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The thread-legged bug genus Onychomesa Wygodzinsky 1966 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae: Emesini, formerly Metapterini) and its three described species are reviewed. The Sri Lankan species Ischnonyctes alatus Distant 1903 is resurrected from the synonymy with Schidium marcidum (Uhler, 1896) and transferred to Onychomesa, and O. susainathani Wygodzinsky, 1966 is considered a junior synonym of this species, resulting in the following taxonomic changes: O. alata (Distant 1903), stat. rev. et comb. nov. = O. susainathani Wygodzinsky 1966, syn. nov. The lectotype of I. alatus is designated. A new species, O. schuhi Chen et Cai, sp. nov., is described from Hainan Island, southern China. An updated key to the species of Onychomesa is provided. The species is registered in ZooBank (http://zoobank.org/8F582127-631F-4CD9-9E02-C3CD14AA52DC). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species, Momonides neolandbergi Li & Guo sp. nov. is described in detail, which is the fifth species all over the world in Momonidinae Lundblad, 1941, Momoniidae K. Viets, 1926. The family and subfamily are newly recorded for Chinese fauna. The new species are recorded by camera, optical microscope, and scanning electron microscope. Publication:New species: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previously, only three species of the genus Neurigona Rondani of the subfamily Neurigoninae were known from Yunnan Province. Here, we reviewed the species of Neurigona from Yunnan and added the following seven new species: N. apicilata sp. nov., N. basicurva sp. nov., N. brevidigitata sp. nov., N. convexa sp. nov., N. huanglianshana sp. nov., N. quadrimaculata sp. nov., and N. ventriprocessa sp. nov. All seven new species are sympatric and were collected from below a reservoir in the Huanglianshan Nature Reserve in Yunnan using three Malaise traps in 2019. This suggests a very high species richness in the Yunnan fauna. A key to the species of Neurigona from Chinese mainland is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhagophthalmus Motschulsky, 1854 is the most speciose genus in Rhagophthalmidae, distributed in the region encompassing South, East, and Southeast Asia. Here, we describe R. nanus sp. nov. from the Houaphanh Province of eastern Laos, which represents the smallest known species in Rhagophthalmus and one of the smallest in Rhagophthalmidae. We compare it with the morphologically similar and geographically close congeners and provide a preliminary identification key to adult males of Rhagophthalmus species from mainland Southeast Asia. Additionally, we discuss the morphology and variability of male genitalia within Rhagophthalmus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The assassin bug subfamily Stenopodainae is the fifth largest group of Reduviidae, with about 770 valid species known worldwide. Many taxa of Stenopodainae have been poorly studied and are therefore in need of revision. Argolis Stål, 1861 is a medium-sized genus of Stenopodainae with native species occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. The Asian fauna of Argolis is revised in this study, resulting in the recognition of two species, and the Oriental genera Bardesanes Distant, 1909 and Neoklugia Distant, 1919 are here considered junior synonyms of Argolis. Taxonomic changes are proposed accordingly in the present study, and the significant sexual dimorphism, systematic relationships, and distribution of Argolis are also discussed. The assassin bug genus Argolis Stål, 1861 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Stenopodainae) has a disjunct distribution in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. In the present study, the Asian species of Argolis are revised. Two species are recognized, redescribed, and illustrated, with the following new subjective synonyms and new combination proposed: Argolis Stål, 1861 = Bardesanes Distant, 1909, syn. nov. = Neoklugia Distant, 1919, syn. nov.; A. farinator (Reuter, 1882) = N. typica Distant, 1919, syn. nov. = B. sericenotatus Livingstone & Ravichandran, 1989, syn. nov.; A. signata (Distant, 1909), comb. nov. (transferred from Bardesanes) = Caunus noctulus Hsiao, 1977, syn. nov. Lectotypes for C. farinator, B. signatus, and N. typica are designated. A key to separate the two Asian species of Argolis is provided. The sexual dimorphism, systematic relationships, and distribution of Argolis are discussed. Argolis is newly recorded from Laos, Pakistan, and Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The species belonging to the Strongylophthalmyia coarctata subgroup of the S. punctata group (Diptera: Brachycera: