Catamicrophyllum beroni sp. nov.the first European record of the genus Catamicrophyllum Verhoeff, 1901 (Diplopoda: Julida: Julidae).

A new species of Catamicrophyllum Verhoeff, 1901, Catamicrophyllum beroni sp. nov., is described from Rila Mts, southwest Bulgaria. The new species is compared to its most similar congener, Catamicrophyllum caucasicum (Attems, 1901) known from the Caucasus and Eastern Anatolia, including descriptive notes and scanning electron micrographs of the latter. The remarkably disjunct distribution areas of the two species are briefly discussed in the context of similar distribution patterns in other members of Julidae. In addition, some ecological notes and conservation issues in connection with the climatic changes occurring in the area of the type locality of C. beroni sp. nov. are presented.

Distribution pattern of arthropods on the leaf surfaces of Acacia auriculiformis saplings / Padrão de distribuição de artrópodes nas superfícies foliares de plantas de Acacia auriculiformis

Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. Ex Benth. (Fabaceae), a non-native pioneer species in Brazil with fast growth and rusticity, is used in restoration programs. Our goal was to assess during a 24-month survey the pattern of arthropods (phytophagous insects, bees, spiders, and predator insects) on the leaf surfaces of A. auriculiformis saplings. Fourteen species of phytophagous, two of bees and eleven of predators were most abundant on the adaxial surface. The values of the ecological indexes (abundance, diversity, and species richness) and the rarefaction, and k-dominance curves of phytophagous, bees and arthropod predators were highest on the adaxial leaf surface of A. auriculiformis. The k-dominance and abundance of Aleyrodidae (Hemiptera) (both leaf surfaces), the native stingless bee Tetragonisca angustula Latreille (Hymenoptera: Apidae) (both leaf surfaces) and the ant Brachymyrmex sp. (adaxial surface) and Pheidole sp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) (abaxial surface) were the highest between the taxonomic groups of phytophagous, bees, and predators, respectively on A. auriculiformis saplings. The ecological indexes and rarefaction, abundance, and k-dominance curves of phytophagous insects, bees, and predators were highest on the adaxial leaf surface. The preference of phytophagous insects for the adaxial leaf surface is probably due to the lower effort required to move on this surface. Understanding the arthropod preferences between leaf surfaces may help to develop sampling and pest management plans for the most abundant phytophagous insects on A. auriculiformis saplings. Also, knowledge on the preference pattern of bees and predators may be used to favour their conservation.

Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. Ex Benth. (Fabaceae), espécie pioneira com rápido crescimento e rusticidade, é utilizada em programas de recuperação de áreas degradadas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar, durante 24 meses, o padrão de distribuição de artrópodes (insetos fitófagos, abelhas, aranhas e insetos predadores) nas superfícies foliares de A. auriculiformis. Quatorze espécies de fitófagos, duas de abelhas e onze de predadores foram mais abundantes na superfície adaxial. Índices ecológicos (abundância, diversidade e riqueza de espécies) e curvas de rarefação e dominância-k de fitófagos, abelhas e artrópodes predadores foram maiores na face adaxial de folhas de A. auriculiformis. A dominância-k e a abundância de Aleyrodidae (Hemiptera) (ambas as superfícies foliares), da abelha nativa sem ferrão Tetragonisca angustula Latreille (Hymenoptera: Apidae) (ambas as superfícies foliares) e das formigas Brachymyrmex sp. (superfície adaxial) e Pheidole sp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) (superfície abaxial) foram as maiores entre os grupos taxonômicos de fitófagos polinizadores e predadores, respectivamente, em plantas jovens de A. auriculiformis. A abundância, diversidade e riqueza e as curvas de rarefação e dominância-k de artrópodes fitófagos, abelhas e predadores foram maiores nas superfícies adaxiais das folhas dessa árvore. A preferência pela superfície adaxial da folha se deve, provavelmente, ao menor esforço para se movimentarem na mesma. Compreender as preferências dos artrópodes pelas superfícies foliares pode auxiliar no desenvolvimento de planos de amostragem e manejo de pragas em A. auriculiformis. Além disso, o conhecimento da distribuição de abelhas e predadores pode favorecer a conservação desses insetos.

