Zootaxa

**Description of seven new chigger mite species of the genus Hyracarus Lawrence, 1949 (Acariformes: Trombiculidae: Leeuwenhoekiinae) from the Western Cape Province, South Africa**

2026-01-14T10:33:29+13:00

Seven new species of the chigger mite genus Hyracarus Lawrence, 1949 are described from murid rodents in the Western Cape Province of South Africa: Hyracarus adamsi sp. nov., H. tanneri sp. nov., H. chicoi sp. nov., H. oreillyi sp. nov., H. leei sp. nov., H. lucki sp. nov., and H. britti sp. nov. A new key to species of this genus is compiled, which includes 25 valid species and two dubious species without known types. Currently, nine species of Hyracarus are known in the Western Cape Province—H. minimus Stekolnikov, 2025, H. maximus Stekolnikov, 2025, and the seven new species described herein. Two or more of these nine species (four as maximum) co-occur in the majority of sampled sites where the genus was recorded.

**Taxonomic study of the leafhopper genus Arboridia from China (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae: Erythroneurini)**

2026-01-14T10:34:17+13:00

Species of the genus Arboridia Zachvatkin from China are reviewed, with nine new species described in the nominate subgenus Arboridia: A. (Arboridia) anceps, A. (A.) cuihuashanastra, A. (A.) fluctiformis, A. (A.) longiora, A. (A.) medialis, A. (A.) orbicularis, A. (A.) procurva, A. (A.) tenuicava, and A. (A.) wanshuigouensis spp. nov. One new combination is proposed: A. (A.) cambera (Song & Li, 2016) comb. nov. In addition, two species are newly recorded from China: A. (A.) padi and A. (A.) silvarum. Detailed morphological descriptions and illustrations of these species, along with a checklist of all known species from China are provided.

**Review of Schizosairhynchus (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera: Philopteridae: Brueelia-complex), with descriptions of four new species**

2026-01-14T10:34:54+13:00

Four new species of the head louse genus Schizosairhynchus Gustafsson & Bush, 2017 are described and illustrated based on specimens from Australo-Papuan starlings (Sturnidae). They are: Schizosairhynchus anahitae sp. nov. ex Mino anais orientalis (Schlegel, 1871); Schizosairhynchus bilobus sp. nov. ex Aplonis panayensis strigatus (Horsfield, 1821) and Aplonis panayensis panayensis (Scopoli, 1786); Schizosairhynchus guadalcanalensis sp. nov. ex Mino kreffti (Sclater, 1869) and Schizosairhynchus sarcoplestes sp. nov. ex Sarcops calvus melanonotus Ogilvie-Grant, 1906. The species Schizosairhynchus philippensis (Tandan & Kumar, 1969), Schizosairhynchus erysichthoni Gustafsson & Bush, 2017 and Schizosairhynchus minovenator Gustafsson & Bush, 2017 are reillustrated for comparison. A key to all known species of Schizosairhynchus is given. Also, a list of species of lice belonging to head ecomorph genera parasitizing species of Sturnidae is provided.

**Set to its place: first DNA data on freshwater tardigrades of Sakhalin (Far East Russia) shed light on the phylogenetic position of Mixibius (Eutardigrada: Hypsibioidea)**

2026-01-14T10:35:31+13:00

In this paper I present the results of the first faunistic investigation of the Sakhalin freshwater tardigrade fauna with the use of the integrative taxonomy. In samples of bottom sediments collected in several rivers of South Sakhalin, I found eight species representing three of the four parachelan superfamilies. For most of the species, I obtained mitochondrial COI and nuclear ribosomal 18S rRNA, 28 rRNA and ITS-2 nucleotide sequences, as well as morphological data obtained using light contrast and scanning electron microscopy. The number of tardigrade species known for Sakhalin Island increased from 1 to 9. Among the eight species one is similar to Dactylobiotus dervizi, previously known from Komandorskiye Islands, and one—to Murrayon hastatus. The remaining six species, representing the genera Mixibius, Hypsibius, Dianea and Mesobiotus, are new for science, yet their formal description is not possible because of the small number of isolated specimens. Nevertheless, the inclusion of new molecular data in the phylogenetic analysis of the superfamily Hypsibioidea revealed, for the first time, the presence of a well-supported clade of the enigmatic genus Mixibius and allowed for a establishing its phylogenetic position as a sister clade to the genus Acutuncus within the family Acutuncidae. Moreover, a critical analysis of original descriptions of two species of the genus Mixibius, M. parvus and M. tibetanus, resulted in their transfer to the genus Isohypsibius on the basis of claw morphology. In consequence, amended diagnoses of the family Acutuncidae and the genus Acutuncus are given.

