Revision of the spider family Zodariidae (Arachnida, Araneae) in Iran and Turkmenistan, with seventeen new species

Species of the spider family Zodariidae occurring in Iran and Turkmenistan are reviewed. Seventeen species of three subfamilies are described as new to science: Lachesanakavirensissp. nov. (♂, Qom; northern Iran), L.perseussp. nov. (♂, Alborz; northern Iran) (Lachesaninae), Paxellipitasp. nov. (♂♀, Kermanshah and Lorestan; western Iran), P.leilasp. nov. (♂♀, Fars; southwestern Iran) (Storeninae), Acanthinozodiumarmitasp. nov. (♂, Tehran; northern Iran), A.atrisasp. nov. (♂♀, Qazvin and Tehran; northern Iran), A.diarasp. nov. (♂, Ilam and Lorestan; western Iran), A.dorsasp. nov. (♂♀, Fars; southern Iran), A.elburzicumsp. nov. (♂♀, Tehran; northern Iran), A.kianasp. nov. (♂, Kurdistan; western Iran), A.masasp. nov. (♂, Kermanshah; western Iran), A.niushasp. nov. (♂♀, Fars, Isfahan and Markazi; central Iran), A.ovtchinnikovisp. nov. (♂, Mary; southeastern Turkmenistan), A.parmidasp. nov. (♂, Isfahan; central Iran), A.parysatissp. nov. (♂♀, Ardabil and Qazvin; northern and northwestern Iran), A.soranisp. nov. (♂, East Azerbaijan and Kurdistan; northwestern and western Iran) and Trygetussusianussp. nov. (♀, Khuzestan; southwestern Iran) (Zodariinae). Zodariellum Andreeva & Tyshchenko, 1968, currently comprising only the type species (Z.surprisum Andreeva & Tyshchenko, 1968) is rediagnosed, with the following species being (re)transferred to it: Z.asiaticum (Tyshchenko, 1970) comb. res., Z.bactrianum (Kroneberg, 1875) comb. nov., Z.bekuzini (Nenilin, 1985) comb. res., Z.chaoyangense (Zhu & Zhu, 1983) comb. res., Z.continentalis (Andreeva & Tyshchenko, 1968) comb. res., Z.furcum (Zhu, 1988) comb. res., Z.mongolicum Marusik & Koponen, 2001 comb. res., Z.proszynskii (Nenilin & Fet, 1985) comb. res., Z.nenilini (Eskov, 1996) comb. res., Z.surprisum Andreeva & Tyshchenko, 1968 comb. res., Z.schmidti Marusik & Koponen, 2001 comb. res., Z.sytchevskajae (Nenilin & Fet, 1985) comb. res. and Z.volgouralensis Ponomarev, 2007 comb. res. (all ex. Zodarion); out of these, Z.proszynskii Nenilin & Fet, 1985, previously known only from the type locality in Turkmenistan, is recorded from northeastern Iran for the first time. This paper raises the number of zodariids known from Iran to 22 species from seven genera (including the first Iranian records of Acanthinozodium Denis, 1966, Pax Levy, 1990 and Zodariellum) and those known from Turkmenistan to five species from five genera (including the first record of Acanthinozodium from this country). Regional distribution records of all species are mapped.

A small collection of Endeis juveniles (Arthropoda: Pycnogonida: Endeidae) sorted from the fouling organisms on the R/V Dayangyihao

Background

Endeis straughani Clark, 1970 was originally described from Queensland, Australia. Its range was extended to Ghana, West Africa when E. picta Bamber, 1979 was synonymised with E. straughani by Staples (1982). The current paper extends this range further, to include Port Louis, Mauritius.

New information

Five immature individuals gathered amongst hydroids during the 5^th leg of the DY125-34 expedition were tentatively identified as E. straughani juveniles. Since these were collected from the fouling community on the ship's hull, they probably originated in Port Louis (Mauritius) when the ship was docked there.

New record of the lace bug species Acalypta marginata (Wolff) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Tingidae) from Japan

Background

The lace bug species Acalyptamarginata (Wolff, 1804) has, to date, been widely known to occur in the Palaearctic Region, but has not been recorded from Japan.

New information

Acalyptamarginata is recorded from Japan for the first time. Its habitat in Japan is the grassland of Hokkaido. A key to the species of Acalypta occurring in Japan is provided.

