Zootaxa

New records of Diptera from Lagodekhi Reserve, Sakartvelo (Georgia), with descriptions of new species

2026-04-14T11:03:01+12:00

Sixteen families were studied from the survey presented here, seven of which were new to Georgia. Of the 62 genera identified, 54 represent new country records. Of the 140 recorded species, 111 are new records for Georgia, whereas 10 are new for science and described here for the first time. The most diverse family was Sphaeroceridae with 39 species, followed by Agromyzidae with 27. Of the newly described species, seven belong to Agromyzidae: Liriomyza priapus Lonsdale, sp. nov.; Phytomyza (Napomyza) alata Lonsdale, sp. nov.; Phytomyza (P.) affinoides Lonsdale, sp. nov.; Phytomyza (P.) orphne Lonsdale, sp. nov.; Phytomyza (P.) pilosinomia Lonsdale, sp. nov.; Phytomyza (P.) skia Lonsdale, sp. nov.; Phytomyza (P.) villosus Lonsdale, sp. nov.; and three to Sphaeroceridae: Copromyza pileus Brice, sp. nov.; Gonioneura lagodekhiensis Brice, sp. nov.; and Terrilimosina irwini Brice, sp. nov.

**Revisiting the systematics of the Ranitomeya uakarii complex (Anura: Dendrobatidae) with the description of a new species from the Fitzcarrald Arch of Peru and Brazil**

2026-04-14T11:04:10+12:00

A new species of Ranitomeya from Amazonian lowland forests in western Brazil and southeastern Peru is described and named. This species was formerly considered to be an outlying population of R. uakarii on the southern periphery of its distribution. We analyze new and existing phylogenomic data and infer that the new species is not part of nor closely related to R. uakarii, but is sister to a clade including R. benedicta and a lineage referred to here as R. aff. benedicta. The new species can be distinguished from all other Ranitomeya by its distinctive color pattern, with thin yellow stripes on the dorsum, complete dorsolateral stripes, a complete labial stripe, and a single middorsal stripe that extends from the vent, forks into two stripes anterior to the orbital sockets and merges with dorsolateral stripes, forming a large yellow ring on the top of snout. There are four Ranitomeya species that look similar and co-occur in the general distribution of the new species (R. hwata, R. sirensis, R. variabilis, and R. toraro). The new species can be distinguished from all of them by the combination of a complete middorsal stripe and a round black rostral spot. Given the few and temporally scattered known records, the new species appears to be naturally rare, which raises concern regarding its conservation status.

Neocyphon, a new genus of New World marsh beetles closely related to Contacyphon Gozis (Coleoptera: Scirtidae)

2026-04-14T11:05:18+12:00

Neocyphon gen. nov. is proposed to accommodate species previously described in Contacyphon Gozis, 1886: Neocyphon corumbanus (Pic, 1941) comb. nov., Neocyphon guatemalensis (Champion, 1897) comb. nov., and Neocyphon humberti (Pic, 1918) comb. nov., and 10 new species: Neocyphon diiorioi sp. nov. (Brazil, Paraguay), Neocyphon ecuadorensis sp. nov. (Ecuador), Neocyphon guianensis sp. nov. (French Guiana), Neocyphon lojaensis sp. nov. (Ecuador), Neocyphon mesopotamicus sp. nov. (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay), Neocyphon peruvianus sp. nov . (Peru), Neocyphon platensis sp. nov. (Argentina, Uruguay), Neocyphon pseudoplatensis sp. nov. (Argentina), Neocyphon ratzlaffi sp. nov. (The Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominican Republic, USA), and Neocyphon teresopolisensis sp. nov. (Brazil). Neocyphon is a predominantly Neotropical genus ranging from Florida in the north to central and northern Argentina in the south. Two species groups are distinguished, differing in details of structural anatomy of male and female genitalia.