Strongylophthalmyiidae) from China are reviewed. Six species are recognized, including three new species: S. corniculata sp. nov., S. flagellicornis sp. nov., and S. tangwangana sp. nov. Strongylophthalmyia narwhal Evenhuis, 2020 and S. raricornis Shatalkin, 1981 are recorded from China for the first time, and S. raricornis is also recorded from South Korea for the first time. An identification key to the Asian species of the S. coarctata subgroup is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The Republic of India is a tropical megadiverse country, encompassing four global biodiversity hot-spots and harboring 1379 butterfly species within its borders. Despite a long history of documenting Indian biodiversity, there are extremely few quantitative studies that have analyzed species-richness patterns within the country. We capitalized on the division of the country into 36 federal states and territories, and compiled and revised per-states butterfly checklists. Then, we analyzed the species-richness patterns, as well as the richness of endemic species and the numbers of species belonging to main biogeographic elements with respect to geography, climate, land covers and socioeconomic conditions of the administrative units. Such common macroecological predictors as area, latitude and land covers diversity did not affect the species richness, whereas the topographic diversity and energy availability had major effects. This is due to the peculiar biogeography of India, i.e., the peninsula narrowing towards the Equator, being isolated from the northern mainland by high mountains, and connected to species-rich eastern regions by only a narrow conduit. In multiple regression models, geographic variables were the strongest predictors of species-richness patterns, followed by climate and land covers. Our approach can be used as an initial step toward understanding distribution patterns in those regions of the world, for which detailed distribution data are not yet available but checklists per administrative units exist. Butterflies are widely used to analyze biogeographical patterns, both at the global and regional scales. Thus far, most of the latter originated from well-surveyed northern regions, while the species-rich tropical areas lag due to a lack of appropriate data. We used checklists of 1379 butterfly species recorded in 36 federal states of the Republic of India (1) to explore the basic macroecological rules, and (2) to relate species richness and the distribution of endemics and geographic elements to geography, climate, land covers and socioeconomic conditions of the states. The area, land covers diversity and latitude did not affect species richness, whereas topographic diversity and the precipitation/temperature ratio (energy availability) were positive predictors. This is due the geographic and climatic idiosyncrasies of the Indian subcontinent, with its highest species richness in the small, densely forested mountainous northeast that receives summer monsoons. The peninsular effect that decreases the richness towards the tip of subcontinent is counterbalanced by the mountainous forested Western Ghats. Afrotropical elements are associated with savannahs, while Palearctic elements are associated with treeless habitats. The bulk of Indian butterfly richness, and the highest conservation priorities, overlap with global biodiversity hotspots, but the mountainous states of the Western Himalayas and the savannah states of peninsular India host distinctive faunas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ant genus Temnothorax Mayr, 1861 (Myrmicinae, Crematogastrini) is diverse with 498 species described. Species are distributed predominately within the northern hemisphere with species richness decreasing closer to the tropics; contrary to other ant genera overall. In Southeast Asia, richness is relatively low and knowledge on the genus remains fragmentary, likely due to poor sampling efforts compared to temperate regions. Here, using specimens from recent sampling efforts, Temnothorax is reported for the first time from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Two new species, T. barrettoi Hamer & Guénard sp. nov. and T. haveni Lee, Hamer & Guénard sp. nov., are described based on qualitive morphological characters, with additional morphometric data also gathered. An updated key, as well as a distributional checklist of Temnothorax species from mainland China is provided. We suggest that the two new species are likely arboreal based on our collections, however, further arboreal sampling is necessary to confirm this hypothesis. We hope this study may spurn effort to generate further information on sub-tropical Chinese Temnothorax species.

