate the effect of a number of loci used in SODA for the number of inferred species. We find justification for synonymization of multiple species and indications of undescribed species, as well as new host–parasite relationships. We show that the number of inferred species in SODA is exceedingly and positively correlated with the number of loci used, urging for cautious application. The results of our study bring clarity to the Western Palaearctic species diversity of Stylops. Furthermore, the comprehensive molecular dataset generated in this study will be a valuable resource for future studies on Stylops and the evolution of parasites in general.

On the taxonomy of the Thalpophila Hübner, 1820-Olivenebula Kishida and Yoshimoto 1977 generic complex (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Xyleninae)

The supraspecific taxa of the Thalpophila generic complex are revised, a new genus Dandiraniagen. n. and two new subgenera, Confectaniasubgen. n. and Wallaceaniasubgen n. are described. The genus Chlorothalpa Beck,1996) and its subgenus Subthalpa Beck, 1996 are reinstated from synonymy with Olivenebula Kishida and Yoshimoto, 1977. The western Palaearctic (European) species associated with Olivenebula are transferred to Chlorothalpa (comb. rev.). A new Chlorothalpa (Subthalpa) species, C. vargazolisp. n.; a new Olivenebula species, O. (O.) stanegombocisp. n. and a new subspecies O. (O.) oberthueri thomasbaronissp. n.; and two species and a new subspecies of Dandirania, D. (W.) sramkogaborisp. n., D. (W.) alfredrussellwallaceisp. n. and D. (D.) opulenta schreierissp. n. are described. Chlorothalpa (C.) graslini (Culot, 1913), Dandirania (D.) opulenta (Butler, 1889) and D. (W.) largeteaui (Oberthür, 1881) are upgraded to species level (stat. rev.).

Association of the opposite sexes of Dryinus niger Kieffer, with notes on males of the other Western Palaearctic species of the same genus (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae).

In Fennoscandia, only one species of Dryinus (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae) is known, D. niger Kieffer, 1904. The species is very sporadically collected in that region, and the association of its opposite sex is difficult by its rarity. The capture of a male in Norway allowed us to describe it and place it in the new key to the males of Western Palaearctic Dryinus.

Cryptic, sibling or neither of the two? Integrative species delimitation ofPsylliodesflea beetles with overlapping ranges

AbstractSpecies identification and delimitation are particularly challenging for morphologically similar and geographically overlapping species, such as in the case of Western Palaearctic flea beetle speciesPsylliodes kiesenwetteriKutschera, 1864 andPsylliodes ruffoiLeonardi, 1975. In this study, we implemented an integrative taxonomic approach based on a comprehensive geographic assessment of morphological and genetic variation, including 142 adult specimens from 15 sympatric and allopatric populations. Results of species delimitation methods using the barcode marker COI show that molecular identification and delimitation betweenP. kiesenwetteriandP. ruffoiare straightforward. Single‐locus and multi‐locus phylogenetic analyses indicate these two species have a large genetic divergence and belong to two distinct clades of thePsylliodes gibbosaspecies group. Morphological identification based on qualitative characters shows great differences in identification success depending on the character used. Characters of male and female genitalia perform very well, but can only be assessed on fully sclerified individuals, whereas the colour of antennae was discovered as a new reliable diagnostic character both for teneral and fully sclerified individuals. Morphological identification is particularly sharp when multiple characters are used in combination or when a morphometric approach is performed. In conclusion, despite overall morphological similarity,P. kiesenwetteriandP. ruffoiare not cryptic species neither they are sibling species, as they belong to distinct clades within thegibbosaspecies group, and they can be reliably distinguished by morphological characters. This study substantiates the relevance of a range‐wide assessment of morphological and genetic variation, including individuals from the type locality, and both sympatric and allopatric populations, for taxonomic assessment of morphologically similar species with overlapping ranges.

A New Species of the Genus Collyria (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Collyriinae) from Armenia

Collyria montana sp. n., from Armenia is described and illustrated. It is the fi rst record of the genus Collyria from the country and eighth known Western Palaearctic species.

