Siberian taimen Hucho taimen (Pallas, 1773) is a broadly distributed and popular sport fish with high economic value. However, low abundance and hard-to-reach habitat make the Siberian taimen a relatively understudied species. Here we describe the morphological variability of two size groups of Siberian taimen juveniles from the eastern (Amur River basin) and western (Kama River basin) parts of the species distribution. The largest morphological differentiation of Siberian taimen juveniles was observed at the inter-basin level. In the Amur River basin, Siberian taimen juveniles also differed morphologically even at sites located at a distance of 20 km from each other, which may be explained by a small home-range inhabitation of juveniles leading to the formation of their morphotype determined by local environmental conditions. The pattern of allometry varies in taimen from different rivers, which could be related to the ontogenetic shift of ecological niches and the level of heterogeneity of the river environment.

Eucotylidae is a family of microphalloid digeneans parasitising as adults in the urinary system of birds. There are few molecular data on members of this family, and phylogenetic relationships of its genera and species are still unclear. Here we present new morphological and molecular data on a eucotylid species Tanaisia atra (Nezlobinsky, 1926). Specimens of T. atra were found in Eurasian Coot Fulica atra Linnaeus, 1758 in European and Asian parts of Russia and examined using optical and SEM microscopy and molecular techniques. We report the presence of a well-developed cirrus sac and different types of tegumental scales in this species for the first time. All molecular markers used in our study (ITS2 region, 28S rRNA and cox1gene) indicate that T. atra isolates from European and Asian parts of Russia are conspecific. In phylograms based on ITS2 region and 28S rRNA gene sequences, T. atra clustered with other Tanaisia spp.

Dentisphaera Páll-Gergely & Jochum, 2017 is a troglobitic land snails genus known to harbour only one species found in a single cave in North Vietnam. Based on recently collected specimens from China, three species, Dentisphaera lagredeae Chen, Grego & Páll-Gergely, sp. nov., Dentisphaera shzha Chen, Grego & Páll-Gergely, sp. nov. and Dentisphaera zhoui Chen, Lin & Páll-Gergely, sp. nov. are introduced as new to science. The distribution range of Dentisphaera is extended based on the collecting records of these new species.

Four cynipid gall wasps belonging to three genera are reported with descriptions of their host plants and galls, i.e., Belizinella vicina Kovalev, 1965, Cerroneuroterus folimargo (Monzen, 1954), C. monseni (Dettmer, 1934) and Neuroterus hakonensis Ashmead, 1904. The genus Belizinella and three species, B. vicina, C. monseni and N. hakonensis, are recorded in China for the first time. The species B. vicina is redescribed for the missing or incongruent features from its original description. In addition, the gall host for Ufo rufiventris Wang, Guo, Wang, Pujade-Villar & Chen is also recorded here for the first time.

In the Homoneura (Homoneura) picta group, H. (H.) dahanshanensis Liu & Shi, sp. nov. is described as new to science and H. (H.) picta (de Meijere, 1904) is supplemented with detailed descriptions of significant intraspecific variations in abdominal striping patterns and structures of the syntergosternite and hypandrial apodeme. Photographic illustrations of these variations are also provided. A key to the 7 species of the group in China is presented.

This study provides detailed descriptions and illustrations of a new species, Psilota nigritarsa Huo & Zhao, sp. nov., and a newly recorded species in China, P. nigripilosa Shiraki, 1968. It also offers additional measurements for Psilota bashanensis Huo, Zhao & Liu, 2022. The paper proposes a reclassification of the P. innupta-group in the Palaearctic Region into two subgroups based on the morphology of the male genitalia. An updated taxonomic key for the species of the P. innupta-group within the Palaearctic Region is also provided.

China has the sixth-largest bee fauna with over 1,300 documented species. Yet countless more are expected, making taxonomic work an imperative. Here, we outline the history of bee taxonomy in China and discuss how best we can move into the future and describe all of the many undescribed species remaining. Key challenges include the difficulty of accurately assigning species names due to overseas type material as well as a general need for increased internationalization such as in specimen and data sharing. Only with sustained funding for basic taxonomy will it be possible to know and protect China’s unique bee fauna.

Baraeus orientalis Aurivillius, 1907, an African longhorn beetle belonging to the Cerambycidae family and the Lamiinae subfamily, has previously been reported in various countries on the African continent. This study identifies Adenia globosa Engler, 1891, a succulent plant with medicinal and aesthetic value, as a new host plant record for B. orientalis. The discovery occurred during a phytosanitary inspection at Hong Kong International Airport, where an adult longhorn beetle was intercepted on a stem of A. globosa. This finding emphasizes the potential risk of introducing invasive species and underscores the importance of implementing stringent quarantine measures. It also enhances our understanding of the host of B. orientalis, which was previously undocumented.

