A monogenean was discovered parasitizing the bladder of Hylarana maosonensis, an amphibian species that was not previously recorded in Yunnan Province, China. Through numerical taxonomy and comparative analysis, the monogenean was identified as a previously undescribed species of the genus Diplorchis within the family Polystomatidae and was named as Diplorchis yunnanensis Fan & Meng, sp. nov. Detail descriptions and illustrations are provided. The typical materials are deposited in the School of Life Sciences at Yunnan Normal University.

Global warming has emerged as the predominant trend in global climate change, with forecasts suggesting a rise in the occurrence and severity of extreme weather phenomena. As a result, ectothermic animals have become ideal model organisms for investigating the potential impacts of climate change on global biodiversity. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) is a widely used technique for gene expression analysis. However, stable reference genes suitable for accurate normalization of transcriptional data across lizard samples have not yet been established. In this study, three skink species—Scincella modesta, S. reevesii, and Ateuchosaurus chinensis—were selected as model organisms to evaluate the expression stability of eight candidate housekeeping genes (18S rRNA, EF1α, ACTB, GAPDH, HPRT1, YWHAZ, RPS15, and RPS18) under nine distinct temperature conditions (6°C, 10°C, 14°C, 18°C, 22°C, 25°C, 28°C, 32°C, and 36°C). The Delta Ct method, BestKeeper, NormFinder, GeNorm, and RefFinder were utilized to assess expression consistency and to identify the most suitable reference genes, as well as the ideal number needed for reliable normalization. The results indicated that under varying temperature conditions, the best-performing internal controls were RPS18 and RPS15 for S. modesta; RPS18 and EF1α for S. reevesii; and RPS15 and YWHAZ for A. chinensis. Furthermore, RPS18, RPS15, and EF1α were identified as a stable and commonly applicable set of internal controls for RT-qPCR normalization across all three skink species and are recommended as reliable reference genes for use in related lizards exposed to thermal stress.

In China, only one genus within the subfamily Masarinae was recorded. In this paper, the nominate genus of the subfamily, Masaris Fabricius, 1793, is newly recorded and described in detail from China, with the illustrations of the species Masaris longicornis (Kuznetzov, 1923). Meanwhile, some field observation records of M. longicornis are provided for the first time.

Three new species of the earthworm genus Amynthas Kinberg, 1867 (Clitellata: Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) are described from southern China using an integrative taxonomic approach, which combines morphological traits and molecular phylogenetic analyses of the mitochondrial COI gene, namely Amynthas ganzhouensis Sun & Jiang, sp. nov. (Jiangxi), A. redactus Sun & Jiang, sp. nov. (Jiangxi, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan), and A. yixingensis Sun & Jiang, sp. nov. (Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Anhui). A. ganzhouensis Sun & Jiang, sp. nov. is assigned to the A. morrisi-group based on two pairs of spermathecal pores (sp) located at intersegments 5/6–6/7. A. redactus Sun & Jiang, sp. nov. is placed in the A. corticis-group, exhibiting four pairs of spermathecal pores at intersegments 5/6–8/9. A. yixingensis Sun & Jiang, sp. nov. exhibits intraspecific variation in the number and position of spermathecal pores: some populations conform to the A. sieboldi-group (three pairs of pores at 6/7–8/9), while others align with the A. corticis-group (four pairs at 5/6–8/9). Molecular analyses of the mitochondrial COI gene further confirm the distinct species status of these three taxa. These discoveries expand the known diversity of Amynthas in southern China.

Liopterids (Hymenoptera: Liopteridae) are key parasitoids of wood-boring forest pests, such as jewel beetles (Buprestidae), longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) and horntails (Siricidae). In this paper, four species of Paramblynotus Cameron, 1908 are reported from China for the first time, namely P. atratus Liu & Kovalev, 2007, P. marginatus Liu & Kovalev, 2007, P. pausatus Liu & Kovalev, 2007 and P. scaber Belizin, 1951. Distributional data and an updated key to the Chinese members of the P. scaber species-group are provided, which increase the known of Chinese liopterids fauna and supply a foundation for future biocontrol studies.

A new species, Anthrenus (Anthrenodes) xizangensis Zhou, Háva & Da, sp. nov., is described based on a series of specimens recently collected in Lhasa, Xizang, China. The new species is illustrated and compared with its morphological similar species: A. himalayensis Háva, Wachkoo & Maqbool, 2019, A. katrinkrauseae Háva, 2018, and A. occultus Háva, 2006. It differs in the scale coloration and pattern, as well as in the antennae and male genitalia. A comparative diagnosis and a distribution map of known similar Anthrenus species are provided.

