Zootaxa

**A review of the Zethus pallidus Smith species group, with phylogenetic analysis and description of eight new species (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae)**

2025-12-23T10:56:10+13:00

We present results of a study of material (specimens and photographs) of wasps of the Zethus pallidus species group from several entomological collections, with the recognition of eight new species: Z. aikewa Gomes & Silveira, sp. nov., Z. amapaensis Silveira, sp. nov., Z. baniwa Oliveira & Silveira, sp. nov., Z. lionani Gomes & Silveira, sp. nov., Z. miranha Silveira, sp. nov., Z. nambikwara Oliveira, Silveira & Lopes, sp. nov., Z. pracuuba Silveira, sp. nov., and Z. shipibo Silveira, sp. nov. Descriptions and diagnoses are presented for all species including the recently discovered female of Z. alogus Bohart & Stange, 1965, together with a new identification key for the group. A preliminary phylogenetic analysis corroborated the hypothesis of monophyly of the group.

**Description of two new species of Cenophengus (Coleoptera: Phengodidae: Cenophenginae), with an assessment of their phylogenetic position in the genus**

2025-12-23T10:56:56+13:00

Cenophengus is one of the most species-rich genera within the family Phengodidae, with 30 species distributed from south USA to Costa Rica. This study describes two new species of Cenophengus, C. fagerstromi sp. nov. from Honduras and C. zaragozai sp. nov. from Mexico. Detailed morphological descriptions, including diagnostic characters, are provided for each of the new species, in addition to an updated key for species of the genus. In addition, the phylogeny of Cenophengus is reanalyzed by incorporating the newly described species into the existing data set. This updated phylogenetic analysis offers a more complete understanding of the evolutionary relationships within the genus.

**Review of the Indian species of Metadon Reemer, 2013 (Diptera: Syrphidae: Microdontinae), with description of two new species**

2025-12-23T10:57:34+13:00

The hoverfly genus Metadon Reemer, 2013 is reviewed from India and two new species, M. ghorpadei sp. nov. and M. reemeri sp. nov., are described from New Delhi and Tamil Nadu, respectively; based on morphological and molecular analyses. Six species of Metadon that were previously reported from India are illustrated and briefly diagnosed. A new combination, Metadon unicolor (Brunetti) comb. nov., is proposed for Microdon unicolor Brunetti, 1915. An identification key to the genera of Microdontinae from India, a key to the Indian species of Metadon and a provisional species checklist for this genus are provided. This is the first record of Metadon from southern India. Habitat profile and conservation aspects are discussed for the two new species.

**Three new species and new records of the genus Conocephalus Thunberg, 1815 (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae, Conocephalinae) from Kashmir (Jammu and Kashmir), India**

2025-12-23T10:58:15+13:00

In Kashmir (Jammu and Kashmir), the genus Conocephalus was previously known from a single species, Conocephalus maculatus (Chandra et al., 2013). Three new species, Conocephalus usmanii sp. nov., Conocephalus nagariensis sp. nov., and Conocephalus gandebali sp. nov., are described with new records from of other species from the region. A Brief discussion concerning morphological structures and key to known Indian species of Conocephalus (Anisoptera) are provided. Also, Scanning Electron Micrographs of male stridulatory files of the new species are presented. The holotypes of new species are deposited in the Museum of Zoology Department of Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India.

**A new species of the genus Prosopocoilus Hope, 1845 from southern Vietnam (Coleoptera: Lucanidae: Lucaninae)**

2025-12-23T10:59:03+13:00

In the present study, a new stag beetle, namely Prosopocoilus wangae Qi, Bian & Xin, sp. nov., from Vietnam is described and illustrated. This new species has long been misidentified as the Vietnamese population of P. mysticus mysticus Parry, 1870, but it can be clearly distinguished from the latter by its external details and genital characters. Moreover, an updated checklist of Vietnamese taxa of Prosopocoilus Hope, 1845 is provided.

A new fascinating genus of subfamily Hemiacridinae (Orthoptera: Acrididae) from Thailand

2025-12-23T10:59:51+13:00

A new genus Pulchricranae gen. nov. (type species: P. mirabilis sp. nov.) is described from grassland in Sakaerat Environmental Research Station in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand. This genus is similar to the genera Binaluacris Willemse and Bacuita Strand from Philippines by the presence of outer apical spines on hind tibiae; by tegmina abbreviated; by prosternal spine flattened; by lophi of epiphallus large, trapezium with rounded apex; and by basal and apical penis valves separated, without any sclerotized flexure. However, Pulchricranae gen. nov. differs from Binaluacris by fastigium of vertex with rounded margins; by tegmina shorter and slightly broader; by prosternal spine in male with broadly rounded apex, in female apex with rounded triangular notch in median part; by mesosternal lobe broader than long; by male cerci conical, much narrower near apical part. New genus also differed from Bacuita (known by females only) by female fastigium of vertex strongly short and broad; tegmen broader, with apex rounded; hind femur surpassing the apex of abdomen; subgenital plate with apex nearly truncate. The previously ungrouped genera of the subfamily Catantopinae, Binaluacris and Bacuita, are transferred to the tribe Cranaeini of the subfamily Hemiacridinae based on external morphology and male genitalia. The composition of the tribe Cranaeini is briefly discussed.

**Revisional notes on Alloea (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Alysiinae) with a new species for Thailand and detailed English description of Alloea cheni from China**

2025-12-23T11:00:37+13:00

Alloea Haliday, 1383, is a small braconid genus with fifteen previously described species. Alloea is reported from Thailand for the first time, and a new species Alloea doiphukhensis Yao is described and illustrated. Alloea cheni Yao, 2015 from China was originally described in Chinese. Here we give a detailed English description and include color images. A key to Oriental species of Alloea is presented.

**Two new species of the genus Prusiana Evans from south and southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia (Lepidoptera, Hesperiidae, Hesperiinae, Baorini)**

2025-12-23T11:01:18+13:00

Two new species of the genus Prusiana Evans, 1937 in the family Hesperiidae are described from the main island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. One is a medium sized skipper from a high mountain in south Sulawesi, viz. Prusiana shiranuhi Suefuji sp. nov., which was recognized based on molecular and morphological evidence. This new species can be easily distinguished from other Prusiana species by its dark brown ground color and the reduced discal spots on the forewing. The other one, Prusiana iphicles Suefuji sp. nov. is smaller in size and resembles P. hercules and can only be separated from the latter by its wing size, distribution, and the male genitalia. Now, Sulawesi is inhabited by all the five species of the genus, of which three are endemic.

**Report of a rare intersexual form of the genus Fannia Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Calyptratae: Fanniidae) from the Argentinean and Chilean Patagonia**

2025-12-23T11:02:05+13:00

A rare intersexual form of the genus Fannia R.-D. is described. It was found among a large amount of specimens of the genus collected between 1963 and 2014 in the southernmost region of South America. A brief historical account of these specimens within the family Fanniidae is presented, as well as a thorough morphological description of external characters as well as the description and interpretation of the genitalia. A very brief discussion of the possible cause of this phenomenon is also included.

**Validation of three new genera and a new species of Acrossocheilinae (Pisces: Teleostei) from Vietnam in Hoang et al. (2025)**

2025-12-23T11:05:16+13:00