Zootaxa

**Morphological conservatism and variability in the ephippium sculpture of the genus Simocephalus Schoedler, 1858 (Crustacea: Cladocera: Daphniidae)**

2026-01-05T11:32:21+13:00

Despite the important advances made in the taxonomy of water fleas (Crustacea: Cladocera), many taxa have not yet been revised. The genus Simocephalus Schoedler, 1858 (Anomopoda: Daphniidae) belongs to understudied groups. During the last forty years, several attempts have been made to use genetic approaches to estimate species diversity within Simocephalus. At the same time, investigations on morphology almost stopped after the last revision of Orlova-Bienkowskaja (2001). The lack of morphological data, even on the most widespread taxa, makes it difficult to apply the remains of this group to paleoecological reconstructions, although Simocephalus ephippia are common in subfossil sediments and fossils of different geological ages. We investigated more than 80 ephippia of recent representatives of the genus from Eurasia and North America, and 45 ephippia from Pleistocene sites of different ages on these two continents. For the first time, we have distinguished three main morphotypes based on the sculpture of the ephippia among the recent representatives. Ephippia of the vetulus-type are covered by polygonal hillocks of moderate height and with prominent processes. This morphotype is the most common in Eurasia, but it could be found on other continents, considering the distribution patterns of the S. vetulus species complex. Ephippia of the vetuloides-mixtus-type are covered by hillocks with processes strongly protruding above the ephippium surface. This morphotype is found only in the Asian part of Russia; it has more localized distribution than the vetulus-type. Ephippia of the serrulatus-type are covered by almost flat hillocks, or with hillocks of moderate height. This morphotype is found in both Eurasia and North America, which may confirm previous genetic data on a close relationship between serrulatus populations from the Eastern Palearctic and North America. Ephippia of the vetulus- and serrulatus-types are found in several Pleistocene localities. Due to lack of information about ornamentation patterns of Simocephalus ephippia of pre-Cenozoic age, we could not estimate the precise time of the morphotype separation. However we may conclude that in the Late Pleistocene the vetulus- and serrulatus-types were broadly distributed in Northern Eurasia and North America. Simocephalus ephippia demonstrate a morphological stasis at least since the Late Pleistocene, or even during longer time. In Maly Chukochiy Cape deposits (Republic Yakutia) we found a sole ephippium presumably belonging to an extinct taxon of Simocephalus. Eastern parts of Northern Eurasia had diverse communities of Simocephalus at the Pleistocene-Holocene boundary, and these then changed analogously to the transformation of Daphnia communities. In the course of our work, we obtained a large set of illustrations of Simocephalus ephippium morphology in different populations. We hope that our study will attract more attention to the taxonomy of modern Simocephalus and its Pleistocene-earlier Holocene subfossil ephippia.

Phytoseiidae mites (Parasitiformes: Mesostigmata) associated with native plants from the Caatinga biome, Pernambuco, Brazil

2026-01-05T11:33:23+13:00

Phytoseiid mites play a key role in regulating mites and small phytophagous insects and are often employed in agricultural systems for biological pest control. Studying the phytoseiid fauna in different ecoregions facilitates the discovery of new biological control agents adapted to local conditions, contributing both to the improvement of control programs and conservation of the natural vegetation that hosts this fauna. The aim of this work was to carry out a survey of phytoseiids and describe a new species for the family in areas of the Caatinga biome in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Sampling was carried out in three areas in the municipalities of Bonito, Caruaru and São Caetano, including a total of 47 botanical species. A total of 1,044 adult specimens (females and males) were collected, belonging to 37 species from 17 genera. Amblyseiinae was the subfamily with the highest number of species reported (26), followed by Typhlodrominae (6) and Phytoseiinae (5). The species Amblyseius operculatus De Leon, Euseius mesembrinus (Dean), Iphiseiodes zuluagai Denmark & Muma, Phytoseius woodburyi De Leon and Galendromus (Mugidromus) agreste Silva, Gondim Jr. & Demite were the most abundant. The highest phytoseiid species richness was observed on Guazuma ulmifolia (Malvaceae), Piper sp. (Piperaceae), Swartzia sp. (Fabaceae), and Trema micrantha (Cannabaceae). The diversity of phytoseiids in the Caatinga biome is high, and their association with native plants may indicate that these plants may serve as important reservoirs. This information can be used to improve future integrated pest management programs. A new species, Metaseiulus (Metaseiulus) fungicolus sp. nov., is described and illustrated, based on adult females.

