Zootaxa

Synopsis of the pinhole borers of West Malaysia (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Platypodinae)

2026-03-23T13:42:33+13:00

A synopsis of the West (Peninsular) Malaysian fauna of platypodine pinhole borer beetles is provided with information on local and world distribution, host trees, biology and taxonomy. One hundred and thirty-eight species are recorded from West Malaysia, eight for the first time. Diapus borneensis Browne comb. res. and Diapus pendleburyi Schedl comb. res. are restored to Diapus Chapuis from Genyocerus Motschulsky. Platypus philippinensis (Schedl) comb. res. is restored to Platypus Herbst from Dendroplatypus Browne. Attention is drawn to the presence of wax glands on the elytra as a possible synapomorphy defining the genus Genyocerus, and to the probable polyphyly of Peroplatypus Wood and Treptoplatypus Schedl. We also list 16 species for which ‘Malaya’ is included in the distribution in various catalogues, but for which we have been unable to find published records or see West Malaysian specimens. These records require confirmation.

**Review of Pleurosignum Vanhöffen, 1914, with re-descriptions, new genera and species in a new Pleurosignum group in Paramunnidae (Isopoda, Asellota), with remarks on Pleurogonium Sars, 1863**

2026-03-23T13:43:34+13:00

The paramunnid genus Pleurosignum Vanhöffen, 1914, together with related Antennulosignum Nordenstam, 1933, are reviewed. Following a re-assessment of the 2 genera and 5 known species and description of new species from the Antarctic to temperate southern hemisphere, this group of the Paramunnidae (Pleurosignum/Antennulosignum) is divided into 5 genera and 12 species: Pleurosignum Vanhöffen, 1914: P. elongatum Vanhöffen, 1914 (genotype); P. chilense Menzies, 1962; P. brevispinum sp. nov.; P. sp.; Geliduosignum gen. nov.: G. franklinae sp. nov. (genotype); G. magnum (Vanhöffen, 1914) comb. nov.; G. glacialis sp. nov.; G. menziesi sp. nov.; Tinihekesignum gen. nov.: T. hispidum sp. nov. (genotype); Ateleriosignum gen. nov., A. capensis (Kensley, 1977) comb. nov. (genotype); Antennulosignum Nordenstam, 1933: A. elegans Nordenstam, 1933 (genotype); A. grandis sp. nov. These 5 southern hemisphere genera form a distinctive group in the Paramunnidae, which here is diagnosed as a Pleurosignum group, characterised by the combination of elongate eyestalks, narrow, pointed molar, coxal spines on pereonites 1–7 or 2–7, pleotelson with smooth margin, and bi-ramous uropods of unequally sized rami, protopod hidden or absent.

On a new genus of the fossorial wolf spiders from Middle Asia (Araneae, Lycosidae)

2026-03-23T13:44:23+13:00

A new genus, Desertosa gen. nov., is established to accommodate six Middle Asian species of burrowing wolf spiders, of which four are diagnosed and described as new: D. karamola sp. nov. (male, female, SE Kazakhstan), D. kuramin sp. nov. (female, SE Uzbekistan), D. ozernoyi sp. nov. (male, female, SE Kazakhstan), D. zyuzini sp. nov. (male, female, SE Kazakhstan). Two new combinations are proposed: Desertosa kuryk (Esyunin & Efimik, 2025), comb. nov. and D. uzbekistanica (Logunov, 2023), comb. nov.; both ex Lycosa Latreille, 1804. The localities of all Desertosa species are mapped, and an identification key is provided as well. A brief synopsis of the fauna and diversity of the fossorial Lycosidae of Middles Asia is given.

**New high elevation cockroach, Lamproblatta neuque sp. nov. (Dictyoptera: Lamproblattidae) from Colombia**

2026-03-23T13:45:37+13:00

We describe Lamproblatta neuque sp. nov., a new cockroach species from high-elevation forest patches (~2600 m a.s.l.) near Bogotá, Colombia. This species is distinguished by a W-shaped ninth tergite, unique morphology of the subgenital and supra-anal plates, and the structure of the ootheca. Males also exhibit a small tergal gland on the supra-anal plate, expanding the known variation of this feature within Lamproblattidae. The discovery of L. neuque sp. nov. at an unusually high elevation highlights the persistence of biodiversity in remnant Andean forest habitats. Our findings underscore the need for a taxonomic revision of Lamproblattidae integrating morphological and genetic evidence.

