Australian Marsh Beetles (Coleoptera: Scirtidae). 7. Genus Nothocyphon, new genus.

The new genus Nothocyphon (type species: Helodes (Cyphon ?) lindensis Blackburn, 1892) is proposed for small Contacyphon-like Australian beetles. The included species exhibit a generalized body structure, lacking the derived character expressions of related genera. Male tergite 9 is very weakly developed, membranous and bare. This is derived but as a reduction only weakly supports the monophyly of Nothocyphon.The new genus includes 39 species, with 37 newly described herein: Nothocyphon alces, n. sp., N. amita, n. sp., N. amphora, n. sp., N. armatus, n. sp., N. armstrongi, n. sp., N. auritus, n. sp., N. banksiae, n. sp., N. biserratus, n. sp., N. brevihamatus, n. sp., N. crux, n. sp., N. denticulatus, n. sp., N. donnabuangi, n. sp., N. esau, n. sp., N. frater (Blackburn), n. comb., N. horridus, n. sp., N. ímitator, n. sp., N. isolaeregis, n. sp., N. lanceolatus, n. sp., N. lindensis (Blackburn), n. comb., N. multidentatus, n. sp., N. naso, n. sp., N. nungatta, n. sp., N. pacificus, n. sp., N. patruelis, n. sp., N. platyphallus, n. sp., N. plicatus, n. sp., N. radula, n. sp., N. sarcophilus, n. sp., N. scutiger, n. sp., N. serratipenis, n. sp., N. signatus, n. sp., N. soror, n. sp., N. taeniatus, n. sp., N. taurus, n. sp., N. thylacinus, n. sp., N. triangulum, n. sp., N. vandiemeni, n. sp., N. wattsi, n. sp., N. ypsilon, n. sp.Lectotypes are designated for N. frater (Blackburn) and N. lindensis (Blackburn). All species are redescribed or described, and illustrated. Several informal species groups are recognized, and identification keys to males are provided.

Australian Marsh Beetles (Coleoptera: Scirtidae). 8. The new genera Cygnocyphon, Eximiocyphon, Paracyphon, Leptocyphon, Tectocyphon, and additions to Contacyphon de Gozis, Nanocyphon Zwick and Eurycyphon Watts.

New monotypic genera proposed are: Cygnocyphon ibex n. gen., n. sp., Eximiocyphon excisus n. gen., n. sp., and Paracyphon avicularis n. gen., n. sp. Also proposed are the new genera Leptocyphon n. gen., with L. furcalonga, n. sp. and L. quadricornutus, n. sp., Tectocyphon n. gen., with T. microphallus n. sp., T. hirsutus n. sp., and T. victoriae n. sp. The diagnosis of genus Eurycyphon Watts is amended, E. fulvus Watts and E. aquilus Watts are partly redescribed. New species are: Eurycyphon barringtoni n. sp., E. castaneus n. sp., E. falcatus n. sp., E. parvus n. sp., E. perlatus n. sp., E. thunguttii, n. sp., E. tomweiri n. sp., and E. tricornis n. sp. Species of Nanocyphon are discussed and N. tasmanicus n. sp. is described. Contacyphon forcipatus n. sp. is described and an apparently introduced population of the European Contacyphon putonii Gozis is reported from West Australia. For comparison with some of the new taxa the redescription of Pseudomicrocara orientalis Armstrong, type species of the genus, is supplemented.

Australian Marsh Beetles (Coleoptera: Scirtidae) 4. Two new genera, Austrocyphon and Tasmanocyphon.

The related new genera Austrocyphon and Tasmanocyphon are erected for 42 small Australian marsh beetles resembling members of the genus Cyphon Paykull in habitus. They are distinguished from Cyphon. Only males are known of most species but for two of them larvae and pupae are also available. Austrocyphon species occur in all Australian Federal States, and one species is Australasian and shared with Papua New Guinea. The following species are included: Austrocyphon acaciae sp. n., A. aculeatus sp. n., A. acustropicus sp. n., A. adelaidae (Blackburn), A. asper sp. n., A. bidens sp. n., A. bifidus sp. n., A. charon sp. n., A. crinitus (Klausnitzer), A. curvispina, sp. n., A. deserticola sp. n., A. doctus (Lea), A. enigmaticus sp. n., A. excisus sp. n., A. fenestratus (Blackburn), A. flagellifer sp. n., A. furcatus sp. n., A. hamatus sp. n., A. harpago sp. n., A. leptophallus sp. n., A. linguatus sp. n., A. lobatus sp. n., A. neptunus sp. n., A. noctua sp. n., A. ovensensis (Blackburn), A. papilio sp. n., A. perdoctus sp. n., A. pictus (Blackburn), A. quadridens sp. n., A. quinquespinosus sp. n., A. robustus sp. n., A. setifer sp. n., A. spiculifer sp. n., A. stylatus sp. n., A. stylifer sp. n., A. submersus sp. n., A. tinea sp. n., A. tomweiri sp. n., A. tribulator sp. n., A. tropicus sp. n., A. unguiculatus sp. n., A. wattsi sp. n.Tasmanocyphon is endemic to Tasmania, and only the adult male is known. The genus is monotypic, including only T. heideae, sp. n.

