Microfungi Associated with Peach Branch Diseases in China.

Peach (Prunus persica L.) is one of the most important and oldest stone fruits grown in China. Even though P. persica is one of the most commonly grown stone fruits in China, little is known about the biodiversity of microfungi associated with peach branch diseases. In the present study, samples were collected from a wide range of peach growing areas in China, and fungal pathogens associated with peach branch diseases were isolated. In total, 85 isolates were obtained and further classified into nine genera and 10 species. Most of the isolates belonged to Botryosphaeriaceae (46), including Botryosphaeria, Diplodia, Neofusicoccum, Phaeobotryon, and Lasiodiplodia species; Ascochyta, Didymella, and Nothophoma species representing Didymellaceae were also identified. Herein, we introduce Ascochyta prunus and Lasiodiplodia pruni as novel species. In addition, we report the first records of Nothophoma pruni, Neofusicoccum occulatum, and Phaeobotryon rhois on peach worldwide, and Didymella glomerata, Nothophoma quercina, and Phaeoacremonium scolyti are the first records from China. This research is the first comprehensive investigation to explore the microfungi associated with peach branch disease in China. Future studies are necessary to understand the pathogenicity and disease epidemiology of these identified species.

Taxonomic revision of Camellia (Theaceae) in Thailand.

Natural plants of Camellia (Theaceae) in Thailand are taxonomically revised with a key, a distribution map, descriptions, specimens examined, and figures of living plants and/or dry specimens. Nine taxa comprising seven species and two varieties are recognized, including C.caudata, C.connata, C.furfuracea, C.kissi, C.kissivar.confusa, C.laotica, C.sinensisvar.assamica, C.suddeeana, and C.taliensis. Camelliacaudata and C.laotica are new records to Thailand, and C.connata and C.suddeeana are endemic to the country. Formerly recorded C.pleurocarpa and C.tenii are excluded from Thai flora because of misidentification, and C.oleifera and C.sinensis are merely cultivated in the country. Morphological descriptions of C.connata and C.laotica are improved based on additional collections examined.

Updated distributional checklist of the genus Pytho Latreille, 1796 of the Palearctic realm with the first records of P.abieticola J. R. Sahlberg, 1875 from Lithuania and the family Pythidae (Coleoptera) from Moldova and Serbia.

Background: Pytho Latreille, 1796 is a small genus of the dead log bark beetles (Coleoptera, Pythidae). All species are distributed in the Holarctic, being recognised as typically boreal taxa, but knowledge about the geographical ranges of particular taxa is far from complete. New information: The updated distributional checklist of the genus Pytho of the Palearctic is given, based on literature and new records, including citizen-scientific data. Pythodepressus and the family Pythidae are recorded for the first time from the Republic of Moldova (Municipality of Chișinau) and the Republic of Serbia (Municipality of Vozdovac) and P.abieticola is recorded for the first time from Lithuania (Alytus District Municipality, Ignalina District Municipality and Kaisiadorys District Municipality).

Two New Species of Dihammaphora (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Rhopalophorini), with Taxonomical and Geographical Notes for the Genus.

Dihammaphora Chevrolat (Arc Nat 1:50-54, 1859) is one of the most diverse genera of Rhopalophorini, with 46 species. It is characterized mainly by species with antennae short and subserrated, with 10 or 11 antennomeres, prothorax cylindrical, and elytra punctuated. In this study, two new species of Dihammaphora are described and illustrated, new records are provided to 11 species, and taxonomic notes are given to six species of the genus. We examined 55 specimens and identified 16 species of the genus Dihammaphora, including Dihammaphora aurea sp. nov. from Honduras, and Dihammaphora cruzi sp. nov. from Brazil. The number of species of Dihammaphora is increased to 48, two of them in Central America, resulting in seven species for this region. In Brazil, 24 species are now recognized, being the country with the largest number of species of the genus. This study shows that there is still a deficit of knowledge about the diversity and distribution of Dihammaphora.

Review of German Spilomicrus Westwood (Hymenoptera, Diapriidae, Spilomicrini).

Background: This study provides an integrative taxonomy-based review for the genus Spilomicrus Westwood in Germany using DNA barcoding and classic morphology. New information: Spilomicrussimplex Tomsik, 1947 is placed in synonymy with S.antennatus Jurine, 1807; Spilomicrusthomsoni Kieffer, 1911 is removed from synonymy with S.hemipterus Marshall, 1868. A lectotype is designated for Spilomicrusnigripes Thomson, 1858. Newly recorded for Germany are the following species: S.thomsoni Kieffer, 1911, S.crassiclavis Marshall, 1868, S.lusitanicus Kieffer, 1910 and S.diversus Chemyreva, 2021. Three species, Spilomicrusbrevimalaris sp. nov., S.flavecorpus sp. nov. and S.politus sp. nov. are described as new to science. The 23 DNA-barcodes with species identification present a substantial addition over the previous German checklist. This study aims to update the number of nationwide known Spilomicrus species from fifteen to twenty. Furthermore, a new key to identify all European Spilomicrus species is provided.