Three new genera, Kongaraneus gen. nov., Qianaraneus gen. nov. and Zangaraneus gen. nov., and twenty-one new species of the family Araneidae from Qomolangma National Nature Reserve, Xizang, south-west China are described: Araneus cheni sp. nov. (♂♀), A. guoi sp. nov. (♂♀), A. jinhuai sp. nov. (♂♀), A. lidiae sp. nov. (♂♀), A. luoi sp. nov. (♂♀), A. subluoi sp. nov. (♂♀), A. wangi sp. nov. (♀), Kongaraneus lii sp. nov. (♂♀), K. fani sp. nov. (♂♀), K. mengfeiae sp. nov. (♂♀), K. shenghangi sp. nov. (♂♀), K. shilini sp. nov. (♂♀), K. yongxiangi sp. nov. (♀), K. zhangae sp. nov. (♀), Pronoides liqii sp. nov. (♂♀), P. xiaoi sp. nov. (♂♀), Qianaraneus kejii sp. nov. (♂♀), Zangaraneus liui sp. nov. (♂♀), Z. pani sp. nov. (♂♀), Z. shikaii sp. nov. (♂), and Z. zhui sp. nov. (♂). Moreover, three species, Kongaraneus bicavus (Zhu & Wang, 1994) comb. nov., K. papilioformis (Qin, Mi & Liu, 2024) comb. nov. and Qianaraneus cucullatus (Mi & Li, 2022) comb. nov. are transferred from Araneus Clerck, 1757.

The genus Neoennearthron Miyatake, 1954 is newly recorded from China, with a new species, N. baoshanense sp. nov., described and illustrated. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners mainly by the morphology of the male genitalia: tegmen with a broadly rounded apex, the middle part of the apex not directly connected, only joined by tissues with low sclerotization, and concave at the middle; apicolateral corners deeply emarginate and elliptically convex with a notch in dorsal view. An updated key to all known species of the genus Neoennearthron is also provided.

Corydasialidae is one of the extinct families of Neuroptera, currently comprising six genera and ten species from several Cretaceous and Eocene deposits. Here we describe a new genus and a new species of Corydasialidae from the mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber, namely Punctocorydasialis zhiqiae gen. & sp. nov. The new genus can be distinguished from the other genera of Corydasialidae by the forewing with pigmented marking pattern, and the RP with all branches simple, and the A1 distally pectinated.

Three new species of the genus Microhoria Chevrolat, 1877 from Mêdog, Xizang, China are described: M. asperispina sp. nov., M. medogensis sp. nov., and M. zhugensis sp. nov. Images of the habitus and major diagnostic characters of all new species are provided as well as habitat photographs of M. asperispina sp. nov.

A new species of free-living marine nematodes that belongs to the family Richtersiidae Kreis, 1929 was found in the Yellow Sea and is described herein as Richtersia sinica sp. nov. The new species is characterized by a body length of 402–430 μm; a multispiral amphidial fovea with 4–4.5 turns in males and 1 turn in females; longitudinal rows of spines beginning at the mid-pharyngeal level in both sexes; paired spicules that differ in both shape and length; the right spicule being slender and elongated, 3.9–4.9 times cloacal body diameter in length, with a bifid proximal end; the left spicule being thick and short, 1.7–2.3 times cloacal body diameter with an enlarged cephalate proximal end; the gubernaculum being plate-shaped, gradually narrowed at both ends, lacking apophyses; and the tail short and conical. An updated key for the identification of valid species of Richtersia is provided.

The species of the family Plectopylidae from Zhejiang, China is revised. Five plectopylid species were reported—excluding the doubtfully distributed species Sicradiscus cutisculptus (Möllendorff, 1882)—namely Sicradiscus panpanae sp. nov., Sicradiscus cf. ishizakii (Kuroda, 1941), Sicradiscus diptychia (Möllendorff, 1885), Sinicola emoriens (Gredler, 1881) and Sinicola fimbriosa (E. v. Martens, 1875). The new species can be distinguished from its congeners based on the lamella-like ribs, the very wide umbilicus, and the extremely wide anterior lamella on the parietal wall. Sicradiscus cf. ishizakii is reported from four, Sinicola emoriens from two sites, while the new species is reported only from its type locality.

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The pseudoscorpion family Garypidae Simon, 1879, with the genus Anchigarypus Harvey, 2020, is reported from the Chinese mainland for the first time. A new species, Anchigarypus zhoudanyangi Gao & Zhang, sp. nov., found from the coast, is described along with detailed description and illustrations. Anchigarypus japonicus (Beier, 1952), is recorded from China for the first time, extending its distribution from Japan and South Korea.