The new antlion genus Dominikon gen. nov. with the description of a new species, Dominikon aspoecki sp. nov. (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae)

The genus Dominikon Dobosz, Krivokhatsky & Ábrahám gen. nov. is separated from the genus Nedroledon Navás, 1914, along with two previously described species: Dominikon lagopus (Gerstaecker, 1894) and Dominikon iranensis (Hölzel, 1972) comb. nov. A new species, Dominikon aspoecki Dobosz, Ábrahám & Krivokhatsky sp. nov. is described from Iran and Turkmenistan. The new genus is characterized by the presence of a prominent postventral processus of the ectoproct. The genus Nedroledon includes two valid Western Palaearctic species (Nedroledon anatolicus Navás, 1914 and N. maculatus Zakharenko, 1990). The paper contains a key for both genera, Nedroledon and Dominikon, and a key for the species of the new genus Dominikon. The taxonomic features and habitus of each species are illustrated. New data on the distribution of species of the two related genera Dominikon gen. nov. and Nedroledon Navás, 1914 are also given.

A review of Iranian Eucharitidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea), with description of four new species and discussion on Western Palaearctic species

Abstract Nine species of Eucharitidae belonging to three genera, namely Eucharis (Eucharis) adscendens (Fabricius, 1787); E. (E.) carinifera Gussakovskij, 1940; E. (E.) caspicus Lotfalizadeh & Rasplus sp. nov.; E. (E.) shajariani Lotfalizadeh & Ghafouri Moghaddam sp. nov.; Eucharis (E.) vashicus Lotfalizadeh & Ghafouri Moghaddam, sp. nov.; E. (Psilogastrellus) acuminata Ruschka, 1924 rec. nov.; E. (P.) punctata Förster, 1859; Hydrorhoa johnheratyi Lotfalizadeh & Rasplus, sp. nov. and Stilbula cf. cyniformis (Rossi, 1792) are described and illustrated from Iran. Types of all related species have been examined and compared to the Iranian individuals. To stabilize existing nomenclature, we designated lectotypes and paralectotypes for E. (E.) adscendens and E. (E.) carinifera. The genus Hydrorhoa Kieffer, 1904 is confirmed to occur in the Palaearctic region. A key to the genera and species of Eucharitidae occurring in Iran, as well as their distribution maps, are provided.

Open access in a taxonomic sense: a morphological and molecular guide to Western Palaearctic Dusona (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae)

In the present time of biodiversity crisis, assessing species diversity by accurate and accessible taxonomic revisions is more crucial than ever. Parasitoid wasps are considered as both one of the most diverse and under-studied groups in the tree of life. Dusona Cameron, 1901 (Ichneumonidae, Campopleginae) is with 442 species one of the most species - rich genera of Darwin wasps, but despite the existence of recent keys, species identification has proven difficult to impossible to non-specialists. In this study, we examined about 1,500 Dusona specimens from recent and historical collections in Sweden and Switzerland. We provide a photographic guide to diagnostic characters and detailed plates for 57 out of 125 Western Palaearctic Dusona species, facilitating species identification based on existing keys. We add 11 and 3 species to the faunistic records of Sweden and Switzerland, respectively. Furthermore, we reconstruct the phylogeny of European Dusona based on four standard markers (COI, CAD, ITS2, 28S) for 45 species, complemented with a reliable reference barcode library for 46 species. Even though we can identify several morphologically distinct clades, we do not propose any new subgenera due to prevalent homoplasy of characters. While most species are well separated by barcodes, several morphologically distinct species have barely discriminatory barcode sequences (p-distances < 2%) or are even paraphyletic in this marker, indicating limitations in the applicability of barcodes for Darwin wasps. This study reveals severe gaps in the inventories of neglected taxa even for well-studied countries such as Sweden and Switzerland. As this study makes species determination for Western Palaearctic Dusona more accessible, we encourage more people, including non-specialists, to work with this genus.

Ant-eating twigs and stalks: the natural prey of Tmarus and Monaeses (Araneae: Thomisidae) in the Western Palaearctic, analysed by using online-accessible wildlife photography

The diet of the Western Palaearctic species of the closely related crab spider genera Tmarus Simon, 1875 and Monaeses Thorell, 1869 is only little known. A quantitative analysis of images showing spiders with prey, collected from the World Wide Web and the literature, suggests that both genera mainly prey on ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), while occasionally capturing other arthropods, such as spiders (Araneae). Most images depict feeding spiders that hold ants anterior-dorsally at the articulation of head and pronotum. Tmarus galapagosensis Baert, 2013, from the Galapagos Islands, is known to attack ants by a bite to this region, which, in combination with the photographic evidence, supports the hypothesis that Western Palaearctic representatives of both genera attack ants in a similar way. Three species of Tmarus and two of Monaeses were identified from the images feeding on ants, demonstrating that probably all species of both genera at least include ants in their diet. In conclusion, Western Palaearctic Tmarus and Monaeses are myrmecophagous predators and probably have a narrow trophic niche in nature. Furthermore, both genera represent interesting model organisms for the study of trophic specialisation in widespread taxonomic clades.

