Zootaxa

Systematics of Leonidasdeanea, a new subgenus of Wyeomyia (Diptera: Culicidae), with recognition of Wy. luciae as a valid species and synonymy of Wy. surinamensis with Wy. flui

2026-03-18T12:33:50+13:00

A new subgenus, Leonidasdeanea, of the genus Wyeomyia Theobald, 1901 is established based on morphological and molecular analyses. It comprises three sibling species: Wyeomyia chalcocephala Dyar & Knab, Wy. flui (Bonne-Wepster & Bonne) and Wy. luciae Senevet, Chabelard & Abonnenc, the last of which is resurrected from synonymy with Wy. chalcocephala. The larva, pupa and adult female and male, including the genitalia, of these three species are redescribed, along with a summary of the systematics, bionomics and distribution of the new subgenus. In addition, Wy. surinamensis Bruijning, 1959 is formally recognized as a junior synonym of Wy. flui.

**The first species of the Cis vitulus species-group (Coleoptera: Ciidae) from Brazil**

2026-03-18T12:35:06+13:00

Cis cris sp. nov. is described based on specimens collected in Paulista, Pernambuco, in the Northeast Region of Brazil. It is the first species of the Cis vitulus species-group recorded from Brazil. We provide a detailed description and images of both male and female, including their terminalia.

Phytoseiid mites of Japan (Acari: Mesostigmata)

2026-03-18T12:35:55+13:00

A species list of phytoseiid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) in Japan is presented. The list was compiled from a survey of published literature, re-examination of accessible permanent slides, and from records obtained during field trips. A total of 97 taxa of phytoseiid mites, known to the species level, are so far reported as native to Japan. In addition, eight species are regarded as exotic, having been introduced into Japan. These phytoseiid mites are represented by the three subfamilies and 22 genera. The subfamily with the most known species is the Amblyseiinae Muma, with 64 species, among which 17 are in the genus Amblyseius Berlese, 15 in Neoseiulus Hughes, seven in Typhlodromips De Leon, four in Scapulaseius Karg & Oomen-Kalsbeek, three in each of Euseius Wainstein, Paraphytoseius Swirski & Schechter, and Proprioseiopsis Muma, two in each of Amblyseiulella Muma, Gynaeseius Wainstein, Okiseius Ehara, and Transeius Chant & McMurtry, and one in each of the genera, Amblydromalus (Garman & McGregor), Iphiseius Berlese, Phytoscutus Muma and Phytoseiulus Athias-Henriot. In the subfamily Phytoseiinae Berlese, there are 13 species of Phytoseius Ribaga, while the subfamily Typhlodrominae Wainstein, is represented by 28 species, of these, 23 in Typhlodromus and one species in each of the genera, Chanteius Wainstein, Galendromus Muma, Kuzinellus Wainstein, Paraseiulus Muma and Typhlodromina Muma. Identification keys to subfamilies, tribes, genera and species of the Phytoseiidae in Japan are presented.

**Description of the male of Eucyphonia festiva (Hemiptera: Membracidae) and a reassessment of the distribution of the species**

2026-03-18T12:36:45+13:00

The genus Eucyphonia Sakakibara, 1968 includes ten species distributed in South America. Besides external pronotal morphology, male genitalia is key to help delimit the species within the genus. Eucyphonia festiva Rodríguez-Serrano & Forero, 2019, a species described from the Orinoquia piedmont in Colombia, was known only from the female holotype. The discovery of additional specimens of E. festiva, including males, allows us to describe the male genitalia. In addition, we provide novel data on the distribution of this species documenting a wider occurrence on the Orinoquia foothills in Colombia, and newly record this species from an unknown locality in Brazil, probably corresponding to an area in the Amazon basin. Finally, plant associations are discussed based on label data from specimens, showing that several specimens from Colombia from separate collection events were found associated with unidentified species of Melastomataceae.

