Zootaxa

Checklist of Yunnan Pieridae (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) with nomenclature and distributional notes

SHAO-JI HU, YUTAKA INAYOSHI, GERARDO LAMAS, XIN ZHANG, KUANG DUAN — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +1300

This article reports a checklist of the Pieridae of Yunnan and is presented with distributional and taxonomic notes. In total, 87 species are confirmed their distribution in Yunnan with 61 in Pierinae, 23 in Coliadinae, and three in Dismorphiinae. Delias belladonna yedanula Frustorfer, 1910 is synonymised with Delias belladonna var. adelma Mitis, 1893 (syn. nov.) based on overlapping distribution range and indistinguishable morphological characters. Male and female genitalia of Gandaca harina (Horsfield, 1829) are illustrated to support the establishment of subtribe Gandacina Grishin, 2023, which was done originally based on molecular evidence. Eurema simulatrix sarinoides (Evans, 1927) is confirmed as the valid name representing the population in S. Yunnan after literature and type specimen analyses. A Lectotype in the Natural History Museum (London, UK) was designated for both Terias lacteola sarinoides Evans, 1927 and for Eurema simulatrix stockleyi Talbot, 1939, which fixes the name sarinoides to the taxon as the valid subspecies name while making stockleyi its junior objective synonym (syn. nov.). Dercas nina Mell, 1913 and Pontia butleri (Moore, 1882) are recorded for the first time in Yunnan, with the specimens and male genitalia illustrated. In addition, 23 taxa that require further confirmation of their presence in Yunnan and those that do not occur in Yunnan are enumerated after the list.

**Two new species of the genus Heterothera Inoue, 1943 (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Larentiinae) from Xizang, China**

SHUANG YANG, XIA YU, JAAN VIIDALEPP, ZHAOHUI PAN — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +1300

The genus Heterothera Inoue, 1943 has not been reported previously in Xizang, and this paper documents three species collected from Sejila Mountain in Bayi District and Motuo county (Mêdog), Xizang. Among them, Heterothera sejilaensis Pan & Yang, sp. nov. and Heterothera pailongensis Pan & Yang, sp. nov. are described as new species, and Heterothera hoenei Choi, 1998 is described as a new record from Xizang. The adults and genitalia of the new species and their related species have been illustrated. Viidaleppia Inoue is restored from synonymy as a subgenus of Heterothera Inoue for quadripectinate species.

**Carolina Redhorse—a new species of Moxostoma (Cypriniformes: Catostomidae) from North Carolina and South Carolina, USA**

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +1300

Recognized as an undescribed species since the mid-1990s, the Carolina Redhorse is herein described as Moxostoma carolina sp. nov. The Carolina Redhorse is distinguished from all other species described in the genus Moxostoma by the number of caudal peduncle scales, the texture and angle of the lower lip, and by pigmentation and tuberculation patterns. It is morphologically similar to M. erythrurum, although the two species are allopatric and phylogenetic analysis of the COI mitochondrial gene supports the Carolina Redhorse as a distinct evolutionary lineage. The Carolina Redhorse is rare, localized, and endemic to lower Piedmont streams and run-of-river reservoirs in North Carolina and South Carolina. Characteristics of five of the species with which the Carolina Redhorse is sympatric and M. erythrurum are discussed, and a dichotomous key is provided.

**Taxonomic mystery solved: the identity of Melolontha pexa Zubkov, 1833 and the genus Adoretops Kraatz, 1883 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae)**

ALEŠ BEZDĚK, JAN BEZDĚK, IGOR V. SHOKHIN — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +1300

The identity of Melolontha pexa Zubkov, 1833 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Rhizotrogini) is clarified by the designation of a neotype. Melolontha pexa is transferred to the genus Holochelus Reitter, 1889 as Holochelus (Eriotrogus) pexus (Zubkov, 1833), new combination and proposed a senior subjective synonym of H. (Eriotrogus) aschhabadensis (Nonveiller, 1965) and H. (Holochelus) heptapotamicus Nikolajev, 2009. Although M. pexa Zubkov, 1833 is a primary junior homonym of Melolontha pexa Germar, 1823, its validity must be preserved according to the Article 23.9.5 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (1999) and the case must be brought to the commission for a ruling. The type species of the genus Adoretops Kraatz, 1883 is designated as Demodema bonariensis Bruch, 1909, which was misidentified as Melolontha pexa Zubkov, 1833 in the original designation. This results in Adoretops becoming a new subjective junior synonym of Plectris LePeletier & Audinet-Serville, 1828 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Macrodactylini). The history of the beetle material collected by G.S. Karelin between 1827 and 1836 in the vicinity of the Caspian Sea is summarized and the collaboration of Karelin and Zubkov is discussed.