The genus Neopsittaconirmus (Psocodea: Ischnocera: Philopteridae) from parrots of Pakistan, and evaluation of its distribution on captive parrots (Psittaciformes) around the world.

The genus Neopsittaconirmus Conci, 1942 is a host-specific genus, found on both wild and captive parrots and love birds (order Psittaciformes). Two species of this genus: N. lybartota (Ansari, 1947) and N. chandabani (Ansari, 1947) have been previously reported from the Punjab province, Pakistan. We recorded N. lybartota from Psittacula eupatria nipalensis (n = 2), Psittacula krameri borealis (n = 13), and captive Psittacula krameri krameri (n = 4) with the mean intensity of 2.0 ± 1, 2.13 ± 0.35 and 2.25 ± 0.47, respectively; the prevalence of louse infestation was 62% in P. krameri borealis and 100% in P. krameri krameri and P. eupatria nipalensis. From this material, we redescribed its morphological variations in taxonomic features. Records on P. eupatria nipalensis and P. krameri krameri represent new host associations for this species of louse. We also present a new record of Neopsittaconirmus vendulae from a captive cockatiel, Nymphicus hollandicua (n = 3) in Pakistan, with mean intensity of 2.6 ± 0.66. Intraspecific variability of this species is described in detail, with special reference to the male and female terminalia, and male genitalia. We aimed to update and extend the fauna of chewing lice infesting birds of Pakistan. Previous records of Neopsittaconirmus on captive parrots around the world are summarized and discussed. Despite long-standing systematic veterinary care, some Neopsittaconirmus have cosmopolitan distribution and they are able to survive and successfully reproduce in captivity with their hosts, and even colonize novel hosts.

An update on the huntsman spider genus Uaiuara Rheims, 2013 (Araneae, Sparassidae, Sparianthinae)

The genus Uaiuara rheims is revisited. A new species is described, based on females from Iquitos, Peru and new distribution records for Uaiuara amazonica (Simon, 1880) and U. quyguaba rheims, 2013 are provided. In addition, an identification key and updated distribution maps are provided for all species.

An update to the taxonomy of Serica MacLeay, 1819 (sensu lato) from China (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Sericinae, Sericini).

In this paper we update the knowledge on the species of Serica McLeay, 1819 (sensu lato) occurring in Yunnan, Sichuan, and Shaanxi provinces, China. Three new species are described: Sericaallonanhua Liu, Ahrens, Li & Su, sp. nov., S.breviantennalis Liu, Ahrens, Li & Su, sp. nov., and S.fengensis Liu, Ahrens, Li & Su, sp. nov. The key to the species groups and species is updated. The habitus and male genitalia of the new species are illustrated, and a map showing their distribution is provided. New distributional data are given for four species.

First report of Rhodnius stali Lent, Jurberg & Galvão, 1993 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae), vector of Trypanosoma cruzi (TcI) and Trypanosoma rangeli (TrA), in Rondônia, Southwestern Brazilian Amazonia.

Triatomines are hematophagous insects of epidemiological importance as they are vectors of Chagas disease. The first report of Rhodnius stali Lent, Jurberg & Galvão, 1993 in Rondônia, Brazil, is described. The insects were captured on palm trees of the genus Oenocarpus sp. Two adult male specimens of R. stali were identified and were found to be infected with Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli. The confirmation of this Rhodnius species in Rondônia increases the number of triatomines from nine to ten species in this state.

New species and newly recorded species of Anisandrus Ferrari, 1867 ambrosia beetles from Thailand (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae, Xyleborini).

Five new species, Anisandrusmontanussp. nov., A.phithakpasp. nov., A.tanaosisp. nov., A.tritonsp. nov., and A.uniseriatussp. nov. are described from Thailand. Anisandruscarinensis (Eggers, 1923) is reported from Thailand for the first time and A.apicalis is removed from the Thai fauna. With the inclusion of the species described and recorded here, the diversity of Anisandrus is increased to 40 species, of which 11 occur in Thailand. A synoptic list and a key to the Anisandrus of Thailand are presented.

Updated checklist of polychaete species (Annelida) recorded from Malaysia, with remarks on the research history.

