Zootaxa

**Revision of Archaeopelma Gibson, with discussion of morphology relative to phylogenetic relationships and higher classification of Eusandalinae and Eupelmidae (Hymenoptera)**

2026-05-13T12:13:20+12:00

The species of the New World genus Archaeopelma Gibson (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea, Eupelmidae, Eusandalinae) are revised. The males that were described originally under Archaeopelma tropeotergum Gibson, the type species, are considered to be incorrectly associated with females of the species and are described as a new species, whereas two males from Mexico are newly described as the males of A. tropeotergum. A total of seven species are recognized—A. dasypteron sp. nov. (female: Costa Rica), A. floridense sp. nov. (male: USA), A. latiscrobes sp. nov. (female: Dominican Republic), A. macrosoma sp. nov. (female, male: Brazil), A. tropeotergum Gibson (female, male: USA, Mexico), A. tumidifrons sp. nov. (male: Mexico), and A. xanthocolon sp. nov. (female, male: Mexico). The species are keyed and are illustrated through photomicrography. The original generic description is expanded to include additional features that have been used since its original description to infer higher level relationships within Chalcidoidea. Morphological features possessed by Archaeopelma are discussed relative to those possessed by other genera of Eusandalinae, Calosotinae and Eupelminae, and possible groundplan features of these taxa are hypothesized, which are used to examine previous hypotheses of character-state transformation and of phylogenetic relationships. New images are also provided for species of Calosota Curtis, Eusandalum Ratzeburg, Licrooides Gibson, Paraeusandalum Gibson and Pentacladia Westwood (Eupelmidae) to illustrate discussed character-state distribution within Eusandalinae and Eupelmidae.

A checklist of bee species (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) recorded from the Arabian Peninsula

2026-05-13T12:15:07+12:00

The first checklist of bees (Hymenoptera: Anthophila) of the Arabian Peninsula is presented. 343 species and 61 genera are included. A further 23 morphospecies and 7 doubtful records are noted. The checklist adds 76 new country records. The United Arab Emirates presently has the richest fauna with 175 species followed by Saudi Arabia (157), Oman (150), Yemen (119), Kuwait (22), Qatar (14), and Bahrain (8). The Arabian fauna shows a clearer overlap with that of North Africa rather than other eastern arid faunas.

First data on the millipede genus Armeniophyllum Lohmander, 1932 after almost a century, with the description of a new species and notes on the systematic position of the genus within the family Julidae (Diplopoda: Julida)

2026-05-13T12:16:27+12:00

The Caucasian endemic genus Armeniophyllum Lohmander, 1932 is revised on the basis of abundant material from Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. A redescription of the type and so far only species, Armeniophyllum dissectum (Lohmander, 1932), is provided including drawings, SEM micrographs and micro-CT of both gonopod and external morphological structures. In addition, a new, second species of the genus—A. pollex sp. nov.—is described from the Georgian part of Lesser Caucasus using the same methodology, with designation of a male and a female cybertype based on micro-CT imaging. The first genetic sequences of the genus were obtained from a near-topotypic specimen of A. dissectum. They were subsequently used for building a phylogenetic reconstruction according to which Armeniophyllum appears as sister group to the tribe Leucogeorgiini. The distribution patterns of the two species and the possible systematic position of the genus within Julidae are briefly discussed.

**Rediscovery of Nesomyrmex clavipilis Wheeler, 1910 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) after more than a century, with the first description of its worker**

2026-05-13T12:17:57+12:00

The ant genus Nesomyrmex Wheeler, 1910, is a species-rich lineage with a broad tropical and subtropical distribution; however, several of its Neotropical species remain poorly understood. Nesomyrmex clavipilis Wheeler, 1910, was described from a single gyne collected in Grenada and has not been recorded again, leading to speculation about its possible local extinction. Recent fieldwork has resulted in the collection of new material of N. clavipilis. This included gynes and workers from multiple localities, allowing for the first reliable association of castes. Based on this material, we redescribe the gyne, representing the rediscovery of N. clavipilis 116 years after its original description, and provide the first description of the worker caste, accompanied by high-resolution images. We document intraspecific morphological variation, refine diagnostic characters, and present new data on the geographic distribution and natural history of the species. We also describe a previously unnamed sculptural feature, herein termed the rosette fovea, documented by scanning electron microscopy. New records extend the known distribution of the species to Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Paraguay, and Peru, and provide the first natural history data for the species. These findings contribute to a more accurate understanding of species boundaries within Nesomyrmex and highlight the importance of renewed sampling efforts for resolving taxonomic gaps in Neotropical ant faunas.

**A review of the genus Limnospila Schnabl, 1902 (Diptera: Coenosiinae), with the description of two new species from Russia**

2026-05-13T12:19:13+12:00

Limnospila Schnabl, 1902 is a small genus of the subfamily Coenosiinae (Muscidae) that till now included the Holarctic L. albifrons (Zetterstedt) and L. echinata (Stein) described from Qinghai (China). Presently, a taxonomic review is given of four species, all recorded from Russia. This involves descriptions of two new species, L. krokha sp. nov. and L.vikhrevi sp. nov. Illustrated descriptions and a species identification key to the Limnospila are given. The identification key to genera of the tribe Coenosiini of the Palaearctic Region is provided.