Based on available records, a comprehensive overview of the biodiversity and geographical distribution of Collembola in China is presented. A total of 735 species, 155 genera and 20 families were recorded in the checklist, including current name information, synonyms, geographical records, and bibliographic references. Taxonomic notes were added where necessary and Chinese translations were provided for genera and families. The following new combinations are proposed: Rambutsinella grinnellia (Wang, Chen & Christiansen, 2004) comb. nov. for Pseudosinella grinnellia Wang, Chen & Christiansen 2004; Rambutsinella hui (Wang, Chen & Christiansen, 2003) comb. nov. for Pseudosinella hui Wang, Chen & Christiansen 2003; and Rambutsinella tridentifera (Rusek, 1971) comb. nov. for Pseudosinella tridentifera Rusek 1971. In addition, certain species have been merged with their synonyms. This checklist includes articles published up to August 2023.

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A new freshwater opecoelid species, Sphaerostoma tamarae sp. nov., is described from Rhynchocypris percnura mantschurica caught in the Syumnyur River (Amur River basin, Russia). This parasite species differs from all other congeners in the distribution of the vitelline follicles (restricted to the hindbody) and the morphology of the ventral sucker (strongly protuberant). Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on 28S rRNA gene sequences and the morphological analysis allow to tentatively assign the new species to the genus Sphaerostoma, without closing the question regarding the true genus affiliation of this species. In addition, the authors provide an argument for renaming the Plagioporinae to the Sphaerostomatinae.

In this study, we review the Rheotanytarsus acerbus species group based on adult males from China. Two new species, R. cangshanensis Lin & Yao, sp. nov. and R. yamamotoi Lin & Yao, sp. nov., are described. R. adjectus (Johannsen, 1932) is re-described for its new record from China. A world key to adult males of acerbus species group is provided for the first time.

Specimens of the crane fly genus Helius Lepeletier & Serville, 1828 from Sichuan, China are examined and studied. Three Helius species all belonging to the nominotypical subgenus are recognized, of which H. (H.) pallidissimoides Xu, Ma & Zhang, sp. nov. is described and illustrated as new to science, and H. (H.) pallidissimus Alexander, 1930 and H. (H.) franckianus Alexander, 1940 are redescribed and illustrated. For the first time, descriptions and illustrations are provided for the male of H. (H.) pallidissimus and the female of H. (H.) franckianus.

The genus Diomus Mulsant, 1850 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Diomini) from China is herein revised. Five species of Diomus are occurring in the Chinese fauna to date, including a new species from the Dafushan Mountains Forest Park, Guangzhou, Guangdong, namely D. dafushanensis Bi, Peng & Chen, sp. nov. Nomenclatural history, diagnosis, illustrations and distribution were provided for each species. A key to the native species of Diomus from China is also presented.

Two new species of the genus Trypoxylon, namely T. flavimaculatum Fu & Li, sp. nov. and T. tuberantennatum Fu & Li, sp. nov., are described and illustrated from Guizhou, Guangdong, Guangxi and Zhejiang Provinces, China. Another two species, T. chosenense Tsuneki, 1956 and T. konosuense Tsuneki, 1968, are newly recorded from China.

Mitochondrial genomes of five Tykhepoda scolopendromorphs (Cryptopidae, Scolopocryptopidae and Plutoniumidae) are sequenced and analyzed using methods of comparative genomics to provide more information on the phylogeny of Scolopendromorpha. The locations of 22 tRNAs, 13 PCGs, and 2 rRNAs are annotated. The heavy chain of mitochondrial genomes are 14,841–15,619 bp in length. A+T % vary from 64.79% to 77.40%, and mitochondrial genomes are CG and AT skewed. The phylogenetic reconstructions showed the blind clade, recently named Tykhepoda, is monophyletic with high support values (BS = 100% and PP = 1).

Ancient Lake Baikal (LB) is the prime hotspot of the harpacticoid diversity. The Canthocamptidae harpacticoids in the lake can be considered at least six species flocks. The lacks of unequivocal diagnostic characters in the family species description often lead species identification to an impasse. Recently developed molecular techniques provide a powerful tool to subject copepod taxa to comparative analyses. In order to provide a new base for canthocamp-tids taxonomy and clarify the systematic in some species flocks, we analyzed the mitochondrial DNA marker COI of 103 harpacticoid specimens from LB belonging to five genera. The materials were obtained from different lake basins from the depths 0.2‒1632 m. Using DNA barcoding, we identified 23 genetic species or groups of species, it was almost 1.5 times less than number of morphological species, and divergence of some molecular lineages were not corresponding to morphological species. Results of our study were the discovery of a new species, males of some morphological species, for which only females were previously described, clarification of the level of morphological variability of some species, etc. Specifically, it became apparent that morphological and genetic harpacticoid species diversity in LB differ significantly and it has to be detected strictly in complex.