Three first records of stick insects attacking plants (Inseect: Phasmida) in Tibet / Três primeiros registros de insetos-pau atacando plantas (Inseect: Phasmida) no Tibet

Except for a few stick insects that are economically valuable, most species be considered to be forest pests, so it is extremely important to obtain plant host-use information of more stick insects. In this paper, the plant hosts of three species of stick insects were recorded for the first time. We also discovered these stick insects can feed upon the flowers or leaves of plants. Lopaphus unidentatus (Chen & He, 1995) (Phasmida: Lonchodidae) attacked Hypericum choisianum Wall. ex N. Robson, 1973 (Hypericaceae), Leurophasma dolichocercum Bi, 1995 (Phasmida: Aschiphasmatidae) attacked Antenoron filiforme (Thunb.) Roberty & Vautier, 1964 (Polygonaceae) and Megalophasma granulatum Bi, 1995 (Phasmida: Lonchodidae) attacked Debregeasia orientalis C. J. Chen, 1991 (Urticaceae). Finally, we were lucky enough to also obtain photographs of them mating and feeding.

Exceto por alguns insetos-pau que são economicamente valiosos, a maioria das espécies pode ser considerada praga florestal, por isso é extremamente importante obter informações sobre o uso de hospedeiros de plantas de mais insetos-pau. Neste artigo, as plantas hospedeiras de três espécies de bicho-pau foram registradas pela primeira vez. Também descobrimos que esses bichos-pau podem se alimentar de flores ou folhas de plantas. Lopaphus unidentatus (Chen & He, 1995) (Phasmida: Lonchodidae) atacou a parede de Hypericum choisianum. ex N. Robson, 1973 (Hypericaceae), Leurophasma dolichocercum Bi, 1995 (Phasmida: Aschiphasmatidae) atacou Antenoron filiforme (Thunb.) Roberty & Vautier, 1964 (Polygonaceae) e Megalophasma granulatum Bi, 1995 (Phasmida: Lonchodidae orientaled) atacou Chen, 1991 (Urticaceae). Finalmente, tivemos a sorte de também obter fotos deles se acasalando e se alimentando.

Use of the proteomic tool MALDI-TOF MS in termite identification.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has proved effective for the identification of many arthropods. A total of 432 termite specimens were collected in Mali, Cote d'Ivoire, Togo, Senegal, Switzerland and France. Morphologically, 22 species were identified, including Ancistrotermes cavithorax, Amitermes evuncifer, Cryptotermes brevis, Cubitermes orthognathus, Kalotermes flavicollis, Macrotermes bellicosus, Macrotermes herus, Macrotermes ivorensis, Macrotermes subhyalinus, Microcerotermes parvus, Microtermes sp., Odontotermes latericius, Procubitermes sjostedti, Promirotermes holmgreni, Reticulitermes grassei, Reticulitermes lucifugus, Reticulitermes santonensis, Trinervitermes geminatus, Trinervitermes occidentalis, Trinervitermes togoensis, Trinervitermes sp., Trinervitermes trinervoides and Trinervitermes trinervius. Analysis of MALDI-TOF MS spectra profiles from termites revealed that all were of high quality, with intra-species reproducibility and inter-species specificity. Blind testing of the spectra of 389 termites against our updated database with the spectra of 43 specimens of different termite species revealed that all were correctly identified with log score values (LSVs) ranging from 1.65 to 2.851, mean 2.290 ± 0.225, median 2.299, and 98.4% (383) had LSVs > 1.8. This study is the first on the use of MALDI-TOF for termite identification and shows its importance as a tool for arthropod taxonomy and reinforces the idea that MALDI-TOF MS is a promising tool in the field of entomology.

One new species and one new record for the genus Mesogastrura (Collembola, Hypogastruridae) from Korean caves, with DNA barcodes.

We collected one new species and one new record in the genus Mesogastrura Bonet, 1930 (family Hypogastruridae) from three caves with different origins in the Korean Peninsula; Mesogastrura seotalensis sp. nov. and Mesogastrura ojcoviensis (Stach, 1919). The genus Mesogastrura Bonet, 1930 is newly recorded from the Korean Peninsula. Mesogastrura seotalensis sp. nov. shows various body color (light brown or much less and light purple), 3 + 3 eyes and unguis with three inner teeth. On the other hand, Mesogastrura ojcoviensis (Stach, 1919) is characterized by white body color, 2 + 2 eyes and unguis without inner tooth (rarely with 1). These species were found in piles of bat's guano inside of caves, so they are considered as troglophilous and guanophilous species. Partial DNA sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene were used as DNA barcodes to clarify the species delimitation.

A molecular-based identification resource for the arthropods of Finland.

