Zootaxa

**Seven new species of the genus Diochus Erichson (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae, Staphylininae, Diochini)**

2026-03-10T12:20:19+13:00

Seven new species of the genus Diochus Erichson, 1839 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae, Staphylininae, Diochini) are described in this paper: Diochus quadraticeps sp. nov. and D. sinuatus sp. nov. from Thailand; D. moluccanus sp. nov. from Indonesia; D. ullrichi sp. nov. and D. madangensis sp. nov. from Papua New Guinea; D. insularis sp. nov. from China (Taiwan, Hongkong), Japan, Mauritius, Reunion and Rodriguez; D. parvoculatus sp. nov. from Peru. Photographs and line drawing plates for each new species are provided.

Three new species of Microlaimidae (Nematoda: Microlaimida) from intertidal sand of the Sea of Japan

2026-03-10T12:21:14+13:00

Three new species of Microlaimidae are described from the sand coast of the Sea of Japan (Russian coast). Among previously discovered free-living nematodes, the genera Microlaimus and Bolbolaimus are recorded for the first time. Bolbolaimus mirandus sp. nov. is characterised by anterior cephalic region set off from the body, large cuticularised buccal cavity with one strong dorsal tooth and two noticeable subventral teeth, muscular anterior and posterior pharyngeal bulbs, curved not cephalated spicules, short and simple gubernaculum, and short and conical tail. Bolbolaimus selinae sp. nov. has an annulated cuticle with very close and fine longitudinal bars; anterior and posterior pharyngeal bulb; large buccal cavity with one large dorsal tooth, two small subventral teeth in the anterior part, and transversal rows of protrusions in the posterior part; amphidial fovea oval shaped in males and circular shaped in females. Microlaimus asiaticus sp. nov. is characterised by monospiral amphidial fovea turning ventrally at the level of posterior part of cup-shaped buccal cavity, weakly conspicuous dorsal tooth and two small subventral protrusions; small circular pharyngeal bulb; four conical precloacal supplements in male, and conical tail. These findings expand the taxonomic knowledge and geographic distribution of Microlaimidae in the Pacific region.

**A new species of Ischnocnema lactea series (Anura: Brachycephalidae) from the highlands of Serra do Caparaó, Atlantic Forest, southeastern Brazil**

2026-03-10T12:22:09+13:00

A new species of frog from the Ischnocnema lactea series is described from Serra do Caparaó mountain range, state of Espírito Santo, southeastern Brazil. It is a small robber frog characterized by distinct red coloration on its fingers and toes, as well as on its concealed areas of inguinal region, thigh, tibia, and tarsus. The description of the new species is based on morphological and mtDNA data, and it is placed within the I. lactea species series with high support values. Phylogenetic analyses place the new species as a sister species to I. bocaina and I. spanios, confirming its membership in the I. lactea series. The species was discovered at montane elevations in the Caparaó National Park, a region of great ecological significance as a remnant of the critically endangered Atlantic Forest biome. The discovery of this tiny new species highlights the biological richness of the Caparaó highlands and reinforces the importance of ongoing conservation efforts in this biodiversity hotspot.

**Studies on the genus Rhyparus Westwood, 1845 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) with description of five new species from Southeast Asia**

2026-03-10T12:23:05+13:00

Five new Rhyparus Westwood, 1845 species from Southeast Asia are described and illustrated: Rhyparus banyuwangiensis Minkina, sp. nov. from Indonesia (Java), R. crockerrangensis Minkina, sp. nov. from Malaysia (Borneo), R. edelmani Minkina, sp. nov. from Indonesia (Sulawesi), R. halmaheraensis Minkina, sp. nov. from Indonesia (Halmahera) and R. krikkeni Minkina, sp. nov. from Indonesia (Sulawesi). Rhyparus breviceps Paulian, 1984 is reported for the first time from the island of Sulawesi—the population there differs slightly from the typical specimens, as discussed.

