Evolutionary history of inquiline social parasitism in Plagiolepis ants.

Social parasitism, i.e. the parasitic dependence of a social species on another free-living social species, is one of the most intriguing phenomena in social insects. It has evolved to various levels, the most extreme form being inquiline social parasites which have lost the worker caste, and produce only male and female sexual offspring that are reared by the host worker force. The inquiline syndrome has been reported in 4 species within the ant genus Plagiolepis, in Europe. Whether inquiline social parasitism evolved once or multiple times within the genus remains however unknown. To address this question, we generated data for 5 inquiline social parasites - 3 species previously described and 2 unidentified species - and their free-living hosts from Europe, and we inferred their phylogenetic relationships. We tested Emery's rule, which predicts that inquiline social parasites and their hosts are close relatives. Our results show that inquiline parasitism evolved independently at least 5 times in the genus. Furthermore, we found that all inquilines were associated with one of the descendants of their most related free-living species, suggesting sympatric speciation is the main process leading to the emergence of the parasitic species, consistent with the stricter version of Emery's rule.

A new species of Aspidimorpha (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Aspidimorphini) from Uganda.

Aspidimorpha (Aspidimorpha) wagneri sp. nov. is described from Uganda. This species belongs to the nominotypical subgenus, together with several African species that are closely related to A. mutata Boheman, 1854. Its relative position within the genus is discussed.

Two new species of the genus Gonioctena Chevrolat (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Chrysomelinae) from Sichuan, China.

Two new species of Gonioctena Chevrolat, G. sichuana sp. n. and G. metallica sp. n., are described from Sichuan Province, China. Diagnostic characters and illustrations are provided. Ovoviviparity is recorded in G. metallica sp. n.

Redescription of immatures and bionomy of the Palaearctic species dicladispa testacea (Linnaeus, 1767) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Hispini), a leaf-mining hispine beetle.

Dicladispa testacea (Linnaeus, 1767) is a member of the tribe Hispini Gyllenhal, 1813 associated with plants of the family Cistaceae Juss. and is widely distributed in the Mediterranean Basin. Immature stages are described in detail, including line drawings, chaetotaxy, sculpture of integument, and SEM photos of morphological details. This is the first detailed description of immatures in the tribe Hispini, and this can be regarded as a model description for studies of other species in the tribe. Diagnostic characters for this species in comparison with other described larvae and pupae of the genus Dicladispa and the sympatric Hispa atra Linnaeus, 1767 are discussed. Some remarks on the biology of Dicladispa testacea, such as host plants, feeding patterns of adults, structure of larval and pupal mines, are also given.

Review of the genus Cassidinoma Hincks (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Omocerini).

The Neotropical genus Cassidinoma Hincks is revised. A new synonymy is proposed: Cassidinoma denticulata (Boheman) = Cassidinoma monstrosa (Boheman) syn. n. The diagnosis, description, distribution, and biology are reviewed, and new distribution records are included. Illustrations of the habitus of adult and morphological structures are also added.

A new species of Notosacantha Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Notosacanthini) from southern India.

Notosacantha bertounesquei sp. nov. is described from Kerala state in southern India. This new species belongs to the group of two large species hitherto known only from Sri Lanka. Checklist and key to Notosacantha species of Sri Lanka and southern India are provided.

Five new species of Notosacantha Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) from Borneo, with a key to the Bornean species and new faunistic data.

Five new species of Notosacantha are described from Borneo (Sabah): N. flaviventris Borowiec and Takizawa sp. nov. (also described from Sumatra), N. flavosuturata Swietojanska and Takizawa sp. nov., N. minuta Swietojanska and Takizawa sp. nov., N. obscuricornis Borowiec and Takizawa sp. nov. and N. ovoidea Borowiec and Swietojanska sp. nov. New records for nine other species, a check list and key to Bornean Notosacantha are given. Myrsinaceae and Myristicaceae are new host plant families for tortoise beetles and Ardisia elliptica Thunb., Ardisia sp., Embelia sp., Gironiema sp. (all Myrsinaceae) and Knema sp. (Myristicaceae) are new host plants for Notosacantha.

Description of larvae of two closely related species Cassida palaestina Reiche, 1858 and Cassida rubiginosa Müller, 1776 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae).

