New combinations and a new generic synonym in the genus Taeniothrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae).

Reasons are provided for considering Javathrips as a new synonym of Taeniothrips, resulting in the following new combinations: Taeniothrips ciliaris (Reyes) comb.n., Taeniothrips musae (Zhang & Tong) comb.n., and Taeniothrips variegatus (Reyes) comb.n. Also recognised here are the following nomenclatural changes: Taeniothrips grisbrunneus (Feng, Chou & Li) comb.n. (from Megalurothrips), and Yaothrips pediculae Han comb.n. (from Taeniothrips) with Yaothrips shii Mirab-balou et al. syn.n. Taeniothrips musae is redescribed and illustrated.

Redescription of aquatic grass inhabiting Frankliniella zizaniophila (Thripidae: Thripinae) with remarks on its systematic position within the genus Frankliniella (Thysanoptera).

The aquatic grass-inhabiting thrip, Frankliniella zizaniophila (Han & Zhang 1982) (Thripidae: Thripinae), is redescribed and illustrated, and the larvae and the yellow color type of this species are described for the first time. Judging from its unique morphological characters and host plant, the systematic position of this species in Frankliniella is questionable, but until the thrips fauna of Asia is better explored, it seems best to leave this species in Frankliniella, rather than to erect a new monobasic genus.

The genus Labiobaetis (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) in China, with description of a new species.

Five species of the genus Labiobaetis (Baetidae) are recognized from China based on mature nymphs, including a new species, Labiobaetis ancoralis n. sp. and a new combination, Labiobaetis mustus (Kang & Yang) n. comb. The new species differs from L. multus (Müller-Liebenau) and L. pulchellus (Müller-Liebenau & Hubbard) by the spatulate submarginal setae on labrum and the apical segment of maxillary palpus with a pronounced excavation near apex. Imago stage of L. mustus (Kang & Yang) n. comb. is described for the first time based on male and female imagoes reared from nymphs, which can be distinguished from other known imagoes of Labiobaetis by the color pattern of abdominal terga and hind wing having a tiny vestigial costal process. All Oriental species previously transferred to Pseudocloeon are reassigned to Labiobaetis in the present paper. An identification key is provided to the known mature nymphs of Oriental Labiobaetis species.

New synonymy among gall thrips of the Asian genus Mesothrips, with revision of species from China (Thysanoptera, Haplothripini).

Historical, nomenclatural, technical, and biological problems associated with the 42 species of Mesothrips are discussed. Type specimens have been re-examined of 14 of the 25 species that were described prior to 1930 and remain known only from imperfectly slide-mounted specimens. As a result, seven new synonyms are recognised. From China, six species of Mesothrips have been listed, but the records of M.alluaudi and M.manii are rejected, and three new species are described: M.jianfengisp. nov., M.longistylussp. nov., and M.verniciasp. nov. These three species are divergent from other members of Mesothrips in lacking a prominent fore tarsal tooth and may indicate a possible generic relationship to the flower-living species in the Asian genus Dolichothrips. An illustrated key is provided to the seven Mesothrips species now known from China.

Descriptions of the final instar larvae of seven Chinese Chlorogomphidae species, with taxonomic notes on adults (Odonata: Anisoptera).

The larvae of seven species of Chlorogomphidae from South China are described based on reared larvae, i.e. Chlorogomphus kitawakii Karube, C. nasutus nasutus Needham, C. papilio Ris, C. shanicus Wilson, C. usudai Ishida, C. yokoii Karube and Chloropetalia soarer Wilson. The adult female of C. kitawakii is first described. Biological information on Chlorogomphidae is provided and a diagnosis of the family proposed.

A new species of Prosopistoma (Ephemeroptera: Prosopistomatidae) from China with a key to Oriental species.

A new species of the monogeneric family Prosopistomatidae, Prosopistoma ocellatum sp. n., is described and illustrated based on mature larval stages from Guangxi and Hainan, southern China. The new species can be readily distinguished from the other members of Prosopistoma by the following combination of characters: antenna 6-segmented, segment III much longer than segments IV-VI; three bristles at the base of the inner canine; 10-11 pectinate setae on ventral margin of fore tibiae, ventral and basal half surface of all femora with dense scale-like structures, and color pattern of eye-spot on the mesonotum. An update key to the known Oriental species is provided.

Neohydatothrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) from China: new species and records, with a key to species.

Three new species of Neohydatothrips (Thripidae: Sericothripinae) are described and illustrated from China: N. concavus sp. n., N. flavicingulus sp. n. and N. luteolipes sp. n.; and two species previously recorded from Taiwan are here reported for mainland China for the first time: N. plynopygus (Karny) and N. tabulifer (Priesner). A key to the 16 Neohydatothrips species recorded from China (including Taiwan) is provided.

A new synonym of Sericothrips from China and Japan (Thysanoptera: Thripidae).

Nine species are listed in the genus Sericothrips (Thripidae: Sericothripinae) (Mound 2013), and all of these species have the abdominal tergites completely covered with microtrichia medially (Mound & Tree 2009). S. marginalis Kud6 was described from Japan on a large number of specimens, including a micropterous holotype and macropterous females and micropterous males. These specimens were collected from plants in the families Poaceae and Fabaceae (Kudô 1991). Specimens from Japan were examined by the first author (including one paratype in SCAU), and three paratypes were also checked by the second author and compared with Chinese specimens of S. houji (Chou & Feng 1990). We were not able to find any character differences between these two species, and therefore place S. marginalis in synonymy with S. houji.

One new species, four new records and key to species of Hydatothrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) from China (including Taiwan).

Hydatothrips ormosiae sp. n. (Thripidae: Sericothripinae) is described from southern China; H. ekasi, H. liquidambara and H. onari Kudô are newly recorded for mainland China, and H. noro Kudô is newly recorded for Taiwan. A key to the 16 Hydatothrips species recorded from China (including Taiwan) is provided.

First record of hygropetric species in the genus Paegniodes Eaton, 1881 (Ephemeroptera: Heptageniidae) with description of a new species from China.

Paegniodes oligopilus sp. nov., a first hygropetric species in the genus Paegniodes Eaton, 1881 found from madicolous habitat, is described based on larvae from Southwest China. The new species is characterized by the posterior margin of 1st segment bearing a row of 13-15 stout setae; mesonotum and abdominal tergites II-IX having a reddish brown median stripe; swimming setae of cerci and median caudal filament are vestigial. The morphological affinities and feeding habits with other known species are discussed.

The genus Nandithrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), with a new species from Southern China.

Nandithrips niveae sp. n. is described from Southern China. This is the second species of Nandithrips, a genus that is remarkable among Thripinae with ocellar setae I and II absent, abdominal tergite VIII of female with posteromarginal comb absent medially, and sternite II of male with an oval pore plate. The body of this new species is sharply bicolored, in contrast to the uniformly golden yellow type species. Both species are known only from the flowers of plants in the family Urticaceae.

Two new species of the genus Nigrobaetis Kazlauskas (in Novikova & Kluge), 1987 (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) from Southwest China.

Two new species of Nigrobaetis Kazlauskas (in Novikova & Kluge), 1987 are described from Southwest China: Nigrobaetis bilongus sp. nov. based on larval and imaginal materials which are reared from larvae; Nigrobaetis trialbus sp. nov. based on larval stage.

A new species of Siphlonurus Eaton, 1868 (Ephemeroptera, Siphlonuridae) from Yunnan, China.

Siphlonurusdongxi Li & Tong, sp. nov. from Shangri-La City, Yunnan Province, China, is described based on egg, nymph, and winged stages. The new species is closely related to S.davidi (Navás, 1932), and can be distinguished by the colour of the imago, the forking point of MP, the penis, posterolateral spines of tergum IX of imagoes, and first abdominal terga nymph, as well as the structure of the egg. The new species and S.davidi have the same morphological and structural characteristics, such as the long cubital area with many intercalaries, cross veins between C, Sc, RA, and RSa1 surrounded with distinct pigments, the strong curvature of vein CuP in the forewing, the broad expansion of the hindwing, the membranous penis lobes fused without teeth, supporting the proposition of a new species complex, the Siphlonurusdavidi group. The structures of the penis and the egg of the new species could help understand the origin and evolution of the genus Siphlonurus.

Species diversity, seasonal dynamics, and vertical distribution of litter-dwelling thrips in an urban forest remnant of South China.