**The Identity of Turritopsis nutricula McCrady 1857 (Hydrozoa, Cnidaria)**

2026-01-14T10:36:06+13:00

Turritopsis nutricula McCrady, 1857, the type species of the genus Turritopsis, has been historically misidentified. This study presents the first comprehensive analysis of medusae morphologically consistent with T. nutricula, and collected from Baldhead Island, North Carolina, in the vicinity of the species’ type locality. Using DNA sequencing of the mitochondrial 16S gene, we provide definitive molecular evidence that distinguishes T. nutricula as a separate lineage within the Turritopsis clade. Our phylogenetic analyses reveal that this species is geographically restricted to the western Atlantic, contradicting earlier claims of its cosmopolitan distribution. Furthermore, we investigate the species’ ability to revert from medusa to polyp, a trait observed in T. dohrnii. Our findings indicate that T. nutricula does not possess this capability, suggesting distinct life cycle characteristics. This research not only clarifies the taxonomic status of T. nutricula but also sets the stage for future genomic studies aimed at understanding reverse development within the genus and the Hydrozoa.

**Additions to the genus Petalocephala Stål from India (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Ledrinae), with description of two new species**

2026-01-14T10:36:51+13:00

Two new species of the tribe Ledrini, Petalocephala dweepa Rajgopal sp. nov. (Andaman Islands: Diglipur) and Petalocephala ishanya Rajgopal sp. nov. (Arunachal Pradesh: Hunli) are described and illustrated from India. The genus Petalocephala is reported from Andaman Is. (India) for the first time in this study. New locality record is also provided for Latycephala viridula Kuoh. All examined material is deposited in the National Insect Museum (NIM), ICAR—National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Bengaluru, India.

**A remarkable new species of Eucyphonia Sakakibara, 1968 (Hemiptera: Membracidae): the hidden beauty of entomological collections**

2026-01-14T10:37:32+13:00

Eucyphonia Sakakibara, 1968, originally described as Cyphonia Laporte, 1832, is characterized by its elaborated pronotum, featuring bilobed suprahumeral processes and ornate posterior process. Examination of Membracidae material housed at the Natural History Museum of Vienna revealed a remarkable new species from Brazil, Eucyphonia nuggetta Rodríguez-Serrano & Raupach sp. nov. This species can be readily distinguished by its ochre body coloration with brown shading and a uniquely coarsely tuberculate pronotal surface, markedly differing from that of other Eucyphonia species. A detailed description and illustrations of this species are provided, together with an updated identification key for Eucyphonia. With this addition, the number of known species in the genus increases to ten. Our findings highlight the critical role of museum collections for documenting hidden diversity and refining taxonomic knowledge in poorly studied groups.

**Review of the highly obscure monotypic genus Ranghana Moore, 1878 with the first description of male from the Sundarbans, Bangladesh (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae)**

2026-01-14T10:38:11+13:00

The obscure Arctiinae genus Ranghana Moore, 1878, is reviewed here. The previously undescribed male of its sole species, Ranghana punctata Moore, 1878, is described and illustrated for the first time, based on material collected from the Sundarbans mangrove forest, Bangladesh. Detailed accounts of the male and female genitalia, along with comprehensive descriptions of the morphology and ecological aspects, are provided and illustrated.

**A new species and a new record of the genus Bucculatrix Zeller, 1839 (Lepidoptera: Bucculatricidae) from Korea**

2026-01-14T10:38:55+13:00

In the present study, a new species, Bucculatrix bipuncticosta sp. nov. is described as new to science. Also, B. comporabile Seksjaeva, 1989, is reported for the first time from Korea. The external morphology and genital structures of them are described and illustrated in detail. In addition, mitochondrial COI DNA barcodes were extracted to analyze and compare the genetic information of Bucculatrix species recorded in Korea.

**A new species of the millipede genus Hedinomorpha Verhoeff, 1934, from China, the first to be reported from Hebei Province (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Paradoxosomatidae)**

2026-01-14T10:40:09+13:00