The assassin bug genus Argolis Stål, 1861 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Stenopodainae) has a disjunct distribution in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. In the present study, the Asian species of Argolis are revised. Two species are recognized, redescribed, and illustrated, with the following new subjective synonyms and new combination proposed: Argolis Stål, 1861 = Bardesanes Distant, 1909, syn. nov. = Neoklugia Distant, 1919, syn. nov.; A. farinator (Reuter, 1882) = N. typica Distant, 1919, syn. nov. = B. sericenotatus Livingstone & Ravichandran, 1989, syn. nov.; A. signata (Distant, 1909), comb. nov. (transferred from Bardesanes) = Caunus noctulus Hsiao, 1977, syn. nov. Lectotypes for C. farinator, B. signatus, and N. typica are designated. A key to separate the two Asian species of Argolis is provided. The sexual dimorphism, systematic relationships, and distribution of Argolis are discussed. Argolis is newly recorded from Laos, Pakistan, and Vietnam.

Butterflies are widely used to analyze biogeographical patterns, both at the global and regional scales. Thus far, most of the latter originated from well-surveyed northern regions, while the species-rich tropical areas lag due to a lack of appropriate data. We used checklists of 1379 butterfly species recorded in 36 federal states of the Republic of India (1) to explore the basic macroecological rules, and (2) to relate species richness and the distribution of endemics and geographic elements to geography, climate, land covers and socioeconomic conditions of the states. The area, land covers diversity and latitude did not affect species richness, whereas topographic diversity and the precipitation/temperature ratio (energy availability) were positive predictors. This is due the geographic and climatic idiosyncrasies of the Indian subcontinent, with its highest species richness in the small, densely forested mountainous northeast that receives summer monsoons. The peninsular effect that decreases the richness towards the tip of subcontinent is counterbalanced by the mountainous forested Western Ghats. Afrotropical elements are associated with savannahs, while Palearctic elements are associated with treeless habitats. The bulk of Indian butterfly richness, and the highest conservation priorities, overlap with global biodiversity hotspots, but the mountainous states of the Western Himalayas and the savannah states of peninsular India host distinctive faunas.

Two new species, Helochares guoi Yang & Jia, sp. nov. and Helochares distinctus Jia & Tang, sp. nov., are described. Two species are recorded for the first time from China: Helochares negatus Hebauer, 1995 from Yunnan, and Helochares minusculus d'Orchymont, 1943 from Guangdong. Additional faunistic data from China are provided for the following species: Helochares hainanensis Dong & Bian, 2021, Helochares nipponicus Hebauer, 1995, Helochares sauteri d'Orchymont, 1943, Helochares densus Sharp, 1890, Helochares lentus Sharp, 1890, Helochares neglectus (Hope, 1854) and Helochares anchoralis Sharp, 1890. The Chinese fauna of Helochares comprises 16 species, 11 of which are illustrated in this contribution. Helochares crenatus Régimbart, 1921 is removed from the Chinese fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a demographic history of China in the last glacial cycle. This history is complex because China lies in both the Palearctic and Oriental biographic realms, and experienced several immigration events before H. sapiens. Immigration by our species into the Oriental Realm of south China from southeast Asia probably began as early as 80,000 years ago. North China has a different history: here, humans immigrated from Mongolia and southern Siberia ca. 45,000 years ago as part of a cold-adapted Palearctic fauna. These populations were largely independent of one another, and each needs to be seen as part of their respective biogeographic realms. The subsequent demographic history of China is one of mixing and inter-breeding of populations from both north and south China. In the LGM, north China (and Mongolia) were largely depopulated, and subsequent recolonization of north China occurred from both the north and the south. Explanations of the demographic history of China have to include developments beyond its borders, immigration, assimilation of new populations, and continuity of local groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The south-east coastal area of Fujian, China, belongs to the Oriental Realm, and is characterized by a high insect species richness. In this work, a new species of Hymenopteran parasitoid, Glyptapanteles gigas Liang & Song, sp. nov. found in Jinjiang within hosts of caterpillars Macrobrochis gigas (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), is described and illustrated, with differences from similar species. Additionally, we presumed that both parasitoid and host species play very important role in the coevolution and tritrophic interaction between plants, phytophagous insects, and their parasitoids, because these insects probably broke the sporangia and made contributions to their colonization, or some spores were spread for long distances by adult moths after their emergence, or some parasitoids were attracted by the eggs and larvae of these caterpillars, which was also thought to be helpful to spread of spores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previously, only three species of the genus Neurigona Rondani of the subfamily Neurigoninae were known from Yunnan Province. Here, we reviewed the species of Neurigona from Yunnan and added the following seven new species: N.apicilata sp. nov. , N.basicurva sp. nov. , N.brevidigitata sp. nov. , N.convexa sp. nov. , N.huanglianshana sp. nov. , N.quadrimaculata sp. nov. , and N.ventriprocessa sp. nov. All seven new species are sympatric and were collected from below a reservoir in the Huanglianshan Nature Reserve in Yunnan using three Malaise traps in 2019. This suggests a very high species richness in the Yunnan fauna. A key to the species of Neurigona from Chinese mainland is provided., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Chen Lin, Mengqing Wang, Ding Yang.)

