Zootaxa

**Taxonomic and nomenclatorial notes on the Catoptria coulonellus (Duponchel) species group with description of five new species from Western Balkans (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea, Crambidae)**

GRAZIANO BASSI — 2025-11-13

The extensive study of the original descriptions and of rich material allowed us to review the Catoptria coulonellus species group, with its species C. coulonellus (Duponchel, 1836) sp. reinst., C. combinella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) = C. petrificella (Hübner, 1796) syn. nov., C. hannemanni Alberti, 1967, C. orientellus (Herrich-Schäffer, 1850), C. spodiellus (Rebel, 1916), C. trichostomus (Christoph, 1858), C. lythargyrella (Hübner, 1796), C. domaviellus (Rebel, 1904), C. nikai sp. nov., C. richteri sp. nov., C. kasyi Błeszyński, 1960, C. korab sp. nov., C. plat sp. nov., C. sarplanina sp. nov., and C. biformellus (Rebel, 1893). Neotypes of C. combinella, C. petrificella, C. orientellus and C. lythargyrella are designated to fix the identity of these names. All species are fully illustrated, females of C. hannemanni for the first time. Finally, DNA barcodes are provided for a selection of available species and applied for an integrative species delimitation.

Description of a new genus of Sclerostomini (Coleoptera: Lucanidae: Lucaninae) from the Peruvian Andes

ANTONIO W. ARAUJO SOARES — 2025-11-13

Sclerodorcinus Soares & Grossi new genus is described from the Peruvian Andes to include four species that had been classified in Sclerostomus Burmeister, 1847 and Metadorcinus Kriesche, 1922. Those species are Sclerodorcinus wendyae (Arnaud & Bomans, 2006) new combination, Sclerodorcinus. damasoi (Arnaud & Bomans, 2006) new combination, Sclerodorcinus. bartolozzi (Arnaud & Bomans, 2007) new combination, and Sclerodorcinus yamauchii (Arnaud, Noguchi & Bomans, 2007) new combination. Sclerostomus kirchneri Schenk 2006 is placed in synonymy with Sclerostomus wendyae Arnaud & Bomans, 2006. A species identification key and distribution map of known localities are provided for the new genus. Sclerodorcinus can be characterized by the absence of a ventral groove on the male mandibles, the absence of a temporal process in both sexes, the presence of a dorsal groove on the female mandibles, and the hexagonal shape of the dorsal plate of the genital capsule in males, with ventral plate being strongly sclerotized.

**Additions of new taxa and record of Dasyhelea Kieffer (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from West Bengal, India**

SHUBHRANIL BRAHMA — 2025-11-13

Three new species, Dasyhelea (Dicryptoscena) becca, D. (Pseudoculicoides) fusiformis, and D. (Ps.) projectura are described from the Ganges deltaic region of West Bengal, India. Additionally, the species Dasyhelea (Dasyhelea) bambusaoris Yu is reported for the first time from India, which was collected from the Eastern Himalaya Biodiversity Hotspot. With the discovery of these three new species and one new record, the total number of Dasyhelea species in India rises to 33. We provide a brief account of the bionomics and study areas.

**A morphological and molecular reassessment of Zvenella acutangulata and Z. yunnana (Orthoptera): evidence for allopatric distribution (Orthoptera: Oecanthidae: Podoscirtinae)**

ZHU QING HE — 2025-11-13

The genus Zvenella Gorochov, 1988 is represented in China by three described species: Z. acutangulata Xia, Liu & Yin, 1991, Z. yunnana Gorochov, 1985, and Z. geniculata Chopard, 1931. Of these, Z. acutangulata and Z. yunnana are morphologically similar and their distinction is challenging. To address this, we performed a comprehensive analysis combining molecular and morphological data. Our findings demonstrate that while the two species can be reliably differentiated by male genital morphology and ovipositor length, they cannot be distinguished by femur length or ocelli size. Notably, our data reveal a geographic barrier separating their ranges, indicating an allopatric distribution pattern, which is contrary to previous studies.

**Description of two new spider species from Ecuadorian caves, along with a note on the distribution of Plato troglodita Coddington, 1986 (Araneae, Theridiosomatidae)**

NADINE DUPÉRRÉ — 2025-11-13

Two new cave spider species belonging to the family Theridiosomatidae are described from the Ecuadorian Amazonian ecoregion: Plato leodani sp. nov. (male, female), and Plato shaime sp. nov. (male, female). Images of the type specimens of Plato troglodita Coddington, 1986 are included and its distribution is updated, being restricted to the type locality in Morona Santiago Province, Ecuador. Finally, the specimens identified as Plato troglodita by Prete & Brescovit (2024) are considered a misidentification.

**Description of the F-0 larvae of Brechmorhoga latialata González-Soriano, 1999 and B. tepeaca Calvert, 1908 (Odonata: Libellulidae)**

RODOLFO NOVELO-GUTIÉRREZ — 2025-11-13

The last instar larvae of Brechmorhoga latialata González-Soriano, 1999 and B. tepeaca Calvert, 1908 are described and illustrated in detail based on reared larvae. Both are diagnosed and compared with the larvae of other species of Brechmorhoga Kirby described to date. The main structural features that distinguish the larva of B. latialata from that of B. tepeaca are the number of setae on palp and prementum, the shape of the ligula, the palp crenations, the ventral margin of propleura, the size of abdominal dorsal protuberances, and the length of posterolateral spines on S8–9 and caudal appendages.