Larvae of two closely related species Cassida palaestina Reiche, 1858 and Cassida rubiginosa Müller, 1776 are described in detail including SEM microstructures. First instars are extremely similar with no clear diagnostic characters, larvae of Cassida palaestina are slightly more contrastingly coloured than larvae of C. rubiginosa, the latter having darker scoli, basal part of supra-anal processes and legs. Last instars differ in very subtle but constant characters: lateral scoli of C. palaestina are slightly shorter than those of C. rubiginosa, in C. palaestina tops of the lateral branches are armed apically with an elongate cauliflower-shaped sensillum while in C. rubiginosa tops of the lateral branches are more often armed with a pointed seta than with an elongate cauliflower-shaped sensillum, and cauliflower-shaped sensilla on tergites are less elongate in C. palaestina than in C. rubiginosa. These differences accompanied by distinguishing characters of adults and their distribution range indicate that both taxa are probably vicariant species with partial parapatric occurrence. Centaurea behen is a new host plant for C. palaestina.

The ant genus Cataglyphis Förster (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Cyprus.

The comprehensive survey of the ant fauna conducted in Cyprus revealed that the island is inhabited by two species of the genus Cataglyphis Förster, 1850. Both species are endemic and are described as new to science. Cataglyphis chionistrae n. sp., a member of the C. cursor species complex, occurs only in the high montane pine forest of Mt. Chionistra (= Mt. Olympos). While C. aphrodite n. sp., a member of the C. nodus species complex, is common at low and mid altitudes in open habitats or luminous pine forests. This work also provides the key to Cataglyphis from Cyprus and the very first synopsis lists of all the members of the cursor and nodus species complexes known from the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Review of the Messorsemirufus complex (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Greece.

Messor is a diverse genus of Myrmicinae with 168 extant species and subspecies. In the Mediterranean, some of its taxa historically were classified as members of the Messorinstabilis group (sensu Santschi), of which 19 are known from the eastern Mediterranean. Here, the Messorsemirufus complex of the Balkan Peninsula that assembles a distinct subsection of members of the instabilis group is defined and treated. In total, five species are recorded, including three that are new. Messoratanassovii Atanassov, 1982 is redescribed and confirmed for Bulgaria (Thracian Plain, Struma, and Mesta Valley, Pirin Mt., and Eastern Rhodopi) and Greece (Epirus, Ionian Islands, Central and Eastern Macedonia, and Thraki). Three species are described as new to science: Messordanaes Salata, Georgiadis & Borowiec, sp. nov. (Cyclades: Serifos), Messorkardamenae Salata & Borowiec, sp. nov. (Dodecanese: Kos, Nisyros, Rhodes, and Tilos), and Messorveneris Salata, Georgiadis & Borowiec, sp. nov. (Cyclades: Milos). The fifth member of the complex, Messorcreticus Borowiec & Salata, 2019, maintains its status of Cretan endemic.

Unrecognized for centuries: distribution and sexual caste descriptions of the West European Aphaenogaster species of the subterranea group (Hymenoptera, Formicidae).

There are only two Aphaenogaster species from the subterranea group in the western Mediterranean: A.ichnusa Santschi, 1925, from south-western Europe, and A.subterranea (Latreille, 1798), also occurring in central and eastern Europe. Historically, the two species have been widely misunderstood: A.ichnusa was long considered a Sardinian endemic subspecies of A.subterranea, while its continental populations were misidentified as A.subterranea s. str. Recently, A.ichnusa was elevated to species rank and its worker caste was redescribed with that of A.subterranea, allowing for their correct identification. Yet their distribution was documented in detail only for France and Sardinia. Furthermore, no morphological characters were described to distinguish the males and queens of the two species. By investigating private and museum collections, 276 new records of A.ichnusa are provided here and 154 of A.subterranea from the western Mediterranean. Additionally, qualitative and quantitative morphological characters were combined to identify their males and queens. We present the new southernmost, easternmost, and westernmost distribution limits for A.ichnusa. Based on our results, this species is widely distributed in Italy and Catalonia (Spain), also occurring on several Mediterranean islands, avoiding areas with continental climate and high altitudes. Sicily is the only island to host the less thermophilous A.subterranea, which otherwise extends westward to Galicia (Spain). Sympatric occurrence is not rare along the contact zone. Additional natural history observations are reported regarding foraging habits, associated myrmecophiles, habitat preferences, and colony structure in the two species.

A monograph of the Afrotropical Cassidinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Part 6. Revision of the tribe Cassidini 3, the genus Cassida L.

