Nine species of Parasesarma are currently recorded from continental Australian mangroves. The present study describes a new species, P. otiense sp. nov., from Western Australia. Parasesarma otiense sp. nov. occurs sympatrically with P. hartogi and P. holthuisi in the mangroves of Exmouth Gulf. In both COX1 and 16SBI trees, the new species is well nested within Parasesarma, but divergent from other species. Morphologically, the new species is distinct from other Parasesarma in having eight asymmetric tubercles with the distal slope longer than the proximal slope on the upper surface of the cheliped dactylus. Parasesarma otiense is the tenth species of Parasesarma recorded from continental Australia, taking the number of species assigned to the genus Parasesarma to 59. A key to the species of Parasesarma known from Australian waters is provided to aid in their identification.

Aextoxicola Tello & Tello-Arriagada, gen. nov., with its type species Aextoxicola pilolcurensis Tello & Tello-Arriagada, sp. nov., a new South American genus and species of the family Biphyllidae, are described from the Valdivian rainforest in Chile. The morphological characters are illustrated and compared with morphologically similar extant and extinct genera. Finally, a key for genera of Biphyllidae recorded in Chile is provided.

Twenty-two new species of Panabachia Park (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae: Brachyglutini: Brachyglutina), are described from montane forest and páramo habitats of Ecuador: Panabachia pahuma sp. nov., P. trifecta sp. nov., P. inornata sp. nov., P. amica sp. nov., P. winku sp. nov., P. ayauma sp. nov., P. pastazae sp. nov., P. romeroi sp. nov., P. uktu sp. nov., P. salebrosa sp. nov., P. urbana sp. nov., P. carltoni sp. nov., P. falini sp. nov., P. papallacta sp. nov., P. ananay sp. nov., P. cayambi sp. nov., P. cryptica sp. nov., P. caranqui sp. nov., P. patera sp. nov., P. vigilans sp. nov., P. perdita sp. nov., and P. ambulans sp. nov. Only two species of the genus have been previously described, from Panamanian and Guatemalan lowlands. But, based on unpublished records, the genus is now known to occur from Mexico to Bolivia, and includes several additional undescribed species. These new species exhibit important variability in the diversity in male secondary sexual characters. Images of the habitus, key characters and aedeagus are provided for the new species.

Female genital diversity and co-evolution of female and male genitalia have been increasingly unveiled, particularly through recent studies. These findings highlight the importance of genital coupling in genital studies. In this pilot study, I examined membranous elements of female and male genitalia that come into physical contact during copulation in five representative species of shining leaf beetles by employing stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The female genital surfaces are largely smooth, but a thickened sensilla-bearing patch is present. In contrast, the male surfaces are at least partially covered with microprotrusions. I present distribution maps of these microstructures for all study species. By comparing the results with those of previous studies, I discuss their possible functions and future research directions in this field.

Five subfamilies within Chrysomelidae (leaf beetles) have larvae that retain their feces as a coat or armor which serves for thermoregulation, camouflage, or barrier to enemies. The construction, retention and repair of these fecal structures are associated with specialized larval morphologies in the tortoise beetles (subfamily Cassidinae) and in the Cryptocephalinae + Lamprosomatinae (Camptosomata), but morphology associated with fecal encrustations on larvae in the Blepharida-group flea beetles (Galerucinae: Alticini) and in Criocerinae have not been examined. Experiments with live larvae of Podontiaquatuordecimpunctata (L., 1767) (or sineguelas leaf beetle, SLB; Blepharida group) reveal the anus opens dorsally and deposits feces directly to the larva’s dorsum; the armor is maintained and is reconstructed. Scanning electron microscopy reveals integumental microtrichia that presumably hold on the feces. This invasive beetle has become an introduced tree-crop pest in the Philippines, so ongoing research seeks to mitigate its population. Insecticidal chemical assays show that fecal armor does not fully protect SLB larvae but delays potency slightly. The study recommends rotating the insecticides (Imidacloprid, Cypermethrin, and Buprofezin) to prevent the development of resistance. Specialized morphology for fecal retention is known in Cassidinae, Camptosomata and is now documented in the Blepharida group. Such morphology and the fecal-building behavior can offer additional phylogenetic information for these beetles.

