Melanoloma viatrix Hendel (Diptera, Richardiidae): New Pest of Pineapple Plantations in the North of Brazil.

This is the first record of Melanoloma viatrix Hendel as well as in its host (pineapple) in Brazil. Previously, M. viatrix had been found in pineapple plantations in Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador. In Brazil, this fly was initially reported in pineapple purchased from a commercial establishment in the municipality of Porto Grande, Amapá State, in 2020. Subsequently, M. viatrix was found in a commercial pineapple plantation, Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. cv. Pérola, also in Porto Grande, Amapá State. In the pineapple samples, 2,320 specimens of M. viatrix were collected on a single day on that rural property (approximately 2 ha). The larvae open galleries in the pulp that cause the pineapple to rot, making it unviable for consumption and commercial sale. This communication aims to alert phytosanitary authorities of the need to establish control strategies to prevent the spread of the pineapple fly to other states in Brazil.

New record of Joffre's pipistrelle, Mirostrellusjoffrei (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae), in China.

Background: Mirostrellusjoffrei Thomas, 1915 is the sole species within the genus Mirostrellus and its occurrence is notably rare in China. Despite the recent discovery of four previously unreported specimens from western Yunnan, China (Zaoteng River, 25.31°N, 98.80°E, altitude 1451 m) at the National Museum of Prague in the Czech Republic, comprehensive descriptions or detailed accounts of this species within China have yet to be published. New information: During a field expedition within the Guanyinshan Provincial Nature Reserve, Yuanyang, Yunnan, China, a bat was captured using a mist net. The specimen was of moderate size, with its ventral surface presenting a golden-brown hue and its dorsal surface ranging from dark brown to obsidian. The forearm measured 37.31 mm, while the fifth digit was conspicuously diminished in comparison to the others. The snout was robust, featuring prominent buccal glands. It was characterised by a well-developed upper frame and a barely visible low sagittal crest. The upper canines possessed well-developed posterior cusps. The dentition comprised two upper and two lower premolars, with the first upper premolar being notably small and the lower molars being distinctly myotodont. These attributes correspond with the known traits of Mirostrellusjoffrei. Phylogenetically, the sequence of this specimen clustered with that of M.joffrei, forming an independent clade. Through an examination of its morphological characteristics and a phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cyt b), cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and recombination activating gene 2 (RAG2) sequences, we identified the specimen as M.joffrei, thus confirming the presence of Joffre's pipistrelle in China.

A non-native fish species reaches the south-western European waters: the Atlantic croaker, Micropogoniasundulatus (Acanthuriformes, Sciaenidae) and its invasion history in Europe.

The Atlantic croaker Micropogoniasundulatus, a sciaenid fish native to the North Atlantic American coast, holds importance in recreational and commercial fisheries. Moreover, its potential as an invasive species should be noted, given its expansion and establishment in Atlantic European waters. This study reports its southernmost occurrence in Europe, in the Gulf of Cadiz. Morphological and molecular analysis confirmed its identity, revealing genetic similarities to US sequences. A comprehensive review of historical non-native distribution records underscored the species' expansion throughout European waters, suggesting human-mediated introduction. The escalating frequency of such arrivals emphasises the critical need for effective monitoring and management efforts in order to control non-native species in this region.

Primer registro de Tagetes imbricata (Asteraceae, Tageteae) en Perú / First record of Tagetes imbricata (Asteraceae, Tageteae) in Peru

Resumen Tagetes imbricata, una especie descrita recientemente para Argentina y Bolivia es registrada aquí por primera vez para Perú en base a colecciones de herbario y observaciones en campo disponibles en repositorios online de biodiversidad. Este nuevo registro expande significativamente el área de distribución de esta especie hacia el norte, abarcando en total más de 2000 kilómetros a lo largo de la cordillera de los Andes. Se presenta aquí por primera vez una ilustración para T. imbricata, detallando aspectos morfológicos. Se registran dos nombres vernáculos para esta especie: "kita-chick-chipa" y "chichijsa".