The genus Cassida Linnaeus, 1758 is revised and 103 species are recognized as valid, all distributed in Sub-Saharan Africa and the south-western part of the Arabian Peninsula. Twenty-four species are described as new: Cassida bamendana sp. nov. (Cameroon), Cassida benaadirensis sp. nov. (Ethiopia and Somalia), Cassida elgonensis sp. nov. (Kenya), Cassida emontinensis sp. nov. (South Africa), Cassida garambana sp. nov. (Democratic Republic of Congo), Cassida heroni sp. nov. (Mozambique and South Africa), Cassida kantnerorum sp. nov. (Malawi), Cassida leleupi sp. nov. (Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda), Cassida minutissima sp. nov. (Somalia), Cassida nigeriana sp. nov. (Nigeria), Cassida oromiaensis sp. nov. (Ethiopia), Cassida overlaeti sp. nov. (Democratic Republic of Congo), Cassida oxylepiformis sp. nov. (South Africa), Cassida rabaiensis sp. nov. (Kenya), Cassida rogozinskii sp. nov. (Cameroon), Cassida satanas sp. nov. (Uganda), Cassida senegalensis sp. nov. (Senegal), Cassida shimba sp. nov. (Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa), Cassida sparteiformis sp. nov. (Angola), Cassida stipidosa sp. nov. (Ethiopia), Cassida villersi sp. nov. (Burkina Faso and Niger), Cassida voiensis sp. nov. (Kenya), Cassida wanati sp. nov. (South Africa), and Cassida wittmeri sp. nov. (South Africa). The following new synonyms are proposed: Cassida callosicollis Spaeth, 1926 = Cassida magilensis Spaeth, 1926 syn. nov.; Cassida eluta Boheman, 1862 = Cassida cherenica Spaeth, 1917 syn. nov.; Cassida lacrymosa Boheman, 1854 = Cassida trepidula Spaeth, 1932 syn. nov.; Cassida praetimida Spaeth, 1912 = Cassida chapuisi Spaeth, 1912 syn. nov.; Cassida troglodytes Boheman, 1834 = Cassida impompalis Spaeth, 1924 syn. nov. = Cassida lueboensis Spaeth, 1932 syn. nov. Cassida setosa Chapuis, 1880 is a valid species and removed from synonymy with Cassida innotata Boheman, 1854. Colour photos, including intraspecific variablity, a key to species and maps of distribution are given.

A review of the Temnothoraxanodontoides species-group (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Greece.

A review of the Greek members of the Temnothoraxanodontoides species-group revealed three species new to science: Temnothoraxeuboeae sp. nov. (Sterea Ellas, Euboea Island), Temnothoraxarkasi sp. nov. (Peloponnese, Arcadia) and Temnothoraxparnonensis sp. nov. (Peloponnese, Arcadia and Lakonia). The diagnoses of Temnothoraxikarosi Salata, Borowiec & Trichas, 2018 and T.anodontoides (Dlussky & Zabelin, 1985) are updated based of the new discoveries. Additionally, presence of the latter species in Greece is discussed and its distribution range revised. All members of the anodontoides species-group are associated with alpine and rocky habitats such as pastures and thermophilous forests. A dichotomous key to the anodontoides species-group from Greece is given.

New and little-known ant species (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Bulgaria.

Background: Many faunistic studies on the myrmecofauna of Bulgaria have been carried out and about 180 ant species (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from 43 genera and six subfamilies have been discovered as a result. Although the Bulgarian ant fauna is considered to be relatively well studied, the finding of unrecorded species continues, especially amongst the rare social parasites and the species with a more southern distribution in the Balkans. New information: The current study presents data on 11 ant species recorded for the first time in Bulgaria (Messorhellenius Agosti & Collingwood, 1987, M.mcarthuri Steiner et al., 2018, Crematogasterionia Forel, 1911, Monomoriummonomorium Bolton, 1987, Temnothoraxaeolius (Forel, 1911), T.cf.exilis(formdarii Forel, 1911), T.finzii (Menozzi, 1925), T.rogeri Emery, 1869, Tetramoriumcf.punicum, Plagiolepisxene Stärcke, 1936 and Lasiusreginae Faber, 1967), as well as new locality data on 15 rarely found species. Some of the species, such as Hypoponeraeduardi (Forel, 1894), Strumigenysargiola (Emery, 1869), Temnothoraxgraecus (Forel, 1911), Tetramoriumdiomedeum Emery, 1908, Camponotusionius Emery, 1920 and C.tergestinus Müller, 1921, have been known so far only from a single locality in Bulgaria.The dataset of all records presented in this work was published separately through Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF, https://doi.org/10.15468/mngbzp).