**Investigation of a set of abdominal openings and description of two species of Platyprosopus Mannerheim (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Staphylininae)**

2026-04-14T11:06:17+12:00

Platyprosopini Lynch, 1884 comprises a single genus, Platyprosopus Mannerheim, 1830, whose species exhibit a nearly worldwide distribution. Members of the genus are consistently collected in proximity to rivers or other humid environments. In the present study, we describe two species, including one new species, and provide the first investigation of a set of openings on the abdomen of Platyprosopus. In both P. parallelus Sharp and P. metaxyus sp. nov., we observed three openings situated at the base of tergites and sternites. No internal reservoir was detected, but a reinforced muscular system associated with the openings was present, and a cluster of cells adjacent to the basal insertions is presumed to function in glandular secretion. Because the biology of the genus and the chemical composition of the glandular secretions remain unknown, the function of the openings cannot yet be inferred.

**Review of the Lathrobium tahirai species group (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae) from Japan, with descriptions of six new species**

2026-04-14T11:07:09+12:00

The Lathrobium tahirai species group is reviewed and redefined based on detailed morphological examination of the type specimens and newly available materials from Japan. Six previously described species are redescribed and illustrated with additional taxonomically important characters: L. tahirai Y. Watanabe, 2001, L. kanayamaense Y. Watanabe, 2001, L. nikkoense Y. Watanabe, 2001, L. sinense Herman, 2003, L. krilioni Tikhomirova, 1976, and L. riozoi (Y. Watanabe, 1972) comb. nov. Moreover, L. inflatum Assing. 2013 syn. nov. is placed in synonymy with L. nikkoense. In addition, six new species of this species group from Japan are described and illustrated: L. koseii sp. nov. (Kyushu: Nagasaki Prefecture: Tsushima Is.), L. yatsugatakense sp. nov. (Honshu: Nagano Prefecture), L. hashizumeorum sp. nov. (Honshu: Nagano Prefecture), L. undulatum sp. nov. (Honshu: Nagano Prefecture), L. kainum sp. nov. (Honshu: Yamanashi Prefecture), and L. stomachiforme sp. nov. (Honshu: Yamanashi Prefecture). A key to species of the L. tahirai group is provided.

**Description and morphological phylogeny of Otorongo, a new Andean genus of long-legged flies (Diptera, Dolichopodidae) with claw-like leg spurs**

2026-04-14T11:07:59+12:00

Otorongo Quevedo, Soares & Ramos-Pastrana gen. nov. is erected to accommodate four remarkable newly described species from Colombia and Peru: Otorongo deinonychus sp. nov. (Colombia), O. piscator sp. nov. (Peru), O. runyoni sp. nov. (Colombia) and O. terrificus sp. nov. (Colombia). A cladistic analysis using a morphology-based matrix with 35 characters and 10 terminal taxa, comprising exemplars of most of the Sympycninae genera known from Neotropical fauna was performed to examine the relationships and monophyly of the newly proposed genus. We recovered Otorongo gen. nov. as a monophyletic group, with six autapomorphies mainly associated with male secondary sexual characters: (1) scutellum bearing a fringe of short, hair-like setae, (2) femur III arched, (3) femur III about 2 times wider than femur II, (4) posterodorsal apex of tibia III with a claw-like spur reaching the base of IIIt₁, (5) IIIt₁ with hook-like anterior bristle, and (6) presence of basal sclerite of sperm pump. The main diagnostic characters are discussed, as well as the relationship between Otorongo gen. nov. and other Sympycninae genera. An illustrated dichotomous key and a distribution map to species are also provided.

**New wasps keep coming: two parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) associated with Haloxylon in Iran**

2026-04-14T11:08:49+12:00

The first Iranian species of Copidosoma Ratzeburg, was described in 1970, followed by a second species in 2016. Both species are parasitoids of lepidopterous pests on Pistacia. This study expands the Iranian fauna of this genus through the discovery of a new species, Copidosoma haloxylonae Lotfalizadeh sp. nov., associated with the saxaul tree, Haloxylon ammodendron (C.A. Meyer). Additionally, we report the first record of Psyllaephagus ogazae Sugonjaev for Iran, reared from the same host plant. To contextualize these findings, we provide a comprehensive checklist of all six Iranian Copidosoma species with distribution and biological data, a dichotomous key for their identification, and a redescription of P. ogazae based on Iranian specimens. These results significantly contribute to the understanding of chalcidoid wasp diversity and host associations in arid ecosystems of Iran.