Abstract Tagetes imbricata, a species recently described from Argentina and Bolivia, is reported here for the first time from Peru based on herbaria collections and field observations available at biodiversity online repositories. This new record significantly expands the distribution area of this species to the north, covering a total of more than 2000 kilometers along the Andes Mountains. An illustration for T. imbricata is here provided for the first time, detailing morphological aspects. Two vernacular names, "kita-chick-chipa" and "chichijsa", are reported for this species.

The Phlebotomine sand fly fauna of Switzerland revisited.

Sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae, Phlebotominae; Newstead, 1911) are widespread in Europe, being particularly common in the Mediterranean region but rare north of the Alps. Thus, Switzerland is an opportune place to investigate the sand fly fauna on both sides of the Alpine crest, in southern sub-Mediterranean climate and northern oceanic temperate climate. We reinvestigated the Swiss sand fly fauna with the aim to assess changes in composition, altitudinal distribution, abundance and seasonality. Thirty-eight sites were investigated with light traps and/or interception sticky traps in 4 years. Ninety and 380 specimens were caught by light traps and sticky traps, respectively, at 15 collecting sites. Four species were identified. Phlebotomus mascittii (Grassi, 1908), Phlebotomus perniciosus (Newstead, 1911) and Sergentomyia minuta (Rondani, 1843) were confirmed in Ticino, and P. mascittii for the first time in neighbouring Grisons. Also, Phlebotomus neglectus (Tonnoir, 1921) is for the first time reported, though at a very low density compared to P. perniciosus at the same site. Its presence in Ticino supports the northward spread observed in Italy. Sand flies were detected north of the Alps at one site only, endorsing a historical report. Overall, the low density of P. perniciosus and very low density of P. neglectus suggest that canine leishmaniosis may not be an important disease risk in Switzerland.

First Record of Aedes Japonicus in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana.

Information of species presence and abundance is useful for taking a targeted approach to controlling populations of medically important and nuisance mosquito species. In April 2023, staff at St. Tammany Parish Mosquito Abatement District (STPMAD), in Slidell, Louisiana, identified Aedes japonicus (Theobald, 1901) mosquitoes from a larval sample brought in from the field for identification. Although invasive Aedes species like Aedes albopictus are commonly found in Louisiana, this is the first record of Ae. japonicus in St. Tammany Parish.

Taxonomic and nomenclatural notes on Geodiaprialongiceps Kieffer, 1911 (Hymenoptera, Diapriidae) and synonymy of the genus Geodiapria Kieffer, 1910.

This paper reviews the status of Geodiapria and its nominotypical and only included species G.longiceps. Geodiapria was previously understood to be very similar to, and doubtfully separated from the genus Basalys. We use integrative taxonomy (morphology, DNA-barcoding, phylogenetic tree building) to show that the valid name for what was G.longiceps Kieffer, 1911 is now Basalysrufocinctus (Kiefer, 1911) and that Geodiapria is consequently a junior synonym of Basalyssyn. nov. The following taxa are new synonyms of B.rufocinctus: Loxotropalongiceps Wasmann, 1909, syn. nov., G.longiceps Kieffer, 1911, syn. nov., L.rufosignata Kieffer, 1911, syn. nov. Basalysrufocinctus is newly reported from Corsica, Germany, Norway and Spain.

First record of the genus Paratrichodina (Ciliophora: Trichodinidae) in India from ornamental goldfish (Carassius auratus L.) supplemented with description of a new species Paratrichodina indiana n. sp.

The present investigation deals with the accounts of a novel species of ciliate parasite belonging to the genus Paratrichodina namely, Paratrichodina indiana n. sp. identified from the respiratory organ of goldfish Carassius auratus at Nadia district of West Bengal, India. 276 fish have been collected for parasitological examination from various fish farm of West Bengal, India. The parasitological investigation was conducted using the AgNO3 impregnation technique, which was supplemented by a taxonomic description, morphological variations and data comparison with previously documented closely related species. Paratrichodina indiana n. sp. is a small-sized trichodinid, measures uniquely 19.21 ± 1.6 µm in body diameter, with prominent adhesive disc measure 15.55 ± 1.22 µm. The current investigation supports the first record of the genus from C. auratus and adds one new species to the genus Paratrichodina, as well as report of a new host, region and prevalence rates.

