Zootaxa

**Review of Hawaiian Elmomyza species (Diptera, Drosophilidae, Scaptomyza). I. The cyrtandrae, exigua, and obscuricornis species groups, with the descriptions of nine new species**

2025-12-10T13:23:14+13:00

The subgenus Elmomyza, with 86 Hawaiian endemic species of the 274 described species of Scaptomyza, is the most diverse lineage in Scaptomyza. Here, we describe nine new species of Elmomyza (S. hiiakae, S. hinae, S. kamohoalii, S. kanaloai, S. kanei, S. kui, S. lonoi, S. mauii, S. peleae), bringing the total species in this subgenus to 95. We also redescribe S. exigua, including high-resolution images of the male terminalia, and update the published identification key. We expand the collection records for the Scaptomyza cyrtandrae species group and use morphology to erect two new species groups, the Scaptomyza exigua and obscuricornis species groups. Each of these groups is further divided into subgroups. In total, 28 (~30%) Elmomyza species are now placed into species groups. This is the first step into revising the subgenus Elmomyza, which still contains dozens of new species that are known, yet remain undescribed.

**A stellar configuration in Gonyleptidae: Nyctaster, a new genus of Neopachylinae from the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest (Arachnida: Opiliones)**

2025-12-10T13:24:32+13:00

We describe Nyctaster gen. nov., a new genus of Gonyleptidae (Neopachylinae) from southern Brazil, comprising two new species: Nyctaster lanceatus sp. nov. from São Paulo state, and Nyctaster sidereus sp. nov. (type species) from Paraná state. The genus is diagnosed by a unique combination of morphological characters, including a gamma-pyriform dorsal scutum, the presence of a secondary basal branch on the prodorsal apophysis of coxa IV, and male genitalia with spines on the central portion of the stylus. To assess the systematic position of the genus, we conducted a cladistic analysis, with a final character matrix comprising 42 taxa, 104 characters, 3693 scorings, 38 missing data points, and 637 non-applicable entries. Analyses under equal and implied weights (k = 1–20) consistently recovered Nyctaster gen. nov. as monophyletic, sister to Senu Carvalho & Kury, and nested within Neopachylinae. Although morphologically close to Senu, Nyctaster gen. nov. is distinguishable by characters such as a single pair of paramedian tubercles on scutal area I and a paramedian pair of elevated sub-conical blunt apophyses on scutal area III. Distribution data suggests allopatry between the species of Nyctaster, though future collections may improve this pattern. N. lanceatus sp. nov. is known only from the male holotype, while N. sidereus sp. nov. is described on multiple specimens collected in both well-preserved and degraded forest remnants. The results support the inclusion of Nyctaster gen. nov. in Neopachylinae and contribute to a refined understanding of internal relationships within the DRMN clade.

**New planthoppers in the genus Fescennia (Hemiptera: Derbidae) from screw palms (Pandanus spp.) in eastern Madagascar, with redescription of F. bivittata and an updated key to the genus**

2025-12-10T13:25:22+13:00

A survey of planthoppers associated with palms in Madagascar was initiated to assess putative vectors of a phytoplasma causing palm decline. As part of that survey, three species in the genus Fescennia Stål (the type species and two new species) were found associated with screw palms (Pandanus, Pandanaceae). Here, we describe two new species of Fescennia with an amended description of F. bivittata (Coquerel), provide a key to species, and molecular for the barcoding region (5’ half) of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, 18S rRNA gene, and the D9–D10 expansion region of the 28S rRNA gene for each species to support the monophyly of Fescennia. Aethocauda Williams is transferred to Phenicini from Cenchreini.

Studies on stick grasshoppers: New Proscopiini taxa from Colombia, Panama, and Costa Rica (Orthoptera: Proscopiidae)

2025-12-10T13:26:30+13:00

In this contribution to the study of stick grasshoppers, taxa included in Pseudoproscopia Bentos-Pereira, 2006 are described and redescribed, covering distributions in Central America, the Chocó Biogeographic Region, and the slopes of the inter-Andean valleys of Colombia. Rowellscopia gen. nov. includes two species: Rowellscopia septentrionalis (Bruner, 1905) comb. nov. and Rowellscopia panamensis (Bentos-Pereira & Rowell, 1999) comb. nov., from Costa Rica and Panama. The genus Albascopia Cadena-Castañeda & Cardona-Granda, 2015 is redescribed, comprising four species, one of which is new: Albascopia columbica (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1890), Albascopia caldensis (Cadena-Castañeda & Cardona, 2015) comb. nov., Albascopia afroensis (Cadena-Castañeda & Cardona, 2015) comb. nov., and Albascopia baudoensis sp. nov., from the Andes and Pacific region of Colombia. Identification keys for the species are provided, and the taxonomy, morphology, and distribution of the studied taxa are discussed.

