Revisionary notes on the genus Aulacocentrum Brues (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Macrocentrinae) from Vietnam.

This paper contains descriptions and illustrations of five new species of the genus Aulacocentrum Brues, 1922, from Vietnam, viz. Aulacocentrumassitum Long & Pham, sp. nov.; A.glabrum Long, sp. nov.; A.imparum Long & van Achterberg, sp. nov.; A.intermedium Long & van Achterberg, sp. nov.; and A.simulatum Long, sp. nov. Additionally, Aulacocentrumseticella van Achterberg & He is newly recorded for Vietnam's braconid fauna. A checklist and a key to the Oriental and East Palaearctic Aulacocentrum species is provided and the in-country distribution of the Vietnamese species is given.

Small intestinal flukes of the genus Metagonimus (Digenea: Heterophyidae) in Europe and the Middle East: A review of parasites with zoonotic potential.

The heterophyid trematode Metagonimus romanicus (Ciurea, 1915) (Digenea) is redescribed on the basis of type material from domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) in Romania, vouchers from experimentally infected cats (Felis catus) and adults recovered from golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) infected with metacercariae from scales of chub (Squalius cephalus) and common nase (Chondrostoma nasus) (Cypriniformes: Leuciscidae) in Hungary. This trematode, endemic to Europe and neighbouring regions (northwestern Türkiye), was previously misidentified as M. yokogawai (Katsurada, 1912), a zoonotic parasite of humans in East Asia. However, the two species differ considerably both genetically and morphologically, e.g., in the position of the ventral sucker, the presence of the prepharynx, the anterior extent of the vitelline follicles and the posterior extent of the uterus. Metagonimus ciureanus (Witenberg, 1929) (syn. Dexiogonimus ciureanus Witenberg, 1929), described from domestic cats and dogs in Israel, is a valid species distributed in the Middle East and Transcaucasia, which is also confirmed by molecular data. It differs from all Metagonimus species, including M. romanicus, in having symmetrical testes instead of the oblique testes of the other congeners. The zoonotic significance of M. romanicus and M. ciureanus is unclear, but appears to be low in Europe, mainly because raw or undercooked, whole fish with scales are generally not consumed. Accidental infection of fishermen by metacercariae in the scales when cleaning fish is more likely, but has never been reported. Remains of cyprinoids with scales infected with metacercariae of Metagonimus spp. can be an important natural source of infection for dogs, cats, and other carnivores, which can serve as a reservoir for these parasites.

Title: Petits trématodes intestinaux du genre Metagonimus (Digenea : Heterophyidae) en Europe et au Moyen-Orient : revue de parasites à potentiel zoonotique. Abstract: Le trématode Heterophyidae Metagonimus romanicus (Ciurea, 1915) (Digenea) est redécrit sur la base de matériel type provenant de chiens domestiques (Canis familiaris) en Roumanie, de vouchers issus de chats (Felis catus) infectés expérimentalement et d'adultes collectés chez des hamsters dorés (Mesocricetus auratus) infectés par des métacercaires provenant d'écailles de chevesne commun (Squalius cephalus) et de nase commun (Chondrostoma nasus) (Cypriniformes : Leuciscidae) de Hongrie. Ce trématode, endémique d'Europe et des régions voisines (nord-ouest de la Turquie), avait été précédemment identifié à tort comme étant M. yokogawai (Katsurada, 1912), un parasite zoonotique des humains en Asie de l'Est. Cependant, les deux espèces diffèrent considérablement sur le plan génétique et morphologique, par exemple par la position de la ventouse ventrale, la présence du prépharynx, l'étendue antérieure des follicules vitellins et l'étendue postérieure de l'utérus. Metagonimus ciureanus (Witenberg, 1929) (syn. Dexiogonimus ciureanus Witenberg, 1929), décrite chez des chats et des chiens domestiques en Israël, est une espèce valide répartie au Moyen-Orient et en Transcaucasie, ce qui est également confirmé par des données moléculaires. Cette espèce diffère de toutes les espèces de Metagonimus, y compris M. romanicus, par ses testicules symétriques au lieu des testicules obliques des autres congénères. L'importance zoonotique de M. romanicus et M. ciureanus n'est pas claire, mais semble faible en Europe, principalement parce que les poissons n'y sont généralement pas consommés crus ou insuffisamment cuits et entiers avec les écailles. L'infection accidentelle des pêcheurs par des métacercaires présents dans les écailles lors du nettoyage du poisson est plus probable mais n'a jamais été signalée. Les restes de poissons cyprinoïdes avec les écailles, infectés par des métacercaires de Metagonimus spp. peuvent être une source naturelle importante d'infection pour les chiens, les chats et autres carnivores, qui peuvent servir de réservoir à ces parasites.