Australian marsh beetles (Coleoptera: Scirtidae). 2. Pachycyphon, a new genus of presumably terrestrial Australian Scirtidae.

The genus Pachycyphon is erected for marsh beetles (Coleoptera: Scirtidae) from tropical rainforests in Queensland, Australia. The following species are included: P. corpulentus sp. n., P. crassus sp. n., P. elegans sp. n., P. funicularis sp. n., P. gravis sp. n., P. monteithi sp. n., P. obesus sp. n., P. pinguis sp. n., P. serratus sp. n., P. turgidus sp. n. (the type species). Females are wingless and have fossorial ovipositors, a terrestrial larval life is therefore hypothesized. Pachycyphon is compared with other genera, especially probable relatives from temperate rainforests in southeastern Australia.

A new classification of genus Neoperla and systematic studies of other Perlinae (Plecoptera: Perlidae).

A new formal classification for the largest genus of Perlinae, Neoperla, is introduced to replace the artificial split of the genus into two informal groups. Globally, there are close to 300 named species, with the number rising all the time. The monophyletic clymene-group is assigned to Neoperla (Neoperla) with ~ 140 species in North America, Africa and parts of Asia; its seven main subgroups are briefly characterized. The polyphyletic Asian montivaga-group is replaced by two monophyletic subgenera, N. (Borneella), new subgenus (six species), and N. (Formosita) Klaplek, new status (~125 species). Five species groups in N. (Formosita) are recognized and diagnosed. For 85% of the species known by mid-2023 (DeWalt et al. 2023), their assignment to supra-specific taxa is summarized in a table, while a further 40 species cannot be placed at present. Some additions, remarks and corrections to the phylogenetically oriented synopsis of Perlinae by Sivec, Stark & Uchida (1988) are made. The new species N.(F.) fasciata is named. Eighty-eight figures, including numerous new original photographs, are presented.

Revision of the African Neoperla Needham, 1905 (Plecoptera: Perlidae: Perlinae) based on morphological and molecular data.

Adults of the African species of the genus Neoperla Needham, 1905 (Plecoptera: Perlidae: Perlinae) are revised, and 82 valid species are recognised. Of the original 29 named species, 14 valid ones are redescribed from types, nine lectotypes are designated, and nine new synonymies are proposed. Sixty-two new species are named, and several additional new species only known from material insufficient for formal description are listed. There are one unavailable nomen nudum and three doubtful names. Diagnostic morphological traits of the recognised species are described and illustrated in detail where available of males, females, and eggs. Dichotomous keys to all species are provided. Mitochondrial DNA-data of 71 species-group taxa are available, which permits reliable association of sexes and minimises the risk of synonymies between species known from only one sex. Importantly, this includes DNA sequences from 50 holotypes. The DNA-data will also permit future monitoring with eDNA sequencing and identification of nymphs, which are probably important but so far unidentifiable bioindicators in streams. The genus Neoperla occurs largely in the northern hemisphere and in Africa, where it is restricted to the Ethiopian region south of the Sahara but unknown from Madagascar. A single specimen not clearly distinct from a widespread mainland species was taken on Comoro Island. All African species are endemic, but one African species group has a few outlying members in Asia. The Asian N. montivaga-group is not known from Africa. The following new species are described and named: N. aethiopica n. sp., N. amoena n. sp., N. angolana n. sp., N. bareensis n. sp., N. bella n. sp., N. benti n. sp., N. beta n. sp., N. bipolaris n. sp., N. biserrata n. sp., N. brachyphallus n. sp., N. caeleps n. sp., N. cataractae n. sp., N. claviger n. sp., N. coffea n. sp., N. costata n. sp., N. crenulata n. sp., N. crustata n. sp., N. decorata n. sp., N. dianae n. sp., N. dolium n. sp., N. dundoana n. sp., N. duodeviginti n. sp., N. erinaceus n. sp., N. excavata n. sp., N. filamentosa n. sp., N. funiculata n. sp., N. gibbosa n. sp., N. gordius n. sp., N. heideae n. sp., N. ivanloebli n. sp., N. juxtadidita n. sp., N. kalengonis n. sp., N. larvata n. sp., N. lineata n. sp., N. luhohonis n. sp., N. massevensis n. sp., N. multiserrata n. sp., N. muyukae n. sp., N. nichollsi n. sp., N. occulta n. sp., N. orthonema n. sp., N. pallidogigas n. sp., N. panafricana n. sp., N. pickeri n. sp., N. pilulifera n. sp., N. pirus n. sp., N. planidorsum n. sp., N. plicata n. sp., N. proxima n. sp., N. pusilla n. sp., N. rostrata n. sp., N. sambarua n. sp., N. sassandrae n. sp., N. schuelei n. sp., N. serrula n. sp., N. simplex n. sp., N. socia n. sp., N. sorella n. sp., N. spaghetti n. sp., N. spectabilis n. sp., N. spironema n. sp., N. tangana n. sp., N. tansanica n. sp., N. usambara n. sp., and N. vicina n. sp..