A review of the status of some Ptinomorphus species (Coleoptera: Ptinidae, Eucradinae) described by M. Pic, with the description of a new species

The Western Palaearctic species of Ptinomorphus Mulsant & Rey, 1868 (Coleoptera: Ptinidae, Eucradinae) described by M. Pic and synonymized under P.imperialis (Linnaeus, 1767) and P. magnificus (Reitter, 1880) are reviewed. A new species P. janae sp. nov. is described. P. tauricolus (Pic, 1906) and P. caucasicus (Pic, 1901) are removed from synonymy with P. magnificus; the status of P. perpulchrus (Obenberger, 1917) is clarified and P. angustior (Pic, 1896) is reinstated as a full species. P. angustior var. maculatus (Pic, 1922), which is currently treated as a synonym of P. imperialis is synonymised with P. magnificus. A key is provided to the Western Palaearctic species of Ptinomorphus.

FIRST REPORT OF ACASIS APPENSATA (EVERSMANN, 1842) IN SERBIA WITH AN EXAMINATION OF THE GENUS ACASIS DUPONCHEL, 1845 (LEPIDOPTERA: GEOMETRIDAE) ON THE BALKAN PENINSULA

Acasis appensata (Eversmann, 1842) (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) is reported in Serbia for the first time. The status on the Balkan Peninsula of the two Western Palaearctic species of Acasis Duponchel, 1845 is discussed. The localized distribution pattern of both A. appensata and A. viretata (Hubner, 1799) is probably genuine, though both species may be significantly under-recorded for want of adequate field workers in the region.

The Phylogenetics and Biogeography of the Central Asian Hawkmoths, Hyles hippophaes and H. chamyla: Can Mitogenomics and Machine Learning Bring Clarity?

The western Palaearctic species of the hawkmoth genus Hyles (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) have long been the subject of molecular phylogenetic research. However, much less attention has been paid to the taxa inhabiting the central and eastern Palaearctic, particularly Central Asia, where almost 50% of the species diversity of the genus occurs. Yet, many taxonomic conundrums hinder a proper assessment of the true diversity in these moths. One still unresolved group of species includes Hyles hippophaes and Hyles chamyla. Despite a largely overlapping morphology and ecology, a plethora of infraspecific taxa display some unique divergent characters over a wide geographical area. In this study, we undertook a taxonomic assessment of each population and resolved this species complex using an integrative approach. A combination of new computational techniques (DAISY-II) in comparative morphology and recent advances in DNA extraction methods and sequencing of museum specimens (WISC) alongside more traditional genetic approaches allowed testing of the three main phenotypes—bienerti, chamyla and apocyni—in terms of their morphological, mitochondrial and biogeographical integrity, and to elucidate their evolutionary relationships. Our results support the existence of two closely related species, Hyles chamyla and H. hippophaes, but the former species H. apocyni (here discussed as the ecological form apocyni of H. chamyla) is best regarded as a hybrid between H. chamyla and H. h. bienerti. The results indicate that the evolutionary relationship between H. chamyla and H. hippophaes is one of admixture in the context of ongoing ecological differentiation, which has led to shared morphological characters and a blurring of the species boundaries. These results clarify the evolutionary relationships of this species complex and open future research lines, including the analysis of nuclear markers and denser sampling, particularly of H. hippophaes and H. vespertilio in western Europe.