FIRST RECORD OF AEDES JAPONICUS IN ST. TAMMANY PARISH, LOUISIANA.

Information of species presence and abundance is useful for taking a targeted approach to controlling populations of medically important and nuisance mosquito species. In April 2023, staff at St. Tammany Parish Mosquito Abatement District (STPMAD), in Slidell, Louisiana, identified Aedes japonicus (Theobald, 1901) mosquitoes from a larval sample brought in from the field for identification. Although invasive Aedes species like Aedes albopictus are commonly found in Louisiana, this is the first record of Ae. japonicus in St. Tammany Parish.

First record of Anopheles (Anopheles) hyrcanus (Pallas 1771) (Diptera: Culicidae) in Poland.

The spatial distribution of mosquito species in the course of globalization and climate warming is highly dynamic. Different studies have demonstrated the spread and establishment of thermophilic mosquito species, potentially increasing the prevalence of 'nuisance' mosquitoes and the local transmission of pathogens. Here we report the first recorded sampling of Anopheles hyrcanus in Wroclaw, southwest Poland. This is the most northern detection of this species to date in Europe. Future spread and population development of this potential vector of malaria parasites, viruses or zoonotic helminths, such as Dirofilaria spp., must be monitored carefully. Potential factors underlying the spread of this species are discussed.

First Discovery of the North American Leaf-Mining Moth Chrysaster ostensackenella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) in Russia: The Genetic Diversity of a Novel Pest in Invaded vs. Native Range.

Here, we report the first detection of the North American leaf-mining moth Chrysaster ostensackenella (Fitch, 1859) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) on North American black locust Robinia pseudoacacia (Fabaceae) in Primorsky Krai (the Russian Far East) in July 2022. Overall, six moths were reared from the leaf mines and identified based on adult morphology (forewing pattern and male genitalia) and three of them were DNA barcoding. Description of the leaf mines that allowed us to distinguish the damage of Ch. ostensackenella from other gracillariids associated with R. pseudoacacia is provided. The phylogeographic analysis comparing the DNA barcodes from Russia with those from other invaded countries in Europe (Italy) and East Asia (South Korea and Japan) and from the native range (North America) was performed. Intraspecific genetic diversity reached 3.29%. Altogether, 10 haplotypes were revealed among 21 studied specimens in the Holarctic. The detection of one haplotype common for Japan and the USA (North Carolina) suggests that the invasion to East Asia could have happened from the USA directly, rather than through Europe. A shared haplotype defined for Japan and the Russian Far East points at a possible moth species' spread to Primorsky Krai from earlier invaded Hokkaido. Further distribution of Ch. ostensackenella in East Asia and Europe is expected, bearing in mind the wide planting of R. pseudoacacia in these continents. Furthermore, an accidental introduction of the moth to the Southern Hemisphere, where black locust was introduced, is not ruled out.

On the Species Identification of Two Non-Native Tilapia Species, Including the First Record of a Feral Population of Oreochromis aureus (Steindachner, 1864) in South Korea.