Here I explore the biological relevance, origin and meaning of the concept of cladogram (rooted, directed branching diagrams representing the hypothesized phylogenetic relationships among the terminal taxa under study) and argue that cladograms do not necessarily entail synapomorphies, but synapomorphies are required to test and ultimately falsify cladograms. Both cladograms and synapomorphies are required to achieve phylogenetic explanation. I conclude that within a phylogenetic, scientific context, testability refers to the logical relationship among cladograms (hypotheses), synapomorphies (evidence), and background knowledge (descent with modification). It is the relationship between evidence and hypothesis that underlies a logically consistent relationship between synapomorphies and cladograms. The capacity of a given cladogram, as a hypothesis, to explain synapomorphies complements this relationship and conforms phylogenetic explanation.

Here, a new species collected in the coastal area of Southern China is described, namely Bolbochromus vespertialis sp. nov. The species belongs to the subgenus Bolbochromus Boucomont, 1909, distinguished from the other two subgenera by possesses a frontovertex with punctate augmentation, an unmodified clypeus and aedeagus with distinct parameres (Krikken & Li, 2013)

Species are not only the fundamental units of taxonomy but also the basic units of pest management. Insects of Conogethes are important agricultural and forestry pests. However, species boundaries within Conogethes often appear obscure. In the present study, we re-evaluated the species status of Conogethes by applying three species delimitation approaches based on the mitochondrial DNA sequences, with particular emphasis on the yellow peach moth C. punctiferalis (Guenée, 1854). We first optimized species delimitation and inter-species genetic divergence threshold using a DNA barcoding dataset. The results revealed that several nominal species of Conogethes species harbored deeply diverged mitochondrial lineages which were recognized as independent species by the species delimitation methods. The p-distance between the delimited putative species ranged from 0.0159 to 0.1321 with a mean of 0.0841. Then we refined the species status of C. punctiferalis using the smallest interspecific distance threshold based on a geographically comprehensive population-scale dataset. This procedure narrowed the species concept of C. punctiferalis to a genetically coherent unit. Further investigation of its intraspecific divergence in the geographic context revealed that the refined C. punctiferalis was still widely distributed with the same or highly similar mitochondrial haplotypes occurring across South and East Asia.

A new species, Sclerodermus alternatusi Yang, sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), is described and illustrated. Its cerambycid host, Monochamus alternatus Hope, a severe wood borer attacking many pine trees (Pinus spp.), is also a vector of pine wood nematode, Bursaphelencus xylophilus, which cause severe damages to pine forests in China. The new species is a gregarious ectoparasitoid of junior larva of M. alternatus. The number of adult wasps reared from a single host larva ranges from 6 to 45. The ratio of female to male is 20 : 1. The new parasitoid species has a high potential in using as a biocontrol agent for the wood borer. Diagnosis of the new species with comparisons to its related species, S. pupariae Yang & Yao and a key to known species of Sclerodermus from China is provided.

The vampire squid, Vampyroteuthis infernalis Chun, 1903, is currently the only extant species in the family Vampyroteuthidae Chun, 1903. However, specimens from the Gulf of Guinea, Africa, and California suggested the possibility of additional taxa. Here, we report the second species of Vampyroteuthis, collected from the South China Sea, China, which differs from V. infernalis by its tail shape, lower beak, photophores position, and the phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial COI and nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU) sequences: V. infernalis present by the lacking of the tail, photophores located approximately one-third of the points between the fins and end, and the lower beak with a broad, short wing; V. pseudoinfernalis Qiu, Liu & Huang, sp. nov. present by an acuate tail, a pair of photophores located at the midpoints between the fins and tail, and a lower beak with a broad, elongate wing.