Research progress on rotifer mitochondrial genomes has been slow, with studies primarily focusing on the genus Brachionus and bdelloid rotifers—primarily due to the considerable challenges associated with rotifer clonal cultivation. Rotifers of the genus Asplanchna are predominantly carnivorous, and sequencing and analyzing of their mitochondrial genomes can offers valuable insights into their taxonomic position while laying a solid foundation for related phylogenetic investigations. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Asplanchna sp. was determined and analyzed using high-throughput sequencing. The mitochondrial genome of this Asplanchna representative consists of two circular chromosomes: mtDNA-I (16,916 bp) contains 4 protein-coding genes (PCGs: cob, atp6, nad2, nad1), 2 rRNA-coding genes (16S rRNA and 12S rRNA), and 18 tRNA-coding genes; mtDNA-II (17,982 bp) includes 8 PCGs (cox1, nad6, nad4l, nad4, nad5, cox2, cox3, nad3) and 9 tRNA-coding genes. Both mtDNA-I and mtDNA-II harbor a ~9.4 kb non-coding region (NCR) downstream of the tRNA-Lys gene, with an identical AT content of 66.85% and complete sequence identity between the two NCRs. Codon usage bias analysis revealed a distinct preference in the mitochondrial genome, with serine codon UCU being the most frequently used. Ka/Ks analysis indicated that mitochondrial PCGs are under purifying selection (negative selection) and highly conserved during evolution, consistent with their role as essential energy metabolic units. A maximum likelihood (ML) phylogenetic tree was reconstructed using 10 shared core PCGs from 26 closer related species. The results showed that Asplanchna is closely related to Brachionus but distantly related to bdelloid rotifers and acanthocephalans, which aligns with its morphological taxonomic status.

The species Aristina dolichoptera Ozerov, 2012 has not been revisited since the genus was established, and its male was hitherto unknown. Based on specimens collected from Gansu and Qinghai, China, we identified both male and female individuals and confirmed their conspecificity using COI barcodes. The male of the genus Aristina is described for the first time at both generic and specific levels. Voucher specimens are deposited at the Natural History Museum of Shenyang University (NMSU), Shenyang, China.

The genus Euhybus has 12 known species in China. It is newly recorded from Chongqing. Two new species are described as new to science: Euhybus brevidentatus Wu, Li & Yang, sp. nov. and E. longidentatus Wu, Li & Yang, sp. nov. An updated key to all Chinese species of Euhybus is provided.

The diversity of Assimineidae in China is poorly known. Populations historically identified as Assiminea violacea Heude, 1882 are reevaluated based on extensive material from the Changjiang Estuary and Zhoushan. Morphological examination of shells, radulae, and reproductive anatomy confirms that A. violacea is a junior synonym of Assiminea grayana Fleming, 1828. Molecular analyses of a 557 bp COI fragment support this revision, with phylogenetic reconstructions revealing a well-supported monophyletic clade comprising both Chinese and European specimens. This study provides the first confirmed record of A. grayana in China and discusses its potential introduction via maritime transport. These findings resolve a long-standing taxonomic confusion and clarify the biogeographic history of the genus in the Northwest Pacific.

To resolve stick insect phylogeny and mitochondrial rearrangement, mitochondrial genomes were sequenced. A total of ten mitochondrial genomes, 15,808–16,608 bp in length, were successfully sequenced in this study. Gene rearrangements were observed in three samples of two species: Paragongylopus plaumanni (sample number: WSZJC6 and YNZJC5), and Cnipsomorpha erinacea. The tandem duplication–random loss (TDRL) model provides a reasonable explanation for the detected gene rearrangements. Specifically, C. erinacea exhibits a gene rearrangement pattern of 12SrRNA-CR1-trnI-CR2-trnQ-trnM. P. plaumanni (WSZJC6) displays a CR-trnM-NCR-trnI-trnQ-ND2 gene arrangement, whereas P. plaumanni (YNZJC5) displays a more complex gene arrangement: a CR-trnM-NCR1-trnI-trnQ-NCR2-ND2. In addition to identifying novel gene structures, we analyzed codon usage and base composition across the 10 mitochondrial genomes. Bayesian inference (BI) and Maximum likelihood (ML) methods were employed to infer phylogenetic trees, utilizing the PCGs_123 and PCGs_12 datasets. When the unstable taxon Stheneboea repudiosa was excluded from the analysis, the subfamilies Lonchodinae and Necrosciinae were recovered as monophyletic. However, these two groups were not supported as sister lineages. Moreover, species Achrioptera manga was found to cluster with members of the family Bacillidae, resulting in the non-monophyly of both Phasmatidae and Bacillidae. The phylogenetic analysis of the three subfamilies within Pseudophasmatidae recovered the topology ((Pseudophasmatinae) + (Obriminae + Dataminae)), consistent with previous studies. Additionally, Heteropterygidae and Pseudophasmatidae formed a sister clade, while Necrosciinae and Phasmatidae formed another. Bacillidae was positioned between these two major clades, resulting in the overall topology: (Heteropterygidae + Pseudophasmatidae) + ((Bacillidae + (Necrosciinae + Phasmatidae)).