Indiaphonte bijoyi gen. et sp. nov., a new laophontid (Harpacticoida: Laophontidae: Laophontinae) from the Southeastern Arabian Sea, India

2026-01-05T11:34:12+13:00

A new genus and species of Laophontidae, Indiaphonte bijoyi gen. et sp. nov. without sexual dimorphism in the male P3 endopod is described from Kavaratti Island off the southwestern coast of India. Several laophontid genera are known in which both sexes possess three-segmented exopods and two-segmented endopods of P2–P4 and the males lack sexual dimorphism in the endopod of P3. Of these, Tapholeon inconspicuus Gheerardyn & Fiers 2007a and T. uniarticulatus Wells 1967, and Indiaphonte gen. nov. share the unmodified outer distal seta on the male P3 ENP3. However, Indiaphonte gen. nov., and the other two species differ in the segmentation of P1 EXP, and, in this respect the new taxon resembles the other four species of that genus. However, the new species presented here and Tapholeon Wells 1967 differ in the shape of the habitus, armature of the second antennulary segment, in the reduced abexopodal seta on the antennary allobasis, and in the number of setae on the female P5 BENP and EXP. The males of Folioquinpes Fiers & Rutledge 1990 exhibit slight sexual dimorphism in the male P4 ENP consisting in the comparatively stronger outer distal spine of the male P4 ENP2. The sexual dimorphism of the male P4 ENP of I. bijoiy gen. et sp. nov. consists in the relatively longer ramus, and in an additional inner seta on ENP2. Given all the above, the proposal of a new genus, Indiaphonte gen. nov., for the new species described here from India, is justified. Some comments on the sexual dimorphism in the males of Laophontidae are given.

**Two new species of Pipunculus Latreille, 1802 (Diptera: Pipunculidae) from Colombia, and an updated key to males of the Neotropical species**

2026-01-05T11:35:01+13:00

Pipunculus Latreille, 1802 is a cosmopolitan genus of big-headed flies (Pipunculidae), with 12 known species in the Neotropical region, and three in Colombia. Two new species of Pipunculus are described from Colombia, namely Pipunculus geua sp. nov. (type-locality: Páramo de Santa Inés, Belmira) and P. nutabes sp. nov. (type-locality: Páramo de Santa Inés, Belmira). Illustrations and a new dichotomic key to the Neotropical species are presented. This paper increases the number of Neotropical Pipunculus from 12 to 14, from five to seven in South America and from three to five in Colombia, which is now the South American country with the highest diversity of this genus.

**The Mesoamerican mantises of the genus Phasmomantis Saussure, 1869 (Mantidae: Stagmomantinae: Stagmomantini)**

2026-01-05T11:35:54+13:00

The type material of the two species of the genus Phasmomantis Saussure, 1869 (Mantidae: Stagmomantinae: Stagmomantini) is revisited and illustrated. Phasmomantis sumichrasti (Saussure, 1861) is newly recorded for the Mexican states of Campeche, Chiapas, Nayarit, Puebla, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosí, Tabasco and Tamaulipas and is confirmed for the country of Honduras via the examination of specimens in scientific collections; it is newly recorded for the Mexican state of Queretaro and confirmed for the country of Nicaragua via the revision of online records in the citizen science platform iNaturalist. The male of Phasmomantis championi Saussure and Zehntner, 1894 is illustrated for the first time. A key for the species, which contemplates both sexes, is proposed.