Research on Chrysomelidae 10 Editorial

This study describes two new species of the genus Nephrotoma Meigen, 1803 from Northwest China, N.furvligulatasp. nov. and N.palaceasp. nov., with full descriptions and illustrations. It also records N.lunulicornis (Schummel, 1833) for the first time in China. Updated descriptions and illustrations are also provided for three previously known species, N.geniculata Yang & Yang, 1987, N.joneensis Yang & Yang, 1990, and N.ligulata Alexander, 1925, incorporating new morphological details. An identification key to all Nephrotoma species currently recorded in Northwest China is included to facilitate further research.

Leaf-cutter ant nests attract a wide variety of guests and parasites due to considerable food resources, substrate and shelter available within nests. Limited information is known about their taxonomy, bionomics, and natural history, including interactions with the ants, and degree of host specificity of these symbionts. Here we describe two new species of Szelenyiopria Fabritius, 1974 (Diapriidae, Diapriinae, Diapriini) wasps which are koinobiont endoparasitoids of the larvae of a leaf-cutter ant, Acromyrmex coronatus (Fabricius, 1804) (Myrmicinae, Attini) in Chiriquí, Panama. For both new Szelenyiopria species, S. fortunensis Araúz & Fernández-Marín, sp. nov. and S. chiriquiensis Araúz & Fernández-Marín, sp. nov., we provide information on parasite-host interactions. The most abundant and frequent parasitoid type was solitary, while gregarious parasitoidism, where two or more wasps emerged from a single ant larva, was associated with certain times of the year. We provide an updated key to females of all species of Szelenyiopria, their geographic distribution, and host-parasite interactions. Szelenyiopria previously had been identified as parasitoids of several ant genera including some Acromyrmex species, but our data indicate that some species of Szelenyiopria may be specialized on A. coronatus ants. Rates of parasitism suggest that the wasps have a negative effect on colonies and populations of the ants.

A taxonomic reassessment of Pseudophoxinus populations in the upper Jordan River basin has revealed that specimens previously identified as Pseudophoxinus kervillei actually represent an undescribed species. In addition, earlier taxonomic revisions have shown that P. kervillei is a junior synonym of P. libani and should no longer be regarded as a valid species. In this study, we formally describe the newly recognized species as Pseudophoxinus galilaeus sp. nov. Pseudophoxinus galilaeus sp. nov. is characterized by 39-44 scales along the mid-lateral row, 13-17 pored lateral line scales, and 20-23 predorsal scales. It has 4-5 gill rakers on the lower arch of the first gill, with two being notably short. The species possesses 33-34 vertebrae; its dorsal fin originates at vertebrae 12 or 13, and its anal fin commonly originates at vertebra 19, occasionally extending to vertebra 20 or 21. Pseudophoxinus galilaeus sp. nov. inhabits ponds, lakes, and rivers with slow to moderate currents. A unique DNA barcoding signature (mtDNA COI) revealed that it differs from any other previously bar-coded Pseudophoxinus species. In phylogenetic analyses, it clustered with the Pseudophoxinus species from neighboring countries in the Levant region, suggesting a common ancestor for these species. This analysis shows that sequences of P. kervillei from Turkey differ from P. libani from Lebanon and Syria. Further morphological examination is needed to determine the status of the species.

Three new species of the genus Parandes Muir, 1925 (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Cixiidae, Andini), P.elongatus Lv & Chen, sp. nov., P.guangxiensis Lv & Chen, sp. nov. and P.hamatus Lv & Chen, sp. nov., are described and illustrated from Southwest China (Yunnan and Guangxi) to give the genus six species in total. An updated identification key and checklist to all known species of Parandes are provided, as well as a map of their geographic distributions.