Zootaxa

**Unravelling a Taxonomic Puzzle: Reinstating the South African Scolelepis capensis as distinct from Scolelepis squamata (Annelida: Spionidae)**

LEE VERNON SMITH — 2025-12-16

Scolelepis (Scolelepis) squamata (O. F. Müller, 1806) is a marine annelid previously considered cosmopolitan, but now recognized to be restricted to European waters. However, multiple species have recently been removed from synonymy with S. squamata, confirming that this species is not globally widespread. This study incorporated morphological and molecular data to show that Scolelepis (Scolelepis) capensis (McIntosh, 1924) from South Africa should be removed from synonymy with the nominal species. Phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial (COI), and nuclear (18S and 28S) markers show that S. capensis and S. squamata sensu stricto fall into separate clades. Scolelepis capensis is morphologically similar to S. squamata and S. agilis from the Atlantic coast of North America, but can be distinguished mainly by the shape and number of hooded hooks in the noto- and neuropodia, and the chaetigers where they first appear. This study contributes to ongoing taxonomic revisions of unresolved and pseudocosmopolitan polychaete species in South Africa, thus increasing our knowledge of local biodiversity. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the taxonomic status of S. capensis throughout southern Africa.

DNA barcoding of grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acridoidea) from the Bashang Grassland of Hebei, China

JING-ZHU LI — 2025-12-16

Grasshoppers are significant pests in agriculture, animal husbandry, and forestry. They are widely distributed and numerous species, with some taxa exhibiting considerable morphological variation, which poses substantial challenges for traditional taxonomic classification. DNA barcoding has become an essential tool for species identification, serving as an effective complement to morphological taxonomy. This study focuses on grasshoppers from the Bashang Grassland in Hebei Province, China. Mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences were used as DNA barcode sequences, which were obtained and analyzed using molecular biology techniques. In addition, homologous sequences of related species were retrieved from GenBank, resulting in a barcode dataset comprising 237 sequences from 42 species, 26 genera. Phylogenetic analysis barcoding gap assessment were performed, and multiple species delimitation methods—including ABGD, ASAP, GMYC, and mPTP—were applied for comprehensive evaluation. The results demonstrated that DNA barcoding can effectively delineate species-level taxonomic units for many grasshoppers, providing a powerful supplement to morphological taxonomy. However, the grasshopper taxa include both groups with high cryptic genetic diversity and closely related species that are difficult to distinguish using barcoding alone. Therefore, accurate identification of grasshopper species still requires integration with morphological approaches.

**Two new species of Stenohya Beier, 1967 from China (Pseudoscorpiones: Neobisiidae)**

LIQI XIANG — 2025-12-16

Stenohya Beier, 1967 is an Asian pseudoscorpion genus, with most of the species reported from China. In this study, two new species of Stenohya from China are described and illustrated: Stenohya gaoi sp. nov. from Guangxi and Stenohya fortuna sp. nov. from Gansu. S. fortuna sp. nov. is the second Stenohya species reported from northern China.

Two new species and a new record of ground beetles of tribe Platynini Bonelli, 1810 from southwestern China (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

YU-XIN JIANG — 2025-12-16

Two new species of ground beetles of the tribe Platynini Bonelli, 1810 are described and illustrated from Chongqing and Sichuan, southwestern China: Jujiroa maotiani sp. nov. from the cave Haozhidong in Shuanghekou (Banan, Chongqing), and Atranodes zhoudingi sp. nov. from Yingxuehu in Mt. Xiling (Dayi, Chengdu). Additionally, the male of Jujiroa duqianae Tian & He, 2023 is reported and described. A distribution map for the localities of all specimens is provided.

Brygophis coulangesi (Domergue, 1988) (Serpentes: Pseudoxyrhophiidae) and its taxonomic relationship with respect to Compsophis (Günther, 1882)

SARA RUANE — 2025-12-16

Described in 1988, the monotypic Malagasy snake Brygophis coulangesi (Domergue, 1988) has rarely been seen, with only two vouchered specimens in collections and never before included in any molecular phylogenetic studies. Here, using recently collected tissue samples from two Brygophis coulangesi from northeastern Madagascar, we sequenced the commonly used barcoding gene cytochrome oxidase subunit I to determine placement of these two Brygophis specimens with respect to the similar and more well-known genus Compsophis (Günther, 1882). Unsurprisingly, given its previously noted morphological similarity to Compsophis, we find that Brygophis is deeply nested within Compsophis and thus should be referred to as Compsophis coulangesi comb. nov.

**A new species of black fly in the Simulium (Simulium) melanopus species-group (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Sarawak, Malaysia**

HIROYUKI TAKAOKA — 2025-12-16

Simulium (Simulium) puehense sp. nov. is described based on a female and its pupal exuviae and cocoon collected from Sarawak, Malaysia. This new species is assigned to the S. melanopus species-group and is characterized in the female by the haired basal portion of the radial vein, and in the pupa by the frons densely covered with tubercles, relatively stout facial and thoracic trichomes, and cocoon shoe-shaped with a few small open spaces anteriorly. Taxonomic notes are given to separate this new species from related species. This is the tenth member of the S. melanopus species-group in Borneo. Keys to identify all 10 species in the S. melanopus species-group in Borneo are provided.

**A new species of Sphaeromacrops Schillhammer, 2001 from China (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Staphylininae)**

YUJIE HUANG — 2025-12-16

A new Sphaeromacrops species from central Guizhou of China is described. This is a second species of the genus from China. Habitus and diagnostic characters of the new species are photographed.

**A new species of Aphis Linnaeus, 1758 (Hemiptera: Aphididae) from north-western Türkiye**

ŞAHİN KÖK — 2025-12-16

The new aphid species, - Aphis (Bursaphis) dardanelliensis sp. nov. living on Valeriana alliariifolia Vahl (Caprifoliaceae) in Çanakkale Province, Türkiye, is described based on the apterous viviparous females. Differential diagnosis to morphologically similar species and the Caprifoliaceae-feeding Aphis spp. is given. Identification keys for apterous viviparous females to Caprifoliaceae- and Viburnaceae-feeding Aphis spp. with regularly developed marginal tubercles on abdominal segments II–IV and for Valeriana alliariifolia-feeding aphids worldwide are provided.

**A new species of the subgenus Bryodemella (s. str.) Yin, 1982 from Xizang, China (Orthoptera: Acridoidea: Oedipodidae)**

HAI-XIANG YIN — 2025-12-16