**Two new species of Parobisium (Pseudoscorpiones: Neobisiidae) Chamberlin, 1930 from South Korea, with a preliminary phylogeny of the genus**

2026-01-05T11:36:48+13:00

Poorly dispersing pseudoscorpions (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones) are often considered suitable models for biogeography studies. Several lineages show interesting distribution patterns, such as the genus Parobisium Chamberlin, 1930 that occurs in the western U.S.A. and eastern Asia but is absent in Europe and central Asia. Here we review the pseudoscorpion genus Parobisium using an integrative taxonomic approach and describe two new species from South Korea based on morphological and molecular data: Parobisium namkungi sp. nov. and P. troglophilum sp. nov. Phylogenetic analyses using three genetic markers, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), histone H3A, and 28S ribosomal DNA also reveal that two former subspecies, P. magnum ohuyeanum (Morikawa, 1952) and P. magnum chejuense (Morikawa, 1970), are genetically distinct enough to recognize them as separate species, P. ohuyeanum stat nov. and. P. chejuense stat. nov. The phylogenetic data show that there is an old split between the East Asian and North American lineages that is indicative of ancient vicariance rather than recent dispersal. Similar biogeographic patterns have been reported in other poorly dispersing invertebrate taxa, such as Grylloblattidae and flightless beetles, which also show deep genetic divergences across these landmasses. We hypothesize that Parobisium may once have been widespread in Holarctic but subsequently became restricted to isolated fragments in East Asia and North America.

**A new species of Acanthomolgus Humes & Stock, 1972 (Copepoda: Cyclopoida) from the Red Sea, Egypt, with an updated key to species**

2026-01-05T11:37:43+13:00

The marine copepod genus Acanthomolgus Humes and Stock, 1972 is composed of 48 species of symbiotic copepods that have been collected from different localities of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. They appear to be host specific to anthozoan cnidarians including Alcyonacea, Gorgonacea and Telestacea. Herein, we describe a new species, A. humesi sp. nov. recorded from the Red Sea, Egypt. This species differs from its congeners based on the morphology of the prosome and urosome shape, antenna, female and male P5 and caudal rami. An updated key to the known species of Acanthomolgus for both females and males of the genus is presented.

**The rarely encountered jewel beetle, Buprestis splendens Fabricius, 1775: First Korean record of the subgenus Cypriacis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) with molecular insights**

2026-01-05T11:38:26+13:00

This study reports the first record of the subgenus Cypriacis Casey, 1909 (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) of the genus Buprestis Linnaeus, 1758 from the Korean Peninsula, represented by the rarely encountered species Buprestis splendens Fabricius, 1775. This finding holds notable biogeographic significance, extending the known distribution of the subgenus. A redescription is provided, with photographs of the adult habitus and female genitalia, along with a key to known species and a checklist of Cypriacis. DNA barcoding of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene substantiated the taxonomic position of B. splendens, providing the first molecular insight supporting its placement within the subgenus.

**New planthoppers (Hemiptera: Cixiidae) from Madagascar support the establishment of a new genus, the revised status of Eumyndus perinetensis, and an updated molecular phylogeny of Malagasy Oecleini**

2026-01-05T11:39:11+13:00

Recent survey efforts in Madagascar have focused on the tribe Oecleini in the planthopper family Cixiidae due to an interest in identifying vectors of palm lethal decline phytoplasmas. During these surveys, planthoppers were collected on palms in natural habitats that were determined to represent a new genus, Geminimyndus gen. nov. Herein, two new species are described, G. spinaparum sp. nov. and G. spinamagnus sp. nov. Eumyndus perinetensis Synave is transferred to Geminimyndus gen. nov. as Geminimyndus perinetensis, comb. nov. Supplemental molecular data for the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, histone 3, 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA are provided to support the establishment of the new genus and the transfer of E. perinetensis to the new genus.

**New data on Elasmus (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) reared from Polistes nests in China**

2026-01-05T11:40:30+13:00

A species of the genus Elasmus (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), E. japonicus Ashmead, 1904, is reported for the first time from Shaanxi in northwestern China, where it was reared from the nests of Polistes rothneyi Cameron, 1900 and P. snelleni de Saussure, 1862. These specimens were compared with material from South Korean utilizing morphological and molecular data. The diagnostic features of this species are illustrated with color images.