Tilapia is an invasive species that has become widely distributed around the world. In Korea, introduced tilapia into its aquatic ecosystem for the first time with a species from Thailand in 1955, and later additionally introduced two more species from Japan and Taiwan, thus securing a total of three species of tilapia (O. niloticus, O. mossambicus and O. aureus) as food resources. Since then, O. niloticus has been reported to inhabit certain streams with thermal effluent outlets. Morphological species identification is very difficult for tilapia and a combined analysis of morphological and molecular-based species identification is therefore necessary. This study investigated a tilapia population that inhabits a thermal effluent stream (Dalseo Stream) in Daegu Metropolitan City, Korea, in order to conduct a morphological and genetic species identification of this population. In total, 37 tilapia individuals were sampled. The results of the morphological and genetic species identification analyses found that two species, O. aureus and O. niloticus, inhabit the Dalseo Stream. In Korea, the habitat of the O. niloticus natural population has been reported, but the O. aureus natural population has not been reported. Thus, we observed for the first time that a new invasive species, O. aureus, inhabits a stream in Korea. They are known to cause disturbances to aquatic organisms (e.g., fish, aquatic insects, plankton, aquatic plants) and the habitat environment (e.g., water quality, bottom structure). Accordingly, it is important to study the ecological effects of O. aureus and O. niloticus on the corresponding freshwater ecosystem closely and to prepare a management plan to prevent the spread of these species, as they are notoriously invasive.

New State Record for Culex rejector and Cx. restrictor in Yucatan, Mexico.

Several known mosquito species occur in the Mexican state of Yucatan, including competent and suspected vectors responsible for transmitting zoonotic arboviruses. Between February and July 2022, mosquito collections were carried out in several forested areas in Yucatan. As part of the ongoing monitoring, we present the first reports of Culex (Microculex) rejector and Cx. (Anoedioporpa) restrictor. Another 14 species were identified during the monitoring: Aedes albopictus, Ae. bimaculatus, Ae. tormentor, Ae. cozumelensis, Anopheles albimanus, Cx. coronator s.l., Cx. erraticus, Cx. lactator, Cx. salinarius, Coquillettidia venezuelensis, Limatus durhamii, Psorophora ciliata, Toxorhynchites theobaldi, and Wyeomyia mitchellii. Currently, the mosquito fauna in Yucatan consists of 65 species. The subgenera Microculex and Anoedioporpa had not been documented in Yucatan State prior to the current investigation.

First record of the invasive dwarf surf clam Mulinia lateralis (Say 1822) in the eastern Pacific Ocean

Mulinia lateralis is a native bivalve from the Western Atlantic Ocean, distributed from the Gulf of Saint Lawrence in Canada to Yucatan in Mexico. Based on morphological and genetic data of specimens collected in shrimp farms, in this work, we confirm the presence of M. lateralis in the Gulf of Guayaquil, Ecuador. Presence and its consequences of this invasive bivalve in the region is discussed.

Mulinia lateralis es un bivalvo nativo de las aguas del Océano Atlántico Occidental, distribuido desde el Golfo de Saint Lawrence en Canadá hasta Yucatán en México. En este trabajo, la presencia de M. lateralis es confirmada en el Golfo de Guayaquil, Ecuador, con base en datos morfológicos y genéticos de ejemplares colectados en camaroneras. Se presenta una discusión sobre la presencia y consecuencias de este bivalvo invasor en la región.

An integrative approach method reveals the presence of a previously unreported species of Imparfinis Eigenmann and Norris 1900 (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae) in Argentina.

Specimens of Imparfinis were recently collected in north-western Argentina from the Bermejo River basin (Salta and Jujuy Provinces), del Valle River (Salta Province) and Horcones River (Santiago del Estero Province). An integrative approach to taxonomy, combining a detailed morphological study and molecular phylogenetic analyses, was applied to determine the species identity of these specimens. A principal components analysis of morphological data clustered the specimens from north-western Argentina and from the Amazon basin, indicating a close morphological resemblance. Also, a molecular phylogenetic analysis showed populations of I. guttatus from Argentina and Peru forming a clade. According to the conducted haplotype network analysis these populations are distinct in two mutations. Thus, in the absence of morphological or molecular data indicating the contrary, the combined method supports the identity of the specimens from the tributaries of the Paraguay River in Argentina as I. guttatus, whose type locality is in the upper Beni River basin in Bolivia. This contribution is also the first record for this species from Argentina. The disjunct distribution of I. guttatus provides new evidence reinforcing the hypothesis for the origin of the Paraguayan ichthyofauna. We also provide an approach to the phylogenetic relationships of Imparfinis in Heptapteridae.