**On the type series of Lacerta teguixin Linnaeus, 1758 (Squamata: Teiidae)**

2026-05-13T12:20:21+12:00

Tupinambis teguixin (Linnaeus, 1758), one of the largest South American lizards, has a complex nomenclatural history. It was originally named Lacerta teguixin, and a specimen housed in the Uppsala Universitet (UPSZTY 13) was designated the lectotype. Sometime after the 1990’s, the lectotype desiccated, and in 2012, a specimen housed in the Swedish Museum of Natural History (NRM 121) was designated as a “neolectotype”. However, the term “neolectotype” has no standing under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, and such a designation is invalid. The type series of Lacerta teguixin most likely included three specimens: one (possibly lost) illustrated in Albertus Seba’s “Locupletissimi Rerum Naturalium Thesauri”, UPSZTY 13 (lectotype), and NRM 123 (paralectotype). Specimens NRM 121 and 122 cannot be confirmed as syntypes, and their status remains uncertain. Additionally, Seba’s specimen might belong to Tupinambis cryptus, making the T. teguixin type series potentially composed of two species. Our review highlights the importance of thorough historical and nomenclatural research before changing type designations to ensure stability and compliance with the Code.

**On the taxonomic status of the endangered Benguet Swallowtail Papilio benguetana Joicey & Talbot, 1923 (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae)**

2026-05-13T12:21:31+12:00

A review of available evidence and new molecular data supports recognition of the endangered Benguet swallowtail butterfly Papilio benguetana Joicey & Talbot, 1923, endemic to the Island of Luzon in the northern Philippines, as a distinct species of Papilio and not a subspecies of the widespread P. xuthus Linnaeus, 1767 as previously suggested.

**A new species of Rolepa Walker, 1855 (Lepidoptera: Bombycoidea: Phiditiidae) with notes on Rolepa delineata Walker, 1855**

2026-05-13T12:23:30+12:00

Phiditiidae is a small family of Bombycoidea, with 25 species and five genera. The monophyly of the genera has not been tested, and the family lacks a systematic review. Thus, the first step towards a stable classification system within Phiditiidae is to identify and define the type species of each genus. Here we illustrate and redescribe Rolepa delineata Walker, 1855 the type species of Rolepa Walker, 1855, and describe a new species for the genus. Rolepa delineata has the general characteristics of Phiditiidae: antenna with a midventral row of teeth; origin of M2, closer to M3 than to M1; and the totally or partially rolling of the wings when at rest. The two species share a similar wing pattern, but differ in forewing shape: elongated in R. delineata and triangular in R. variabilis sp. nov. Furthermore, in R. delineata, the costal margin of the forewing and the inner margin of the hindwing are greyish. Additionally, R. variabilis exhibits phenotypic plasticity, including green and brown phenotypes. In the male genitalia, three characteristics easily separate R. variabilis from R. delineata: 1) in dorsal view, costa of the valvae with a projection of quadrangular appearance in R. variabilis and horn-shaped in R. delineata; 2) the presence of a pair of finger-like socii in R. variabilis, which are absent or barely noticeable in R. delineata and; 3) vesica with smaller spicules in R. variabilis. than in R. delineata. We present a discussion about the morphological characters of Rolepa and their relevance to future studies of the systematics of Phiditiidae.

New hemeroscopid (Odonata: Hemeroscopidae) from Lower Cretaceous Jinju Formation (South Korea) illustrating variation of wing vannal region among hemeroscopids and prohemeroscopids

2026-05-13T12:24:41+12:00

A new hemeroscopid species, Hemeroscopus jinjuensis Wei, Nam & Liu sp. nov., is described from the Lower Cretaceous Jinju Formation in the Jinju area of Gyeongsangnam Province, Republic of Korea based on the venational characteristics. The vannal region of wing is key for the taxonomy of Hemeroscopidae Pritykina, 1977, and compared to Prohemeroscopidae Bechly et al., 2002 the morphological variation of vannal region in Hemeroscopidae is outlined as follows: the anal loop enlarges and the MP–CuAa area expands, whereas the region between the basal and distal portions of CuAa, as well as the area between the anal loop and the anal triangle, becomes progressively reduced.

A new genus with a new species of Empoascini (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae) from China

2026-05-13T12:26:05+12:00

This paper provides a detailed description and illustrations of the morphology and male genitalia of the new genus Semiremotus Yao, Yu & Yang gen. nov. of Empoascini, based on type species Semiremotus concavus Yao, Yu & Yang sp. nov from Guizhou, China. Morphological differences between the new genus and related genera are discussed.

**Description of the second known species of Buffingtonella Lobato-Vila & Pujade-Villar, 2019 (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Ceroptresini) and a possible host association for the genus**

2026-05-13T12:27:30+12:00

The genus Buffingtonella Lobato-Vila & Pujade-Villar, 2019 is known only by the species B. polita (Ashmead, 1896) and from only a few specimens. An undescribed species belonging to this genus was located among material deposited at the Mississippi Entomological Collection (Mississippi State University, Mississippi, USA) which is described here as B. buffingtoni Nastasi sp. nov. An updated diagnosis for the genus and convenient characters separating the two species are provided. The possible ecology of Buffingtonella is also discussed; the genus is likely associated with galls of Polystepha gall midges (Diptera: Nematocera: Cecidomyiidae). Lastly, the generic taxonomy of Ceroptresini is discussed in reference to findings in other recent studies of the tribe.