Taxonomic revision of Phaesticus Uvarov and synonymy with Flatocerus Liang amp; Zheng syn. nov. (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae).

The genus Phaesticus Uvarov, 1940 is revised here with updated generic characteristics and a key to the species. New synonyms and a new combination are proposed: 1) Phaesticus Uvarov, 1940 = Flatocerus Liang Zheng, 1984 syn. nov.; 2) P. mellerborgi (Stål, 1855) = P. insularis (Hancock, 1907) syn. nov., = P. carinatus Zheng, 1998 syn. nov., = P. azemii Mahmood, Idris Salmah, 2007 syn. nov., = F. brachynotus Liang, Chen Chen, 2008 syn. nov., = P. uvarovi Storozhenko Dawwrueng, 2015 syn. nov.; 3) P. moniliantennatus (Günther, 1940) = F. nankunshanensis Liang Zheng, 1984 syn. nov., = F. wuyishanensis Zheng, 1991 syn. nov., = F. guizhouensis Wang, 1992 syn. nov., = F. daqingshanensis Zheng Jiang, 1998 syn. nov., = F. dentifemura Zheng, 2003 syn. nov.; 4) P. hainanensis (Liang, 1988) comb. nov. = F. hainanensis Liang, 1988. Intraspecific variation in the lengths of the hind pronotal processes and hind wings in the family Tetrigidae are discussed in detail.

Novel taxa and species diversity of Cordyceps sensu lato (Hypocreales, Ascomycota) developing on wireworms (Elateroidea and Tenebrionoidea, Coleoptera).

Species of Cordyceps sensu lato (Hypocreales, Sordariomycetes) have always attracted much scientific attention for their abundant species diversity, important medicinal values and biological control applications. The insect superfamilies Elateroidea and Tenebrionoidea are two large groups of Coleoptera and their larvae are generally called wireworms. Most wireworms inhabit humid soil or fallen wood and are often infected with Cordyceps s.l. However, the species diversity of Cordyceps s.l. on Elateroidea and Tenebrionoidea is poorly known. In the present work, we summarise taxonomic information of 63 Cordyceps s.l. species that have been reported as pathogens of wireworms. We review their hosts and geographic distributions and provide taxonomic notes for species. Of those, 60 fungal species are accepted as natural pathogens of wireworms and three species (Cordyceps militaris, Ophiocordyceps ferruginosa and O. variabilis) are excluded. Two new species, O. borealis from Russia (Primorsky Krai) and O. spicatus from China (Guizhou), are described and compared with their closest allies. Polycephalomyces formosus is also described because it is reported as a pathogen of wireworms for the first time. Phylogeny was reconstructed from a combined dataset, comprising SSU, LSU and TEF1-α gene sequences. The results, presented in this study, support the establishment of the new species and confirm the identification of P. formosus.

Taxonomical clarification of Tetrix gibberosa (Wang amp; Zheng), a high-backed pygmy grasshopper species from eastern PR China (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae).

Tetrix gibberosa (Wang Zheng) is a high-backed pygmy grasshopper species from eastern PR China. Due to its reduced hind wings and pleomorphism (length changes of hind wings and the hind pronotal process, which is generally called macropterous and brachypterous morphs), the species have been described into different species which involve several taxonomically confused genera. This study clarifies its taxonomy and distribution and provides ecological information for the species. At the same time, we comment the relationships of related genera in the subfamily Tetriginae, including Tetrix Latreille, Exothotettix Zheng Jiang, Alulatettix Liang, Aalatettix Zheng Mao, Formosatettix Tinkham, and Formosatettixoides Zheng. Additionally, we report for the first time that nematodes can parasitize pygmy grasshoppers. New synonyms are proposed: Tetrix gibberosa (Wang Zheng, 1993) = Alulatettix bulbosus Zheng Zhong, 2001, syn. nov., = Exothotettix jiangxiensis Liang Jia, 2008, syn. nov., = Tetrix glochinota Zhao, Niu Zheng, 2010, syn. nov., = Alulatettix nigromarginalis Zhang, Deng Zha, 2014, syn. nov., = Alulatettix flavotibialis Zhang, Deng Zha, 2014, syn. nov..

A new species of the genus Lamellitettigodes (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae) from PR China, with taxonomic notes on the genus.