Three new species of Cataglyphis Foerster, 1850 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Iran.

Cataglyphis bazoftensis sp. nov., C. fritillariae sp. nov., and C. dejdaranensis sp. nov. are described from the Koohrang county of central-west Iran (Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari Province). All new species belong to the C. altisquamis complex and are characterized by presence of the thick, black, and decumbent setae on lateral and posterior surfaces of tibiae. Additionally, a key to Asian Cataglyphis was updated to accommodate the new species.

Taxonomic review of the Cataglyphis livida complex (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), with a description of a new species from Iran.

Cataglyphis fici sp. nov., a member of the Cataglyphis livida complex, is described from the Estahban county of south-western Iran. The species is characterized by small body size and yellow to yellowish red body coloration with distinctly infuscated legs. Additionally, the taxonomic status of all known members of the Cataglyphis livida complex is updated. Cataglyphis lutea Pisarski, 1967, stat. rev. is raised to the species level and Cataglyphis viaticoides (André, 1881) is proposed as a senior synonym of Cataglyphis livida bulgarica Atanassov, 1982, syn. nov. and Cataglyphis albicans mixtus (Forel, 1895), syn. nov. Finally, a provisional key to members of the livida complex is provided.

Review of the Camponotus samius complex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Turano-Balkan region, with the description of a new species from Iran.

Here we define the Camponotus samius complex, a distinct subunit within the compressus-sylvaticus group, and revise the species known from the Turano-Balkan region (the Balkans, Middle East, Anatolia, Caucasus, Iran and W Turkestan). We confirm the presence of six species of the complex from the Turano-Balkan region, and we provide diagnoses and a key. Additionally, based on new material from the Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari Province of Iran, we describe Camponotus bakhtiariensis sp. nov.-a new member of the samius complex.

Preliminary division of not socially parasitic Greek Temnothorax Mayr, 1861 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) with a description of three new species.

The division of Greek members of the genus Temnothorax into 17 morphological groups is proposed. Temnothorax aveli species group is reviewed with three species: T. turcicus (Santschi) (North Aegean Islands, Sterea Ellas, Peloponnese and Thessaly), and two species new to science: Temnothorax brackoi sp. nov. (Epirus, Ionian Islands, Macedonia, Peloponnese, western Sterea Ellas, Thessaly, and also Dalmatia in Croatia), and T. messiniaensis sp. nov. (Ionian Islands and Peloponnese); a new species Temnothorax triangularis sp. nov., a member of the Temnothorax nylanderi species group is also described (Sterea Ellas: Euboea Island).

Revision of the tribe Cryptonychini (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) of New Caledonia.

New Caledonian members of the tribe Cryptonychini are revised. The tribe is represented by eigth genera and 23 species, all but one endemic to New Caledonia. A new genera Paratorquispa gen. nov. and Wanatispa gen. nov. are proposed, and 11 species are described as new: Brontispa caledonica sp. nov., Caledonispa bivittata sp. nov., Caledonispa panieensis sp. nov., Caledonispa spinosa sp. nov., Isopedhispa costata sp. nov., Isopedhispa latemarginata sp. nov., Teretrispa daccordii sp. nov., Teretrispa longicollis sp. nov., Torquispa convexifrons sp. nov., Wanatispa cylindricollis sp. nov., and Wanatispa rutai sp. nov. Torquispa caledoniae Uhmann, 1954 is transferred to the genus Paratorquispa, comb. nov. Each taxon is provided with a detailed description, set of figures and studied material. Keys to all taxa are proposed.

Review of the Camponotus kiesenwetteri group (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in the Aegean with the description of a new species.

Based on recently collected material, the Camponotus kiesenwetteri group is redefined, and its members known from the Aegean region are diagnosed. Camponotus schulzi sp. nov. is described from Izmir Province, Turkey. Camponotus nadimi Tohmé, 1969 syn. nov. is proposed as a junior synonym of Camponotus libanicus André, 1881 and Camponotus kiesenwetteri cyprius Emery, 1920 syn. nov. as a junior synonym of Camponotus kiesenwetteri (Roger, 1859). A key to workers of species of the C. kiesenwetteri group is provided. Niche modeling analyses are used to account for species habitat suitability across the Aegean region.