Four new species of the genus Cratospila Foerster (Hymenopter, Braconidae, Alysiinae) from South Korea

The species of the genus Cratospila Foerster, 1863 (Braconidae, Alysiinae) from South Korea are revised, and the genus is recorded for the first time from South Korea. All four species are new to science, and Cratospilaalbiferasp. nov., C.ejuncidasp. nov., C.luteocephalasp. nov., and C.syntomasp. nov. are described and illustrated herein. In addition, COI has been sequenced of three species. A key to the Korean species is provided.

First record of the cimicomorphan family Plokiophilidae (Hemiptera, Heteroptera) from China, with description of a new species of Plokiophiloides

Plokiophiloidesbannaensissp. nov., is described from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, representing the first record of the family Plokiophilidae from China. The new species also represents the first record of the genus Plokiophiloides in the Oriental Region, a second zoogeographical region besides the Afrotropical Region. Photographs of the live individuals inhabiting a spider web within natural habitats, male and female habitus, wings of adult, male genitalic structures, female abdomen structures and scanning electron micrographs of forewing, head, thorax and legs are provided. A key to all known species of Plokiophiloides is presented, with a distribution map.

The first record of the genus Laemostenus from China, with descriptions of two new species from the Himalaya (Carabidae, Sphodrini, Sphodrina)

The genus Laemostenus is recorded from China for the first time, and two new species are described: L. (Pristonychus) zhentangensissp. nov. (type locality: Dinggyê County, Xizang), and L. (P.) zhamensissp. nov. (type locality: Nyalam County, Xizang). The relationships of these new species are briefly discussed.

The tribe Phanerotomini (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Cheloninae) of the Arabian Peninsula, with special reference to the United Arab Emirates and Yemen

For the first time the tribe Phanerotomini (Braconidae, Cheloninae) of the Arabian Peninsula is revised, illustrated by colour photographs and keyed. It resulted in twenty-one new species (of which 20 species belong to the genus Phanerotoma and representing 75% of the reported species): Phanerotomella yemenitica sp. nov., Phanerotoma angusticrus sp. nov., P. artocornuta sp. nov., P. aspidiota sp. nov., P. brunneivena sp. nov., P. caudatoides sp. nov., P. glabritemporalis sp. nov., P. granulata sp. nov., P. ejuncida sp. nov., P. hellyeri sp. nov., P. latifemorata sp. nov., P. lepta sp. nov., P. longivena sp. nov., P. mesocellata sp. nov., P. microdonta sp. nov., P. micrommata sp. nov., P. sculptilis sp. nov., P. signifera sp. nov., P. spuriserrata sp. nov., P. stenochora sp. nov., and P. vanharteni sp. nov. Reported as new for United Arab Emirates and Yemen are Phanerotoma graciloides van Achterberg, 1990, P. masiana Fahringer, 1934, and P. leucobasis Kriechbaumer, 1894 (the latter also for Saudi Arabia), for United Arab Emirates P. ocularis Kohl, 1906, and P. robusta Zettel, 1988, and for Yemen P. bilinea Lyle, 1924, P. flavivena Edmardash & Gadallah, 2019, and P. permixtellae Fischer, 1968. Phanerotoma caboverdensis Hedqvist, 1965, syn. nov. is synonymised with P. leucobasis Kriechbaumer, 1894.

The first record of the genus Belenois (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) from China

Background

The family Pieridae is a large group of butterflies which plays an important role in evolutionary biology and contains many potential pests (Courtney 1986). Pieridae is a cosmopolitan family while the tropics harbour higher species richness. In a very recent expedition to the Chinese-Indian border area in Tibet Autonomous Region, a migratory species, Belenoisaurota (Fabricius, 1793), was discovered for the first time, which comprises the first record of the genus Belenois in China and the highest altitude record of this species.

New information

The species B.aurota (Fabricius, 1793) is the first record of the genus Belenois from China. The specimen was collected at an altitude of about 3,000 m in Tibet Autonomous Region. Relevant details are presented for the species.

The first record of Tremoctopus violaceus sensu stricto Delle Chiaje,1830 in southwestern Gulf of Mexico gives a hint of the taxonomic status of Tremoctopus gracilis

Knowledge on species taxonomic identity is essential to understand biological and biogeographical processes and for studies on biodiversity. Species the genus Tremoctopus have been confused in the past and are inconsistently identified. To clarify of the taxonomic diagnosis Tremoctopusviolaceus Delle Chiaje, 1830, an evaluation of morphological and meristic characters, as well as morphometric indices and genetic analyses, was undertaken. The analyzed octopod was an opportunistically collected mature female of 640 mm in total length, with a mantle length of 135 mm and a total weight of 1.02 kg. Evidence of autotomy as a defensive mechanism for protecting the egg mass is presented. The 16S haplotype sequenced from this specimen represents the first one publicly available for this species from the Gulf of Mexico. The genetic divergence between this haplotype and those reported from the Pacific Ocean is representative of interspecific variation in other taxa, which suggests that “T.violaceus” in the Pacific Ocean (KY649286, MN435565, and AJ252767) should be addressed as T.gracilis instead. Genetic evidence to separate T.violaceus and T.gracilis is presented. The studied specimen from the Gulf of Mexico represents the westernmost known occurrence of T.violaceus and the first record from the southwestern Gulf of Mexico.