Carterina labinea sp. nov. - A new alien foraminifer from the Southeastern Mediterranean shelf.

The foraminiferal order Carterinida is characterized by agglutinated tests consisting of calcareous spicules. Four species have so far been described from the tropical Pacific and the Caribbean Sea. We report here the first occurrence of Carterina from the Southeastern Levantine Shelf of the Mediterranean Sea. Based on molecular and morphological results, we describe Carterina labinea sp. nov., which is characterized by a trochospiral test with a conical, tapered spiral side and a concave umbilical side. The test is composed of elongate fusiform calcareous spicules. Tests have a mean diameter of 720 µm, which is twice the vertical height, and spicules vary in length and width from 112/15 µm to 73/14 µm. Our results show that the genus Carterina extends its distribution beyond tropical Seas and might be more widely distributed than previously thought. Moreover, the appearance of the new species in the study area suggests it is a new colonizer as continuous biomonitoring studies in the area show that it is absent in sediment samples taken before 2020. Our results highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring programs in high-risk basins such as the Levantine to gain more information about the biodiversity changes and improve environmental conservation of Eastern Mediterranean littoral areas progressively colonized by tropical species.

Identification key to and checklist of the Swedish Phlaeothripidae (Thysanoptera).

The Swedish fauna of thrips (Thysanoptera) in the family Phlaeothripidae consists of 49 species. A key to the species of Phlaeothripidae found in Sweden is provided. One species is recorded as new for the country, and 10 new regional records are presented. A checklist of all Swedish tubuliferan species with regional distributions is also given.

First Record of Wyeomyia mitchellii in Nuevo León, Mexico.

On October 5, 2021, mosquito collections were conducted in Nuevo León in search of an undescribed species within the genus Wyeomyia reported previously in this state. Species collected included Aedes quadrivittatus, Ae. amabilis, Ae. triseriatus group, Ae. albopictus, and Wy. mitchellii. Although the undescribed species was not found, the occurrence record for Wy. mitchellii in Nuevo León constitutes the 1st record for this species in this state. Additionally, historical records of the presence of Wy. mitchelli in Mexico, available in the literature, were reviewed and updated. Specimens collected during this study were deposited in the Culicidae Collection of the Parasitology Department, Autonomous Agrarian University Antonio Narro, Laguna unit. With the addition of Wy. mitchellii to the mosquito fauna of Nuevo León, there are currently 67 species in the state.

First record of Urostylishubeiensis Ren (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Urostylididae) from Japan, with an illustrated key to the Japanese urostylidid species.

Background: Although the Japanese species of Urostylididae are of interest to not only heteropteran taxonomists, but also to the public, an illustrated key for all species of the family from the country is lacking. To date, the urostylidid species Urostylishubeiensis Ren, 1997, has been known to occur in China and Korea, but not in Japan. New information: Urostylishubeiensis is recorded from Japan for the first time and represents the easternmost occurrence of this species. In Japan, it inhabits the broad-leaved forest of Tsushima Island and was found on Quercusacutissima Carruth. (Fagaceae). An illustrated key to the species of Urostylididae occurring in Japan is provided.

First record of Aphelenchoides besseyi on foxtail millet (Setaria italica) in Henan Province of China.