**Description of a new marine tardigrade species, Batillipes nioensis sp. nov. (Heterotardigrada: Batillipedidae) from the north eastern Indian coast**

N. K. VISHNUDATTAN — 2025-11-13

A new species of marine tardigrade, Batillipes nioensis sp. nov., has been described from the coastal sediments of the Bay of Bengal, Northern Indian Ocean. This species is readily distinguishable from its congeners based on a unique combination of morphological traits, including the presence of six pairs of dorsolateral body projections, a distinct dorsal indentation in the anterior cephalic region, structure of lateral cirri, unsegmented dorsal body cuticle, elongated leg IV sensory organ with a van der Land’s organ, prominent hook-shaped caudal lateral processes, toe pattern of leg IV and the presence of blunt cuticular projections on the coxal regions of legs II and III.

New taxonomic and faunistic data on guardstone spiders (Araneae, Phrurolithidae) from China

YANNAN MU — 2025-11-13

The taxonomic placement of several Chinese phrurolithids is reviewed and revised, and two new records are presented. Two names are regarded as junior synonyms: Bosselaerius daoxianensis (Yin, Peng, Gong & Kim, 1997) Syn. nov. is synonymized with Alboculus zhejiangensis (Song & Kim, 1991), and Otacilia wenbi Mu & Zhang, 2023 Syn. nov. is synonymized with O. qiqiensis (Yin, Ubick, Bao & Xu, 2004). Three new combinations, all transferred from Otacilia Thorell, 1897, are proposed: Aculithus celata (Fu, Chen & Zhang, 2016) comb. nov., A. guposhan (Mu & Zhang, 2023) comb. nov., and Punctus valida (Fu, Chen & Zhang, 2016) comb. nov. Material previously reported as O. komurai (Yaginuma, 1952) from Chongqing was found to be misidentified, and this record is herein attributed to O. triangula Mu, Jin & Zhang, 2022. Two species of Phrurolithus C.L. Koch, 1839, namely P. nipponicus Kishida, 1914 and P. pullatus Kulczyński, 1897, are recorded from China for the first time.

**Ephippia of Daphnia O.F. Müller (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) from the Late Eocene of Central Tibetan Plateau**

ANNA N. NERETINA — 2025-11-13

On a planetary scale, the Eocene is interesting for climate changes, extensive orogeny and transformation of terrestrial and aquatic communities. Mass extinction of many organisms took place in the late Eocene to the early Oligocene, but not all groups have been studied in detail. The most complete data on taxonomy, diversity, distribution, and ecology were obtained on the Eocene angiosperms, vertebrates, insects, marine molluscs and large-bodied crustaceans. At the same time, Eocene microcrustaceans from inland waters are significantly less studied. Here we present the first data on the Cladocera from the greyish-white layered mudstones of the Late Eocene in Xiede village (Shuanghu County, central Tibetan Plateau), China. In total 29 ephippia were investigated and all of them belong to the genus Daphnia O.F. Müller, 1785 (Cladocera: Daphniidae). Twenty seven ephippia belong to Daphnia sp. 1 morphotype, the most common in the investigated samples. They belong to the subgenus Daphnia (Daphnia). These ephippia are covered by hollows with meshy ornamentation similar to those of some recent species and having two eggs with axes almost perpendicular to the dorsal margin. Two other morphotypes include a sole specimen each with ephippia covered by hillocks. Daphnia sp. 2 possesses a unique orientation of locules, unknown in any recent species and presumably belongs to an extinct taxon, may be even of subgenus level. Daphnia sp. 3 belongs to the subgenus D. (Ctenodaphnia) Dybowski & Grochowski, 1895 according to the ephippium size and locule orientation. In Eocene sediments of the eastern Nima Basin, the ephippia of Daphnia coexist with remains of thermophilic plants, insects and fishes. The occurrence of these ephippia supplements data on the diversity of thermophilic freshwater organisms in the geological past of the Tibetan Plateau. Moreover, the record of D. (Ctenodaphnia) in the sediment suggests a shallow, eutrophic, well warmed water body, possibly without a stable population of planktivorous fish in the late Eocene in central Tibet and confirm a warm climate with a low elevation at that time. Further studies can reveal more Daphniidae with unique morphology and help to prepare reliable descriptions for taxa new to science.

**The genus Harpactea Bristowe, 1939 (Araneae, Dysderidae) from the Jijel region (Algeria), with the description of a new species**

SOUFYANE KAHLESSENANE — 2025-11-13

Harpactea jijelensis sp. nov. (♂♀) is described from Jijel, north-east Algeria. The new species is assigned to the corticalis species group and the auriga subgroup, based on the distinctive characteristics of the male. A detailed description, along with diagnostic characters, and illustrations of the genitalia for both sexes are provided. Additionally, information on the species’ abundance, and distribution across various habitats in the region is presented. New distribution records for Harpactea acuta Beladjal & Bosmans 1997 and Harpactea innupta Beladjal & Bosmans 1997 are presented.