To associate specimens identified by molecular characters to other biological knowledge, we need reference sequences annotated by Linnaean taxonomy. In this study, we (1) report the creation of a comprehensive reference library of DNA barcodes for the arthropods of an entire country (Finland), (2) publish this library, and (3) deliver a new identification tool for insects and spiders, as based on this resource. The reference library contains mtDNA COI barcodes for 11,275 (43%) of 26,437 arthropod species known from Finland, including 10,811 (45%) of 23,956 insect species. To quantify the improvement in identification accuracy enabled by the current reference library, we ran 1000 Finnish insect and spider species through the Barcode of Life Data system (BOLD) identification engine. Of these, 91% were correctly assigned to a unique species when compared to the new reference library alone, 85% were correctly identified when compared to BOLD with the new material included, and 75% with the new material excluded. To capitalize on this resource, we used the new reference material to train a probabilistic taxonomic assignment tool, FinPROTAX, scoring high success. For the full-length barcode region, the accuracy of taxonomic assignments at the level of classes, orders, families, subfamilies, tribes, genera, and species reached 99.9%, 99.9%, 99.8%, 99.7%, 99.4%, 96.8%, and 88.5%, respectively. The FinBOL arthropod reference library and FinPROTAX are available through the Finnish Biodiversity Information Facility (www.laji.fi) at https://laji.fi/en/theme/protax. Overall, the FinBOL investment represents a massive capacity-transfer from the taxonomic community of Finland to all sectors of society.

Virome of Bat-Infesting Arthropods: Highly Divergent Viruses in Different Vectors.

Bats are reservoirs of important zoonotic viruses like Nipah and SARS viruses. However, whether the blood-sucking arthropods on the body surface of bats also carry these viruses and the relationship between viruses carried by the blood-sucking arthropods and viruses carried by bats have not been reported. This study collected 686 blood-sucking arthropods on the body surface of bats from Yunnan Province, China, between 2012 and 2015, and they included wingless bat flies, bat flies, ticks, mites, and fleas. The viruses carried by these arthropods were analyzed using a meta-transcriptomic approach, and 144 highly diverse positive-sense single-stranded RNA, negative-sense single-stranded RNA, and double-stranded RNA viruses were found, of which 138 were potentially new viruses. These viruses were classified into 14 different virus families or orders, including Bunyavirales, Mononegavirales, Reoviridae, and Picornavirales. Further analyses found that Bunyavirales were the most abundant virus group (84% of total virus RNA) in ticks, whereas narnaviruses were the most abundant (52 to 92%) in the bat flies and wingless bat flies libraries, followed by solemoviruses (1 to 29%) and reoviruses (0 to 43%). These viruses were highly structured based on the arthropod types. It is worth noting that no bat-borne zoonotic viruses were found in the virome of bat-infesting arthropod, seemingly not supporting that bat surface arthropods are vectors of zoonotic viruses carried by bats. IMPORTANCE Bats are reservoirs of many important viral pathogens. To evaluate whether bat-parasitic blood-sucking arthropods participate in the circulation of these important viruses, it is necessary to conduct unbiased virome studies on these arthropods. We evaluated five types of blood-sucking parasitic arthropods on the surface of bats in Yunnan, China, and identified a variety of viruses, some of which had high prevalence and abundance levels, although there is limited overlap in virome between distant arthropods. While most of the virome discovered here is potentially arthropod-specific viruses, we identified three possible arboviruses, including one orthobunyavirus and two vesiculoviruses (family Rhabdoviridae), suggesting bat-parasitic arthropods carry viruses with risk of spillage, which warrants further study.

The first true millipede-1306 legs long.

The name "millipede" translates to a thousand feet (from mille "thousand" and pes "foot"). However, no millipede has ever been described with more than 750 legs. We discovered a new record-setting species of millipede with 1,306 legs, Eumillipes persephone, from Western Australia. This diminutive animal (0.95 mm wide, 95.7 mm long) has 330 segments, a cone-shaped head with enormous antennae, and a beak for feeding. A distant relative of the previous record holder, Illacme plenipes from California, it belongs to a different order, the Polyzoniida. Discovered 60 m below ground in a drill hole created for mineral exploration, E. persephone possesses troglomorphic features; it lacks eyes and pigmentation, and it has a greatly elongated body-features that stand in stark contrast to its closest surface-dwelling relatives in Australia and all other members of its order. Using phylogenomics, we found that super-elongation (> 180 segments) evolved repeatedly in the millipede class Diplopoda. The striking morphological similarity between E. persephone and I. plenipes is a result of convergent evolution, probably for locomotion in similar soil habitats. Discovered in the resource-rich Goldfields-Esperance region and threatened by encroaching surface mining, documentation of this species and conservation of its habitat are of critical importance.

Analysis of endemism of world arthropod distribution data supports biogeographic regions and many established subdivisions.