Background: An updated comprehensive checklist of polychaete species, which have been recorded from Malaysian waters, is provided, with their geographic distributions and the research history for them. A total of 57 species belonging to 30 families have been reported since the early 1870s, with Nereididae as the most dominant family with ten species; however, more than half of the total are questionable species in the country. Despite the increased efforts of polychaete studies in the past decade, the taxonomic endeavour of discovering and describing species in the country could be higher. Malaysian polychaetes were mostly recorded from Peninsular Malaysia, whereas very few were from Borneo Island. Most previously recorded species were associated with intertidal and estuarine habitats and a few were found in the subtidal and freshwater environments. We stress the need for urgent research on this biologically, ecologically and culturally relevant taxonomic group as the species accumulation curve grows exponentially in this megadiverse country. New information: The current checklist has been updated since the previous one in 2013. Many species previously listed were judged as doubtful and not taxonomically reliable.

Integrative taxonomic analyses reveal first country records of Occidozygashiwandashanensis Chen, Peng, Liu, Huang, Liao & Mo, 2022 and Hylaranalatouchii (Boulenger, 1899) (Anura, Dicroglossidae, Ranidae) from Vietnam.

Background: Occidozygashiwandashaensis was recently discovered from Guangxi Province of China. Hylaranalatouchii is a widespread species in southern China, including Hong Kong and Taiwan. Both species are expected to be found in the border areas between Vietnam and China; however, no records of these frogs have been documented from Vietnam so far. New information: We record two species of amphibians for the first time from Vietnam, namely Occidozygashiwandashaensis from Bac Giang Province and Hylaranalatouchii from Hai Phong City and Quang Ninh Province in northern Vietnam. Morphologically, the Vietnamese representatives of O.shiwandashanensis resemble the type series from China. The specimens of H.latouchii from Vietnam slightly differ from the type series from China by having a larger size (SVL 48.6-51.7 mm in males, SVL 58.4 mm in the females vs. 36.0-40.0 mm in males, 42.0-53.0 mm in females). Genetic distances between the Vietnamese records and the type specimens of O.shiwandashanensis from China varied from 0 to 1.5% (16S gene). Genetic divergences between the Vietnamese records and H.latouchii from the type locality were 2.0-2.6% (16S gene). In addition, morphological data and natural history notes of the aforementioned species are provided, based on the new records from Vietnam. -.

Taxonomy and Distribution of the Genus Sellaphora Mereschowsky (Bacillariophyceae: Sellaphoraceae) in Aquatic Ecosystems of Mongolia.

During our investigation, 28 species belonging to the genus Sellaphora Mereschowsky were found in different types of water bodies and streams in Mongolia. Of these, 14 species have already been described and/or shown earlier in the flora of Mongolia, and we found 14 species for the first time. One new taxonomic combination has been proposed: Sellaphora glomus (J.R. Carter and A.E. Bailey-Watts) Glushchenko and Kulikovskiy comb. nov. One species is proposed for description as new to science: Sellaphora dorofeyukae Glushchenko and Kulikovskiy sp. nov. All species were illustrated with original light micrographs, and a number of species were also illustrated with scanning electronic photographs. The distribution of the identified species within Mongolia and the world is discussed.

New parasitoid (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) records of bark beetles (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) in pine plantations in Bulgaria.

Background: In 2020 and 2021, chalcidoid parasitoids (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) of bark beetles in pine (Pinus spp.) plantations were studied in Bulgaria. Samples (cuttings of stems and branches) of pine trees infested by bark beetles were collected from seven plantations of Pinussylvestris and P.nigra in Bulgaria. From each sampling plot, five cuttings were collected and placed in photoeclectors in laboratory conditions (18-22ºC). Emerged bark beetles and parasitoids were regularly gathered and fixed in ethanol. New information: Six parasitoid species - Dinotiscuscolon, Metacolusazureus, M.unifasciatus, Rhopalicusquadratus, R.tutela (Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae) and Heydeniapretiosa (Chalcidoidea, Heydeniidae) were reared from five bark beetle hosts (Ipsacuminatus, Pityogenesbistridentatus, Pityophthoruspityographus, Tomicuspiniperda and T.minor). Amongst them, three species (H.pretiosa, M.azureus and R.quadratus) are recorded as new for Bulgarian fauna.

A Synopsis of Knowledge of the Rhopalosomatidae (Hymenoptera) in Brazil: an Annotated Checklist of the Family in the Country, with a Revised Key to the Brazilian Genera.

This study is focused on the cricket leeches, Rhopalosomatidae, a family that is only poorly represented in entomological collections in Brazil. We provided a revised and updated key to the genera occurring in Brazil with the major traits of genera illustrated through high-resolution photomicrography. Also, we provided a synopsis of genera, a list of the species currently recorded from Brazil, the first country records for Rhopalosoma minus Townes, 1977 and Rhopalosoma breelandi Townes, 1977, which increases the diversity of these wasps in the country. Additionally, we provided information and a brief discussion about collection methods, flotation, and abundance of specimens collected. Maps with the geographical distribution of the studied species based on the previous and new records are also provided.