New species of Diaphorocleidus and Urocleidoides with a redescription of Curvianchoratus hexacleidus (Monopisthocotyla: Dactylogyridae) parasitizing characiform fishes from the Munim River Basin, northeastern Brazil

2025-12-10T13:27:21+13:00

During a study on the helminth fauna of fishes from the middle Munim River Basin, State of Maranhão, northeastern Brazil, specimens of Monopisthocotyla were found. Two new species of Diaphorocleidus from the gills of Knodus guajajara, a fish species endemic to the Maranhão coastal river basins, belonging to the Stevardiidae and a new species of Urocleidoides found parasitizing Steindachnerina notonota, a curimatid fish distributed along coastal river systems of northeastern Brazil are described. Additionally, Curvianchoratus hexacleidus is redescribed from S. notonota, a new host record. These findings highlight the remarkable but still underexplored parasitic diversity of the state of Maranhão, underscoring its significance for taxonomic research and for advancing the knowledge of monopisthocotyleans.

**Two new species of Utivarachna Kishida, 1940 from Yunnan, China (Araneae: Trachelidae)**

2025-12-10T13:28:16+13:00

Two new species belonging to the kinabaluensis-group of the trachelid genus Utivarachna Kishida, 1940 are described from Yunnan, China: U. daweishanensis Wang & Mi, sp. nov. (male, female), and U. deelemanae Wang & Mi, sp. nov. (male, female). Diagnostic photos of the habitus and copulatory organs are provided.

**New species of Oromasiphya Townsend (Diptera: Tachinidae) with a key to the species**

2025-12-10T13:29:07+13:00

Three new species of Oromasiphya Townsend, 1927, are described: Oromasiphya diamantina sp. nov., Oromasiphya guimai sp. nov., Oromasiphya mineira sp. nov. The type species the genus, Oromasiphya ornata Townsend, 1927, is redescribed and the male of Oromasiphya urbanae Guimarães, 1966, is described. We provided a taxonomic identification key to the species of the genus.

A new species in the spider family Myrmecicultoridae (Arachnida, Araneae) and evidence of myrmecophagy in the family

2025-12-10T13:29:50+13:00

A new species in the unusual myrmecophagous family Myrmecicultoridae is described. This new species, Myrmecicultor pueblaensis sp. nov. shares several unique morphological features with the one other species in the family, M. chihuahuensis Ramírez, Grismado, and Ubick 2019. A multi-locus phylogenetic analysis of six molecular markers from the mitochondrial (12 S rDNA, 16S rDNA, cytochrome oxidase subunit I) and nuclear (18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, histone H3) genomes also places this new species as sister to M. chihuahuensis. In addition, the new species is a myrmecophage and shows similar hunting behavior to M. chihuahuensis. We hypothesize that additional species of this unusual family may be distributed throughout the desert ecosystems of southern Mexico in association with various species of ants.

**On some western Palaearctic species of the genus Omalium Gravenhorst, 1802 (Coleoptera: Omaliinae: Omaliini)**

2025-12-10T13:30:37+13:00

Taxonomic and faunistic notes for 13 species of the genus Omalium Gravenhorst, 1802 of the western Palaearctic region are provided. Two species are redescribed and illustrated: North European O. muensteri Bernhauer, 1901 and Iberian O. asturicum Fauvel, 1900. Two new synonymies are proposed: O. allardi Fairmaire & Brisout de Barneville, 1859 = O. vaulogeri Fauvel, 1905 syn. nov., and O. funebre Fauvel, 1871 = O. deubeli Bernhauer, 1915 syn. nov. Lectotypes for O. muensteri and O. deubeli are designated. The habitus of the types of O. vaulogeri and O. deubeli, and, in addition, the aedeagus of the holotype of O. vaulogeri are illustrated. The aedeagus of O. muensteri is illustrated for the first time. First records are provided for the following eight species: O. asturicum from Badajos, Málaga and Granada (Spain), O. funebre from Moldavia, O. italicum Bernhauer, 1902 from Algeria, O. rugatum Mulsant & Rey, 1880 from Crimea (Ukraine), and Bolu and Ordu (Turkey), O. wunderlei Zanetti, 2002 from Izmir, Bolu, Niğde and Van (Turkey), O. cinnamomeum Kraatz, 1857 from Bulgaria, Hatay (Turkey), Lebanon and Syria, O. falsum Eppelsheim, 1889 from Tehran (Iran), and O. rivulare (Paykull, 1789) from Ordu, Yozgat, Tokat and Van (Turkey).