We analyzed 769 242 occurrence records for 115 424 species of terrestrial arthropods, from three biodiversity repositories (Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), Natural History Museum, London, and "Sistema de Informação Distribuído para Coleções Biológicas" (SpeciesLink)), to test the use of global-scale data points for quantitative assessments of areas of endemism. The data include Insecta (105,941 species), Arachnida (7984 species), Myriapoda (1229) and terrestrial crustaceans (270 Branchiopoda). The species were assigned to 14 543 higher taxonomic groups because such groups often characterize larger areas of endemism. Putative areas of endemism were visualized as sets of cells displaying unique groups of species without the assumption of hierarchical relationships. Yet, the use of 10° grid cells recovered many large areas broadly corresponding to biogeographic Regions (Nearctic, Neotropical, Panamanian, Palaearctic, Afrotropical, Australian, Oceanian and Oriental) albeit with the limits poorly defined. An analysis of 5° grids resulted in 306 sets included in the different biogeographic Realms: Afrotropical, Australian, Madagascan, Nearctic, Neotropical, Oceanian, Oriental, Palaearctic, Saharo-Arabian and Sino-Japanese. The Panamanian Realm comprises 89 partly overlapping sets, crossing the Nearctic and Neotropical boundaries. A total of 7338 species of Insecta were endemic to some areas (Sino-Japanese, Afrotropical, Panamanian, Palaearctic, among others), followed by Arachnida (412 spp) and 105 species in other clades ranked as "classes". Six sets were supported only by genera, except for Panamanian sets that were supported by genera and families. Many of the species in the dataset are included in IUCN red lists, but probably most of those have distributions more restricted than global areas of endemism; only 102 appear as endemic to some area (Neartic, Madagascan, Panamanian, Afrotropical, among others). The results show that data from global databases can be used to identify areas of endemism on a worldwide basis but-owing to their incompleteness-only at a relatively coarse level. At the level of resolution currently allowed by such databases, such global studies are only complementary to studies where areas are determined subjectively by systematists (instead of actual point records), or studies using point records in datasets for specific taxonomic groups curated and compiled by specialists.

Exites in Cambrian arthropods and homology of arthropod limb branches.

The last common ancestor of all living arthropods had biramous postantennal appendages, with an endopodite and exopodite branching off the limb base. Morphological evidence for homology of these rami between crustaceans and chelicerates has, however, been challenged by data from clonal composition and from knockout of leg patterning genes. Cambrian arthropod fossils have been cited as providing support for competing hypotheses about biramy but have shed little light on additional lateral outgrowths, known as exites. Here we draw on microtomographic imaging of the Cambrian great-appendage arthropod Leanchoilia to reveal a previously undetected exite at the base of most appendages, composed of overlapping lamellae. A morphologically similar, and we infer homologous, exite is documented in the same position in members of the trilobite-allied Artiopoda. This early Cambrian exite morphology supplements an emerging picture from gene expression that exites may have a deeper origin in arthropod phylogeny than has been appreciated.

Three new genera and eighteen new species of miniature polydesmid millipedes from the northwestern United States (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Polydesmidae).

Three new genera, Retrorsioides, Rowlandesmus and Benedictesmus, are described and the polydesmid millipede fauna of North America is briefly reviewed with an emphasis on the genera Bidentogon Buckett Gardner, 1968 and Retrorsia Shelley, 2003. Eighteen new species are described: Bidentogon buttensis, Bidentogon norcal, Retrorsia leonardi, Retrorsia benedictae, Retrorsia richarti, Retrorsia gracilis, Retrorsia simplicissima, Retrorsioides castellum, Retrorsioides linnensis, Retrorsioides kittitas, Retrorsioides bammerti, Retrorsioides arboramagna, Rowlandesmus millicoma, Rowlandesmus dentogonopus, Benedictesmus aureua, Benedictesmus ellenae, Benedictesmus yaquina and Benedictesmus timber. Natural history notes and illustrations are provided of putative commensal fungi, nematodes and a mite found on the millipede specimens.

Review of the millipede genus Hedinomorpha Verhoeff, 1934, with descriptions of three new species collected in China by Professor Jochen Martens (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae).

Hedinomorpha martensorum spec. nov., H. jaegeri spec. nov. and H. sympatrica spec. nov. are described, the former species from Qinghai Province, and both latter ones occurring syntopically in Shaanxi Province, China. A brief description and a new diagnosis of Hedinomorpha, a key to its 24 species presently known, and a map showing their distributions are provided. The affinities of Hedinomorpha within the tribe Sulciferini are discussed.

Additions to the millipede family Caseyidae. II. Martenseya, a new genus of miniature, blind millipedes from California (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida, Striariidea, Striarioidea, Caseyidae).