Bartonella in bat flies from the Egyptian fruit bat in the Middle East.

In the family of fruit bats, Pteropodidae Gray, 1821, as in the third most diverse group of bats (Chiroptera), the bacterium of the genus Bartonella was detected in several species as well as in a few species of their insect ectoparasites in some tropical and sub-tropical regions of the Old World. The Egyptian fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus (Geoffroy, 1810), is one of the most widespread fruit bats, occurring between South Africa, Senegal, and Pakistan. In this bat species, Candidatus Bartonella rousetti has been detected in three African populations in Nigeria, Kenya, and Zambia. This fruit bat, however, also occurs in the Palaearctic, an area isolating the species geographically and phylogenetically from the Afrotropical part of its distribution range. We screened the blood-sucking bat flies (family Nycteribiidae) from R. aegyptiacus for the presence of the Bartonella bacteria. A rich material of bat fly Eucampsipoda aegyptia (Macquart, 1850), a monoxenous ectoparasite of the Egyptian fruit bats, was collected at 26 localities in seven countries (Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen) of the Middle East in 2007-2013. The DNA isolates from the bat flies were subjected to a three-marker (gltA, ssrA, and intergenic spacer region, ITS) multilocus sequence analysis. Based on the amplification of the fragment of ssrA gene by a real-time PCR, 65 E. aegyptia samples from 19 localities in all seven countries were positive for the bacteria. One to five Bartonella-positive individuals of E. aegyptia were collected per one individual of R. aegyptiacus. An analysis of the ITS and gltA genes indicated the presence of an uncultured Bartonella sp., belonging to the Cand. B. rousetti genogroup, identified from populations of the Egyptian fruit bat in Africa. These results support the hypothesis that Bartonella's diversity corresponds to its host's diversity (and phylogenetic structure). Specific lineages of pathogens are present in specific phylogenetic groups of bats.

Bat ectoparasites: chigger mites (Trombiculidae), ticks (Ixodidae and Argasidae), and bugs (Cimicidae) in the Eastern Palaearctic.

Nine species-level taxa of bat ectoparasites, three chigger mites (Trombiculidae), three hard (Ixodidae), and one soft tick (Argasidae) species, as well as two bug (Cimicidae) species from nine bat species hosts were detected in the Eastern Palaearctic. Trombiculid larvae of Leptotrombidium schlugerae, Leptotrombidium album, and Ascoschoengastia latyshevi were first recorded on bats in the temperate zone of eastern Russia. L. schlugerae was more abundant than A. latyshevi in the same study sites in Eastern Siberia, and the main hosts of both chigger species were Plecotus ognevi and Eptesicus nilssonii. Ixodid ticks Dermacentor marginatus, Ixodes simplex, and Ixodes sp. were sampled from bats in Kazakhstan, the Far East, and Eastern Siberia, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on Cox1, 16S rDNA, and ITS2 sequences of I. simplex showed that the specimens from the Far East grouped into a clade distributed in the Eastern Palaearctic and India. In turn, the specimen of Ixodes sp. from Eastern Siberia was most closely related to Ixodes soricis and Ixodes angustus with p-distance of 9.8-10.7% (Cox1), suggesting that this tick probably belongs to a new species. Argas vespertilionis larvae were collected from three widespread bat species in Kazakhstan. Two bug species, Cimex pipistrelli and Cimex aff. lectularius, were recorded in the Far East and Eastern Siberia, respectively. Specimens from Transbaikalia were morphologically identified as Cimex lectularius. However, they differed from the latter by 12.5-12.9% of Cox1 sequences, indicating that C. aff. lectularius may be a new species.