Aphelenchoides besseyi is one of the important plant-parasitic nematodes on rice, reducing approximate 10-20% of the rice yield annually (Jones et al. 2013). Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) has been a major cereal crop in Northern China, especially in the semi-arid areas of this region, for thousands of years. In August of 2019 and 2020, a survey of nematodes on autumn grain crops was performed each year. One foxtail millet field (N34° 58' 027″ and E113° 39' 059″) in Yuanyang County of Henan Province caught our attention. Some upper leaves showed chlorosis without or with necrotic tips, and flag leaves presented crinkling and distortion, stalks were colored, earheads were vertical, glumes were brown or light black and open, and grains became thin. A total of ten samples were collected, and the nematodes were isolated from the spike pieces by shallow plate method and counted under a stereomicroscope. The average number of nematodes per earhead of foxtail millet counted up to 1738.75 ± 107.72. Morphologically, females were slender with a short stylet, an oval metacorpus with a distinct valve, a labial region slightly wider than the first body annulus and a conoid tail with a terminus bearing a star-shaped mucro with four pointed processes. The females were characterized as follows (mean ± SD; n=20): body length (L) = 668.92 ± 12.73 µm (647.38 to 689.70 µm); maximum body width (W) = 14.35 ± 1.11 µm (12.12 to 16.88 µm); L/W = 46.83 ± 2.94 (40.44 to 50.03); tail length = 38.93 ± 3.48 µm (33.41 to 45.92 µm); L/tail length = 17.31 ± 1.44 (14.47 to 19.62); and stylet length (ST) = 11.57 ± 0.57 µm (10.77 to 12.34 µm). The males had three pairs of ventrosubmedian papillae with the first one adanal, spicula curved with a slight basal process, terminus bearing four mucrones arranged variably, and the whole worm was in 'J' shape. The males could be described as follows (mean ± SD, n = 20): L = 606.66 ± 10.70 µm (586.49 to 626.37 µm); W = 13.95 ± 0.60 µm (12.71 to 14.94 µm); L/W = 43.55 ± 1.69 (40.73 to 46.43); tail length = 35.54 ± 1.93 µm (31.41 to 38.18 µm); L/tail length = 17.07 ± 0.79 (16.05 to 18.67); ST = 11.53 ± 0.56 µm (1061 to 12.76 µm). All the key morphometrics were consistent with those of A. besseyi reported from Brazil (Favoreto et al. 2018) and China (Lin et al. 2004; Ou et al. 2014). The amplifications of rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) fragments generated a PCR fragment of 830 bp from a single nematode, using the primers set TW81 (5'-GTTTCCGTAGGTGAACCTGC-3') and AB28 (5'-ATATGCTTAAGTTCAGCGGGT-3') (Joyce et al. 1994). Five independent PCR experiments were conducted, and all the PCR products were purified and sequenced. Nucleotide sequence of ITS-rDNA was deposited in GenBank with Accession Number OK090549.1. The obtained ITS region sequence was more than 99% identical to those of A. besseyi reported from China (MW216945.1) and India (JF826518.1, JF826519.1 and JF826517.1). These ITS sequence results further supported that the isolated nematodes were A. besseyi. Subsequently, the species-specific primers of A. besseyi (BSF, 5'-TCGATGAAGAACGCAGTGAATT-3' and BSR, 5'-AGATCAAAAGCCAATCGAATCAT-3') were used for confirmation by PCR (Cui et al. 2010). An expected PCR fragment of 312 bp was obtained, which was consistent with those of A. besseyi reported previously. The pathogenicity of identified A. besseyi was confirmed by infection of foxtail millet (Setaria italica cv. 'Yugu33'). Foxtail millet budding seeds were sown in the pots contained 150 mL of sterile soil mixture. In two weeks, 10 seedlings were inoculated with 100 A. besseyi each, and 4 plants were non-inoculated as the control. The foxtail millet seedlings were grown in a plant-growth chamber at 25/30°C under 12 h dark/12 h light. On the average, 73.3 and 138.2 of A. besseyi were isolated from each plant at 15 and 40 days post inoculation, respectively. Both the morphological and molecular characteristics were identical with those nematodes obtained from the original samples. All the upper leaves of the inoculated plants showed chlorosis and necrosis, symptoms that were similar to those observed in the field, and neither symptom developed on the non-inoculated control plants, nor were nematodes re-isolated from the control plants. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first record of A. besseyi on foxtail millet in Henan Province of North China. Henan is one of the most important grain-producing areas in China, and A. besseyi is an important domestic quarantine nematode, which may become a severe threat to cereal production in Henan Province. Our findings will be very beneficial for A. besseyi management and further research on foxtail millet in Henan Province of North China.