Three new osmiine bee species from the extreme desert of Saudi Arabia with specialized pollen-collecting behaviours (Megachilidae, Osmiini)

2026-03-23T13:46:33+13:00

Three new osmiine bee species (Megachilidae, Osmiini) inhabiting the Arabian desert are described: Hoplitis (Hoplitis) heliotropii sp. nov. from Saudi Arabia, H. (Hoplitis) trichodesmae sp. nov. from Saudi Arabia and the Arava Valley in Israel, and H. (Platosmia) trisinuata sp. nov. from Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Field observations and microscopical analyses of female pollen loads indicate that all three species exhibit a pronounced preference for Boraginaceae as pollen hosts, i.e. H. heliotropii and H. trisinuata for Heliotropium and H. trichodesmae for Trichodesma. The females of H. heliotropii and H. trisinuata possess apically curved or hooked bristles on the proboscis and the fore legs, respectively, which they use to scrape pollen out of the narrow flower tubes of Heliotropium, whereas females of H. trichodesmae apply buzzing to shake pollen out of the flowers of Trichodesma. The occurrence of specialized pollen-collecting bristles used by Palaearctic bees and pollen wasps to exploit Heliotropium flowers and the buzzing behaviour in bees of the Megachilidae are discussed.

**The genus Heterotarsus Latreille (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) in India**

2026-03-23T13:47:26+13:00

The study of the genus Heterotarsus from India, resulted in the discovery of the Sri Lankan species Heterotarsus ceylonicus Kaszab, 1976 from India. In addition to the identification key, images of type specimens and examined material, diagnosis and checklist of Heterotarsus species from India are provided.

**A new species of Lampanyctus (Myctophiformes: Myctophidae) from the western South Pacific Ocean**

2026-03-23T13:48:19+13:00

Lampanyctus mendeleevi sp. nov. is described from the New Zealand-east Australian region of the western South Pacific Ocean. It has relatively long pectoral fins, no cheek photophores, no luminous tissue at the base of the adipose fin, and an infracaudal gland extending the entire length of the caudal peduncle expanded to touch or nearly touch the AOp series.

**Two new species from China of the Californian grass-living genus Prosopoanaphothrips (Thysanoptera, Thripinae)**

2026-03-23T13:49:06+13:00

The Californian grass-living genus Prosopoanaphothrips is newly recorded from China with two new species, P. flavipes sp. nov. from Aba, Sichuan and P. qilianshanensis sp. nov. from Qilian, Qinghai. These two are distinguished from the type species, P. reticulatus, by antennal segment IV with a forked sense cone.

**First report of the flea beetle genus Tegyrius Jacoby in Malaysia and Indonesia with descriptions of two new species (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini)**

2026-03-23T13:50:07+13:00

The flea beetle genus Tegyrius Jacoby (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini) is newly reported from Malaysia and Indonesia. Tegyrius clarki sp. nov. from Malaysia and T. indonesiana sp. nov. from Indonesia are described and illustrated.

Pyralis transcaspica Rebel, 1903 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), a little-known species newly recorded from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan

2026-03-23T13:51:05+13:00

Pyralis transcaspica Rebel, 1903 is redescribed, key identification features are listed, and imago and male genitalia are figured. This species is firstly recorded from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. Habitats of P. transcaspica Rebel, 1903 are described and figured. Pyralis transcaspica Rebel, 1903 and P. perversalis (Herrich-Schäffer, 1849) are compared by their morphology and COI sequence; both features confirmed species delimitation.

**A new species of Agarwalencyrtus Hayat (Hymenoptera, Encyrtidae) from China**

2026-03-23T13:52:12+13:00

A new species of Agarwalencyrtus Hayat, 1981 (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), Agarwalencyrtus nigroscutellatus sp. nov., is described from Chuxiong, Yunnan Province, China, and a key to all known species based on females is presented.

**Synonymic revision of a species of Teleogryllus Chopard, 1961 from China (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Gryllinae) with a new country record**

2026-03-23T13:53:10+13:00