**First record of Pagiocerus frontalis (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in stored maize in Africa**

2026-04-14T11:09:49+12:00

Tanzanian smallholder farmers typically sell maize soon after harvest to avoid storage losses, but emerging pests threaten post-harvest systems and food security. The bark beetle Pagiocerus frontalis (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), a pest of maize and avocado seeds, is reported here for the first time in Africa. First detected in December 2018 on stored provitamin-A maize (CP201) in Arusha, Tanzania, its identity was confirmed through morphological characteristics, feeding behavior, and COI sequence analysis, which revealed close similarity to populations from Mexico and Panama. Pagiocerus frontalis caused severe damage to stored maize grain and to avocado seeds in our preliminary rearing trials. The species also demonstrated the ability to infest multiple maize varieties. Its impacts resemble those of the Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), which caused severe grain losses following its introduction to Africa. Early detection and identification of P. frontalis are therefore critical to mitigate this emerging threat to African food security.

The most wanted! Gorgeous, delicate and surprising: description of three new polycerid species (Mollusca, Heterobranchia) from East Timor

2026-04-14T11:10:40+12:00

Sea slugs are known as the jewels of the sea, prized by most divers and treasured by underwater photographers. Some species are very rare or difficult to spot, but others are quite common and are often featured in field guides and web pages. However, it is surprising that some of those most common and incredibly beautiful creatures are sometimes undescribed species or, in some cases, misidentified as other species. In this paper, we formally name and describe three of these well-photographed species: Thecacera melkyi sp. nov., Thecacera pikachu sp. nov. and Nembrotha lorosae sp. nov. all belonging to the family Polyceridae Alder and Hancock, 1845, and collected in East Timor. We perform species delimitation analyses and present their phylogenetic scenario based on two mitochondrial (COI, 16S rRNA) and one nuclear marker (H3). We also reveal a new color morphotype of Nembrotha purpureolineata O’Donoghue, 1924 and highlight two possible undescribed species—one Thecacera J. Fleming, 1828 and one Nembrotha Bergh, 1877. It is essential to continue searching for and fully describing new species, especially in less-studied regions, to understand the true biodiversity of our seas.

**Revision of the Anthaxia (Haplanthaxia) angustipennis species-group with description of a new subgenus, new species and new subspecies (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)**

2026-04-14T11:11:40+12:00

Several species from the subgenus Richteraxia are reclassified back into the subgenus Haplanthaxia; these species are: A. wittmeri Bílý, 1979, A. angustipennis (Klug, 1829), A. holynskii Bílý, 1990, A. carinivertex Bílý, 2007, A. moises Obenberger, 1921, A. robusticornis Bílý, 1990 and A. semiramis Obenberger, 1913. The A. angustipennis species-group is hereby revised, a key to the species in the group is presented and all member species of the group are illustrated. The subgenus Richteraxia Bílý, 2019 is synonymized with Haplanthaxia Reitter, 1911, syn. nov. A new subgenus, Afroanthaxia subgen. nov. is described. Descriptions of the new species Anthaxia (Haplanthaxia) angustiarabica sp. nov. and the new subspecies Anthaxia (Haplanthaxia) iveta vanharteni ssp. nov. are presented. Anthaxia buettikeri Bílý, 1979 is synonymized with Anthaxia wittmeri Bílý, 1979, syn. nov. Lectotypes are designated for Anthaxia moises Obenberger, 1921 and Anthaxia (Haplanthaxia) samarkandi Obenberger, 1921.