**Restoration of the status of Ptilodontella and description of a new species, P. alberti, from the Caucasus and Pontic Mountains (Lepidoptera, Notodontidae, Notodontinae)**

2026-03-18T12:37:34+13:00

The genus Ptilodontella Kiriakoff, 1967 (the type species Bombyx cucullina Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) has been separated from the synonymy with the genus Ptilodon Hübner, 1822 (the type species Phalaena camelina Linnaeus, 1758) and reinstated as a distinct genus (stat. rev.) based on differences in male and female genitalia. Additionally, a new species, Ptilodontella alberti sp. n., has been described from the Greater and Lesser Caucasus and the Pontic Mountains spanning northern Turkey, with the type locality in the Republic of South Ossetia. This new species differs from its close relatives Ptilodontella cucullina (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) comb. rev. and Ptilodontella saerdabensis (Daniel, 1938) comb. n. in the shape of antennal rami and the genitalia of both sexes. Variability in wing patterns among species is demonstrated and is regarded as an unreliable feature for distinguishing the three species. The distribution boundary between the new species and P. cucullina lies between the lowland Pontic steppe and the foothills of the Greater Caucasus, while the boundary between the new species and P. saerdabensis is situated between the Lesser Caucasus and the Alborz Mountains. None of these species are found to fly sympatrically.

**Intraspecific morphological variability of Capila pauripunetata Chou & Gu, 1994 (= C. pauripunetata tamdaoensis Devyatkin, 1996 syn. nov.) (Hesperiidae, Pyrginae)**

2026-03-18T12:39:02+13:00

Based on a comparative study on the morphological characteristics of over sixty specimens, Capila pauripunetata tamdaoensis Devyatkin, 1996 syn. nov. is proposed to be a junior subjective synonym of C. pauripunetata Chou & Gu, 1994. Genitalia of both sexes of C. pauripunetata from Hainan are described. Information on the distribution of this species is discussed.

A new genus of Fontinalicaridinae Schminke (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Parastenocarididae) from Central Brazil, with unique grasping male second pereopod

2026-03-18T12:40:07+13:00

Aggistropodacaris gen. nov., is proposed to accommodate a new species of Fontinalicaridinae found near the National Park of Chapada dos Veadeiros in Goiás, Central Brazil, Tocantins River hydrographic basin. The genus is characterized by a unique morphological adaptation of the males, in which the second pereopod is transformed into a grasping structure. The genus is also characterized by the combination of several characters including 1) a small body size (< 250μm), 2) weak chitinization, 3) lack of integumental windows in the urosome, 4) seven-segmented male antennule, 5) reduced endopod of second pereopod in both male and female, 6) reduced female endopod of third pereopod, 7) elongate endopod of the fourth pereopod reaching midlength of the second exopod in females, and 8) short fifth pereopod in both sexes. Aggistropodacaris gen. nov., is placed within Fontinalicaridinae due to specific apomorphic traits, including the gap between outer setae I-III and dorsal seta VII on the furca, and the bow-like female genital field. Aggistropodacaris gen. nov. shows notable morphological similarities with Siolicaris Jakobi, 1972 and Brasilibathynellocaris Jakobi, 1972, suggesting a close phylogenetic relationship with these genera. The male third pereopod is similar in the new genus and Siolicaris, both with a robust quadratic first exopodite, a short apophysis, and thumb longer than the apophysis with a distal hyaline membrane. The distal hyaline membrane on the male thumb of the third pereopod is also present in Brasilibathynellocaris. Additionally, the fifth pereopod in these three genera is reduced in length, with outer setae located on the distal half. Furthermore, both Aggistropodacaris gen. nov. and Siolicaris exhibit a reduced endopod in the female third pereopod, and the female endopod of the fourth pereopod is longer than the first exopodite, reaching beyond the middle of the second endopodite. This feature is also seen in some species of Brasilibathynellocaris, indicating phylogenetic conservatism across these genera.

