Zootaxa

**A faunal treatment of the Megachile (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) of Montana with a key for their identification**

ZOE A. PRITCHARD, MICHAEL A. IVIE, KEVIN M. O’NEILL, CASEY M. DELPHIA — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +1200

We provide the first statewide inventory of the species of Megachile in Montana from 5,406 records, based on collecting efforts in 2019–2021 and physical specimen data from publications, natural history museums, private collections, and online data aggregators. We documented 35 species within the state, six of which are new state records: Megachile casadae Cockerell, Megachile centuncularis (Linnaeus), Megachile gentilis Cresson, Megachile mellitarsis Cresson, Megachile mendica Cresson, and Megachile snowi Mitchell. These were predicted to occur in Montana based on existing range data but had not been previously sampled due to limited prior collecting. We also confirmed Megachile dakotensis Mitchell and Megachile nevadensis Cresson to occur in eastern Montana, which had not been recorded in the state for 85 and 84 years respectively, most likely from a lack of collecting in their ranges. Based on published distributional data, we identified eight native species that might be found in the state with further collecting, as well as two introduced species that could reach Montana in the future. This work adds important Megachile species range data in North America, articulates several taxonomic challenges within the group, and will aid future identifications of Montana Megachile through a taxonomic key provided here.

**Two new species of Pseudoptilolepis Snyder (Diptera: Muscidae) from Colombia, with the first record of the genus from Mexico, and an updated key to species**

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +1200

Pseudoptilolepis Snyder is exclusive to the Neotropical region. Here we described two new species from Colombia, namely Pseudoptilolepis unimagdalena Ramos-Pastrana & Gomes, sp. nov. (type-locality: Santa Marta, Los Naranjos) and Pseudoptilolepis samaria Ramos-Pastrana & Gomes, sp. nov. (type-locality: Santa Marta, Los Naranjos). We registered the genus for the first time for Mexico and provided an updated identification key to segregate all the species, including color images and illustrations of male and female terminalia of the new species. Species distributions were mapped and aspects of the biology of the new species were discussed, with special attention to pollination involving representatives of the genus.

**Two new species of Micropterus (Centrarchidae) endemic to Atlantic Slope river drainages in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, U.S.A.**

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +1200

We describe as new species Micropterus pucpuggy Freeman & Freeman (Bartram’s Bass), sp. nov., and Micropterus calliurus Freeman & Freeman (Altamaha Bass), sp. nov., which occur allopatrically in four river systems draining the Atlantic Slope of the southeastern United States. In recent decades, biologists and anglers have acknowledged the existence of these two distinctive taxa of black bass, both of which were previously considered synonymous with M. coosae Hubbs & Bailey (Redeye Bass). However, introgression with non-native congeners that have been widely introduced for sport-fishing (including M. henshalli Hubbs & Bailey and M. dolomieu Lacepède) has confounded formal description of M. pucpuggy and M.calliurus. We examined mitochondrial (mtDNA) and nuclear gene sequences of candidate type-specimens of M. pucpuggy and M. calliurus. We then used reduced-representation, short-read sequencing of candidate types along with specimens of six other Micropterus species to identify a series of non-introgressed individuals for each of the two new species. Micropterus pucpuggy and M. calliurus are each reciprocally monophyletic in both mitochondrial and RADseq phylogenies and are diagnosable from all other Micropterus species and from each other in chromatic fin coloration, body pigmentation, and other morphological attributes.

**First description of the female of the Asian leafhopper genus Stenolora Zhang, Wei & Webb, 2006 (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Stegelytrini)**

KETING DUAN, MICK WEBB, JICHUN XING — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +1200

The Chinese species Stenolora abbreviata Zhang, Wei & Webb, 2006 (Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Stegelytrini) is redescribed, including the female of the genus, described for the first time. We also provide photos of the male habitus and genitalia for the first time.

New planthoppers in the genus Nesomyndus (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae) from Bismarck palms in western Madagascar, redescription of Nesomyndus australis, a key to the genus and an updated molecular phylogeny of available Oecleini

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +1200

In a survey conducted in Northwestern Madagascar for potential vectors of palm lethal decline phytoplasmas, planthoppers belonging to the genus Nesomyndus were collected from Bismarck palms (Bismarckia nobilis). The specimens represented three species, the type species, N. australis Jacobi and two new species, here described as N. maculatus sp. nov. and N. madagascarensis sp. nov. Supplemental molecular data is provided for the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene (5’ and 3’ regions), histone 3 (H3) gene, 18S rRNA gene and 28S rRNA gene (D8 to D10 expansion regions) to test monophyly of Nesomyndus and its placement relative to other Oecleini.

**First troglobitic Iansaoniscus (Isopoda: Pudeoniscidae) from iron-ore caves and new distribution records for the genus**

GIOVANNA MONTICELLI CARDOSO, RODRIGO LOPES FERREIRA — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +1200

The genus Iansaoniscus is currently known from four troglobitic species, all recorded from limestone caves in the state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil. Here, a new species of Iansaoniscus from the state of Minas Gerais is described as the first species of the genus discovered in a ferruginous cave. Mocororô Cave is known to be partially excavated by extinct giant sloths, and thus at least part of it may be classified as a paleoburrow. This represents the first known case of a troglobitic isopod occurring in such a context. The discovery expands both the ecological and geographical range of the genus and underscores the importance of iron-ore caves and paleoburrows as unique and understudied subterranean habitats that host specialized and endemic fauna. Ecological observations of the new species are provided, and potential threats are discussed. Finally, new records for two previously described Iansaoniscus species are provided, extending their known distributional ranges along with their ecological information and potential threats to their conservation.

**Three new species of Dikrella Oman (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) associated to urban trees in Argentina**

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +1200

Three new species of Dikrella (Readionia) Oman, D. lilloi sp. nov., D. urbana sp. nov. and D. yungaensis sp. nov. from Tucumán and Jujuy provinces, Argentina, are described. Detailed morphological descriptions with genitalia illustrations of the new species and a key for identification of males of Dikrella (Readionia) are provided.

**A new synonym of Capnia oblata Chen & Du, 2017 (Plecoptera: Capniidae) based on morphological and molecular data**

XIAO YANG, YU-ZHOU DU — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +1200

We recently examined specimens of the genus Capnia Pictet 1841 from Sichuan Province, China, and a new synonym is established based on morphological and molecular data. Capnia xiei Chen & Du, 2017 is herein established as a junior synonym of Capnia oblata Chen & Du, 2017.

Sea urchins of Hong Kong: Corrections of misidentifications and an updated species list

CHIA-HSIN HSU, KAI-CHUN CHANG — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +1200