**A new species of the chirostylid squat lobster genus Uroptychus Henderson, 1888 (Decapoda: Anomura: Chirostylidae) from the Hoei Seamount, Nishi-Shichito Ridge, Northwest Pacific off Japan**

2026-03-10T12:23:59+13:00

A new species of the chirostylid squat lobster, Uroptychus roseus sp. nov., is described based on two specimens (heterosexual pair) from the Hoei Seamount in the Nishi-Shichito Ridge, Northwest Pacific off Japan, at a depth of 2179 m. The specimens were associated with a colony of an unidentified chrysogorgiid coral. It closely resembles U. orientalis Baba & Lin, 2008 and U. occidentalis Faxon, 1893, but is distinguished by the shape of the thoracic sternite, the short, terminally blunt antennal acicle, and less developed denticles on the crista dentata on the third maxilliped ischium. The discovery of the present new species raises the number of species of Uroptychus known from Japan to 17. Also, U. roseus sp. nov. is the seventh of the name species of the genus inhabiting the depth greater than 2000 m. Sequences of the mitochondrial COI and 16S rRNA genes of the new species are provided.

**Description of the immature stadia of Balacha melanocephala (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellini) with biological notes**

2026-03-10T12:24:45+13:00

Balacha Melichar, 1926 (Cicadellinae) comprises 10 species and is distributed across southeastern and southern Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina. Here we provide the first detailed descriptions and illustrations of the five nymphal stadia of B. melanocephala (Signoret, 1854), type species of the genus, based on specimens collected on Eryngium (Apiaceae) in the municipality of São José dos Pinhais, state of Paraná, southern Brazil. Biological notes on nymphs and adults are also given. For determining the nymphal stadia of B. melanocephala, a reliable criterion is a combination of body size and wing pad development, comparing the relative extension of wing pads in relation to the abdominal segments. Our field observations suggest that the predominantly yellow coloration of the nymphs of this species may represent an adaptive trait that enhances camouflage on the young inner leaves of Eryngium plants.

Databases of information on the mite families Ologamasidae and Rhodacaridae (Mesostigmata: Rhodacaroidea): unlocking taxonomy, geographical distribution, and habitats

2026-03-10T12:25:58+13:00

Databases of information on the taxonomy, geographic distribution, and habitat of mites in the families Ologamasidae and Rhodacaridae are now freely available online. They provide data on 473 species of Ologamasidae and 162 species of Rhodacaridae. Most species of Ologamasidae were described from the Neotropical (33%) and Australasian (29%) ecozones. Most species of Rhodacaridae were described from the Afrotropical (36%) and Palaearctic (34%) ecozones. More than 75% of species in both families were described from specimens collected from soil.

**A new species of the genus Tephriopis Hampson, 1926 (Lepidoptera, Erebidae) from China**

2026-03-10T12:26:51+13:00

A new species of the genus Tephriopis Hampson, 1926, T. paradivulsa Qi, M. Wang & H. Wang sp. nov., was discovered from South and Southwest China. Illustrations of adults, wing venation and genitalia are provided for the new species. The type specimens were deposited in the Insect Collection of Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.

**First record of Dynaspidiotus ephedrarum (Lindinger, 1912) (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Diaspididae) in China**

2026-03-10T12:27:39+13:00

**Corrigendum for “Confirmed occurrence and DNA barcoding of the Indo-Pacific Slender Gecko, Hemiphyllodactylus typus Bleeker, 1860 (Squamata, Gekkonidae) in Vietnam”**

2026-03-10T12:28:25+13:00

**On the identity of Phyllonastes lochites: clarifying its distinction from P. arutam (Brito-Zapata, Chávez-Reyes, Pallo-Robles, Carrión-Olmedo, Cisneros-Heredia, and Reyes-Puig, 2024)**

2026-03-10T12:29:04+13:00

**Rediscovery of the enigmatic holotype of Buthus barbouri Werner, 1932 (Scorpiones: Buthidae), with a new synonymy**

2026-03-10T12:29:49+13:00