**A taxonomic revision of the Afrotropical weevil genus Araxus Marshall (Curculionidae, Brachycerinae, Tanysphyrini) with the description of two new species**

2026-04-14T11:12:39+12:00

The Afrotropical weevil genus Araxus Marshall, 1955 is herein revised for the first time. Based on adult morphological characters, six species are recognized as valid, two of which are new to science: Araxus crassirostris Caldara, Tedeschi & Fogato sp. nov. and A. parallelipennis Caldara, Tedeschi & Fogato sp. nov., both from Central Africa. Lectotypes are designated for Bagous hovanus Hustache, 1920, B. myrmidon Hustache, 1920, and B. ovalipennis Hustache, 1939. Araxus varius Marshall, 1955 is proposed as syn. nov. of Araxus ovalipennis (Hustache, 1939). Male and female genitalia have been examined and illustrated for the first time. The six species are very similar to and separable from each other by a few subtle features in the habitus, the shape of the tibiae, the shape of the rostrum with or without “false” scrobes, and the shape of male and female genitalia. On the basis of morphological characters, the genus is confirmed to belong to the tribe Tanysphyrini, which is currently included, although doubtfully, in the subfamily Brachycerinae (Curculionidae). Characters distinguishing Araxus from the only other Tanysphyrini genus in the Afrotropical region, Afroryzophilus Lyal, 1990, are presented.

**A review and checklist of Panthea Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Pantheinae) with description of a new species from China**

2026-04-14T11:13:28+12:00

A new species of the genus Panthea Hübner, [1820] 1816, Panthea lishana Hu, Pérez Santa-Rita & Han sp. nov. is described from Lishan National Nature Reserve, Shanxi, China. The adults, male and female genitalia, and diagnostic external characters are illustrated. Externally, P. lishana most closely resembles P. florianii Behounek, Han & Kononenko, 2013 but differs in wing pattern and genitalia traits. DNA barcoding places P. lishana in a well-supported monophyletic clade that has recently diverged from P. florianii, showing a shallow genetic divergence consistent with cryptic differentiation. An updated checklist of Panthea species is provided.

**Additional remarks on Deltanthura palpus (Isopoda: Anthuroidea: Paranthuridae), with an amended diagnosis for Deltanthura and a note on the ontogeny of pereopod 7**

2026-04-14T11:14:22+12:00

Deltanthura Shiraki, Shimomura & Kakui, 2022 is a monotypic paranthurid genus established for Deltanthura palpus Shiraki, Shimomura & Kakui, 2022, which was described from a single female lacking oostegites. It was concluded from the original description that D. palpus is neotenous, because the specimen lacked pereopod 7. Recently collected material revealed that the specimen originally described was a manca-stage individual, and that the condition of pereopod 7 differed among the ontogenetic stages: it is absent in smaller specimens (6.84–10.92 mm; mancae); it has only a few setae and a tiny unguis in middle-sized specimens (12.87–13.67 mm; smaller female-like specimens and a subadult male); and it is generally similar in shape to a pereopod 6 with many setae and a normal-sized unguis, but shorter and narrower (less than 0.7 times pereopod-6 length) in larger specimens (16.56–21.14 mm; a larger female-like specimen and adult males). We present an amended diagnosis for the genus and the amended key to the genera in Paranthuridae, suggest that primary males may be present in D. palpus, and briefly discuss the possibility that this species may be undergoing an evolutionary process toward the loss of pereopod 7 (true neoteny).

Biogeographic trajectories from Gondwana to the present in two families of landhoppers (Amphipoda, Talitroidea), with the description of a new family

2026-04-14T11:15:15+12:00

The currently defined landhopper family Brevitalitridae is divided into two families, the Brevitalitridae sensu stricto and the Spelaeorchestiidae fam. nov. The biogeographic trajectories leading to their current distributions are hypothesised. The possible loss of cusps on the dactyls of walking legs in a landhopper is signalled.

**A new brown-winged Mysidia Westwood from the Guianas (Hemiptera: Derbidae)**

2026-04-14T11:15:59+12:00

A new species of fully brown-winged Mysidia Westwood, 1840, M. undulata sp. nov. is described from material recently collected in French Guiana, additional specimens are recorded from Guyana and Suriname. The novel taxon is similar to M. inquinata Broomfield, 1985, but differs in details of the male genitalia.

**First record of the genus Tridactylus Olivier, 1789 (Orthoptera, Tridactylidae) from China, with description of a new species**

2026-04-14T11:16:49+12:00