Redescription of Brennanacarus annereauxi (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae) With New Records for Uruguay

Brennanacarus annereauxi (Brennan and Yunker, 1969) was described from Venezuela parasitizing the greater spear-nosed bat. The monotypic genus Brennanacarus Goff, Yunker and Wheeler, 1987 is a replacement name for Nasicola Brennan and Yunker, 1969, which was preoccupied by Nasicola Yamaguti, 1968. Here, we redescribe the genus Brennanacarus and the type species B. annereauxi. Also, this is the first record of this species, as well as the second record of any chigger, for Uruguay.

A Revision of Parasecia (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae) With a Description of a New Species, a New Genus and a Key to Species

Chiggers of the genus Parasecia Loomis parasitize birds, mammals, and reptiles in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. In the present review, we examined 18 species previously included in the genus, 15 of them being retained in the genus Parasecia, one genus is created, Nahuacarus bulbocalcarn. gen. (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae), and new combinations are proposed for two species: Lorillatum lasiurusn. comb. and Lorillatum orphanan. comb. (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae). In addition, Parasecia kansasensis (Loomis) (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae) is synonymized with Parasecia gurneyi (Ewing) (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae), Parasecia gilbetoin. sp. (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae) is described and new locality and host records are added for Parasecia chara (Wharton), Parasecia longicalcar (Brennan and Jones), Parasecia manueli (Brennan and Jones), and Parasecia thalurania (Brennan) (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae).

Incursion and establishment of the Old World arbovirus vector Aedes (Fredwardsius) vittatus (Bigot, 1861) in the Americas

Routine biosurveillance efforts at the Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on 18 June 2019, detected two unusual mosquitos in a CO₂-baited CDC light trap. Morphological and molecular analysis confirmed the presence of Aedes (Fredwardsius) vittatus (Bigot, 1861) - the first record of the Old World dengue, chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever virus vector into the Americas - and provides evidence for its establishment in Cuba. Newly submitted GenBank sequences from Dominican Republic further evidence its establishment in the Caribbean, and a median-joining network analysis using mitochondrial COI gene sequences clearly supports multiple introductions of Ae. vittatus into the Caribbean from the Indian subcontinent. It was determined that many Ae. vittatus COI barcode sequences in GenBank are currently misidentified as Aedes (Fredwardsius) cogilli Edwards, 1922.

Three Species of Xiphinema Americanum-group Complex (Nematoda: Longidoridae), from Lorestan Province, Iran

The dagger nematodes of the longidorids can cause diseases of various agronomic and horticultural crops, and are consisted of more than 260 valid species. In a forest survey of ecotypes of longidorid nematodes, from the root zone soil of Brant’s oak, (Quercus brantii Lindl.) and hawthorn (Crataegus aronia L.) trees, three species of Xiphinema americanum group namely Xiphinema pachtaicum, X. oxycaudatum and X. plesiopachtaicum were collected and studied based on their morphological and morphometric characters. X. pachtaicum is prevalent Xiphinema species in Iran. In this paper additional data for X. oxycaudatum and X. plesiopachtaicum species are presented. X. plesiopachtaicum is a new record for nematode fauna of Iran.

The Genus Acervus from Southwestern China and Northern Thailand

Acervus (Pyronemataceae, Pezizales) is a saprobic genus in Pezizomycetes, characterized by colored apothecia, subcylindrical to cylindrical asci and guttulate ascospores. We collected four Acervus samples from China and Thailand. Descriptions and illustrations are introduced for all fresh samples. One new record of A. globulosus from Thailand, one new species, A. rufus, two known species, A. epispartius and A. stipitatus from China are reported. Phylogenetic analysis based on five genes, the large subunit rRNA (LSU), the translation elongation factor-1 alpha (tef1-α), the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb2), the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb1), and the small subunit rRNA (SSU), revealed the distinct position of the new species. The new species is set apart by its red apothecia. A key to Acervus species is also given.