Two species of the pygmy grasshopper genus Lamellitettigodes Günther are described: Lamellitettigodes diversifemoris Lu Zha sp. n. from Hainan, and Lamellitettigodes sagittatus (Bolívar) from Hainan and Yunnan, PR China. Both species are photographed and compared with their allies. Taxonomic changes are proposed: Lamellitettigodes bimaculatus (Zheng) comb. nov. is transferred from Euparatettix bimaculatus Zheng, and Euparatettix tuberifemora Deng, Zheng Wei syn. nov. is synonymized with Lamellitettigodes sagittatus. Lamellitettigodes and its allied genera, Euparatettix, Paratettix, Hedotettix, Tetrix and Ergatettix are compared with each other, and useful diagnostic characters for them are recommended. An updated species key for Lamellitettigodes is provided.

Two new species of the genus Formosatettix Tinkham, 1937 (Orthoptera, Tetrigidae) from Guizhou and Chongqing, PR China.

Two new pygmy grasshopper species are described from PR China and are assigned to Formosatettix Tinkham, 1937, a large Asian tetrigin genus composed of species with reduced tegmina and hind wings: F. leigongshanensis Zha & Ding, sp. nov. from Guizhou and F. wulongensis Zha & Ding, sp. nov. from Chongqing. We provide descriptions of morphology and habit, supplemented with photographs. Flying organs of the genus Formosatettix are discussed and the genus is compared with other Asian genera with reduced flying organs, such as Formosatettixoides Zheng, 1994 and Alulatettix Liang, 1993 in Tetriginae, Deltonotus Hancock, 1904, Epitettix Hancock, 1907 and Pseudepitettix Zheng, 1995 in Cladonotinae, and Macromotettixoides Zheng, Wei & Jiang, 2005 and Pseudomacromotettix Zheng, Li & Lin, 2012 in Metrodorinae.

An Evaluation of Common Cordyceps (Ascomycetes) Species Found in Chinese Markets.

The common Cordyceps (more than 20 species) found in Chinese markets are evaluated and illustrated. We systematically introduce their taxonomies, allied species, hosts, distributions, yields, selling statuses, and market prices. We summarize and comment on the medicinal value and food safety of Cordyceps. The concept of "cordyceps" is explained, the "best" cordyceps is explored, and Chinese cordyceps culture is analyzed. We suggest using the word "cordyceps" instead of the Latin Cordyceps to report these important edible and medicinal mushrooms.

Taxonomy of Macromotettixoides with the description of a new species (Tetrigidae, Metrodorinae).

Descriptions of the flying organs and generic characteristics of the genus Macromotettixoides Zheng, Wei & Jiang are currently imprecise. Macromotettixoides is reviewed and compared with allied genera. A re-description is undertaken and a determination key is provided to Macromotettixoides. Macromotettixoides parvula Zha & Wen, sp. n. from the Guizhou Karst Region, China, is described and illustrated with photographs. Observations on the ecology and habits of the new species are recorded. Four current species of Hyboella Hancock are transferred to Macromotettixoides. Variations of the flying organs and tegminal sinus in the Tetrigidae are discussed, which will help to describe them accurately.

A new species and a revised key of the genus Thoradonta (Orthoptera, Tetrigidae).

A new species of the genus Thoradonta (Orthoptera, Tetrigidae), Thoradonta varispina Zha & Sheng, sp. n., was found in Lengshuihe Nature Preserve, Jinsha, Guizhou, China. It is introduced with a description and photographs and compared with similar taxa. Ecology, habits, and morphological variation of the new species are discussed and illustrated. Generic characteristics of Thoradonta are updated and an updated key to all known species of Thoradonta is given.

Records of Hedotettix and Teredorus in Thailand with the description of three new species (Orthoptera, Tetrigidae).

We are studying the fungi associated with insects in northern Thailand and as a result several rarely collected insect species have been uncovered. The genera Hedotettix with one new species and Teredorus with two new species are reported from Thailand. Hedotettix triangularis Zha & Hyde, sp. n., Teredorus chiangraiensis Zha & Hyde, sp. n. and Teredorus combfemorus Zha & Hyde, sp. n. are introduced, described and photographed and compared with other species. Keys to species of Hedotettix and Teredorus from Thailand are provided.