The fast-running flies (Diptera, Hybotidae, Tachydromiinae) of Singapore and adjacent regions

This is the first comprehensive introduction to the flies of the subfamily Tachydromiinae (Hybotidae) of Singapore. The monograph summarizes all publications on the Tachydromiinae of Singapore and includes new data resulting from mass-trapping surveys made in Singapore during the last six years. A few samples from Malaysia (Johor province, Pulau Tioman and Langkawi) have been also included in this study. In Singapore the Tachydromiinae are the most diverse group of Empidoidea (except Dolichopodidae) and currently comprise 85 species belonging to the following nine genera: Platypalpus (1), Tachydromia (1), Chersodromia (6), Pontodromia (1), Drapetis (5), Elaphropeza (60), Crossopalpus (1), Nanodromia (3) and Stilpon (7). All species are diagnosed and illustrated. The following 28 species are described as new for science: Chersodromia bulohensis sp. nov. (Singapore), C. glandula sp. nov. (Singapore, Malaysia), C. malaysiana sp. nov. (Singapore, Malaysia), C. pasir sp. nov. (Malaysia), C. sylvicola sp. nov. (Singapore), C. tiomanensis sp. nov. (Malaysia), Crossopalpus temasek sp. nov. (Singapore), Drapetis bakau sp. nov. (Singapore, Malaysia), D. hutan sp. nov. (Singapore), D. laut sp. nov. (Singapore, Malaysia), D. mandai sp. nov. (Singapore), D. pantai sp. nov. (Singapore, Malaysia), Elaphropeza chanae sp. nov. (Singapore), E. collini sp. nov. (Singapore), E. gohae sp. nov. (Singapore), E. kranjiensis sp. nov. (Singapore), E. lowi sp. nov. (Singapore), E. semakau sp. nov. (Singapore), E. shufenae sp. nov. (Singapore), Nanodromia hutan sp. nov. (Singapore), N. spinulosa sp. nov. (Singapore), Platypalpus singaporensis sp. nov. (Singapore), Pontodromia pantai sp. nov. (Singapore), Stilpon arcuatum sp. nov. (Singapore), S. neesoonensis sp. nov. (Singapore), S. nigripennis sp. nov. (Singapore), S. singaporensis sp. nov. (Singapore), S. weilingae sp. nov. (Singapore). A redescription is given for Crossopalpus exul (Osten-Sacken, 1882) (Taiwan). Males of Elaphropeza feminata Shamshev & Grootaert, 2007 and E. modesta Shamshev & Grootaert, 2007 as well as females of Elaphropeza ubinensis Shamshev & Grootaert, 2007 and Nanodromia narmkroi Grootaert & Shamshev, 2003 are described for the first time. Keys to genera and species, which are generally applicable to the whole of Southeast Asia, are compiled. An analysis of the species ecological preferenda is presented

Ichneumonid wasps from Madagascar. VI. The genus Pristomerus (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Cremastinae)

Pristomerus species of Madagascar are revised. We report 15 species, of which 12 are newly described: P. guinness sp. nov., P. hansoni sp. nov., P. kelikely sp. nov., P. keyka sp. nov., P. moramora sp. nov., P. melissa sp. nov., P. patator sp. nov., P. ranomafana sp. nov., P. roberti sp. nov., P. vahaza sp. nov., P. veloma sp. nov. and P. yago sp. nov. Pristomerus albescens (Morley) and P. cunctator Tosquinet are newly recorded from Madagascar and new host and/or distribution records are provided for this species. A dichotomous key to all species is provided. The zoogeographical relation of the Malagasy fauna of Pristomerus with respect to mainland Africa is discussed: only three of the 15 species are reported to occur outside of Madagascar, suggesting a high level of endemism in Madagascar which was not unexpected

Revision of the South African endemic bee genus Redivivoides Michener, 1981 (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Melittidae)

The South African endemic bee genus Redivivoides Michener, 1981 is revised and redefined. The genus comprises seven species, six of which are described here as new: Redivivoides capensis sp. nov. ♀♂, R. eardleyi sp. nov. ♀, R. kamieskroonensis sp. nov. ♀, R. karooensis sp. nov. ♀♂, R. namaquaensis sp. nov. ♀♂ and R. variabilis sp. nov. ♀♂. A key to species is provided

Four new species of the feather mite genus Sokoloviana Dubinin, 1951 (Pterolichoidea; Ptiloxenidae) from waders (Charadriiformes; Charadrii)

Es werden vier neue Arten der Gattung Sokoloviana (Pterolichoidea; Ptiloxenidae) von Vögeln der Unterordnung Charadrii (Charadriiformes) beschrieben: Sokoloviana cornuta sp. nov. von Schlammstelzer C/adorhynchus leucocephalus; Sokoloviana ibidorhynchae sp. nov. von Ibisschnabel Ibidorhyncha strutersi; Sokoloviana chilensis sp. nov. von Cayannekiebitz Vanellus chilensis und Sokoloviana vanelli sp. nov. von Rotlappenkiebitz Vanellus indicus atronuchalis. Für alle bisher beschriebenen Arten wird ein Bestimmungsschlüssel aufgestellt.Four new species of the genus Sokoloviana (Pterolichoidea; Ptiloxenidae) from waders suborder Charadrii (Charadriiformes) are described: Sokoloviana cornuta sp. nov. from the Banded Stilt, Cladorhynchus leucocephalus; Sokoloviana ibidorhynchae sp. nov. from the Ibis-bill, Ibidorhyncha strutersi; Sokoloviana chilensis sp. nov. from the Southern Lapwing, Vanellus chilensis and Sokoloviana vanelli sp. nov. from the Red-wattled Lapwing, Vanellus indicus atronuchalis. A key to all described species is given