Notes on Perlodinella Klaplek, 1912 (Plecoptera: Perlodidae) with a new species and a new synonym.

After reexamining the syntype series of Perlodinella kozlovi Klaplek, 1912, a new species of Perlodinella, P. tibetensis Huo Du sp. nov. is proposed, and a lectotype is designated for P. kozlovi. Another monotypic genus of Perlodidae, Rauserodes Zwick (1999), is considered as a synonym of Perlodinella in this paper.

Catalogue of the Diptera (Insecta) of Morocco- an annotated checklist, with distributions and a bibliography.

The faunistic knowledge of the Diptera of Morocco recorded from 1787 to 2021 is summarized and updated in this first catalogue of Moroccan Diptera species. A total of 3057 species, classified into 948 genera and 93 families (21 Nematocera and 72 Brachycera), are listed. Taxa (superfamily, family, genus and species) have been updated according to current interpretations, based on reviews in the literature, the expertise of authors and contributors, and recently conducted fieldwork. Data to compile this catalogue were primarily gathered from the literature. In total, 1225 references were consulted and some information was also obtained from online databases. Each family was reviewed and the checklist updated by the respective taxon expert(s), including the number of species that can be expected for that family in Morocco. For each valid species, synonyms known to have been used for published records from Morocco are listed under the currently accepted name. Where available, distribution within Morocco is also included. One new combination is proposed: Assuaniamelanoleuca (Séguy, 1941), comb. nov. (Chloropidae).

Effects of intraspecific competition on the life cycle of the stonefly, Nemurella pictetii (Plecoptera: Nemouridae).

BACKGROUND: Considerable variation of life cycle duration in given insect species has been frequently recorded. Splitting of populations into cohorts with different life cycle lengths may occur, sometimes even between siblings from the same batch. Larval populations of the stonefly Nemurella pictetii in central Europe regularly split into a very fast developing and a normal univoltine cohort, leading to partial multivoltinism. The causes for such variation remain unknown but presumably act on the larval stage in which most of the life cycle is spent. We therefore studied possible effects of intraspecific competition on growth and development of larvae in the laboratory. RESULTS: Intraspecific competition had important influence on growth and development of the larvae. High larval densities led to reduced growth and retarded development through interference, not through exploitative competition. All specimens were negatively affected by frequent encounters and the resulting disturbance. There were no dominant individuals able to grow and develop faster than the rest, at the expense of the others. CONCLUSION: Differences in life cycle length of Nemurella pictetii may result from different larval densities in different microhabitats and resultant different degrees of interference competition. Although competition alone probably does not cause splitting of populations into cohorts with different life cycle duration differences in size and development caused by other factors are certainly enhanced by intraspecific competition.

Australian Marsh Beetles (Coleoptera: Scirtidae). 9. The relations of Australasian Ypsiloncyphon species to their Asian congeners, additions, mainly to Petrocyphon and Prionocyphon, and a key to Australian genera of Scirtinae.