On some squat lobsters from India (Decapoda, Anomura, Munididae), with description of a new species of Paramunida Baba, 1988

Squat lobster specimens belonging to the family Munididae were recently collected along the southwestern coast of the mainland of India and in the Andaman Islands. The specimens belong to two known species, Agononida prolixa (Alcock, 1894) and Munida compacta Macpherson, 1997, and a new species, Paramunida bineeshi sp. nov. We here redescribe A. prolixa and describe and figure the new species. Munida compacta is newly recorded from India, and we figure the live coloration. In addition, molecular and phylogenetic analyses of two mitochondrial markers (16S rRNA and COI) revealed the phylogenetic relationships of M. compacta and P. bineeshi sp. nov. with their most closely related congeners. The genetic similarity among the individuals of M. compacta from different locations is also addressed.

New records and checklist of Chilocorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) from China

Background

China is one of the countries with the greatest species diversity of Chilocorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), including nearly forty-five percent of the known genera and fourteen percent of all described species in this tribe. Recently, we discovered three species previously not recorded in China.

New information

In this study, three species Priscibrumusuropygialis (Mulsant, 1853), Priscibrumusdisjunctus Canepari, 1997 and Brumusoctosignatus (Gebler, 1830) are documented for the first time in China. Brumusoctosignatus is the first member of the genus Brumus Mulsant, 1850 recorded in China. Detailed descriptions, illustrations and distributions of these three species are provided. A checklist of Chinese Chilocorini is also given.

Identification, Characterization, and Pathogenicity of Colletotrichum Species Causing Anthracnose of Peach in Korea

Peach (Prunus persica L.) is one of the major fruit crops in South Korea, along with apple, persimmon, and Asian pears. Peach anthracnose is a continuing threat to growers and is accountable for enormous economic loss. In July 2018, anthracnose of peach appeared at different peach orchards in Gyeongsangbuk-do region, Korea. The typical anthracnose symptoms (brown, circular, and necrotic lesions) were observed on the fruits. Anthracnose of peach was surveyed in different peach orchards of Gyeongsangbuk-do, and 20 fungal isolates from 19 diseased fruits were collected. Multigene phylogenetic analyses coupled with morphological characteristic analysis approaches were used for identifying the fungal species isolated from diseased fruits. This study confirmed three Colletotrichum species. Based on the results, Colletotrichum siamense are reported for the first time as causal agents of peach anthracnose alongside C. fructicola and C. fioriniae, which has been reported previously. Pathogenicity assays were performed for the three isolates representing all the species identified, and Koch's postulates on detached healthy peach fruits were verified. All the identified species were pathogenic on peach fruits as the typical anthracnose symptoms were reproduced. Significant variations in the virulence were observed among fungal species on peach fruit.

Checklist of hover flies (Diptera, Syrphidae) of the Republic of Georgia

A checklist of the Syrphidae species of the Republic of Georgia is presented. New hover fly (Diptera: Syrphidae) records from Georgia are provided as a result of field work conducted in 2018. At the same time, published syrphid records for the country are here reviewed and updated. A total of 357 species of hoverflies are now documented from Georgia, 40 of which are reported for the first time. Moreover, DNA barcodes were sequenced for 238 specimens, representing 74 species from this country.

Discovery of an Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus population and first records of Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti in Canada

A population of Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae), a vector of chikungunya, dengue, yellow fever, and Zika and West Nile viruses, has been detected in Windsor, Ontario, Canada from 2016 onwards. Here, we describe its seasonal distribution, as well as the various aquatic habitats from which this species was collected and its larval co-habitation. We collected immatures from tires, treeholes, extruded polystyrene foam containers, discarded plastic cups, old recycling bins and oviposition traps. Aedes albopictus larvae were collected with Aedes japonicus (Theobald), Anopheles punctipennis (Say), Culex pipiens Linnaeus, Ochlerotatus hendersoni (Cockerell), Ochlerotatus triseriatus (Say) and Orthopodomyia signifera (Coquillett). Adult female and male specimens were collected from Biogents sentinel traps (Biogents AG, Regensburg, Germany), as well as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention miniature light traps (CDC, Atlanta, GA, U.S.A.), and also as they alighted on the investigators. Peak adult collections occurred in September during epidemiological week 37. We also collected Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus), a new record for Canada, in 2016 and from two new collection sites in 2017. The 2017 collections were 3.5 km north and 19.4 km south of the index site. The present study adds to the increasing number of studies reporting range expansions of these mosquito species.