**A new Anurida Laboulbène species from China with mitochondrial genome and DNA barcode analyses (Collembola, Neanuridae, Pseudachorutinae)**

2026-03-18T12:41:10+13:00

A new species, Anurida huangxiei sp. nov., discovered from the bank of the Huangpu River in Shanghai, East China, is described and illustrated. It is characterized by the special reticulations on the body, the absence of ocelli, 18–22 elliptical vesicles on PAO, six blunt sensilla with distinct heel and trilobed apical vesicle on Ant. IV, seta p3 in front of p2–p4 line on thoracic segments II and III, seta p2 present on Abd. I–IV, and slender sensilla on dorsal side. In addition, the complete mitochondrial genome of the new species was sequenced and analyzed. Its COI barcode was also compared with other 19 species of the subfamily Pseudachorutinae and the genetic distances between them were calculated.

**Taxonomic review of Korean Drunella Needham (Ephemeroptera: Ephemerellidae), with description of Drunella koreana sp. nov.**

2026-03-18T12:42:03+13:00

Larvae of the genus Drunella Needham, 1905 exhibit intraspecific morphological variation, which has complicated species delimitation—particularly within the Drunella ishiyamana species complex in Northeast Asia. In this study, all five Korean Drunella species were comprehensively reviewed. Phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial COI gene sequences revealed significant genetic divergence between Korean and Japanese D. ishiyamana complex specimens. Korean specimens also differ morphologically, particularly in the shape and size of head horns and abdominal tubercles. These differences support the designation of the Korean population as a new species, Drunella koreana sp. nov. An updated identification key to the Korean Drunella species is provided. The relatively high genetic diversity within the Northeast Asian D. ishiyamana complex is also discussed.

On the unstabilized genus name for the Nearctic greater fritillaries (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Argynnini)

2026-03-18T12:42:49+13:00

There is current disagreement among researchers on whether the Nearctic greater fritillaries, a group that includes several endangered and threatened species, should remain in the genus Speyeria Scudder—in use for 80 years—or be placed as a subgenus of the Palearctic Argynnis Fabricius. A review of the recent scientific literature covering this group revealed the extent of this controversy in that only about half of the articles consulted recognized Speyeria as a subgenus of Argynnis. A summary of molecular phylogenetic studies using a variety of genetic markers provides a possible explanation for why this taxonomic change is controversial. These studies confirmed that species assigned to Speyeria, although generally morphologically similar to Argynnis, form a monophyletic group, a widely-accepted criterion for generic status. Thus, the controversy centers mainly on (1) the issue of taxonomic stability of a long-accepted genus name, (2) the need for increased taxon sampling of Palearctic taxa in phylogenomic studies, and (3) whether genetic divergence thresholds, including those of DNA barcodes analyzed here, can confidently be used as an aid in delimiting genera in the greater fritillaries. Based on the evidence presented here it is proposed that Speyeria be reinstated to full genus status.

**A new species of Caenis Stephens, 1835 (Ephemeroptera: Caenidae) from Madurai, India**

2026-03-18T12:43:32+13:00

Caenis srinii sp. nov. is described from the Karuppayurani pond in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, South India based on larval, subimaginal, and imaginal stages. Diagnostic characters of the new species include distinctive male genitalia, larval setation patterns, and chorionic egg structures. The total number of Caenis species recorded from India is thus raised to fourteen. The most closely related species to C. srinii sp. nov. is Caenis limai Srinivasan, Sivaruban, Barathy & Isack, 2023, and C. ulmeriana Malzacher, 2015. Detailed comparisons with these two species and an updated key of the genus Caenis of south India are provided herein.

**Three new species of Pancorius Simon, 1902 (Araneae: Salticidae) from China**

2026-03-18T12:44:36+13:00

Three new species of Pancorius Simon, 1902 are described from China and named as P. subyingjiang sp. nov. (female), P. yangming sp. nov. (male, female) and P. yunnan sp. nov. (female). Detailed descriptions, photos of somatic features and copulatory organs, as well as a distribution map are provided. Nucleotide data for the barcoding gene, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) of P. yangming sp. nov. (male, female) are provided.