A new genus, Martenseya, is described for Martenseya minutocaeca n. sp., a tiny, blind species in the family Caseyidae from Marin County, California, USA. A key to the chordeumatidan families of northwestern North America is provided, as well as a key to caseyid genera.

Towards understanding Lepidocyrtus Bourlet, 1839 (Collembola, Entomobryidae) II: new Australian species.

The genus Lepidocyrtus Bourlet is currently considered to consist of eight subgenera of which Setogaster Salmon is one. Here we describe three new species in this subgenus, L. agricolus sp. nov., L. coorongensis sp. nov., and L. nashi sp. nov. It appears to be the most widespread and numerically dominant subgenus of Lepidocyrtus in Australia. The three new species live in different habitats and in different parts of the continent. It is assumed they are endemic species, one is likely to be a short range endemic. The characters and a list of species of the Lepidocyrtus praecisus-group, and an identification key for the Australian species of genus Lepidocyrtus are provided.

On the correct authorship, spelling, and type species of genus Dasongius (Pauropoda: Pauropodidae).

The genus Songius Sun Guo in Guo et al., 2010 (Pauropoda: Pauropodidae) was established for two new species from China: Songius rugosus Sun Guo in Guo et al., 2010 and Songius bicruris Guo Sun in Guo et al., 2010. The manuscript was received by the journal Zoological Science on 7th April 2010 and the article is displayed on the BioOne platform with the publication date of 1st November 2010. In the same year, Yin et al. (2010) established the genus Songius Yin Li in Yin et al., 2010 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae).

A new species of Anurophorus (Collembola: Isotomidae) from South Korea, with notes on its molecular data.

A new species, Anurophorus hallaensis sp. nov. was collected from the withered leaves of Korean fir (Abies koreana Wilson), which is distributed at higher than 1,300 m in altitude on Mt. Hallasan (Jeju Island, South Korea). The morphology and two partial gene regions of this species are described herein. Anurophorus hallaensis sp. nov. showed the same formulas of macrochaetae and sensilla on thoracic segment II to abdominal segment IV as those exhibited by A. laricis Nicolet and A. palearcticus Potapov; however, this new species can be distinguished from them by the number of knobbed hairs on ventral side of legs. Partial DNA sequences of the mitochondrial Cytochrome c Oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and ribosomal DNA (28S rDNA) were used as DNA barcodes to distinguish between A. hallaensis sp. nov. and closely related congeners. The results of the present study indicate that the COI and rDNA are useful for species discrimination within the genus Anurophorus. An identification key to the Korean species of Anurophorus is provided.

Two new species of Homidia (Collembola: Entomobryidae) from Eastern China.

Two new species of Homidia are described from Eastern China: H. hangzhouensis sp. nov. and H. wanensis sp. nov. The former is characterised by smooth chaetae e and l1 on labial base, two irregular transverse stripes on Abd. IV, absence of blue pigment on Ant. I-II and Abd. I-II and presence on Ant. III-IV, 7-9 macrochaetae on Abd. IV posteriorly and 24-34 smooth inner spines on dens. The latter can be identified by reduced blue body pigment, smooth chaeta e on labial base and having some posterior labial chaetae modified, appearing leaflike, 8-9 macrochaetae on Abd. IV posteriorly and 83 smooth inner spines on dens.

The Japanese species of the genus Gracilentulus (Protura: Acerentomidae).

The Japanese members of the proturan genus Gracilentulus comprise five species: G. aokii Imadaté, G. chichibuensis Nakamura, G. macrotarsus sp. nov., G. microtrichus sp. nov., and G. europaeus Szeptycki. In the present study, the new Gracilentulus species are described while G. europaeus is described based on Japanese specimens. Gracilentulus europaeus belongs to the "gracilis" group, which was recorded in Japan for the first time herein. Supplementary notes are provided on G. aokii and G. chichibuensis. A key to the species that lack sensillum b' on the foretarsus is also provided.

New species and records of Entomobryidae and Orchesellidae (Collembola) from the East Caucasus (Russia).

We studied Entomobryidae and Orchesellidae springtails collected throughout Chechnya, Ingushetia, and Dagestan, Russia. Three new species of the genus Entomobrya (E. multisetis sp. nov., E. hirsutothorax sp. nov., and E. kremenitsai sp. nov.), and one of Entomobryoides (E. dagestanicus sp. nov.) are described. Taxonomic information for Entomobrya nicoleti (Lubbock, 1868), Willowsia potapovi Zhang et al., 2011, and Heteromurus nitidus (Templeton, 1836) in Templeton Westwood 1836 from the Caucasus are given.