We present a comprehensive catalog with an updated database of the fossil record of Diplopoda in the world. Taxonomic data was collected from descriptions and reports published from 1854 to the present. We also include new records from Mexican amber (Upper Oligocene-Lower Miocene), counting 83 unknown fossil inclusions, with the first records of the orders Polyxenida, Platydesmida, and Julida, as well as the families Sphaeriodesmidae and Trichopolydesmidae within Polydesmida. According to our results, Diplopoda counts 413 records featuring 299 distinct taxa ranging from the Middle Silurian to the Upper Pleistocene, representing three subclasses, two subterclasses, six superorders, 25 orders, 15 superfamilies, 55 families, 93 genera, and 161 fossil species. To date, no fossils of the order Siphonocryptida have been reported. The fossil record extends over three geological eras: the Paleozoic, with 161 taxa, including 97 species; the Mesozoic, with 53 taxa and 22 species; and the Cenozoic, with 85 taxa and 42 species. The referred material shows different forms of fossil preservation. It comprises 123 impressions, 99 compressions, 26 ichnites, predominantly from Paleozoic and Mesozoic sediments, and 165 amber inclusions from late Mesozoic and Cenozoic sites. Thus, this catalog allows us to estimate the size and taxonomic composition of Diplopoda in the fossil record worldwide.

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Eleven new species of Ourapteryx Leach, 1814 were described: O. curta Jiang & Han, sp. nov., O. triangulata Cheng & Han, sp. nov., O. cawarongensis Cheng & Jiang, sp. nov., O. arcuata Jiang & Cheng, sp. nov., O. longiacutata Jiang & Cheng, sp. nov., O. linzhiensis Jiang & Cheng, sp. nov., O. aniqiaoensis Cheng & Zhu, sp. nov., O. incurvata Cheng & Jiang, sp. nov., O. concava Cheng & Han, sp. nov., O. alba Cheng & Han, sp. nov., O. motuoensis Cheng & Zhu, sp. nov. Diagnoses for these new species are provided, with illustrations of external features and genitalia.

Egyptian species of the leafhopper genus Exitianus Ball, 1929, E. capicola (Stål, 1855), E. nanus (Distant, 1908), and E. pondus Ross, 1968 are reviewed. Illustrations, morphological descriptions, and a key for their identification are provided. In this study, we used molecular techniques to confirm morphological identification and detect phylogeny among the three Exitianus species. The partial nucleotide sequences of the amplified products obtained were determined by Macrogen Korea. The nucleotide sequences of 28S rDNA and COX genes of the EGY-ARC-9, EGY-ARC-4, and EGY-ARC-5 were determined by Macrogen Korea, blasted into BLAST at the National Center for Biotechnology Information website (NCBI) and compared with those deposited in the GenBank DNA database. The results represented the homology percentage between the partial sequences of the 28S rRNA and COX genes from each species and related species obtained from GenBank DNA database. The morphological identifications of the three Exitianus species were confirmed by molecular characterization and sequencing of 28S rDNA and COX genes and identified as E. capicola, E. nanus, and E. pondus. Also, their sequences of 28srDNA and COX genes were deposited in GenBank with an accession number (LC670610, LC670607, and OQ196105) for 28srDNA gene and (LC775357, LC775358, and LC775359) for the COX gene.

Three new spongillafly species of Sisyra Burmeister, 1839 from southern China and Laos are described, namely S. arcuata sp. nov., S. nobilia sp. nov., and S. stenoloma sp. nov. Notably, S. arcuata sp. nov. and S. nobilia sp. nov. have remarkable forewing marking pattern, which has never been reported in Sisyra. Additionally, the male of the rare species Sisyra yunana Yang, 1986 is described for the first time. All these Sisyra species have a highly specialized male gonocoxites 9.

Each species within the order Thysanoptera has a distinct mitochondrial gene order displaying a high level of gene rearrangement, particularly massive in Phlaeothripidae. To understand the evolutionary patterns of rearrangement in this family, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of Psephenothrips eriobotryae, a notable potential pest of loquat trees. Its mitogenome is a circular DNA molecule (15,413 bp in size) composed of 37 genes: 13 PCGs, 22 tRNAs, two rRNAs, and two putative control regions (CRs). By comparing with the ancestral mitogenome of arthropods, P. eriobotryae exhibits notable gene rearrangement variations. However, it shares four conserved gene blocks with three closely related species in Phlaeothripinae. In the phylogenetic tree, P. eriobotryae was clustered with these three leaf-feeding Phlaeothripinae species. The presence of more similar conserved gene blocks probably indicates a strong correlation between gene rearrangements and the phylogeny within Phlaeothripidae. Furthermore, the mitogenome of P. eriobotryae shows some characteristics: (a) two putative CRs in which CR2 is the copy of partial CR1 with 99.62% sequence similarity, and CR1 consists of two 237 bp repeat unites; (b) high A+T content of 82.6% in overall base composition; (c) trnS1 lacking a complete dihydrouridine (DHU) arm; (d) the protein coding gene, atp8 started with TTG instead of the more common ATN, while nad3 terminated by TAG rather than TAA; (e) translocations and inversions observed in fifteen of the 37 genes.