Caeculisoma semispinus Xu & Jin sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on larvae ectoparasitic on Typhlocybinae (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) from Chongqing Municipality, Hubei Province and Hunan Province, China. A key to the larval species of the genus Caeculisoma of the world is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper opens a series of additions to a recently published review of the Oriental genus Clytellus Westwood, 1853. The following species are described as new: C. waterstradti sp. n., C. periculosus sp. n. (both Brunei), C. sarawakiensis sp. n. (Malaysia, Sarawak), C. hefferni sp. n., C. jenisi sp. n. (both Malaysia, Sabah), C. lingafelteri sp. n. (Philippines), and C. javanus sp. n. (Indonesia, Java). The previously unknown males of C. tatianae Miroshnikov, 2014 and C. monilis Holzschuh, 2011, both characterized by some external sexual features missing in the females, are also described. The records of the former species of these two in Brunei, of C. malayanus Hayashi, 1977, in Java, and of C. methocoides Westwood, 1853, in the extreme north of Jiangxi Province, China not only significantly extend the known distribution ranges of those species, but also the reports of two latter taxa, together with that of C. javanus sp. n., considerably enlarge the distribution area of the entire genus both to the south and north. The previous record of C. malayanus in Borneo is confirmed. Some morphological features of certain populations in the Philippine C. benguetanus Schultze, 1920, in particular, from the Sibuyan Island (Romblon Province), are revealed, and a range of general individual variability in this species is outlined. Additional material of C. methocoides from Hong Kong and Jiujiang City shows a coloration typical of the Chinese populations, as described earlier by the author

Rhagophthalmus Motschulsky, 1854 is the most speciose genus in Rhagophthalmidae, distributed in the region encompassing South, East, and Southeast Asia. Here, we describe R.nanus sp. nov. from the Houaphanh Province of eastern Laos, which represents the smallest known species in Rhagophthalmus and one of the smallest in Rhagophthalmidae. We compare it with the morphologically similar and geographically close congeners and provide a preliminary identification key to adult males of Rhagophthalmus species from mainland Southeast Asia. Additionally, we discuss the morphology and variability of male genitalia within Rhagophthalmus ., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Gabriela Packova, Robin Kundrata.)

The species belonging to the Strongylophthalmyiacoarctata subgroup of the S.punctata group (Diptera: Brachycera: Strongylophthalmyiidae) from China are reviewed. Six species are recognized, including three new species: S.corniculata sp. nov. , S.flagellicornis sp. nov. , and S.tangwangana sp. nov. Strongylophthalmyianarwhal Evenhuis, 2020 and S.raricornis Shatalkin, 1981 are recorded from China for the first time, and S.raricornis is also recorded from South Korea for the first time. An identification key to the Asian species of the S.coarctata subgroup is provided., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Jiale Zhou, Neal L. Evenhuis, Ding Yang.)