A synopsis of the androgynous species ofCarexsubgenusVignea(Cyperaceae) in South America

AbstractThis is the first work of a series of thorough studies into the taxonomy and systematics of Carex in South America. Here, we present the systematic placement, biogeographic insights, taxonomic accounts, formal typifications and summarized distributions for the 24 species of Carex subgenus Vignea with androgynous spikes in the continent. We performed a phylogenetic study using the barcode markers ETS, ITS and matK to check the placement of 22 of these species on a previous tree with > 1000 Carex spp. We examined > 600 specimens from 38 herbaria and conducted an exhaustive nomenclatural survey consulting all pertinent literature. South American androgynous species of subgenus Vignea are grouped in seven distinct lineages, corresponding with the same number of inferred colonizations. Most groups seem to have colonized South America during the Plio-Pleistocene, except for species of section Bracteosae, a local radiation that dates back to the Late Miocene. All colonizations by native species seem to have originated from North America. The two putatively introduced taxa are western Palaearctic species. An identification key is provided for the studied species. We make 19 new typifications and a new species (Carex pedicularis) is described.

The gall wasp fauna of Iran (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipinae): species checklist and biogeographical assessment.

We provide a checklist of the gall wasps (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipinae) of Iran, and place these records in a biogeographical perspective on three spatial scales, comprising (i) the Western Palaearctic, (ii) Western Asia (Turkey, the southern Caucasus and the Middle East) and (iii) regions within Iran. We present distribution and biological data for 121 species in 24 genera, representing nine of the 12 known cynipid gall wasp tribes. The most species-rich tribe in Iran is the oak gall wasp tribe Cynipini, with 74 species and 11 genera. Cynipid species richness is highest in the central and northern Zagros, with a distinctively different fauna in the forests along the southern shores of the Caspian Sea. Of the species found in Iran, 63 have distributions that extend westwards far into Europe, and can be considered Western Palaearctic species. Twenty four species comprise a distinct eastern component within the Western Palaearctic, with distributions that include Iran and some or all of Turkey, the Middle East and the Caucasus. Twenty one species are apparently endemic to Iran, with distinct Zagros and Caspian components. We highlight biological and phylogeographic processes that may underlie these patterns.

Description of a new species and a new record of the genus Nola Leach, 1815 (Lepidoptera, Nolidae, Nolinae) from Tibet, China.

The genus Nola was established with the western Palaearctic species Noctua cucullatella (Linnaeus, 1758) described from Austria as its type species. Nola occurs in all continents except the Antarctica and contains more than 200 valid Eurasian and North African taxa (László et al., 2014). The genus Nola can be easily distinguished from other genera of Nolinae with the distinctive features as the degenerate uncus, the divided valva with the ventral valval lobe bearing the harpe and a curved carina process in male genitalia. In our recent survey, we report a new species Nola senmuzhaensis sp. nov. and a new record of Nola sikkima (Moore, 1888) from Tibet, China. Adults and genitalia are illustrated. The type specimens are deposited in Southwest University of Science and Technology (SWUST).

Female calling, life cycle, and microstructures of the parasitic beetle Ripidius quadriceps Abeille de Perrin.

The precopulatory behaviour of the larviform females of Ripidius quadriceps Abeille de Perrin, 1872 is described. The calling posture of virgin females is documented. The cephalic morphology and microstructures are visualised using scanning electron microscopy, in particular the secretory pores in the cuticle of inflatable maxillary palps. An exhaustive overview of relevant publications revealed that the location of secretory pores on the head of females is unique within the order Coleoptera. Compared to other beetles with sedentary calling females, the calling phase of the short-lived and non-feeding female of Ripidius is exceptionally short. For bioassays, various traps using virgin females of Ripidius were tested. It is likely that the sedentary behaviour of the short-lived female combined with a unique morphology and priority for investing in reproduction is compensated for by the actively flying males with remarkably flabellate antennae. The life cycle of this species, including some of the exceptions recorded at the individual level, is discussed. Perspectives for a biological and morphological survey of this rarely collected western Palaearctic species are outlined. In addition, the calling behaviour, secretory sites and location of pheromone glands in females of Coleoptera producing long range pheromones is reviewed.

Bolbelasmus (Bolbelasmus) zagrosensis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Bolboceratidae), a new species from Iran, along with an updated key to the western Palaearctic species of the subgenus.

Bolbelasmus (Bolbelasmus) zagrosensis Sommer, Hillert, Hrůzová Král, new species, from Iran is described, illustrated and compared with its congeners known from the western Palaearctic region. An updated key to the western Palaearctic species of the nominotypical subgenus is provided. New country record of B. (B.) nireus (Reitter, 1895) from Greece (island of Rhodes) is reported. Distribution of B. (B.) makrisi Miessen, 2011, B. (B.) nireus and the new species is summarized and mapped.