Zootaxa

The pygmy mole crickets (Orthoptera: Tridactylidae) of Florida, USA, with descriptions of three new species

BRANDON WOO — 2025-11-07

The results of an intensive survey of Florida (U.S.A.) Pygmy Mole Crickets (Orthoptera: Tridactylidae) are presented. Six members of the family have been previously recorded from the state. This work describes three additional species and documents additional locality records for the other taxa, bringing the Florida total to nine species. Two-thirds of these species are narrowly endemic to small ranges within the state and are restricted to xeric sandhill or scrub habitats with bare patches of sand. Distributional patterns as well as conservation implications for the endemic species are discussed.

**A review of geographic variation in the monocled cobra, Naja kaouthia Lesson, 1831 (Serpentes: Elapidae) with the designation of a neotype**

NEIL R. BALCHAN — 2025-11-07

The monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia Lesson, 1831) is a medically important elapid snake with substantial geographic variation across South and Southeast Asia. Throughout its broad distribution, spanning various major ecoregions and habitat types, N. kaouthia displays a great amount of phenotypic variation. Recent taxonomic developments in the Asiatic cobras (Naja, subgenus Naja), namely the description of a new species (Naja fuxi Shi et al. 2022), have resulted in confusion regarding the affinities of non-spitting cobras across Indochina. Due to close morphological resemblances and poorly resolved phylogenetic relationships among three sympatric and/or parapatric taxa (N. atra, N. fuxi, and N. kaouthia), additional research is needed to disentangle species limits, evolutionary history, ecology, and distribution of these species from one another. A long history of taxonomic confusion and ambiguity in this group, combined with the suggestion of additional cryptic and unrecognized diversity, underscores a need for continued study of the Asiatic cobras. Consequently, we summarize information on N. kaouthia, compiling data on geographic distribution, phylogenetic relationships, phenotypic variation, venom variation, and venom spitting behavior. While distribution-wide trends do appear to be present for some characteristics (i.e., regional trends in venom spitting behavior, body coloring and patterns), they are apparently lacking or poorly defined for others (i.e., trends in venom composition). In view of future study on N. kaouthia, and accounting for the missing holotype, we designate a neotype for the species, thereby restricting the type locality to 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India, within the original ambiguous type locality of “Bengale, Inde”. Future taxonomic treatments resulting in the recognition of additional diversity within N. kaouthia will thus require that the name be maintained for snakes from the newly restricted type locality. We encourage detailed investigation on the Asiatic cobras using integrative lines of evidence combining mitochondrial, nuclear, and morphological datasets, but emphasize that nomenclatural decisions should only be made with a large body of supporting evidence.

**Descriptions of the male genitalia of species of Culex (Microculex) (Diptera: Culicidae) from the Atlantic Forest, Brazil, and a dichotomous identification key for those species**

RAFAEL OLIVEIRA-CHRISTE — 2025-11-07

The subgenus Microculex Theobald, 1907 of the genus Culex Linnaeus, 1758 is a group of Neotropical mosquitoes whose immature stages develop in phytotelm habitats, especially tank-forming bromeliads. Here we present a new dichotomous key for the males of species of Microculex collected in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. We show that in several species all structures of the male genitalia must be separated so that the aedeagus and proctiger can be observed and the species identified. The dichotomous key contains an illustrated description of the male genitalia for each species. The presence of various species and one species complex that had not previously been described is discussed.

A new species of the New Zealand endemic weevil genus Clypeolus Broun (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Cryptorhynchinae), found attacking an invasive weed, white horehound (Marrubium vulgare L. Lamiales: Lamiaceae)

SAMUEL D. J. BROWN — 2025-11-07

Clypeolus hallae Brown, Leschen and Groenteman new species is described from specimens reared from the roots of the invasive weed white horehound (Marrubium vulgare L., Lamiales: Lamiaceae) at a site in the Lowry Peaks Range, North Canterbury, in the South Island of New Zealand. Additional specimens from Kaitorete Spit, Kaikoura and Nelson in the South Island, Stephens Island and Wairarapa, Hawkes Bay and East Cape in the North Island have also been examined. We provide a synopsis of the genus Clypeolus Broun, and propose the following actions: Tychanus complexus Broun, 1921, Tychanus simulans Broun, 1921, Tychanus squamosus Broun, 1914, Tychanus terricola Broun, 1921, Acalles fuscidorsis Broun, 1909, and Acalles notoporhinus Broun, 1914 are new synonyms of Clypeolus cineraceus Broun, 1909; and Tychanus dux Broun, 1893 is a new synonym of Clypeolus lachrymosus (Broun, 1881). We include a key to the known species of Clypeolus, and images of the type specimens for available names, as well as diagnoses and the distribution for each species. Clypeolus hallae is an interesting example of an indigenous herbivore in a novel host association with an adventive invasive plant species, and we recommend further study into the biology and evolution of this weevil and its potential impacts upon horehound populations.

Sympotthastia annularis sp. nov. from Oriental China (Diptera: Chironomidae: Diamesinae) with a worldwide key

XIANGLIANG FANG — 2025-11-07

A new species from Hubei Province, China (Oriental region), Sympotthastia annularis sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on the adult male. A key to the known males of Sympotthastia worldwide is additionally provided. The mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene of the new species was sequenced and submitted to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Based on the new species’ COI sequence data and those of 19 other Sympotthastia sequences obtained from existing public databases NCBI, phylogenetic relationships within the genus were inferred, placing the new species closest to Sympotthatsia takatensis (Tokunaga, 1936). The molecular analysis of cytochrome oxidase (COI) genes and the obtained minimum interspecific K2P distance to the closest species, S. takatensis (5.9%), further confirms the species status of the new species.

**Two new species of Epoligosita Girault (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) with a key to Indian species**

MOHSIN IKRAM — 2025-11-07

Two new species of Epoligosita Girault (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), E. breviclavata Ikram & Yousuf sp. nov. and E. latipennis is Ikram & Yousuf sp. nov. are described from India. A key to Indian species of Epoligosita Girault is also provided.

**A new species of Nazeris Fauvel from Zhangjiajie, Hunan, China (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Paederinae)**

JIA-YAO HU — 2025-11-07

A new species of Nazeris Fauvel, 1873 from Zhangjiajie, Hunan, China is described and illustrated: N. hunanensis, sp. nov. An identification key to the Nazeris species in Hunan is provided.

**A new species of Faronus Aubé, 1844 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) from western Morocco**

PETER HLAVÁČ — 2025-11-07

A new species, Faronus agadiriensis sp. nov. from the mountain range near Agadir, Morocco is described and illustrated. The species has a highly characteristic aedeagus which readily separates it from all congeners. A distributional map for all African species of the genus is also provided.

**A new species of the genus Conostigmus Dahlbom 1858 (Hymenoptera: Ceraphronoidea: Megaspilidae) from India**

AMIT KUMAR GHOSH — 2025-11-07

A new species, Conostigmus khonomaensis sp. nov., is described from Nagaland, India. Two male specimens were collected by yellow pan traps from the Khonoma village in Nagaland. Moreover, this is the second species of the genus Conostigmus reported from India. An identification key to the two Indian species of Conostigmus is also provided.

Erratum: LINDSAY W. POPPLE (2017) A revision of the Ewartia oldfieldi (Distant) species complex (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadettinae) with five new species from eastern and northern Australia. Zootaxa, 4263 (3): 401–449.

LINDSAY W. POPPLE — 2025-11-07

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