Teloganopsis puigae n. sp., a new species of Ephemerellidae from a Dipterocarpacea forest of Borneo, is described. Teloganopsis was considered as a monotypic genus for a long time, but a recent new systematic concept reveals that it encompasses 14 species. In order to know the phylogenetic position of Teloganopsis puigae n. sp. within the Teloganopsis genus, a cladistic analysis is also performed. Teloganopsis maculocaudata (Ikonomov, 1961) is removed from synonymy with T. mesoleuca (Brauer, 1857). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The distributions of Chinese spiders are used to form biotic regions and to infer biogeographical patterns. Location China. Methods China was initially divided into 294 quadrats of 2° latitude by 2° longitude. The distributions of 958 species of spiders were summarized for each quadrat. Subsequently, these quadrats were pooled into 28 areas based on topographical characteristics and to a lesser extent on the distributions of spiders. Parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE) was used to classify the 28 areas based on the shared distributional patterns of spiders. Results China was found to have seven major biogeographical regions based on the distributional patterns of spiders: Western Northern region (clade B2: Tibetan Plateau and Inner Mongolia-Xinjiang subregions), Central Northern region (clade B3), Eastern Northern region (clade B4), Central region (clade C2), Eastern Southern region (clade C3), Western Southern region (clade C4), and Central Southern region (clade C5). Main conclusions The distributional patterns of Chinese spiders correspond broadly to geological provinces. A comparison of the geological provinces and the distributional patterns of spiders reveals that the spiders occur south of the geological provinces. Furthermore, a general biogeographical classification with five natural areas is suggested as follows: Tibetan Plateau, Central Northern, Eastern Northern, Western Northern (excluding Tibetan Plateau), and Southern regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species, Helocharesguoi Yang & Jia, sp. nov. and Helocharesdistinctus Jia & Tang, sp. nov. , are described. Two species are recorded for the first time from China: Helocharesnegatus Hebauer, 1995 from Yunnan, and Helocharesminusculus d'Orchymont, 1943 from Guangdong. Additional faunistic data from China are provided for the following species: Helochareshainanensis Dong & Bian, 2021, Helocharesnipponicus Hebauer, 1995, Helocharessauteri d'Orchymont, 1943, Helocharesdensus Sharp, 1890, Helochareslentus Sharp, 1890, Helocharesneglectus (Hope, 1854) and Helocharesanchoralis Sharp, 1890. The Chinese fauna of Helochares comprises 16 species, 11 of which are illustrated in this contribution. Helocharescrenatus Régimbart, 1921 is removed from the Chinese fauna., (Zhenming Yang, Fenglong Jia, Yudan Tang, Lu Jiang.)

The south-east coastal area of Fujian, China, belongs to the Oriental Realm, and is characterized by a high insect species richness. In this work, a new species of Hymenopteran parasitoid, Glyptapanteles gigas Liang & Song, sp. nov. found in Jinjiang within hosts of caterpillars Macrobrochis gigas (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), is described and illustrated, with differences from similar species. Additionally, we presumed that both parasitoid and host species play very important role in the coevolution and tritrophic interaction between plants, phytophagous insects, and their parasitoids, because these insects probably broke the sporangia and made contributions to their colonization, or some spores were spread for long distances by adult moths after their emergence, or some parasitoids were attracted by the eggs and larvae of these caterpillars, which was also thought to be helpful to spread of spores., (Ciding Lu, Jinhan Tang, Wanying Dong, Youjun Zhou, Xinmin Gai, Haoyu Lin, Dongbao Song, Guanghong Liang.)

The diversity of Diplopoda in caves of southern China is remarkably high, often 5-6 species per cave, consisting mostly of local endemics and presumed troglobionts. These are evidently biased to just a few lineages, mainly members of the orders Chordeumatida and Callipodida, the families Cambalopsidae (Spirostreptida) and Haplodesmidae (Polydesmida) or the genera Pacidesmus, Epanerchodus and Glenniea (all Polydesmida, Polydesmidae), Trichopeltis (Polydesmida, Cryptodesmidae), Dexmoxytes (Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae) and Hyleoglomeris (Glomerida, Glomeridae). All these taxa, especially the Paradoxosomatidae and Cambalopsidae (usually amounting to about 60% and 10% of the total species diversity in the Oriental fauna, respectively), are moderately to highly speciose across Southeast Asia, being largely epigean. However, the epigean Diplopoda of southern China are yet badly understudied, since much of the collecting and taxonomic exploration efforts still focus on cavernicoles. The Oriental Region is the only biogeographic realm globally that harbours all 16 orders of Diplopoda, of which 14 have already been encountered in China and/or the immediately adjacent parts of Indochina. Thus, China may actually prove to support no less than 1,000 millipede species of various origins, mainly Oriental and Palaearctic.