Jewel beetles (Coleoptera, Buprestidae) collected during the 2018 field survey on Iejima Island, the Okinawa Islands, Ryukyus, south-western Japan

Background

Only one jewel beetle, Chrysodema (Marcsikiella) dalmanni (Eschscholtz) (Coleoptera, Buprestidae) has hitherto been recorded from Iejima Is. in the Okinawa Isls., Ryukyus, south-western Japan.

New information

A total of seven jewel beetles were collected on Iejima Is. The following six species are newly recorded from the island: 1) Paratrachysprincepschujoi Kurosawa, 2) Chrysodema (Chrysodema) lewisii Saunders, 3) Chalcophorajaponicaoshimana Schönfeldt, 4) Coraebushastanus Gory and Laporte, 5) Sambusquadricolorquadricolor Saunders and 6) Agrilusokinawensisshiozakii Tôyama.

Genetic differentiation and phylogenetic relationship of 11 Asian Sisorinae genera (Siluriformes: Sisoridae) with new record of Pseudolaguvia foveolata

Studies on Sisorinae systematics have been largely restricted to morphological data with few studies on examination of phylogenetic relations. However, no study has been done to evaluate genetic distance of the genera under Sisorinae sub-family and detailed phylogenetic relations within it. We used nuclear recombination activating 2 (rag2) gene and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene from 64 species to examine genetic differentiation and phylogenetic relationships within 11 Asian Sisorinae genera. The range of interspecies K2P distance for rag2 was 0-0.061 and COI was 0-0.204. Phylogenetic analysis based on maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian (BI) approaches for each locus individually and for the concatenated rag2 and COI sequences revealed three major subclades viz. Bagariini, Sisorini and Erethistini under subfamily Sisorinae. The analysis based on COI gene showed ((Sisorini, Bagariini), Erethistini) relationship. Rag2 and combined rag2 and COI showed ((Sisorini, Erethistini), Bagariini) relationship. Combined rag2 and COI analyses resulted into better resolved trees with a good bootstrap support. In this study, new record of Pseudolaguvia foveolata (Erethistini) has been documented based on 13 specimens collected from Torsa River, Jaldapara, Alipurduar district, West Bengal, India (26°43'44.66″ N and 89°19'32.34″ E), extending its distribution range in Brahmaputra drainage, India. The genetic distance between the P. foveolata new record and the reported P. foveolata (holotype: UMMZ 244867) was 0.00 at both rag2 and COI locus and it was further grouped with P. foveolata Type specimen (holotype: UMMZ 244867) with 100% bootstrap support. This report gives additional information on occurrence of the species P. foveolata, along with discussion on morphometric, meristic and molecular (COI and rag2 gene) data.

A new species and two new records of Goniothalamus (Annonaceae) from Lao PDR

Goniothalamus saccopetaloides Y.H. Tan & Bin Yang, a new species is described and illustrated from Laos. This species shows morphological similarities to G. yunnanensis W.T. Wang, but it differs from the latter by having almost fleshy, involute and saccate outer petals, subglobose monocarps, and single seeded monocarps. Goniothalamus cheliensis, and G. calvicarpus are new records for the Flora of Lao PDR. A key to Goniothalamus species indigenous to Laos is provided here.

Bump-head sunfish Mola alexandrini photographed in the north-west Pacific Ocean mesopelagic zone

We report a bump-head sunfish Mola alexandrini (120-130 cm estimated total length) photographed from a manned submersible at a depth of 220 m off Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, in May 2004. Mola alexandrini is often misidentified as the ocean sunfish Mola mola. This individual represented three records for this species: first record by a manned submersible, second record from the mesopelagic zone in the north-west Pacific Ocean and a new distributional record from Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.

The first report of Nervilia lilacea Jum. & H. Perrier (Orchidaceae, Epidendroideae) from Kenya and the Northern Hemisphere

Nervilia lilacea is recorded from Kenya as well as the Northern Hemisphere for the first time. A plate of ink drawing and a distribution map are provided based on the new collection.

Genetic and historical evidence of common sawsharks Pristiophorus cirratus in the waters of southern Queensland

In 2011, a male pristiophorid was caught by a prawn trawler north east of Cape Moreton, Queensland, Australia. Molecular analyses confirmed the specimen to be the common sawshark Pristiophorus cirratus. Historical catch data indicate the occurrence of the species in the region but this is the first verified record of P. cirratus occurring in the waters of southern Queensland. Together, these records extend the recognised northern limit of P. cirratus by c. 500 km, which suggests that further investigation of its distribution is warranted.