Journal of Insect Biodiversity https://mapress.com/jib <p><strong>Journal of Insect Biodiversity</strong> (<strong>JIB</strong>) is an international, peer-reviewed scientific journal of Biodiversity Application &amp; Research Center of the Atatürk University. <span lang="EN-GB">JIB is dedicated to publishing high-quality novel </span><span lang="EN-GB">scientific data </span><span lang="EN-GB">on <strong>insect biodiversity</strong>. The aims</span> of this journal are to share and disseminate novel scientific information on the discovery, description, and conservation of insect diversity. </p> Magnolia Press en-US Journal of Insect Biodiversity 2538-1318 Copyright is retained by Magnolia press LTD. <strong>Molecular and morphological studies on the genus <em>Pseudococcus</em> Westwood (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) in Turkey</strong> https://mapress.com/jib/article/view/2023.38.2.1 <p class="Abstract"><span lang="EN-GB">Mealybugs (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) include economically important insect pests worldwide. <em>Pseudococcus </em>Westwood is the second biggest genus in Pseudococcidae, with several pest species. <em>Pseudococcus</em> adult females were collected and identified from wild and cultivated plants in Turkey. Molecular and morphological characters were analyzed to investigate the relationship among species. It was recognized that <em>Pseudoccoccus</em> species are shown in three distinctive groups concerning to both morphological and molecular aspects. </span></p> MEHMET BORA KAYDAN EVİN POLAT AKKÖPRÜ HÜSEYİN YERLİKAYA VITOR CEZAR PACHECO DA SILVA Copyright (c) 2023 Magnolia press 2023-03-30 2023-03-30 38 2 24–36 24–36 10.12976/jib/2023.38.2.1 <strong>Two new species of <em>Sciapus</em> Zeller, 1842 (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) from Iran</strong> https://mapress.com/jib/article/view/2023.38.2.2 <p class="Abstract"><span lang="EN-GB">Two new long-legged fly species, <em>Sciapus basavandae</em><strong> sp. nov.</strong> and <em>S. khuzestanicus</em><strong> sp. nov.</strong> from Sistan and Baluchestan and Khuzestan provinces of Iran are described and illustrated. The two new species appear to be very close to <em>S. sylvaticus</em> Becker, 1907, known from Algeria, differing from the latter in body size, mostly yellow antenna; wider face, abdomen partly yellow, bilobed surstylus, cercus with ventral projection. <em>S. sylvaticus</em> has black antenna, narrow face, entirely dark abdomen, simple and thick surstylus, cercus without ventral projection. A check list and key to 24 <em>Sciapus </em>species of Iran and neighbouring countries are compiled for the first time.</span></p> IGOR YA. GRICHANOV EBRAHIM GILASIAN Copyright (c) 2023 Magnolia press 2023-03-30 2023-03-30 38 2 37–47 37–47 10.12976/jib/2023.38.2.2 <strong>Moss-inhabiting beetles of the West Indies (Insecta: Coleoptera)</strong> https://mapress.com/jib/article/view/2023.38.2.3 <p class="Abstract"><span lang="EN-GB">This study is the first attempt to assess the diversity of beetles (Coleoptera) in terrestrial moss cushions on three West Indian islands (Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico) based on 10 years of moss sampling in 18 localities. In total 1711 adult beetles were collected. They belong to 234 species from 30 families. The most species and specimen rich families are Staphylinidae (86 morphospecies and 1195 specimens), Curculionidae (61 morphospecies and 131 specimens), and Chrysomelidae (16 morphospecies and 185 specimens). In addition to basic bryobionts feeding on moss tissues, moss cushions host a diverse fauna of mycophagous and saprophagous Coleoptera together with predaceous species of beetles. Our results suggest that community composition in moss inhabiting beetles is determined both by geographical isolation processes and, to a lesser degree, by environmental variation across altitudinal gradients. This confirms that the greater relevance of geographical isolation is a common pattern in organisms with limited dispersal ability. Beetle abundance was not significantly related to either the volume of moss or the substrate. Despite being not significant (but close to), the observed trend was to higher beetle abundance in moss cushions collected on trees than in those collected on soil/rock. This may be resulting from the greater diversity of fungi and higher number of beetle fungivores associated with tree growing moss communities. </span></p> ALEXANDER S. KONSTANTINOV ANDRÉS BASELGA ROBERT S. ANDERSON CHRISTOPHER CARLTON VLADIMIR I. GUSAROV MICHAEL A. IVIE BRITTANY E. OWENS IGOR M. SOKOLOV ALEXEY K. TISHECHKIN Copyright (c) 2023 Magnolia press 2023-05-09 2023-05-09 38 2 48 72 10.12976/jib/2023.38.2.3