The endemic Australasian species of Ypsiloncyphon are the sister group of the combined Asian species groups 1, 2, and 4. The description of the type species, Y. chlorizans (Klausnitzer), is supplemented by details of male and female genitalia. New species are described and illustrated in several genera: Austrocyphon scissus n. sp., Leptocyphon abnormis n. sp., Petrocyphon bonang n. sp., P. lacteus n. sp., P. televisionarius n. sp., Prionocyphon bidentatus n. sp., P. cacatua n. sp., P. laurae n. sp., P. neboissi n. sp., P. serratus n. sp., P. uncatus n. sp., and P. urbanus n. sp. Genus Prionocyphon is distinguished from Oriental genera with similar antennal modifications. However, a synapomorphy of Prionocyphon as presently understood is not known. Supplementary information on various species in the aforementioned genera and in Pachycyphon and Calvarium is provided. A key to the genera of adult Australian Scirtidae: Scirtinae is presented.

Notes on Madagascan Stoneflies (Plecoptera: Notonemouridae).

Madagascar is inhabited by the single stonefly genus, Madenemura Paulian (= Tsaranemura Paulian, new synonymy). The original material of R. Paulian and the types of all nominal species proposed by him are lost. The type species, M. capuroni Paulian is distinct but material is presently not available. Madenemura andringitrensis Paulian (= M. perrieri Paulian, new synonymy), M. descarpentriesi Paulian, and M. culminalis Paulian are redescribed from subjectively identified fresh material. Madenemura pauliani new species is named from two females with overlong ovipositor. Madenemura bezanozano Paulian and M. stuckenbergi Paulian are doubtful species that cannot be recognized among the presently available material.

Plurimodal emergence and plurivoltinism of Central European populations of Nemurella pictetii (Plecoptera: Nemouridae).

Nemurella pictetii Klapálek, 1900 (Plecoptera: Nemouridae) has bi-or trimodal emergence patterns in Central Europe. The emergence threshold temperature is about 8°C. Egg development is direct. The slopes of regressions describing its temperature dependence do not differ significantly between English, Norwegian and German populations, but the intercepts (i.e., the incubation period at 0°C) do. Regular sampling of a benthic population near Schlitz, in Hesse, West Germany, showed that part of the offspring of the first emergence group grew quickly and produced a second emergence peak. The remaining offspring of the first generation grew more slowly and overwintered, together with the offspring of the second emergence peak. This population exhibits partial bivoltinism. The potential for bivoltinism was also shown in laboratory rearings of a German population at a constant 14°C: many eggs yielded normal adults after about 120 days. Larval growth rates were up to 2.2% body length day-1, much higher than for English Nemurella (unimodal emergence), or any other stonefly. The thermal sum (degree-days above 0°C) accumulated between the two emergence peaks, at the German sites studied, resembled cumulated degree-days in a laboratory culture. For an Austrian population with trimodal emergence, degree-days accumulated in the field were lower, suggesting a lower temperature demand and partial trivoltinism. This is the only case of confirmed plurivoltinism in Plecoptera. Nemurella pictetii seems to have lost seasonal life cycle cues, enabling the opportunistic use of favourable local conditions. Population synchrony appears to be regulated by the thermal demand for development and the emergence threshold temperature.

Australian marsh beetles (Coleoptera: Scirtidae). 6. Genera Calvarium Pic, Papuacyphon Zwick, and Ypsiloncyphon Klausnitzer.

The genus Calvarium Pic, 1918 is for the first time recorded from Australia. Six new Australian species are named and described. Calvarium australiense n. sp. and C. superbum n. sp. from the Northern Territory are typical representatives of the genus. A new subgenus, Calvariellum n. subgen., is proposed for four species from NE Queensland which share general body structure with other Calvarium species but have different, less derived male genitalia: Calvarium (Calvariellum) bellendenker n. sp., C. (Calvariellum) cochlearifer n. sp., C. (Calvariellum) hamifer n. sp., and C. (Calvariellum) lancifer n. sp. Papuacyphon darwini n. sp. is described from SW Australia. The genus was previously known only from Papua New Guinea. Species Group 3 of the genus Ypsiloncyphon Klausnitzer, 2009 is first recorded from Australia. It is endemic to the Australasian region. The Australian species Y. angustus n. sp., Y. brevis n. sp., Y. katherinae n. sp., Y. longus n. sp., Y. pusillus n. sp., Y. velatus n. sp., and Y. virgulifer n. sp. are described, the New Guinean species Y. micans (Klausnitzer, 1973) (= Cyphon paramicans Klausnitzer, 1973, n. syn.), Y. mutilatus n. sp., Y. ruficollis n. sp., and Y. rugosus n. sp. are described or redescribed from types, respectively. Three Australian species known only in the female sex are described under informal designations.