**A remarkable moss-mimicking new species of genus Pericentrus (Phasmatodea: Lonchodidae: Lonchodini) from Xizang, China, with significantly reduced antennal length**

HAO-RAN GAO, CHAO WU, YA-JIN LI — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +1300

A remarkable moss-mimicking new species, Pericentrus cryptopetalus sp. nov., is described from Xizang, China. This species exhibits a marked reduction in antennae length relative to its congeners. An updated key to the females of this genus is provided, and hypotheses regarding the antennae reduction are discussed. The type specimens are deposited in Yunnan Agricultural University (YNAU).

**A new Asian horned toad of the genus Jingophrys (Amphibia, Megophryidae) from Xizang, China**

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +1300

A new species of the genus Jingophrys is described from Xizang, China based on the morphological comparisons and phylogenetic reconstruction. Morphologically, this new species Jingophrys zhaoermii sp. nov. can be distinguished from other known congeners by a combination of diagnostic characteristics: (1) body size small, SVL 34.5–35.4 mm in adult males and SVL 39.6–43.1 mm in adult females; (2) tympanum distinct, upper margin slightly concealed by supratympanic fold; (3) presence of weak vomerine ridge, absence of vomerine teeth; (4) tongue notch absent; (5) hindlimbs slender, heels meeting when thighs flexed at right angles to the axis of body and tibiotarsal articulation reaching anterior corner of eye or tip of the snout when leg stretched alongside body; (6) fingers with lateral fringes, subarticular tubercles absent; (7) toes with rudimentary webbing at bases and lateral fringes; (8) dorsal skin relatively smooth (lack granules), strong discontinuous X-shaped ridge on center of dorsum, discontinuous dorsolateral ridges absent or weak; (9) sparse large tubercles on flanks, no granules between tubercles; (10) adult males lack nuptial pads. Phylogenetically, it differs from its congeners by uncorrected p-distances of >3.7% for the 16S gene fragment and uncorrected p-distances of >10.1% for the COI gene fragment. Additionally, we provide a new identification key to the genus Jingophrys.

Vermiophis luqianlei sp. nov., a new species of wormlion fly (Diptera: Vermileonidae) from Guizhou, China, with notes on its immature stages and biology

YAN SUN, JIA-LING LI, JI-SHEN WANG — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +1300

The genus Vermiophis Yang, 1979 is endemic to China and previously comprised eight known species. In the present study, a new species, Vermiophis luqianlei sp. nov., from Xishui, Guizhou, China, is described. This new species closely resembles V. wudangensis Yang & Chen, 1986, but differs from it in several key characters, including wing venation and genital morphology. This paper also illustrates and describes the immature stages of the new species, provides an updated key to all nine currently known species of Vermiophis, and discusses the biology and systematic implications of the new species.

**Rediscovery of Micropterix aureofasciella Heath, 1986 (Lepidoptera: Micropterigidae) in Algeria after 116 years, with an update on its distribution and morphological notes**

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +1300

Micropterix aureofasciella Heath, 1986 is a North African micropterigid endemic to the Maghreb region, initially described from specimens collected along the coastal strip between Algiers and Philippeville (now Skikda). This species, characterized by an extremely restricted distribution and considered potentially threatened, had not been observed for 116 years in Algeria. Recent surveys conducted in the Theniet El Had National Park, in northwestern Algeria, have documented new specimens, thereby representing a notable inland extension of species’ known range and marking its rediscovery. This study provides a comprehensive update of the species’ distribution and a detailed morphological description based on Heath (1986) and new genital preparations. M. aureofasciella was first recorded from Algeria. We also publish records from Tunisia, which were made in the 1986, for the first time. To date, no information is available on the biology of M. aureofasciella, and its early developmental stages remain unknown, highlighting the need for further studies and targeted conservation actions to ensure its survivor.

Butis bargabhimae sp. nov., a new species of butid fish (Teleostei: Gobiiformes: Butidae) from the Rupnarayan River, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, India

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +1300

Butis bargabhimae sp. nov. is morphologically similar to B. koilomatodon and B. delagoensis but can be distinguished from both of these morphologically by the presence of interorbital scales (IOS 2–3/7–8/2–3), auxiliary scales, bands on the pectoral fin, and the absence of a row of alternating blackish and yellowish spots at the base of the caudal fin. The NCBI BLAST result of COI gene shows 86% similarity with both B. koilomatodon and B. delagoensis. The COI sequence MN171371.1 submitted as B. koilomatodon from Bangladesh shows 99% similarity with B. bargabhimae sp. nov. and belongs to the same clade rather than the clade of B. koilomatodon from the state of Kerala in India and those from other countries. It seems B. koilomatodon from Bangladesh is a misidentification and should be included under B. bargabhimae sp. nov. Likewise COI sequence of B. koilomatodon, as reported earlier by Pahari et al. (2024), suggests this was a misidentification and should be redesignated as B. delagoensis.

**The phylogenetic status of Dipsadoboa flavida (Serpentes: Colubridae)**

WERNER CONRADIE, CHAD KEATES, TIM BRAMMER — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +1300