Two virus vector nematodes Longidorus himalayensis and Xiphinema brevicolle belonging to the family Longigoridae are first recorded from forest and cropland in the Northeast China. The new hosts of both speices are maize (Zea mays), pine (Pinus), Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia), Chinese angelica tree (Aralia chinensis), pear (Pyrus communis), peach (Prunus persica), pink bean flower (Mirabilis jalapa), and Chinese crab apple (Malus baccata). Both morphological and morphometric analyses confirmed their identities. L. himalayensis showed slight differences from the type description, including longer body length (4.7–5.8 vs. 4.5–5.5 mm), longer odontostyle (122–125 vs. 107–120 μm), vulva position at 46–49% vs. 47–50%, and a shorter dorsally convex, bluntly rounded to hemispherical tail. X. brevicolle showed only minor deviations from previous descriptions. It is the first report of L. himalayensis with morphology and molecular data from China.

Two new species of the genus Homidia Börner, 1906 are described from Hubei and Anhui provinces, China. Both species resemble the type species H. cingula Börner, 1906 in color pattern, but are morphologically and molecularly distinct. H. qizimeiensis Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov. is distinguished by a rectangular patch on the postero-middle of Th. III and the presence of macrochaetae (mac) m3a on Abd. II and a2 on Abd. III, which are absent in both H. cingula and H. bichaeta Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov. H. bichaeta Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov. is defined by a dark transverse band on the antero-middle of Th. III, the presence of only two posterior mac (B4 and B5) per side on Abd. IV, and 2+2 posterior smooth setae on the ventral tube. In comparison, H. cingula lacks the dark transverse band on Th. III and possesses 4–5 posterior mac (A5, A6, Ae7, B4, B5) per side on Abd. IV and 3+3 posterior smooth setae on the ventral tube. H. qizimeiensis Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov. differs from H. bichaeta Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov. by having four posterior mac (A5, A6, B4, B5) per side on Abd. IV and 3+3 posterior smooth setae. Comparative chaetotaxy combined with COI data supports the recognition of both new species.

The internal reproductive systems of six species of genus Nephrotoma Meigen, 1803 are described and illustrated. The paired spermathecae are discovered in N. bifusca, representing the first record of two spermathecae in the genus Nephrotoma and even in the family Tipulidae, where three spermathecae were previously considered constant. Morphological differences in internal reproductive organs among these species are documented. Additionally, the taxonomic potential of internal reproductive structures is analyzed and discussed.

Systenus Macquart, 1823 is one rare genus in the subfamily Medeterinae with 45 known species distributed worldwide, of which seven species were known to occur in China. In the present paper, it is reported from Chongqing for the first time. Two species are described as new to science: S. chongqingensis Mei, Lin & Yang, sp. nov., S. zhangi Mei, Lin & Yang, sp. nov. A key to the species from the Oriental Region is provided.

Four new species of the genus Onesia Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Calliphoridae: Calliphorinae) are described here: O. huayangensis Yao, Liu & Li, sp. nov., O. wuyingensis Yao, Liu & Li, sp. nov., O. cheni Yao, Liu & Li, sp. nov. and O. shennongjiaensis Yao, Liu & Li, sp. nov. A key to species of Onesia from China is provided.

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Blaps is the most species-rich genus in the subtribe Blaptina, with 220 described species. In this study, we constructed a preliminary phylogenetic framework for 23 Blaps species inferred from a fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene. Based on the phylogenetic topology and the results of three molecular species delimitation analyses, three larval specimens are assessed for the adults. Additionally, the larvae of these three species are described and illustrated: Blaps (Ablapsis) apicecostata Bair, 1922, Blaps (Ablapsis) brevipes Seidlitz, 1893, and Blaps (Blaps) moerens Allard, 1880. A key to the known Blaps larvae is provided.