Description of eight new species of the traumatically inseminating plant bug genus Coridromius (Heteroptera: Miridae: Orthotylinae: Coridromini)

Eight new species of the plant bug genus Coridromius are described: C. basilanus sp. nov. from the Philippines, C. eremnos sp. nov. from Sabah, Malaysia, C. fomangsu sp. nov. and C. tafo sp. nov. from Ghana, C. norfolkensis sp. nov. from Norfolk Island, Australia, C. mulu sp. nov. from Sarawak, Malaysia, C. macchabeeus sp. nov. from Mauritius, and C. taravao sp. nov. from Tahiti, French Polynesia

East African pholcid spiders: an overview, with descriptions of eight new species (Araneae, Pholcidae)

This paper summarizes current knowledge about East African pholcids. East Africa is defined as the area from 12°S to 5°N and from 28° to 42°E, including all of Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, and Tanzania. An annotated list of the 15 genera and 87 species recorded from this area is given, together with distribution maps and an identification key to genera. Most East African species (90%) belong to one of only six genera: Buitinga Huber, 2003 (21 species); Smeringopus Simon, 1890 (18); Pholcus Walckenaer, 1805 (17); Spermophora Hentz, 1841 (12); Leptopholcus Simon, 1893 (5) and Quamtana Huber, 2003 (4). Eight species for which DNA sequence data have been published recently are newly described: Buitinga batwa sp. nov., B. wataita sp. nov., Spermophora mau sp. nov., S. maathaiae sp. nov., S. bukusu sp. nov., S. kirinyaga sp. nov., S. kyambura sp. nov. and Quamtana nyahururu sp. nov. Crossopriza johncloudsleyi Deeleman-Reinhold & van Harten, 2001, previously only known from Yemen, is redescribed based on specimens from Kenya. Additional new records are given for 21 previously described species

Ostracods (Crustacea) associated with microbialites across the Permian-Triassic boundary in Dajiang (Guizhou Province, South China)

26 samples were processed for a taxonomic study of ostracods from the Upper Permian (Changhsingian) - Lower Triassic (Griesbachian) interval of the Dajiang section, Guizhou Province, South China. 112 species belonging to 27 genera are recognized. Five new species are described: Acratia candyae sp. nov, Bairdia adelineae sp. nov., Bairdia? huberti sp. nov., Bairdia jeromei sp. nov., Orthobairdia jeanlouisi sp. nov. The unexpected survival faunas associated with microbial formations in the aftermath of the end-Permian extinction are documented for the first time. Ostracod biodiversity variations and palaeo-environmental modifications associated with microbial growth through the Permian-Triassic boundary (PTB) are discussed

A nonet of novel species of Monanthotaxis (Annonaceae) from around Africa

As part of an ongoing revision of the genus Monanthotaxis Baill. (Annonaceae), nine new species are described and one variety is reinstated to species rank. Two new species from West Africa (Monanthotaxis aquila P.H. Hoekstra, sp. nov. and Monanthotaxis atewensis P.H. Hoekstra, sp. nov.), four new species from Central Africa (Monanthotaxis couvreurii P.H. Hoekstra, sp. nov., Monanthotaxis latistamina P.H. Hoekstra, sp. nov., Monanthotaxis tripetala P.H. Hoekstra, sp. nov. and Monanthotaxis zenkeri P.H. Hoekstra, sp. nov.), one new species from Tanzania (Monanthotaxis filipes P.H. Hoekstra, sp. nov.), one new species from the area around Maputo (Monanthotaxis maputensis P.H. Hoekstra, sp. nov.), one new species from the Comoro Islands (Monanthotaxis komorensis P.H. Hoekstra, sp. nov.) and Monanthotaxis klainei (Engl.) Verdc. var. angustifolia (Boutique) Verdc. is raised to species level leading to the replacement name Monanthotaxis atopostema P.H. Hoekstra, nom. nov. (not Monanthotaxis angustifolia (Exell) Verdc.). Complete descriptions, comparisons with related species, ecological information and IUCN conservation assessments are given for the new species. Five species were classified as critical endangered, two species as endangered, one as vulnerable and one as least concern, warranting the need of further collecting and studying those species

Scolopendrellidae (Myriapoda, Symphyla) from the Afrotropics with descriptions of seven new species

Among the Scolopendrellidae belonging to the collection of Symphyla of the Royal Museum for Central Africa (Tervuren, Belgium), ten species were found and seven new species are described: Symphylella erecta sp. nov., S. fuko sp. nov., S. kalundu sp. nov., S. lubumbashi sp. nov., S. malagassa sp. nov., S. tanganyika sp. nov. and Remysymphyla spinosa sp. nov. SEM micrographs and additional information of the new species and also of Remysymphyla hova Aubry & Masson, 1952, Ribautiella zagnanadina Brölemann, 1926 and R. schoutedeni Hinschberger, 1954 are provided, which contributes to an easier determination of the afrotropical scolopendrellid species. The diagnosis of the genus Remysymphyla is discussed

Recircumscription of the Nepenthes alata group (Caryophyllales: Nepenthaceae) in the Philippines : with four new species

An overview of Nepenthes in the Philippines is presented. Four new species, Nepenthes extincta sp. nov., N. kitanglad sp. nov., N. kurata sp. nov. and N. leyte sp. nov. are described and illustrated from the Philippines and placed in the Nepenthes alata group. An updated circumscription and key to the species of the group is provided. Delimitation and comparison with the Regiae group is given. All four of the newly described species are assessed as threatened using the International Union for the Conservation of Nature 2012 standard, and one, N. extincta sp. nov. is considered likely to be already extinct due to open-cast mining. Logging and conversion of forest habitat are thought to be the main threats to the other three species