Another new species of the genus Habrophlebia Eaton, 1881 (Ephemeroptera, Leptophlebiidae) from the Maghreb.

A new species belonging to the genus Habrophlebia Eaton, 1881 is described at the nymphal stage from the Rif Mountains of Morocco. This species presents unique features, such as the chorionic arrangement of the egg and the ornamentation of the posterior margin of abdominal tergites. It is compared to all west European Habrophlebia species and a table with discriminating characters is given. A phylogenetic reconstruction based on COI sequences fully supports the hypothesis of a new species in the Rif Mountains, with possible further distribution in southern Spain.

A review of the subgenus Loxocera Meigen, 1803 (Diptera, Brachycera, Psilidae) in China.

The subgenus Loxocera (Loxocera Meigen, 1803) (Diptera, Brachycera, Psilidae) in China is reviewed. Six species are recognized, including four new species: L. (L.) chikunisp. nov., L. (L.) lonsdaleisp. nov., L. (L.) maculithoraxsp. nov., and L. (L.) obscurasp. nov. Two species originally placed in the subgenus Loxocera, L.anulata Wang & Yang, 1998 and L.tianmuensis Wang & Yang, 1998, are transferred to the subgenus Loxocera (Imantimyia Frey, 1925). A key to the species of the subgenus Loxocera occurring in China is provided.

A new species related to Pardosaatrata (Araneae, Lycosidae) from Armenia makes the distribution range of the atrata group disjunctive.

Species of wolf spiders considered in the Pardosaatrata group are surveyed, and comparative figures of all species included in the group are presented for the first time. A new species, P.armeniacasp. nov., is described from the shore of Lake Sevan (Armenia) based on both sexes. Pardosanarymica Savelyeva, 1972 from East Kazakhstan Oblast' is synonymized with the trans-Palaearctic P.atrata (Thorell, 1873). It was found that the record of P.atrata (sub P.lapponica) by Schenkel from British Columbia and reflected in the World Spider Catalog in fact refers to P.concinna (Thorell, 1877), a member of the P.lapponica group. The distribution of three species consideredin the atrata group are mapped. The discovery of P.armeniacasp. nov. has led to a re-evaluation of the distribution range, previously thought to be continuous, now showing a disjunctive pattern.

The genus Epeolus Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera, Apidae) in Central Asia.

Available information about bees of the genus Epeolus in Central Asia is summarized. Twenty species are currently known from this area. Two new species are described: E.albus Astafurova & Proshchalykin, sp. nov. and E.pesenkoi Astafurova, sp. nov. Two species are newly recorded from Central Asia: E.asiaticus Astafurova & Proshchalykin, 2022 and E.nudiventris Bischoff, 1930. The hitherto unknown male of E.mikhailovi Astafurova & Proshchalykin, 2021 is described, and lectotypes are designated for E.ruficornis Morawitz, 1875 and E.vinogradovi Popov, 1952.

A new species of the genus Alainites Waltz & McCafferty, 1994 (Ephemeroptera, Baetidae) from the north of Morocco.

A new species of Alainites is described from northern of Morocco Alainitesalbaisp. nov. It can be separated from the other west Palearctic species by the gill number, the spination of the distal margin of tergites, the leg setation, and the paraproct shape and spination. This species is widespread in the study area but never abundant. It prefers small to medium streams with slow flow, and does not seem to be very sensitive to pollution and water logging activities.

Original descriptions of Palaearctic species of the genus Plateumaris C. G. Thomson, 1859 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Donaciinae) and their translations.

Many original descriptions of beetles were published in Latin with specific idioms and technical terms, which are sometimes difficult to understand. The exact meaning of these descriptions is necessary for taxonomic and systematic research. Of the ten Palaearctic Plateumaris species regarded as valid three were described in English, the remaining seven in Latin, French, or German: P.amurensis Weise, 1898, P.bracata (Scopoli, 1772), P.consimilis (Schrank, 1781), P.roscida Weise, 1912, P.rustica (Kunze, 1818), P.sericea (Linnaeus, 1758), and P.weisei (Duvivier, 1885). These seven non-English original descriptions and their translations into English are presented here. Additionally, the translations of the first descriptions of the genus Plateumaris and of its 19 synonyms (some were described in Russian, also) are given.