Litter-dwelling thrips are an important component of soil macroinvertebrates in tropical and subtropical regions. However, little is known about assemblage composition, seasonal abundance and vertical distribution of litter-dwelling thrips. A survey of forest litter-dwelling thrips and other soil macroinvertebrates was conducted in an urban forest remnant at Guangzhou, China during 2004-2005 and 2008-2009. A total of 835 Tullgren samples were collected during the study. Thysanoptera constituted 6.5% of total litter-dwelling macroinvertebrate individuals extracted, representing three families, 19 genera, and 25 species. Psalidothrips ascitus Ananthakrishnan (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) and Hyidiothrips guangdongensis Wang, Tong and Zhang represented 78.5% of all individuals of litter-dwelling thrips during the survey. Numbers of species and density of leaf-litter thrips fluctuated between different months. Density of litter thrips increased from March until October, reaching a maximum of 41.1 individuals/m2 followed by a decrease. In January and February only a few larval thrips were present. Species diversity gradually increased from July (four species) to December (10 species), and then declined rapidly. The vertical distribution showed that the leaf-litter thrips species richness and abundance decreased significantly with soil depth; they were found only in the litter layer and upper soil layer (0-5 cm in depth) and were entirely absent in deeper soil layers. The results suggest that litter-dwelling thrips are a common group of litter invertebrates with high species diversity in subtropical regions. These urban forest remnants should be given special consideration in forest conservation planning, because of their significance as refugia for the litter invertebrate assemblages, especially for leaf-litter thrips.

A new species of Scirtothrips infesting Ginkgo biloba in eastern China.

A new thrips species, Scirtothrips ginkgoe Mirab-balou, Tong, and Chen, sp. n. (Thripidae: Thripinae) from Eastern China, collected on the leaves of Ginkgo biloba L. (Ginkgoaceae), is described and illustrated based on the male and female adult stage and the larva.

A new record and description of a new species of the genus Thrips, with an updated key to species from Iran.

An illustrated key is provided to distinguish the 26 species of the genus Thrips L. (Thripidae: Thripinae) recorded from Iran. Thrips alavii Mirab-balou, Tong & Chen, sp. n. is described and illustrated. Thrips alliorum (Priesner) is newly recorded for the fauna of Iran. A checklist is provided for all recorded species in this genus from Iran, with information on the geographical distribution for each species.

Two new synonyms among Panchaetothripinae (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) with three species newly recorded from China.

Helionothrips mube and Panchaetothrips bifurcus are here recognized as new synonyms of Helionothrips aino and Panchaetothrips timonii based on large numbers of specimens and continuous morphological differences. Three species, Caliothrips insularis, Hercinothrips femoralis and Phibalothrips rugosus are newly recorded from China and the previous record of Caliothrips indicus from China is here considered incorrect. Illustrations of males and larvae of Hercinothrips femoralis are also provided.

The complete mitochondrial genomes of Ephemera serica (Ephemeroptera: Ephemeridae) and phylogenetic analysis.

In the present research, the mitochondrial genome of Ephemera serica was sequenced through next generation sequencing methods and its phylogenetic position in Ephemeroptera was analyzed. Total mitochondrial genome is 15,004 bp in length, and contains 13 protein coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and 22 transfer RNA genes. Mitogenomic phylogeny trees were constructed including 45 species from 13 families. The results show that E. serica is closely related to E. rufomaculata.

Baetis majus sp. nov., new species of mayfly (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) from Far East of Russia.

A new species, Baetis majus Tiunova sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on larvae and reared adults discovered in the Russian Far East. The differential identification of this species was determined by the characteristics of other representatives of the genus Baetis Leach, including subgenera Baetis Leach and Tenuibaetis Kang Yang from Eastern and Western Palaearctic, Nearctic and Oriental regions. In addition to morphological studies, DNA barcoding of the described species with average intraspecific K2P distances to nearest neighbours is documented. We reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of all available cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences of the subgenera of Baetis and Tenuibaetis from four regions. Bayesian analysis using 47 morphological characters additional to partial COI sequences did not allow to determine the species-group of the Baetis genus to which the described species belongs.

A new species of Psephenothrips (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) from China.

A new species of Phlaeothripinae, Psephenothrips aporosae sp. n., is described based on specimens collected in leaf galls on Aporosa octandra [Phyllanthaceae] in China. The new species is characterized by the head being much shorter than wide, the tube slightly longer than the head, and the metanotum with close longitudinal reticulation.