The Ladybird Beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) of La Palma.

This paper provides new data on the ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae) of La Palma, one of the western islands of the Canarian archipelago. The field survey of 54 study sites resulted in recording 2494 ladybird individuals belonging to 26 species. Seven of the species recorded were new to La Palma, including two, Harmonia quadripunctata (Pontoppidan) and Nephus reunioni (Fürsch), which were not registered so far on any of the Canary Islands. Novius conicollis (Korschefsky) is synonymized with N. cruentatus (Mulsant). Taking our survey and literature reports into account, a total of at least 35 species of Coccinellidae have so far been recorded on La Palma. This richness in species is lower compared to that of the central islands of the Canarian archipelago, Gran Canaria (42 species) and Tenerife (41 species), but higher than that of the remaining four islands (between 22 and 27 species). The detection of two alien species new to La Palma, Nephaspis bicolor Gordon and Nephus reunioni (Fürsch), confirms earlier observations that colonization of the Canary Islands by ladybird species of exotic origins seems to be a frequent phenomenon.

County Records for Aedes japonicus in Georgia.

Consolidating and updating distributional data for mosquito species within a state is a good practice. These updates have an immediate impact by providing documented species distribution information for public use and by serving as a resource to researchers who need background information about a species's state distribution. In Georgia, Aedes japonicus, an introduced species, was peer review reported from 7 counties (2002-06): Fulton, Habersham, Lumpkin, Rabun, Towns, Union, and White. No further records were found in peer-reviewed journals or in the Symbiota Collections of Arthropods Network. This study consolidated the 7 peer-reviewed county records for Ae. japonicus with 73 new county records from surveillance data collected by the Georgia Department of Public Health. This study documented the presence of Ae. japonicus in 80 of the 159 counties in Georgia.

Taxonomic and Phylogenetic Studies of Saprobic Fungi Associated with Mangifera indica in Yunnan, China.

Fungi are a large and diverse group of microorganisms, and although the estimated number of species ranges between 2 and 11 million, only around 150,000 species have been described thus far. The investigation of plant-associated fungi is beneficial for estimating global fungal diversity, for ecosystem conservation, and for the continued development of industry and agriculture. Mango, one of the world's five most economically important fruit crops, is grown in over 100 countries and has been demonstrated to have a great economical value. During surveys of mango-associated saprobic fungi in Yunnan (China), we discovered three new species (Acremoniisimulans hongheensis, Chaenothecopsis hongheensis and Hilberina hongheensis) and five new records. The phylogenetic analyses of multi-gene sequences (LSU, SSU, ITS, rpb2, tef1-α and tub2) coupled with morphological examinations were used to identify all the taxa.

First report of Rhodnius amazonicus Almeida, Santos & Sposina, 1973 (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) invading a dwelling in the state of Amapá, Brazil.

Rhodnius amazonicus has been previously reported in the Brazilian states of Amazonas and Pará, as well as in French Guiana. However, this is the first recorded presence of this species in Amapá, which is situated in the northern region of Brazil. The specimen was collected from a house in the rural area of the municipality of Porto Grande. Other triatomines, such as Panstrongylus geniculatus, Rhodnius pictipes, and Eratyrus mucronatus, were also found in the same locality in different houses. These species are vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes Chagas disease. Therefore, this report may contribute to understanding transmission in the state of Amapá, where new infections and outbreaks of Chagas disease have been recorded.

Horse Flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) in Mangrove Forests and Estuarine Floodplains on Marajó Island, Brazil.

Tabanids constitute an important group of hematophagous insects that can transmit zoonoses, but with studies on the ecological distribution of species still neglected in the Amazon. We evaluated the role of mangrove forests and estuarine floodplains located inside and outside a conservation unit (UC) on the coast of Marajó Island, Amazon River estuary, on the diversity and distribution of tabanids. Specifically, we studied whether the community of mangrove and estuarine floodplain tabanids located inside and outside the UC differ in abundance, richness, and species composition. We collected tabanids using a Malaise trap at 40 sampling points, resulting in 637 specimens distributed in 13 species and one morphotype, representing approximately 37% of the tabanid fauna ever recorded for the Marajó Island. There was no significant difference in the richness and composition of tabanids between the phytophysiognomies, but the abundance was significantly different, with greater abundance in the mangrove. The areas inside and around the UC had an influence on the tabanids, with the areas inside the UC having the highest number of specimens and species, also influencing the species composition. Two species are new records for the Marajó Island, bringing the number of species recorded to 38. Our results suggest that, along the Amazonian coast, mangroves and estuarine floodplains maintain part of the diversity of tabanids known for the Brazilian Amazon. Our data also indicate that the region's UC provides potentially important habitats for the maintenance of local tabanid populations.